In one of my trips, a person suggested me to list down all of my interests, travels in a page. I don't like "small-talk" writing let me get straight to the point.
Philosophy
My philosophy in life is deeply influenced by the story of Hare & Tortoise. I believe that outlook towards life should be like the Hare. The Hare was fast, kept improving and didn't care much about winning. Every Tortoise works its ass off, slow and steady. Tortoise saves and invests money, chases success always, wanting to win. Toroise has the illusion there is a race in life, However, the Hare is impulsive, spontaneous and spends money on the moment. Hare doesnt plan 30 years in advance, but runs fast when he can.
I believe I can achieve much more if I just run fast, not thinking about the race. Instead of worrying about competition, I'd rather sleep peacefully on either sides of the finish line. The present is the best time to spend and experience rather than save and shelter for a uncertain Future. To me, the best way to die is doing something you love, rather than handicapped and wealthy at old age depending on others. That's the reason most of my travels are more about the journey than any particular destination.
Trekking
2005 - Corbett National Park - Mohan
2008, 2009 - Silent Valley National Park - Wayanad
2010-2013 - Organized 100+ Treks for Chennai Trekking Club (CTC) - Nagalapuram, Nagari, Venkateshwara, Kodaikanal / Palani, Jawadhu, Velliangiri, western ghats (ombattu gudde, etina bujja, etc)
2011 - 2nd place in Chembra Peak bagging challenge by India Hikes
2016 - YHAI Chanderkhani Pass
2016 - YHAI Sandakphu
2016 - YHAI Kedarkantha
2017 - Chadar Trek - Frozen Zanskar River
2017 - Everest Base Camp Trek
2018-Present - Several day hikes around Bangalore (Navadurgas), Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Motorbiking
2009/10 - College Bike rides from Chennai to Trichy, Pondy, Tirupati, Bangalore Tiruvannamalai etc
2012 - Organized 10+ Bike trips for CTC - Dhanushkodi, Udayagiri, belum caves, Gingee
2013 - Certified through Iron Butt Association for Saddlesore Ride - 1600 Kms in 24 hours on Apache- Chennai - Krishnagiri - Kanyakumari - Krishnagiri - Chennai
2016 - Gandikota Bike ride on Apache
2019 - Bangalore Pune Bangalore - Interceptor 650
2019 - 10+ Breakfast Rides across Bangalore on Interceptor
2020 - Golden Quadilateral 6100 Kms on Interceptor - Bangalore Chennai Kolkata Delhi Mumbai Bangalore
2021 - Spiti Valley loop 2000kms on Xpulse - Delhi - Chandigarh - Shimla - Kaza - Manali - Jibhi - Shimla - Delhi
2021 - Sikkim Bike Trip on Classic 350 - Gangtok - Lachen - Gurudongmar - Lachung - Zero - Nathula - Gangtok
2022 - Bangalore Sagara Bangalore - 400km ride on Interceptor
2022 - North East trip on Xpulse - Guwahati - Shillong - Sohra - Dawki - Tezpur - Tawang - Zemithang - Kalaktang - Guwahati
2023 - Nepal Bike trip on Honda XR190 - Muktinath, Manang and Chitwan
2023- Zanskar and Sachpass Ride
2021/22/Present - Organized 100+ Offroad Bike trails around Bangalore with BOTS (Bangalore Offroad Trail Squad - Part 1; Part 2)
Cycling
2012 - Organized 10+ MTB Trails for CTC around Chennai
2013 - Several 200-300 Km day rides - Pondicherry, Kanchipuram, Tindivanam
2013 - Cycle packing trips to Nilgiris - Mettupalayam, Kotagiri, Ooty, Manjoor, Karamadai
2013 - 400 ride to Jawadhu
2013 - Completed Super Randonneur Brevet by completing 200, 300, 400 and 600 Km rides in TN, KA and AP
2016 - Bicycle trip to Nilgiris - Sulthan Batheri, Gudalur, Oooty
2016- MTB Trips - Agumbe, Chikmanglur, Belgaum
2016 - MTB Trip - Kodaikanal to Munnar
2017 - 200Km BRM on a Fuji Fixie bike
2018 - Manali to Leh on Trek MTB
2023 - Present - MTB Offroad Exploratory rides in Bangalore
