tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39222980462597416272024-03-14T00:00:37.766-07:00WanderlustSomahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-88810237124515639162024-02-25T00:55:00.000-08:002024-02-25T18:58:22.869-08:00Vietnam Bhraman <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCpnhPW-eBBnVGvFiRZFLx3jmGln7GlPWYzZ0D8TwwlQpBfQ4NuJDy4PvAcKRMPyaBmYluFrA1T5gqgfxjME6I1jytOnnLAIymOlfyETUT5UXOqdlmvL7Mr8M-tGuzPOiZiRGogHsSnovsLNh7fUrRKy62l2mX42pxnbnoFyAZInCITwYsqbz2eADv5M/s4000/IMG_20231111_151528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCpnhPW-eBBnVGvFiRZFLx3jmGln7GlPWYzZ0D8TwwlQpBfQ4NuJDy4PvAcKRMPyaBmYluFrA1T5gqgfxjME6I1jytOnnLAIymOlfyETUT5UXOqdlmvL7Mr8M-tGuzPOiZiRGogHsSnovsLNh7fUrRKy62l2mX42pxnbnoFyAZInCITwYsqbz2eADv5M/s320/IMG_20231111_151528.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Why Vietnam! <p></p><p>Because Maldives seemed dead costly compared to the variety Vietnam had to offer. Because Bangkok, Krabi seemed kind of passe and most of us traveling had been to Singapore, to zero in on an international destination post COVID in a budget... Vietnam fitted the bill.</p><p>Flights were booked, Delhi/Hanoi ...Ho Chi Minh/ Delhi, internal flights Hanoi/Danang/ Ho Chi Minh without burning much hole in pocket. We hopped in to the Vietnam Airlines Airbus 321 at midnight with the thrill of visiting a new country post COVID.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IzSJVK1r6JU4EKf7hfE1GqSQSiRPEhUUMW4LNNemwX98ayeTZ1NSRX5z1s7Tpwsyzf26G5KzHjw2h7SEisS2un2TjlU7HD4Nm1Qgb1RAGEhMdF_7eWlz8lvatPC4EjuJwJNgwrHO8D2Lmw0JM7n1xozV2gDhYb-wyRr7uYhW1gNe8ptBBO6MCr_ULgM/s4608/IMG_20231110_232238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IzSJVK1r6JU4EKf7hfE1GqSQSiRPEhUUMW4LNNemwX98ayeTZ1NSRX5z1s7Tpwsyzf26G5KzHjw2h7SEisS2un2TjlU7HD4Nm1Qgb1RAGEhMdF_7eWlz8lvatPC4EjuJwJNgwrHO8D2Lmw0JM7n1xozV2gDhYb-wyRr7uYhW1gNe8ptBBO6MCr_ULgM/s320/IMG_20231110_232238.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Uneventful flight save the steward liked my name and came looking for me pronouncing my name with a sweet accent, my husband tried to intervene but he was interested only in speaking to Somaaa... đ... the reason we discovered later was the Hindu non veg meal I opted ( a bit unknowingly because I was only interested in Vietnamese food).</p><p>Hanoi airport was quiet not much hustle bustle and my daughter remarked after we got out of the terminal " Maa isn't it a bit like Guwahati Airport! " Cabs, cars just outside the terminal she was correct actually. Infact that was what we were afraid of, the topography would it be similar to our homes in North East....a bit of Guwahati and Silchar.</p><p>It was similar to any North East City, lots of two wheelers overloaded with vegetables, eggs , groceries might be for some retail store in the suburbs. We checked in to a hotel at Old Quarters, nice colonial feeling with narrow streets , congested buildings , bit like our own Kolkata. </p><p><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Day 1 : </b> <b>Hanoi Tour: Temple Of Literature, Train Street, Ho Chi Minh memorial, One Pillar Pagoda </b></p><p><u><b><br /></b></u></p><p>We were a group of nine with six adults and three kids and our guide Henry was warm, jovial. Our first stop was Temple Of Literature, University opened by Confucius, giving us insight into Chinese influence in Vietnam.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenFE61heVnSPAM5cPj5s-loi85LONDj7M9tH775lyd5bJu1lCL1oXq1IheO3NrvPoIZUPwSZ_-A2zgJCAoVSrhlkF4a48SPqYour9E0euRjlyu5JVxtiW7UHEKtl_8I8gsBzagAl47MKvkL3XAo63K4-BMN7LR-M2czv8jUDuAX2M0xjr3BrMhb4QlG0/s1024/IMG-20231111-WA0067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenFE61heVnSPAM5cPj5s-loi85LONDj7M9tH775lyd5bJu1lCL1oXq1IheO3NrvPoIZUPwSZ_-A2zgJCAoVSrhlkF4a48SPqYour9E0euRjlyu5JVxtiW7UHEKtl_8I8gsBzagAl47MKvkL3XAo63K4-BMN7LR-M2czv8jUDuAX2M0xjr3BrMhb4QlG0/s320/IMG-20231111-WA0067.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Next was the much awaited ' Train Street' , yes hyped but enchanting none the less. Reel makers and Insta's delight train Street was fun with the cosy food joints on and off the streets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9_0A_uW5TUNmbp0J8PiV_zvQL9xKzaaLMiaTE9kuw3bpQPEzipPtyRUpm6qHhBL0cGg20zeY1BGBT8ohMRB4AFEip0rCt1fYhQn6lFpSVK43Ys6_qgE31Cs663-XQYEeIs9C44p0JybC1rH9BMiUdQsPYXib_G_Nsm5r-4PdmP7oyQ9RyhLOAAmJ-iU/s4000/IMG_20231111_144648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9_0A_uW5TUNmbp0J8PiV_zvQL9xKzaaLMiaTE9kuw3bpQPEzipPtyRUpm6qHhBL0cGg20zeY1BGBT8ohMRB4AFEip0rCt1fYhQn6lFpSVK43Ys6_qgE31Cs663-XQYEeIs9C44p0JybC1rH9BMiUdQsPYXib_G_Nsm5r-4PdmP7oyQ9RyhLOAAmJ-iU/s320/IMG_20231111_144648.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPq-rzVsI5c2mfawFmFheonbMjQbacr7jGXXCU44cb53hWFvqfdHixB2kRFO7Ko61pCQBB9IZ6DK9KJDUGFm98aKLGE26nUnNDsXz4CQ2rXky1mRjnTZJ1ClQGDmdu1OIXMFIUtzYpDtmSxcARpduVELwcjkPbSOGvdb1_SXUILtGOK9S8bAqBqjZPR4/s4000/IMG_20231111_154058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPq-rzVsI5c2mfawFmFheonbMjQbacr7jGXXCU44cb53hWFvqfdHixB2kRFO7Ko61pCQBB9IZ6DK9KJDUGFm98aKLGE26nUnNDsXz4CQ2rXky1mRjnTZJ1ClQGDmdu1OIXMFIUtzYpDtmSxcARpduVELwcjkPbSOGvdb1_SXUILtGOK9S8bAqBqjZPR4/s320/IMG_20231111_154058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div> Rice Cakes ( Lots like Muri Moa in Bangla with pork crumbs)</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lbQLFGfUtcEsG17HByo8YndKPEPcCSMAx7IKiETNEjTaQ9Ij1PpnGZSv41Mynjaiqzpn8VYXXOp1lsbSCdtdIKa_NiQLSlNfIztBZ1Yp3UPhTU95-NBmUVYQUc6bPSy77qJqOeJ5Albns9BpqNq9Dk8pda4fEhHXRoaKxed7sm-1KCE7QmzrP8tfWSY/s1024/IMG-20231114-WA0142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lbQLFGfUtcEsG17HByo8YndKPEPcCSMAx7IKiETNEjTaQ9Ij1PpnGZSv41Mynjaiqzpn8VYXXOp1lsbSCdtdIKa_NiQLSlNfIztBZ1Yp3UPhTU95-NBmUVYQUc6bPSy77qJqOeJ5Albns9BpqNq9Dk8pda4fEhHXRoaKxed7sm-1KCE7QmzrP8tfWSY/s320/IMG-20231114-WA0142.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIwnbZBgSiLeaVGzum-XcqPmFG5juKmIeOl4nxUcJJagnZGGcEXiIXwRjYqzx3y_U3q3CTp0Wlr0bAr16qmzS1K7gkIjH-zEXhuwOwm3dG4fU_kAeoDgdBi3-IZzt7xNWIoXavr3wwpE6bhQDnVq4KKHi_qZkAjoHS5rF83Qca0MCU7iXXIvfuoh6yVc/s1024/IMG-20231114-WA0149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIwnbZBgSiLeaVGzum-XcqPmFG5juKmIeOl4nxUcJJagnZGGcEXiIXwRjYqzx3y_U3q3CTp0Wlr0bAr16qmzS1K7gkIjH-zEXhuwOwm3dG4fU_kAeoDgdBi3-IZzt7xNWIoXavr3wwpE6bhQDnVq4KKHi_qZkAjoHS5rF83Qca0MCU7iXXIvfuoh6yVc/s320/IMG-20231114-WA0149.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> Egg Coffee @ Train Street</p><p>After tit bits with Egg Coffee, next stop was at Ho Chi Minh memorial. There was a fuss about short dresses , deep neck , thigh slits... After covering ourselves as much as possible and buying a longish skirt for my daughter we had the view of the beautiful street and Ho Chi Minh memorial and the One Pillar pagoda.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbut0N5BwWjU9LhFgqQx7f4NIGHpHJFBt4Gf5LMsoBAv0V43YrO5KMxwu2tihrllY5PfJms0fE4PuEJ4ZoyhwAB6v6vRSajADZ3VSxI5W1c9_vWJ3OlyU1h2PHVqiqeUp3HilvyqqveID3XzuqMoZ-JjE0Ah3kXqjyyTM8n9J6d5spJ9GDCAV2wcb-Ce0/s4000/IMG_20231111_164548.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbut0N5BwWjU9LhFgqQx7f4NIGHpHJFBt4Gf5LMsoBAv0V43YrO5KMxwu2tihrllY5PfJms0fE4PuEJ4ZoyhwAB6v6vRSajADZ3VSxI5W1c9_vWJ3OlyU1h2PHVqiqeUp3HilvyqqveID3XzuqMoZ-JjE0Ah3kXqjyyTM8n9J6d5spJ9GDCAV2wcb-Ce0/s320/IMG_20231111_164548.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>Dinner was some Banh Me ( Filled baguettes) from the street then visit to a local restaurant with awesome food where the lovely waitress taught us to mix the ingredients for the right taste of a local dish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpSYHSwhc_zWH2BPBVHkQcHE6gPN7PDLm32gWt1vWxdTKTm9iDF_9NOOoDbSU6l0VnT-kzVAcvUJ4QYnnAXfcetyavakf-vyf9eQMyfJZAEOdSAQeQPhx81yepsje3jettM2aR7SzJmWGwDm0a97d8CO4SyRevvFRUei-dqY4gV_-eKBPkOsvEEaZycY/s4000/IMG_20231111_191514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpSYHSwhc_zWH2BPBVHkQcHE6gPN7PDLm32gWt1vWxdTKTm9iDF_9NOOoDbSU6l0VnT-kzVAcvUJ4QYnnAXfcetyavakf-vyf9eQMyfJZAEOdSAQeQPhx81yepsje3jettM2aR7SzJmWGwDm0a97d8CO4SyRevvFRUei-dqY4gV_-eKBPkOsvEEaZycY/s320/IMG_20231111_191514.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZtkx10nw3YbHZaEEDnoJX-NnlokuaKNtzUPqSrQaChdNITDHijt-9-UoKPEXI_iNRczWsSUXnhbzGqr2CKf4151WVPhUVZ7bG97Bkevj0mIZ6yDDrFpiq6fXyC-7wPWCdwHe0PqXUesfcKut9tkRtm1l0uaDG2LdoeRGP2McQihBCr5yCBE6JLuhW0k/s4000/IMG_20231111_222150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZtkx10nw3YbHZaEEDnoJX-NnlokuaKNtzUPqSrQaChdNITDHijt-9-UoKPEXI_iNRczWsSUXnhbzGqr2CKf4151WVPhUVZ7bG97Bkevj0mIZ6yDDrFpiq6fXyC-7wPWCdwHe0PqXUesfcKut9tkRtm1l0uaDG2LdoeRGP2McQihBCr5yCBE6JLuhW0k/s320/IMG_20231111_222150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day 2:</u> <b>Nin Binh</b></p><p>Day began with a two hours drive to Ninh Binh. Our guide Henry was full of anecdotes, fables and kept the journey engrossing in an otherwise mundane countryside. First stop was at Tam Coc where we went boating to see the marble caves, the marvels of nature!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZ300I10cTw9sqMhywnux1FilFj0wGQVSy8W9KgayDa2VWZEFxh9SgTnVGHx-C3Alprc9uOzyMDCKPjtAP4-pnXv9Fv29T8LW0JkruoCNK9DqQ6t7P1zPdOiOGzRJFhRJJ4G4BefjbcY6_TYQi8iIQaRWwvAXLiezNDG60nsigZU7dk0AQ3sqMTrphdg/s4000/IMG_20231112_120748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZ300I10cTw9sqMhywnux1FilFj0wGQVSy8W9KgayDa2VWZEFxh9SgTnVGHx-C3Alprc9uOzyMDCKPjtAP4-pnXv9Fv29T8LW0JkruoCNK9DqQ6t7P1zPdOiOGzRJFhRJJ4G4BefjbcY6_TYQi8iIQaRWwvAXLiezNDG60nsigZU7dk0AQ3sqMTrphdg/s320/IMG_20231112_120748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaoO5sdt1vxRYH0xQGAd_1ck6ZbjMYMujKnhPh9tCcFnk00iXwryKrVbE_reNHFh5osY4xLImjHqQm4KmXNHfobdLxUNFk5S2hlC5O7SA_KTzxHVOK920ioIvAp89HF1A_PilKLFCZdUpf1S-aHdApwi_ScCYWSkypcPLmYMkSjPt2CLgwMYfQ_RLI0c/s4000/IMG_20231112_121223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaoO5sdt1vxRYH0xQGAd_1ck6ZbjMYMujKnhPh9tCcFnk00iXwryKrVbE_reNHFh5osY4xLImjHqQm4KmXNHfobdLxUNFk5S2hlC5O7SA_KTzxHVOK920ioIvAp89HF1A_PilKLFCZdUpf1S-aHdApwi_ScCYWSkypcPLmYMkSjPt2CLgwMYfQ_RLI0c/s320/IMG_20231112_121223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA06iOYHAui_wf9oaHQ4l7znqcdwc8EsugQmRDL4gkd05YhmEXpgtZz_zkd5EJIGq7y1jbOeTfx87CmD2PpqxlM60HyZfgGcqqreRSM6jz0Jz6JFixcXd0ZMmb9qWXIa8037v0XfkVDozmM7goyhxK2B9EyfZkm9aJr44Y_1AB4ZKunyqzhYC7IiswoCE/s1920/IMG_20231112_121351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA06iOYHAui_wf9oaHQ4l7znqcdwc8EsugQmRDL4gkd05YhmEXpgtZz_zkd5EJIGq7y1jbOeTfx87CmD2PpqxlM60HyZfgGcqqreRSM6jz0Jz6JFixcXd0ZMmb9qWXIa8037v0XfkVDozmM7goyhxK2B9EyfZkm9aJr44Y_1AB4ZKunyqzhYC7IiswoCE/s320/IMG_20231112_121351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey7hfOvh1rTEJ80i_Q3agEY9As4kz6b7JkIRRjl_RB56tGuy_Y5Edpt8Iz0WJs90qyqhvp8IrctDvUGnSESgyoVQFjkesp3kCrx401RDehNLBQc22jJ-h-62m97xrTEptGxX2aO6DZe3ESYd9HxJiM2ahnWK0IT7iV7_XCmdAx0Apb9vaUIgojoODjSY/s4000/IMG_20231112_122109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey7hfOvh1rTEJ80i_Q3agEY9As4kz6b7JkIRRjl_RB56tGuy_Y5Edpt8Iz0WJs90qyqhvp8IrctDvUGnSESgyoVQFjkesp3kCrx401RDehNLBQc22jJ-h-62m97xrTEptGxX2aO6DZe3ESYd9HxJiM2ahnWK0IT7iV7_XCmdAx0Apb9vaUIgojoODjSY/s320/IMG_20231112_122109.