Motorcycling across Sikkim | Day 4 | Okhrey to Pelling

PREVIOUS PART: Day 3 - Okhrey to Hilley Varsey

For every day ends with an admiration... (View at the end of day from Pelling)

It was the 4th day amidst the mountains. As usual, I woke up before others to finish up the chores in time. That included cold starting my motorcycle, inspecting it closely, prepping the cameras, packing up and finally tying the saddle bags for the day's ride. Yes! I was a little bit jealous of how luxuriously my friends woke up, had their breakfast and got into a warm 'n' enclosed vehicle. But, then I remembered my hands on the grips and the curves of the hills. And, that... kept me smiling throughout the day.

"The toughest leg of the journey is still 4 days away", I counted.

Motorcycling across Sikkim | Day 3 | Okhrey to Hilley-Varsey

PREVIOUS PART - Day 2 - Siliguri to Okhrey

As I opened my eyes, the gleaming sunlight had filled the room with warmth and a positive aura. I was a little skeptical to open the glass windows at first, remembering last night's cold winds but, the rays gave much hope.

It was as lively, bright and splendid as it could be. The cold and eerie Okhrey had now turned into a warm sunny quaint little village amidst the lap of the Himalayas. A Vodafone 3G connection still kept you connected to the world outside.

I did not think twice and ventured outside in my trousers.  The first view was amazing.

Motorcycling across Sikkim | Day 2 | Siliguri to Okhrey

PREVIOUS PART: Day 1 - Kolkata to Siliguri

Although, a 600 km ride resulted in troubled bones and muscles, a good night's sleep over a few drinks ensured a fresh start for the day. Three of my friends (Sumalya, Ipsita and Duti) were to reach Siliguri by train at around 9 am. They had a car booked and the plan was to ride along with the car. Meanwhile, Siddhartha kept planning his route for the day. He was still unsure whether he would be heading to Gangtok or Mangan directly for a permit to Gurudongmar.

Starting from Siliguri
After a quick breakfast, I started off early to reach NJP Station and head to Okhrey with my friends. It was a packaged trip for 4 of us, apart from the car, since I would be riding my 'Black Beast'. A 2nd breakfast for the day with friends was always welcome and we stopped at Salughara for the same, just before leaving the boundaries of Siliguri.

Motorcycling across Sikkim | Day 1 | Kolkata to Siliguri

As they say, '4 wheels move your body but 2 wheels move your soul'.

Nonetheless, being an avid motorcycle enthusiast, the 'The Black Beast' was to be ridden across the Himalayan state. It was going to be the longest ride till date. 2300 kms over 10 days. After many drafts and discussions, 18th November, 2016 became the date when I would be leaving from Kolkata. There were a lot of suggestions coming in, most of which you can guess. 99.99% of them consisted of advising not to go on a motorcycle because they cared for me. The remaining 0.01% turned out to be soulful motorcyclist like me who encouraged, suggested and helped identify the priorities. My parents were nervous as touring on motorcycles is not yet that common in our country. But, I thought of this tour as an opportunity to gain their trust.

Riding to Gurudongmar and Sikkim | November 2016 Planning

Gurudongmar Lake, North Sikkim

Update: Skip to the end of this post for the Travelogue (Trip Completed)

Well, after months, something nice has been chalked out. Initially, I had planned to ride solo but when your mom almost looses consciousness (need to enhance my manipulative skills) listening to that, you have to look for other options. My good friends don't generally let such good plans pass away and the wise ones jumped into the bandwagon soon.


Some later revealed themselves to be die-hard Coldplay fans and stepped back holding their free Coldplay concert tickets. I wish I could attend the same too but nothing tops my wishes more than plans that carry me to far off places on my motorcycle.


