Footprints on the Mountainside

A passion to follow ones dreams always makes for an inspiring tale. I came to know the story of Malli Mastan Babu, an IITian from Andhra Pradesh who has scaled the world’s seven highest summits in record time. What’s more, he broke the existing record for speed as well. The whimsical part of this inspiring acheivement is that he has also done the seven summits on seven days of the week.

He has applied to the Guiness Book of World Records, and is now awaiting recognition. What a feather in the cap of India’s climbing community!

We are proud of you Babu!

An article about this from the Daily India site:

Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Dec. 14 (ANI): Malli Mastan Babu, an adventure-sportsman, is set to enter record books for scaling seven of the world’s highest peaks in over just 172 days.

Babu from Andhra Pradesh achieved this feat earlier this year between January and July. A unique feature of his record is that he conquered the seven summits on seven different days of the week.

“I am the fastest of the seven-summiteers in the world. I did that in72 days. And, I am also the only person in the world to climb these seven summits on seven different days of the week. It is a unique record. I have applied to the Guinness Book of Records. They would be coming for their next edition,” said Babu.

The first South Asian to do so, Babu scaled Mount Everest in Asia, Mount Denali in North America, Mount Elbrus in Europe, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Mount Aconcagua in South America and Mount Kosciuzsko in Australia.

Babu had the zeal to climb peaks since his formative years. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) and Indian Institute of Management (Kolkata).

Through school and college, Babu won several state and national level recognition for achievement in adventure sports.

He left his white-collar job in a top software company, after three years to pursue adventure sports. He has enthusiastically lined up his future plans.

“My next mission is to climb Mount Everest and Lhotse without oxygen, which nobody in the world has achieved. I would also like to do another national feat- to run a marathon in each state of India - 29 states, 29 marathons, 29 days in February 2008 to encourage the spirit of fitness and health among Indians,” he said.

Babu, who had to expend his own resources to pursue his love for adventure, recently got support from the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to support his future plans. (ANI)

Link:http://www.dailyindia.com/show/93043.php/Andhra-Pradesh-mountaineer-set-to-enter-record-books

I just came across this bizarre, but interesting bit of news on the internet. Where most of us whine about the sorrows of travelling on rough terrain in sorry local transport, here’s a novel idea that transforms it into an adventure anyone would wish to join.

Take a look:

Tralliance Corporation, the .travel Registry, is sponsoring the latest travel adventure in the name of charity, The Rickshaw Run – a 2,000-mile trek across India’s toughest terrain in the world’s most unsuitable vehicle, the auto-rickshaw.

Based on the success of this year’s Mongol Rally, an 8,000-mile charity race from London to Mongolia, the League of Adventurists and .travel, the top-level Internet domain created exclusively for the travel and tourism industry, have once again teamed up to bring travelers a memorable charity event.

Beginning in Cochin in Southern India on December 28, 2006 with a game of cricket, 34 teams from seven countries will embark on the two-week journey through India’s mountains and jungles, encountering everything from searing heat and mud to mechanical failure along the way – all in an effort to cross the finish line in Darjeeling for a spot of afternoon tea.

“These auto-rickshaws are uncomfortable, loud, smelly and totally unsuitable in every way imaginable,” says event organizer Tom Morgan. “They’re the perfect vehicle to tackle a monstrous 2000-mile adventure over wild terrain and dirt tracks. Each rickshaw is only 150cc and is sure to break down on us at every possible and inconvenient point. Think of them as a motorized mule.”

Throughout the course of the Rickshaw Run, the teams will travel through very remote areas with no support system of any kind. While there is no specific route, drivers have the option to cross a number of prearranged checkpoints. The knackered, bruised and dirty teams that manage to cross the finish line are expected to arrive for a celebratory cup of tea in Darjeeling after roughly two weeks. ”The Rickshaw Run is going to be incredible fun,” explains Morgan. “It’s a great adventure, but also a great opportunity to contribute to a worthwhile cause and help out some of the poorer members of the communities we’ll be visiting.”

“We are proud to be the title sponsor for this amazing event and worthwhile cause,” expressed Andruff. “As part of an initiative that promotes a new age of how travel information will be found and with a goal to galvanize the global travel community under its exclusive space on the Internet, we believe .travel provides the perfect ally for the League of Adventurists and their Rickshaw Run.”

Like the Mongol Rally, the Rickshaw Run also aims to make a significant contribution to charity. Each team must raise a minimum of about $1,300 to cover the cost of purchasing their auto-rickshaw, as well as any necessary repairs. At the end of the race, all vehicles will be donated in an effort to combat the injustices of excessive hire charges and exorbitant loans common to poor auto-rickshaw drivers. The process is being coordinated by a local NGO, monitored by Mercy Corps UK.

Established to lift the tourism industry out of the anonymity of the ‘.com’ web, .travel empowers the broad spectrum of bona fide travel-related businesses and organizations to better promote their products and services within their own industry specific space on the Internet. Travel entities that wish to purchase a .travel domain name can e-mail placenames@travel.travel or call 001-954-769-5999.

Link:http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/article/20061213103850191