Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Sunday, January 20, 2013
All in days work.
As I was travelling to my home town, I was feeling a bit tired - well, in a good way, had been living to the moment until boarding the train since morning. Though driving in the city especially in an around Mahipalpur (almost inching the 2 km patch at 1st gear !!) had its share to contribute in dampening the spirit as much. Then tried to give a friend a drive around(I am yet to be at the receiving end of this chore to appreciate the act as much :P) but nevertheless I have accepted it more as a mason running the merry-go-round swing. Had a road side tea(not a very often affair) & a bread pakora(happened in say like a decade if not more-vaguely recall having one in college mess ; Sidebar : Hall-2). Incidentally this happened to be a friend with whom since college I have been comfortable with 'experimenting' these trivialities, amongst many reasons, also is his nonchalant attitude as opposed to a judgemental one. Felt like a refreshing breeze from old times!
(Sidebar - it takes more than just people to re-create , perhaps that state of mind both should be in , perhaps the weather too, may be some 'extra-lazy-time' etc)
Boarded the train in my own way ;) - not exactly, but well almost - a casual stroll all the way to the station even with couple of minutes to train departure. Not feeling that rush/anxiety of "missing the train" ! Carefree (just like it was always meant to be - even if i missed it there wasn't much to lose - no strings attached - no 'expectations' of time arrival or a list of things-to-do.....
Incidentally the 2 seats besides me were vacant so i hopped up n soon dozed off to a brief nap - refreshing as it were in that short duration of 35-40 min as the train pulls into Ghaziabad. This platform seemed too narrow as i glanced through the window pane. Also, the sharp contrast to the high-security frisking at Delhi Rly Stn( yes, that took me good 7-8 min extra as per my calc & left me with similar figures to head for the relevant PF & Coach on the train i intended to take, 'just-right' enough:). This seemed like an unplugged orifice in that acclaimed Security net - I am sure, this isn't the right way since its a more broader and thoughtfully done arrangement but my preliminary thoughts rushed so)
I had been allocated the aisle seat, window seat now lay occupied by an elderly lady of the age of a Grand-ma & middle one by an sales-executive of sorts in late 40s. (Sidebar - Yes, I did have distractions-in-the-usual sense but the following chain of thoughts interested me more amongst other 'reasons' ;) ) Nevertheless, lets not rush in time. As the train was about to pull from the station I hear a thud on the pane - rather 'we' hear it!. It was a young lady - seemingly married , applying a fist at the glass pane. She was trying to say something to the elderly lady & the latter wished to reciprocate but alas! the glasses we sound-proof. More important was the tenderly affection in that young lady for this departing one. Seldom I get to see such display of affection, so candid & amongst such age groups. Felt exhilarated while giving final touches to arrangement of a couple of bags of the lady over the luggage bay. She cautioned me - to watch-out since once she had seen a TV fall overhead of a co-passenger in some train(clearly not Shatabdi though as it was clearer subsequently). She wanted to put some of her 5 bags below her seat - as a matter of habbit & more with embarrassed consideration for fellow-passengers' space. Which dawned momentarily next as she pondered over the ideas' feasibility.
I wasn't in mood for a conversation - perhaps it was on account of an effort to be 'present' while it brew - as it doesn't come most naturally to me. I could sense the inclination to the contrary by both my fellow passengers to engage in one as is so often the practice when one travel around esp in an around Kanpur-Lucknow. I used to travel via bus between these two places for a couple of months & invariably ran into long and unwinding stories that kept me interested for most of the 2 hrs run - as much for the content as for the dexterous raconteur. But back then, I was professionally pursuing speaking for a living (*wink*)& it came more naturally to 'initiate'. Now, I have recoiled back to my shell it seems(?)
