Goa

28.12.2019 - Goa

I dont remember clearly how many times I have visited this city for vacation and everytime I knew I will come back because there are multiple places thats on my pending list. This time I came because my daughter choose Goa to celebrate her 6th birthday. Ironically she never celebrates her birthday, it was Goa that she wanted to come. 

I got her a cake post lunch, but she was so upset that she said, I wont cut the cake. My dad then complained about his stomach pain. I immidiately rushed to hospital where he was disgnosed with gall bladder stones. My mother, hubby and daughter came a little late to hospital by evening. At the end of the day, my daughter didnt cut the cake, she even didnt saw the cake, actually no one even cared to open the cake. She and my husband left for Pune the same night as scheduled, and i stayed back with my father and mother at the hospital..Today, my father is recovering post a successful operation at the hospital

In past when ever I visited Goa, we visited Beaches, Churches, Temples, Fort, explored Goa in Hop on Hop off bus, rented car, rented bike. Clicked pictures, updated Whatsapp status, ate lots of icecreams and everything unhealthy and yummy. Didnt cared to check our watch or phone. The memories that went with me were almost same say 5 to 10 % change.

But the last 4 days with Goan people, who are Goan or came here and became Goan by spirit, I realised a new Goa.

I took a cab to a near by hospital 2 kmts and was chaged 300 INR, the hospital said they dont have specialist and referred to Vision + in Mapusa somewhere 12 kmts from the last hospital. I asked the same cab driver, he not only took us, dad vomitted while enroute, he shared his water bottle, didnt even flitch his nose or said anything for the smell and mess his cab was. He charged only 200INR and said "Take care" while we drop off at the hospital. 

At hospital, everyone from Doctor, to Nurse, to insurance lady to canteen guys. In four days they make me feel that I have known them for years. There is a smile on their faces, no matter how many times I disturb them in night. The canteen as a set of menu, but they are always willing to mend it based on the customer requirements. and its not just me, its the same attitude with every other patient here. 

Dad will be discharged on Monday but we have to stay in Goa for atleast 4-5 days for followup. I was searching internet for hotels, villas, apartments near hospital or near market area  but couldnt finalize one. Suddenly on Google I saw a villa Acacia very near to the hospital.I called the owner and the owner said he is full but can give for a couple of days . I walked down to see the apartment, having stayed in hotels I have my own perseption whether or not to go for it. I saw the villa, the first thought came, its a home. I told the owner why I am looking for a room with a kitchen. He showed me a room perfect for me clean homely and he said, when you dad gets discharged, give me a call, "I will come and pick him up. No need to book a cab"

Last time when I was here in Goa with my husband and daughter, we booked a hopon and hop off bus and came to know that the late CM Pariker ceremony was going on so the main Panaji area is closed. The bus driver spoke about the CM like he was his buddy, We met multiple people that day and everyone was working but they didnt forgot to mention to us "Tourist" that the Goa we are seeing today is the hardwork of him. The gratitude a person was receiving from the lower income group made me wonder how wonderfull that politician would be who have touched lives.

I saw people wearing T shirt "I love Goa" . I dont know if I love Goa or not but I love the Bus connectivity, peoples smile, the simplicity, the caring, the passion of doing their job, the sincerity, the open midedness, the helpfull nature, the gratitude..... and many more..

I am sure of only one thing, "I am coming back to GOA again!!! "

Journey from 240/120 to 120/80

Its not long ago when I was denied entry in a refinery due to unhealthly heart. It was the first time, someone called me sick, vulnerable, and UNHEALTHLY. I was always the active one, eating healthy food was not a compulsion but my liking. One thing I never envision was someone calling me UNHEALTHY. It was a shock and more shocking was that I was asked to leave site immediately and consult a cardiologist.

I met one cardiologist in Aditya Birla hospital and he said :You are a perfect candidate of Silent heart attack and if things don't change + 6 months is what you have. I returned back home with "Life saver medicines" and an ecg that was bad.

