I am worried about my body & mind. I feel my stamina and will power have been reducing and added to that my body keeps on increasing weight. From 65 Kg in 2003, I have reached 75 Kg now. Particularly last year I gained 6 Kg. The main reasons for this are my laziness and my unending travel. And some minor reasons would be the work pressure, irregular timing for food and sleep, changes in cuisines etc. From 2003 to till date I have been traveling a lot and hence I have to live on packed foods or to eat in restaurants. My stint in ICICI and Wipro had lot of responsibilities and many sleepless nights. As a result of this, paunch developed. Paunch is one of the great worries as it not only gives a ugly look, it also reduces ones' physical flexibilities. And when unattended it would cause problems in spine. I need to do something and this something has been very a long pending. I have been consulting on this with few people and a suggestion for a long walk, about 200-250 Km, was proposed. I accepted the suggestion without having any second thoughts.
I want to keep a target that is double the suggested distance so that I mentally prepare for the challenge and at least cover what actually is required. Easiest choice would be Cape comorine, southern most tip of India, a distance of 670 Km from Chennai. I conveyed this Idea to my parents, friends and colleagues. My boss jocularly called me, because of this mission, as Johnny Walker. Thus I named my mission too as 'Mission Johnny Walker'. Friends and colleagues asked if I am insane to take up such a mission. In a way it is insane to walk alone for 670 Km on a National Highway. I never had any such experience or long trekking. But experience isn't from birth; it’s gained by doing something.
The mission is not for any weight reduction but to train my body for some serious steps that I am going to take once I complete this mission. The one who suggested me have been on a similar trip up to Kasi via Mantralayam and Shiridi, a distance of more than 3000 Km and a trip for more than 6 months. Body weight does not reduce immediately but this would help to build the immune system and remove the waste liquids from the body.
I planned to start the mission from Maraimalai Nagar, 30 Km away from my house. I split the trip into five stages. Stage 1 to reach Mailam (90 Km by day 3), stage 2 to Samayapuram (250 Km by day 8), stage 3 to Madurai (400 Km by day 13), stage 4 to Thirunelveli (540 Km by day 17) and stage 5 to Kanyakumari (670 Km by day 20).
As this is my first long distance trekking, I was not sure whether I would be able to walk such a long distance. But I need to accomplish the minimum target of suggested distance which would be covered by end of second stage. I don't have any immediate cognizant results from this exercise as I have been already informed that weight won't get reduced and the pain and miseries keeps increasing. However, I believe in the long run, it would increase my will power, stamina and bring in some discipline. I have to only depend on my will power and stamina to complete this mission. I am going to get a rich experience, a big challenge.
I started this mission on 20th January 2008 at 7:09 hrs after giving my prayers at Nagavalli Amman temple, Maraimalainagar, the place where I was brought up. On day 1, I was pretty enthusiastic and I walked nearly five hours at a stretch to cover nearly 20 Km. It was a good start and I appreciated myself. I completed my Day 1 trip by reaching madhurantagam, a 40-44 Km away from the start point. The sun was scorching, the heat started to surpass my shoes and affect my foot. My foot started paining, calf muscle got strained and thighs swelled. As thighs swelled, it started rubbing each other to develop calluses. On Day 2, I felt the pain of Day 1's enthusiasm. I changed my strategy to walk only 2 hours at a stretch and take rest for minimum 15 to 20 minutes. However, the effect of Day 1 continued and I walked like a limp. By Day 3, I reached my stage 1 target but ended with legs and thighs full of blisters. On Day 4, every step I kept, the blisters pricked and bursted to wet my socks with its serum. The second target was rather reached with much of pain and will power.
Though I walked on National Highway, I don't dare to walk on the road as the vehicles were speeding at 100-120 Kmph. There were no proper pedestrian walking passages, so I have to walk on the loose sands, gravel etc by its sides. Up to stage 2, the roads were under construction. It was a boon in a way but there were few disadvantages too. The boon is I could walk on the road without fear of speeding vehicles. But the disadvantages are like walking on loose gravels reduces speed, one would run a risk of spraining as balance might be lost etc.