I kept trying to steal a nap - when once my eyes met with this lady, she told me almost pleadingly that she wished to use the washroom but didn't feel like disturbing the sleeping guy in middle seat. I promptly tugged the said person to make way & fervently insisted that it was perfectly okay to 'disturb' fellow-passengers on account of the seat-arrangements thus. Later in the journey she told about having rajma-chawal on insistence of her kids & grandchildren, in spite of all the diet-restrictions she had been observing and thus the subsequent discomfort. She told about her reason for coming to Ghz was for a doctor's visit. To this remark, the sales-gentlemen(SGM henceforth) promptly reciprocated by asking the ailment - momentarily it felt imprudent to me but then I had seen people not considering it indelicate around 'here'. She couldn't register the caller tune of her phone to which the SGM pointed out then. She told that her son had set all the important numbers on quick dial instead to which the SGM also corroborated as a prevalent practice.(I didn't know that - fells like I should connect more:)) She also told about her son travelling from Haridwar to Ghaziabad just to drop her to stn. She was a charming lady - very considerate - no doubt the family would miss her so much ! She felt embarrassed that she was fat,notwithstanding the contribution of all the winter paraphernalia, for the seat design. She asked the SGM to feel-free to use the elbow-rest , not realising it was meant for her, but she was so considerate all along. When another gentleman put down the curtains, she asked if she should do similarly , perhaps there could be an air-draft through the panes though she admitted not to sense one.
I looked around to see the evening setting-in. Through the pane opposite i could mostly see horizontal patches - top being the gray; followed by fading red ; then a dust cloud of sorts followed by a deep green. It looked beautiful - perhaps only for the change in vistas that eyes usually devour.
Meanwhile, SGM also contributed in providing filler for the main piece - by recounting that one didn't used to pick phones in earlier times instead would call back from PCO( didn;t remember/know that) ; also some useful bits about roaming charges across various carriers & the territorial boundaries when applicable - concluding in favor of this current provider who happened to be most accommodative of his tour-job; some other stories , when there was such a thick fog that public buses won't even ply; also , this being the coldest of the season - as i have heard ever since for each year !!; he told that its an irony people say 'global warming' when its getting colder year-on-year. Here I added that its the very same phenomenon that could explain his hypothesis of cooler winter; the pun could be allowed only on the choice of the word 'warm'. Well, this brings me to the closure as to why I still assert Shatabdi journey to be so similar(identical ?) to that of UP Roadways esp for the KNP-LKO patch. For me they kindle the same set of emotions/memories - I feel that connect & perhaps a stronger inclination to do it more often. I sense a warmth & these narratives seem more from people i have seen growing up as uncles-who-came-for evening-tea & neighbours-lurking-over-the-fence. Thinking of it, people used to have so much time to pay visit without reasons/occasion. Perhaps only for evening tea - or may be on account of wo-yaheen-se guzar-rae-the-to-socha(since they were passing around the neighbourhood so decided to pay a visit)...
PS : Environment variables - As with any science experiment one makes a note of these ;) Let me allow myself similar indulgence. Sitting next to angeethi , don't feel much cold even w/o a sweater but the warmth, colors of amber-n-gray make one like to embrace winter on a cold morning as this with no sunshine even at noon!. I like winters :). Mom is fussing around with our food arrangements since she has to go to a family event. And now, that i see its a pretty impressive spread specially in light of her having a toast n sips of coffee for herself. I wish i could be such a parent - or wait, does parenting brings it out of u, ( hope so, fingers crossed) Dad is also running odd jobs n trying to help with putting wet clothes out in open & preparing toast since he accompanies me sitting next to angeethi & heater :)) Though his usual self, he gets agitated since they are running late on account of the aforementioned. I also ponder that i didn't flinch when i woke early due to the dot phone call even while sleeping late with lights on( listening whosoever-concerned ? :P). Afterall, it does feel good to be home & the feeling seems sinking in ;)
(Sidebar - it takes more than just people to re-create , perhaps that state of mind both should be in , perhaps the weather too, may be some 'extra-lazy-time' etc)
Boarded the train in my own way ;) - not exactly, but well almost - a casual stroll all the way to the station even with couple of minutes to train departure. Not feeling that rush/anxiety of "missing the train" ! Carefree (just like it was always meant to be - even if i missed it there wasn't much to lose - no strings attached - no 'expectations' of time arrival or a list of things-to-do.....
