Flying Progress

Today my flying figures crossed into double figures. i am the first in my course to have completed 10 flying hours. that isn't necessarily as good a thing as it sounds. coz that means that u have learnt what others have managed to learn in fewer hours. But this isn't as bad as it sounds either. which means that my well wishers can also have something to cheer about. Firstly, if you are flying well , the instructor gives you more flying time/day which means that u get to learn more about the nuances involved , which also means more improvement. Secondly, your flying gets finer, and increases your and also the instructor's confidence. So not to worry. cheers.

Pathetic State of Indian Railway Reservation system

Today i had gone to get a berth reserved for a journey that i intend to undertake after exactly a month. As expected, i didn't get a confirmed reservation. Ofcourse, or else i would have emerged a happy soul out of the railway premises. But that they will ensure doesn't happen.
i ve been getting my reservations done since about 12 yrs now. And the entire gist of the whole thing is that getting ur ticket made is nothing short of doing a pilgrimage tour. After this ordeal , even God excuses you a thousand sins.
Firstly , you have to do a major research and analysis of which all trains exist, their quota, some break journey (actually the journey is meant to break you) rules, connecting trains, onward journey et al.
But this is not as easy as it sounds. All this info will obviously be available on a different window called the enquiry. So if you'e already sweat your heart out in the main queue the clerk will promptly and most appropriately route you to the correct enquiry window. When you reach ( after searching and lot of enquiry) the enquiry window, you will be told that you should have had filled a separate form for this. Nevertheless, the clerk will do a massive favour to you after seeing your face which can by now beat any african malnourished child's face to the cover of the Time Magzine. And countless such deeds he sincerely believes has already booked the golden throne in the heaven for him.
So after this massive research operation you again undertake the expedition up the main ticket window. And if only you have got up on the right side of the bed that day, you will reach there before tea/lunch/pen /ticket roll change/currency counting/ closing time. In the meanwhile you would have already availed the services of the body massager which any queue in our country doesn't fail to provide.
By the time you reach the 'summit', you would have already witnessed atleast a score of duels and a few dozens of choicest of abuses would have enhanced your vocabulary.
At the window, your form is scrutinised more serioulsy than an IT return form and once the clerk has been fully satisfied( which will be after you have made a dozen corrections and have been glorified with few words in the local vernacular by the people standing behind you), will he go ahead and type a few characters on his keyboard.
A few agonising minutes more and Voila!!! there it is the ticket; THE TICKET. It almost feels like holding the olympic gold or your first born baby. The blissful look of satisfaction of the person holding a confirmed (which is as common like the snow in the desert) ticket is nothing short of an orgasm.
Getting a reservation done is a full day job(at least). and missing atleast two meals.
On a serious note i would recommend that the period of reservation be reduced to a fortnight from 3 months. This would give the travellers more flexibility of plg their journeys.

I miss her today.

I miss her today. Despite the fact that we haven't spoken for over a yr. Despite the fact that she's happily married for abt 14 months now. today i suddenly kept missing her. i watched 'Hum Tum' , the movie we had watched together.
Hope she's well and having a good time.

For my birthday details.. vis the url.

http://ranju70ar.blogspot.com/2008/12/duniyawalo-aaj-ankush-ka-birthday-hai.html
Maj Ranjeev has written abt how we celebrated my birthday on his blog. do vis and lemme know how u liked it.

Indian Army - My passion

When i was in the first year of my college, i was told by one of my seniors that if in your life you are able to do what you want, then the work becomes a paid holiday. and folks, i am doing just that here. there's nothing to beat this wonderful organisation that i serve and its really a religion and lifestyle for me.
i just want to say that always listen to your heart and you will never go wrong. you must take the road less travelled and that will make all the difference.

INTO THE SUN
Be spontaneous with all that you do
Don't judge others, just be the real you
Wake up each day,
and start it all new.

Ride a wild horse with purple wings.
Never hesitate to try some new things.
Every new experience starts with a few small stings.

If you ever leave something from your long journey's run,
And despite if you've had little fun.
Just once in a while ride a wild horse into the sun.

i want to fly...high...over a rainbow.

These days my flying is not going too well. North India is under a spell of bad fog and our instructors ( and rightly so) are not taking any chances with students like us in mid air. But that for sure is affecting our continuity. Doesn't matter. We'll do it and ultimately pass out with 'flying' colours.

