Kenton Cool's Mt Everest

Before I write about the book I would like to share my experience with mountains. When I was in school, I lived in a place called Aizawl in North East Part Of India for two years with my family. Aizawl is situated 1,132 meters above sea level. So, I grew up watching mountains around me though they were small mountains. I also learned that life is difficult for people who actually "live" there. Visiting a place for few weeks or months for trips and living in a place for 2 years is completely two different things. If I missed school bus ( which I often did) I had to climb around 200 staircases to reach school. 

The most unimaginable thing that I remember from those days is "water". We didn't have tap in our quarter ( I heard that they have it now) and per day we used to get only 3 barrels of water. Every day at  4 am water van would come and fill our barrels and if you don't wake up on time to signal them to stop then you will find your house floating in water in the morning. There was no bell to signal, we had to scream at the top of our voice "STOP" until they hear our voices. They had to travel around 4-5 hours (one way) to bring water from the nearby river. so we used to get muddy river water for our daily uses including bathing and cooking.  And some days If water van didn't come then we had to manage without water. When I look back now I wonder how we lived there for 2 years. But still we loved the place. Aizawl is beautiful and untouched by the tourist industry as you need special permit even to visit the place. 

Though I've never climbed any mountain in my life but I appreciate the beauty that nature gift us. The highest altitude I had ever visited was Gurudonmagar Lake in, 2005/06.  It  is located at an altitude of 17,800 ft but I had only covered around 100m approx by foot and rest was covered by a hired car. Though the experience was nothing sort of climbing Mt Everest but being a non climber and knowing that I will never climb Everest made it special for me. 

I  had been blessed with the view of snow capped mountain and frozen Gurudomagar Lake in Sikkim. Though the way to Gurudonmagar lake was not covered in snow. Its more like passing dessert on both sides. It was one of the most wonderful drive in my life. I had covered that 100 meters in Jeans and hired boots from a local shop and after reaching the top I started showing the signs of altitude sickness. I had headache and was feeling very tired just walking those few steps and my nose was running badly like someone had opened the tap. I was so naive that I didn't know these minor illness could be fatal in mountains. 

Everyone around me was so excited to see the beauty in front of them but at the same time they looked nervous and I couldn't understand why. I didn't undergo any sort of training or physical fitness before the trip even though my uncle had insisted on that. Going there was a choice which not many had undertaken that day but my uncle took the decision for me and I am thankful for that. Otherwise, I would have missed the golden chance to romance nature. 

I am not a climber but my uncle is very passionate about trekking, birds and wild animals. He always tried to inspire me as soon as I was old enough to spell the word trekking. But Unfortunately, I never understood his love for mountains when I was young. His mountain stories bored me like everyone else and I often runaway when he would call me to watch a wonderful documentary at  Nat Geo or Discovery channel on mountains with him. 

So, he planned a trip as soon as I was at the age to climb or at least ready to take basic preparations with minor climbs and that's how Gurudomangar Lake happend. How I wish that I took it more seriously rather than treating  it as mere Sightseeing trip . But somehow that trip changed something inside me. At least, I started to appreciate the beauty of nature and when in 2007 I was in university I started planning about a serious trek with one of my classmate who walk slower than tortoise till today. But somehow climbing never happened for me but now and then I get the chance to appreciate the mighty mountains in India from the safest distance. 

Finally, back to book and Mt Everest. The 1996 disaster in Mt Everest caught my attention just few years back and since then I started digging about the great mountain. Media raised questions about the morality of climbers for leaving their fellow climbers alone to die. I was  aghast. I wondered how can they ? But going into little depth recently my observation says that media's concern could be for two reasons. First, They were naive like me and completely unaware about mountaineering and the risks involve in such high altitude. Second, they wanted to sensationalize the news for TRPs. 

After Eat Pray Love I got so intrigued about mountains especially Mt Everest and K2 that I started collecting books on them from the library. And that's when I picked up a book called One Man's Everest By Kent Cool. 