Eight days passed since the start. I reached my second stage. With the joy of surpassing second stage, I started walking swiftly forgetting all the pain. Whenever the pain mounted, I would call someone at home or some friends to divert concentration. I used this opportunity to call my office to check the status of the jobs delegated. Sometimes, I sang some songs, chanted slokams etc., too. By this, for that time, I forgot the pain. When I was too tired to do even that, I would have some tea and discuss with the shopkeeper about some useless stuff and spend time.
Walking like a gypsy, I became swarthier. Hands and face got sun burns and my lips become dried and chapped. Knees become stiff and were inflexible. For each step I have to keep, I have to swing my body left to right and right to left so that I can walk without folding much of my knees. Early hours of the day (first 2 hours) the average speed would be around 6 Kmph and which would get reduced to 4 Kmph by mid day and 2-3 Kmph by end of day. However because of knee problem, the midday average speed of 4 Kmph got reduced to 2.5-3 Kmph and by end of day, it would be 1.5-2 Kmph. With average of 8-10 hrs of walk per day, I would approximately cover nearly 30-35 Km. At intervals, I take rest at road side shadows, tree shades, temples, tea shops etc. When none of these are available, I have found shades to rest such as big pipes kept for transporting water, rain water underpasses in the road and bushes near hills.
I am nearing my Third stage. It was early morning, a car crossed by me at approximately 120-150 Kmph. It was too near and the new vehicle moved without making any noise. On a sudden movement of a body by me, I jerked and lost balance. Luckily, I fell on the opposite side and I am alive today to be left with leg a sprain alone. But the sprain was severe. For the first half an hour, the pain did not worry me. However, after that, it started sending a current of pain through out my right side of the body. I need to cut short for that day trip and take rest and massage my legs to ease the sprain out. Though the effect of sprain got reduced, my ability to walk such distance drastically got affected. my daily walking distance reduced somewhere between 10-12 Km. My target for third stage got delayed by nearly 3 days and the pain started growing slowly over these days. I consulted a doctor on my way and he warned me, that this is going to aggravate if I am going to continue any further.
Though I was happy that I surpassed my aim of second stage and reached third, I was bit dejected that I didn't make up to five. However, It was a great learning, great experience. I have crossed nearly 350 Km by foot which I never imagined that I could do it alone and which none of my friends or relatives or family member have done it before. A sense of accomplishment filled me in. A challenge for my stamina and will power and accomplishment as proof to myself. I have lost nearly 3 kgs and an inch in waist. Though this is for the short term, in long term it is going to be helpful.
Some memorable events:
On day three, there was a guy who followed me. He should have followed me for couple of kilo meters. He was just few metres behind me. He stops whenever I stopped, he rests whenever I rested. I laughed. It was early in the morning. He doesn't seem to be a danger. If he is, I had a confidence that I could take on him physically. I stopped, turned and went to him and asked where he is going, where he is from. He is a poor guy, working in Chennai in a roadside hotel as a cleaner. He was 'sacked' from his job and now he is returning to his village, 300 Km away from Chennai. He had Rs 10 with him when he left to his village. He had traveled in bus with that Rs 10 and reached as far as he can and started walking from there. He had started walking, on the day before I started my trip, from Chengelpet. It is about 18 Km on my way from the place where I started walking. Since he did not have any money left, he had not eaten for past 3 days. To reach his village, he has to walk in the same route until my stage 2. Though I can give money for his food and take him along with me as I could get company for walking, it would be too harsh & selfish. I got a ticket for him and gave so that he reaches his family.
On day five, after walking nearly 20 Km from the morning, I saw a bus stand and I thought I could take some rest there. When I was about to enter, I decided not get in as the place had pungent urine smell and saw some dry shits. I immediately turned away but there was someone inside that. With a curiosity, I wanted to see who it was. It was a very old lady lying there. She should be more than 80 yrs of old. And immediately I realized that she should the reason for the smell. I was not sure, whether she was alive or dead. I went to her and called and asked whether she had any food. She doesn't seem to have had any food for days and my guess was correct. She mumbled something but all I could hear is some low whistling sound. Unfortunately, there is no hotel nearby to get some food. I got her some biscuits, bun and some water and gave her. She is staying in the bus stand for past two months after his sons expelled her form their house. Some passer-by, like me, would give her some food. And unfortunately she didn't have any food for past 3-4 days. I gave her some money but she could not cross the road to get the food. But I already have given the money to her and it may serve no use. Then I went to the shop and gave some money to the shopkeeper and requested him to give her some food at intervals whenever he happens to cross the bus stand.