Incidentally the 2 seats besides me were vacant so i hopped up n soon dozed off to a brief nap - refreshing as it were in that short duration of 35-40 min as the train pulls into Ghaziabad. This platform seemed too narrow as i glanced through the window pane. Also, the sharp contrast to the high-security frisking at Delhi Rly Stn( yes, that took me good 7-8 min extra as per my calc & left me with similar figures to head for the relevant PF & Coach on the train i intended to take, 'just-right' enough:). This seemed like an unplugged orifice in that acclaimed Security net - I am sure, this isn't the right way since its a more broader and thoughtfully done arrangement but my preliminary thoughts rushed so)
I had been allocated the aisle seat, window seat now lay occupied by an elderly lady of the age of a Grand-ma & middle one by an sales-executive of sorts in late 40s. (Sidebar - Yes, I did have distractions-in-the-usual sense but the following chain of thoughts interested me more amongst other 'reasons' ;) ) Nevertheless, lets not rush in time. As the train was about to pull from the station I hear a thud on the pane - rather 'we' hear it!. It was a young lady - seemingly married , applying a fist at the glass pane. She was trying to say something to the elderly lady & the latter wished to reciprocate but alas! the glasses we sound-proof. More important was the tenderly affection in that young lady for this departing one. Seldom I get to see such display of affection, so candid & amongst such age groups. Felt exhilarated while giving final touches to arrangement of a couple of bags of the lady over the luggage bay. She cautioned me - to watch-out since once she had seen a TV fall overhead of a co-passenger in some train(clearly not Shatabdi though as it was clearer subsequently). She wanted to put some of her 5 bags below her seat - as a matter of habbit & more with embarrassed consideration for fellow-passengers' space. Which dawned momentarily next as she pondered over the ideas' feasibility.
I wasn't in mood for a conversation - perhaps it was on account of an effort to be 'present' while it brew - as it doesn't come most naturally to me. I could sense the inclination to the contrary by both my fellow passengers to engage in one as is so often the practice when one travel around esp in an around Kanpur-Lucknow. I used to travel via bus between these two places for a couple of months & invariably ran into long and unwinding stories that kept me interested for most of the 2 hrs run - as much for the content as for the dexterous raconteur. But back then, I was professionally pursuing speaking for a living (*wink*)& it came more naturally to 'initiate'. Now, I have recoiled back to my shell it seems(?)
I kept trying to steal a nap - when once my eyes met with this lady, she told me almost pleadingly that she wished to use the washroom but didn't feel like disturbing the sleeping guy in middle seat. I promptly tugged the said person to make way & fervently insisted that it was perfectly okay to 'disturb' fellow-passengers on account of the seat-arrangements thus. Later in the journey she told about having rajma-chawal on insistence of her kids & grandchildren, in spite of all the diet-restrictions she had been observing and thus the subsequent discomfort. She told about her reason for coming to Ghz was for a doctor's visit. To this remark, the sales-gentlemen(SGM henceforth) promptly reciprocated by asking the ailment - momentarily it felt imprudent to me but then I had seen people not considering it indelicate around 'here'. She couldn't register the caller tune of her phone to which the SGM pointed out then. She told that her son had set all the important numbers on quick dial instead to which the SGM also corroborated as a prevalent practice.(I didn't know that - fells like I should connect more:)) She also told about her son travelling from Haridwar to Ghaziabad just to drop her to stn. She was a charming lady - very considerate - no doubt the family would miss her so much ! She felt embarrassed that she was fat,notwithstanding the contribution of all the winter paraphernalia, for the seat design. She asked the SGM to feel-free to use the elbow-rest , not realising it was meant for her, but she was so considerate all along. When another gentleman put down the curtains, she asked if she should do similarly , perhaps there could be an air-draft through the panes though she admitted not to sense one.
