The Cloud People of Peru

I wonder if this will be part of  the trip if ever it will really happen.

The Chachapoyas, also called the Warriors of the Clouds, were an Andean people living in the cloud forests of the Amazonas region of present-day Peru.The Incas conquered their civilization shortly before the arrival of the Spanish in Peru. When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 16th century, the Chachapoyas were one of the many nations ruled by the Inca Empire.

Their incorporation into the Inca Empire had not been easy, due to their constant resistance to the Inca troops.The name Chachapoya is in fact the name that was given to this culture by the Inca; the name that these people may have actually used to refer to themselves is not known.Chachapoyan constructions may date to the 9th or 10th century; this architectural tradition still thrived at the time of the arrival of the Spanish until the latter part of the 16th century.

To be sure, the Incas introduced their own style after conquering the Chachapoyas, such as in the case of the ruins of Cochabamba in the district of Leimebamba.The Chachapoyas people built the great fortress of Kuélap, with more than four hundred interior buildings and massive exterior stone walls reaching upwards of 60 feet in height, possibly to defend against the Huari around 800 AD. Referred to as the 'Machu Picchu of the north,' Kuélap receives few visitors due to its remote location.

As posted by Planet Earth Phenomenon at FB page

 

Lift Up 9

Success is not the key to happiness.

Happiness is the key to success.

If you love what you are doing,

you will be successful.

- Albert Schweitzer

 

 

Elizabeth Hawker - Amazing Lady

I come across this lady when she finished first on the Women's Category on this years UTMB. I like what she said about her interview for this year's video about this race as well. "When runnng an ultra, it is not just about the race, it's about the entire running community. It's not just physical, it's a mind body and soul thing.

Today, I encouter again her name when she finished third overall and come first on the Women's category on Spartathlon. Wow. She is simply amazing. She did it well both on the trail and in the road both on an extreme condition. And additional indormation about her that I  know today, she won the HK100 female category this year as well.

I can't help but admire her, for her strength, endurance and grit to do all of  it despite the situation. Salute. She is such an inspiration

About Lizzy

Lift Up 8

  

Life is about taking chances, losing and finding happiness,

appreciating the memories, learning from the past

and realizing that people change

- Anonymous

 

 

Lift Up 7

“The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain,he is inspired by it. The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem, he is challenged by it. Mountains are created to be conquered; adversities are designed to be defeated; problems are sent to be solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.” _William Arthur Ward

As shared by Anis Hussain as posted by Momentum Life Coaching's photo at Facebook.

 

 

Something New, Something Different - Multi Staged Race

I have been seeing and reading about multi day staged races, I have been wanting to test myself how I am going to perform on such race, but been wondering how on earth will I gonna get the experience, the registration fee in itself is already goddamn soooooooooo expensive.   Until the universe conspires and here it is, a chance for me to do it. Honetly, I still do not know how to do it. I am pretty sure I will survive the distance but it is the nutrition that I got so worried about. I have tested myself in Mt. Aconcagua, I cannot perform so well on bread and cookies alone on several days. On this race, it has to a self support with water as the only thing that the organizer will provide. Sharing the recent write up about this event. Hopefully it will keep in perspective. The Ancient Khmer Path - 6 day, 230 km staged ultra

