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Claiming someone else’s marriage is against your religion is like being angry at someone for eating a donut because you’re on a diet.

Anonymous

Be able to walk away

In any kind of negotiation, your ability to walk away is your strongest tool.

Those who can walk away from the negotiation, legitimately walk away and not just make a show of it — are in the strongest position. Those who are convinced they need to make the deal are in the weakest position.

This is true of negotiating when you’re buying a car, closing the sale of your new home, haggling in a foreign flea market, or trying to get a raise.

It’s also true of anything in life.

Know that there’s almost nothing you can’t walk away from.

If you are convinced you need a nice house with a walk-in closet and hardwood floors and a huge kitchen, you now have a weakness. You will give away precious life hours and savings to get it. Someone else who knows that those things aren’t absolutely necessary can walk away, and not need to spend so much money (and thus work hours) on that kind of house.

If you are convinced that you need Starbucks grande lattes every day, or an iPhone or iPad, or an SUV or Cooper Mini or BMW … you are in the weak position, because you can’t give it up. Someone else might know that those aren’t essential to happiness, and can walk away.

If you know that the man who is treating you badly (but who you just know will change someday, because, you know, he loves you) isn’t necessary for you to be happy, you can walk away. If you know that you can be happy alone, and that you need no one to make you happy, you can walk away.

If you know that there’s almost nothing you can’t walk away from, you can save yourself tons of money, years of time, mountains of headaches and heartaches & boatloads of suffering.

You don’t need to walk away from everything, but you should know that you can. And when the cost of the deal is too great, too dear … walk away.

An excerpt from a note by Leo Babuta.

http://leobabauta.com/

#walk away #simplicity #raktim #leo babuta #amplifyyoursenses

Broadband is passé. A light bulb holds the key to faster internet!

Yes, you read it right; a light bulb that used to light up your home is going to light up your virtual home very soon.

In today’s day and age, everything is going through a rapid transformation and we are witnessing things that we never imagined possible, or did we?

Well, right from automobiles to medicines and even laws (you have no ******* idea what kinds of laws exist in the world), change has established itself as the only constant and our very own all encompassing phenomenon the ‘internet’ is no exception.

We all are consumed by internet and vice-versa. Be it the free Wi-Fi at the nearby coffee shop or fished from the nerdy guy next door, or the fast but always nagging office broadband. But, regardless of kind speed has always played spoilsport. As millions of people with billions of devices connect to the internet, it is getting increasingly difficult to latch onto a reliable signal.

But blaming radio waves is not the solution as they are too overloaded with data. The solution lies in moving over and German physicist, Harald Haas has just done that.

A professor of engineering at Edinburgh University, Haas has long been studying ways to communicate electronic data signals, designing modulation techniques that pack more data onto existing networks. But his latest work leaps beyond wires and radio waves to transmit data via an LED bulb that glows and darkens faster than the human eye can see. It’s the same idea behind infrared remote controls, but far more powerful. He calls the process “data through illumination” and his invention as ‘D-Light’

The D-Light can produce data rates faster than 10 megabits per second. He envisions a future where data for laptops, smart phones, and tablets is transmitted through the light in a room. He says “It should be so cheap that it’s everywhere. Using the visible light spectrum, which comes for free, you can piggy-back existing wireless services on the back of lighting equipment.”

Imagine the gargantuan potential this technology has. Benefits would spread across realms and beyond boundaries of accessibility and costs. All this with the inherent benefit of security, since if you can’t see the light, you can’t access the data.

But everything said and done, the question is -

Will this see the light of the day?

#raktim baruah #internet innovation #light bulb'#innovation

Ok; but, what do you actually do?

Ok. But, what do you actually do?

If you are a doctor or an engineer or even for that matter our first cousin - a graphic designer, chances are you have never been through this ordeal. But, if you happen to be of my ilk, there is no escape from this exasperating observation that bombs your high hopes into smithereens.