I looked around to see the evening setting-in. Through the pane opposite i could mostly see horizontal patches - top being the gray; followed by fading red ; then a dust cloud of sorts followed by a deep green. It looked beautiful - perhaps only for the change in vistas that eyes usually devour.
Meanwhile, SGM also contributed in providing filler for the main piece - by recounting that one didn't used to pick phones in earlier times instead would call back from PCO( didn;t remember/know that) ; also some useful bits about roaming charges across various carriers & the territorial boundaries when applicable - concluding in favor of this current provider who happened to be most accommodative of his tour-job; some other stories , when there was such a thick fog that public buses won't even ply; also , this being the coldest of the season - as i have heard ever since for each year !!; he told that its an irony people say 'global warming' when its getting colder year-on-year. Here I added that its the very same phenomenon that could explain his hypothesis of cooler winter; the pun could be allowed only on the choice of the word 'warm'. Well, this brings me to the closure as to why I still assert Shatabdi journey to be so similar(identical ?) to that of UP Roadways esp for the KNP-LKO patch. For me they kindle the same set of emotions/memories - I feel that connect & perhaps a stronger inclination to do it more often. I sense a warmth & these narratives seem more from people i have seen growing up as uncles-who-came-for evening-tea & neighbours-lurking-over-the-fence. Thinking of it, people used to have so much time to pay visit without reasons/occasion. Perhaps only for evening tea - or may be on account of wo-yaheen-se guzar-rae-the-to-socha(since they were passing around the neighbourhood so decided to pay a visit)...
PS : Environment variables - As with any science experiment one makes a note of these ;) Let me allow myself similar indulgence. Sitting next to angeethi , don't feel much cold even w/o a sweater but the warmth, colors of amber-n-gray make one like to embrace winter on a cold morning as this with no sunshine even at noon!. I like winters :). Mom is fussing around with our food arrangements since she has to go to a family event. And now, that i see its a pretty impressive spread specially in light of her having a toast n sips of coffee for herself. I wish i could be such a parent - or wait, does parenting brings it out of u, ( hope so, fingers crossed) Dad is also running odd jobs n trying to help with putting wet clothes out in open & preparing toast since he accompanies me sitting next to angeethi & heater :)) Though his usual self, he gets agitated since they are running late on account of the aforementioned. I also ponder that i didn't flinch when i woke early due to the dot phone call even while sleeping late with lights on( listening whosoever-concerned ? :P). Afterall, it does feel good to be home & the feeling seems sinking in ;)
Lets come back to pleasantries later...
(Also, the travelogue corresponding the following is available here : http://romancingtheroads.blogspot.in/2013/01/all-in-days-work.html). If one may avail the privilege of leisure time, and an NPA against time-asset would hurt as bad on the balance-sheet, read that prior to going forth)
Well, let me allow myself a break as this weekend was supposed to be one. It hasn't proven to be anything of the sort thus but entirely otherwise. Oh, except the few surprise visitors!
Been reading Suitable Boy- by Vikram Seth. Typically a penchant for a long literary pieces, this has been an absorbing and fulfilling read. Also, with such works, the space of it all lets the character's 'devlop' enough to narrate or share a phase of their existence. That is what it takes to build the connect & time-space needed to relate and get concerned to what they might undergo in the said proceedings. Short stories, especially the one that have a motive - are more like one night-stands. Impressions way to 'smart' & fleeting. Stench for a purpose doesn't help either - since it doesn't feel like they "just-happened" else they wouldn't have such vulgar and explicit orientation to motive(not generalizing the genre as it is, but somehow most experience imbue the palette for the rest far beyond their own first impression would merit by themselves). Again, don't wish to deliberate to make the logic sound-proof rather, more as a matter of preference as say,in matters of choice amongst perfumes.
