Climbing Up!

I recently got the opportunity to try out a new sport: Vertical Wall Climbing. I always wanted to do Rock Climbing, I guess this was the closest I could get for now.

I registered for the event as soon as the invite to participate was received by my Inbox. The day was 4th June,2008. The only problem was the time. 7 am, at Kanteerva Stadium! Well, what the heck, it was one morning. Every other I get the luxury to leave the house at 7 30, so I should not crib about leaving the house at 6 45 am on one morning!! (Readers new to me, the previous sentence was oozing sarcasm!)

Well I reader well in advance, since only a couple of participants had managed to reach before me.

The wall for the guys was different from the ones for the girls. My name was first on the list, but I couldn't go first!! Thankfully a more experienced climber (she had atleast climbed twice before in her lifetime) offered to go first. No, climbing windows and mango trees during childhood stupidity does not count, it was my first time and i will remain adamant on that).

It was tough. Hell, it is tough. You can pretend to make calculative steps but one loose grip or wrong footing can bring you down giving you no time to scramble for whatever part of the wall you can hang on. The vertical part is almost easy, but when the damn thing inclines to an angle of about 30 degrees to the vertical is when you are fighting with newton!! This is where an extension of 2 inches to my left arm would have helped to hold on to that damn peg no 15! But my arms gave away. I was already shaking. Holding on to a couple of pegs for some time is not an option it will only strain your arms more.

14 was my score then. My effort was commended and the organizers even claimed that I was a good climber. Well, whatever!

Another attempt was sought after. But that darn peg. this time 13!

The score is based on peg you last kept foot on.

Now climbing beyond that mark was a challenge I had to succeed or else I would not get sleep that night!

We were allowed to climb for fun while the guys finished their second round. That is when I managed to finally hold on to the peg and climb to point higher. Phew. But my arms had a different story to tell.

Popeye's biceps no longer seemed imaginative to me as the blood that rushes to your forearm makes it bulge. That was the first time I saw my forearm like that boy was I thrilled!

All in all, it was a great experience. You can draw parallels to life, or work, or whatever, but the fact is when you are up there, its just you, you determination, your confidence and the wall!

People interested in training and taking up this sport can contact Mars Adventures,Bangalore.

Chick Mobile hits the Road!

"Well,decide!", I said to Michelle and Sudi, who sat across the table.We had just finished a very delicious sea food lunch at Managlore Pearl and were now contemplating where the newly arrived Red ChickMobile should go on its first long drive: Nandi Hills or Cafe Coffee Road, Maddur.

We ended up going to both places! We drove up to Nandi Hills after lunch, reached by 6pm, to catch the sunset. As we discovered whatever we could of Nandi hills, the other visitors shouted and made noise. Thank God for the Wind.

The sun began its descent behind the clouds ( ok, dont get scientific with me! do you really want me to start about the earth's rotation and orbital revolution around the sun??)

We discovered a bit of childhood at the play area which is actually meant for kids...well yeah, whatever. So in the process, Michelle and I realized that I was heavier than her thanks to the see-saw. Now thats a revelation!Ever wondered, why is a see-saw called a see-saw?

Think it was 7 30 pm when we drove out of the gates of what used to be a sumer palace for Tipu Sultan . It was en-route downhill that we decided to head off to Maddur for a late-evening coffee.
Telling me that one gets coffee in the city is not going to make me stay here. CCD is just a reference point where a U-Turn is executed.

One important point, Lizzy dear was picked up to join in the girls night out! After a lovely drive and about an hour and half later, we finally headed back home. I think it was 1am when we entered our house. Let me no sign off with a witty one liner but with lasting pics of nandi hills..there I just wrote one!

The Chic mobile, christened by the guys, is Sudi's new Chevrolet Spark.