CATS on Wheels

It was good to see 9 CATS ready to pedal off on their bikes well before the flag-off time.

In fact such was the enthusiasm generated by the CATS that one morning walker from the Fragrance Garden also borrowed a bike and joined us for the Cycle Rally.

There were around 20 foreign AIESEC members as well amongst others in the cycle rally. After being flagged off by Mr Vivek Atray (Director Chandigarh Tourism and CEO STEPS), we reached our destination, Sector 22 market shortly where the Tilak ceremony made us feel as if we had biked from Wagah! A refreshing treat was laid out for all the rally participants.

Most of the CATS decided to bike up to the lake where 'Run for Fun' took place this morning.

All in all, CATS had great fun this morning.

Supreet

World Tourism Day - Cycling Event

Just reminding all the CATS of an event scratched in the CATS calender a while ago.

It's World Tourism Day tomorrow and CATS are being invited to participate in the Cycling Event taking place tomorrow morning with the international tourists. The peddling off time is 7am and we should be able to go home by 8am. Bring your kids along too in their school uniform and just drop them to their schools in time. Cats can easily reach home in time to have a quick shower before heading towards their offices.

07:00 am - Cycle Tourism Rally - Starting point is the Fragrance of Sector 36, where International Tourists will be participating. The rally will end at Sector 22 Market, Chandigarh.

It's very much manageable and I think it would be nice to demonstrate our support to Mr Vivek Atray, the CAT in proxy who got us off the ground.

Go on CATS, let's see some paws on the road tomorrow.

As our fellow CAT AP would say, 'Sangataan ne hum-humma ke pahunchan di kirpaalta karni' !!

Please do call Assistant Manager of STEPS, Deepti on 9216256333 if you wish to participate.


Disclaimer: This is a STEPS organised event and all CATS would be participating individually.

Kodak Moment for CATS

The adventure of the Kasauli Trek was trespassing into the cottage of one and only, the legendary Khushwant Singh. His son, Rahul Singh ever so gravefully welcomed the CATS in to meet with his father, who was reading quietly in his private and cozy study.

The Father....

and The Son..... with two holy ghosts!!

The Legend meeting with the eldest CATS couple...

None of the CATS can possibly forget the animated chat he had with us for nearly half an hour. He talked about the times when he himself used to trek up from Kalka/Parwanoo to Kasauli or trek down from Solan to Kasauli. Though he claimed to have failing eye sight, but he surely enquired why one of the CATS was wearing so many rings on her fingers!! He can still tell which wild animal is peeping through his window in the mornings. He might have become hard of hearing but can recognise a non-Indian accent in no time. Advancing years might have made the body frail, but the brain beneath that skull cap is ticking away like ever before.

And there was so much more that he shared.... which we refuse to share with the CATS who did not accompany us on this trek to Kasauli!!

Rahul, the caring son, noticed his father getting tired of all the CATS who just kept pussy footing through the door. Politely, he offered to show us around their cottage instead. He kept pointing out the details pertaining to the photos, paintings and furniture around the public areas of their house and answered each query patiently. CATS were finally waived off with an autographed book by the legend himself, Not a Nice Man to Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh. A treasure indeed for the CATS library.

Thank You Rahul for letting us have a peek in your home and allowing us to steal a few minutes from the life of your father. We shall treasure these memories forever.

Supreet.

Photo Gallery.... Jabli - Kasauli Trek

CATS spring a surprise

The Kasauli trek had been full of excitement. As the trekkers were on their way down to Jabli from the heights, as the last telephonic conversation I had with the trek leader, Supreet, they were having a gala time.
And the excitement was well deserved as they happened to walk into the house of noted author and journalist Mr Khushwant Singh and his son, Mr. Rahul Singh, who were there in their home in Kasauli.
Much to their delight they were ushered with great courtesy and respect and all the 20 of them had the opportunity to meet with these two great writers of our times.
And they got one of his latest books, Not a Nice Man to Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh duly autographed by him for the CATS library.
The trekkers included the youngest one being 10 years old and the oldest (nay, the youngest) Mr. D.V. Bhatia.
Congratulations. Meow

Must bring RUCK-SACK for KASAULI trek

Food boxes and water bottle would be handed over to each CAT at the time of registration. Thus All CATS participating in the Kasauli trek would be required to carry their individual packed breakfast box and lunch box with them along with a bottle of water during the course of the trek, as we are going to have both breakfast and lunch somewhere along the trek.

