Truth is stranger than fiction

This is my second month with the energetic Mumbai road runners group. In such a short time they have begun to feel like family so much so that I look forward to the first Sunday of every month where a distance of 19 km is covered starting from Bandra to NCPA. The fact that I woke up with a mild throat pain and flu didn’t deter this contagious spirit of wanting to run with fellow runners. Just thinking about the cheerful volunteers who were waiting at every 5 km halt with water stations, Enerzal drinks and bananas was enough incentive to take those strides. The run began from Otters club Bandra, where we were asked to pair up with another buddy runner in order to motivate and keep ourselves motivated. Considering the harsh heat and the unbearable humid conditions of May, one certainly needed all the encouragement they could get. As we began our rather arduous journey at 5:30 am, the initial friendly chatter amongst the runners soon turned into focus in completing this t...

The hustle bustle of the city life can tap your nerves to an extent that it makes one want to seek refuge in the hills. The Machan gave us a chance to exactly do that and much more. Tucked away amidst the formidable western ghats in Lonavala-a remote hill station just 2 hours away from Mumbai, this tree house destination cropped up like a fresh morning dew out of a leaf. It was an interesting concept of being an eco friendly resort to an extent where electricity was generated from solar and wind power, the rooms were perched on tree tops supported with some sturdy ropes and completely cut off from technological evils like the television and  internet. It was our first weekend getaway with our 9 month old daughter which was challenging yet fun. The little one seemed to enjoy herself from the word go. Right from the drive to The Machan, our stay and back to Mumbai, she seemed to bask in the spirit of adventure. The resort was child friendly, providing us with a separate cot...

As I child, I was labelled as a bookworm. Not surprising as these objects were my constant companions everywhere which extended up to the dining table. There were times that I would toy around my plate much to the elders annoyance as my fancy would unfold itself more into the enchanting tales of Enid Blyton. Though this old habit has managed to find the exit door, books certainly have remained steadfast in the journey of my life.  My job as a correspondent involves a lot of reading as I interview several authors and business personalities. Due to this, my reading ranges from a wide spectrum of topics from marketing, leadership to mythology and best sellers.  Some of them of course, are not a part of my job and fall in what I term as the 'recreational reading' department. During this course, I have managed to come across some books which have left some lasting impressions or taught me a lesson or two.  'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak: World war 2 has always ca...

Its just been 3 weeks since Samara-my daughter entered our lives and its been like a lifetime already. Each day is a learning experience as we watch her every move. Trying to figure her out can either be fun or stress you out. Like many CEOs have mentioned, its how you face each challenge that comes your way. Life certainly has changed as your routine for the day is solely dependent on the baby's sleeping hours. You cannot afford to miss a second as every minute becomes precious. By God's grace I have been juggling between working out of home, going to the gym and feeding her. Thats all thanks to the support system I have here. As every day goes by, I look forward to seeing her grow. It is surreal when I hold her in my arms and while I read out stories to her. Thanks to the IPL and the football world cup next month, I have something to look forward to. While its fun being a mom, I strongly believe one shouldn't lose their identity. So its just a matter of time, when I ...

If I have to summarize my journey through those 9 months- it would spell fit pregnancy.  When I discovered I was pregnant,  my first concern was not to add on those extra pounds and bulges and end up looking like a whale. Since I was a marathon runner and my body was used to a vigorous workout regime, my doctor gave me a green signal to go ahead with my regime but with lowered intensity. The first trimester rushed by and to my relief I had gained only 2 kilos. I continued my normal activities like my work,  going to the gym, my boot-camp which takes place 3 times a week during the wee hours of morning. We would make it a point to socialize with friends, travel and have a good time. The second trimester was a breeze as I increased my intensity and even did some road running. The workouts helped in battling those pregnancy mood swings and irritability which raised its ugly head many a time. This usually cropped up when people would dole out advices on how I shouldn't ...

As a correspondent of a business website, my job enables me to interview personalities across several forums. Be it authors or corporate honchos, meeting each one of them ends up as an inspiring lesson by itself. As I recollect my first tryst with this job profile, it was on October 11th 2012 in the prestigious  Bombay House which housed the whos who of the Tata group.    R.Gopalakrishnan was coming out with a new book 'What a CEO really wants' and I was to base my questions around the upcoming best seller. Being my first interview with such a renowned person, it was natural to feel the spell of nervousness finding its way into my system. However being the person that he was, I was put to an  instant ease as the question and answer session began. That 1 hour proved to be a wonderful learning experience about the intricacies of leadership, corporate world, picking up analogies from the animal kingdom and the common man's life. No wonder,I already felt like a ...