The man in the book cover look more like a NASA scientist than a climber to me. Kenton cool is an English Mountaineer whose achievements are super cool just like his surname. He is the first man to tweet from top of the Mt Everest in 2010. Till now, he had summited Mt Everest 11 times and wish for more. He had also led Sir Ranulph Fiennes in 2008 and 09. Also, In 2013, Mr cool summited The Triple Crown with Dorje (sherpa) without returning to base camp. 

Kenton Cool: leading an ascent of Annapurna III in 2003 (left)
Image Source: 1 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/magazine/article3782179.ece

The first thing you'll notice when you open the book is the map of Mt Everest. It was very helpful and one of the best for the layman like me. I googled for the better map but this one helped me more to understand the territory. And In my opinion when you write about any place or mountains showing a map to your readers is must. 

His mountaineering journey is amazing and inspiring. Even his completely shattered  ankles couldn't stop him from climbing his dream. Not once but many times. What I loved about him is he shows love and equal amount of respect to his Sherpa. Sherpa are the unsung heroes who never get their due credits from their client but cool has given fair amount of coverage to them on his book. His writing is very engaging and by the time I reached Mt Everest (page no 116) through his words I was literally holding my breath and my heart was beating fast. I felt like I was on Mt Everest and had crossed turnaround time. 

I found answers that I was looking for, from this book. Like, why Mt Everest when it is so dangerous ? And why they often don't turnaround on time or why the expert mountaineers push themselves even in unfavorable conditions.  Kenton Cool is often criticized by his fellow climbers for making climbing his profession. And he had explained his point of view in this book and I completely agree with that. Whats wrong If somebody is earning from what he or she loves to do ? Aren't we all look for a job that doesn't feel like a job? Then why make climbers feel guilty about it. That's not fair to them. Also, in a dangerous summit like Mt Everest you need professional or  to help you and if they've to think about job back home then there will no professional guide to help us in our journey. 

In the end he gives glimpse of his dreams to his readers which I understand is both exciting and sad for him and his family. I wish all the best to him for his future journeys to mountains and pray to God for his safety and his family's peace. Also, I hope he will give us another book after coming back. 

Overall, I really enjoyed summiting Mt Everest (a dream) with Kenton cool through his book One Man's Everest and recommend it to all. 

Few phrases from the book:- 

1. "No one can ever tame Everest. She will bite and hard." 
2. "Climbing brings people together with a common goal. Its a place where everybody's equal , where everybody has the same aim: to summit and get back down . Everest doesn't know whether you're a student or you earn a million pounds a year, you're just another person to Everest, and that's what I love."
3. "To climb like I had done since my university days requires a strange detachment - something akin to going to war, I guess: the notion that its the guy next to you that's going to die, not you. Its a strange, illogical belief in your own specialness."
4. "The media often slams these wannabe climbers, citing that they pay their way to the top. Well perhaps they do; but they still have to step out and do it - no amount of money will help you make that psychological move."
5. "It has been such a magical day, you know; the summit is nothing."
6. "I always find the solution is at the bottom of a glass", as Guy Willett, my partner in Dream Guides, famously said once in Chamonix."But its just a question of finding which glass it's at the bottom of". 

Eat Pray Love By Elizabeth Gilbert

I may be late for the party but in this case at least its better late than never. I just finished reading the book that changed Gilbert’s life and made her famous, Eat Pray Love. I had seen the film twice when it was released in 2010. I remember the exact year because it was the year when my life was changing. Anyways, film was good. And I know all the quotes from this book by heart even before reading the book. I never thought I will ever read this book. But I feel that there are some books those you read for entertainment and then there are some books that happen to you, to change you and your life.

Eat Pray love happened to me accidentally recently on a rainy day in England. I was waiting for few people in library when I spotted her (the book). I had nothing to do and wanted to appear busy therefore was just turning the pages. It wasn’t enough for me and felt the urgent need to appear more busy, action kind busy. I walked towards reservation counter to borrow it. That walk somewhat satisfied my need. I told myself I will return this book on my next visit. I have many other important books to finish, this one doesn’t deserve my time. But I was so wrong. 