On a side-note, it not in line with the spirit of the article to deliberate the merits of the arguments, just as a mental-note as to my state of preferences at so-&-so instant in time.
Perhaps quite touched, contrary to my usual 'reading-self', with the demise of Mrs. Mahesh Kapoor. That timid and obliging lady, compromising her innocent(innocuous?) yearning in face of a more sensible/logical front - wishing to see Ramlila or episode where she gets rebuked on presuming her husband re-joining Congress etc. Also, same sequence got me thinking about the kind of affection it usually draws for people like Maan, who have been honest to their emotions, from every faction - age , religion, etc. Its a kind of personality traits that makes person so amicable that it draws in all & sundry, more forgiving are people to lapses of such people. Lets not mix the two - Mrs Kapoor, who was rendered respect(rather a weak term - rather ,may be ,an affection of sorts) by so many people who were affected by her even in backdrop of a Cabinet Minister! The author has so beautifully wrote an eulogy that she would remain alive in the her dauther's music, son's ailment, the un-rung brass-bell, husband's regret etc(last two perhaps most touching). Now about Maan, her son, the frivolous one, the one that succumbs to temptations of all kind, but one that usually is most acclaimed and interesting of the siblings. People love these personality of happy go lucky. Are most forgiving to their lapses. Is it their honesty or transparency that make them likable?Is it the same fallings people see within themselves & relate to or feel more comfortable/confident about their own self? As against, say Pran, who has been caring-controlled-steady , his description lack the charm or an attempt at highlighting his 'strengths' by even the author. Perhaps its even the reflection of the societal standing. That is the state of affairs for the contrast in reception of the two personalities. Latter struggles for 'exactly-love' from even his own wife while Maan has all sorts of 'encounters'.
Now a totally different kind of reflection - about certain things you may be relatively better(diplomatically correct as to avert allegation on trespassing civilian code of humility) at & might have been extending it to lend a helping hand to people around you. But after a while, when you can no longer afford to continue, is it inconsiderate of people at receiving end to feel disappointed on account of continuing similar expectation on presumption of shirking response gesture? or is it just the non-alignment of expectations. Whatever that is how should one go about bridging the gap in such changing time when going vocal yet sympathetic doesn't do the trick! Regardless, I not-so-recently received an advice as not to do things that make you incrementally unhappy by going against your grain, whatsoever be the case or whosoever be the person. This has been helpful, mostly ;) taking into account some instances of relenting the ground for the privileged few.
Well, there was this word regarding Mrs. Kapoor about being "circuitously encouraging" - Perhaps one always needs such a friend - who may not be as bright , may not be as brilliant to understand the cause of perplexity but be undauntedly encouraging & of all things 'listen' to your crib. Sometimes we don't need advice on what's right to do, we need a patient ear & a strong shoulder. We all have developed our survival mechanism over time(& may also know the righteous act), they may not be optimal or profound, but they have worked for us thus & we are still talking!!
As I write this off, another thing I need to make a note is about coherency of thoughts. While writing i have the leisure of time to find a sequence of words to put the idea across. Talking upfront puts a stop-watch to paraphrasing a sub-concious thought process, which may need a lot of effort & would be the most sough after things one would like to engage in right away Its more on the subject my thoughts dwell upon at the moment & hovering around which my deliberative self delves. Thus to remove it to the chain of ideas which lead it up to here would be removing it from its sweet-spot & would kill the moment for such musing leaving that bitter after taste of unfulfilled fruition ;). Thinking of it a very senior and acclaimed Prof at my college tutorial once said after stating the problem statement on the green-board, that he needed a sheet of paper to think over the problem since we had come to realise that Vertical surfaces are more difficult for him to think over than horizontal ones. As scientific & logical it may now appear, we should be more appreciative(not tolerant) of others' incongruities.