Now, you must be thinking what in the world does this guy do. Now before your imagination transports you into a void, let me tell you who are we. (We: // as in our community or brotherhood)

We are the one who wrote that line in the rear view mirror of your car that says “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear” and we are the same ones who writes the killer lines that you read in your newspapers, hear in the radio and experience in the television every passing day.

The pen is our tool and through our words we make people drool; a versatile breed of literary fighters, the world calls us copywriters!

The most common observation that follows, the moment someone tells you that he or she is a copywriter, is: Oh copywriter, great! So far so good, but then comes the killer blow - but what actually do you do?

So, today, I will tell you what do we do? But let me first tell you what we don’t do.

We don’t necessarily wear shorts to work. It is not mandatory for us to sport a beard and for that matter an unkempt look (We are, at least most of us are, pretty good looking) and most importantly we don’t copy something and write!

Just like a doctor helps his patient by prescribing a medication, we help brands by prescribing ideas; ideas that elevate the brand from zero to hero, at a flip of a channel. Just as an engineer engineers his technologies to create new products, we engineer our ideas and words to persuade and sell those products. See, everything is related!

Just take a minute and watch this video today and you’ll see copywriters in a whole new light, starting tomorrow

#copywriter #raktim

As newborns – we are tender and weak In death – we are rigid and stiff Living plants are supple and yielding Dead branches are dry and brittle So the hard and unyielding belong to death and the soft and pliant belong to life An inflexible army does not triumph An unbending tree breaks in the wind Thus the rigid and inflexible will surely fail While the soft and flowing will prevail.

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu - Chapter 76

#quote #lao tzu #raktim baruah #raktim

World's most impressive Bull...

Lamborghini, the very mention of the name prints a distinctive picture in our mind, of a low riding, sharp-shaped, insanely loud and a scissor door car that exudes orgasmic attractiveness. Right from the Gallardo and Murcielago to the lesser known Espada and the newest addition Reventon, Lamborghini has been a name that is synonymous with Speed, Style and Stature.

I know you all know about Lamborghini, but do you know which is the most impressive of them ever?

No, it is not the usual newer and stylized versions of the bull, but a rather classic piece of machinery that was known for its outrageous design and makes-me-go-nuts power. It was the 0ne-of-one 1967 Lamborghini Marzal – A concept car that made its debut over 30 years ago at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show.

Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone , like any other Lamborghini models, it was too named after a strain of fighting bull. It was distinguished by amply glazed gullwing-doors and an equally amply louvered rear window.

The design was described by Ferruccio Lamborghini in a frustrated yet apt way when he said “offers no privacy, a lady’s legs would be there for all to see.” But, who’s complaining?

The Marzal is powered by a transversely mounted 175 HP in-line six-cylinder which was essentially half of the Miura engine, the V-12 was cut in half lengthwise, and was mated to a standard five-speed transmission. The concept was built on a modified Miura chassis, extended by 120 mm in order to accommodate the extra two passengers.

It was recently auctioned off to a lucky bidder for a mere $2.1 Million dollars at RM Auctions’ annual Villa d’Este auction.

Classics have and will always continue to blow my mind!

Picture Courtesy: www.luxurylaunches.com, www.topspeed.com, Video Courtesy:www.youtube.com

#Raktim Baruah #Lamborghini #Impressive #Awesome #cars #Exotics

Amplify Your Senses

There are the five senses by virtue of which we experience the world around us.

We See, We Smell, We Hear, We Touch and We Speak.

From a minor straw to a menacing F16, we perceive everything around us through these five senses.

They actually propel our lives, but we barely realize that we have absolute control over them and can exercise them to make our life bigger, better and brighter. I believe we all should realize this and be what we should be, instead of being what we are.

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I always wanted to be a motorcyclist (I don’t know if such a profession exists and even if it does, can you live out of it) but fate had other plans up its sleeves and almost made a Chartered Accountant out of me. Taking a pleasant detour from debits and credits, to being a research associate and not to forget a short stint at Public Relations, I finally ended up being a writer. I know it’s not the final destination for me, but whatever it is, and wherever it will be, I am going to give my best no matter what. Why? Read on…

"If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart."