Paulo Coehlo's Aleph has set a benchmark on my mind which I had read 3 years ago and I was hoping to find another such kind and that satisfaction I found again in Elizabeth Gilbert's words. So I learned that you might not find what you're looking for from the same author. The author can create that magic only once after that their masterpiece become their own competitor unfortunately. 

After I came back home, I was sure that I will return the book very next day. I opened the first page to read the quotes I already knew. I just wanted to underline those lines and wanted to share those quotes on Internet. BUT what I found ? How this works or 109th Bead. So beautifully Elizabeth had explained the concept behind 109th Bead in the first chapter. She explains the reason behind the title of her book Eat Pray Love and she also tell us the reason for number of chapters in this book. I couldn't take my eyes off from her words. You know you're reading a good book when you feel like author is talking to you one to one. I felt same while reading her book.

Elizabeth divorced her husband and found herself in another emotionally draining relationship with a 10 years younger guy called David. She realized after some time that she need to be her own hero and save herself. She decide to travel the world to re discover herself and to heal her broken heart. Her life take her to 3 three completely different places. The book is divided into 3 sections - Italy, India and Indonesia. Wherever she went she had this urge to learn something. In Italy, she learned to speak fluently. In India, She learned to let go and Indonesia taught her to love again!  

I love each and every sentence written by Elizabeth Gilbert.This book is entertaining, funny, emotional and soul touching. And I felt that it is the best way to write travelogue. Writing in such a fashion that reader will feel that they are reading the experience of their friend.Adding emotional and funny touch to it and writing about things that cannot find on Google. If only there was more travel books like this I would've already traveled the world through these books.  

Eat Pray Love will inspire you to do something about your life. It will inspire you to learn something and to be emotionally independent. If by chance you dive deep into the words and stay there for some days then you might stumble upon more deeper message for you. I cannot explain it to you. You have to feel those words yourself. 

This is one of the books where I feel that words are not enough to describe its beauty. I highly recommend this book to everyone even if you've already seen the movie. Before signing off  I just want to say Congratulations to meet you, Elizabeth Gilbert !!!

Have you read this book ? Did you like it or hate it ? Why ? And just for fun what is more important to you eat , pray or love ?

The Girl On the Train By Paula Hawkins

Genre – Psychological  thriller 

Price - £12.99

Author – Paula Hawkins

Author’s Bio –

 

The girl on the train - Paula Hawkins

Paula Hawkins worked as a journalist for 15 years before turning her hand to fiction.

Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989 and has lived there ever since. The girl on the train is her best thriller. It is being published around the world and has been optioned for film by DreamWorks. ( Taken from the book). 

My reading journey - 

Recently, I had finished quite a few numbers of interesting thrillers like Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, The Ice Twins By S. K. Tremayne (aka Tom Knox) and now the girl on the train. All of them are selling like hot cakes in the market. I wanted to read the girl on the train for two reasons. First, because of its popularity. Readers are divided into two groups, one those hated the girl on the train and second group belong to those people who believe that it is the best thriller till now. Secondly, some readers are comparing it with Gone Girl which I had found quite interesting therefore, thought of give it a try.

Paula has successfully engaged its reader till the end . Story is presented by the three female characters Rachel, Anna and Megan in the chronological order. The idea of watching the houses from the train is something that we all can relate to and the story starts from here, Rachel observing houses from train and imagining their life.Her imagination is beautifully explained by the author making the readers more curious about the future of the story.  The suspense is lovable. It serves the purpose of a good thriller. 

Rachel is a drunkard and ex wife of Tom, who is the husband of Anna now. Rachel has completely messed up her life even before her divorce with Tom. She continues her drinking habits even after her divorce and can’t remember the things she had done while in drunk condition. She commutes daily to London on a train holding lots of secrets to herself and her roommate Cathy. Anna hates Rachel because she believes that Rachel is not leaving them alone. Megan lives just two blocks away from Rachel’s old house occupied by Anna now. One day Megan disappear suddenly and Rachel get herself involved in it willingly with the intention of helping Megan's husband Scott. 