PS : Regret that this post has been build around a book that many of you may have not read. But I just need to knot certain ideas around an anchor & this happened to be the one at the moment. Please bear with my limited resourcefulness.
Well, let me allow myself a break as this weekend was supposed to be one. It hasn't proven to be anything of the sort thus but entirely otherwise. Oh, except the few surprise visitors!
Been reading Suitable Boy- by Vikram Seth. Typically a penchant for a long literary pieces, this has been an absorbing and fulfilling read. Also, with such works, the space of it all lets the character's 'devlop' enough to narrate or share a phase of their existence. That is what it takes to build the connect & time-space needed to relate and get concerned to what they might undergo in the said proceedings. Short stories, especially the one that have a motive - are more like one night-stands. Impressions way to 'smart' & fleeting. Stench for a purpose doesn't help either - since it doesn't feel like they "just-happened" else they wouldn't have such vulgar and explicit orientation to motive(not generalizing the genre as it is, but somehow most experience imbue the palette for the rest far beyond their own first impression would merit by themselves). Again, don't wish to deliberate to make the logic sound-proof rather, more as a matter of preference as say,in matters of choice amongst perfumes.
On a side-note, it not in line with the spirit of the article to deliberate the merits of the arguments, just as a mental-note as to my state of preferences at so-&-so instant in time.
Perhaps quite touched, contrary to my usual 'reading-self', with the demise of Mrs. Mahesh Kapoor. That timid and obliging lady, compromising her innocent(innocuous?) yearning in face of a more sensible/logical front - wishing to see Ramlila or episode where she gets rebuked on presuming her husband re-joining Congress etc. Also, same sequence got me thinking about the kind of affection it usually draws for people like Maan, who have been honest to their emotions, from every faction - age , religion, etc. Its a kind of personality traits that makes person so amicable that it draws in all & sundry, more forgiving are people to lapses of such people. Lets not mix the two - Mrs Kapoor, who was rendered respect(rather a weak term - rather ,may be ,an affection of sorts) by so many people who were affected by her even in backdrop of a Cabinet Minister! The author has so beautifully wrote an eulogy that she would remain alive in the her dauther's music, son's ailment, the un-rung brass-bell, husband's regret etc(last two perhaps most touching). Now about Maan, her son, the frivolous one, the one that succumbs to temptations of all kind, but one that usually is most acclaimed and interesting of the siblings. People love these personality of happy go lucky. Are most forgiving to their lapses. Is it their honesty or transparency that make them likable?Is it the same fallings people see within themselves & relate to or feel more comfortable/confident about their own self? As against, say Pran, who has been caring-controlled-steady , his description lack the charm or an attempt at highlighting his 'strengths' by even the author. Perhaps its even the reflection of the societal standing. That is the state of affairs for the contrast in reception of the two personalities. Latter struggles for 'exactly-love' from even his own wife while Maan has all sorts of 'encounters'.
Now a totally different kind of reflection - about certain things you may be relatively better(diplomatically correct as to avert allegation on trespassing civilian code of humility) at & might have been extending it to lend a helping hand to people around you. But after a while, when you can no longer afford to continue, is it inconsiderate of people at receiving end to feel disappointed on account of continuing similar expectation on presumption of shirking response gesture? or is it just the non-alignment of expectations. Whatever that is how should one go about bridging the gap in such changing time when going vocal yet sympathetic doesn't do the trick! Regardless, I not-so-recently received an advice as not to do things that make you incrementally unhappy by going against your grain, whatsoever be the case or whosoever be the person. This has been helpful, mostly ;) taking into account some instances of relenting the ground for the privileged few.
