We always classify different periods in time attaching to it the most significant/insignificant thing that happened during that time. For example, the green revolution, post-cold war era, renaissance etc all have a major activity attached to a span of time. We also had such a defining moment in our engineering life. It changed almost everything around us, within us for most of us! It was none other than the holy pilgrimage to GOA !!
The planning of this trip was as exciting as the trip itself. The seeds were sown during our lonavala trip planning when someone accidentally blurted 'Goa' for next trip. It was received as lightly as it was blurted except for 1 person, CR. He takes such ( and only such things) seriously. Soon after the lonavala trip we realized the potential to enjoy with a mammoth group. CR quickly took the lead and publicized the prospective trip. We asked all members for their availability and to our surprise the tally was 23!! Frankly, we expected the girls to be lesser in number for such a big trip ( the word big is situational).
But we had competition. IEEE was also going on a field trip on similar days and Abha and Sharanya ( the deols ) opted for it. Also Sunita along with her friend Vinay were planning to go for that trip. It took some cheek pulling from Nishit, some persuasion from other girls to have Su with us. The stranger, Vinay, was also welcome. Generally, Eagle gang members didn't flock with Paathshala. But this Eagle left his braces and flock and began to descend on the ground to live with Paathshala. He was welcome and is a proud member of Paasthala. So ya, we going to be 23 ppl on that trip! Sounded exciting and it was going to be our 2nd and biggest trip so far.
As 3rd sem progressed, CR got maps, brochures etc of Goa as if we were going on some exploration trip. Soon, budgeting started and we came up with the cost and various quotations. All this was managed by CR and some associated which included Nishit, Darshan and Sahil.(Darshan and Sahil would play a more significant role in future trips, Darshan holds the post even today). Exactly, 3 months before the trip, on 8th Oct 2006, we purchased the train tickets so that we get the coveted tickets. We could have got it later as well, but we were too excited and hence didn't take any chance. Today those tickets are in Paathshala Archive with someone who has preserved them well. Such mementos are priceless!
We started counting days backwards, from 90 days for a 5 day trip!! As mention earlier, at that time and even today we feel, life was divided into 3 parts. Life Before Goa, Life in Goa and Life after Goa!
I made a presentation which later became a tradition before every trip explaining the itinerary to all members.
I leave you with the slides of that presentation. Remember and cherish every memory :)
The planning of this trip was as exciting as the trip itself. The seeds were sown during our lonavala trip planning when someone accidentally blurted 'Goa' for next trip. It was received as lightly as it was blurted except for 1 person, CR. He takes such ( and only such things) seriously. Soon after the lonavala trip we realized the potential to enjoy with a mammoth group. CR quickly took the lead and publicized the prospective trip. We asked all members for their availability and to our surprise the tally was 23!! Frankly, we expected the girls to be lesser in number for such a big trip ( the word big is situational).
But we had competition. IEEE was also going on a field trip on similar days and Abha and Sharanya ( the deols ) opted for it. Also Sunita along with her friend Vinay were planning to go for that trip. It took some cheek pulling from Nishit, some persuasion from other girls to have Su with us. The stranger, Vinay, was also welcome. Generally, Eagle gang members didn't flock with Paathshala. But this Eagle left his braces and flock and began to descend on the ground to live with Paathshala. He was welcome and is a proud member of Paasthala. So ya, we going to be 23 ppl on that trip! Sounded exciting and it was going to be our 2nd and biggest trip so far.
As 3rd sem progressed, CR got maps, brochures etc of Goa as if we were going on some exploration trip. Soon, budgeting started and we came up with the cost and various quotations. All this was managed by CR and some associated which included Nishit, Darshan and Sahil.(Darshan and Sahil would play a more significant role in future trips, Darshan holds the post even today). Exactly, 3 months before the trip, on 8th Oct 2006, we purchased the train tickets so that we get the coveted tickets. We could have got it later as well, but we were too excited and hence didn't take any chance. Today those tickets are in Paathshala Archive with someone who has preserved them well. Such mementos are priceless!
We started counting days backwards, from 90 days for a 5 day trip!! As mention earlier, at that time and even today we feel, life was divided into 3 parts. Life Before Goa, Life in Goa and Life after Goa!
I made a presentation which later became a tradition before every trip explaining the itinerary to all members.
I leave you with the slides of that presentation. Remember and cherish every memory :)
