Some one Just forwarded me something I'd written on Raksha bandhan! ;)

PHOTO PE MAT JAAO !! PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT TEXT BELOW !!!!!

Hey Brothers and Ladies,

Its that time of the year again…Bade bade stud log become wet cats (bheegi billiyan) and normal guys become paranoid freaks.  Yes, I’m talking about Raksha "Bandhan". In this mail, I will be debunking some of the myths/urban legends associated with the event:

• Opening email’s which have a picture of a rakhi does not make the sender your sister…A particularly dangerous version of this is sending e-mails with provocative Subject lines (Anyone remember the “Anna Kournikova virus??) 
• 
  If the behen-jaisi friend of some1 u like ties a rakhi to your hand, it does not automatically make u dono ka brother.  This is a useful tip for girls too. 

• If a girl  ties rakhi to you during school days, she is not ur sister during college days.thats just a children’s play during young age.don take it seriously(if u don’t want to, that is).
   

• If a girl wants to tie a rakhi to a guy merely to avoid being proposed by the guy, the "Bandhan" will be considered void (because of ulterior motive..same goes for guys to ask girls to tie rakhi to them).

• Such things as tieing a rakhi are powerful symbolic icons…to be done with a pure heart..OTHERWISE ITS ALL MOH MAAYA....PAL BHAR KI KHUSHI HAI.....TYAAG DO YE SAB...SAB YAHI REH JAAYEGAA...DUSRO KI ADHOORI ANKAHI BHAVNAO KO SAMJHO!!

The basic rule that needs to be followed is that both the parties should have consented to the "Bandhan". Consent obtained through the following would not be valid:

a. Misrepresentation
b. Coercion
c. Fraud
d. Mistake
e. Damage to property

f.  Consent obtained in the presence of Girlfriend/Wife/future girlfriend when the other girl comes with a rakhi

g. Consent obtained in the Presence of any other family member

h. Undue influence

 Please forward this mail to all your friends (girls too can forward it to their brothers/friends) to spread awareness about this issue.

If you forward this mail to 0-3 people, The chance of a hot/smart/rich or a Hot, smart and rich girl tying you rakhi will be reduced by 20%

If you forward this mail to 4-10 people, The chance of a hot/smart/rich or a Hot, smart and rich girl tying you rakhi will be reduced by a further 40% (that’s 60% in all for you mathematically impaired folks)

If you forward this mail to >10 people, The chance of a hot/smart/rich or a Hot, smart and rich girl tying you rakhi will be practically nil!!!!

This mail is the result of intense brainstorming between and the sincere efforts of LLIM STAIRRORISTS  (Vinay, Sno and Abhishek) !!!

xBhp ride to Amby valley!!

This sunday I'd gone out on a ride with members of online biking group xBhp. The group usually meets up once a month but due to some reason could not have a get together for some time. In a situation which is scarily similar to my own group meetings, there was a huge emotional drama with ppl declaring that they would never join in again and lots of placating, finally a ride was decided to Amby Valley. 

On the day itself, woke up at 5.15 and with a guy who stays close by made our way to the Panvel MDonalds which was the meeting point. Now I was expecting around 10-15 people to join in, but I reach there and see 25-30 bikes parked... Already feeling that this day's gonna be something else :)

Hit the old highway to pune and were cruising  at 75 Kmph, all of a sudden we hear these loud droning sounds in the distance. The guy in front of me moved to the left lane and motioned me to do the same... I followed him and was about to ask him what the whole scene was when a group of superbikes just blurred past us.. The feeling was same that you get when your a bit lose to the edge of the platform and rajdhani express just blasts past you!! I think here were  R1's and MT01... awesomeness indeed. We then reached the ghats and had an awesome time climbing up.. The guys in front of me were pro's n seeing them I also started throwing my bike into corners at 40 kmph.. After 2 close calls in a row and being saved by the very good brakes on my bike, I slowed up a bit. Still had a lot of fun while climbing. Stopped for a bit at sunrise and then took a few more pics....

 

 

 

Met up with pune guys at lonavala and stopped at a bridge ahead of the city. Seeing all the bikes lined up from one end of the bridge to another was an absolutely amazing sight!

 

 

Had an amzing ride up to the Amby passing by Lions point.

  

Finally reached Amby valley gates and again broke up into groups, gettin to know one another and admiring the bikes out there. One guy went off the orner but didnt get hurt thanks to all the protection he was wearing.. When I saw the roughed up bike but the rider without any scratches, there was an aakashvani in my head 'Vatsa, Jacket aur Gloves aur Kneepads le lenaa!!' with temple bells ringing in the background :D The bike amazingly was running well and was with us all the way up and back without any problems I think. Amazing engineering Yamaha!!

Moved on to Lions point where we had some bhajiya and tea and had a formal introduction. It was then that we realised that there were FIFTY frikkin bikes in the group.. 

 

After spending abt an hour there all moved down in formation. Was hilarious to see other vehicles just get off the road and gape at the long convoy of bikers in Jackets, Gloves and Helmets. We were all feeling like some VIPs with people lining at the sides of the road (kids were actually doing that :) Again I got a bit reckless at the turns but then slowed down and did my own thing while being passed by almost all riders. Came down 2nd last (before the Activa, I think ;)

 Suddenly we heard that some1 had crashed at the steep corners on the way down, thankfully none of the guys were hurt. That luck didn't hold one we hit the highway tho'. One of the riders on a Karizma crashed on the expressway after his rear brakes failed. We had'nt realized this and were waiting at the Khopoli exit for everyone when some locals told us there was a crash. Some1 in the group called back to say that the guy ws hurt. His bike was almost off the cliff. The bike again was in working condition and the rider himself got it bak to khopoli. There we went to a hospital where he got 2 stitches across the bridge of his nose. Very lucky to get just these few injuries. 

