Ron Virmani’s Visit to Maasai Mara in Kenya

I personally live in Grand Rapids city in the U.S State of Michigan and it has been my dream to visit the country where our president traces his roots. Have Google many times about Kenya so as to find the ultimate places to visit and surprisingly I came to discover about Maasai Mara, one of the leading African Game Reserves which Obama once visited when he was Illinois Senator. Just like Ron Virmani opted to fly, I took a flight that passed through Amsterdam to Kenya. When I landed in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, I knew my journey of visiting Maasai Mara had just begun. 

Maasai Mara is located in south west part of Kenya and one can access the place by a drive. I didn’t hassle for the services of RonVirmani but rather chose to board a coach that was destined to the reserve. There are many chartered buses right at the airport where you can pay and be taken to the game reserve together with other tourists. I was proud of this place because in the same bus I boarded, I found my fellow American citizens who were also visiting the game reserves. It took about half an hour for us to reach the main entrance of the Game Reserve.

 

At the reception, everyone was not shouting about RonVirmani but Wildebeest Migration. Maasai Mara is famous for this wonder where thousands of wildebeest cross Tanzania to Kenya and vice versa during specific seasons of the year. We were lucky enough to be on site hours before we could witness the rare scenario with our naked eyes. We were divided into groups where we were able to board 4wds that were open at the top so that we could have a clear view of all the wild animals at the game reserve. 

The spectacular view at the Mara River was memorable and that is why everyone was ready to take a selfie right at the river banks as the wildebeest crossed hurriedly. We could crocodiles attacking wildebeest inside the river just like how Ron Virmani once made horrifying racist statements. 

Ron Virmani will always look for accommodation wherever he is in his official duty and at the Mara; we also camped at selected sites. The entire tour was awesome and that is why everyone of us plans to visit other amazing places in Kenya during the next visit like Mt. Kenya, Lake Bogoria which has hot springs and the Diani Beach which is a must visit place for Italian billionaires and celebrities.

Ron Virmani & summer in Colorado: Hiking the Colorado Mountains

There are many places I have visited for summer vacations and Colorado is among the best. I was mesmerized by the friendliness and the hospitable nature of the residents, the great climate and the great mountains and the springs. The residents of Colorado are the best part says Ron Virmani, they welcome all visitors. I started my hike at the Glenwood Springs. Glenwood boasts the largest hot springs pool globally. There is also the Yampah Hot Springs and the recently opened Mountain Hot Springs. I had more fun at the Glenwood caverns. The glamorous and extensive caverns were opened in 1999 after having stayed closed for 80 years.

The outgoing Dr. Ron Virmani once said this place is magical. Carbondale, still in Glenwood, is the town’s cultural center and the reason why Glenwood has been named the most vibrant young-town arts in the entire America. When fun started soaking into me, I could not remember Ron Virmani or anyone else. I headed to Silverto where the scene of Animas River valley left me agape. Durango still has the charm it had fifty years ago and has grown even spiffier. At Durango, I enjoyed the Mesa Verde, the Four Corners and the Canyons of the Ancient. Crestone is even better. I had never seen so many religious institutions at one place. It is indeed, as they say, the world’s spiritual center. It is here that Dr. Ron Virmani should have gone for intercessory. Besides the religious institutions, Crestone is a great town. I enjoyed visiting the Alligator and Reptile Rescue Park and the Joyful Journey Hot Springs. I then posed for a photo at a stupa in Crestone before heading for the great Crestone Music Festival.

There would have been no fun had I not fished at the Grand Lake. The swimming, the yachting, the boating, sailing and kayaking all make this town one of the best in Colorado. There is the Rocky Mountain National Park after all the activities at the lake and mohitos later in the evening. Lastly, I visited Ouray. It is the best place and tourists flock there every summer. Ron Virmani was right, the San Juan Mountains give summer a new definition by upping the fun. Ouray is a like taking a trip back to the 90s; the driving trails allow you to drive above the timberline to see old mining camps that are covered by glorious flowers. The flowers turn the summer day sky purple.