By: Press Release GlobalLimits is a company based in Germany, but they bring an organizational team coming from three continents to this event. Organizers Stefan Betzelt (GlobalLimits Founder/Cambodia Race Director) and Chuck Walker (Cambodia Course Director) are on the ground this week, doing their final scout of the 230 km route - braving Cambodia’s rainy season on dirt bike. They plan on much better road conditions for runners, though, as they have set the race for late November, the beginning of Cambodia’s dry season.     The race itinerary runs from November 16th, 2012 (overnight in Phnom Penh, race check-in and city tour), then through November 18th to 23rd with six running stages. The daily distances are mostly between 32 and 45 km, with one long 65 km stage on Day 3, and an easier 16 km run, finishing by the temple in Angkor, on the final day.     Organizers promise a scenic route brimming with local culture, and nearly entirely on tracks and trails - mostly flat or rolling, with only two larger hills along the entire route. The registration fees include camping and permitting fees, as well as entry into the temples.     So far, 30 runners representing 16 countries have already registered for the race, including Spain’s legendary ultramarathoner Salvador Calvo Redondo - who set a record by winning the first three editions of the Racing the Planet Series in 2008, 2009 and 2010. (Although there will be cut-off times along the stages, organizers indicate that the race course and timing are designed for all levels of runners, including first-time ultramarathoners).     The event runs from November 16-24, 2012. The total distance over the six days is 230 km. For more info: http://www.global-limits.com/the-ancient-khmer-path.html

Lift Up 6

Always find a reason to laugh. It may not add years to your life but will surely add life to your years.... :)) by Gharette Villanueva 

 

 

Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico - Copper Canyon

 

Lift Up 5

Mountains are beautiful, that's why climbers go there. by Petzl on FB page

Exactly why I always long to be one with nature, to be in the mountain especially the higher ones. Reaching the top is just really a big challenge but the beauty that one can see is just too overwhelming that it's all worth the pain and the hardships. Longing to be back on the high alpine environment someday.

What is an Ultramarathon?

By: David Blaikie

---

An ultramarathon is any organized footrace extending beyond the standard marathon running distance of 42 kilometers, 195 meters (26 miles, 385 yards). Ultra races typically begin at 50 kilometers and can extend to enormous distances. There is no limit. The longest certified ultramarathon in the world is The Ultimate Ultra, the annual Sri Chinmoy 1300-Miler (2092 kilometers) which is held each fall in New York. There is also the annual Trans America Footrace, which is run in 64 consecutive daily stages from Los Angeles to New York. Runners cover almost 3,000 miles (more than 4800 kilometers) at a rate of about 45 miles (72 kilometers) a day.

Ultramarathons are run on roads, trails and tracks. They can be point-to-point, like the Comrades Marathon in South Africa; out and back, like the Niagara 100K in Canada; or held on loop courses, like the famous one-mile loop that Sri Chinmoy runners circle 1300 times in New York.

Rules allow runners to "go as you please." This means they may take walking breaks, pause to drink or eat and even sleep if the events are especially long, such as multi-day races. No penalty results from any such interruption, except for the time or distance a runner loses from his or her performance.

Men and women compete in ultramarathons at all levels. They always have. In modern times, they usually compete together in the same race. One hundred years ago, when the sport flourished as "pedestrianism," men and women competed in separate events.

There are two types of events - those in which runners set out to cover a fixed distance (whether it be 100 kilometers, 1000 kilometers or more) and those in which runners attempt to cover the greatest possible distance within a fixed period of time (such as 24 hours, 48 hours or six days). Journey running is another aspect of the sport. Journey runners are lone trekkers who set out to cover long distances at their own daily pace. The most common examples are transcontinental runners, such as those who have crossed Canada, the United States and Australia on foot, or those who have run from John O'Groats to Land's End in Britain.

Megarunners are another sub-group within the sport. They are known not for their speed or records but for the great number of marathons and ultramarathons they run. Henri Girault of Naintre, France, has run more than 200 races of 100 kilometers or more. American Norm Frank of Rochester, New York, has run more than 550 marathons and ultras. And Canadian Wally Herman of Ottawa has run more than 400 such races, including at least one marathon or ultra in every Canadian province and territory, every U.S. state and in more than 70 countries worldwide.

There are Standard and Non-Standard ultramarathon events, although ultrarunners do not always agree which events fit in each category. The most generally accepted Standard events are 50 Kilometers, 50 Miles, 100 Kilometers, 150 Kilometers, 100 Miles, 24 Hours, 200 Kilometers, 48 Hours, 200 Miles, Six Days, 1000 Kilometers and 1,000 Miles.

