2010…On the Road and Off it…

If 2008 was the year of “reckoning” for me & 2009 was the year of “coming of age”, then 2010 would surely go down in my life as the year of “Changes”…changes in my Place of work & stay – from India to Kuwait, big change in the number of Motorcycle Rides – 14 in 2009 to just 3 in 2010 & the biggest change being that in my Marital Status – from being single to engaged and I basked in each one of them, never did I fret about either of these changes & welcomed them with ease…I don’t know why but getting adjusted to new circumstances & environment comes naturally to me and this year was all about that…read on to know more about 2010 as it was for me…

January 2010

The New Year started with a Rooftop Grill Party on 1st January - my EOiD Friend Hemanshu’s pre-marriage bash which was full of Delhi Chill & driving through the infamous Delhi Fog, the food was amazing & the company wonderful. I enjoyed the Old Delhi food which was on the menu that night. The rest of the month was spent in Airports & Hyderabad travelling for Hiring Trips & spending endless hours at the Airports due to flight delays. Another highlight of this month was visiting the famous Salarjung Museum, Charminar & Mecca Masjid at Hyderabad & sampling the Hyderabadi Haleem…

February 2010

My 2nd International Trip happened this month when I travelled to Kuwait to give my personal interviews for the new job & had a memorable time, both in terms of the quality of interviews & visiting a new country(http://thekuwaitdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/04/kuwait-orientation.html), the big surprise was getting upgraded to Business Class while coming back; a unique experience indeed(http://thekuwaitdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/04/judgement-day.html). I got the Job Offer in the end of the month which I readily accepted with feelings of anxiety & excitement in my mind. I also went to Chennai & met Sameer – my Chaddhi Friend & his family. One of the best moments of this month was enjoying Beer right in the middle of Puraani Dilli at Hauz Qazi Chowk courtesy Mr. Vihans urf Chunnu…I got my “Jai BoP” Tattoo engraved by Jerry which also had “The Mighty One” inscription – My passion got inked to my body for life !!!. I also threw a farewell bash for my friends at Adda & that would remain as one of the most memorable parties of my life – so much camaraderie & brimming with endless supply of Alcohol…

Another memorable moment of this month was attending my first Hockey Match & it couldn’t get any better with India trouncing Pakistan by a margin of 4-1, we all danced away to glory that evening followed by celebrations in Old Delhi…(http://cheguevaraontheroad.blogspot.com/2010/03/hockey-at-its-very-best.html)

March 2010

This month was the busiest month of the year for me. I made countless trips to the Passport Office & Police Station of Gurgaon to get my Kuwait paperwork complete (http://thekuwaitdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/04/bumps-on-road.html). I went with Bandita to Surajgarh to spend a quiet & relaxed holiday for 3 days – and after a long-long time I drove to a destination rather than riding to it!!! 5th March was the Last Working Day for me at UHG where I spent 3.5 years & had some amazing memories of Team Spirit, Hard Work & friends for life. On 4th March my UHG Recruitment Team threw a Farewell Party for me at Fox- Gurgaon & I had a ball, dancing & drinking my way to glory!!! The fact that I was leaving UHG made me really emotional & I even cried!!!

12th March 2010 was my engagement day & a big-big day of my life;

After about 9 months of our relationship I & Bandita got engaged & this was start of a new chapter of life for both of us…and boy-oh-boy wasn’t I looking different that day!!! Even I could not believe my eyes, clean-shaved & dressed in a Kurta!!! And on 28th March 2010 I finally left India to join my new job in Kuwait – a big change in my life was about to happen…the decision was quite tough & thought-through, leaving my Family, Friends, Bike & the open roads was not easy at all…

April 2010

This month went by in getting acquainted to a new country & a new job, each day was a day of revelation for me & I was learning new things each day & was really enjoying Kuwait as a country. The weather was getting hotter & I was getting fatter gorging on Beef & endless tubs of Ice-Cream!!! (http://thekuwaitdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/05/kuwait-as-i-see.html)

May 2010

I attended my first Arab Wedding – My colleague Rani’s wedding & it surely was a revelation time!!!(http://thekuwaitdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/05/myth-busting-party.html) I made my first trip to India after coming to Kuwait & even though it was just a 3-days trip I still managed to have my share of fun – the way I always do…getting the most of it!!!(http://cheguevaraontheroad.blogspot.com/2010/06/3-daysmemories-of-lifetime.html) Had a fun time with my family & specially my nieces plus also went for a short Bike Ride to Tijara in Rajasthan & this ride was ultra special as this was the first time I did a rode on my Bhai’s Royal Enfield which was the first RE I rode way back in 1999…(http://cheguevaraontheroad.blogspot.com/2010/06/bop-tijara-titans.html)

June 2010

I made the first Road Trip of Kuwait to the Kuwait-Iraq Border with my friend George in his brand new Chevrolet Malibu (http://cheguevaraontheroad.blogspot.com/2010/06/abdali-road-trip.html). Apart from this high June was a dull month with not much action & the sweltering desert heat kept me indoors all weekends anyway!!!