I met a conventional cardiologist who suggested some life style changes and one of them was joining a professional workout place. I was never a GYM person, running on treadmills sucks.. I heard about NXTFIT/ outraw and MMA. Hesitatingly I called Gurpreet and asked if MMA is taught to elderly persons like me who have Blood pressure. He said, please come for the demo class. 

I met Deepak on 11 Sept 2018 at 6.05 am for demo class. After an hour I knew I can try this place for a month, I joined on 15th Sept. After few days I met Anuj and things started to change.Everyday I return home with sore muscles and pain and every single day I woke up to learn something new. It started with 2 pushups which were too hard to 100 burpees, from try skipping to 700 skips. I didnt realised whats changing and to what extent until my medical test a couple of months later, from a bad ecg to no trace of anything bad,,, from BP of 230/140 to a BP of 130/90, from a tentative silent heart attack to 9kmts jogging.. In my cardiologist words, its nothing less than a miracle.. I call this miracle -- ANUJ !!!

Thank you Anuj, You are not only a coach but a life saver.

My thoughts before my first solo TREK in the Himalayas

Today on 6th August, I am waiting for my trekking bag to arrive from Decathlon. I was on a shopping spree for last couple of weeks and my shopping site was Decathlon. I didnt knew which other site or shop to refer when it comes to sport specific items. Trekking... i knew nothing about it. Its my first time, i thought to start slow 1 day trek but couldnt materialize any plans. Everytime I have an opportunity something comes up and I cant go. So this August when I came to know about Valley of Flowers trek.. I jumped at the opportunity. I tried to convince my hubby, but he was sure,, he is not going for trek. I also tried to find a partner in a friend, collegue, gym buddy, neighbour, phone friend, whatapp contacts, but no one came forward. So I decided to go alone, This is my first solo trek with a group I dont know today but will definetly be buddies by the end of trek... or not... I dont know.. Just 4 days to go now!!!

I planned to go to Hem Kund shahib this August. It was on my wishlist since I came to know about this place some 12 years back on my way to Badrinath. I heard about Hem Kund, the lake in midst of snow, a gurudwara where you can only trek and go, no other mode of transport. I also read about Valley of flowers, the place where once stood the Drona parbat,, which Hanuman took it with him to Lanka..

I am all set to visit the place that is considered as a painting by nature, where colours come to life, where the slopes of mountains feels like lines in a canvas, the place which gave birth to the word beauty. I can only imagine, what it will feel like standing in middle of a painting, feeling the 3d canvas with natural beauty all around, rain pouring from the sky on the fertile slopes giving every flower a new shade of life. Where colors dance on the tune of nature, gives meaning to have a sight, a memory of life time or may be more.

At home I switch on my gyser without a second thought when the temperature dips before 21, but here I am planning to take a dip in freezing cold, in a freezed lake at the top of the mountain after a tedious 6 kmts steep mountain trek, to know i have to change and again decent another 6 kmts down in the same freezing chill windy rainy season. This thought make me wonder if I am sane or not? I know what I signed up for, and have been preping mentally for it... but still am I sure Why I am going there?

I am a little bit of religious but not orthodox, but thats not the reason I planned for Hem kund shahib. I never did trekking, so love to conqur a mountain cant be the driving force here. I always went of vacation with family, and enjoyed it, never went alone for a holiday, but has gone to multiple solo business travels. I know I prefer travelling with my family, so that can also not be the driving force.. So why am i looking forward to a vacation that seems to be a physical torture when i can opt to visit goa and relax... I signed up for the trek, paid for the trek, booked tickets, air-train-bus everything... booked hotel , applied leaves, everything i did with this doubt why I am going there.

But today when I started to write this blog I realized I always had this answer with me. I want to know about myself. This is a self realization journey where I am planning to explore my own self, my own boundaries, my own limitations, my own dreams, my own fears and my own strenghts. Venturing into the unknown in extreme climatic conditions, with all strangers can I live up to my own expectations.
I am going to a place, I never have been.
I am going with people I never met or known
I am carrying a camera that I never used
I am wearing a shoes that I never wore
I am going to do something that I have never done

Am I prepared? I have no clue.. But I know I will return with an experience that will make me a better person. I am looking forward to find myself.