But, this is just the plan, you see. Although, I will wait for this trip with all the energy and excitement, there can be a lot of hurdles that come up. Just hoping for the best. :)

Final Trip Itinerary

Permits FAQ - http://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/faq.aspx

Online Permits - www.sikkimilp.in

ILP Details - http://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/pdf/RAP.pdf

  

Gearbest Review | Delivery to India | Torn Magazine Inside | Gearbest Refunds

A few months ago, while browsing, I came across this website Gearbest which has a great Electronic gadget collection and delivers to India. They have their warehouses in China, US and EU.

Getting to know Gearbest

I was a bit skeptical to order from this place because in India, it was not well known like Flipkart, Amazon, PayTM or Snapdeal. There were not a lot of reviews on the Internet too that spoke of Gearbest deliveries to India. Indeed, there were a lot of product reviews on their page but shopping online for high priced items, you need to be sure about many things. 

So, I had to take the risk, go ahead and explore this website. More so, when the price listed for a few products were way cheaper than what was listed on Amazon or any other website.

To verify Gearbest's authenticity, product quality and delivery time, I ordered a low priced item from Gearbest. 

Safety is a cheap and effective Insurance Policy - A Reflective Paper

As I drove the rented scooter from the slope towards the narrow bridge, the speed had increased without any acceleration. The next moment, before I could realize anything, I was thrown off mid-air and onto the side of the footpath. I could not see anything with my right eye and was unaware where my pillion rider was!

Thesis: Safety is a cheap and effective Insurance Policy. And, just like a friendship is better realized during your bad times, an Insurance Policy is never missed until you need it.

Growing up with Motorcycles

Who doesn't love to travel? Be it backpacking, hiking, a road trip, a drive across a few hundred kilometers or a ride on 2 wheels. When we see the wonderful photos of the scenic places, read the thrilling travelogues, watch the awesome vlogs and try to experience them staring at a screen miles away from the destination, we dream.

We dream to take a journey that inspires yourself from within. We dream to follow the footsteps of that traveler and experience the myriads of nature and life on the way and... at those amazing destinations.

SJCam SJ4000 WiFi Problem fixed

For all those, who are just thinking of buying a good action or sports camera but are skeptical about a high priced GoPro, SJCam fits into the budget pretty well. Especially, the SJ4000 which has helped out a lot of poor fellows like me. But, then I am pretty sure, many of you have faced problems connecting your SJ4000 over WiFi. There has been a time when you just accepted the fact that the SJ4000 is just an action cam without wifi, although you brought the one with WiFi facility.

The solution is actually pretty simple.

Once you have connected your phone to the SJ Wifi Access Point, turn off your mobile data. 

Tadaaa!! Its that simple.

Reason: The SJCam HD app searches for the camera hardware over the primary data interface. Mobile Data being the primary Internet connectivity source, the app fails to connect to the camera over that channel. So, switching off all data channels except the WiFi makes it work. :)

This SJCam is now available here, for dirt cheap at Banggood. (takes around 30-40 days for delivery since products are shipped to India from China)

UPDATE: Please verify first if your SJCAM 4000 is genuine. You can verify it from here - http://sjcamhd.com/safe/

And, I'm still standing there...

The sun is just about to set and the fiery glow reflects on the river, seemingly giving an infinite ray of hope. Your eyes start dreaming, as if they want to freeze the moment. Deep inside, you know that you have started falling for her. You just want to be beside her forever. But then, a little bit of chaos drifts you from your dreams and your mind shakes you up. You wake up to realize, that the time spent has been too short. How could you fall for her in such a short time? Time doesn't stop and while your mind nudges your heartfelt moments, the sun gradually moves towards the horizon. Its hue gets more charming and deeper. The blue and red clouds adore the monsoon skies clearly, while the river paints a trembling reflection of the same: a stark resemblance of the clear mind and the faintly painted heart that desires to preserve every bit of her memory. You know that just after sometime, nothing of this would be there and its the sadness that creeps within you.

The Monsoon Ride | Video Transcript

This blog below is basically the Video Transcript:
 (Scroll down below for the Youtube Videos)

It was August and it was in between heavy rains. The monsoons were at its peak. So, I was a little bit skeptical whether to ride my Motorcycle or drive to Digha. Finally, I decided to take my motorcycle when the weather turned out to be a little bit less cloudy the day before the trip began.