Six Days became a major Standard racing distance in the last century, when ultramarathoning was known as pedestrianism. It was the longest event that could be held without competing on Sunday. Typically, six day races started at the stoke of midnight on Sunday night and concluded at the same time the following Saturday night. Non-standard "events" include all other measures of time and distance, and they can be numerous and demanding for statisticians to monitor.

During the course of one long race, for example, runners may be timed or measured through many "splits," or intervals, and can sometimes set numerous records in the process. In a six-day race, athletes pass through literally dozens of race intervals, Standard and Non-Standard.

The categories multiply even more when Metric and Imperial distances are taken into account.
 

Ultramarathon racing is much older than the marathon (which originated with the first modern Olympics in 1896) but only recently has the sport has been recognized by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). In 1991, the IAAF extended official recognition to the 100-kilometer event. Since that time the 100-kilometer event has replaced the marathon as the longest running distance recognized by the world athletics governing body. The annual IAU 100-Kilometer World Challenge is now held each year by the International Association of Ultrarunners "under the patronage of" the IAAF.

---

Lift Up 4

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves...by ZARA TOURS

Exactly what I feel every time I climb mountains, be it the minor peaks or the major ones.

I summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro September 1, 2008. My very first attempt of conquering one of the seven summit peaks. It was not an easy climb for me, slowly I was hit by the altitude sickness. Headache is slowly felt but I just have to push further despite it. The summit was not as full of snow as shown above but the summit push was just too windy. I am glad we had guides that were just too persistent and did not give up on us. I swear my thought was never to do this again.

But truly how the human mind can easy forget what the body went through. Several months after we come back, we already thought which next summit to conquer. Though it took time but it happened. And my second attempt was a different story. Indeed it gives so much meaning about conquering oneself and not the mountain peak itself.

PAU National Championship 2012: A Test of My Patience

Philippine Association of Ultrarunners' (PAU) National Championship, my very first over a hundred kilometer road race. I come to this run with two goals in mind: to be at the starting line no matter what happens and to have dinner with Rica Mendoza on the second night after the race. In between that, I am sure I am still on the road trying to drag myself to finish the race within my target time. Recovering from a flu and a sore legs from a weekend's unavoidable major leg work out, I am not sure how I will really perform on this race. 

I know too well that it is going to be a 110km distance, a distance I have been wanting to test how my body will perform, a race I have been longing to join for I wanted to increase the distance that I will cover on a race.  But this will be  my very first over a 100km on a road as well, my past 4 100km races were all trail.  And what made things more challenging on this race aside from my physical state was the fact that we have to be self contained, not sure  which part of the course will there be an aid station or a sari-sari store and with no support vehicle we decided to carry a full hydration pack, mine weighs 4 kgs before the start of the race when it is still dry. 

We left Manila a day before the race with a typhoon, we arrived at the Island of Guimaras with a continues rain. The sea is rough, the road is wet, the entire day is cloudy and gloomy. After we settled at our foster family's home, we picked up our race bib.

An hour before the gun start, together with the other 45 runners for the 110km  and 35 runners for the 50km  we gather at the starting line really excited. It's always  great to see familiar faces of ultra runners around. Just before we were released for a start, a heavy downpour of rain again. So as we started running 10 minutes before the time I am already wet up to my shoes. Even if we are still on the streets of the town early part  of  the race, it is already pitch dark all over. Very minimal street lights, houses are far apart from each other. It is only the light from our headlamps that one can see illuminates  infront of us. From cemented road, it leads to a hardened limestone road, rough road then to a mud road. The first three hours I was with 50km runner Mish Maravilla and Wesley Noel Oraña. Maintaining my pace, we are together in the flat, uphill, downhill pitch dark part of the road. Until I realized, I have to slow down for I will be doing more than a hundred km as compared to them that will be doing just 50km. 