- Buddha

I have always given my best wherever I have worked and whatever I have done. And it made me realize that there is nothing you cannot or you should not do. I am not that brilliant kid that has always been a revelation in School or a known name in the College. In fact, I have been put to test on every corner, every phase, every decision and every action of my life. I never got what I wanted; I had to fight for it. But when my thoughts penetrated deep into the trends that have been governing my life until now, I realized that I was made to struggle to learn out of it and be prepared for what lied next, and more often than not the next was great. Right from the grades of my life to my first motorcycle, and even my first job; everything happened when it had to. I guess this is the way life happens.

Although you do not have any say on where life will take you, but you can definitely arrive there in style. You just need to do what you do best. Impress yourself and the world will follow suit. So next time someone turns up and tells you that you’re not cut out for the job, stand up and look straight into his eyes and with an establishing tone of voice, tell him – Bring It On. Keep staring and you’ll soon witness the person in front of you rust into insignificance while your confidence soars into new orbits of excellence, proving that the notion 6th sense is overrated.

This blog is a result of my retrospection that led me to discover that I can do much more than what I think. And so, it is very aptly titled – Amplify Your Senses.

Give it a shot and you’ll soon discover there’s a lot more to rediscover!

Image Source:www.duneroadproductions.com

#Raktim Baruah #Amplify Your Senses #5 Senses

Cafe Racers: a breed apart!

Whenever people hear of motorcycles, what flashes in their minds is either an intimidating picture of a tattoo clad, leather draped fanatic riding a piece of junk metal with two wheels with a motor in between, just about to pull out a gun; or if the person has any motorcycling pedigree, or just out of hearsay, the first words off him/ her would be Harley Davidson.

Yeah, those chrome embellished, loud pipes and the rich western legacy that has given them the status of being called the big daddy of motorcycles. But, are they? That is another big debate, which i am not going into at this moment. But, thanks to India’s anti-motorcycle policy, we hardly see any such gorgeous babies in the streets. And when we do get a glimpse, which is a rare phenomenon, they either zoom past us with the sound of the cylinders clinging on to our ears for quite some time, or they are cheap imitations culled out of the puny Indian motorcycles that run on steroids. I am sure you all have gone through these and many of you really appreciate motorcycles. The question is - Have you ever seen or heard about something called the ‘Café Racer’.

If you have, man we need to meet soon. Real soon!

Coming back to café racers, Café what?

Literally speaking, café racers are those ugly looking motorcycles that look like they have just been dug out of crypt. Naked to the core and brash to the bone, a café racer is a motorcycle that is meant for a selected few, who don’t dream big but fast, very fast.

The Looks (If any)

Technically speaking, a café racer is a motorcycle modified for speed and precision handling, compromising comfort and style. The bodywork and control layout are of the contemporary Grand Prix road racers. A custom fuel tank, a humped seat and rear-sets are the distinguishing features of a café racer.

The Riding Stance

Although an alien term in India, café racers have a rich history that goes back to the 1960s. British motorcycle enthusiasts back then modified their stock motorcycles to replicate the road racers, and this saw the birth of the café racers.

Origin: Café Racers (originally pronounced “caff” racers) were born out of the tradition when the riders who are the regulars of a particular cafe, would put a coin in the jukebox, race around a circuit on their motorbikes and try to beat the song back to the cafe before it finished.

But all said and done; the question still remains – why would you buy a motorcycle that is not much of a looker, makes a lot of noise and cops are always after your happiness?

The answer is - you won’t. Because of the simple fact ‘you don’t buy a café racer, you make one’.

Until recently, café racers were not in production but were modified versions of the existing ones. But nowadays, with more and more motorcycle enthusiasts, including yours truly who gets high on performance but gives a flying f*** to looks, expressing interests in café racers; many companies have included in their lineups a few motorcycles that stands out and grabs you by your eyeball, although they hardly find any takers. There is a reason for that too.