Well, there was this word regarding Mrs. Kapoor about being "circuitously encouraging" - Perhaps one always needs such a friend - who may not be as bright , may not be as brilliant to understand the cause of perplexity but be undauntedly encouraging & of all things 'listen' to your crib. Sometimes we don't need advice on what's right to do, we need a patient ear & a strong shoulder. We all have developed our survival mechanism over time(& may also know the righteous act), they may not be optimal or profound, but they have worked for us thus & we are still talking!!
As I write this off, another thing I need to make a note is about coherency of thoughts. While writing i have the leisure of time to find a sequence of words to put the idea across. Talking upfront puts a stop-watch to paraphrasing a sub-concious thought process, which may need a lot of effort & would be the most sough after things one would like to engage in right away Its more on the subject my thoughts dwell upon at the moment & hovering around which my deliberative self delves. Thus to remove it to the chain of ideas which lead it up to here would be removing it from its sweet-spot & would kill the moment for such musing leaving that bitter after taste of unfulfilled fruition ;). Thinking of it a very senior and acclaimed Prof at my college tutorial once said after stating the problem statement on the green-board, that he needed a sheet of paper to think over the problem since we had come to realise that Vertical surfaces are more difficult for him to think over than horizontal ones. As scientific & logical it may now appear, we should be more appreciative(not tolerant) of others' incongruities.
PS : Regret that this post has been build around a book that many of you may have not read. But I just need to knot certain ideas around an anchor & this happened to be the one at the moment. Please bear with my limited resourcefulness.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Pokhara, Nepal trip
Now this wasnt a planned trip & what's about to follow sure would be a testimony to it.
Onwards Journey:
1.HWH to TATA
Onwards Journey:
1.HWH to TATA
With an early morning train its hard to catch some sleep a night before. Left home so early that it wasn't even time for the first bus. Reached 8B(rickshaw + walk) prior to 5! There was an anxious 30min before the bus came & reached HWH by 6:10. Thought that 6:20 train wouldn't have been so bad either :P. Dawns' always a weird feeling, perhaps lack of sleep coupled with unaccustomed-to views - roads being mobbed, vendors setting up their roadside paraphernalia, & no crowd, which is usually a busy thoroughfare.
Bought a BS since didn't want to carry any books. I got reservation in 2S & not being very accustomed to it was quite cynical of the infra, gentry. Anyways, have no complains as to it with my very limited stint in WB & down South.
Weather was okay. Train had many un-reserved passengers. Lots of vendors - jhal muri, cold drinks, lassi, chana, ....i was inherently waiting for the one with boiled egg. whom i ran into at intermittent station but Railways had better plans.
Stood at the (middle)door & enjoyed the gush of fresh air & lots of lotus ponds alongside tracks for quite some time. A flower farm with yellow flowers looked remarkable among that part-green patch.
Reached at noon time & waited for friends at TATA. I don't get much time with them so was looking forward to it even in that sweltering heat. Met them at Sakshi & headed off to Golmuri police lines quarters. Saw many thelas selling juices including Bel, i miss them so much in Calcutta.
2. Tata to Patna :
An (Atithi Travels,Orange)AC bus cost about 300 per person but if the ply with which some window panes have been replaced runs loose, it leaves about 2 hours late than schedule time of 6pm(standard delay time is 30 min!) amidst a bit of rain shower, dust storms. These had most amazing seats but AC stalled half way into the journey. That wasn't before we had mid-nite halt & dinner at a joint around Ranchi.(Here is when, all of us forgot about the wallet & then had a torn-note fiasco, though filter coffee was quite welcome). With AC down, it was quite chaotic as we progressed towards Patna, both inside & outside. What i had perceived would be a lot of fun being my first interstate bus ride, looking at the serenity amidst moon & moonlight, turned into volley of abuses at bus staff, children puking etc. I then realised 'sleeper' coaches(no wonder 'sleeper' seats are the ones left till the end) are so claustrophobic though this one had amazing leg-room & thankfully didn't screen any movies along the way.