On popular demand!!

i didn't know i was so popular. today i spoke to my cousin, and she mentioned that she was surprised that i hadn't written for a long time now. Can't go against vox-populi guys: so here i am with the blogs again. Before this blogging becomes bragging, i must admit that its because of support, encouragement and love that i receive from u guys that i am able to write in this forum.

Thanks. and keep encouraging me.

ARMY OFFICERS' PRAYER

ARMY OFFICERS’ PRAYER

Lord make me worthy of the men I serve,
Worthy of their loyalty and devotion to duty,
Their wondrous willingness and ready laughter ,
Their great humility that asks so little and gives so much,
So readily, without complaint.
Grant their simple wishes Lord and bless them please,
For in this world , no better soldiers breathe than these.

Go the Google way!!

I almost shrieked with excitement. for the first time i was on google. not for anything worthwhile , but for these very blogs i write. agreed that blogspot is a google venture , and it got to to promote it, but still the feeling was phenomenal. u can also do it. just search for "confessions + blogspot + ankush", and there u are.
its truly great. and by posting comments here u can also get googled.
so go google.

In high 'spirits'!!

Yesterday, we had gone for a party. semi official kinds. and it was quite happening. no flying the next day was a raison enough to drink. A word about the jargon used to indicate quantity of drinks consumed by a person. first u 'smile', then u are 'happy' and then u can reach 'ecstasy'. so i was happy yesterday. and as all u boozers out there know, one can do anything after u attain 'happiness'; i too danced under alcofluence ( this is a word i ve coined) and was drenched. it was a good party and i just remember that i had dinner but dont remember the menu at all. great time!! happiness all around.

Nothing like flying in a microlight.

Microlight plane by definition is one weighing between 350 Kgs and 500 Kgs. today was a much better day. i could control the aircraft in a much better way. t'was good. its an amazingly extraordinary experience. freely flying, watching the world from the top; i guess it represents a freedom of sorts. defying gravity. its a great feeling. hope i am able to continue and pursue this.

Flying Experience

It was a much better day today. i felt the aircraft under my control and it was a nice feeling. though it was quite windy on top today with lot of cross winds but it was nice flying the plane. i realised that one should remain calm and then only any correction say regarding direction or wing dip can be administered. perpetually i am cutting throttle which is not a good sign at all.
also occasionally, i am not paying attention to the speed which also tends to fall.
i have to be a little more careful since tomm.
as regards the stick, i will try to keep my arm static and only move the wrist.

Reports of Pak Newspapers

Today i read a few articles in major pak dailies on the net, and it was heartening to find that most of them agree that pak has become a safe haven for terrorists and this issue needs to be sorted out at a priority. it also urged indian media to be more responsible in reporting, which i too agree with.

Oh Mumbai ! My Mumbai

After the recent attacks on Mumbai, lot has been said about the apathy of our politicians towards the public and their problems in general. but we must try to find a solution. Rather than just blaming things which are beyond our control, we must take some actions ourselves. by just being more vigilant and alert we can thwart any attack on our motherland. be cautious and keep your eyes and ears open , and the msg will reach the terrorists that this country is made up of responsible ppl. so lets rouse ourselves from this slumber and get ready , gear up to defend our country.
And ofcourse, when everythin else fails the Indian Defence Forces are all ready to teach a lesson to the ppl who caste an evil eye on us.
Relax, Dont worry and be more responsible.
Jai Hind ! Jai Bharat.

Floating in the air

These days i am in Gaya for a course. the course is on microlight flying. they are going to teach us to be pilots for a microlight. today was the first lesson class in true sense. we flew in the air , me and my instructor and after some time he handed over the controls to me. he was actually teaching me the effects of controls on the aircraft. it was really a nice experience flying the aircraft on my own. free float in the air. seeing the world from up there. its a unique expereience. first in my family to even attempt flying an aircraft. the microlight is a small aircraft and quite mechanical in its functioning. so its all the more fun as you are directly dealing with the aerodynamics. and as they say ' i am lovin' it !!"

Latest Book i read

There's this very interesting book that i came across titled" Ofcourse i love you ... till i find someone better" by two chic young delhi based writers. the book is very contemprory and the writing style very fluid. A must read and also that it's excellent value for money. paper back.. 300 odd pgs.. and just 100 bucks.