CATS are therefore requested that they MUST BRING a ruck-sack or a sling bag or a bum-bag with them.

A plastic carry would cause more hinderance. Please bring something which you can sling over your shoulders for your own comfort during the trekking. Also bring a little bin liner to carry your rubbish back with you, in accordance with the 'No Litter' policy of CATS.

Supreet

Kasauli Itinerary

Participation Fee on Sharing Basis
Transportation Cost for 32 people: Rs. 140/- per head.
(Cost will go up proportionately if less then 32 members go on the trek)
Packed Breakfast & Lunch Cost & Served tea: app. Rs.200/- per head. So, total approximate cost to pay per member is Rs.340/-
Members to deposit ‘dutch money’ by Thursday, 20th of Sept’07 by 5pm with Mr Vishal Kalia (9988729090) at Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management. Only those members who deposit the trek fee by the given cut off time/date would be able to join the trek. Since, this is a ‘dutch money’ trip, two meals and tea need to be organized, there is no room for last minute walk-ins. CATS will not be able to entertain refunds either. Verbal, telephonic or email confirmations will not be entertained.

Itinerary
5.30 am Assembly and Registration at Hotel Chandigarh Beckons, Sec.42
6.00 am Departure for Jabli from Hotel Chandigarh Beckons.
8.00 am Reach Jabli and have breakfast at CCD
8.45 am Start trekking from Jabli for Garkhal
1.00 pm Finish first leg by reach Garkhal. Time to have packed lunch
2.00 pm Start on the second leg of your journey by trekking from Garkhal towards Kasauli
3.30 pm Reach Kasauli. Time to have tea and chill pill. Walk to the Christ Church on the Upper Mall Road, Kasauli.
5.00 pm Board bus from Kasauli for Chandigarh
7.30 pm Depart for home.


Trek includes:
1. Transportation to and fro Hotel Chandigarh Beckons
2. Packed breakfast and lunch
3. Tea at Kasauli


Following conditions MUST BE FOLLOWED for the trek
1. No shooting, hunting and teasing of the wild animals, if any.
2. No littering at any stage of the trek.
3. Do not damage the flora.
4. No lightning of fire in the forest area.
5. Trekkers are requested not to make use of alcohol and tobacco on Trekking.
6. Please be prepared to help fellow trekkers in case of need.
7. Please maintain social decorum and enjoy the trek.


ITEMS RECOMMENDED to be taken for the trek
• Cameras
• Binoculars
• Umbrellas
• Walking Sticks
• Packed Food/eatables
• Water Bottle
• Waste Bin liners to collect all your rubbish
• Raingear or plastic sheets
• Bandana or a handherchief.
• Hat or Baseball cap.
• Sunblock.

Suggested CLOTHING for the trek• Comfortable walking boots with thick cotton socks to avoid blisters
• Comfortable shorts/track/jogger pants with T-shirts or cotton suits for ease of trekking
• A cap or hat offers shade from the sun
• Small cotton handkerchiefs/towels to wipe your brow

WORD OF CAUTION
Since this is a bit high altitude trek, so we would advise everybody to join this
trek only when they are in sound physical condition. Being a hilly terrain this will
demand some resistance from you. Secondly as we all know that Kasauli is very notorious for unexpected rains so we would advise everybody to be prepared for the thunder showers. Thirdly because of the rains, the trekking path sometimes gets slippery and treacherous, so do expect some slips and falls.

Kasauli Trek

CATS is organizing its second Trek in the wilderness of lower shivalik hills. This time the destination for the trek is Jabli – Gharkal - Kasauli, on Sunday, 23rd September 2007.

On the side of the main highway that connects Kalka to Shimla ; the town of Jabli lies curled along the heights of the first major row of hills. It is from here that we will be starting our Trekking. The Trek will pass through small villages and hamlets. Jabli - Gharkal trek is approximately 6 km and Gharkal - Kasauli is exactly 3 km.

