Adventurers White-Collared Kind

Corporate executives bitten by the adventure bug share their experiences with feBusiness Traveller

Maninder Kohli, vice-president, Citibank

Maninder Kohli (extreme left) with family at Gurson Top, above Auli

Trekking is my passion. I go for three- or four-day long treks at least three times a year with friends. I have trekked in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and other hill states, but the Garhwal region in Uttaranchal has literally bowled me over. The sheer beauty of the Bugyals, a point where the tree line finishes and meadows start, stretching on to the snowline is amazing. I have done at least seven treks in Garhwal so far. And let me tell you, it is not repetitive because Garhwal has 30-40 spots, which are worth seeing. What attracts me to trekking? Many things, actually. The tranquil environment, the panoramic view of snow clad mountains and of course, the sense of achievement. For instance, in one of my earlier treks I had visited the Dingad valley near Uttarkashi. The Bugyal stretching for five kilometres strewn with a variety of flowers ends in a gradual ascent at Dokrani glacier with the towering snow-capped Jaonli mountain as backdrop. The experience was breathtaking.

Marie Anne Moncure, managing director, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital

Marie Anne Moncure horse riding in France

Adventure sports is my passion. I enjoy port parachuting, marathon running, cross-country horse riding, white water rafting and other water sports. When I was in South Carolina, I would go for such adventure trips several times a year. A tight work schedule was never a deterrent. But since I came to India in August last year, I haven't really ventured out because I am taking time to settle down and know the country better. Rafting is the sport really close to my heart. It is all so unpredictable, there is no roadmap and the situation changes suddenly. You can take the same trip down the river, but no two journeys will be the same because the wind, weight of water, the temperature and the weight distribution on the raft changes. I developed the passion from my father who loved water sports like fish love water. Being the eldest in the family, he would take me along on his trips. It is the challenge, the journey rather than the destination, which gives me a high. Of course, setting a goal, achieving it, and then improving on it also gives a sense of satisfaction.

V Chandrasekaran, co-founder and VP, Technology & Infrastructure, Secova eServices

V Chandrasekaran on a white water rafting trip

In my last visit to New Jersey during July '04, I had overworked through the week and was looking forward to the weekend. Instead of ‘resting’ I and my colleagues decided to try something new and travelled to Ohiopyle National Park in Pennsylvania. We had five hours of exhilarating experience white water rafting on the Yough (Youghiogheny) river.

In October 2000, I had the rare opportunity to trek 72 kms for four days right through the core zone of the Silent Valley in Kerala with my family. This was one of the most joyous journeys we have had as a family. My trip to the Masinagudi forests was also extremely exciting. My nine-year-old son, myself and a friend of mine were on foot within the jungles with a group. Soon we lost our way. As we were figuring how to join the rest, around 6:45 am, we were face to face with a full grown leopard, hardly 25 meters away! We were captivated by the encounter and after a while the animal slipped through the bushes! Such adventures make us yearn for more and have the quality of elevating the energy levels in our lives.

Manjari Garodia, associate vice-president, Ernst and Young

Manjari Garodia (kneeling) during a scuba diving trip in Malaysia

What attracts me to adventure sports is the fact that each one offers a unique experience. I remember diving into the sea the first time. As you go down you have to equalise the ear pressure with the pressure outside and I couldn't get it right. I came up, tried again and got it right the second time. And bingo! It was me and the sea with colourful corals around, turtles and fishes swimming along side. I did it quite a few times during my stay in Singapore and each time you go down it is a different experience because the sites are different and the view is different. Rafting is one sport that gives you a sense of achievement - an excitement of teamwork. We had gone rafting in the Gauli river in Virginia, known for its higher grade rapids. Our guide made us negotiate some of the rapids backward. We were manoeuvring blindly trusting his directions with a little bit of trepidation because we are not facing the rapid. But once through it was so exhilarating - something like 'Hey, we did that'.

Burgess Cooper, assistant vice president - IT Security, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd

Burges Cooper on the ski slopes

My family was in the defence forces and I guess that is where the sense of adventure comes from. My adventure activities range from scuba diving to flying microlights to bungee jumping. I am a Limca Book of Record holder for covering four of the highest passes in the world in 24 hours. My cousin serves in the Army and I usually go on treks to the inner-line areas and Siachen with him. I go kayaking almost every week in Mumbai. I have been microlighting in Nepal and though it is expensive to participate in adventure sports as a civilian, I don't mind the expense. I continue in my passion with a lot of encouragement from my wife. Lately I have been lugging my three-year-old son with me to give him the feel of adventure.

Rakesh Singh, general manager, NetScaler

Adventure sports, particularly, wildlife trips, is my passion. Forests found in India have few parallels. I can still feel the thrill of running into a tiger when walking on foot in Corbett, seeing a pair of five feet long rat-snakes dance endlessly at Nagarhole, watching the steam from the hot Gaur bodies merging into the early morning mist at BR Hills, being charged by a mother elephant at Kabini, and witnessing the majesty of a 15-feet high tusker lazily saunter across the road in Bandipur.