Fits...

Fits they sway, took me away

got me grip, took me astray

Wattery bushes, the pinch of chill
An-other path, for hill and thrill

Deep ravines oh slippery cliffs
make a stride, total a'bliss

Oh gosh oh my, I had to fly
the amber sheet, held me a'fleet

Distance cloud the horizon sight
Another dream, got me a'flight

Brooks and hill loot me at will
Pastures they, carpet my stay

Flight away, walk away
Summer-white-sun sweat away

Legs are two, now wheels are two
Rusty thumps, made freinds a'new

Blistering breeze, flying trees
Goals the same, but roads a'new

Dream again, say 'o change
Cycle a day keeps the doctor away

let a-lone, desires oh moan
Bushy greens, reds of day
oh no oh wait, the fits 'a gone, 'a gone astray

---

Some asked me what in the world this poem meant? Well I wanted to speak a lot in a few words and hence such choice of words.
Here we go...

"Fits they sway, took me away
got me grip, took me astray"

Fits here is a metamorpic to intrests/desires/passion etc. So when ever I get such fits, I am overwehlmed by them and get onto newer and untouched terrotories...

"Wattery bushes, the pinch of chill
An-other path, for hill and thrill
Deep ravines oh slippery cliffs
make a stride, total a'bliss"

I sortof started my recent adventures with treks and those were in the monsoons, so the consistant cold and chill brezze was a constant companion as we walked through various terrains. Never did the chill or the rain or any of the slips ever hinder our stride. So basically we simply enjoyed the trek.

"Oh gosh oh my, I had to fly
the amber sheet, held me a'fleet
Distance cloud the horizon sight
Another dream, got me a'flight"

Then came paragliding, where in I ejoyed the wonderrous views of the deep valley under my feet and the awsome surroundings. The "amber sheet" is basically the paraglider.

"Brooks and hill loot me at will
Pastures they, carpet my stay
Flight away, walk away
Summer-white-sun sweat away"

After the paragliding stint I was back to trekking, and was back walking in the mountains and green fields and eventually to summer treks.

"Legs are two, now wheels are two
Rusty thumps, made freinds a'new
Blistering breeze, flying trees
Goals the same, but roads a'new"

Then came the motorbiking stint, where in I made a long journey down till Karnataka and back and made many good friends in the process. This was again with the same motto of adventure and having fun in the great outdoors so nothing really as different to trekking/paragliding, hence I say "Goals the same, but roads a'new"

"Dream again, say 'o change
Cycle a day keeps the doctor away
let a-lone, desires oh moan
Bushy greens, reds of day
oh no oh wait, the fits 'a gone, 'a gone astray"

Finally came my desire to get on a bicycle, and so much research and dreams were fueled into this that I was bitten too bad by the bycycling bug. But none-the-les I was not able to get one, so was let down and got off mood and hence the last para says the fits are fading away.

-Vindy

Die Cast...

I really always had a fascination towards die cast models. As a kid had a huge collection of die cast cars especially "Hot Wheels". Also had one of those tracks. Was a Gi-Joe fan as well.. if you get me started I would be talking about toys for ages and probably start behaving like a kid.

Off late, I learnt about these precise replica models of cars and bikes. Was really impressed by the 1:18 sized miniatures of all bike brands .. May it be the Yamaha YZF R1 or the MV Agusta Brutale or the Suzuki GXR or the Harleys ... anything. I was impressed. These were precise scaled replicas of the original models and this company, Maisto, had special licenses to produce these.

I wanted one of these and was craving for one. Especially clubbed with my like for photography and one of these beauties, the horizons were limitless :).

Last week, on labor day, paid a visit to Landmark stores. While dad purchased a truckload of Carnatic music CDs I decided to loiter around the toy section. Soon was drooling over the 1:18, 1:12 replicas. Dad too teamed in and we both were picking boxes and saying "Had addu been here he would had ripped the store apart..." (Addu .. my 4 year old nephew). Well we were craving for those models.

The following day on my way back from office, I decided to stop by at Popular toy store. Sure I let Landmark pass. There is something about Popular - I mean I bought my huge collection of little cars from there as a kid :).

I sure was feeling weird to step into a toy store and look around for a toy Bike. It felt weird, but still I confidently marched up the stairs to the shop. The shop has not changed one bit, its just the way it was some 15 or more years back. Soon one of the attendants asked me what I wanted, and on my response he pointed me to the Maisto boxes. Geeeezzz... these metal toys looked beautiful! I literally picked every box and was eventually stuck to a couple of 1:12 models. On my query for additional models he pointed me to a Suzuki GXR, it was drool maal, but I was really all teeth with the blue Yamaha R1 and the Aprilla RSV1000.

Soon I inquired about bicycle replicas, and this is where the owner stepped in. It did not take me a second to recognize him! He was still the same -sure older than what he was when I was a kid. So he searched around for bicycles. Unfortunately they did not have them in stock.

When I told the owner that I did not want models to be gift wrapped or anything, both the owner and the shop attendant were all giggles- right this guy is buying toys for himself !!! hahaa... I enjoyed it as well and shared with him the bonds I had with his shop. He was extremely pleased to hear the same, and took down my number - just in case he got a shipment of bicycles :D.

Back home dad loved those models and was drooling over them like kid, me alike. Mom kept saying don't keep those in the open they would get dusty. Soon had a photographic session at night and slightly better one the next day -thats today. Was fun.

Just cant wait to add more to the couple! A car -1:12 would be a right blend/subject for a snap eh!.

What say! Muaahahahahaaaa