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z-z9vJl_gZZMEukJyv4i4S-D_RBJ3Yqn19Yfk-b0c17eixlKNJ6E1AaJIucin1wsu33BZDP7RXL0YNNIPvLSbAt7qdMfVfgZKyfDYNuwzDOaMDseA85PAryefhKL-VPVTY_FXOo9DyCfMcAb0A1wBj9NaVfGbJspj1ETMgdmPKDb_khmIIKqnzpZYFk/s1920/IMG_20231112_123144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z-z9vJl_gZZMEukJyv4i4S-D_RBJ3Yqn19Yfk-b0c17eixlKNJ6E1AaJIucin1wsu33BZDP7RXL0YNNIPvLSbAt7qdMfVfgZKyfDYNuwzDOaMDseA85PAryefhKL-VPVTY_FXOo9DyCfMcAb0A1wBj9NaVfGbJspj1ETMgdmPKDb_khmIIKqnzpZYFk/s320/IMG_20231112_123144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBKr0VXq38b2THTcathvRCbFvBe_kpC1GFQ4Szu9dp0EsisPFUVfoRCSq-WwBeqwBnMTDBgoWvoI2gzl2SqTxXusrgS_8kuy9VyQ4RAbsgn3ico54qkM3De4daOWtGxVbdmEkSS3C8h2svXqEyR9o3xOM4M0u4RvRm9xLIXrJ2_d_hr5k34Vxl_jXqgU/s4000/IMG_20231112_124313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBKr0VXq38b2THTcathvRCbFvBe_kpC1GFQ4Szu9dp0EsisPFUVfoRCSq-WwBeqwBnMTDBgoWvoI2gzl2SqTxXusrgS_8kuy9VyQ4RAbsgn3ico54qkM3De4daOWtGxVbdmEkSS3C8h2svXqEyR9o3xOM4M0u4RvRm9xLIXrJ2_d_hr5k34Vxl_jXqgU/s320/IMG_20231112_124313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Next on recommendation of a friend and thanks to the sun we started our trek to the Mua Caves. Though we were in doldrums if the trek would be worth it and whether it would drain our energy entirely. The Mua Caves offered spectacular view we loved.Lunch was another round of Banh Me and then some average pizzas. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1BEpimYWNnY11tz3PQPBFoUpoxGxX4UZbv5R_y4RlmFoswTtwVF4DAzhF_pHqBxru257Qvk2RnRyNmSk9U6bwjHfBY-j2GcaskBso75vURmfuefQJ1aXJO-vRmHsBtmlxnSjYhJCCT_fvcEfquA5Sp8hELIVuukR4GHzfqbEGiWjGY06fACo17dCojk/s4000/IMG_20231112_134921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1BEpimYWNnY11tz3PQPBFoUpoxGxX4UZbv5R_y4RlmFoswTtwVF4DAzhF_pHqBxru257Qvk2RnRyNmSk9U6bwjHfBY-j2GcaskBso75vURmfuefQJ1aXJO-vRmHsBtmlxnSjYhJCCT_fvcEfquA5Sp8hELIVuukR4GHzfqbEGiWjGY06fACo17dCojk/s320/IMG_20231112_134921.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n8QDzLkvU0Zt8Y73E4yoW1YYxoLHutayBFQa1v3b1cAFr8aKZEOn5VdeyG4UrPXVpQpENvuXovYbuvbCJYD6phCoK3ZD9691Qo-J5iDSUCFgcXEu4klgXIwI7j3PwhP6yZpMQpddcaxGNLa_rJVg6gPIajJwu6fsUONDjTM-H-ED9CyTIdRQeopteMw/s4000/IMG_20231112_155342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n8QDzLkvU0Zt8Y73E4yoW1YYxoLHutayBFQa1v3b1cAFr8aKZEOn5VdeyG4UrPXVpQpENvuXovYbuvbCJYD6phCoK3ZD9691Qo-J5iDSUCFgcXEu4klgXIwI7j3PwhP6yZpMQpddcaxGNLa_rJVg6gPIajJwu6fsUONDjTM-H-ED9CyTIdRQeopteMw/s320/IMG_20231112_155342.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ24n6N9XPj9uyO_o0qf0HVm5fyCNKK3GTDwVLmWnU85oC1_V1cTmr78o2TIhs1njJu9pZDzVPpvZJD6GlgpvQQtWQtryqRCHkMpu8dnojx63ge54SvMIXOXggtl4ql4PIAiqq2SKS6zLjkqTbwdrjoeDJLQ-O_U0OhPco3iDVYtH4mYc3UZDBwikcKc/s4000/IMG_20231112_160153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ24n6N9XPj9uyO_o0qf0HVm5fyCNKK3GTDwVLmWnU85oC1_V1cTmr78o2TIhs1njJu9pZDzVPpvZJD6GlgpvQQtWQtryqRCHkMpu8dnojx63ge54SvMIXOXggtl4ql4PIAiqq2SKS6zLjkqTbwdrjoeDJLQ-O_U0OhPco3iDVYtH4mYc3UZDBwikcKc/s320/IMG_20231112_160153.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Near Mua Caves was the Lotus pond but since the Lotus season we left behind it was only a marshy pond without much to offer.</p><p>Dinner we chose a local restaurant which serves only Pho, we had pho and bread rolls and the feeling was unparalleled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3At0YWuCj4XrCO3HrtOxE7fJ3VlfxrSAE3tqntjNjGZ983KY2rNxw3q3bFdFsOzSA-HCiw1_BxexxpW9eMkMVvv6lh-WlNxk8sdd36mjDF5D42wWMq-YBiYj-8Sqs0px0pakear9ciCPeJZJr7Mgc4_YFbO4KZ_RkTPOjlSCoZL0Hi4zVN3skyjIFi8/s4000/IMG_20231112_223816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3At0YWuCj4XrCO3HrtOxE7fJ3VlfxrSAE3tqntjNjGZ983KY2rNxw3q3bFdFsOzSA-HCiw1_BxexxpW9eMkMVvv6lh-WlNxk8sdd36mjDF5D42wWMq-YBiYj-8Sqs0px0pakear9ciCPeJZJr7Mgc4_YFbO4KZ_RkTPOjlSCoZL0Hi4zVN3skyjIFi8/s320/IMG_20231112_223816.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We strolled around beer Street, shopped at night market, Hanoi before calling it a day.</p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day 3:</u> <b>Halong Bay </b></p><p>The day was destined for the much awaited Halong Bay and overnight stay in the cruise ship. The bay was emerald green, tranquil and the food was warm at the ship. Eyes feasted on the view and we soaked in the serene sights all around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4vmTwkKCjgx1uANAmsKSWI7cWZW5mAZeGqsxk71No2RyJNtc7fpnuzIGCJWnekO1LaPZlVnwiJv_ZsWrUzKdpWP_hfrLNmkfSx8CuUeKnxYfIic7-uXyy7F3KbCMUDOS0XaMMXLAt3aP5z2azpE1Dmheoyh7HC_9St4OlZBauAY2j-urmNmsSrYPtwU/s4000/IMG_20231113_131944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4vmTwkKCjgx1uANAmsKSWI7cWZW5mAZeGqsxk71No2RyJNtc7fpnuzIGCJWnekO1LaPZlVnwiJv_ZsWrUzKdpWP_hfrLNmkfSx8CuUeKnxYfIic7-uXyy7F3KbCMUDOS0XaMMXLAt3aP5z2azpE1Dmheoyh7HC_9St4OlZBauAY2j-urmNmsSrYPtwU/s320/IMG_20231113_131944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIg_01VZU8bXtL6c61I6jT9uqkmeZ8vsjQv-ga8bwdBxgjRlQGIh97STB0fmjIo4_Bve2o2a6uZGkJmst5NLcwRpyRsFUCR44JhNmH0tHzpppMDHPUSMRQRn1iz0UD_Q1HWKn3ac1QD9N6PXVHS6gOWH4VxojpBlLtUMA2Tm83XIiAWpadGaIM5xC18w/s4000/IMG_20231113_132111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIg_01VZU8bXtL6c61I6jT9uqkmeZ8vsjQv-ga8bwdBxgjRlQGIh97STB0fmjIo4_Bve2o2a6uZGkJmst5NLcwRpyRsFUCR44JhNmH0tHzpppMDHPUSMRQRn1iz0UD_Q1HWKn3ac1QD9N6PXVHS6gOWH4VxojpBlLtUMA2Tm83XIiAWpadGaIM5xC18w/s320/IMG_20231113_132111.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblBGqCz2WNKnH-C_fiWLl6u3hyphenhyphenyvJTmn0NMwyzq-Fa4Ik2CWk5IYsngMKDBZqYgGu5nL9N_IUE_ax2ttYkWRyC-UROZPQD024mFHec9aEisKcVYo10SAycKlKEpYdIBGkPG2vhiqTHrzp9AYg1tPPDlPsANa1r02Rf4XAGKopNwWyRxN2Dtq23g5yIL0/s4000/IMG_20231113_140042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblBGqCz2WNKnH-C_fiWLl6u3hyphenhyphenyvJTmn0NMwyzq-Fa4Ik2CWk5IYsngMKDBZqYgGu5nL9N_IUE_ax2ttYkWRyC-UROZPQD024mFHec9aEisKcVYo10SAycKlKEpYdIBGkPG2vhiqTHrzp9AYg1tPPDlPsANa1r02Rf4XAGKopNwWyRxN2Dtq23g5yIL0/s320/IMG_20231113_140042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11JjoowsyVcOXU3NIg4CBTfFQWUX-vuohcFPsDzBFLsbnNLd75bIruKP2xp9r-bmwjPJd0eUT3QZdp9Qk7xWWy9IsGg-Kr_Nk7ZpsO3gcZIWt2aZBYidsK3LiAK3c-rD7-a8_thm0EviUtg5OFLBTQ3yQ8IgrUfE3atVtUwCeuVum5NnU4CBHIF5NiQ8/s4608/IMG_20231113_151118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11JjoowsyVcOXU3NIg4CBTfFQWUX-vuohcFPsDzBFLsbnNLd75bIruKP2xp9r-bmwjPJd0eUT3QZdp9Qk7xWWy9IsGg-Kr_Nk7ZpsO3gcZIWt2aZBYidsK3LiAK3c-rD7-a8_thm0EviUtg5OFLBTQ3yQ8IgrUfE3atVtUwCeuVum5NnU4CBHIF5NiQ8/s320/IMG_20231113_151118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19Ur9FhagxzhoTD9Pp0bQJsa5rUCx_iZ4mZPJapFwePW9RNXIsi1tGrgi82c4YbP1BFE7vDehChSjMCutfTbcgYlYauzUMes5gfIadAmckmAaRwAKKtzVk0Di5I81ZKh2jXvE3J2ql73Y_4BgwSWv2kU1Q0gofHGDW8kYy4o3XfuI1NzBAPT9jzBGRJA/s4000/IMG_20231113_155359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19Ur9FhagxzhoTD9Pp0bQJsa5rUCx_iZ4mZPJapFwePW9RNXIsi1tGrgi82c4YbP1BFE7vDehChSjMCutfTbcgYlYauzUMes5gfIadAmckmAaRwAKKtzVk0Di5I81ZKh2jXvE3J2ql73Y_4BgwSWv2kU1Q0gofHGDW8kYy4o3XfuI1NzBAPT9jzBGRJA/s320/IMG_20231113_155359.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We visited the limestone caves by boat. Luckily there was no rain though there was a gusting wind. More enthusiastic ones went for kayaking, water was calm and Halong Bay was enthralling. Though the cruise had nothing much to offer but the stay made us feel the Halong Bay and make memories.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uXqMQGxSg8xl-EtVWkAamWZqYl5c8yFl7Bx6ciHZecEQ_gY5_6NSN0b16EunppfZf9qMNHAU_WFYrCchrTGhTbKCp5eASe62JZRuXbEIlHzC8ZhyWT1B3-1Bl_dGZGFPLEPJkdfXvqpvIFJC7hDvVZaNTFO3zGwwB1_s8yD233q5UlsM6BiZumVFLOk/s4000/IMG_20231113_192401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uXqMQGxSg8xl-EtVWkAamWZqYl5c8yFl7Bx6ciHZecEQ_gY5_6NSN0b16EunppfZf9qMNHAU_WFYrCchrTGhTbKCp5eASe62JZRuXbEIlHzC8ZhyWT1B3-1Bl_dGZGFPLEPJkdfXvqpvIFJC7hDvVZaNTFO3zGwwB1_s8yD233q5UlsM6BiZumVFLOk/s320/IMG_20231113_192401.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day 4:</u> <b>Flight to Danang</b></p><p>We checked out of the cruise ship and drove off to Hanoi airport to catch the flight for Danang. Danang hotel had a beautiful view of the ocean. Rains were incessant at Danang and we were scared of the ongoing trip to Bana Hills the next day</p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day </u><u style="font-weight: bold;">5:</u> <b>Golden Bridge, Bana Hills </b></p><p>And it turned out to be a dampener! Rains and mist, we wrapped ourselves in raincoats, some horrendous looking plastic shoe covers. View was marred and we hopped on in our raincoats. Golden Bridge , Flower Garden, lovely French Village which served awesome pizzas.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy8GUDVfb9X5hzx9_KrxYb-ZeHrC_5PqxeOafwgp1L-4vP_TGIuWCiOMKZI8ljxJn_byCdCXCn2UrcnmGMSOEuxiY_XFLsrC6s9oc2TCYHu6D2jrv7Z1F4cf8wBfhrwe-tkRQp9EuHgU8NGILVHcTSolFZnMc4GoMo6efTcvVYGlkHWH8Ctg3tWNpv7c/s4000/IMG_20231115_112549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy8GUDVfb9X5hzx9_KrxYb-ZeHrC_5PqxeOafwgp1L-4vP_TGIuWCiOMKZI8ljxJn_byCdCXCn2UrcnmGMSOEuxiY_XFLsrC6s9oc2TCYHu6D2jrv7Z1F4cf8wBfhrwe-tkRQp9EuHgU8NGILVHcTSolFZnMc4GoMo6efTcvVYGlkHWH8Ctg3tWNpv7c/s320/IMG_20231115_112549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BsMzLdRhPOPlTGz3pv0m1WrSHvqM-5DkIEkyqEtRRzdHlhncCqGFj-_k34-b1dO7TjY7Ugesx9JoXZQfNYlMGXWwKUfPDs6mKHL6jMz-1HduTs5zlpWSxvyuvy1JA-7rdXc9vxISZe9J6hUII4t9MMXIOPV298qrUJdSQIYZNuSx_UETvFlrW1cYVCY/s4000/IMG_20231115_122044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BsMzLdRhPOPlTGz3pv0m1WrSHvqM-5DkIEkyqEtRRzdHlhncCqGFj-_k34-b1dO7TjY7Ugesx9JoXZQfNYlMGXWwKUfPDs6mKHL6jMz-1HduTs5zlpWSxvyuvy1JA-7rdXc9vxISZe9J6hUII4t9MMXIOPV298qrUJdSQIYZNuSx_UETvFlrW1cYVCY/s320/IMG_20231115_122044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC5lXygJaAGpWBwa1KZRqpnnm2a36EX4M98vJmufqs4FOv_zA0u0TwdRaGiTV1vu1mpuwu-sQhAXjlVerb-X-GxWj0oiilt6VTRewbtZeA33uCU_lS4Bd-9eCuLw3gWSluCwX-0L7D2ce5TAQ0xmot4NKO3to1Dh7FxXTk-hfWDsk213jq4czgLB6Tmk/s4000/IMG_20231115_135805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC5lXygJaAGpWBwa1KZRqpnnm2a36EX4M98vJmufqs4FOv_zA0u0TwdRaGiTV1vu1mpuwu-sQhAXjlVerb-X-GxWj0oiilt6VTRewbtZeA33uCU_lS4Bd-9eCuLw3gWSluCwX-0L7D2ce5TAQ0xmot4NKO3to1Dh7FxXTk-hfWDsk213jq4czgLB6Tmk/s320/IMG_20231115_135805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> Onion Soup @ French Village </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYP3lw8cZSr3YbdGr4WTuXdZf2yVfCpz52YhjYk-mLnIjeZmKkQAvN3D4jbOtfgvxARPpQgl9SN3xfTqpB0SHTxJqnbtyKIXnvpv3tKRgE77KRv2qHr1jLc3MukwBgr3Z2OJTmnROWDrR8AiRFWCsPlEMPrDZK7Gy5W9CkmQPaIj3frmxCShBHOtD7jQ/s4000/IMG_20231115_124344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYP3lw8cZSr3YbdGr4WTuXdZf2yVfCpz52YhjYk-mLnIjeZmKkQAvN3D4jbOtfgvxARPpQgl9SN3xfTqpB0SHTxJqnbtyKIXnvpv3tKRgE77KRv2qHr1jLc3MukwBgr3Z2OJTmnROWDrR8AiRFWCsPlEMPrDZK7Gy5W9CkmQPaIj3frmxCShBHOtD7jQ/s320/IMG_20231115_124344.