Prediction.Forecasting..Prognostication...
Whatever it may be, it is always exciting to predict..Now it's all cricket mania everywhere and with the limited knowledge I have in that arena, just wanted to take a shot at predicting how the group stages will progress and the subsequent stagess...
Group A
Team P W L T Pts
S.Africa (1) 6 5 1 10 Will lose to england
England (3) 6 4 1 1 9 Loss to Ban or WI..Think it ll be WI
India (2) 6 4 1 1 9 Loss is to SA
W.Indies (4) 6 3 3 6
Ban 6 3 3 6 Win over WI
Holland
Ireland No upsets from the two minnows though a 1-2 fight matches from the Orange.
Group B
Aus 5 1 0 10 (1) Loss to SL
Pak 5 1 0 10 (3) Loss to Aus
SL 5 1 0 10 (2) Loss to Pak
NZ 3 1 0 6 (4)
Ire ------
Can -------
Zim -----
QF's
SA vs NZ SA
Ind vs Pak N/A
Eng vs SL Eng
WI vs Aus Aus
Semis
SA vs Eng Eng
x vs Aus x
Finals
Eng vs x x
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
My first REAL trek . OG Part-1
Finally after 3 days got the time to write about the Trek to OG.The dense jungles of the
kabinale forests comprising of Ombatthu Gudde (ombatthu=9 gudde= peaks) is once in a lifetime experience, not because the place has stunning scenery in this dry season but because of the adventures and thrill that I experienced, trekking with a group of 36 like minded people (barring 1-2).
There was a lot of hype about OG: the mysteriously dense forests,long list of missed people in these jungles (that's what some of the blogs I read claimed before the trek).But scare/bliss/sorrow/ whatever the emotion may be ,you'll remember and cherish/respect that particular feeling only when you experience it first-handed.So decided to go ahead with OG trek, registered for it and it was one among the 15 trkes organized as part of 3rd birthday of CTC.Preview to OG Trek
In the prep mail sent my Biju and Peter,trek sounded to deliver and live up to the hype around OG.Anyways coming to the preparations: as usual, waiting till the last moment, hence leading to a lot of last min preparations,acquired all the required things as mentioend in the mail like torch, sleeping mat,sunscreen lotion,camera, empty bottles etc... and got into Lalbagh express to Bangalore at 3:30 PM, Friday,18/2/11.Thus started my journey.
In Train, there are two other CTC trek groups present and all the three together made amerry there.Surya one among our OG trek grou, had an unusually weird English(natural or artificially acquired to woo girls,am uncertain) and with it he started to talk to random girls and every tale ended with surya proposing to that woman.Finally ended up with surya proposing to women ranging from 21 to 50 years.Met a few IITians who were part of another CTC trek.With me thinking of ways to get acquainted with some of the members, made friends with a few and the train came to a halt in bangalore.Ten of us had a detour to get a quick dinner and caught the bus from Bangalore to Gundya checkpost (located on Bangalore-Mangalore highway, base of the jungle)and reache the destination 5AM Saturday.Had a short nap on spread out sleeping maps, then I had a 1/2 litre of milk,then everyone took their share of food(energy bars, glucose,chappathi packets,buns,apples) and shared the common food (Noodles,soup powder etc..).Then came the instructions from Peter that first 8 hrs of the trek would be on dry land and there would be no water available hence everyone should carry 3 litres of water.Filled em up as instructed and started at 7 AM towards the first peak at an altitude of 1100m.The remaining two days experience to soon follow..
kabinale forests comprising of Ombatthu Gudde (ombatthu=9 gudde= peaks) is once in a lifetime experience, not because the place has stunning scenery in this dry season but because of the adventures and thrill that I experienced, trekking with a group of 36 like minded people (barring 1-2).
There was a lot of hype about OG: the mysteriously dense forests,long list of missed people in these jungles (that's what some of the blogs I read claimed before the trek).But scare/bliss/sorrow/ whatever the emotion may be ,you'll remember and cherish/respect that particular feeling only when you experience it first-handed.So decided to go ahead with OG trek, registered for it and it was one among the 15 trkes organized as part of 3rd birthday of CTC.Preview to OG Trek
In the prep mail sent my Biju and Peter,trek sounded to deliver and live up to the hype around OG.Anyways coming to the preparations: as usual, waiting till the last moment, hence leading to a lot of last min preparations,acquired all the required things as mentioend in the mail like torch, sleeping mat,sunscreen lotion,camera, empty bottles etc... and got into Lalbagh express to Bangalore at 3:30 PM, Friday,18/2/11.Thus started my journey.
In Train, there are two other CTC trek groups present and all the three together made amerry there.Surya one among our OG trek grou, had an unusually weird English(natural or artificially acquired to woo girls,am uncertain) and with it he started to talk to random girls and every tale ended with surya proposing to that woman.Finally ended up with surya proposing to women ranging from 21 to 50 years.Met a few IITians who were part of another CTC trek.With me thinking of ways to get acquainted with some of the members, made friends with a few and the train came to a halt in bangalore.Ten of us had a detour to get a quick dinner and caught the bus from Bangalore to Gundya checkpost (located on Bangalore-Mangalore highway, base of the jungle)and reache the destination 5AM Saturday.Had a short nap on spread out sleeping maps, then I had a 1/2 litre of milk,then everyone took their share of food(energy bars, glucose,chappathi packets,buns,apples) and shared the common food (Noodles,soup powder etc..).Then came the instructions from Peter that first 8 hrs of the trek would be on dry land and there would be no water available hence everyone should carry 3 litres of water.Filled em up as instructed and started at 7 AM towards the first peak at an altitude of 1100m.The remaining two days experience to soon follow..