I move further on the dark part of the road alone, surprisingly there are aid stations available every after 10km and a roving aid station too. I can feel the weight of my load but I cannot do anything about it as well. I need it for me to survive on the race. 

As the day breaks I covered more than 40km already, I long to reach the 50km mark. I maintained a steady pace alone on the road, there are times other  runners  catch up with me and times  I catch up with other runners too. As I patiently move further, I finally see part of the road where there are more vehicles, finally the 50km mark. I reach the place almost 7am, with out resting my legs, I just replenish food and drinks and leave. 

50km done. The next more than 30km is a road with rice paddies on both sides. The scenery of the countryside is just so beautiful. They day is still gloomy, the sun comes out for just a very short time. After sometime, my stomach is already looking for real food, rice and any viand. Unfortunately, this stretch of the road since it's all  farm land, has less community so no karenderya too. I have to wait for a while before I can satisfy my craving for real food. Despite the gloomy weather, I was already thinking of ice cream, halo halo or even ice candy. But to no avail. 

And this part of the course is just really taking forever, I love the scenery of the rice paddies but at this time I just really wish this part will be over. I just wish after the hilly part will be an end of the rice paddies down there. But that did not happen soon. I really have to deal with it for some time. 

Being on the road for more than 11 hours now, I can already feel some pain on my legs, Alaxan has become my best friend from this time on. I can feel the weight of my pack now slowing my pace. I walk not just on flat parts but all the more on uphill part of the road. This starts to frustrate me for this is not how I perform on my other races. Until I catch up with Al R. Casas a little almost 70km. I was surprised for I know he is far ahead of me. From then on we become partners on the road. He calculates the overall distance that we need to tackle, while I take joy of few more kilometers to the next municipality. 

Both of us celebrate with joy in every kilometer of mileage covered. The last few kilometers, a support vehicle of other runners offered to take our pack and just bring a hydration bottle. Such a great difference. We can now run faster but as we move further with  sore legs we just have to settle on a combination of run walk run strategy. Our very goal now is just to cross the finish line still bright and injured free. I thank Al for patiently reminding me to just slow down, not to force myself to do a faster pace on a sore and aching legs. I started to become impatient to myself. 

The last 5km is just taking forever. With now blistered feet, it's just too painful to step on an uneven asphalted road. Those pointed pebbles on the road is just not very friendly to my blistered feet. I've been longing to see the very few establishments in the town, the very sign that we are almost to the finish line. 

Finally, past 4pm, the most awaited road signs in town is now visible. Al asked me to cross ahead then he followed at the back. I thank Al for patiently pacing with me, I thank him for being there when I was sooooo sleepy on the road, when I was soooo hungry, for reminding me to stop for few minutes and rest my legs, something that I could have not done when alone on the road. I thank Sir Jonel for offering his support vehicle to us, that was such a great help, I thank my team for a fun filled crazy weekend on the running oval of  Guimaras. I thank my friends and loved ones for all the prayers and well wishes, all of it means a lot to me. Most of all I thank God for giving me the strength to cross the finish line with a great smile. Salute to all the brave souls who dared to start and finish the race. Salute to Yob Red for finishing overall 7th place, to Al R. Casas for persistently pacing with me, to Andrew Alcedo and Kuya Roger Villareal for finishing the race, to Alen Alban, you prove that everything is a mind game, to Bernard, this will be the start of the many ultras and most especially to my partner in this crazy runs Rica Mendoza, you are one tough lady out there. You showed to us that everything can be done no matter what the situation is. Til the next ultra race guys. 

Another race conquered, another mileage added. Next stop will be SG100km race.

A Weekend Work Out

Stevedore mode, from 4th floor to ground floor.  

I've been wanting do some run especially last weekend in preparation to my ultra race this weekend. But because we are due to transfer to a new apartment and most of my things are left unpacked, I have no choice but really stay and finish everything. 

