Hi Friends of TANZB2@2026,

Dr Matrishv Vyas , to me is Pithamar of Photography and philosophy.

I was fortunate to accompany for safaris in India and Africa.

Serengeti was in my dreams since my middle school days when I used read about explorers and wildlife of Africa in my school library. I am glad that dream got finally fulfilled after six decades.

Tanzania batch 2 of 2026 of Matrishv Vyas group turned out to be great success. Initially we were all testing the waters but towards the end we all gelled very well. Saying farewell was really difficult for me.

It goes without saying Vyas bhai’s meticulousness was palpable to the fore in every aspect of this beautiful safari. Nothing was left to chance and every meal, safari, sightings all have a purpose of their own. One must be blessed to receive such bounties in the deepest parts of jungles of Serengeti. I am truly overwhelmed.

One of the best things was to have radio headphone communication to get periodic attention to sightings, settings and history. Providing sturdy bean bags thus saving so much on personal baggage, providing answers well ahead of time, even smallest details for birthday surprises and many more such gestures are all so motivating and meaningful and mind boggling.

Phenomenal sightings of avians and predators all of which were unbelievable and actually make you yearn for more.

But actually the behind the scenes coordination with guides and hotel staff was something beyond compare. Vyas Bhai has to carry so much of extra stuff which barely even gets attention or mention.

My proudest achievement was convincing Dr Navin Gnansekaran and Arun Kumar Neelakantan to accompany this trip which happened as early as in Feb 2025. These two Gemini Contenders are a maverick pair and have visited innumerable Indian National Parks including Sunderbans. They are very good planners and partners in crime. Hence getting their approval was truly something because of their crazy work schedule. They are known to for 15 years plus but their love and affection for has never wavered. Their spouses are all so nice to me.

Special mention about fellow travellers each one was truly amazing. The ladies were so jovial and friendly and could enjoy so bantering with them. Joe, George and spouses were so friendly and ease to get along with.My roommate Shekhar Saab is ultimate company. No tsunami can shake him very rarely. He is a Serval cat- A Rare breed.
Never in my wildest dreams would I ever even imagined meeting my dear older friend Shimadzu Ravi that too in Doha airport. Mind blowing.
Vaseem bhai, Ravi, Ace Achudhan Sir and Sundaram sir were all so warm and forthcoming.

Couple of things I observed in Ngorongoro:

1. The entire Ngorongoro crater was a bathed canopy of greenery. Not a single open space of landslides or dreadful cut down tree areas.
2. ⁠The black dirt tracks of volcanic look like real tar road.
3. ⁠Less elephants
4. ⁠Great washroom facilities

In Ndutu:

1. Even F1 drivers can be humbled after Rains in Serengeti
2. ⁠Camp visitors and animal sounds at night were really thrilling.
3. ⁠Dehydration is serious business.
4. ⁠Bird varieties are awesome.
5. ⁠Seeing two serval cats is jack pot.
6. ⁠Achudhan sir including the beetle in the Serval picture is ultimate.
7. Missed the usual farewell meeting when guests exchanged their opinions and thoughts.

Lastly my mentor and guru Vyas Bhai is someone for whom my affection and respect is paramount and boundless and rarely have I come across such a humble human being in my lifetime. I enjoy every moment of his presence both in person or offline tutorials all of which because there’s a definitely a
purpose to whatever he addresses at that given point in time.I am total beneficiary in this aspect.His habits, passion, knowledge and hospitality and wisdom are legendary and worth embracing. The beauty of it all is his having time for everyone and his willingness to share his vast experiences and knowledge without abandon. I truly wish that my Hindi skills were much better to appreciate his nuances and humour even more his poetry. People might tend to think that I might have gone overboard but I ignore it basically since it’s all about the inner connect and in these days of triviality, bonding has become so retrograde. We all know that.That way I am overtly blessed manifold to have met Vyas Bhai through my friend Dr. Udhayaraja .

Dr.Vyas Bhai basic philosophy to everything can be encompassed from the last stanza of the poem by William Ernest Henley , which goes as this :

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,

I Am The Master Of My Fate,
I Am The CaptOf My Soul.

My sincere wish is that Tan Zee B 2 batch 2026 members and their families all be well with immense goodness and good health bestowed for your lifetime and beyond…. and stay connected. Forget GMs and GNs and religious posts just some few Hi’s and occasional pics etc.

As for my Guru, may He, Sonali madam, Kausthab Vyas, Kaushik Vyas stay blessed till TIME STANDS NO MORE.

God bless Vyas Bhai and TANZB2 for bringing us together and giving us a memories to cherish for our lifetime.
🙏