'There is some problem for sure' - This is what am saying to myself.....
Its friday morning....... Its 7:00 AM........... i have already put in two rounds of 'shaving cream' on my face and am fiddling around with the shaving brush to generate the lather, so that I can have a smooth shave......
But interestingly for the first time i am facing a 'unique' problem..... I have already applied more than sufficient cream on the face/brush, but still no lather has been generated...... I add additional water thinking that may be some foam would be generated, but it goes in vain.... Now i start thinking, may be 'shaving cream' has expired, i look up at the tube to see if i can spot the manufacturing/expiry date, but cannot spot.... I am still amazed as to why no lather is being generated.... Now i think, may be the shaving brush has become ineffective in doing its 'rightful job' - rationalizing to myself that may be since i have been using the brush for more than year, the bristles must have weakened and the cream must have dipped down to the bottom of the brush and thereby there is no cream on the top of the brush...So i gaze on the brush, but again to my dismay, the brush is looking fine and is just looks the way it usually looks....
Now i dont know whats gone wrong, i think there is some problem in either the shaving cream or the shaving brush......
I dont wanna think more and find the out where the problem lies...So i decide to live with the problem for now i.e. (in this case, a non-lather generatng cream)...
So i apply the cream (of course no lather and foam) and start shaving with the razor...
As I shave, I turn my head to the right side of my face, that i suddenly spot my Gillete Shaving Gel...
"Huh"... This is what am saying to myslef....
I now realize that i had not been using my Gillete Shaving gel but rather i was applying Brylcream anti-dandruff cream on my face....
I now immediately wash of my shaving brush and my face.. I apply the Gillete shaving cream on my face/brush and now apply water, sufficent lather is generated and i am so relieved that i am having a smooth shave....
The whole of the above mentioned episode must not have lasted more than a few minutes.....
But i gave a little thought to the whole incident and i guess, i had some interesting thoughts that came on to my mind.... I actually felt that there were interesting lessons that I could decipher out of it:
Firstly, I was looking around in spotting where was the problem lying....I have already externalized the problem from myself 'was there a problem with the shaving cream or may be some problem with the shaving brush'.So i was actually looking for problem 'outside'
Secondly, I had actually concluded that there is some problem elsewhere, unable to spot the problem (thereby not able to rectify it), i decide to live with the problem (in this case to continue shaving with hair cream)
Thirdly, i had initially made the wrong choice of picking up the Brylcream rather than the Gillete cream (both were next to each other on the rack above the wash basin)... I never at any point during my problem identification stage (in this case trying to spot why the cream was not generating lather) did i actually give a thought if i had actually made a wrong choice or if there were any mistake that I had done from my end...
Well, After my shaving I actually sat down and pondered over how interesting this small (apparently insignificant) episode actually made a lot of sense and is for sure significant in actually teaching me quite a few lessons.
Its friday morning....... Its 7:00 AM........... i have already put in two rounds of 'shaving cream' on my face and am fiddling around with the shaving brush to generate the lather, so that I can have a smooth shave......
But interestingly for the first time i am facing a 'unique' problem..... I have already applied more than sufficient cream on the face/brush, but still no lather has been generated...... I add additional water thinking that may be some foam would be generated, but it goes in vain.... Now i start thinking, may be 'shaving cream' has expired, i look up at the tube to see if i can spot the manufacturing/expiry date, but cannot spot.... I am still amazed as to why no lather is being generated.... Now i think, may be the shaving brush has become ineffective in doing its 'rightful job' - rationalizing to myself that may be since i have been using the brush for more than year, the bristles must have weakened and the cream must have dipped down to the bottom of the brush and thereby there is no cream on the top of the brush...So i gaze on the brush, but again to my dismay, the brush is looking fine and is just looks the way it usually looks....
Now i dont know whats gone wrong, i think there is some problem in either the shaving cream or the shaving brush......
I dont wanna think more and find the out where the problem lies...So i decide to live with the problem for now i.e. (in this case, a non-lather generatng cream)...
So i apply the cream (of course no lather and foam) and start shaving with the razor...
As I shave, I turn my head to the right side of my face, that i suddenly spot my Gillete Shaving Gel...
"Huh"... This is what am saying to myslef....