This is where lots of people are finding similarity with “Gone Girl” I think. Because Megan suddenly disappears and she hasn’t used her cards or phone. But except disappearance of a wife there is no similarity with the Gone Girl. I found Paula Hawkins storytelling and presentation is also different from Gone Girl. Though I found a major discrepancy in the story which I am afraid If I reveal here then would spoil the fun for those who haven’t read it yet. So without elaborating it much, I would just say that how police could not trace a mobile phone with a sim card inside it? This is really weird to me and killed the fun for me in the end. 

If you can swallow that easily then you will enjoy reading this book. Paula has done great job as a debut writer. She writes simply and can very well hold reader’s attention till the end. No harm in reading it once. 

Did you like the girl on the train ? Or are you planning to read it ?

The Time of my Life By Cecelia Ahern

After finishing, “The Wild Truth” By Carine McCandless I was looking for a light hearted book. Therefore, I started reading Cecelia Ahren’s, The Time of my Life. I had loved her,  " P.S I Love You". 

Let me discuss the physical aspect of the book first. I must say that it’s a pretty girly looking book. It’s that kind of book which looks good on your book shelf or on the table beside your coffee mug. Actually, I am attracted to all her book cover. Sounds weird? Yes, actually I do give that much importance to book’s cover.  That’s the first thing I notice, in a book shop. It helps me to make decision sometimes. The book cover talks about their marketing strategy and target reader. In this book their target reader is girls/women of age group 18 to 35. Also,I know that there is lots of hard work involved in it. It’s not that they randomly decide something as their book cover. And I just try to acknowledge their hard work by writing about it in lengths and breaths. The cover image of Ahern’s, “The time of my Life” is related to the story. It’s a picture of paper coming out from an envelope. 

If I was Ahern , then I would have named it, celebration of truth or an accidental encounter with life or meeting my life etc as I feel that she wanted to keep this word “Life” in the title. 

So, it goes like this, Lucy Silchester has been avoiding her life since last two and the half years. Her life is as messy as her flat. She doesn’t allow anyone inside her flat except her cat which she is keeping illegally. She has job to pay her bills, which she doesn’t like. She was following the routine sincerely until she got a letter from her life.  And here comes the twist in the story. 

And the twist is – Life is a person! It has gender and Lucy’s life is a male. No, it’s not metaphorically calling someone she loves, her life. Her life is literally her life. Confused? I was too. It took me quite a number of pages to clear this confusion from my head. Once, you understand this concept and where this story is going, then the book feel comfortable between your hands with a coffee on your side.

Lucy doesn’t wants to meet her life, until she got herself entangled in her own web of lies which is affecting every sphere of Lucy’s life. Life comes to clean her life and to simplify it. 

Reading, “The Time of my Life”, was like watching a good romantic movie with your partner on weekend. The story is narrated in such a fashion that you will play images simultaneously  on your head while reading it. I am sure the story will soon be adopted by a Hollywood director, if not already. In the end, it has a message to give, which is: 

If you're looking for a cheesy, romantic book to accompany you on this weekend on your beach holiday then grab a copy!

The Wild Truth By Carine McCandless

The Secrets that drove Chris McCandless into the wild

To be honest, I picked up The Wild Truth By Carine McCandless , thinking it is "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. I was in hurry; I just noticed the name at the top right “Jon Krakauer” and grabbed it. I realized my mistake only after coming back home. So , it was like reading the second part of the book first.I haven't read or seen "Into the Wild" yet. But I think I have idea of whats it about. still forgive me for any mistake, if any. 

I really like the cover of "the wild truth". Its not misleading and if you read the book (or already read or seen into the wild) you understand the importance and meaning of the picture in the cover. The image of the "magic bus" 142, with the reflection of beautiful mountains of Alaska on its window is very thoughtful, emotional and creative. Reading, The Wild Truth was extremely painful for me. I felt emotionally exhausted, at times. Although my opinion might vary from that of author Carine , but I think I do understand her loss and pain.