Finally were all were off from khopoli to panvel at very aaraam se speeds of 65-70. Reached there and joined up with the rest of the gang at Himalaya Punjab where we had lunch (chicken, of course!!) and then off to our places.Was back home by 4.30 and chilled out rest of the day.. 300 KM done on the trip!

Had and awesome day and looking forward to more such rides in the future. Next target in line - Malshej Ghat!

All pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.in/vinay.shinde/XBhpG2g31Jan2010#

Murud - Kashid Bike RIde - 23 Jan 10

It started with a plan for a bike ride to anywhere, and ended up being one of the most awesome experiences of my life. And to top it off, had two of my best friends along all the way, right from the exhilarating morning trip to the absolutely scary return journey. Hope you all like the pics (and the background story as well)

I just wanted to take my bike out for a ride out of the city and had hooked up a plan to ride to Kashid beach with a couple of friends. For reasons both backed out so I was left with either cancelling or going alone. Well, I decided to go ahead with the solo ride and that was that. How that all changed in the next 4 hours!

• Friday, 9 PM- I get a call from Andy, and when I told him of my plan, he said he’d try to join in
• Friday, 10.30 PM – Mesg from Andy – He’s In, we agree to meet at 7.30 AM @Santacruz
• Saturday, 12.30 AM – Wondered if Girish would come along, gave him a call, phone busy.. Said chuck it.
• Saturday, 12.35 AM – Girish calls back – gives in-principle agreement subject to maternal approvals
• Saturday 12.35 to 1.15 – Trying to get others on board, called Pats Charitraheen’ and rags the cool guy. Both non-committal. Will see tomorrow (today)

So woke up early sat morning, gave wakeup calls to both the guys and got ready. Somehow, we all got delayed and met up at IIT powai gate. I agreed to lead as I had the (useless) map and knew at least part of the route. Sped along EE Highway, crossing 100 KMPH for the first of many times on the day. Halted at vashi to call up Mahesh

Andy took his position at the handlebars of my bike (happened many times, when the bike was
stationary). Mahesh backed out, we had some bhajiya pav’s and were on our way along palm
beach road! 

Took a turn to uran and went along the So-called State Highway 54 (with ferozshah kotla type ground) upto panvel, where we had our first butt-break and asked for directions. Took the road for Mumbai-Goa highway and a couple of turns later, we were on our way back to Mumbai along JNPT road, turned back, asked for directions and resumed our journey. 

Right till Vadhkal naka/Pen, we had very good roads, enjoyed the ride and were there by 10.30. Onwards to alibag!!!! The route to alibag was full of potholes, nice twisting turns and an awesome bridge where we
stopped to take some pics!!

Crossed Alibag and hit the land of potholes… A few KM out of the city I noticed this track leading a bit away from the highway towards the sea shore, we took it and reached an amazing backdrop!

Did a bit of offroading, then I had a short affair with a parayi bike (girish’s P180). And on we go..... We crossed Kashid on our way and got our first glimpse of Murud fort far off in the distance 

 

We reached the jetty by around 2 PM, then we had to take a ferry to the fort itself. Some pics of the fort and the trip to and fro below -

 

Due to seeing too many episode of Raaz pichle Janam ka, we also got some glimpses of our past lives at the fort -

Ø 1232 AD -Here’s (commando) Girish guarding his khidki from enemy soldiers and then taking a break with watchman Andy

Ø After seeing their boss also sitting at the same place, they went back to their duty
1375 AD – Both born as monkeys, playing near the cannons , Girish belongs to the bichoo monkey gang who faces forwards and Andy to the eagle gang, whose philosophy was to always sit ulta so they could watch their backs!

Finally we left our past lives at peace and were on our way back. 

We were stiff hungry so we decided to stop at Kashid beach n have snacks. Didn’t realize when it crossed 5.30, so started hurrying back, after crossing alibag, we stopped atour favorite bridge again to get some pics!

 

 

It was dark now, so we decided to go slow on the highway. Kept up an average speed of 35, cos there were no lights on the roads, and the high beam of the opposing vehicles kept blinding me!! Somehow we managed (thanks to my newly installed Philips 55w crystal vision bulb) and my parkhi nazar ;) Then we reached a small ghat section which absolutely scared the pants off me!!! Went over a rock so took another break along the highway to check for damage. Called up home and back to Pen. There we stopped for a bio break and also had tea to calm our nerves! Continued on our way and hit the sion-panvel highway around 9. Then it was just a couple of stops for another break, refueling and on to Dahisar (to drop Andy)

Finally, around 11.15 dropped Andy and then went to mind space for pickup duty. Reached sasural by around 12.45 and had a bath, I think I would have turned 2 tones lighter (according to that John Abrahams garnier tone checker thingy) after the bath removed all the grime.. The last though before crashing into oblivion of sleep was "The Journey was 10X worth the destination itself!"
 

Complete Pics at : http://picasaweb.google.com/vinay.shinde/MurudBikeRide#