First off, moving out always breaks my heart. This is not my very first time to move, infact this is my third time of my 22 years stay in the Metro. On each one in the past, I always feel the same, sad, but this is the most heartbreaking of all. Probably it has something to do with my present emotional state.

With so many things I am going through for the past months, personal and work life, it seems like this move is just really a major issue for me. I always love my place, it is small, a bit crowded for the five of us but our neighbors are very kind, the admin. and security are always there if weI need something, but because our rooms are always flooded every time it rains, we feel we really need a new place. Indeed, we find one. New place, adjusting again, getting familiar with the environment, how to stay safe especially going home late at night. 

I never thought we can gather such amount of things in our 10 years stay here. It's just really a never ending pack of things big and small. We started hauling things Saturday, though I left the carrying of boxes, plastic bags and things from 4th floor to ground floor to my sisters, for my things are all left unpacked which I need to finish it fast. It was just one trip that day and we decided to extend one more night at room 401. There are still so much left unpacked,    I am already stressed. Come Sunday, the final move of all, I have to make decisions, what car to take, negotiations on the payment, talk to people. After I finally packed all those that are mine, I finally started hauling things myself. 

Doing the carry from 4th floor to ground floor on several times for several hours with load on my shoulders. I just thought this is my way of doing the work out that I have been longing to do, a long slow distance run with a bonus of ramps for several hours. We finally finish hauling everything early evening. 

Finally at the new place, body aches from yesterdays big move but happy that it's finally done.

Lift Up 3

"Perhaps the genius of ultrarunning is its supreme lack of utility. It makes no sense in a world of space ships and supercomputers to run vast distances on foot. There is no money in it and no fame, frequently not even the approval of peers. But as poets, apostles and philosophers have insisted from the dawn of time, there is more to life than logic and common sense. The ultra runners know this instinctively. And they know something else that is lost on the sedentary. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, that the doors to the spirit will swing open with physical effort. In running such long and taxing distances they answer a call from the deepest realms of their being -- a call that asks who they are..."

-David Blaikie 

Photo by: Seb Montaz Video Blog

Lift Up 2

Sometimes, and for all of us this is true, we are running away ...

Sometimes we are running to search...

But if we realise deep down that the truth of our running is that in our running,

in our moving, we ‘find’ ourselves...

Then for us running is the gift that lets us know ourselves deeper.

- Lizzy Hawker from I <to Run post

 

 

 

Peep Peep Don't Sleep

My recent travel to India, particularly in the Indian Himalays has led me not just to the beauty of the magnificent gigantic mountain ranges but also to the bumpy heart pumping road of Leh-Manali Highway that switched back on the slopes of the mountain ranges. Along the road are interactive signages that one can not  leave the road unnoticed. We read each one with joy and look forward to what could be the next after several kilometers on the several days on the road.

Then on our way back to Delhi, I learn that there is a book, a compilation on all of these. But in as much as I wanted to have a copy of it on the day that we left,  I cannot find any in any of the bookstore at the airport. Thanks to my Indian friend who take the time to share with me the link of the book on blog www.PeepPeepDontSleep.com. I make a copy on my page as I my reference. I still hope to get a copy of the book when I will return to India or when one of my friend will visit India soon.

This image was taken near Batalik on way to Kargil in Ladakh. 

This image was taken between Jispa and Sarchu on way to Ladakh

This image was taken at the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh

This image was taken on the way from Kargil to Leh in Ladakh

This image was taken in Bhagsunag near Mcleodganj in Himachal Pradesh

This image was taken around Leh Town in Ladakh

This image was taken on way from Leh to Nubra Valley in Ladakh

This image was taken when going from Leh to Kargil via Batalik

This image was taken on the road from Kargil to Leh in Ladakh

This image was taken near Saichen Glacier in Ladakh 

This image was taken near Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh

This image was taken at a construction site of the Delhi Metro Rail

This image was taken while coming from Kargil to Leh in Ladakh .