Booked a ticket to Raxaul at Patna Bus stand(Amar Jyoti). No AC coaches & ONLY evening buses! I also learn't prior booking was advisable none the less. Patna Bus stand is utter dirty & chaotic, perhaps due to magnitude of passengers.
Stayed at friends place & recharged for the journey ahead.
3. Patna to Raxaul :
This was a pathetic bus(seats were antiquated & didn't lean, service staff wasn't polite, played some faltu movie where i realized i was so glad i didn't have a gr8 view!). Horrible roads & dust storms as u inch towards Nepal. This crook played some bhakti song since 3:30 am !! with roads looking like pagdandi in fields, the combo almost took the lid off the patience can. Silver lining, reached in time & resolved to look for Sapna travels on way back since AJ was only a glorious ghost from the past.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Detailed Account : Kaluk, Sikkim & Mirik, WB
Day 1 :
Reached NJP & then begun search of our frenz who were fast asleep with their fones switched off(Mysteriously so). To the extent I tried & eavesdrop into all the waiting rooms @ NJP. All except Room#6 werent locked so we were rest assured our frenz may have found some getaway. Then, Rly Stn not being my idea of a vacation, loitering on the streets wasnt such a bad idea to kill time. Since I had been thr previously, i thot of goin to Hong-Kong market with absolutly NO intention of buying anything. But it came as no surprise when shops were closed on eve of Independence day. I wasnt too disappointed except for the weather. We headed straight back.
After a while via some shortcut we were on our way to Kaluk. It was foggy & raining when we arrived at nite to the warmth of the resort.
Day 2:
Reached NJP & then begun search of our frenz who were fast asleep with their fones switched off(Mysteriously so). To the extent I tried & eavesdrop into all the waiting rooms @ NJP. All except Room#6 werent locked so we were rest assured our frenz may have found some getaway. Then, Rly Stn not being my idea of a vacation, loitering on the streets wasnt such a bad idea to kill time. Since I had been thr previously, i thot of goin to Hong-Kong market with absolutly NO intention of buying anything. But it came as no surprise when shops were closed on eve of Independence day. I wasnt too disappointed except for the weather. We headed straight back.
After a while via some shortcut we were on our way to Kaluk. It was foggy & raining when we arrived at nite to the warmth of the resort.
Day 2:
Kaluk, Sikkim & Mirik, WB
DOJ : 14/Aug/09
Off-season, Dense Fog & Persistent drizzle
Off-season, Dense Fog & Persistent drizzle
Our iternerary :
NJP -->kaluk(6-8hrs, Max, Rs.2-2.3K)
kaluk-->darjeelling--> Pashupati(Nepal Border) -->Mirik(Max@2k on daily basis)
Places of Accomodation :
P1. Mandarin Resort(mvresort-kaluk.com/aboutus.htm)
P2. Jagjeet hotel, Mirik.
Effects of visiting in Off-Season:
+ve:
Visit here...
Effects of visiting in Off-Season:
+ve:
- Fewer tourists!
- P1 offered a discount of 25% & P2 offered 40% discount(Infact, Mirik was quite particular with 50% flat waver from road-side food stuff to horse ride around the lake!)
- Sight-c'ing diffcult
- Difficulty finding food at places : Pelling, that too!...No food, none.
- Chances of Land-sliding.
- Clay cups(called kaluk cups)
- Passion fruit's juice
- Tea(preferably Darjelling would be better)
- Sbi @ Jorethang
- Sbi @ Pelling
Visit here...
Friday, May 29, 2009
Taki n Hasnabad
This, unlike most of othr trips, was in a local train. But was loads of fun nun-d-less. Met amazing ppl at d same time amongst a gang of atleast 10!
Got very sick but stil braved d cold to take a van-ride to Hasnabad followed by boating in mo0nlight.
Travel tips : Local from Sealdah & on way back catch train frm Hasnabad since d train is less crowded out thr.
Will write more, m too tired as of now.
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