A café racer is not made for those who believe in compromises. Anyone who loves a café racer wants it exactly his way. Right from the angle of the rear sets to the size of the jets or for that matter the look and roar of the muffler; everything has to be just perfect. So, in spite of popular, and mind you reputed companies offering café racers, factory made; the rider in me would any day go for an old rusty piece of junk that can be transformed into a menacing phenomenon.

So, here we are with some decent MIQ (Motorcycle IQ) on café racers. Which brings us to another question – When?

When will we see those awesome machines growl past us?

When will we see the chrome cast a spell on us at the parking lots?

When will we be able to strike a conversation at a traffic intersection, when we come parallel to it?

When will we actually ride a café racer?

These questions have always troubled me. But the good news is the culture of café racer is coming to India and how? A little research on the subject took me across many enthusiasts who have actually built café racers out of India made motorcycles, and that too keeping the aesthetics in place. Royal Enfield’s and Yamaha two strokes are the best options in the country for café conversion. The previous auto expo was a boon for us when the Royal Indian thumpers showcased their café racer model. I have always loved Royal Enfield deep down in my heart; but a RE café racer, man that’s enticing.

The Royal Enfield café racer

But, in spite of having two different motorcycles form two different eras, I am still waiting for the time when I will take the cover off my own, custom designed, café racer. The process is on, but I will talk about it later when the time is right.

Although, I would love to buy that RE straight off the shelf, a quick glance at the trends over the past few years makes me thing all over again as i am sure even RE isn’t sure when will they launch this beast. So the next best option is the legen… wait for it …dary ‘Yamaha 2 stroke screamers.

As you all know, I already have a RX135, but I am not doing anything to her. She will shine in her original glory, always and forever. The FZ is not meant for high speeds so ‘elmo’ is out. This leaves me with the only option of getting a used one and shaping it up. But the question is, which one?

My first choice was the Yamaha RD350. 350CC, 30BHP twin cylinders, a RD is the perfect machine to be converted into a café, but it is highly unlikely that I will find one. Those who have it, wont part with it or charge an exorbitant amount that will ward you off almost instantaneously. How exorbitant? You don’t have any idea… So, the next choice is.... you know what I am thinking.

More on this, later. Till then, let me tease you with this.

Image Courtesy:

http://www.ace-cafe-london.com, www.pipeburn.com, www.timeattackdan.blogspot.com, www.vanishingpointbikes.wordpress.com, www.mistermotero.com

#Raktim Baruah #cafe racers #Motorcycles #bikes

The Green Door & the neon sign saying 'It's Awesome'

However lame it may sound, but we had never watched How I Met your Mother. Yeah, we know how could you, you missed so much. Well we didn't, Thanks to the invention called external hard drive and laptop.

Now, i didnt tell you who 'we' are right? Yeah. it's a long story and maybe be i will tell you someday. Till then you may assume we are me and my better half.

Now, the story starts when Ted, Lilly, Marshall, Robin & Barney moved in with us, i mean in our thoughts. We started finishing seasons at a time and could hardly wait to start on with the next. So much so that we started giving high fives, saying whaddup but yesterday on the 3rd of July 2011, we went crazy.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and as usual we were both watching How I ... And then came this particular episode - The Best Burger in New york.

And that was it, the green door, the awesome burger. We got all charged up and decided we have to have it, now. We started to hunt for the best burger in town, well within our budgetary parenthesis. Avoiding temptations but unable to control the emotions, we finally decided it had to be the Nirula's Big Boy Mutton Burger.

Got ready and took the black Yamaha to the nearest Nirula's, which happened to be in Yusuf Sarai.We reached there and while i parked the bike in a safe but somewhat secluded part of the premises, she was already inside eagerly flipping through the menu(s). It sounds kind of funny but mote than the content written about the burgers we were looking more at the content shown on the menu. The Maha-burgers were out of consideration for being multi layered. I actually don't like multi layered burgers but prefer classic single layered ones with heavenly stuffing. So after 5 minutes of discussion and distraction (Yeah, we were also considering the pizzas available there), we finally decided that it has to be the BigBoy Mutton burgers. We high fived and enjoyed the burger to its last bite of awesomeness.