Thursday, February 17, 2011
OG Trek preview
I have been part of 4 1-day treks till now.Initially they were exciting but the the last 2 were not that exciting as the places became familiar and without camping,they became routine.SO I was waiting a long time for a 2,3-day trek with CTC.Doesn't mean there aren't any.Just that not compatible with my shcedule (Dude!! enough, as if you're CEO of a company)
Just then, around January ending saw this Ombattu Gudde trek (~4 day long).Checked my diary (habba!!!:( :( too much showoff) and immediately signed for it.Later i got calls from two of my friends one inviting to his home and other that he is coming to chennai for this weekend but i said Sorry..Okka sari commit aithe na maata nene vinanu.. oru dhadava commit pannita yen pecha naane keka maate.. (ippo mahesh vijay!! Hayyo veedi dreams thagaleyya)..Sorry guys..
So all the preparations are done.Now its 10 AM.Waiting for the clock to tick 3 PM.Here are a few excerpts from the prep mails sent by organizers.If the trek delivers atleast half of what it prmoised, I can add this to treks of my life list.(As if you've done hundred treks!! Shutit dude, and stop here please..) Ok enough from me.Pics and organizers will take it from here...
From Peter:
"During my previous 4-day OG mission a few months ago 18 out of 25 trekkers ran out of the jungle on the 2nd day as they were under heavy leech attacks and things were getting real bloody ;-) That was the monsoon (leeches need wetness to survive). Now it should be much less but I am pretty sure there will still be some in the shady jungles protected from the sun above.
My main concern in OG is mostly snakes - the western ghats have many venomous snakes and we have seen/encountered many in previous OG treks. So far we did not have any snake bites. Still it always remains a risk as we would be at least 8-10 hours away from any proper medical facility."
"The main challenges will be the tough climbs and careful management of our water reserves (we will be walking for many hours away from the water sources so need to carry extra weight and carefully consume water)."
Got more bloody pics but chose not to upload.
From Biju:
"Ombattu Gudda is a peak at about 971 meters above sea level, and at a distance of about 20 kms from Gundiya Checkpost, inside the Kabbinhole Forest. The peak is so named because there are 9 prominent humps on top, almost in a straight line (Ombattu in Kannada means nine, while Gudda means hill). The forest is extremely virgin with huge bamboos and dense foliage playing host to a range of wildlife from the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, barking deer to gaur, sloth bear and, of course, the wild elephant. There will be tons of fresh elephant dung along the way. As you go along the jeep track, there are many places where one can get lost and hit dead ends. This route is noted as one of the most mysterious routes in the Western Ghats. "
Will be back on tuesday with loads of clicks and experiences.. (Hopefully)
Just then, around January ending saw this Ombattu Gudde trek (~4 day long).Checked my diary (habba!!!:( :( too much showoff) and immediately signed for it.Later i got calls from two of my friends one inviting to his home and other that he is coming to chennai for this weekend but i said Sorry..Okka sari commit aithe na maata nene vinanu.. oru dhadava commit pannita yen pecha naane keka maate.. (ippo mahesh vijay!! Hayyo veedi dreams thagaleyya)..Sorry guys..
So all the preparations are done.Now its 10 AM.Waiting for the clock to tick 3 PM.Here are a few excerpts from the prep mails sent by organizers.If the trek delivers atleast half of what it prmoised, I can add this to treks of my life list.(As if you've done hundred treks!! Shutit dude, and stop here please..) Ok enough from me.Pics and organizers will take it from here...
From Peter:
"During my previous 4-day OG mission a few months ago 18 out of 25 trekkers ran out of the jungle on the 2nd day as they were under heavy leech attacks and things were getting real bloody ;-) That was the monsoon (leeches need wetness to survive). Now it should be much less but I am pretty sure there will still be some in the shady jungles protected from the sun above.
My main concern in OG is mostly snakes - the western ghats have many venomous snakes and we have seen/encountered many in previous OG treks. So far we did not have any snake bites. Still it always remains a risk as we would be at least 8-10 hours away from any proper medical facility."
"The main challenges will be the tough climbs and careful management of our water reserves (we will be walking for many hours away from the water sources so need to carry extra weight and carefully consume water)."
Got more bloody pics but chose not to upload.
From Biju:
"Ombattu Gudda is a peak at about 971 meters above sea level, and at a distance of about 20 kms from Gundiya Checkpost, inside the Kabbinhole Forest. The peak is so named because there are 9 prominent humps on top, almost in a straight line (Ombattu in Kannada means nine, while Gudda means hill). The forest is extremely virgin with huge bamboos and dense foliage playing host to a range of wildlife from the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, barking deer to gaur, sloth bear and, of course, the wild elephant. There will be tons of fresh elephant dung along the way. As you go along the jeep track, there are many places where one can get lost and hit dead ends. This route is noted as one of the most mysterious routes in the Western Ghats. "
Will be back on tuesday with loads of clicks and experiences.. (Hopefully)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)