Digha, Mandarmani and the beaches around were already visited 3 times before this trip in this same year. So, being excited about a new destination was never in my mind. The fun was to be found through the ride to the destination. Initially, I was planning to skip the trip but during this particular journey, I needed some peace since I was already fighting myself to get over something that had thrown me Topsy-turvy. I am in general a carefree person, but times come when you are toppled over like nothing. This monsoon ride was a shot at bringing life back to normal.

তুমি বন্দিনী

বন্দিনী তুমি সীতা অশোক কাননে,
রাধা রূপে বন্দী ছিলে শ্যামের  চরণে।
সাধ তব মেটে নাই সেবিয়া সে কমললোচন
তাই বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া হয়ে বিষ্ণুকেই করেছ বরণ।
কিন্তু নিঠুর হরি গৃহকোণে বন্দি করি
মেতেছিল নাম সংকীর্তনে।
হয়ে প্রিয়া যশোধরা ছিল রূপে মনোহরা
তোমার তপস্যা তবু হয় নি সফল।
কুমার সিদ্ধার্থ  হায় তোমাকে ছাড়িয়া যায়
সুকোমল বক্ষে জ্বালি বিরহ অনল।
পাষাণে ঝরিত অস্রু তোমার ক্রন্দনে,
তবু তুমি ধরা দিতে যুগে যুগে প্রেমের বন্ধনে।

 - সবিতা পাল

The Dream Ride | Draft Plan | Kolkata to Ladakh on Motorcycle 2017

Please follow this post for the Final Plan


Dunno, if I will ever be able to execute this. But, this is the initial draft plan.

Yes it is big. It is a dream to realize.

There will be major roadblocks and many uncertainties for sure. For now, it is just an imagination, a dream which I want to materialize.

Riding a motorcycle across around 7000 kms in 23 days is definitely a mammoth plan in itself but it is not impossible. If your passion for riding is strong enough and if your roadblocks are clear, it can be done without any hiccups.

There have been motorcycle rides from Kolkata to Ladakh to Kolkata in the past. Rolling Wheels has such an episode published in Youtube.
There are also numerous others who have completed such journeys over such distances successfully in the past. Mumbai to Ladakh (e.g. Mumbaiker Nikhil), Bangalore to Ladakh, Hyderabad to Ladakh and many more.

Initial Roadblocks:
1. Convincing Family
2. Leave for a 15 working days (23 tour days)

Things considered while planning:
1. Every weekend is consumed to minimize the number of working days.
2. In 23 days: 2 days constitute light riding/more rest and 3 days of full rest in between

Improvements that can be done to Plan:
1. We can easily minimize 23 days to less number of days keeping the same travel route and plan
2. Please suggest. Please comment. 

খুঁজে ফিরি

তোমাকে ছাড়িয়া যত দূরে আমি যাই
চেয়ে দেখি এই হৃদয়ে আমার
তুমি ছাড়া কিছু নাই।
গগনে দেখেছি শশী রূপরাশি
তারই মাঝে তবে অমলিন হাসি
দেখিয়া আমার গোপন সে ব্যাথা
নিমেষে হয়েছে লয়।
আবার যখন আঁখি জলে ভাসি,
চুপি চুপি তুমি দাঁড়ালে যে আসি
নিমেষে আমার ভ্রান্ত হৃদয়ে
শান্তি ফিরিয়া পাই।
যখন যেখানে বনে উপবনে,
তব গান শুনি পাখির কূজনে
খুশির আবেগে চঞ্চল হিয়া
নাচে আর গান গায়।
গিরি ,গুহা আর ঝর্নাকে হেরি
ক্ষনে ক্ষনে আমি উঠেছি শিহরী
এরই মাঝে তব বিলীন সত্তা
যদি আমি খুঁজে পাই।
আবার যখন নদী তীরে বসি
তোমার ভাবনা ভাবি রাশি রাশি
সেইক্ষণে তব মুখখানি আমি
আবার দেখিতে পাই।