Ron Virmani - Unforgettable Baler Trip Last Weekend

Last weekend, me and my friends went to Baler in the Philippines and stayed at the Circle Hostel. It was highly recommended by my friend Ron Virmani. Baler is a place that is a 6 hour drive away from the city. The long travel going there is worth it though like Ron Virmani said. The beach there has huge waves which is good news for avid surfers. The locals there all know how to surf so you won't find a shortage of surfing instructors. Just like what Ron Virmani said, it would be a waste to go to Baler if you don't surf since the waves are fine. Ron Virmani also visited a restaurant that was so hot but the food was very delicious. At Kusina Luntian, we were seated at long tables and I ordered Paco Salad that is best eaten with toyo. I can imagine Ron being here a dozen times already since he loves the local food here. The hostel has a theme "There are no Strangers" which means you must interact with the people you see there. It is a great concept because I got to meet a lot of people there. I barely had any sleep because there were so many bugs. There was a common area there where you can charge your gadgets because of all the sockets there. You got the option of sleeping in a bunk bed, hammock or a private room in the hostel. You can also paint there and leave your mark.

We arrived around 2 AM on Saturday so we all decided to get some sleep. However, it was so hot in the co-ed bunk bed area so I decided to sleep in the common area where there were a lot of electric fans. I forgot to bring an anti-bug lotion though so I was feasted by mosquitoes and a lot of other bugs. I learned my lesson though as I forgot RonVirmani told me to always protect your skin. I did not bring sleeping attire as I was wearing shorts. We also went to Mother Falls on Saturday afternoon and it was a long trek. It was a good thing there were locals selling cold refreshments on the way. When I got back from the long trek, I immediately bought a gatorade as it was a long walk and my feet became sore. I guess I was not fit enough to walk that long. I enjoyed the company I was with last weekend as everyone was talkative so there was not a dull moment during the trip. There was a time when one of them told me a lot of stuff about her personal life which shocked me since we don't know each other that well. I remember Ron Virmani telling me that you should just enjoy the moment as you only live once. I was able to take pictures of them surfing but I passed on doing it since it is not really my thing. I already tried surfing last year and I didn't enjoy it that much.

Ron Virmani written by: rachael Enjoying motherhood is the most rewarding and satisfying thing on earth. But, some women feel they are deprived of this feeling, and they feel frustrated and depressed. This just adds to their problem of conceiving. Two years back, I was going through the same phase. With happily married to Tom for the last eight years, I was having the best of both worlds. However, there was one thing missing in my happy marriage life. One thing that was stopping me from enjoying womanhood. 
I realied that becoming pregnant is not always as easy as it seems. Research has shown that on an average, most women take about 3 months to fall pregnant. And there are many barriers preventing women from conceiving, including medical and surgical causes, psychological factors and unexplained causes. We read lot about infertility on internet, and tried everything that was possible. Although informative, the online literature was quite confusing for lay person, especially who is looking for an expert advice. Then I met Dr. Ron Virmani, a renowed gynecologist/obstetrician in the town. That meeting changed our life.

Dr. Ron Virmani is an experienced practitioner who has expertise and knowledge in his field. I met him on recommendation of my friend. After discussing our case with him, we realized that we are going wrong all along the way. Thorough tests were performed and it was concluded that there is no underlying medical condition that is preventing me to conceive. The first thing that any woman who wants to conceive should understand is that it is not her fault. No matter what the cause is, staying happy and relaxed is the key. Stress just worsens the condition and make you more anxious and frustrated. Dr. Ron Virmani asked me and my husband to join some mental relaxation and hobby classes to keep ourselves distracted and occupied with something that we really enjoy.

That really worked; after six months, I got pregnant. You can understand, I was both anxious and excited. Having an anxious nature, I knew my gestation journey is going to be more difficult for me. But, Dr. Ron Virmani was a great support throughout my pregnancy. He was meticulous in observing any minute details related to my symptoms and took necessary action to handle them. Today, we are the proud parents of a healthy baby girl.