This image was taken near Upshi when going from Leh to Manali in Ladakh 

This image was taken in Bhagsunag near Mcleodganj in Himachal Pradesh

This image was taken in Nubra Valley on road to Saichen Glacier in Ladakh

This image was taken near Kargil in Ladakh

This image was taken near Kargil from Batalik in Ladakh

This image was taken on the road from Kargil to Leh in Ladakh

This image was taken in Abbot Mount Uttarakhand 

This image was taken from Abbot Mount to Patal Bhuvaneswar in the eastern part of Uttarakhand.

This image was taken on the way from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken at Munsiyari in eastern part of Uttarakhand.

This image was taken at the Alchi Monastery in Ladakh.

This image was taken near Abbot Mount in eastern Uttarakhand.

This image was taken near Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.

This image was taken in Nubra Valley on the road to Saichen Glacier in Ladakh.

This image was taken a little after Kargil on the road to Leh in Ladakh.

This image was taken near Bhimtal in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal).

This image was taken en route from Abbott Mount to Patal Bhuvaneshar in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal).

This image was taken en route from Kargil to Leh in Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Kargil to Leh in Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Jispa to Sarchu in Himachal Pradesh on the way to Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Leh to Alchi in Ladakh. 

This image was taken en route from Abbott Mount to Patal Bhuvaneshar in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal).

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh. 

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken en route from Abbott Mount to Patal Bhuvaneshar in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal).

This image was taken en route from Abbott Mount to Patal Bhuvaneshar in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal).

This sign refers to the Border Roads Organisation, builders of the roads here, claiming their roads to be pot hole free. Are they? :-)

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh. 

This image was taken en route from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken near Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken on the road from Abbot Mount to Patal Bhivaneswar in Uttarakhand. 

This image was taken on the road from Jispa to Sarchu in Himachal Pradesh.

That’s some horse sense being talked here, right?

This image was taken in the Nubra Valley in Ladakh. 

This image was taken on the road from Dehradun to Mussoorie.

It is also common sense, right? This image was taken on the road between Batalik and Kargil in Ladakh.

This image was taken near Abbot Mount in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal).

These signs have been put up mostly by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) and they can be seen blowing their own horn here. This image was taken on the way to Zanskar Valley near Alchi in Ladakh.

No, this has nothing to do with turning your other cheek. This image was taken on the road from Alchi to Kargil in Ladakh.

Ordering the Book

You can order the paperback through one of the following online distributors shortly - Click on either to go directly to the book’s ordering page.

• Amazon.com: For global orders. Stocks expected to reach Amazon by October 17, 2008.
• A1Books.com: For customers in India

Order Direct - Shipping Immediately
How to order: Send a mail to ajay@ajayjain.com or call +91.99100 44476 (9:00 am - 8:00 pm, India Time, +5:30 GMT) with the number of paperback or e-books you would like along with complete shipping address (for paperback) or email (for e-book). You may send the payment after receiving our response.
How to Pay
Books will be sent out only after payment has been received and cleared by the bank. You may pay by one of the following methods:

• In advance by cheque / demand draft payable to ‘TCP Media Private Limited’ to be sent to B-130 (SFS), Sheikh Sarai - I, New Delhi 110 017, India.
• Credit Card over PayPal: For credit card payments, indicate your order over email and we will send you an invoice over email through PayPal. Payment will be processed by PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account.
• For wire payments, send us a mail for details.

Shipping Costs for Paperback
Within India: FREE (Delivery within 3 working days)
Rest of the world:

• Regular Post: FREE (Delivery within 4 weeks normally)
• Courier: For first copy: US $10 / Euro 7 / UK ₤5; For each additional copy: US $5 / Euro 3.5 / UK ₤2.5 (Delivery within 5 working days)

Note: Deliveries to remote locations where courier service is not available may take longer than mentioned.

