My first Travel to foreign destination
Dream of a Child
Since our childhood we always think about our first dream destination out of our own country. We always listen to our classmates who talk about the fascinating tour to foreign locales with their family in tow funded by their father.
Being from a middle class background where the father has to balance between the study of their children to the various needs along with sundry expenses it was a distant dream for us to go for a foreign tour.
Various locations across India
Still, I remember going to various locations across India especially in the name of the pilgrimage or just to meet distant relatives which our family used to do during our winter and summer vacations. Since, born and bought up in Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand the nearest place among our reach was the Varanasi, Patna and various other cities of Jharkhand notably Ranchi and Jamshedpur.
My first visit to Foreign
My first visit to foreign is to Singapore where the purpose was to participate in Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon. When, I boarded the Jet Airways, I was all happy about my dream being fulfilled to reach the location which etched into my mind from the bollywood flick “Aakhri Raasta” where Mr. Anupam Kher jestily says Singapore jaa raha hoon Shopping karne!
Different locations around Singapore
Although with less on resources and high on heels I was able to stay at Singapore from Hotel Fragrance, Hotel Mayo and also the Kawan hostel, which is opposite Gafoor Masjid in little India. Enjoying the perfect dinner at Prasannam restaurant which is authentic South Indian restaurant I started my preparation in full force only to get disappointed by knowing that since I am an amateur runner and on my own I could not join the Marathon i.e.
Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 2017.
God opening another avenue
With a substantial amount spent on preparation of Marathon and the journey I was almost feeling a heartbreak when I chanced upon the internet about the Angkor Wat Half Marathon. I would also like to tell you that the entire Singapore from the morning till evening was traversed by me on foot to keep in tandem with getting myself ready for the Marathon.
Angkor Wat- A temple etched in mind from NCERT Books
Angkor Wat is a temple which was etched in my mind since class 8 where we read in history about the Angkor Wat temple by our History teacher “Mrs Archana Bhatnagar” and according to the book it has different characters similar to our Epic Ramayana which used to fascinate me.
Boarding Silk Air to Cambodia
Since, the nearest Marathon for this month was Angkor Wat Half Marathon in Cambodia I boarded the Silk Air on 28th Nov. I have booked the Hotel Bou Savvy which is in the Seam Beam province a small township bustling in the vicinity of Phnom Pneh, the capital city of Cambodia.
Booms day- The 3rd of December!
After enjoying the city sights and getting ready for the 22 Km marathon the Booms day of my life arrived which was the 3rd of December. I got up early in the morning at 3:00 clock and went to the sight where the marathon was scheduled. It was from the beautiful Bayon Temple and as I was going there I could feel the sweetness of the air which is absolutely pollution free.
Magical run starts
At the scheduled time the magical run starts and among the uproar of the public I, Mukesh kumar, the first time Marathoner runner started running. It was smooth till the 11 km which I clocked in almost 17 minutes by my watch.
The entire stretch was safe with police patrolling it throughout and the local people cheering up. The Marathon committee had water tables after every few kms along with banana and also the ambulance for any unforeseen circumstances.
The run continues
With matching lap with mostly foreigners I could feel that it was an effortless in terms of any disappointments on my end. I was full of faith that I will be able to calculate my best timing which I thought about to be 2:00 hrs. The 17 kms stretch was completed and I took an ear to ear smile when I hopped on the Seiko watch which read the timing of around 2:00 hrs according to my watch.
About turn in Marathon
From there, the about turn for Marathon started and to my surprise I was running ahead of many marathoners which gave me a sense of satisfaction. When the finish point come and it said to be 500m ahead I gladly pulled out my T-shirt and said in the name of Andrew Symonds and Dada from the world of cricket. There was lot of cheers and jeers from the crowd which I thoroughly enjoyed after few steps I put back my t-shirt.
Finishing line- The making of marathoner in me!
With the finishing line touched in 2:36:06 second and in between the crossing of Angkor forest with the temple it was a great experience of a lifetime. It made me more determined to get ready for another marathon of my life which is life itself just like Mr. Fauja Singh, and the eminent Marathonist who is the ace marathoner from India at more than the age of 103 years.
Considering life as a marathon
Considering the life as a marathon I am all ready to get into the groove of the famous marathoner from India and abroad who have brought laurels to their country. So, the life as a runner begins for me although not a sprinter like Carl Lewis, Milkha Singh and Ussain Bolt, a new and highly spirited person takes his journey towards being a marathonist which life itself is beyond thousand miles from one country to another, one continent to another and to get the world into my stride!
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