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Back at Danang, we roamed through the streets, night market and clicked the beautiful dragon bridge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrW5pGC5ngnjyhiGMoMZmY_lHprlRd9QJZMR-URe2F-GitxJyfnEryZ_IDnqhKXro-NK0cj0R13W-9klfvqIOFF-_CS2QRq1rgs3sjIbYiDmNPz_PdLevfn4efGhaxaZjaTEqgzeTHqq-sBqTXHqQNfEzrtTrFmdmYSVO7bTjTQ7_jExb6ByFzDOgMao/s4000/IMG_20231115_184845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrW5pGC5ngnjyhiGMoMZmY_lHprlRd9QJZMR-URe2F-GitxJyfnEryZ_IDnqhKXro-NK0cj0R13W-9klfvqIOFF-_CS2QRq1rgs3sjIbYiDmNPz_PdLevfn4efGhaxaZjaTEqgzeTHqq-sBqTXHqQNfEzrtTrFmdmYSVO7bTjTQ7_jExb6ByFzDOgMao/s320/IMG_20231115_184845.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Rains continued and we ordered dinner in our hotel room through the app ' Grab', which came out quite handy.</p><p><br /></p><p><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Day 6: </b> <b>My Khe Beach, Marble Mountains, Coconut Village, Hoi An </b></p><p>First half of the day we spent at the beautiful My Khe beach which was underrated and beautiful. Infact Danang was a beautiful unhyped city with beautiful beaches and mountains. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gi_ruFJK9aNpesA3257bBh8IXR_U1k-XTax1Jb5sNiLOf7JRk10Ng9460ySHOVgrP_dTbLyb-0lu4ZYuzPDnYB_UeVcZaxJmcqgK4NyHbMNCnzFi9ziPgFVfOwoT9Pnyk_cnRi4DLu_o9NUk6yJD5W-O-pN2ndmEnEgxC_OfiaB-NJdkdQZKtlK_eR4/s4608/IMG_20231116_102620.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gi_ruFJK9aNpesA3257bBh8IXR_U1k-XTax1Jb5sNiLOf7JRk10Ng9460ySHOVgrP_dTbLyb-0lu4ZYuzPDnYB_UeVcZaxJmcqgK4NyHbMNCnzFi9ziPgFVfOwoT9Pnyk_cnRi4DLu_o9NUk6yJD5W-O-pN2ndmEnEgxC_OfiaB-NJdkdQZKtlK_eR4/s320/IMG_20231116_102620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Our trip was booked to Marble Mountains, Coconut Village and ancient town of Hoi An.</p><p>We started with Tam Thai pagoda at Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha temple and the enigmatic Am phu caves.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcLLTgjfWIZU_8j6jQa6VZUstq_GbTWpP2yMxUn_Q4T4WdDKPFsr4_ofo5O9Sm53iwB2DSq7a8tYRggR3fFk3n1GUdgPL9-XNrhN-8NdHgACwtBgdM5jLB5-aVRP5133sOYPXyEC0FgfYWHQKY1lEUoraZuJ2VFuVV_OceSImeOcyBWfesDYGzb8xmfQ/s4000/IMG_20231116_130439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcLLTgjfWIZU_8j6jQa6VZUstq_GbTWpP2yMxUn_Q4T4WdDKPFsr4_ofo5O9Sm53iwB2DSq7a8tYRggR3fFk3n1GUdgPL9-XNrhN-8NdHgACwtBgdM5jLB5-aVRP5133sOYPXyEC0FgfYWHQKY1lEUoraZuJ2VFuVV_OceSImeOcyBWfesDYGzb8xmfQ/s320/IMG_20231116_130439.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n50JGZen4dF9oLPXWPql0Yt42tqXLLzU4iUQI0Ef2qvuxaZ-x0SqIib1Qe5JkY_C8pf9pGq-kHL2y7kAXYCQF052hyUPcjoCm4sCu9Sndtjj8UfTUFUD1VZQ_7TzoNeVGDraPCraPxVyi4Oj5nf6-QdWkHyl5a2aVKcBq68K1ezEelQlVviXYDqBvhY/s4000/IMG_20231116_133754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n50JGZen4dF9oLPXWPql0Yt42tqXLLzU4iUQI0Ef2qvuxaZ-x0SqIib1Qe5JkY_C8pf9pGq-kHL2y7kAXYCQF052hyUPcjoCm4sCu9Sndtjj8UfTUFUD1VZQ_7TzoNeVGDraPCraPxVyi4Oj5nf6-QdWkHyl5a2aVKcBq68K1ezEelQlVviXYDqBvhY/s320/IMG_20231116_133754.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Next was the Coconut Village, it was a different sight to see coconut trees with their roots submerged in the swampy water. The boatmen danced and swirled their boats along with us. All swaying in the Gagnan style, though I'd have liked some peace and quiet but well that's how they marketed their tourism and no one's complaining.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj135jY7l7B8sqUNqK7jjpAMxDTuJE5QXzyOp8SCI8C1m7daKi-e3rhfP4tWf3EyJKGrfUvzbL2uQNPRFfICGYO4ja7-2oIDtjSCQQ3f9zKYe17tSu2ohcRzKXzcNq3qqpG8lSoN8jKf6d4P5XUW7xqdFHy4FbwaPfs7iYFI-A0dy7baxXzMxvFU-wXWn8/s4000/IMG_20231116_151445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj135jY7l7B8sqUNqK7jjpAMxDTuJE5QXzyOp8SCI8C1m7daKi-e3rhfP4tWf3EyJKGrfUvzbL2uQNPRFfICGYO4ja7-2oIDtjSCQQ3f9zKYe17tSu2ohcRzKXzcNq3qqpG8lSoN8jKf6d4P5XUW7xqdFHy4FbwaPfs7iYFI-A0dy7baxXzMxvFU-wXWn8/s320/IMG_20231116_151445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9mJ3Zq6vf-i5uv8h7Tw2xSVLJ7-IGUPrDnd7gtZanG_7l9mmqdBH8FCG6XXqD1sqNq8cUrKY5l80nTLR4-Ue0dUeaAmP227T9cRp5btZ-TE2GnVljdGuDUqGI6TsNGulndqhNeGkT9MKtivZy0ydF_8BRbPQkUpuaPBxBkPe_VO8s_sRg5OfPELFhZE/s1920/IMG_20231116_151919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9mJ3Zq6vf-i5uv8h7Tw2xSVLJ7-IGUPrDnd7gtZanG_7l9mmqdBH8FCG6XXqD1sqNq8cUrKY5l80nTLR4-Ue0dUeaAmP227T9cRp5btZ-TE2GnVljdGuDUqGI6TsNGulndqhNeGkT9MKtivZy0ydF_8BRbPQkUpuaPBxBkPe_VO8s_sRg5OfPELFhZE/s320/IMG_20231116_151919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Lunch was at a tiny restaurant in Hoi An. Fresh local fish and dessert but then not all in our group enjoyed the local taste. But we loved the sticky rice and fish, and the rice cake dessert. Hoi An had an ancient flavour, narrow streets with shops, cosy food joints. Though it was raining off and on and the city was flooded, we loved strolling, having crepes and rice fritters in the rain. Though it came as a shocker that the fritters were stuffed with cute looking pigeon eggs. The streets served all sorts of food including frogs for those who can dare.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNworMGm2gQiqJY4dNjW4pJPa0myMKZYNFJvlYWV9O5ZQ5ksjn8fmisIw27xR06ba3Nsp6yPjSu8zIXePNmF2BKLoxfcx1pskrdqXJlh30g7WN6tYw9Ca0HbGmi0AXXtVVYu11AbNBUuVMWcBkVbb8zd7DinNcaQJGbytHbvWT_yRqhntgfQhtnEiznI/s1024/IMG-20231117-WA0029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNworMGm2gQiqJY4dNjW4pJPa0myMKZYNFJvlYWV9O5ZQ5ksjn8fmisIw27xR06ba3Nsp6yPjSu8zIXePNmF2BKLoxfcx1pskrdqXJlh30g7WN6tYw9Ca0HbGmi0AXXtVVYu11AbNBUuVMWcBkVbb8zd7DinNcaQJGbytHbvWT_yRqhntgfQhtnEiznI/s320/IMG-20231117-WA0029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtavMnjXEPpjCkECmPEd2XncIjgl8N9EbCQRjPkE0xTDIU3pybuAR4JgdQe8RTYbm-P2KuAWjVvNT7As2kqeVzGE-YagW78sBDsgktqoH8DhqjUo66k3ZURPXN1EcvToNWSDEn4hF-Xi9ooahzKo9ChujA3-R07n-fsjdLwQg13XmpbF8qIsC0QB0yUv0/s4000/IMG_20231116_160729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtavMnjXEPpjCkECmPEd2XncIjgl8N9EbCQRjPkE0xTDIU3pybuAR4JgdQe8RTYbm-P2KuAWjVvNT7As2kqeVzGE-YagW78sBDsgktqoH8DhqjUo66k3ZURPXN1EcvToNWSDEn4hF-Xi9ooahzKo9ChujA3-R07n-fsjdLwQg13XmpbF8qIsC0QB0yUv0/s320/IMG_20231116_160729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOy_84sdIexA68tCslcrtskbd98ViZxJ-BmmdqJMd6NmDd3jo4wHvTSySxziGG9HphzGy5sdsJ8lXRgdR_Tig53vF41geYoF1QK5pECR8puetxAOtecN6Qr7xcZ4pC6QBlHrw-TOYQAdpfKhK6qyxWJCJSxOcLiZyxZj9J92Clp_ziUW-qVct62TL_j4/s4000/IMG_20231116_165913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOy_84sdIexA68tCslcrtskbd98ViZxJ-BmmdqJMd6NmDd3jo4wHvTSySxziGG9HphzGy5sdsJ8lXRgdR_Tig53vF41geYoF1QK5pECR8puetxAOtecN6Qr7xcZ4pC6QBlHrw-TOYQAdpfKhK6qyxWJCJSxOcLiZyxZj9J92Clp_ziUW-qVct62TL_j4/s320/IMG_20231116_165913.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HZyAqaaImhASviHlMknFUYzsAii4YpdUfUjNNokytNZSm4Pa_2UxOYZGPa_mStzDZlj_GP36AiqL3SE_xjrWi8tyXCWA1TzaASGwiQf4RgRqkevvUn0VuUNQj0PjWU0MewqJGvbU7BDh64-41Kh32U1qXJEoqnUHLufZqw0ayvRqiQCXDqZ65XXAsJo/s4000/IMG_20231116_172754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HZyAqaaImhASviHlMknFUYzsAii4YpdUfUjNNokytNZSm4Pa_2UxOYZGPa_mStzDZlj_GP36AiqL3SE_xjrWi8tyXCWA1TzaASGwiQf4RgRqkevvUn0VuUNQj0PjWU0MewqJGvbU7BDh64-41Kh32U1qXJEoqnUHLufZqw0ayvRqiQCXDqZ65XXAsJo/s320/IMG_20231116_172754.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We drove back to Danang, halted for shopping and foot massage at the night market and again ordered food through Grab and packed for our early flight to Ho Chi Minh City the next day.</p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day 7: </u> <b>Flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Half day City Tour</b></p><p>Reaching Ho Chi Minh we checked in to our hotel near Ben Thung Market. Had lunch at a beautiful roof top restaurant overlooking the lively streets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-fFVNJyuRahNRNA-_lXpMDvxSjmE_OmLSgqPRQvkBizC5-s09eWf8281XiPXP_w5hSc6K9ULCcoIDggM3FmFbIYjT2zm5F2yMTbaAik44mU0__lNpb0doR7RVmSMW04E2jpvcHZVQ_R_VFBF0FNl5k34xplD6CKC-iY0m3JNqBsRuMwjtvaPDvY7Lyw/s4000/IMG_20231117_131317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-fFVNJyuRahNRNA-_lXpMDvxSjmE_OmLSgqPRQvkBizC5-s09eWf8281XiPXP_w5hSc6K9ULCcoIDggM3FmFbIYjT2zm5F2yMTbaAik44mU0__lNpb0doR7RVmSMW04E2jpvcHZVQ_R_VFBF0FNl5k34xplD6CKC-iY0m3JNqBsRuMwjtvaPDvY7Lyw/s320/IMG_20231117_131317.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ytEyZj47_hOal4_HjYFlWQR5BO2qlOn_Hvjn1FyQe4aFB-wImDJrCfYUaqI-UDICEfman92c9FU-buPWnXfzBMqmD45GbLu9SlxDr7GY6GZVqo5U_4CQS-gM-6jbV-0oWREFmHGiUkzBt0IdOOZWSZTA0eOiUUX7TXL8gESAzHcVIyTQRBGjzLYQez0/s4000/IMG_20231117_132348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ytEyZj47_hOal4_HjYFlWQR5BO2qlOn_Hvjn1FyQe4aFB-wImDJrCfYUaqI-UDICEfman92c9FU-buPWnXfzBMqmD45GbLu9SlxDr7GY6GZVqo5U_4CQS-gM-6jbV-0oWREFmHGiUkzBt0IdOOZWSZTA0eOiUUX7TXL8gESAzHcVIyTQRBGjzLYQez0/s320/IMG_20231117_132348.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div> Vietnamese Rolls</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkilXxLKf2yWR-sItZe4mGxYgF2QIVoHm4rZHn0_9mDDolWpFooU9wpvP_Ul2z7DLBqVSCdorDhG3XdtibLomkxkFfEBOqGz0FY5tGdzB3XPYr7KEi0-C5w4wpY_kWXXlguEjPrkbISQVmDLwVpStFo2u9wzJFF2XsyjYO48HiDWuptcmZ5LLjdhJAK0/s4000/IMG_20231117_132556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkilXxLKf2yWR-sItZe4mGxYgF2QIVoHm4rZHn0_9mDDolWpFooU9wpvP_Ul2z7DLBqVSCdorDhG3XdtibLomkxkFfEBOqGz0FY5tGdzB3XPYr7KEi0-C5w4wpY_kWXXlguEjPrkbISQVmDLwVpStFo2u9wzJFF2XsyjYO48HiDWuptcmZ5LLjdhJAK0/s320/IMG_20231117_132556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div> Coconut Coffee</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wSAcia1WokS6lodDvmnXmu-jVOQ8unCuMMOaLmOI_N-Zz5eX6mv6qp8teN_7Ss-OAyqk5G6G98J8sOqxCfR08YNDKJPt20tZkFWpIra85SBrZkfbAi_LmjcvvZUEUGiJ-oW-PpVfSGp9Vfib0DwuTF627gulJ2_2TLo9fD3ywh-n0A-4kxmGWcoUexw/s4000/IMG_20231117_133220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wSAcia1WokS6lodDvmnXmu-jVOQ8unCuMMOaLmOI_N-Zz5eX6mv6qp8teN_7Ss-OAyqk5G6G98J8sOqxCfR08YNDKJPt20tZkFWpIra85SBrZkfbAi_LmjcvvZUEUGiJ-oW-PpVfSGp9Vfib0DwuTF627gulJ2_2TLo9fD3ywh-n0A-4kxmGWcoUexw/s320/IMG_20231117_133220.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Next was half day tour of Ho Chi Minh City. The war memorial invoked goosebumps, the witnesses of the horrific historical blunder made me cringe and cry and could not click much. We visited the post office and posted post cards which never reached! The Notre Dam cathedral was under renovation, so we spent the evening shopping at Ben Thung Market. It's a delight for economical shoppers like me, flooded with copies of premium brands.