On some day, during the trip, I had walked for nearly 20 Km. after that, I couldn't find any place to rest or to take food. There was neither a tea shop, nor any houses nor any pedestrian (but for heavy vehicles speeding by) for almost 3-4 hrs and walk a distance of 11 Km approximately to see house and 1-2 Km from there to reach a tea shop. On that day, I have to walk without food and water until three in the noon.
I want to keep a target that is double the suggested distance so that I mentally prepare for the challenge and at least cover what actually is required. Easiest choice would be Cape comorine, southern most tip of India, a distance of 670 Km from Chennai. I conveyed this Idea to my parents, friends and colleagues. My boss jocularly called me, because of this mission, as Johnny Walker. Thus I named my mission too as 'Mission Johnny Walker'. Friends and colleagues asked if I am insane to take up such a mission. In a way it is insane to walk alone for 670 Km on a National Highway. I never had any such experience or long trekking. But experience isn't from birth; it’s gained by doing something.
The mission is not for any weight reduction but to train my body for some serious steps that I am going to take once I complete this mission. The one who suggested me have been on a similar trip up to Kasi via Mantralayam and Shiridi, a distance of more than 3000 Km and a trip for more than 6 months. Body weight does not reduce immediately but this would help to build the immune system and remove the waste liquids from the body.
I planned to start the mission from Maraimalai Nagar, 30 Km away from my house. I split the trip into five stages. Stage 1 to reach Mailam (90 Km by day 3), stage 2 to Samayapuram (250 Km by day 8), stage 3 to Madurai (400 Km by day 13), stage 4 to Thirunelveli (540 Km by day 17) and stage 5 to Kanyakumari (670 Km by day 20).
As this is my first long distance trekking, I was not sure whether I would be able to walk such a long distance. But I need to accomplish the minimum target of suggested distance which would be covered by end of second stage. I don't have any immediate cognizant results from this exercise as I have been already informed that weight won't get reduced and the pain and miseries keeps increasing. However, I believe in the long run, it would increase my will power, stamina and bring in some discipline. I have to only depend on my will power and stamina to complete this mission. I am going to get a rich experience, a big challenge.
I started this mission on 20th January 2008 at 7:09 hrs after giving my prayers at Nagavalli Amman temple, Maraimalainagar, the place where I was brought up. On day 1, I was pretty enthusiastic and I walked nearly five hours at a stretch to cover nearly 20 Km. It was a good start and I appreciated myself. I completed my Day 1 trip by reaching madhurantagam, a 40-44 Km away from the start point. The sun was scorching, the heat started to surpass my shoes and affect my foot. My foot started paining, calf muscle got strained and thighs swelled. As thighs swelled, it started rubbing each other to develop calluses. On Day 2, I felt the pain of Day 1's enthusiasm. I changed my strategy to walk only 2 hours at a stretch and take rest for minimum 15 to 20 minutes. However, the effect of Day 1 continued and I walked like a limp. By Day 3, I reached my stage 1 target but ended with legs and thighs full of blisters. On Day 4, every step I kept, the blisters pricked and bursted to wet my socks with its serum. The second target was rather reached with much of pain and will power.
Though I walked on National Highway, I don't dare to walk on the road as the vehicles were speeding at 100-120 Kmph. There were no proper pedestrian walking passages, so I have to walk on the loose sands, gravel etc by its sides. Up to stage 2, the roads were under construction. It was a boon in a way but there were few disadvantages too. The boon is I could walk on the road without fear of speeding vehicles. But the disadvantages are like walking on loose gravels reduces speed, one would run a risk of spraining as balance might be lost etc.
Eight days passed since the start. I reached my second stage. With the joy of surpassing second stage, I started walking swiftly forgetting all the pain. Whenever the pain mounted, I would call someone at home or some friends to divert concentration. I used this opportunity to call my office to check the status of the jobs delegated. Sometimes, I sang some songs, chanted slokams etc., too. By this, for that time, I forgot the pain. When I was too tired to do even that, I would have some tea and discuss with the shopkeeper about some useless stuff and spend time.