Its amazing as to what fitness does to improve the quality of life. What starts off as a mere goal to lose weight becomes more than just bringing down your fat percentage or inches. It enhances your other aspects of life as well. Few weeks ago, post my illness, I joined a boot camp which focuses a lot on flexibility, strength training and the core. Started by our trainer who is an ex army person and national level athlete, it was a wonderful opportunity to take our fitness levels to a notch higher. It was time to build our endurance beyond the closed environment of gym sessions. Conducted thrice a week, each day, our workout gets interesting and challenging, surprising us to the limits of what we can push.  As time progressed, not only did we build our stamina levels, but it made us more energetic and competent to handle our work lives s well. Working out early morning in the fresh open air, is a cure by itself. It brushes those blues carried from the previous day's stress, ...

Time flies is a cliched saying. 2012 flew by before one could say 'Jack Robinson. '  It has nevertheless been an eventful and a sporty year. As I walk down the memory lane, I get a glimpse of how every month has been unique in its own way. January 2012 started off with a bang. Went Scuba Diving on New Years eve in Oman which was a beautiful experience. 15th Jan was my first half marathon experience. Completed 21 km in good timing. From there on it was no looking back as I went on to improve my fitness levels. February 2012 was spent in training for the DNA Women marathon scheduled on March 11th.  March 2012: Ran 1o km in the DNA Women's marathon and came 5th overall. Felt great running for a cause-Girl child education. Honestly felt that I had actually made a difference. April 2012: Visited my dream destination, New Zealand. It was the hub of adventure sports where I tried out Zorbing., Paragliding, jet safari, jungle trekking, vising the sets where Peter Jackson...

 Came across some inspirational running quotes: 'Every morning in Africa, an antelope wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion, or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest antelope, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or an antelope – when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”   "In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that.” "Its very hard to understand in the beginning that the whole idea of running is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit."

The gentle breeze blowing on your face, the incredible sun glistening on the horizon, the sheer beauty of nature that engulfs us is probably what gives immense joy while running outdoors.  My tryst with running commenced when I struck my first chord of friendship with the treadmill three years ago. However t reached a notch higher only in the past one year, post my miserable illness. It was with a vengeance that I hit the treadmill, pleading it silently to aid me as I improved my stamina. As time cruised by, September had arrived with just 3 months left for the Mumbai Marathon. The rains began to recede, giving way to the warm sunshine. It was my first tryst with the road. Surprisingly it went off well. Those three months made me a morning person completely.  It was a great incentive to look forward to the cool morning breeze, sunrise by the sea along Marine Drive and the refreshing orange juice at Cafe Mondegar post the run. My first marathon went off pretty well....

Last minute decisions at times gives one a satiated feeling of having done something worthwhile and making a difference to the society. Running the DNA Women's marathon last Sunday dated 11.3.12 was one such instance. It was hardly a month since I ran the Standard Chartered Mumbai Half marathon when my body was gradually recovering from the strenuous 21 km run. I had a few people coming up to me asking me if I was running in the Women's half marathon conducted by DNA. Not upto another 21 km stretch, I shrugged it off saying next year. However a chance browsing on the net made me learn of the other 2 categories in the marathon- the spirit run of 10 km and the fun run of 5 km. As I read about the causes asscociated, I was all geared up for the 10 km run. Contacts did come in handy as my husband helped me to register for participation and my confirmation came within a couple of days. I had signed up to support Girl child education, being a counselor and a writer. I strongly beli...

Books are our best friends, constant teachers and a window to the outside world. Reading enables one to meet different characters, gain a new perspective and revitalises ones mind. In honour of world book day today!

Punch dialogues, song and dance sequences or shrilling drama are the usual ingredients of a movie that lingers in the viewer’s minds for a long period of time. It is of a rare occasion where a silent film manages to capture the hearts of millions. It takes immense talent to convey a lot through facial expressions alone. It deserves nothing less than a standing ovation if it has managed to sweep 5 Oscars to its credit. Michel Hazanavicius's film 'The Artist has exactly done that and more. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a successful silent movie star. On the eve of his premiere, he encounters a wide eyed fan namely Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). She accidently drops her autograph book and Valentine graciously picks it up for her. The next day, she finds herself captured in photograph with the reigning star. As a struggling artist, Miller manages to catch the attention of Valentin and soon she becomes the next sensation with her trademark beauty spot drawn by George Valentin. T...