</p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day 8:</u> <b>Long Hai Beach </b></p><p>Our earlier plan was visit to Mekong Delta. But it's similarity with the already visited Coconut Village deterred us. We looked for an alternative and settled for Long Hai Beach at Vung Tau. Turned out to be an ordinary beach thronged by local people. We had lunch at KFC and roamed at Ho Chi Minh City. Dinner was again fabulous local fish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIHfcIWheo_3x_Ctgg5iayX850px_Hu85rNSP1XFqmGULrPtbu4c8FMKCDxQhXtYjwinzbxZt3bGF2aW-uv_8tuFFp2TNS_dije7HyIMlbtJO_zKPjyLix42Mo7EvuUtix8ZW_74HagXuFXOxs_TtU_8Dq33rmUyNG-XXzMU5piOGuUwL2_6R1-9E7Ds/s4000/IMG_20231118_202823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIHfcIWheo_3x_Ctgg5iayX850px_Hu85rNSP1XFqmGULrPtbu4c8FMKCDxQhXtYjwinzbxZt3bGF2aW-uv_8tuFFp2TNS_dije7HyIMlbtJO_zKPjyLix42Mo7EvuUtix8ZW_74HagXuFXOxs_TtU_8Dq33rmUyNG-XXzMU5piOGuUwL2_6R1-9E7Ds/s320/IMG_20231118_202823.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Jvq5V2xXo8SdY_aZxBlNDqQqAKgoaVX6tXpM4hb6g6Us2eJzEkbF2nFQX-apsFIFJmNPPA-u-oIYFWN8GS9f3S1lGRW8SoqUR2fKo2AoLA562iJXM5jhwvzjIoAhGnHqgpZyRWEdmBrU4TSfkYJKyZHZJWag6_AP5lQ_9BuNvdkXU80g2Hdmrs39eos/s4000/IMG_20231118_215652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Jvq5V2xXo8SdY_aZxBlNDqQqAKgoaVX6tXpM4hb6g6Us2eJzEkbF2nFQX-apsFIFJmNPPA-u-oIYFWN8GS9f3S1lGRW8SoqUR2fKo2AoLA562iJXM5jhwvzjIoAhGnHqgpZyRWEdmBrU4TSfkYJKyZHZJWag6_AP5lQ_9BuNvdkXU80g2Hdmrs39eos/s320/IMG_20231118_215652.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><u>Day 9: </u> Cuchi Tunnels, Flight to Delhi</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Our friends left the earlier night. We stayed one day more to soak in the beautiful sights of the country. We had a trip booked to the Cuchi Tunnels, which reverberated with war memories and the stories I've heard from my father. How the gritty people survived underground bearing the atrocities, it's a story of human girth, grit and will power.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67LszvTR2wHnNHfXVEqp3F3kaTZ785yfyexnxiZuZpydnz8UK96Ca8pvTwFOnSlfSmOoMfKuNN-EKe1GV_2Njw_K2zKKirDcv1K0F1Cm9QJskH7pr2fw3alxylV4qbWK4jY-hNJDEX9hDgLf236vgjyaNSUjYVNiMT-5fs__K6Glu3mTVn_MxxBOvnGo/s1920/IMG_20231119_115606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67LszvTR2wHnNHfXVEqp3F3kaTZ785yfyexnxiZuZpydnz8UK96Ca8pvTwFOnSlfSmOoMfKuNN-EKe1GV_2Njw_K2zKKirDcv1K0F1Cm9QJskH7pr2fw3alxylV4qbWK4jY-hNJDEX9hDgLf236vgjyaNSUjYVNiMT-5fs__K6Glu3mTVn_MxxBOvnGo/s320/IMG_20231119_115606.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We drove back to the Ho Chi Minh airport for our evening flight to Delhi.</div><div><br /></div><div>Vietnam was a delightful country with the right mix of geographical marvels and historical revelations, wonderfully tasting local cuisine and a country vibrating with its uniqueness and warm people where you can travel without burning a big hole in the pocket. Reasonable flight fares, good roads, clean washrooms...to all the travellers... Vietnam definitely should be on the bucket list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div><br /></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-90362680835360976522023-11-02T00:31:00.006-07:002023-11-02T01:08:25.596-07:00Being Chandler Bing!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhNC9aRISUNcjDsV7NY2eJdAqje_6TOeg_oWKdmhO7wg_s2KD98NlJoWscNjIxayWJ7_NB3DWgnNtyVXX81KlsWltTuO2RS6GZh-CDfd_rp046Pv3T2iF2_xOdYdkCNhqvbB3jrVuxOaB9PtofXT9nCiS0yPC94vSt-YMTPaqSH-FxR2DiE6Y4wXUX0s/s1120/Screenshot_20231102-125255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhNC9aRISUNcjDsV7NY2eJdAqje_6TOeg_oWKdmhO7wg_s2KD98NlJoWscNjIxayWJ7_NB3DWgnNtyVXX81KlsWltTuO2RS6GZh-CDfd_rp046Pv3T2iF2_xOdYdkCNhqvbB3jrVuxOaB9PtofXT9nCiS0yPC94vSt-YMTPaqSH-FxR2DiE6Y4wXUX0s/s320/Screenshot_20231102-125255.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Mathew Perry's passing away was not unusual considering the lives celebrities live. But it was Chandler Bing, nah he wasn't my favourite in the show and I don't think he was a favourite of many out of the six . He was the most ordinary, most average, least eccentricities, most awkward! Yet his passing away created an uproar...nah it isn't social media gimmick!</p><p>Chandler Bing was a part of our lives since decades. Ordinary, awkward, shy...the fact that he is no more has created such a vaccum of the friend, who's always there, the ordinary friend who listens, the introvert friend who's there to fall back to. I think that has taken the world by storm. His absence, dug out a big vaccum, which was under wraps by his presence. Nobody's favourite, everyone's taken for granted buddy...but his absence suddenly showed us what he meant to us! The show is off the air decades now, but for most of us for some unplugged laughter, for some mood upliftment, any season any episode just led one to a riot of laughter and took us off from our lives.</p><p>I was thinking what was about the show, what was about Mathew Perry...what set it apart. I read someone's comment 'Friends' was actually a show which made being awkward, being bullied, having complexes, jealousies, failures...cool. The things we learn to keep under wraps, our embarrassment, our failures, losing friend to someone...the characters actually dealt with that without inhibitions. It was like a revelation that people in that chic city actually lived through the pain, frustration we do. The six characters had their eccentricities and yes I watched it for fun and laughs with occasional romance or a few emotional moments thrown in, though over the years wondered why there wasn't any more show like this, at least none for me. Matthew Parry's passing away pointed finger at an emotional dungeon created by his absence. The ordinary, the average, the unheard, the insignificant...he was just that... and isn't that many of us.... Many of us not so flamboyant ones aren't we all Chandler Bings with our complexes, dreams to get into the cool club, complications with parents, fear of being not accepted, trauma of being bullied ! Chandler told our story subtly which we hardly realised. We loved cute Rachael, finicky Monica, crazy Phoebe, nerdy Ross, dunce Joey but Chandler...he was so us...just one of us.</p><p>I am not a Mathew Parry fan to write about him. But I've watched Friends, all seasons, all episodes ( might have missed a few because I watched on Tv and not OTT) multiple times and each time found something new to laugh about! I had laughed unplugged, adored Joey, Ross, admired Rachael, Monica but it was the actor's passing away made me feel how like all I also could not notice the ordinary. Someone who's there always to laugh heartily, admire, listen how we miss such a person often in life. Is it that we have many Chandler Bings in our lives yet we do not know them or realise their worth after their absence! I don't know really! His absence as if is a call for us...let us pause and listen...to the ones who only suppress, who are there for us...let us be there for them!</p><p>Chandler Bing celebrated ordinariness, awkwardness, embraced his fallacies, was a friend, the friend we all wish to have and yet fail to be his when needed. He was also the lover, the husband nobody could think of! Yeah it's only a show, but a show about not our filmy heroes, a show about struggling people emotionally, financially, a show about emotions, sentiments under the beautiful wrap of laughter and fun. Chandler Bing is only a character, but a character like us, fears, frustrations, being ordinary, being insignificant , unable to open up...he made being average real cool. That's why like many I'm reeling under a vaccum wave, of missing the ordinary, insignificant but a friend to fall back to.</p><p>Let us not miss the Chandler Bings in our lives! They might just be there and we didn't notice, they might be in pain and we are unable to fathom! Let's celebrate being ordinary, being unpopular, being alone in a group...let's celebrate being introvert and let's try to lend our heart to all the Chandler Bing s around! Like Joey staring wistfully at the vacant recliner by his side...the friend we love, we will always love!</p><p><br /></p><p>RIP</p><p><br /></p>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-73253560020477168722023-08-27T22:16:00.000-07:002023-08-27T22:16:32.520-07:00Girls on the move!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWefCeQx4mj8rD8uj-E0ZlmfBPc8ZOYVQSGP3Fp6M9QavyNoti29EIDWVsTTySikJcP3xabbgKt8BfWU-A4j5cQeiEoQU26FEAr-A3EJX1hukXW6MzGoaXPEiY_Fiz_AIdIxLUxy6RQ8blA2a2h_XF_8RyO1J-HEM0Fk4C7QMkhMZEranJfk3JkWxax4/s960/FB_IMG_1693199528324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWefCeQx4mj8rD8uj-E0ZlmfBPc8ZOYVQSGP3Fp6M9QavyNoti29EIDWVsTTySikJcP3xabbgKt8BfWU-A4j5cQeiEoQU26FEAr-A3EJX1hukXW6MzGoaXPEiY_Fiz_AIdIxLUxy6RQ8blA2a2h_XF_8RyO1J-HEM0Fk4C7QMkhMZEranJfk3JkWxax4/s320/FB_IMG_1693199528324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Well, Rakhi , Story Berry creator , gave me the idea! ' Soma you go on Girl Trips...do write about that! How does it feel! ' She showed me a Times of India clipping for Women's Day with the caption 'Girls on the move'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p>To begin with I'm a travel freak and honestly most bongs are! With a humble budget and humbler needs bongs travel around the country with an enthu which is hard to match! 'Girl trips' though so in now, born in a family of fiery, independent women, wasn't something new to me, something I had embarked on hardly when I was twelve !</p><p><br /></p><h2><b>Tryst with Indian Railways... journey in Awadh Assam express!</b></h2><p>My first Girls trip was with my aunt, her friend and me. Both independent, single women and the twelve year old naive me set out for a rather prolonged, complicated train journey from Guwahati to Jhansi. My uncle was posted at Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh and we were supposed to join him there. What a ride it had been in a fateful train called ' Awadh Assam' , where our seat was booked in a ladies coup which actually had a functional door in the sleeper class! Not to speak of the broken glass of the toilet window which had men leering from the platform. The train had a special compartment which was left over by the parent Awadh Assam at Gorakhpur junction, where the compartment was shunted through out the night by some stray engine as we whined with pricking mosquito stings! In the wee morning the stray compartment was picked up by some other Bombay bound train ( name I can't recall) and finally I think around day three we reached Jhansi at late night! Well uncle was there in the station with a fauji vehicle! Imagine all this without any phone call only may be some letter before the journey! </p><h2><b>Himachal Highs:</b></h2><p>My second girls trip was again with my Bubu (Bua) and another of her fiesty friend. One hell of a travel freak she was! Manu Pishi was well read, well versed and planned a Himachal Pradesh trip with exquisite detailing...I mean without any internet, just reading Bengali travel magazines, travelogues! She gave an insight into Himachal Pradesh like as they say not as a tourist but as a traveller! With places such as Bharmor , Chamba in our itinerary, it was a journey into the heaven!