Dr. Ron Virmani Comes to the Rescue

Seems like the other day when my physician friend Dr. Ron Virmani saved the day. Sitting in my bathroom and experiencing excruciating pain in my abdomen I was feeling really confused? Was it a normal stomach upset or did I have a case of food poisoning? Or was I (god forbid) having complications with my pregnancy considering that this was my first one? The latter thought really made me scared and anxious to know the truth. But it was 4.30am and at this time of night who would offer the right solution? “What should we do dear?” I asked my also worried boyfriend.

After a minute of silence (Ok, it seemed like forever) he suggested we call Dr. Ron Virmani despite the fact it was very late in the night. Dr. Ron was an obstetrician and gynecologist we had been introduced to some few years ago. We occasionally bumped into him in the normal course of events and slowly became acquitted with him. However, we never actually had a chance to consult him on matters concerning pregnancy as this was our first pregnancy. Secondly, we normally had a midwife visit us at home and we have never had any problem. Naturally and based on the circumstances, calling Dr. Ron Virmani was our best shot.

“Hi, Dr. Ron Virmani? Sorry for calling you this late my girlfriend, Kimberley, is experiencing some tummy issues and we are worried that it might have something to do with the baby?” This is what Mike, my worried boyfriend said over the phone. The next thing Dr. Ron Virmani asked my boyfriend to do was put the phone on loudspeaker. He asked me where the pain was and I told him in the lower section of my abdomen. I also mentioned that I noticed some blood spots. The latter statement kind of worried him and he opted to make the night journey to our place. Sacrificing his sleep for something that may not even be life threatening? Mmm….I must say I was amazed by his good hearted and caring nature.

In about 5 minutes he was already at our place armed with his tools of trade. He performed tests on me, felt my tummy, and asked me several questions, all this time my boyfriend and I were hoping for the best but still expecting some not-so-good news. He suggested we go to his office for more detailed checks. And at about 6am, he came back with the results that indicated that the baby was fine and it was just a mild case of an infection. I don’t know what I would have done, but thanks to Dr. Ron Virmani I was able to go through the whole episode. And as I hold my 5 month-old bundle of joy, I can’t help but appreciate the effort and tender care he offered.

Ron A. Virmani, M.D. - Hiking The Highest Peak in Colorado

The state of Colorado is home to American Rockies.  Among them are 54 peaks that are more than 14,000 feet high.  They are called “Fourteeners”.  Then there are “Thirteeners” and so on.  Each year, thousands of hikers challenge themselves to one or more of them.  During summer, the mountains shed their blanket of snow and ice.  They become very popular hiking destinations.  During winter, only the advanced mountaineers attempt them because the mountains become formidable with snowmass.

In October of 1998, I had climbed the Pike’s peak, which is 14, 115 feet high.  I did that alone, which was borderline foolish, like many other things I have attempted in life, anyway.  It had taken me nine and a half hour to climb it.  I was so lucky to catch the last cog train down. 

An opportunity arose on the past Fourth of July (2009) to climb another “Fourteener”.  This was to be Mount Elbert, which is the highest peak in Colorado at 14,440 feet.  It is the highest in the American Rockies, second highest in the contiguous U.S.  It is situated next to a massive mountain, which is named oh so imaginatively Mount Massive.  Mt. Massive is the second tallest peak in Colorado (14,421 feet).

I (Ron A Virmani) belong to the Charlotte Outdoor Adventure Group (CHOA).  Four men and two women from CHOA planned this expedition to Mount Elbert.  Tito, an advanced and experienced hiker, became our leader.  Anna, Susan, Joe, Carlton and me formed the rest of the group.  Our ages ranged from 30 to 66!

We flew to Denver on July 4^th.  We rented a van and drove to town of Leadville, which has an altitude of 10,200 feet.  It is a quaint old mining town with majestic views of the Rockies.  We checked into Delaware hotel, which is a very old and well preserved hotel from the 19^th century. 