I now realize that i had not been using my Gillete Shaving gel but rather i was applying Brylcream anti-dandruff cream on my face....
I now immediately wash of my shaving brush and my face.. I apply the Gillete shaving cream on my face/brush and now apply water, sufficent lather is generated and i am so relieved that i am having a smooth shave....
The whole of the above mentioned episode must not have lasted more than a few minutes.....
But i gave a little thought to the whole incident and i guess, i had some interesting thoughts that came on to my mind.... I actually felt that there were interesting lessons that I could decipher out of it:
Firstly, I was looking around in spotting where was the problem lying....I have already externalized the problem from myself 'was there a problem with the shaving cream or may be some problem with the shaving brush'.So i was actually looking for problem 'outside'
Secondly, I had actually concluded that there is some problem elsewhere, unable to spot the problem (thereby not able to rectify it), i decide to live with the problem (in this case to continue shaving with hair cream)
Thirdly, i had initially made the wrong choice of picking up the Brylcream rather than the Gillete cream (both were next to each other on the rack above the wash basin)... I never at any point during my problem identification stage (in this case trying to spot why the cream was not generating lather) did i actually give a thought if i had actually made a wrong choice or if there were any mistake that I had done from my end...
Well, After my shaving I actually sat down and pondered over how interesting this small (apparently insignificant) episode actually made a lot of sense and is for sure significant in actually teaching me quite a few lessons.
After all, its all about choices.....
Well..here i am...boarded the bus..... asking for a ticket Malsej Ghats and the conductor says where.... Am a little puzzled, for the i did check if the bus was going in to Malsej Ghats... Seeing me puzzled, one of the co-passenger chipped in...He said, 'arey bhai.. u want to go and stay there? You are referring to the holiday camp'..' Oh yeah' - i said.. of course, i was referring to the MTDC resort which is there....Of course i did plan to stay over night there...Then the co-passenger explained to me ' You see, this bus goes through the jungle and the Ghat section and there is nothing in Malsejh but for the MTDC resort. Btb- have you done the booking he asked'. Well, i said ' sir, not yet..but am not worrying'... He retorted ' Beta - there is nothing around. You will not find any other place there. What will you do? Is there anyone along with you?'. 'Hmmmm...Not to worry sir. I am alone and i will find a way out...Worst come basis, i would have to return in night and i dont mind doing that as the last resort'.... Though i boldly said that, there was indeed a slight feeling, 'whats gonna be my alternative arrangement?'.... Now the conductor was back after his rounds and asked me 'ticket for where' and i said clearly 'MTDC Camp - Malsej Ghats'... He said ' 62 Rs'... I pulled my wallet and passed on a 100 re note, and the conductor asked for change. Now, when i started looking deeply into my wallet, what i saw next was a complete bouncer, that threw me out of my mind.... I was shell shocked when i discovered that i had only 320rs in all in my wallet and here I am shelling out 62 rs to go to Malsej... I am completely taken aback on sensing this reality.....
The bus takes up sharp turns and the village scene disappears and the scenes of hilly landscapes prop u.... The bus has started moving upwards... There is beauty emerging in style.... Each time the buses turns and the road opens itself to the other side of the hill, one gets to see the tall huge moutain ranges wwith clouds clearly covering the peaks and the scene in itself brings a great amount of joy.... There are also small little waterfalls which can not only be seen from the windowns of the bus, but interestingly there sare small waterfalls such that the buses ply through the waterfalls in the road. This is indee quite an new experience that waterfalls fall on the road, and people just park their car on the road and just enjoy the falls on the road freely.....
Am all excited that I have actually made to up to the place where i wanted to be... But what next...... 
With rejuvenated energy and zeal, i get down from the bus and head straight towards the resort... Its a wonderfuly located resort at the edge of the cliff giving a panoromic view of the landscape..... There are abt 17 self contained blocks in the resort and i headed straight to the reception and checked out if there were any room. There were a couple available but each were charged over 450 rs. This is when that reality bites... I asked if there were cheaper alternatives. And the receptionist said there were none and this could not be negotiated, for this is a govt resort. I pleaded showing my sorry state of affairs and was asking him for alternatives. But my effort was futile, he just blatantly refused to listen to my plea. I headed towards the security person. Showed him my wallet and told him of my story of lack of money and asked for help. That security gaurd, Santosh, said that 2 km down the road there is a small village and there there is a possibility of cheaper options and i could get one for 100 odd rupees. I thanked him for his suggestion, but also told him that in case i dint get one, i would be heading straight to his place and i would be staying with him over night.