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK0Q_OaXMDSPBGFREW24_Qd2E_yc0HQ8Xw-d5PBb3fvMrvLMc35GtxoK109zKAQl6esIcj3OLRbM1zEDfPXMQ4Cdke6ypjQWKteP_03eoQvWo9eWbYgyu5Y6bwxIBfy90WBwoEnfzXkzdmQ_-vBy8a9QNevk9wcTWk6BbWPsH50oe0H9NLyvyaaZ1BSA/s4160/IMG_20210106_220210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK0Q_OaXMDSPBGFREW24_Qd2E_yc0HQ8Xw-d5PBb3fvMrvLMc35GtxoK109zKAQl6esIcj3OLRbM1zEDfPXMQ4Cdke6ypjQWKteP_03eoQvWo9eWbYgyu5Y6bwxIBfy90WBwoEnfzXkzdmQ_-vBy8a9QNevk9wcTWk6BbWPsH50oe0H9NLyvyaaZ1BSA/s320/IMG_20210106_220210.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Me and Bubu at Manali</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8Nq3BxIEj9vYhgzhyjZr7crF_w1sF3_VQc3UjGjHu4oG5xUR7dxRCG9eNVn6IFWAJwajZnft54Vw4VvJsPCqU9Lysnu0boEHGWjM14NqUeKDR0Vq0lsXfHTMKWEOgALqZwjbf0DGkLJKii9tAN7aYqDNuULVmCblfIYou6D-QQxCqCfJ3XJisRVuEhk/s4160/IMG_20210106_220013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8Nq3BxIEj9vYhgzhyjZr7crF_w1sF3_VQc3UjGjHu4oG5xUR7dxRCG9eNVn6IFWAJwajZnft54Vw4VvJsPCqU9Lysnu0boEHGWjM14NqUeKDR0Vq0lsXfHTMKWEOgALqZwjbf0DGkLJKii9tAN7aYqDNuULVmCblfIYou6D-QQxCqCfJ3XJisRVuEhk/s320/IMG_20210106_220013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">đ€đ€</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2><b>Meghalaya Magic:</b></h2><br />Next I remember when I worked as a teacher at Barapani, my friend came over and we had a blast! Morning I used to make sandwiches with cheese before going to school and pack them for breakfast and leave some for her. Afternoon when I was back from school, I had a warm lunch waiting for me with innovative dishes! One innovative cook she is...and we relished each others culinary skills merrily!<div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNJPhL-jDZ_-TvWiJbKS81jpHi6zolandiRBzYQxg0f0BK9ckKBCAvkKTFDLWqp9MFaxayNhDzTu4N7X6nMw3UeM1SChvU70OfPWDVOZDC03vYUXxm4mYbM20r_rS1-YupfbnxhJjajkfI1E0ioyOZdvpidsbo6ZAzC9EkS_lTcwge6Wp9GpSO5C0cuU/s4160/IMG_20210111_134450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1952" data-original-width="4160" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNJPhL-jDZ_-TvWiJbKS81jpHi6zolandiRBzYQxg0f0BK9ckKBCAvkKTFDLWqp9MFaxayNhDzTu4N7X6nMw3UeM1SChvU70OfPWDVOZDC03vYUXxm4mYbM20r_rS1-YupfbnxhJjajkfI1E0ioyOZdvpidsbo6ZAzC9EkS_lTcwge6Wp9GpSO5C0cuU/s320/IMG_20210111_134450.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and buddy Monalisa at Nehru Park, Umiam... Girls just love to swing! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For believers she and me have promised each other a DDLJ trip to the Swiss Alps may be sometime in the next year! Well as they say...the world thrives on hope...</div><div><br /></div><h2>Twining in tea garden....</h2><div><br /></div><div>Bubu was my window to freedom! My first solo trip was a journey to Jorhat by bus to her place. Freedom tasted exotically delicious! Later I went with my friend to Jorhat, though memories aren't overtly sweet, but it was refreshing and counted as one of my beginner independent trips.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpbq64Kc-asYtaPvzHhxEv6OKwC-o0T2S0EVrfwN28GD5tz6upAGV29RG4LRmg4C4ifITheVXDP6qcKdmp6_KJbFhdUJFxmHK0KXhO27NdLcjGb1Rsza6UhcH3JvCX6gk-CLnFT9vCpLFYJM18uI89M6XkhDsAYWKpzlj_h-BDFxlMXqUZET6EH_5OpU/s4160/IMG_20210111_124547.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1952" data-original-width="4160" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpbq64Kc-asYtaPvzHhxEv6OKwC-o0T2S0EVrfwN28GD5tz6upAGV29RG4LRmg4C4ifITheVXDP6qcKdmp6_KJbFhdUJFxmHK0KXhO27NdLcjGb1Rsza6UhcH3JvCX6gk-CLnFT9vCpLFYJM18uI89M6XkhDsAYWKpzlj_h-BDFxlMXqUZET6EH_5OpU/s320/IMG_20210111_124547.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we twined!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2>Barapani Bliss!</h2><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My one year stay at Barapani again with my, daughter, household help with my current job gave me an entire year to explore a world... unique and unscathed. My Malayali colleague and I sneaked in to the heavenly city of Shillong for some delectable food, shopping and a taste of the pine filled hills! So we had these all girls trip once in a while with a toddler at toes !</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCpkyveRmg5afFMVirpHHWZGzLkWNg1mDga87UseMdGfvEZNLNCTZm-nkk8W6n5tKhKzNyD3Iz90x_vlUZsxjB04zC0cPR2j70_-Cbz2AcoU9ZEuYkZPJR3VEyUnZEEhjbGM2u8sLn4iTYp8gawsyTlQZstywMa8KajabLtESnn4dc3Mks2IbBgHZ-3Y/s1080/FB_IMG_1692955415454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCpkyveRmg5afFMVirpHHWZGzLkWNg1mDga87UseMdGfvEZNLNCTZm-nkk8W6n5tKhKzNyD3Iz90x_vlUZsxjB04zC0cPR2j70_-Cbz2AcoU9ZEuYkZPJR3VEyUnZEEhjbGM2u8sLn4iTYp8gawsyTlQZstywMa8KajabLtESnn4dc3Mks2IbBgHZ-3Y/s320/FB_IMG_1692955415454.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2><b>Singapore Swag!</b></h2><div><br /></div><div>Ok those were filter less, mobile less, social media less days where I wasn't that financially stable. Later when I joined my present job and was doing fairly well, me and my colleague turned friend embarked into our first foreign trip. I was almost frustrated hearing anecdotes of husband's work travel all over the world. So some guilt trips not withstanding, we headed for Singapore in a jumbo brimming with excitement and enthusiasm unplugged! That trip made us like we were out in the world, I remember my friend tracing the movement of Singapore Airlines flight in the display screen minutely as I had dozed off in the flight after a hectic night duty. The Singapore journey gave us an insight into waiting patiently in queues at metro stations, public restrooms, user friendly public transport, not to claim the reserved seat for the senior citizens in metros even if it remains vacant! Also Singapore was the place where we shopped in H&M first before it came to India. A trip of many ' firsts' for us!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9Joa64B1Mn-4fmUeB6TYZXaVA0pu3rOAfck_lo0y-rrskkW-Ft-rxELiKq12iqG0ZQgoHdPAV4mlCTEeMSlmEYePCMqp5jp0IgmNA81AFYNSAoQgGdqXO7Ax9JPk2nDeltA_O1g92-KNJMthvER3JiMgWtJQwTqsmQkDX2eSN1KNQQwe9TbTjIZfvbU/s1080/FB_IMG_1692950137594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9Joa64B1Mn-4fmUeB6TYZXaVA0pu3rOAfck_lo0y-rrskkW-Ft-rxELiKq12iqG0ZQgoHdPAV4mlCTEeMSlmEYePCMqp5jp0IgmNA81AFYNSAoQgGdqXO7Ax9JPk2nDeltA_O1g92-KNJMthvER3JiMgWtJQwTqsmQkDX2eSN1KNQQwe9TbTjIZfvbU/s320/FB_IMG_1692950137594.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2>Mount Abu Moments!</h2><div><br /></div><div>Well I didn't find the place picturesque at all and overly religious for my taste but we four girls had a blast! Though initially it was a ladies trip from office, we broke free and made it our own!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GVgyKfpofa8eh2ceO4wFF64JW8j6uK3dZ6R9ib_rcnNmNOk4ZcgBn4DAEoTzf7JXhzIbcdkEmWi9KClC2UUJGrjn4C8qUSkFkiY9IRyEdPNHiq8qYZTIzh3-b0LDAJr1SmvMIA6Cu5s5I1D3aB1XB3o3LP0yAgvV8lBp7z9O2MEepDHA_4a0NYNDzyY/s1080/IMG-20230825-WA0024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1080" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GVgyKfpofa8eh2ceO4wFF64JW8j6uK3dZ6R9ib_rcnNmNOk4ZcgBn4DAEoTzf7JXhzIbcdkEmWi9KClC2UUJGrjn4C8qUSkFkiY9IRyEdPNHiq8qYZTIzh3-b0LDAJr1SmvMIA6Cu5s5I1D3aB1XB3o3LP0yAgvV8lBp7z9O2MEepDHA_4a0NYNDzyY/s320/IMG-20230825-WA0024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masti @ Mount Abu</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><h2>In the land of Greek Gods!</h2><div><br /></div><div>After a hiatus, my friend getting hitched, transferred to another corner of the country, her infant daughter...we came together again for a short trip to Greece! Boy it was fun! She had planned each detail and we were on our own in the country from day one. From staying at BnBs , to raving at the guards before Greek Parliament, to whom we foolishly asked what was this building and why people are crowding here! In reply we got a stern look and a curt answer that it was the Parliament! I mean from the land of Lutyens Delhi, this seemed a fledgling in kindergarten ! And patting my friend when she tried to hide the tell tale bra strap, ' Girl this is Greece! Let the bra strap show! Chill!' </div><div><br /></div><div>Mykonos, Santorini took us through the Bollywood songs we grew up with. While my mad penchant to click pics with Bougainville in the white blue doors as I saw in blogs was hilarious đ. and yes the shock we had visiting a nude beach at Mykonos! How we called our spouses from there, how they panicked, ' Get away from here!' Both the spouses shrieked in different phones! How I told my friend ' I'm not going to leave ' and settled comfortably in the couch on the sand to watch the spectacle!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RRkRVn85tpb0rCMRrMJrhzVcq0UnzndB3oLVhn7v_6oExI1luzR73EzlZRpYwMDIkxkGPS7BICeR0QH9cLy9IJjIe0rN-1U6UcgEXlrkvJYJfB2lVVCJ21OOBYgYo2gF040wL4iTxS2_YeUFxbtM9kuzHLa1aj6319rO2mtvz0c-fuP7eDjLNMxSWnY/s960/FB_IMG_1692966609911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RRkRVn85tpb0rCMRrMJrhzVcq0UnzndB3oLVhn7v_6oExI1luzR73EzlZRpYwMDIkxkGPS7BICeR0QH9cLy9IJjIe0rN-1U6UcgEXlrkvJYJfB2lVVCJ21OOBYgYo2gF040wL4iTxS2_YeUFxbtM9kuzHLa1aj6319rO2mtvz0c-fuP7eDjLNMxSWnY/s320/FB_IMG_1692966609911.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Goa Gang!</h2><div><br /></div><div>This trip was just before covid and there was days and months of terror and confinement after that. Five colleagues/ friends painted the town in Goa with those short dresses, shorts, casino visits for the first time! Five of us were different, eccentric yet we rocked ...there was faction yet we sprung back and hit it high!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tVAMZr8R6cnEBJd7rsIjzl15_BR8v2cbAxiOAIFMiwU4LXivInEzghUmd8stWDCs0W4LEg51noAZr5MRYVHagTA6A-SiRIH9SynTUyUKEB5PuiGDezEc0c_vxCqBcboW8ocxC6TR7fWoy4QPKXXfqxEfzpweEAi10xoFQWUOD2CTn4BMq9pq3RMUSBk/s1280/IMG-20200201-WA0223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tVAMZr8R6cnEBJd7rsIjzl15_BR8v2cbAxiOAIFMiwU4LXivInEzghUmd8stWDCs0W4LEg51noAZr5MRYVHagTA6A-SiRIH9SynTUyUKEB5PuiGDezEc0c_vxCqBcboW8ocxC6TR7fWoy4QPKXXfqxEfzpweEAi10xoFQWUOD2CTn4BMq9pq3RMUSBk/s320/IMG-20200201-WA0223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLuEcdzduocAiwQA7KNae_j12nMO-trf0z3MdkSk7OdW8CP50S5ZasWKew80i41zrH2zQtWoigWboCJVeZDrlOoAcL8ifYkdmhi82XBsrOW882CJzO-qXYsQS_dJTTcvvA3oE42vogz6uFcKm5GuP4Sy4JkAb8aCIijvQgzNglh-iCfYQqCwbHH1YmJU/s1280/IMG-20200130-WA0142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLuEcdzduocAiwQA7KNae_j12nMO-trf0z3MdkSk7OdW8CP50S5ZasWKew80i41zrH2zQtWoigWboCJVeZDrlOoAcL8ifYkdmhi82XBsrOW882CJzO-qXYsQS_dJTTcvvA3oE42vogz6uFcKm5GuP4Sy4JkAb8aCIijvQgzNglh-iCfYQqCwbHH1YmJU/s320/IMG-20200130-WA0142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWQcqFY90BvUlhQMDoDdbizgJmIJgSyxoFAaRMvlUD0HkiZjUuPW62CmJCJQWAbyL8oCu5IfbZWIhlv8UUuvFtO9mHbvsgZt-iihNRx3Y_HJu4uD8shB5CBRabURtFJKHACgxVgpudTpOFeXqe5g2aUqDQsXZSRBpVVyE4ooiw2w23CQHk1_AZ7RXQMQ/s1280/IMG_20200210_090707_362.