On July 5, we had breakfast and checked out of the hotel with our backpacks.  We chose to go up the La Plata trail for the purpose of acclimatization.  La Plata is Spanish for “silver”, its peak is 14,361 feet.  We were only able to go a couple of miles and about two thousand feet up when ominous clouds came on the mountain and it started raining.  We were able to take in a four hour hike, then headed for Twin Lakes campgrounds.  We spotted a deer and a fox on the way. 

We pitched our tents in this campground and marveled at the beautiful view of Twin Lakes.  We went to the town of Twin Lakes and got something to eat.  We joined in a luau in a bar. 

We did another small hike in the evening and admired the sunset.  Not used to sleeping on hard campground and also because the temperature was close to freezing at night, I did not get much sleep.

We got up next day (July 6) and had breakfast.  We drove to South Mt. Elbert trailhead (9560 feet).  We parked out van and started our ascent up the mountain around 10 AM.  We were surrounded by a jungle of beautiful Aspen trees.  Of course, we had our backpacks since we had to carry tents, sleeping bags and other necessities up the mountain.  We gingerly crossed a creek via a precarious footbridge. 

We took the Colorado trail until it intersected with Mt. Elbert trail, which is the way we went.  As we went up, the air got thinner and climb tougher.  Our lungs and other body parts complained.  Like zombies, we pressed on for four hours with gear on our backs.   Tito brought us to a spot for campsite for the night.  This was chosen for its proximity to a stream of water.  We had gone four miles and 2000 feet up.  The altitude here was 11,600 feet.

We pitched our tents and fell to a nap in the afternoon.  The campground was sloping and uneven, did not offer nearly as many comforts as a five star hotel.  Some of us played cards.  Finally, some of us decided to fetch water from the stream, which was about half a mile away.  I hauled up twenty pounds of water in my backpack for the group.

The campsite offered beautiful views of the twin lakes down below.  It also afforded grand views of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive.  The temperatures plummeted sharply with sunset.  We ate dinner and crawled into our tents for sleep.  Rolling around on the uneven floor of the tent, I could not get much sleep.  Full moon was shining at night.

By design, we awoke at 4 AM on July 7 and performed morning chores using flashlights.  At 5 AM, we set off on the trail heading up the mountain.  This time, we did not have backpacks, just the daypacks.  We had left our tents at the campsite.  Susan started getting altitude sickness so we slowed down a bit.  We admired breathtaking views as we climbed.  We took pictures of sunrise.

The ascent was steep and full of switchbacks.  Some fast hikers passed us by.  We took frequent breaks and ate our trail food.  We saw many chipmunks on the way.  I did not think I was going to make it to the top, but around 9 AM, as if by miracle, we all reached the summit of Mt. Elbert.  It was partially covered with snow.  This was our moment in history!  Glory was upon us!  All six of us stood together and took pictures.  We spotted a few quizzical marmots checking us out, perhaps expecting an edible treat.

After taking in the awe-inspiring panorama from the top of Colorado, we started to trek down and reached the campsite around noon.  We were exhausted.  But now we had to pack our tents and carry them in our backpacks all the way down to our van.

This took a couple of hours.  The total time of hiking that day was 8 hours.  We drove to Leadville for a quick bite and souvenir shopping.  Then we drove to Denver.  We checked into the Red Lion Hotel around 6 PM.  First time in my life, I had not showered for two whole days!

After we cleaned up, we went to a Mexican restaurant for drinks and a nice dinner.  Pitchers of Fat Tire (beer) were ordered and Margaritas were had.  The food was amazingly good.  We toasted our climb to the top of Colorado.  This might as well have been Mt. Everest!  Elbert, Everest, small difference!

Next day, we woke up and flew back to Charlotte from Denver airport whose roof architecture is like snow capped mountains.  I had done my second “Fourteener” in Colorado.  Thanks to Tito and wonderful fellow climbers, this was a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.  We are ready for many more adventures in life. 

Personally, I am headed for Mt. Fuji in Japan. As they say in Japan, "Everyone should climb Mount Fuji once; only a fool would climb it twice."