Could it be possible that death of Chris McCandless and their dark family secrets are not related? Is it possible that he left for Alaska because he loved nature? That he was just looking for adventure? That he was just trying to discover his true self by being alone for sometime in the midst of the nature? From the book, we know that he tried to come back but couldn’t. He  just didn’t know how difficult this particular path could be and died accidentally? No doubt, he had a difficult childhood but I think he was someone who knew that from where you come is not important but what you become. And we all know from his journals and his life that he turned out human, a good human. 

In a letter, written to his sister, Claire, Chris Has said, “I am divorcing them (his parents)”. He was a brilliant student with a degree and promising future. If he really wanted to die, he would not have completed his education. He could’ve died easily, using other ways. He didn’t need to go to Alaska for that. 

May be Alaska was his love, his passion and his dream. His simple soul was aching for a life far away from the material complexities of the world. Like Chris wrote in his journal (in caps), “ HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED” and maybe he wanted to share his with the nature. I might be wrong but I don’t think he deliberately set off for Alaska to die because of his dark family secrets. I think he had left his past behind the day he started his journey under his new name "Alex".

Nevertheless, this book has brought up an important issue in front of us. Domestic violence and role of parents and its effect on their children. Chris and his sister Carine give us hope that all those who grow up in the difficult family doesn’t always turn into drug addicts. Some become Chris and Carine – a good soul and good parent. 

Taken from The Wild Truth

The Light Of The World...

I grew up listening about the book City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre from my grandmother. It was released in 1985, two years before my birth. My grandmother often quoted lines from this book and now I understand after reading it that it has played an important role in shaping her character.She is a giver. She never turns away any poor empty hand from her door. She gave away her part of land to the poor farmer happily without asking anything in return. I often found her compassion for poor, stupid. I was young but not wise. While reading this book mile away from my city of joy, Calcutta now Kolkata, I felt ashamed that I couldn’t understand their pain and suffering while I was midst of them.

Image Source: 1

Almost a decade had passed since the release of city of joy, little has changed. From the book, at least I know that help is coming for the people from all around the world including the author of the book. This book has made many of us human in true sense. People who lives in slums don’t need our money, what they need are our understanding of their pain, suffering and struggle and assurance that they’re not alone. Aren’t we all afraid of the same thing? Being alone? Then why do we feel different or superior from them? 

This book has surely opened my eyes. It has taught me to think twice before complaining about small things in life. In the past, I had announced many times in front of strangers, friends and relatives that I love my city most. But how could I claim that love without knowing about half the population living there? I wonder how I pretended they didn’t exist even when they are in every nooks and corners of the city.

I just want to say, “Sorry”, to my people. I should have done something for them. I visited a slum once in park circus beside the railway track for my college project. I was making a documentary film on child labor and a volunteer from a NGO called Calcutta Samaritan just opposite the main income tax office, took me there. I completed my project in one day and never went back just because I couldn’t stand the smell. I need to do something before I die. They don't need my help, I need it for myself. I need my soul to grow!

Few excerpts from City of Joy

1)“India! A subcontinent with exceptional potential wealth – yet where areas and social groups of overwhelming poverty survived. A land of intense spirituality and of savage racial, political and religious conflicts. A land of saints like Gandhi, Aurobindo, Ramakrishna and Vivekananda and of political leaders who were sometimes odiously corrupt. A land that manufactured rockets and satellites but where eight out of ten of its inhabitants had never travelled faster than their oxen could pull their carts. A land of incomparable beauty and variety, and of hideous prospects like the slums of the Bombay or Calcutta. A land where the sublime often stood side by side with the very worst this world can offer, but where both elements were always more  vibrant, more human and ultimately more alluring than anywhere else.”

2) “If you don’t find your joy in God, you seek it elsewhere”

3)“I’ve even come to learn the validity of a strange reality here, he said. ‘In a slum an exploiter is better than a Santa Claus…’ confronted by his father’s stupefied expression, he went on to explain, ‘ An exploiter forces you to react, whereas a Santa Claus immobilizes you.”

4)“You cant hide anything here – not even the color of your soul.”