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWQcqFY90BvUlhQMDoDdbizgJmIJgSyxoFAaRMvlUD0HkiZjUuPW62CmJCJQWAbyL8oCu5IfbZWIhlv8UUuvFtO9mHbvsgZt-iihNRx3Y_HJu4uD8shB5CBRabURtFJKHACgxVgpudTpOFeXqe5g2aUqDQsXZSRBpVVyE4ooiw2w23CQHk1_AZ7RXQMQ/s320/IMG_20200210_090707_362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2>The Land of Leh...</h2><div><br /></div><div>Covid was weaning off after the invasive second wave, that was when me and my partner decided for Leh. This was to be our third one after Singapore and Greece, our first desi one. And what a terrain it was, domineering formidable mountains, rivers from the beginning of civilization, Leh had us totally laid! High altitudes, pristine lakes, tough terrains, arid deserts..Leh had it all.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqD0_3B8ubu-dvZYe7XkkF13AohC6pv8Bnc4CoyCwMyKmXF1vapHovSQKfpu0U-TdpxLGaDHzsyLxeAs9_XOclATanfA0RtybDBeBcDn97-Wxx24TmCvY4ZhkkZqMQAZhlvxgQ6BSkE-ECE-tiVucPDWgzWJv2xFDox1uGzeQHYnaE_orZevkc9s-aJI/s4000/IMG_20210922_122529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqD0_3B8ubu-dvZYe7XkkF13AohC6pv8Bnc4CoyCwMyKmXF1vapHovSQKfpu0U-TdpxLGaDHzsyLxeAs9_XOclATanfA0RtybDBeBcDn97-Wxx24TmCvY4ZhkkZqMQAZhlvxgQ6BSkE-ECE-tiVucPDWgzWJv2xFDox1uGzeQHYnaE_orZevkc9s-aJI/s320/IMG_20210922_122529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3ATysEHydNLLhA-TvjgdKZasUvSzLjaz-ZDtH4ciLPMLoZqnjF2_biLUbfXQWCImaLeTNSE59ZXOBgN5HgT5xFdKZRcC8SuXXpsooKUB14ENtazYuwGpmMFQJj-Yes5tQZXUv92EPIJmm-3UnrNedxAtS4eDi-PdkmdmIV-RkC-MGmtR919bS6jAlNM/s4000/IMG_20210923_120716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3ATysEHydNLLhA-TvjgdKZasUvSzLjaz-ZDtH4ciLPMLoZqnjF2_biLUbfXQWCImaLeTNSE59ZXOBgN5HgT5xFdKZRcC8SuXXpsooKUB14ENtazYuwGpmMFQJj-Yes5tQZXUv92EPIJmm-3UnrNedxAtS4eDi-PdkmdmIV-RkC-MGmtR919bS6jAlNM/s320/IMG_20210923_120716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Leh was the true Shangri La to the core beckoning us to an ancient wonderland!</div><div><br /></div><h2>Jai Mata Di !</h2><div><br /></div><div>My latest trip was with a friend who isn't that keen traveler but a superfit trekker who wanted to do a Vaishno Devi visit. Yes I have nothing to do with temple visits yet since nothing was cooking up I agreed readily and added Patnitop to the itinerary to spice up the trip. We explored a bit of Jammu, relished some local cuisines, visited Vaishno Devi ( I also made a reel Chalo bulawa aaya hain!) and Patnitop welcomed us with loads of snow. The stay at JKTDC cottage was gruesome, where we were stuck in an isolated cottage amidst dense deodars in a dilapidated room with an eerie chowkidar present around one hundred metres away at least that's what he said! It was an experienced of a lifetime with dirty bed linen , fungal curtains, spooky forest, we danced the evening away. My friend slept off, I had the deodars prying through the ventilator all night! Next day we checked out and shifted to an army guest house my friend's brother had arranged! But that didn't dampen our spirit, a bright and sunny day in the snow and the welcoming deodars in the morning!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOllM2e_GPePNkkjij-IJ5MOr1JFDqxErm1XSfftYFYoTcOseo4RNc61v8-1D5wBX4OdIZv1MI0mSQa6xgvFdWkPslopW-cBajeE95-qSaTcEknGIku1IrJfAOvx03cjCYn2QjJFxFUt4Wj4j7w68Uf_Xd1el1h-iHkwsSDz3PsDHZ9U6d-hnzP3-YfE/s4000/IMG_20230216_090643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOllM2e_GPePNkkjij-IJ5MOr1JFDqxErm1XSfftYFYoTcOseo4RNc61v8-1D5wBX4OdIZv1MI0mSQa6xgvFdWkPslopW-cBajeE95-qSaTcEknGIku1IrJfAOvx03cjCYn2QjJFxFUt4Wj4j7w68Uf_Xd1el1h-iHkwsSDz3PsDHZ9U6d-hnzP3-YfE/s320/IMG_20230216_090643.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofl9_6FKRDciaXw_6jTELHuYDuZ2mD1y6BaX582MTC9Qr0Ai0hUQym2J37GkqBBgQUVGdB9bSwnSlnYQjRwcsUzImngkWK6hs7a2EyEnOpmjz32RP10xffcaMe_YcjWo2oXeN2vyrodC5JWofvqHi8jleqyXnc0oqrh6OmQubfe2aJDRNQmxd07jjjFk/s4000/IMG_20230218_142215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofl9_6FKRDciaXw_6jTELHuYDuZ2mD1y6BaX582MTC9Qr0Ai0hUQym2J37GkqBBgQUVGdB9bSwnSlnYQjRwcsUzImngkWK6hs7a2EyEnOpmjz32RP10xffcaMe_YcjWo2oXeN2vyrodC5JWofvqHi8jleqyXnc0oqrh6OmQubfe2aJDRNQmxd07jjjFk/s320/IMG_20230218_142215.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As I always say at the end of such trips I return a few years younger, more carefree and silly than I already was, a healthier heart bursting with joy and loads of anecdotes for my daughter and for all other women who'd have loved to take such trips! And yes you dress, make up without much judgement, you let your hair down and chill! Yes you do have some girl fights as well at times with a dash of ego or factions. But who cares!</div><div><br /></div><div>Girls are on the move! The world is at our feet....just need to take the first step.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-63575438961272898182023-07-26T19:41:00.003-07:002023-11-25T19:59:31.441-08:00The Himalayan Hangover... Harshil <p>As usual we had discussed and pondered over our travel plans before we embarked on this journey. Harshil wasn't my first choice, I was looking for some lush green valleys in Himachal but then settled quietly succumbing to my husband and his friend's enthusiasm. They kept watching blogs , finalised the cottage after we blocked our dates.<br /><br />Apart from planning mine and daughter's attire, contemplating the chill there, rescheduling dates because of personal, professional commitments I didn't do much of research, I usually depend on others for that.... but followed posts and pictures shared on different groups. Bit of googling told me Ram Teri Ganga Maili was shot there.. gradually I was gearing up for the trip. Husband was raving about ' Gartang Gali ' and ' Neylong Valley ' and was busy arranging passes for all five of us. As usual I didn't pay much heed as he can be really excited for weird things! Though Gartang Gali seemed intriguing some ancient wooden staircase beside river Bhagirathi and into the mountains...the staircase used to be old Indo Tibet route for trade. We were ready after lots of upheavals on the personal front and started for Jolly Grant, Dehradun for night stay in one Friday afternoon, reason for choosing Jolly Grant was to avoid the maddening rush in Rishikesh.</p><div id="midAds1"></div><p></p><p></p><strong>Day 1: Gurgaon to Jolly Grant, Dehradun</strong><br />The drive was uneventful except that it was the beginning of a coveted trip and we chatted and stopped for tea, I played loads of eighties songs which we hummed together. As usual roped in so<br />me drama , by urging Dada to stop for a roadside sunset in the farm fields.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-eac1ef20.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-27-07492e62.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-1eb4a60a.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><em>Jain Shikanji turned out to be pretty ordinary</em><br /><br />Jolly Grant stay was comfortable, cosy with excellent food at a hotel named MJ Suites. We had a fabulous dinner before slumping off to bed. Next day we were prepared for a marathon drive after a hearty breakfast at the hotel.<br /><br /><strong>Day 2: Jolly Grant to Awana Cottage, Sukki</strong><br /><br />We knew it would be a long tedious drive but so long really! With my daughter and friend not feeling well, aggravated things a little more! But then the Himalayas!<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-4a91c8c0.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-0a60514a.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Stopping at roadside joints first for tea and some awesome milk rusks which we loved so much that we bought the entire jar from the shop đ«Ł! The husband had glared as me and Dada swooned over the rusk and bought the entire jar much to the shopkeeper and the other associates' shock!<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-09c97ddc.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>Beautiful Tehri!</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-274583d8.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Next stop was near Dharasu, which had a helipad nearby. We had Maggi and some fiercely oily fries!<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-6c7479f0.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-86cd8dd2.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />By the time we reached Uttarkashi, we were a bit exhausted but the thrill of what lies ahead kept me beaming! Besides the first sight of Bhagirathi was like meeting with the myth... mountains on its side, we were on the gateways of real ' Devbhoomi ' where myths and gods played with the mountains and rivers! Registration because of ' Char Dham' yatra was a bit tedious, I think it can be done online as well, would save one from the hassles. The drive from Uttarkashi though was smooth, it was getting dark and narrow stretches made us wait for the vehicles from the opposite side. Besides the darkness gives the feeling of getting delayed and made us a bit paranoid among the mountains! Are we going to reach really!<div id="midAds2"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-ef3d2b66.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-2a16643c.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />It was almost nine when we reached Awana Cottage and it was chilly outside. We had no idea on the view save the gigantic dark mountains standing tall as sentinels! The resort manager kept in touch with us as kitchen would close by ten! And I had no wish to starve at night! Food was warm and veg as expected and we conspired how we'd convince the owner to get some non veg food the day after!<br /><br /><strong>Day 3 : Into the mountains... Gartang Gali and Neylong Valley </strong><br /><br />Morning was amazing with spectacular views that we had watched for the first time! Streams, springs flowing through the distant mountain, sound of the stream near by , also buzzing choppers for Gangotri.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-b76f4a78.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>View from Awana Cottage</em><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-d12c0f96.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>Harshil</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-3afd9b42.