 - সবিতা পাল 

তোমার জন্য

তোমার খুশির জন্য হব তরুলতার ফুল
তোমার খুশির জন্য আমি গান গাওয়া বুলবুল।
চাঁদকে এনে ভরিয়ে দেব তোমার হাতের মুঠি
কপালে টিপ দিয়ে তবে চাঁদের হবে ছুটি।
তোমার জন্য রাঙিয়ে দেব প্রজাপতির পাখা
দেখবে তুমি তাইতো আমার রঙিন ছবি আঁকা।
তোমার খুশির জন্য আমি ঝর্না হয়ে তাই
পাহাড় বেয়ে আপনমনে নৃত্য করে যাই।
গাঁথব মালা সাগর থেকে মুক্তা মানিক আনি
তোমার খুশির জন্য হব ফুলের দেশের রানী।
তোমার খুশির জন্য হব সাতরঙা এক পাখি
ঘুম পাড়ানী সুরে আমি উঠবো তোমায় ডাকি।।

 - সবিতা পাল

Testing out the SJCAM on Parama Island Flyover, Kolkata

Its indeed difficult for some budgets to fit the GoPro in. But, then you can enjoy the ride more and be a little less pro. So, I got the SJCAM which seems to have done a great job at just 6500 from Amazon.
I was pretty excited to have a cam like this and indeed a short ride for a test was a must. The straps used as chin mount was good enough.

Watch the video below in Full Resolution (at least 720p) to enjoy the content.

কেন দুঃখ দিলে

কাটলো যখন অমানিশা পেলাম যখন পথের দিশা
নামলো যখন মাটির ঘরে চাঁদ
সুখ পায়রা ধরবো ভেবে পেতেছিলাম ফাঁদ।
আশা ভালোবাসা দিয়ে বেঁধেছিলাম বাসা
ধুলোমুঠি ধরতে গিয়ে পেলাম সোনার পাশা
তখন কেন আঘাত হানো, এমন সর্বনাশা।
যখন ঠিক মাঝ দরিয়ায় ভাসিয়েছিলাম ভেলা
যখন শুধুই জলসা ঘরে আমার গাওয়ার পালা
তখন কেন এমন করে পেলাম অবহেলা ।
যে পথ দিয়ে যখন যেতাম থাকত সবাই চেয়ে
জয়ের মালা পরিয়ে দিত আমায় কাছে পেয়ে
কেন সেই সুখের দিনে আমার বুকে ধরলো এত জ্বালা।

- সবিতা পাল 

তার জন্যে

আজ যে এই লিখতে বসেছি, তা আরো একবার তার ই দ্বারা inspired হয়ে | মামারবাড়ি, ছেলেবেলার প্রায় সবার কাছেই তাদের প্রিয় জায়গা| আমার কাছে এই বাপারটি কোনরূপ আলাদা ছিল না| দাদুর সাথে মাঠে ঘুরে বেড়ানো আর ছুটির বেশ কিছু দিন আমেজ নিয়ে কাটানোটাই ছিল লোভের বিষই| পড়াসুনো অবিস্সী করতে হত, কারণ মা কখনো সেটা থেকে রেহাই দিতেন না| তবু, বাড়িতে গরমের ছুটিতে পড়তে বসা আর মামারবাড়িতে বসে পড়ার মধ্যে অনেক তফাত ছিল|

প্রথমত টুকটাক ভুল হলে, বাবা আসেপাসে থাকার আশংকা একদম ছিল না| দিতীয়ত, মা পড়াতে বসাবার চান্স ও ছিল খুব কম| বেশির ভাগ দিন সকালটা দাদুই পড়াতেন| আর দাদু পড়ালে, টুকটাক ভুল বা অন্যমনস্ক হলে, মারের বদলে বরং একটু আদরই পাওয়া যেত| তবে একটু দিন গড়ালে, দাদু যেতেন গ্রামের কাজ দেখতে, আর সেই ফাঁকে কখনো মা এসে যাচাই করে যেতেন, সব ঠিকঠাক চলছে কিনা? এটাই ছিল আমার দিনের সব চেয়ে বড় চিন্তার বিষই| গোটা সকাল হেলেদুলে পড়ার পর, সেরম কিছুই এগত না, আর সেই দেখে মা প্রায় এক দু ঘা বসিয়েই দিতেন| সকালটা নাহই দাদু অনেক বাঁচিয়েছেন, কিন্তু এবার কি হবে?