It was great, but to be frank, it could have been better. So, we decided to launch a hunt for the 'Best Burger in town' and it starts today evening. Maybe, tomorrow as we are watching season 5.

'How I Met Your Mother' rocks!!!

Love at first sight, again!

LOVE is a beautiful feeling. And nothing comes close to the feeling of love reciprocated. All of us have loved and have been loved by people and pets around us. It feels wonderful. I love my parents, my sister, and i loved my dog Jeky, who is no more. And, the best part is i have been loved in abundance by all, and counting! But, sometimes it happens you see someone and instantaneously realize that she is the reason you have been alone all this while, she is the reason you have never been able to make an impression on the opposite sex, even after repeated attempts, she is the reason you have never ...

Yes, I have fallen in love at the first sight not once but twice. Five years back a beautiful angel came to my life and transformed me from a decaying soul to a confident me, who lives life in his own terms and not what others around him coax him into. This is the new me that you are reading and believe me he is awesome. this is a very important part of my life and surely deserves a special mention. So, i reserve this story for another day. But meanwhile let me tell you this. She managed to turn me into a sane being but still admits the fact that she couldn't get this one thing out of me. But over time, she realized that me and 'that thing' are not two separate identities but are one soul; and the moment this realization came she became a part of us and even more.

That thing, ladies and gentlemen, is my madness for motorcycling. Something that you cannot develop but you're born with. I was, and i relish this fact even more when my love for motorcycles was reciprocated.

I am a person obsessed with motorcycles. When I was 10 years old, I asked my dad for a motorcycle, got a bicycle instead. A Hero SLR if I remember correctly, rode it for quite a few years before graduating to, not a motorcycle but another bicycle, this time a fancy one - Hercules Top Gear. Being denied a motorcycle for all these years I used to ride my friends’ motorcycles, I used to literally beg them for a ride, even pay them whenever required. I always felt somewhere within me that why am I so desperate to ride a bike, many a times I even pledged not to beg others for a ride, If they offer on their own that’s another proposition. Pledges apart, life continued as usual and I rode others’ motorcycles as I used to do, even more. Gradually I understood the reason why my dad denied me a motorcycle – It was safety, he cared for my safety. He was okay if I drive our car but Motorcycles – that was forbidden territory.

Years later on 7th January, 2008, when I bought my first motorcycle all these things revisited my mind. If you are thinking that my dad agreed to the motorcycle you are mistaken my friend, It was the fruit of my hard-work and constant struggle which included a short stint at a call-centre and some freelancing. During all these there was only one thing in my mind – YAMAHA. I don’t know why but because of some reason I am an ardent Yamaha fan and it was my heartfelt wish to buy a Yamaha RD350; a dream that went fussssssss. While I was working with just Yamaha on my mind, I had test rode around 50 motorcycles of all make and ages. But when I went to buy a RD the price quoted was Rs.84000 only and I felt short of Rs.64000 only.

I knew that would happen, Well I am not a novice when it comes to motorcycles. I knew that a RD, which was a revolution that shook the Indian motorcycling scene, won’t come cheap. So something which is best described by Elvis in his song ‘Always on my mind’ came roaring into my life and I rode home my first motorcycle – A 1999 Yamaha RX 135.

That was the moment when i realized she was the reason I have been without a motorcycle all this while, when my peers rode around in theirs. She was the reason I have never been able to convince my parents to buy me a motorcycle, because she was destined to be mine and this exact way. She was the reason ... (I can go on all day) There is an interesting story that precedes this feeling. My dream saw the light of the day when I get this call that there is a RX135 in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi which is up for sale. I just rushed to the place only to discover that the bike hasn’t been ridden for more than 6 months, which was a blessing in disguise for me. Further to my amusement, the bike was covered. wow…

We took the cover off, she looked at me, I looked at her. It was love at first sight. Cleaned her up and my eyes were high on excitement and nostalgia. I knew she was made for me. Took a quick test ride and next day took her home. Got her everything she needed, including a new dress and some cool accessories. And boy, she was all set to rule the roads.