I followed the advise of the security guard of MTDC and headed for stroll at 7 30 PM in the night towards the Village. There i spotted 'Nisarg Lodge'. It was indeed one sada hua lodge and the most expensive room costed 250 rs. However, i asked for other alternatives. The owner showed me a room in the first floor and said it would cost me 15o rs. BUt i negotiated saying that i will pay only 100 rs. We struck the deal/I pay him the 100 rs and i now have a place to stay over night. I was in the wonderful place - Nisarg loge, with a 100 rs/night room, which has one straw mat with cushion and pillow on top of it. The room also houses a water puddle in the corner and has a small light buld though there is no fan.... However, must say, that i was extremely glad ... i heaved a big sigh of relief.... i just kept my bag in the corner, locked my room and stepped out at 8 pm......
It now started drizzling quite heavily... It has to - shouldnt it, after all it is monsoon time and that too am in the hills.... However, the ill prepared crack that iam, wasnt carrying any weather protection yantra.. however, with the pleasant talking skills (probably, the gift of the gap which just saves me all the time - Thank you God), i lend a umbrella from the lodge owner and go out for a walk in the rains in the night... It was indeed a wonderful experience to walk in the rain in the hills with mind you 150 rs in the pocket..... As it was quite windy and was raining too, the umbrella was of little use in protecting me, for eventullay, the lower half of my body was indeed getting wet... So after a short stoll i headed back to the 'room' - if i may call it... With 150 rs left, what can i even afford to have.. Skip my dinner (again - Thank you God, my stomuch has in general not posed much problems in most times my will power over comes the power of stomuch calls)... I doze of after listeing to some nice classical devotional music from my mobile....
Taking in the biscuit, i walk along, there were vehicles plying by. I was posing my hands seeking lift... Finally, there was a private auto which was heading upwards... I boarded and asked him to take... I happily was going that he suddenly stopped and said -'Aap right mein jaaiye and 5 re dijiye'...Well, he was actually charging me for his drop..... So did part off my 5 rs ot him and started walking upwards....
In high spirits, with bag on my back, started trodding on the path along slide the road.... It was a small trek for a km till the foot hills of the shivneri fort. Shivneri fort is the birth place of Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj, the great Maratha warrior. The fort also houses all his childhood times. With an historical bent and nature at its best, began to walk along the various gates of the ancient fort.... .Walk a while, stop, click a few pictures, take rest and again walk.... this continued for the next couple of hours, till i went to the place where is the exact location of Shivaji's birth place. The place hosts the cradle the Mother Jijamata used for her child alongside the statue of Shivaji and a potrait of Jijamata....
I had always seen buses in Mumbai with nameboard as Jijamata Udyan, but never did i know that Jijamata was actually the mother for Shivaji... So that was GK news for me... There were quite a few visitors from near by villages coming in there and paying respect to thier erstwhile leader/protector - Shivaji Maharaj. Well the respect for him is just so evident once you visit this place...
The moped kaka himself advised me that i should be taking a jeep to Bankar Pada which would be a good ride through the hilly village and from there I could catch a bus to Kalyan which would go through Malsej Ghats.... As soon i reached the central point, looked around what was available to gobble.. Spotted a road side shop and had a vada pav for Rs 3. It was one of the best 'dishes' i have ever had... It was so fulfilling that could not be replaced by the best of the restaurants in Mumbai.Having the vada paw in my right had, and water bottle in the left hand, i was asking for lift to BankarPada (was still trying if i could get a free ride)... However,no one obliged... Finally i had to shed out 10 rs for the Jeep ride which went past the rustic villages ... On finally reaching Bankar Pada, had to give out 10 rs for the ride..... Parting away 10 rs could just prove to be expensive... But then I had to.. Now i had 112 rs left in all.... Decided that i just cant afford to spend on any further travel, but for getting back to Mumbai....