Marathons & Triathlons
2012 - Auroville Half - 21K
2012 - The Wipro Chennai Marathon - 42K
2012 - Ironman 70.3 distance Triathlon in Nagalapuram
2013 - Ironman 70.3 distance Triathlon in Chennai
Drone Pilot
Level 18 Pilot with 16 Hours of Flight time with DJI Mavic Air
Paragliding Pilot
P1, P2 Certified from Bir Billing. 6 Flights (75 Mins) recorded in XC Track
P3 Certified from Orangelife Paragliding school in Kamshet
Scuba Dive
2017 - Discovery Dive in Netrani
2018 - Sea Floor Walk in Havelock
2022 - SSI Open Water at Koh Tao
2023 - Netrani Diving Specialty courses, Navigation and Deep Specialty
Skiing
2023 - Beginner Ski course in Gulmarg in Phase 1
2024 - Intermediate Ski course
Surfing
2018 - Srilanka
2019 - Beginner Course at Kovalam, Chennai
2023 - Surf course in Pondicherry
Car Trips
2017 - Car trips on Tiago from Bangalore to Pondicherry, Kundapura, Udupi, Gokarna, Goa
2017 - 4 Day New Year Camping Trip across Kerala - Allepy Boathouse, Varkala, Kanyakumari, Bangalore
2018 - 4 day New Year Camping trip on Tiago across Andhra - Gandikota, Belum Caves, Yaganti Caves, Horsley Hills
2019 - Srilanka Road New Year road trip on Alto from Colombo - Anuradhapura - Dambulla - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains - Ella - Galle - Hikkaduwa- Colombo
2020/21 - Car trips on Tiago- Jaisalmer, Udupi, Ooty, Kodaikanal
2022 - Car trip on Slavia - Bangalore - Sagara - Bangalore
2022 - Car trip on Slavia - Bangalore - Bhilai - Bangalore
International Trips
2008 - Singapore & Malaysia - Tourist trip with Parents
2015 - Bhutan - Day trip from Gelephu
2016 - Nepal Everest Base Camp - no flight trek to Lukla
2017 - Nepal Everest Base Camp - Organized with 3 friends with flight to Lukla
2017 - Malaysia - Car trip to Cameron Highlands, Melaka
2018 - Thailand - Bangkok, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Ao Nang, KohTao, KohPhangan, KohSamui
2019 - Srilanka Road New Year road trip on Alto from Colombo - Anuradhapura - Dambulla - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains - Ella - Galle - Hikkaduwa- Colombo
2019 - Indonesia - Bali - Lombok, Gili T, Gili Air, Nusa Penida
2020 - Dubai - Tourist Trip with Family & in laws, Abu Dhabi
2021 - 4000 Km Road trip across Europe through France (Paris), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Belgium (Brussels), Switzerland (Grindelwald), Italy (Parma, Rome, Venice), Austria (Hallstatt), Germany (Ulm), France (Paris)
2022 - Thailand - KohTao (Dive trip)- Bangkok - Pattaya
2023 - Iceland Roadtrip - 17 days 2000+ Kms Camping trip in October
Other Interests
Philately - 2400+ Stamp collection
Photography - Camera gear till date Canon 1100D 18-55 , 55-250, 50mm (x2), Insta 360 One X, DJI OM4, DJI Mavic Air, Mobile Lenses - All Sold. Now Nikon D40X and iPhone 13
Bicycles - Rockrider 5.0 (2012 Sold), Fuji Sportif 1.1 (2013), Mongoose Maurice (2012), Decathlon MyBike (2013 Sold), Canondale F9 (2010), Pinarello Gan 105 (2017), Colnago CLX 105 (Wife's), Canondale SL2 2012 (Peter's)
Motorbikes - TVS Fiero (2018-2010 Sold 28K Kms), TVS Apache (2010 - 2017 Sold 48k Kms), RE Interceptor 650 (2019 - 2022 Sold 28k Kms), Hero Xpulse (2020 - 2022 Sold 16k Kms), Harley Davidson Custom 1200 (2023 - Present), Hero Xpulse 4V (2023-Present), Suzuki Access 125 (2018-Present )
Cars - Tata Tiago (2016 - 2022 Sold 58k Kms); Skoda Slavia (2022 - Present)
Astronomy - Star Parties, observatories, Astrophotography
My List of "What's Next" is bigger than things listed above. That's why I want to be the Hare. To be doing the things I love, irrespective of whether I complete/compete the race.
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