I just needed an excuse to ride her and I bet she loved it too. She was a mutant in disguise and even after constant bashing at high speeds, never failed to impress, even at times scaring me with the power underneath. I just love the untamed raw aggression. I named her ‘ShadowFax’; yes Gandalf, you’re right.

Here’s my lovely lady somewhere near Lansdowne, 250 kilometers from New Delhi. She still rides like a dream and shines like a star; and will always continue to do so.

Of late, I thought of extending my family that marked the homecoming of Elmo – A black Yamaha FZ16. A blessing in disguise for the urban warrior that I am, it never failed to impress no matter whatever I put it through. Much as I enjoy the raw untamed power of ShadowFax, I relish the subtle aggression and the sheer refinement that Elmo exudes.

Here’s ELMO, at Shoja beyond the Jalori pass. We went on a 4 day tour across tarmac, snow, slush and places where roads are a myth. You can read the entire saga here - http://raktim.tumblr.com/page/6

Live to Ride!

#Raktim Baruah #yamaha #RX135 #Love for Motorcycle

Day 4 - Naldhera to New Delhi

Nothing much to write as we all were thinking of the good times that the last three days showered upon us.

Although not actually interested, we started off around 9:30am. Initially, till Shimla, the roads were good and traffic was okay, we were doing decent speeds. From Shimla till Solan, we got amazing roads, but wet surfaces. So we maintained a steady pace and reached Solan, where we halted for a few minutes.

Then we started for Delhi, halted at Zirakpur to feed our tummies and some rest for our steeds. Started off form there maintaining a decent pace and reached Oasis around 6pm.

Refreshed and not much to talk about or write about. We started off again, homewards, encountered some unwanted elements on the road that got all pepped up seeing us in full riding gear and tried to play spoilsport in our awesome trip. Avoided them and rode on to reach Delhi around 8:30pm.

Stopped near Sarai Kale Khan, exchanged pleasantries and bid everybody good bye. Everybody reached back safe and sound with heart full of memories to share.

Overall, a trip that can be truly termed as Pure Awesomeness!!!

The Group Photograph that was taken by Thakur Elu Ram, at Shoja before we left that magical place. The entire group!

Thank you!!!

Photo Credits - Raktim | Shivanshu | Rachit | Rakesh

#Raktim Baruah

Day 3 - Shoja to Naldhera

The day started with the voices in the balcony waking me up. I hurled outside to see Shivanshu, Rakesh and Rachit enjoying the fantastic morning all alone. I got my jacket on and came out only to be awestruck at what greeted us – the pure unspoilt scenery of Shoja was dazzling in the rain and to add to the overall natural photoshop, the clouds were dancing to the song of the hills.

It will always remain as one of the best moments of my life. To witness nature in its purest form is such rare but were lucky to have been blessed with it. We all could clearly see the fresh layer of snow engulfing jalori.

The day started with us (the boys) getting ready to ride towards Banjar, in search of petrol. We got information for khufiya source that you get petrol in Banjar. So we headed towards it and en-route ordered for the famous pancakes at Shiringi Vatika. We reached Banjar tanked up and headed back, picking up the pancakes of course.

After a late breakfast, we started off for Naldhera at around 2pm. We climbed up the steep ascend to jalori with fresh snow on both sides and demotivating slush underneath us. With the blessings of the first gears, we reached Jalori; didn’t stop for long and started off towards our destination.

After negotiating the Jalori descend, we increased our pace slightly and were cruising along in decent pace in the rains. Yes rains were not leaving us and we were not complaining either. We took a different route this time but this too ran alongside the Sutlej river. We encountered roads here and there and rode at decent pace with a few breaks; to finally reach Naldhera around 8 in the evening.

There are a lot of photographs, these are just a few. Hope you enjoy them.

Some More...