Price

• E-Book: US $7.95 (Files would be sent as 17 separate chapters over email, each varying between 0.5 - 3.5 MB)
• Paperback within India: Rs. 350 including shipping
• Paperback Rest of the World: US $19.95 / Euro 14.95 / UK ₤11.95 (You may pay in any of these currencies or equivalent) - Shipping Extra

Bibliographical Information

• Book Name: Peep Peep Don’t Sleep
• Author: Ajay Jain
• ISBN: 978-81-906007-2-9 
• Pages: 200 
• First Published: October 2008 by Kunzum, an imprint of TCP Media Pvt. Ltd.
• Specs: Printed in all colour using 170 gsm art paper for inside pages

About Ajay Jain

Ajay Jain is a full time writer, professional blogger and photographer based in New Delhi in India.
He is not limited in his medium of expression, equally comfortable writing for newspapers and magazines, as well as his own books and blogs. Starting his writing career in 2001, he has been covering business, technology and youth affairs before deciding to focus wholly on travel writing.
He pursues his passion by being on the road as much as he can. Peep Peep Don’t Sleep is his second book. His first book, titled Let’s Connect: Using LinkedIn to Get Ahead at Work is a management book on professional networking using the world’s most popular professional networking site LinkedIn.com. It was published in early 2008.
He has worked for and written columns for national publications in India including The Hindustan Times, Mint, Financial Express, Indian Management, Outlook Business and Rediff.com. He has also edited a youth newspaper, The Campus Paper. Prior to taking up writing, he has worked in the Information Technology and Sports Management sectors.
He holds degrees Mechanical Engineering (Delhi College of Engineering, 1992), Management (Fore School of Management, 1994) and Journalism (Cardiff University, UK, 2002). His schooling was in St. Columba’s School in New Delhi.
His Blogs
Kunzum.com - The India Travel Show
AjayJain.com - On Public Interest and Consumer Issues
His Picture Gallery
http://kunzum.com/gallery

Book Reviews & Reader Feedback

The book seems to have opened to some excellent publicity in leading newspapers, magazine, websites and blogs. Click on the links below to read the media coverage. PRINT MEDIA

The Hindustan Times: The best publicity one could ask for: A half page piece in the Sunday edition of the most read newspaper in New Delhi, the capital of India. It does not get bigger than this in the country.
Outlook Traveller: The #1 travel magazine in India
DNA (Daily News and Analysis): A leading newspaper in Mumbai
Metro Now: A popular tabloid in New Delhi
Asian Age: A half page piece in another popular newspaper in India
Better Photography magazine
Indian Express: The newspaper is an institution in itself

ONLINE MEDIA

At Home, Writing Blog by Bhaswati Ghosh
Tshema Blog

Sample Chapters

Click on any of the links below to read PDF of the chapters mentioned. (Note: Most files are between 1-3 MB in size as these are full of pics)
Pages 1-5: Author’s Note and Contents
Pages 6-11: Introduction
Pages 12-23: Watch Those Curves
Pages 24-35: The Right Spirits
Pages 170-187: Getting Hospitable
Pages 188-199: Noticed in Public Interest & The End

From the Back Cover

If you thought Road Signs are only meant to guide and inform, think again.

The ones on Indian highways are in a zone of their own. They shower you with words of wisdom, keep your mind sharp as you unravel their cryptic messages, tickle your imagination, amuse you and entertain you. In public interest, they lend a hand to Alcoholics Anonymous. Since journeys are meant to be a pleasure, they remind you to ‘Smile Please.’

The entertainment for the traveler does not stop at this. There are the limitless public notices, outdoor advertisements and storefront signs with their own idiosyncrasies and eccentricities. Who needs comic strips in this country?

I drove over 10,000 kilometers in India to put together this collection of signs. With a bit of witty commentary thrown in, this book will be a journey unlike any other you may have undertaken. Resulting in you letting out a ‘Peep Peep’ of delight.