Three-storey-high Buddha statues, stupas and monasteries that look like they have been cut out from fairytale books and yaks with floor-sweeping hair are some of the unusual sights you see when you visit Ladakh, says Swetha Amit http://www.domain-b.com/industry/Tourism/20120125_journey.html We woke to cloudy weather and a slight drizzle. Sincere prayers were rendered in silence to not let the weather play spoilsport on our drive to Pangong Lake. The clouds soon cleared. Snow-covered mountains all around made it feel like Christmas season in the month of August. Great heights : We soon reached the Changla Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in India. This is usually a stopover for many on the way to Pangong Lake. Similar to the Khardungla Pass, the signboard here too was adorned with colourful Buddhist flags. The hot cups of tea served were more than welcome in the freezing temperatures. Going yak yak yak: One of the wonders of the Himalayan region is its exotic fauna. Excitement ...

Three-storey-high Buddha statues, stupas and monasteries that look like they have been cut out from fairytale books and yaks with floor-sweeping hair are some of the unusual sights you see when you visit Ladakh, says Swetha Amit We had an early start as we had a long drive up the mountains ahead of us. It was a sunny day. We noticed something unusual; the mountains seemed to change colour as we drove along. As we climbed the steep passes, we realised how difficult it would be for bikers who were passionate about exploring these steep mountain paths. Approximately four hours later, we reached the Khardungla Pass. On top of the world : A cold gust of wind greeted us as we got out of our vehicles. It was about 18,380 feet above sea level. We were on the highest motorable road in the world. The signboard was decorated by little flags which symbolised the Buddhist culture. We were awed by the magnificent view. All around us were snow-capped mountains, which looked even more beautiful in th...

I had always been a spectator of the Mumbai Marathon every year until yesterday. I had read and heard a lot about the spirit that prevails throughout the race from my husband who had been running for the last 3 consecutive years. This inspired me enough to enrol for the 2011 edition. However fate didn’t favour me as I took ill enough to be hospitalized for 10 days which left me with no other choice but to skip the marathon. 2011 embarked a new journey ahead as I fiercely resolved to get my fitness back on track. I had lost a lot of blood and my physique had succumbed to weakness. The first quarter of the year was a slow and steady one with a lot of emphasis to get my strength back. The month of May took a positive turn as my intensity in my cardiovascular exercises began to show a marked improvement. My confidence began to grow as I hit the treadmill with a vengeance in July. Meanwhile I had also started to take coaching in Tennis which helped me improve my stamina. In August I was sig...

It just feels like yesterday when 2011 dawned upon is and its already time to say goodbye. 2011 embarks a rather evenful year. India winning the World Cup after 28 years and watching the golden moment live at Wankhede stadium. Visited places like Kashmir and Ladakh which proved to be a wonderful learning experience and a soul searching journey by itself. Met a lot of interesting people from different walks of life. Fitness has taken a turn for the better. While there have been downsides to the year, its time now to look forward to the awakening of 2012 which will bring in its share of unique experiences as well. Heres wishing all of you a wonderful 2012, loads of health and happiness always. God Bless.

This year we celebrated Diwali in an unusual manner. We decided to explore the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. After watching the first show of Ra one, we headed towards the airport to catch the evening flight to Jabalpur. After an overnight halt here, we drove down to Bandhavgarh National Park the next morning which took us around 4 hours. We reached there by noon and were escorted to our tree house. The little wooden cottage was perched among the branches with the interiors done up in a tasteful manner. The next 3 days were spent in exploring nature and experiencing the sounds of the jungle like never before. We didnt see the tiger as the big cats hardly ventured out during winters. However we enjoyed the game drives in the forest and the entire expedition of living like birds. A unique experience indeed. We managed to learn a lot about wildlife and birds. Travelling to such remote places no doubt makes you wonder why Wildlife in India isn't given the due credit.

Yesterday was one of those days that would have delighted any sports lover. The All Blacks won the Rugby world cup which was exhinited in Billy Bowden's signalling four runs with an unusual fervour during the India-England match at Wankhede. India cruised o another handsome victory against England making the series 4-0. And Manchester City managed to thrash the arrogant Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford. With the festival of Diwali approaching in a couple of days, it gives one a good reason to begin with the celebrations. A wonderful day for Sports indeed.

You brought about a cultural transformation in the music, mobile and the gadget world. RIP Steve Jobs. You will be missed. Loved his quote "Your time is limited,so don't waste it living someone else's."