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>Bhaironghati</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-6c463cc2.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-bcc6e52a.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Amazing Neylong Valley near China border<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-273e9a4c.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-25-6357e092.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-0637bf9c.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-1785e486.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p>For those for whom mountains are well.. mountains, they might not find the valley worth a visit amidst all the defence people and not much to explore after getting those expensive passes for self and vehicle. Entries and loitering is quite restricted there. We found the view spectacular but yes would have loved more! Husband also informed you can get passes for the Naga Valley ahead...that must be more exclusive!<br /><br />Lunch was near the wayside bus stand. Roti/sabji, Maggi...was a bit dusty but the simple warm food made us overlook as we set for the much awaited Gartang Gali.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-da10cefe.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />We huffed and puffed as usual as we started the trek. Both husband and me swore silently this is the last time...with rebelling knees and heart literally trying to jump out of chest. But then Bhagirathi and the mountains and the whisper of the river! My daughter's remark ' Maa the sound of the river... amazing na'...indeed the sound of the singing river echoed deep as we moved into the depth of the mountains!<div id="midAds3"></div><p></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-1d39b1ca.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-9bd45308.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-03ffde70.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-fb771a4a.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-17b90b14.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-38c8711e.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>Renovated Gartang Gali... ancient trading route to Tibet</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-86df3e50.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>With such a stage and mountains and river as the audience... husband was set for some drama.</em><p></p><p></p>The trek took us around two and half hours and we relaxed with Maggi and tea wayside after that. Dinner was chicken that we bought from Harshil gaon and cooked in our cottage. It was home style cooked and we savoured it after a long day.<br /><br /><strong>Day 4: Harshil and Gangotri</strong><br /><br />Sometimes weird plans make it super fun. Such was my idea of draping saree with my friend and convinced our spouses for a half day photo session besides the river! We stumbled in the uneven pebbles, posed , bathed ourselves in the dust blowing across the river and giggled like girls. Wind played haywire with our hair and dust crunched through gritted teeth! Well Instagram reels can't be more unrealistic! Actually husbands did co-operate and shot some reels...who could imagine!<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-cf2d3e44.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-deac1408.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-f581c25e.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-a5f23d84.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-ba9ad228.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>My favourite from the trip</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-d4296876.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-dfd28202.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />We flaunted our sarees, shot reels. I did team saree with a pair of sneakers!<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-fffc3130.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-12130390.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Lunch was at a local joint in Harshil village. We had delectable mutton momos which were washed away fast and yummy egg noodles. Locals do have non veg, only in Gangotri it's vegetarian without onion, garlic. After lunch we started for Gangotri around 30 km from Harshil village.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-b20bc0d0.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-bf6314b8.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-d4528246.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p>Not being religious minded, I shy away from temples and public religious gatherings and also dread long queues of devotees! But Gangotri with mighty mountains standing tall as sentinels guarding the river flowing from their womb was mystic , majestic and overwhelming! It could transport the soul to ages behind in search of self! I was reminded of Edmund Hilary's ' Journey into the mountains ', from my class ten English Rapid reader, the journey from Gangasagar to Gaumukh, from inception to oblivion the story of the river. Luckily the crowd was sparse and I could soak in the river flowing from the mountains! Also marvel at Gauri Kund and Suraj Kund!</p><div id="midAds4"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-cd42de4e.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-d7d2d792.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-e290c4be.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-03003446.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-30d53532.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>Gauri Kund</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-41469b18.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>Suraj Kund</em><br /><br />After a long day, the drive towards Awana Cottage seemed extraordinary long after picking up raw mutton from Harshil for dinner. The chefs arranged a fabulous mutton and we slumped into bed after shower. Needless to say tonnes of dust and sand accumulated within hair and face which needed a massive struggle for a wash! Perks of running after insta reels!<br /><br /><strong>Day 5: Drive to Rishikesh</strong><br /><br />It wasn't easy leaving Harshil! The terrain was mystic, majestic, magnificent. The drive to Rishikesh was picturesque with springs at every other curve...so true to the lyrics of the Ram Teri Ganga Maili song, ' <em>Chote chote jharne hain...ke jharno ke paani chukar kuch waade karne hain!'</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-d11fea4a.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-ec76bec2.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-0a2341ac.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />I longed for some green meadows, ' bugyal' as they call it...<p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-39cb334c.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-4bc7c0ec.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>Beautiful Jacaranda on the way</em><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-5e31cbf6.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-6e07f5be.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><em>When we stopped for tea</em><br /><br />I was gazing lazily out of the window near Chamba, humming ' <em>Parbat ke peeche Chambera gaon hain, gaon mein do premi rahte hain!' </em>I remarked to husband, ' You know after the Harshil mountains, I can't pay attention to these hills of Chamba, my favourite picture postcard village, the hills seem you know babies!:<br /><br />' Oh the Chamba mountains really got dejected by your remark! ' the husband sneered!<br /><br /><br />We reached Rishikesh at around nine, checked in to a hotel near Laxman Jhula, at the heart of the old city. The view from the balcony was soothing, the river, mountains and the temple. Though it was hot and humid, we were inside the room just staring at the river, weaning off vacation hangover slowly.<div id="midAds5"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><strong>Day 6: Rishikesh to Gurgaon</strong><br /><br />Morning sight of the river and mountains was a breather to the soul.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-f6cb6a42.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-13abe772.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Breakfast was sumptuous at German Bakery near the now closed Laxman Jhula. We ordered for Spaghetti Aglio Olio, Banana Crepes and they just tasted awesome.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-28536a1a.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Potato cheese croquettes<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-3dc8ae3c.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />We loitered in the old lanes for some shopping. Junk jewelleries, fridge magnets, few bohemian tops and dresses! Finally some shopping in the trip...as my mother had remarked hearing about our stay away from the civilization, ' This time it seems you'd return without any useless shopping you do!' I didn't disappoint my mother đ.<p></p><br />The drive to Gurgaon was uneventful as we reeled from the Himalayan hangover!<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-2023-07-26-d4ee9e02.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><br />Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-45234845591114154122023-06-27T11:57:00.006-07:002023-06-27T19:51:06.360-07:00Another Monsoon Asmita struggled with the cloth dryer stand, half pulling, half lifting with the heap of wet clothes stumbling upon her, dragging the stand through the narrow balcony door, then bedroom , finally dumping it in the guest room. The house was blissfully asleep basking in monsoon glory. She sighed deeply..the phone buzzed just then. Who could be at this time.... looking at the number on the screen...her heart sank! No...not again!!<br /><br />' Didi...it's raining here since night ' Asmita felt like crying, ' Aaj nahi aa paungi Didi'<br />Her head did a quick spin, the sink full of dishes gleamed at her, ' Yeah...ok...Gita' She agreed feebly, ' May be in the evening Gita...' she had lost hope by then....Gita's mumbling was almost inaudible after that , Asmita hung up in despair.<br /><br />Breakfast, dishes , cleaning... where would she begin! Wasn't this her holiday as well... wasn't monsoon meant for her... Slowly she mustered up courage for her chores, glancing through the newspaper and checking today's Sudoku. She opened the kitchen window ajar, it was raining heavily. Gurgaon doesn't witness this kind of rain always... every monsoon they wait eagerly for bouts of showers...chai pakoda, the romantic oldies, quintessential bong khichdi bhaja platter and the mystic monsoon memories!