Offsite: Exhilirating Antraganga

Antaraganga that’s it, was how I heard it from one of my team member. We are hitting Kolar, the ex-gold mines region for an offsite. Seriously that didn’t enthuse me enough, but i am quite a sport in not spoiling a party and was game for the offsite.
60 kms away from the hustle bustle of Bangalore, relieved off the constant pain given out of keying in mails and reports using a small sized keyboard on a Laptop, this was a refreshing change.
Plans are meant to be re-planned, that’s what I have learned, though the plans looked fool proof over paper(emails), when it came to execution we were late by an hour to start off. Not a big delta wrt original plan when compared to the projects which we run day to day :). 7:30 am we started from work, post a hours wait for pick up.
The journey was usual with all antakshari and dumb shards (i guess that’s how its spelt), keep wondering when we will grow up, ironically I did enjoy dumb sharads reminded of the champs in me Sanjith and Siji my old pals. We stopped for breakfast somewhere enroute for idli-vada and coffee. 10 am we got to the base of Antarganga.
BMC (Bangalore Mountaineering club) was entrusted to keep us engaged & busy. A set of 15 people who have more or less worked together for a long time (IT time lines). An ice breaker was introduced and the team got in tune in no time. The ice breaker reminded me of bum-bum-bolle song from Taare zameen par, i cannot co-relate why though!
We trekked for an hour or so to conquer the "Rock", enroute finding eager monkeys and dogs for the food which they can grab on. I managed to hold on to Miranda twice but the adamant monkeys managed to get it from one of my team member. Morale, try try till you get it and the monkeys did succeed, patience wins in mind games.
By the time the team conquered the Rock, BMC team had set up wrappling some where over a 25 feet rock. We unwinded over Rock 1 and did get refreshed, the joy lasted only 30 minutes with photo shoots getting over we needed to move to Rock 2 for Wrappling.
Wrappling had began and the enthusiastic members made it easy for others to get over the fear of the thing. In no time all the members got their chance on the exciting event and it did have their share / instances of fun. The exercise reminded that laughing off on someone’s folly lasts till you reach and do it yourselves. The girls showed excellent character and were sport for all games making feel the difficult of events easy. I particularly remember my foot slipping off from rock, wrappling is all about that moment, the heights and the adrenal rush.
Lunch was served and with all this activity no food was left over. The dogs waiting and fighting for leftovers were unlucky as the team ate like hungry wolfs so where is the chance for dogs!
Cave exploration was next in Agenda and no one ever dreamt what is awaiting for us. We expected (I for sure did) a small dim lit cave and some places / paintings. We got the shock at the entrance with one or one and a half feet gap between two gigantic rocks we needed to enter the cave! The team consists of at least three tummy lifting members, me nearing that title sooner, and it was a challenge for them. This exercise did teach each to help our colleagues and friends. We were advised not to carry any bags and being Techies we never listen to good advises so we rebelled and carried out belongings into the cave which did become "baggage".
Sliding, crawling, ducking rocks, jumping over and what not were done to maneuver the cave curves and cuts. The scare of an earthquake, would a wedge-rocks holding huge rocks slip were enough for the team to keep speed inside. We did have time to relax and catch Kodak moments inside the cave. The cave never seemed to get over, the anxiety did get over but after an hour of exploration. We saw light. Yes light at the end of the tunnel made faces gleam with joy. The team relaxed and smiled for precious photos on top of the rock. We didn’t miss to have refreshing moments here too.
By the time the team thought its over the organiser threw a new challenge. Friends this is the last lap and the only way out. You need to crawl between these rocks, alas the gap is around a feet only! The team just got the last lap done, as in projects the most exciting thing happens at last this too did have a similar effect, though personally it seemed very difficult but execution was like a cake walk.
The rope walk was a new challenge and again all team members got to do this mesmerising event, as the sun was in no mood to keep the event lighted and was slowly calling it a day. This game did give a lesson and that was keep your concentration on the job and with what ever disturbance focus on the job, else you will be thrown off the rope. Tough one I thought, and it is definitely a tough lesson to walk the rope in a corporate world, specially when the balloon of economic crisis is slowly getting blown to larger size.
Overall we started back at 6:30 and reached work by 8pm, it was a fun filled, active day and we needed rest.
Antarganga trip seemed to live up much more than what I expected. Definitely a place to visit in a group, else it isn’t fun!
Hope i get to post some pictures soon!

This is an experiement......lets c where it lands

Giving back to the net was one of the most procastinated things from my list......alas is the list getting down or growing!

I guess this is one way i can make a difference, I need to make some time for logging my thoughts or say blogging.

A begining is made and the needed fuel /the tempo will come from my known and unknown friends feedback for sustaining this venture....hopefully i will garner some enthusiasm for moving this on.