All right! It's a fact and soon to be an omnipresent truth. Women are giving tough competition to men, whether it's inside the Parliament house, or in the home or even outside it. And off the road, women rule the roost here as well.

Of course, we are talking about the famous, fashionable word 'adventure' and women are jumping, walking, scaling, diving, kayaking and flying through it.

Here they are, registering with the adventure clubs, and ready to show their wild side. Infact, as some club owners put it, they are performing better than their counterparts. If one goes through the figures, the number of women joining adventure clubs has risen from three to seven on an average. We wonder, what's the catch.

Provides rallyist Sunny Sidhu, president, Northern Indian Motorsports club, "We get a lot of queries from women, who are interested in motorsports and almost 99 percent sound genuinely interested."

The club, which was formed in 2005, has 50 odd women as its active members. Says Sunny, "It is a challenging sport, nevertheless there are girls who seem not only interested but want to pursue it as well."

Agrees Soli Sethi, owner clubfootloose. "There were hardly 10 girls in the club when we formed it a year back, and now there are almost 40 girls."

As per Soli, these are not just the 'namesake' members. "Whenever I have organised an event, be it flying a plane, rock climbing or trekking these girls have been the first ones to register their participation."

He adds, "It is about awareness and getting personal with adventure sports. I believe most of them are enjoying it and some are pretty serious about it as well."

So, clearly more and more women are following the spirit of the forbidden adventure. And when Bachendari Pal could do it, they don't understand why can't they.

Supreet, the founder of CATS, agrees that there is no dearth of girls putting their hands in practically any kind of adventure sports, trekking or going to unknown places. Out of 165 CAT members, the number of women members is virtually half.

"The youngest member is 5 year old and the oldest 68 years, who has done Jabli to Kasauli trek and also the Nepali 6 km trek." At the same time, there are certain activities where they rule out themselves, essentially they are always ready, rather sometimes more exhilarating than men. She adds, "Women are testing themselves and stretching their limits."

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Names can be deceptive. It gets reaffirmed when we heard a teaser on 94.3 My FM few days back. Aap ney Laila ko dekha, kaun hai Laila, kya hai Laila. That’s pretty simple, my friend jumped from her seat.

Must be some hep looking sexy babe. Can’t be an aunty, she smirked, seemingly happy that she had cracked the question. Little did she or any of us in the city knew what was coming. “Laila, could you come here,” calls out Richa Sharma, regional head, My FM.

We were about to meet up with an Arabic looking girl, wearing flowing harem pants…Hey, who is this. Simple, soft looking, gossamer skinned girl, smiling coy, holding a diary close to her heart. “Meet Laila. She is our new RJ, who would be doing Khichdi, the morning show,” Richa tells us.

Names are deceptive. But, why Laila, we were dying to ask. “It was suppose to happen this way,” says RJ Laila. The second question was fired with same urgency. Are you like your name, Laila?

“Laila, unlike what you perceive, is a girl like you and me. She is a newly married girl who is a mix of modernity and tradition. She is deep rooted in her traditions, at the same time she likes to freak out with friends. She is very family like, has a cooperative husband and at the same time likes to spend time with the family.”

But this is on radio, but what about Laila in real life? She smiles, and we can clearly see that glint behind the spectacles, “Radio is a drama of voices. All the same, you cannot fake anything for long time. Whatever I say or do on the show, has a touch of me,” she says.

This is Laila for you people and now the show Khichdi. “This is a show wherein we talk about women, their problems, good and bad things in life. And now, we even take men callers. So, the show is important and I quite like doing it. Overall, the show is light and entertaining at the same time.” Can we ask your real name? She laughs, one of those throaty laughs. Laila, Laila, Laila.

It was a night of recollection and reunion, for the old students of St Johns High School who came as far as from USA to attend the SJOBA ball.

The Tag Heuer SJOBA Reunion held by the St. Johns Old Boys Association (SJOBA) at St. Johns High School-26, on Wednesday night saw women dressed in scintillating dresses, plunging necklines and men dressed in formals.

While black was the colour of the night, the event saw members light candles to pay homage to the innocent lives lost in Mumbai on 26/11.

A special ceremony also held to commemorate the Class of 83, which completed 25 years after leaving school.

While people danced the chill away to DJ Sumit Sethi’s beats, the reunion saw special effects complete with UV lighting, lasers and pyro-techniques. — TNS

Another year is round the corner.
It’s time to make fresh resolutions to
improve our lives in the year ahead.
In the wake of the Mumbai attacks,
there is a lot of analysis, talk debate,
planning and viewing, all to shore up
India for its future citizens.

All of us are concerned. Children are worried. Old people wonder if there will ever be peace again.

Originally Christmas belonged only to the Christians, but today it symbolises an exchange of greetings and gifts, irrespective of any religion.

25th December celebrates Jesus’ birthday but his teaching leans towards simplicity and practical rustic values, rather than towards the gift giving brought in by St. Nicholas.

Ironically, the cheer of gifts, cards, red poinsettia, carols, rum cakes, fruit punches, parties and twinkling trees, have made Christmas a universal celebration. Most children insist on decorating a tree and exchanging presents.

Should we look upon this as conversion, coercion or just a year end thanksgiving for all that has been wonderful throughout the fading year? I would like to think of it as such. Officially, I am a Catholic.

But my spirituality has no bounds or religious trappings. As Virinder left with Gurdeep for Malaysia, she rang us up to wish us for Christmas.

This college mate has always been there for me through pain and sorrow.

During the 1984 disturbances I often thought of how my friend could be feeling. Twenty-four years later our friendship still transcends all religious cordons.

Dilshad’s card came in early, as usual. She is a Parsi and celebrates the spirit of Yuletide with fervour and sincerity. Amin is a Muslim. He is my sounding board for all practical decisions.