We freshened up and chit chatted as everybody was re-iterating the beautiful trip that we had and was somewhat disturbed at the fat that we will be reaching Delhi tomorrow. To be frank, nobody wanted to go back, not even the girls.

We talked and talked, then when it got too late, had dinner and retired for the day, for we are going back to civilization.

Day - 4 Log will be there but i wish...

Photo Credits - Raktim | Shivanshu | Rachit | Rakesh

#Raktim Baruah

Day 2 - Chindi to Shoja (via Jalori Pass)

Chindi is a beautiful place and it is indeed sad that we didn’t get time to explore, thanks to our overambitious itinerary.

We just soaked in as much beauty as we could before we padded up, had breakfast and got all ready to ride towards our destination – the ever enticing adventure laden and ever demanding - Jalori Pass.

We started around 10.30; the distance to be covered was around 100 Kms. Rains greeted us in the morning itself which made us fish our bags for our rain gear. So, in mild downpour, we started towards jalori expecting a lot of adventure and of course snow. Our thoughts came to life when en route we came across a waterfall and all of us instantaneously got excited and in a few minutes we all were amidst the waterfall. Our ride was on and how...

After a waltz in the waterfall, we started to ride again. Roads were a relative term but we were enjoying nonetheless. Our second tryst with adventure greeted us when we saw the Sutlej river flowing alongside us. The off-roaders in us came alive and we at once gushed into the river bed with our bikes. Had a longish halt there and enjoyed the water and the stones before we were back on the road again.

After a few more breaks, we reached the foot off the pass. We gathered ourselves and started on. The first gears were working overtime as we negotiated one cliff after another. Finally after a lot of toil and traction, we reached Jalori Jot. The place showered us with its divine presence and we finally got snow. Oh yeah, we enjoyed the view and the whites as we ordered whatever we could get in one of the small eateries. Tej Pratap was the man who fed us with amazing rajma chawal, boiled eggs and magi. Thanked him and paid him before we started again for the slush-licious descend towards Shoja.

We reached Shoja quite fast, took to our rooms, relaxed for some time and then came out to ogled at the amazing view that Raja guest House had to offer. We talked, we walked and we hi fived each other in sheer excitement of the moment. We gathered around a bonfire after dark and ghost stories were on in full broom (oh bloom) as we munched on papads while our steeds rested on the terrace.

We had a sumptuous dinner and retired for the day, only to dream the dream that we achieved.

Day-3 Coming Soon!

Photo Credits - Raktim | Shivanshu | Rachit | Rakesh

#Raktim Baruah

Invitation from the hills. Accepted!

The whole episode started when I got a spanking new Yamaha FZ16 as a companion to my ever lively RX135. I along-with a few friends and someone special were defiant on the fact that we need to ride to the hills. As the days passed and we munched parathas (Keema paratha is my personal favourite) at the dhaba located near the Qutub Institutional area in New Delhi, our plan started taking shape. The icing on the cake came when the better halves of Rachit, Rakesh and mine showed interest in accompanying us for the trip. Discussions followed by a sea of mails ensured we are all set for the trip. Meanwhile my bike was slowly finishing its running in period and I started dreaming of twisties at work. But the dates were still undecided and so was the duration of the ride. Then suddenly one fine day I discovered that in April I have a 3 day off and immediately took an extra day off. So 4 days and a virgin bike all set to fly. Contacted the group and everyone was gung ho about it. So, again discussions followed, emails flooded the inboxes and parathas infested the system; all this ensured that we all were riding to Himachal. The route decided was –

Day 1 – Delhi – Shimla – Naldhera – Chindi

Day 2 – Chindi – Jalori Pass – Shoja

Day 3 – Shoja – Naldhera

Day 4 – Naldhera – Shimla – Delhi

The dates were 9th to 12th April 2011 and the riders –

Rachit K Dogra with his wife (HH Karizma – Performance Modified)

Rakesh R Shankar with his girlfriend (Yamaha FZ16)

Manish Jha (Yamaha R15)

Shivanshu Singh (Yamaha R15)