আমি যখন যাবো

আমি যখন তোমায় ছেড়ে যাবো,
তুমি তখন আকাশ পানে চেয়ে
আমার গাওয়া গানগুলি সব
শুনিও গো গেয়ে।
আমি যখন তোমায় ছেড়ে যাবো
আমার সেই সমাধির পাশে
একমুঠো ফুল ছড়িয়ে দিও
সবুজ কোমল ঘাসে।
ভোরের বেলা ফুল বাগানে যেও
তোমার পায়ে পড়বো আমি ঝোরে
আদর করে তখন তুলে নিও।
তোমার মনে আঁকা আমার ছবি
যদি পারো সবই মুছে ফেলো
স্মৃতির পাতা ছিঁড়ে ফেল সবই।
বলছি যখন তোমায় এ সব কথা
হচ্ছে মনে কি যেন এক ব্যাথা।
হলো না মোর ভুলে যেতে বলা
হলো না মোর একলা পথে চলা।
জাগো যদি নিদ্রা বিহীন নিশি
থাকবো আমি তোমার পাশে বসি।
আমি যখন তোমায় ছেড়ে যাবো
বীণায় তুমি সুরের মালা গেঁথো
ছেড়ে আমি যতই যেতে চাই
ততই যেন তুমি আমায় বেঁধো।

-সবিতা পাল।

মা

অজস্র তারার মাঝে তুমি এক তারা,
অজস্র ফুলের মাঝে তুমি যেন আধ ফোটা ফুল,
সাগরের বুকে তুমি উত্তাল ঢেউ,
অনেক পাখির মাঝে তুমি যেন ছোট্ট বুলবুল,
অজস্র গানের মাঝে তুমি যেন এক কলি গান,
বাজানো বীনার সুরে সযতনে ধরে রাখা তান,
অনেক স্বপ্নের মাঝে তুমি যেন সুখের স্বপন,
অশ্রুর সাগর মাঝে কুড়িয়ে পেয়েছি আমি অমূল্য রতন,
অনেক ভাষার মাঝে তুমি যেন মনের এক ভাষা,
সব চেয়ে দামি সেই অন্য ভালোবাসা ।

 - সবিতা পাল

Bluemoon - A Comparison and Contrast Essay

The Hunger Games... ;) #fighterfish #feedingfish #Betta #FeedingBetta

A photo posted by Chandrajit Rudra (@chandrajit1988) on Oct 31, 2015 at 1:10am PDT

Being a bachelor is fun and the flavors of being single brings freedom un-paralleled to anything else in this world. It was one fine morning stroll when I decided to get someone else to live with in my small apartment. Perhaps, it could sway me away from my lonely moments. When I saw him, I felt he was so similar to me. Living in a small glass bowl, this someone else happened to be a blueish red fighter fish whose scales shone brightly with the morning sun rays falling on him at an angle. I knew we would be good friends and have a good time together. Fighter fishes love solitude, something which I was bored of at times but sometimes I did love being lonely and peaceful, with no one else to disturb around. So, I brought my friend, Bluemoon to my apartment and placed him at the center of my center-table.

I wish to stay in this 'City of Joy' forever, but I wonder how long?

Being away from Home and family, I had spent quite a few years. Now, that I am back to the City of Joy, I wonder how long would I be able to hold that peace close to me.

The author below reciprocates my feeling to a large extent.

'Kolkata clipped my wings'

Riding in Hot Weather

Source: Fix.com