Kasauli town takes its name from the village of Kasul that has since merged with the fringes of the town. Kasauli itself seems to live in a delightful time wrap that belongs to a century now gone. Its narrow roads wander up and down the hillside and offer some of the finest views of the area. Standing majestically above all the lower hills is the peak of Choor Chandni. One vantage position for the views is Monkey Point, which has a temple dedicated to Hanumanji. The town is divided into upper mall and the lower mall, which are lined with town’s old residences. The lower section holds tress of Chir, Pine, Himalayan Oak and Robust Horse – chestnuts and higher up the hill comes the majesty of the Cedars.
The town’s colonial ambience is reinforced by gabled houses with charming facades
and neat little gardens with beds of Geraniums and Hydrangea. The picture is completed by slim paths slide past the orchards of Plum and Apricot.

Dates for your Diary

All the CATS are requested to scratch the following dates in your diaries:

16th Sept: Trek to Jabli-Garkhal-Kasauli

27th Sept: Cycling expedition within Chandigarh on account of World Tourism Day celebrations

29th & 30th Sept: Camping Trek to Tikkar Taal, enroute Morni Hills

07th Oct: Heritage Walk in Chandigarh as part of Chandigarh Heritage Festival, followed by trek to Jayanti Devi

Details per event to follow soon.

Meow...Feedback on Nepli Trek

For most of the people who trekked on Sunday morning to the rolling greens of Nepli forest, it was an out-of-the-world experience! Besides being commended for its exceptional management, this truly was a journey of a lifetime.
The CATS (as I would like to call every member of CATS) nimble-footed walked gracefully in the narrow jungle tracks...silently...in sojourn with their own self.
The young ones helped the elders negotiate the curves and humps, while the children discovered a new closeness with their parents.
For many young parents, who remain busy throughout in the fast-paced world of mundane activities, this trek with their children was another eye opener, as they found new friends.
A software engineer, J.K. Menon thanked "for helping me become the best friend of my daughter Oorja".
For the always-young-at-heart former bureaucrat D.V. Bhatia and his wife Dr. Nirmal Bhatia, "it was a great learning experience for both of us".
Fang from China who has made Ludhiana his home, gave 11 out of 10 for the trek for the experience that it provided.
Sanjay learnt the message of protecting and respecting Nature by keeping all the toffee wrappers in his pocket during the hike rather than throwing carelessly in the jungle, while Ronnie carried his own little rubbish bag with him.
Hip Hip Hooray to all of you. Or "Three Meows" to all of you as Mr Vivek Atray sends his cheers to all.
And there were 98 of them...each one of them bringing back their own sweet memories and learnings from this trek...and discovering themselves indeed. CJ

Suggest a Trek

After the success of the Nepli trip, which indeed was a very pleasant experience for everyone having discovered such a beautiful natural trail just next to our home, let us discover new places where we can go. Some of you have suggested treks in Himachal...wonderful. The format required has already been circulated to all of you by Supreet. Please follow this and get back to us. We also need to identify more treks within the city limits so that we can make them as a part of tourism package for the visitors to our city. Best of luck. CJ

Photo Gallery

Ist Trek: Grand Success

Wow...the first trek was a tremendous success. Over 100 people from two-and-a-half year old to 71 years joined. Every body reached Chandigarh Beckons in the morning and they simply joined in to help with the Registration.
Our special thanks to everyone,especially Mr. Vivek Atray, Director Tourism, Mr. Ishwar Singh, Director, Forests Department, and the Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management for organising the breakfast. We also owe thanks to Mr. D.S. Bedi, Principal, Shivalik Public School of Mohali who lent us two buses for the transportation of the CATS members.
And no wonder, Supreet Dhiman deserves all the kudos who was working out the minutest details of the trek for the last one week, and even could not catch a wink the night before.
We request everyone, whosoever took any photograph of the event, to send in the pix on email so that we can share with others. We shall also welcome your comments.
There had been requests from the people to have a trek every fourth Sunday of the month. Good. We shall definitely come up with the calendar and keep you informed.
Trekking is indeed the most lively outdoor experience that teaches you team spirit, leadership, and more significantly, respect for Nature.
Till next time...cheers! CJ