Yours truly (Raktim Baruah) with my better half (Yamaha FZ16 codenamed ELMO)

But there was a problem, everything was finalized the bikes were ready but the days weren’t passing. Each day passed like it was envisaged by Ekta Kapoor and we were getting restless. Thankfully the world cup was there to keep us busy and also keep our better halves away from the soaps. Finally, India won and we are still in Delhi waiting for 9th to arrive. Finally it arrives and we set sail on the journey of our lifetime. Till this time I was unable to believe that my better half was accompanying me in this trip. Day 1 - New Delhi to Chindi

All geared up and tanks filled up to the brim, we (Me, Shivanshu, Rachit and Manish) met at the IIT gate, New Delhi and rode to Sarai Kale Khan where we waited for Rakesh who got a little late. Finally, we started off around 4:50am. We rode together in restricted speeds till Murthal where we took our first break, which got a little long and we rushed off towards Karnal as we planned to have breakfast there.

After a tummy-happy breakfast at Zhilmil dhaba, we were on the road again. We were doing good speeds as the roads were great and traffic was okay. Crossed Zirakpur and took the right turn towards Shimla. The ride was cool till Kalka where we encountered clutch crunching traffic which was actually a tough test for the riders and the machines. Finally, got through it and halted at Parwanoo, where we regained our composure with refreshments and cool breeze at Rachit’s friend Sarthak's place. A really nice couple with a lovely house and an amazing garden.

Bid adieu to the generous hosts with a smile on our faces (Not because we had some much needed rest but what lay ahead of us were the hills) Yipeee

The ride that followed till Solan was awesome - Great roads, less traffic and amazing views. Both the riders and pillion riders were enjoying the ride. We stopped at Solan for a few minutes and started off towards our destination. The ride can only be described in pictures. Midway we halted at a dhaba for lunch and ordered almost everything available on the menu at that time. After lunch, we reached Shimla, tanked up and moved ahead to Naldera. The roads are smooth each turn was like blessing in disguise. Boy we had fun riding in that stretch. After having tea in Naldhera, we pushed off toward Chindi.

The ride till Chindi was terrific; good roads almost zero traffic and the amazing silence of the night. We felt like riding in some fantasyland (for bikers of course).Night came alive with the exhaust notes of our motorcycles surging ahead in tandem. The silence of the moment protruded by the headlights of our bikes, made for that perfect ride that we were planning a the Dhaba.

We reached Hotel Mamleshwar, Chindi around 9 and exulted in a sense of achievement. Here I would specially like to thank the ladies for their terrific support and involvement.

We had dinner, discussed the ride and more for a few hours and called it a day. What a day it was!!!

Day 2 - coming soon!

Photo Credits - Raktim | Shivanshu | Rachit | Rakesh

#Raktim Baruah #Delhi to Shoja #Motorcycle touring #Jalori pass #Yamaha FZ16

Why parents get grey hair?

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers.He dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child whispering "Hello?"

Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a youngster, the boss asked, "Is your Daddy home?"

"Yes", whispered the small voice.

"May I talk with him?" the man asked.

To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, "No."

Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?"

"Yes", came the answer. "May I talk with her?"

Again the small voice whispered, "No".

Knowing that it was not likely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person who should be there watching over the child. "Is there anyone there besides you?” the boss asked the child.

"Yes" whispered the child, "A policeman."

Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman"?

"No, he's busy", whispered the child.

"Busy doing what?, asked the boss.

"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer.

Growing concerned and even worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the ear piece on the phone the boss asked, "What is that noise?"

"A hello-copper", answered the whispering voice.

"What is going on there?", asked the boss, now alarmed.

In an awed whispering voice the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper."

Alarmed, concerned and more than just a little frustrated the boss asked, "Why are they there"?

Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle,

"They're looking for me!"

Coke Studio @ MTV

Sunidhi Chauhan & Mausam Gogoi; Feat. Bondo

Really impressed with the way Sunidhi has sung assamese. Loved It!

#Coke Studio @ MTV #Raktim Baruah

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