Walking like a gypsy, I became swarthier. Hands and face got sun burns and my lips become dried and chapped. Knees become stiff and were inflexible. For each step I have to keep, I have to swing my body left to right and right to left so that I can walk without folding much of my knees. Early hours of the day (first 2 hours) the average speed would be around 6 Kmph and which would get reduced to 4 Kmph by mid day and 2-3 Kmph by end of day. However because of knee problem, the midday average speed of 4 Kmph got reduced to 2.5-3 Kmph and by end of day, it would be 1.5-2 Kmph. With average of 8-10 hrs of walk per day, I would approximately cover nearly 30-35 Km. At intervals, I take rest at road side shadows, tree shades, temples, tea shops etc. When none of these are available, I have found shades to rest such as big pipes kept for transporting water, rain water underpasses in the road and bushes near hills.
I am nearing my Third stage. It was early morning, a car crossed by me at approximately 120-150 Kmph. It was too near and the new vehicle moved without making any noise. On a sudden movement of a body by me, I jerked and lost balance. Luckily, I fell on the opposite side and I am alive today to be left with leg a sprain alone. But the sprain was severe. For the first half an hour, the pain did not worry me. However, after that, it started sending a current of pain through out my right side of the body. I need to cut short for that day trip and take rest and massage my legs to ease the sprain out. Though the effect of sprain got reduced, my ability to walk such distance drastically got affected. my daily walking distance reduced somewhere between 10-12 Km. My target for third stage got delayed by nearly 3 days and the pain started growing slowly over these days. I consulted a doctor on my way and he warned me, that this is going to aggravate if I am going to continue any further.
Though I was happy that I surpassed my aim of second stage and reached third, I was bit dejected that I didn't make up to five. However, It was a great learning, great experience. I have crossed nearly 350 Km by foot which I never imagined that I could do it alone and which none of my friends or relatives or family member have done it before. A sense of accomplishment filled me in. A challenge for my stamina and will power and accomplishment as proof to myself. I have lost nearly 3 kgs and an inch in waist. Though this is for the short term, in long term it is going to be helpful.
Some memorable events:
On day three, there was a guy who followed me. He should have followed me for couple of kilo meters. He was just few metres behind me. He stops whenever I stopped, he rests whenever I rested. I laughed. It was early in the morning. He doesn't seem to be a danger. If he is, I had a confidence that I could take on him physically. I stopped, turned and went to him and asked where he is going, where he is from. He is a poor guy, working in Chennai in a roadside hotel as a cleaner. He was 'sacked' from his job and now he is returning to his village, 300 Km away from Chennai. He had Rs 10 with him when he left to his village. He had traveled in bus with that Rs 10 and reached as far as he can and started walking from there. He had started walking, on the day before I started my trip, from Chengelpet. It is about 18 Km on my way from the place where I started walking. Since he did not have any money left, he had not eaten for past 3 days. To reach his village, he has to walk in the same route until my stage 2. Though I can give money for his food and take him along with me as I could get company for walking, it would be too harsh & selfish. I got a ticket for him and gave so that he reaches his family.
On day five, after walking nearly 20 Km from the morning, I saw a bus stand and I thought I could take some rest there. When I was about to enter, I decided not get in as the place had pungent urine smell and saw some dry shits. I immediately turned away but there was someone inside that. With a curiosity, I wanted to see who it was. It was a very old lady lying there. She should be more than 80 yrs of old. And immediately I realized that she should the reason for the smell. I was not sure, whether she was alive or dead. I went to her and called and asked whether she had any food. She doesn't seem to have had any food for days and my guess was correct. She mumbled something but all I could hear is some low whistling sound. Unfortunately, there is no hotel nearby to get some food. I got her some biscuits, bun and some water and gave her. She is staying in the bus stand for past two months after his sons expelled her form their house. Some passer-by, like me, would give her some food. And unfortunately she didn't have any food for past 3-4 days. I gave her some money but she could not cross the road to get the food. But I already have given the money to her and it may serve no use. Then I went to the shop and gave some money to the shopkeeper and requested him to give her some food at intervals whenever he happens to cross the bus stand.
On some day, during the trip, I had walked for nearly 20 Km. after that, I couldn't find any place to rest or to take food. There was neither a tea shop, nor any houses nor any pedestrian (but for heavy vehicles speeding by) for almost 3-4 hrs and walk a distance of 11 Km approximately to see house and 1-2 Km from there to reach a tea shop. On that day, I have to walk without food and water until three in the noon.