I have seldom met a man with so much horse sense. His wife Geraldine is an Anglo-Indian with the milk of human kindness flowing through every pore. Her biryani, coconut prawn curry and sorpotel are divine.

The mention of these three dishes, from different states show the magnanimity and caring of these dear friends. Kay is a Buddhist and as calm as an ancient rock. Combine this with a superb intelligence and one has a worthy friend.

Vikramjit introduced me to Aurovalley. Visiting the Ashram with my child-hood, American friend Dorothy, was an uplifting experience. The ambience at Aurovalley is soothing, healthy, very pragmatic.

We met Peruvians, Indians, French, Chileans, Irish, Nepalis and Buddhists. Was there any clash of ideals and thoughts? Aurovalley is like a miniature Utopia, where under the guidance of Swamiji, the best within us is encouraged to manifest itself in thought and action.

All the above friends are broadminded, logical and look upon humanity as a vast brotherhood. Most of them have married out of their caste and creed and this has made them generous in thought and action.

I do not think we are ready for mass inter-caste unions but we can surely have friends from various denominations? Such a conscious exercise in friendship would help in bringing peace to a warring world. Could friendships made across imagined and real borders be our New Year resolution?

American actress/singer Jennifer Lopez might have renewed her wedding vows with her husband Mark Anthony recently, but it seems that they have been facing troubles in their relationship for long.

While the couple was recently photographed without their wedding rings, sources have revealed that Lopez used to take all necessary steps to ensure that her husband did not cheat on her during his tours.

A source has revealed that Lopez would send her assistant with Anthony on tour, while she stayed at home with their twins, so as to remain informed about her husband's moves.

"She wanted reports back so he didn't cheat on her," the New York Post quoted the source as saying.

The newspaper also revealed that the couple was selling their 8.5million-dollar Bel Air estate, where they exchanged wedding vows in June 2004. Representatives for Lopez were unavailable for comment. — ANI

Madonna reportedly snubbed a festive family get together to meet her divorce lawyer after arriving in England with kids.

The Queen of Pop was allegedly to return to ex-hubby Guy Ritchie's 12 million-pound country mansion in Wiltshire, England, to spend Christmas together as a family for the sake of their children.

However, the Material Girl hit maker was said to
have summoned a meeting with top attorney
Fiona Shackleton while Guy took off with sons
Rocco, aged eight, and adopted David, aged three,
reports the Mirror.

A source close to the couple said: "It doesn't look like Madonna is that keen on having a family Christmas. The first thing she did when she arrived was have a meeting with her divorce lawyer."

"That won't make things any easier when she is trying to keep things civil over the dinner table at Christmas. It remains to be seen how much time Madonna and Guy will spend together as they've started off by doing their best to avoid each other."

The warring couple, who were granted a preliminary divorce in November, is yet to reach a decision over the custody battle of their kids. — ANI

Actress Lindsay Lohan has compared herself with pop-singer Britney Spears in her latest blog entry saying both of them have gone through a lot.

The Hollywood star also spills out some close guarded family secrets. Lohan gives kudos to Britney for a successful comeback with her latest album Circus and then goes on to say that she and the pop singer are always under public scrutiny.

"I feel like Britney Spears is an amazing talent, and
she has gone through a lot, (just as I have) in the
public eye...You need to take care of yourself before
anyone else.

"Because at the end of the day, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and see who you really are. So Britney for just being you and still following through with your dreams," the Mean Girls star writes in her blog. Lohan also reveals about her father's infidelity and how she is heart-broken with the entire news.

"I'm still going through a lot right now. My father just let my family and I know, amongst others that he had another child after my little sister Aliana, or maybe he had it before Aliana? Either way he cheated on my mother and that really sucks," she writes.

The 22-year old actor will be spending the Christmas holidays in Los Angeles with girlfriend Samantha Ronson instead of being with her family. — ANI

Tina Fey has been named 'Entertainer of the Year' by The Associated Press. The 38-year-old comedian gained instant fame for her impersonation of Alaska governor Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.

Fey's five appearances on the late night comedy were watched by millions on TV and on the Web.

"She simultaneously entertained us with her wit and put a mirror up to the nation during the election and made us think about what was going on," the New York Daily News quoted Scott Shive, assistant features editor at the Lexington Herald-Leader, as saying.

Second place in the voting, conducted by The Associated Pressamong newspaper editors and broadcast producers, went to Robert Downey Jr., who starred in the blockbuster hit Iron Man.

Late Aussie actor Heath Ledger, who gave a stirring performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, came third. — ANI

For many, Adam Sandler is one of the best comic
actors in Hollywood, but according to him, he's
still a "loser".

The Click star has admitted that even though he loves savouring his success in showbiz, he still is an insecure soul.

And the biggest thing that irks him is his appearance. "I know I've had some success, and I have some cash in the bank and stuff. But it's not like I don't still walk down the street feeling like a loser," a website quoted him.

He added: "If I'm with my wife in the car, and I see some guy jogging by, I'm like, 'Now, why does that guy look like that? And I look like this?' I still have that going on." — ANI

Former Friends star Courtney Cox is doing all she can to make her marriage to David Arquette last.

She has revealed that the two of them have
enlisted themselves in therapy sessions to get
through rocky patches.

The 44-year-old star says that therapy really makes it easy for her to thrash out her marital differences with Arquette, and maintain their nine-year union.

"I get shocked by people getting divorced all the time, that's why I choose to work on it. Therapy helps us," a website quoted her as telling British magazine You.

"It's so easy to grow apart; marriage takes work. I suppose you can work it out by talking to each other - I would just prefer to have a referee, it reminds us why we're together," she added. — ANI