July 2010

I explored my culinary skills all this month & this was a great experience. I cooked all sorts of delicacies – Stuffed Paranthas, Mexican Dishes, Butter Chicken, Phirni, Upma and what not!!! While I was cooking all this Bandita was getting happier each passing day seeing my talent & waiting for her time to come when she would be able to enjoy feasts cooked by me!!!

August 2010

This month passed by in anticipation of my September India Trip plus planning & shopping for it. I shopped like crazy for my family & friends and got some amazing gifts for them. Also this was the month of my first Ramadaan in Kuwait, a brand new experience for sure. Hiding in a small little corner to smoke while in Office, No public eating or drinking all markets dead till 6:30 PM in the evening & then the post-Iftaar hooplah, it was a sight indeed!!! But the best part was the curtailed work hours, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM!!! I love Kuwait!!!

September 2010

I came to India this month & what a trip it was…a BoP Ride to Dalhousie with my comrades (sadly Vinamra had to miss it)( http://cheguevaraontheroad.blogspot.com/2010/09/bop-dalhousie-darogaas.html), Birthday Celebrations with my family, BBB Ahaata Meet, ABC Group get-together, Mummy’s food(yummy!!!) & some much needed Beer Therapy!!! I also went to the Freeze Bar in Rajouri Garden with Arunima & had a chilled (literally!!!) time there…11 days went away in a Jiffy but had amazing fun each one of those days…

October 2010

October was another month of anticipation & shopping for my next India Trip in November!!! The Punchline was this month was Chunnu’s…when I told him that I am coming to India in November he said “Aap gaye hi kab the!!!”…I shopped a lot; the best of the lot was the Omega Seamaster Watch I got for my Bhai…his dream watch & a big surprise gift for him…also got loads of stuff for my nieces & Bandita…this month passed away very quickly in waiting!!!

November 2010

Another month….another India Trip & this time 16-days long packed with loads of Action, Beer, Open Roads & Travel…the big event was spending Diwali with my family; all of us were together on Diwali after 15 years that’s when Bhai left to join NDA & it was an amazing night…I went for an Old Delhi Trip after so long & enjoyed my favourites – Moinuddin Miyaan ke Kebab, Kure Mal ki Kulfi, Chicken Point’s Grilled Chicken and Chat at Ashok…

Went for BoP’s 3rd Anniversary Ride to Chittorgarh on 12th November & had an amazing time with my comrades & getting back to the open roads was a feeling which can’t be described in words, only a real Motorcyclist can empathize!!! I also fulfilled my childhood dream of seeing the “Victory Tower” or “Vijay Stambh” at Chittorgarh. (http://cheguevaraontheroad.blogspot.com/2010/12/bop-chittorgarh-cavaliers.html) I came back on 14th & then the very next day left for Sikkim to meet Bandita & have a chillaxed 5 days trip. Visited the Tsomgo Lake & the Nathula Pass which was freezing & laden with Snow, I really had a ball in Sikkim & would definitely go back on a Bike Ride someday…

December 2010

December started with a high – I got “The Mighty Two” (http://thekuwaitdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/12/mighty-two.html), my red beast…and the next few days passed in anticipation of getting my Driving License which I got within the next few days & then I experienced the raw rush of life @ 200+ kmph speed!!! Saying that it was an awesome feeling would be a gross understatement…The Wafrah Trip was simply too good & I had a wonderful time (http://thekuwaitdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/12/meri-christmas-weekend.html)…The rest of the month passed doing TP with my Kuwait friends here & getting ready for 2011!!! The 31st December night was well spent – started with “Jalebi on the Beach” followed by drinks over “Andaz Apna Apna” & then a high-induced sleep…

2011 would also bring a huge change to my life as I would get married this year & then would start a new chapter of my life – one for which I am anxious & excited, lets see what the future has in store for me but as always I am ready to face any challenge thrown at me – so what the challenge’s name is Bandita (don’t kill me for this baby!!!)

Che would be back on the road again…

Till that time…Ride safe & have safe sex…

Hasta la Victoria Siempre…