<br /><br />Asmita turned on the radio in the old mobile. Monsoon and old mushy movie songs. She started chopping, peeling for breakfast humming along with radio. Her high school college days did a quick flash back. The mud ridden roads, her flip flops, the pattern of mud in the back of her suit... Asmita fumbling with umbrella, books! Was that when she met Rajat first...on a madly monsoonituous morning. Boys were hollering about staring at the girls of course. Asmita's flying umbrella, mud ridden suit...she could hear the group near her hooting. What a patriarchal time it was back then... conscious and irritated, Asmita had glared hard at the boys, trying to take shelter under roof. He was there among others smiling, though the eyes had a kindness and glint in them.<br /><br />Their romance bloomed in the twirling monsoon of the city. Romance without mobile phones or social media, romance with a landline and public call booths, romance without text or messages, romance with exchange of audio cassettes! Rajat had wooed her as best as he could! Come to think of it there were many guys back then...but Rajat won hands down! Was it his uprightness..honesty....<br /><br /><br />Should she have chosen someone else... someone who'd have been in the kitchen with her now nineteen years later! Helping her with dishes, humming along with her!! Humming part still he could do, Asmita smiled to herself! Was she complaining really! It's not that Rajat wouldn't step in the kitchen but obviously it wouldn't be regular. He would insist on hiring more helps. He would cuddle his daughter, take her to the pediatric but he wasn't a hands on dad.. They had love, trust... little bit of romance at times...how whining brooding nagging wifely she sounds!<br /><br /><br />She was tampering the spices, washed the potatoes in between and then next job was to make the dough for the luchis ready. How can they sleep so long....baap beti both. It was high time she called them..she was alone wading through the chores. On the hindsight them sleeping more would allow her to wrap up the chores. She dropped the potatoes in the pan and continued stirring. The wind from the window was blowing away the flame, she had to shut the window. Ah it was humid , she began to sweat. Now the dough for luchis. How the domestic helps do it so fast...and their luchis turn out as good if not better! Come on she chided herself...do I need to mould myself like Roopa, her cook!! Deft puris, perfect sabji and the smile on her face! It's a matter of one rainy day, Gita would be there tomorrow and Roopa would join soon after her annual leave. She can be her own self then. With her profuse sweating, hollering chimney the radio was turning out a cacophonous outburst! Asmita pulled the plug in exasperation. Next in line were the dishes peeping from the sink.<br /><br /><br />She should ask help! Shouldn't Rajat help, her temple throbbed in frustration. Just then the object of her thoughts was seen stretching in the living room.<br /><br /><br />' Uh what a mausam Asmi...just like..'<br /><br />He stared at her with the pile of dishes.<br /><br />' Where's Gita...'<br /><br />' It's all water choked, the roads to juggis!' Asmita sighed, ' Happens every monsoon"<br />She turned towards the dishes..<br />'Go and freshen up, brewing tea'<br /><br />The tall frame hugged her from behind...<br /><br />' Remember...our first monsoon in college '<br /><br />Asmita stirred.... next moment she wondered if she was stinking ..the sweat..<br /><br />' How you were Asmi then...' His warm voice swept over her... and a sheepish smile slipped out .<br /><br />' Maaa...'. the second voice echoed in the hall now....' Maa breakfast '<br /><br />Rajat was at a safe distance now.<br /><br />' Luchi and alu dom Disha' Asmita turned towards the dough, making balls. ' Brush and wait in the dining table...I will fry the luchis.<br /><br />' Tea first please ' Rajat spread the newspaper in the dining table.<br /><br />Another monsoon! Traffic snarls, water logging Asmita was sure Gita would not make it tomorrow as well! Puris were not swelling as she would like them to. She tried all tricks she knew! Well finally they were taking shape!<br /><br />Did she know in the first monsoon she met Rajat... this was how it was going to be! Was she cribbing... could it have been otherwise...<br /><br /><br />Ah the luchis, just the right amount of flame they need! No time to ponder...Asmita rushed with the plate of hot luchis to the dining table. Would they learn to help her in the kitchen, she watched the duo munching away the luchis merrily.... She had to insist, ask... Rajat would understand...<br /><br />Seventeen years she didn't make much sense to him! Asmita sighed.... you don't ponder and nag over such things, the feeble voice inside spoke slowly. Yeah... Asmita brushed the voice off in a distant corner and joined them on the table.<br /><br />Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-46247132793847963102023-04-15T08:43:00.004-07:002023-04-15T08:43:59.204-07:00Gulzar <p> <i>Yeh saaye hain ,yeh duniya hain parchayion ki</i></p><i>Bhari bheed mein, khali tanhayion ki</i><br /><i><br /></i>Gulzar's songs would echo through the house..in our tiny radio and my limited knowledge of Hindi and more limited knowledge of Urdu couldn't stop me from flowing in the ocean of feelings...somehow there was a magic which held me...the magic of poetry coupled with mesmerizing music. Music has no language...and poetry has a language so strong that even without grasping the full sense it leads to a door half open and a world unknown. The power of his words led me to this world of film music...<br /><br /><i>Yahan saare chehre hain maange huye se</i><br /><i>Nigaho mein aasu hain taange huye se</i><br /><i>Badi neechi raahein hain unchayion ki</i><br /><i><br /></i>And the sultry voice of Asha Bhonsle, which would invariably bring me to the music of Ijazat. R.D , Asha Gulzar...<br /><br /><i>Mera kuch samaan tumhare paas pada hain</i><br /><i>Sawan ke kuch bheege bheege se din rakhe hain</i><br /><i>Aur..mere ek khat mein lipti raat padi hain</i><br /><i>Wo raat bujha do... mera wo samaan lauta do</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/_G1koIC1qOM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_G1koIC1qOM&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_G1koIC1qOM&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br />Haunting, gives me goosebumps and when alone...some moistness in eyes, never fails...<br />Songs are endless and the poetry captivating.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfNS3mkyHmA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><i><div><i><br /></i></div>Humne dekhi hain un aankho ki mehekti khusbhu</i><br /><i>Haath se chuke ise rishton ka ilzaam na do</i><br /><i>Sirf ehsaas hain yeh rooh se mehsoos karo</i><br /><i>Pyar ko pyar hi rahne do...koi naam na do </i><br /><i><br /></i>I cannot dare to translate.. simply breathe in the soulful music and wonder at the magically woven words.<div><br />And more...<br /><br /><i>Yeh soch ke baithi hu...ek raah to wo hogi</i><br /><i>Tum tak jo pahuchte hain</i><br /><i>Is mod se jaate hain</i><br /><br />Ahh this is love as I love it!<br />And my favourite road song<br /><br /><i>Raah pe rahte hain</i><br /><i>Yaadon pe basar karte hain</i><br /><i>Khush Raho ahle watan</i><br /><i>Hum to safar karte hain</i><br /><i><br /></i>And the song I love to hear in the hills<br /><br /><i>Phir se ayo badra bidesi</i><br /><i>Tere palko mein moti jadungi...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YMQzIew4NH8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><i><br /></i><i><br /></i>It is difficult to share what I feel in this script and I am unable to upload the videos as well...but I know all Gulzar lovers we share a bond...bond of music and poetry...eternally.I have left out so many...only few </div><div>of the innumerable jewels...a world of its own..his compositions.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes I know ' Jai Ho' got him an Oscar...and his magic pen weaves dreams in the contemporary songs as well...</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Hasti rahe tu hasti rahe</i></div><div><i>Zulfon ke neeche gardan mein</i></div><div><i>Subah sham milti rahe!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Really<i>! Only Gulzar can!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The man who brought poetry to Hindi movies...</div><div>The man who wrapped love in words!</div><div><br /></div><div>Our favourite bard <i>Gulzar</i>!</div><div><i><br /></i></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-83539894033995112912023-03-28T07:43:00.014-07:002023-03-30T03:48:23.419-07:00Chalo bulawa aya hain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaHdXVVyaGpsIhmilPCF9j0S_UR4PiQ6EMPZqQHFMDUIvL3uWXkBXKMHZRbFBqYE0yR_g_uyJ8y7vnAyv_f4zYgl__iTjzU17cUGPRaommPo7LBzAKliNfDZzhqZ-iy38fFYtQJf8PH0YbUTu73CBKr1ZFNq7g5uAZdNcu5vj3JpGsTOSEnhYZHik/s4000/IMG_20230216_151844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaHdXVVyaGpsIhmilPCF9j0S_UR4PiQ6EMPZqQHFMDUIvL3uWXkBXKMHZRbFBqYE0yR_g_uyJ8y7vnAyv_f4zYgl__iTjzU17cUGPRaommPo7LBzAKliNfDZzhqZ-iy38fFYtQJf8PH0YbUTu73CBKr1ZFNq7g5uAZdNcu5vj3JpGsTOSEnhYZHik/s320/IMG_20230216_151844.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br />At the onset of the post, I think I need to confess that that I'm not a believer and visiting shrines for wishes fulfilled or to be fulfilled aren't in my 'to do' things actually! Then why did I embark on this journey... I read somewhere when someone asked Edmund Hillary why did he embark on such humongous journey after Everest his answer was ' Because it was there!'</p><p><br /></p><p>Well so because it's there and I did not have any trip in the pipeline and when my colleague remarked that she needs to do Vaishno Devi, automatically the traveller inside me jumped in. ' I'm ready...let's plan'. She wasn't of course a travel freak as me and me with my reel and real memories interspersed as always...with staple Chitrahar song with Rajesh Khanna walking into the cave with his infant and ' <i>Chalo bulawa</i> <i>aya hain</i> ' in the background and my real memory of the six year me limping, sometimes in Baba's shoulders, wading through the night to Vaishno Devi and the following morning found myself slung in the back of professional human carriers called ' Pitthu 's for the way down hill! Me and my cousin wailing when the Pitthus stopped for a puff as we felt lost and forsaken!</p><p>But those were way back in early eighties, now with a quarter approaching past twenty first century and two independent women deciding for a visit to the shrine is almost well not a cakewalk but so doable. We booked tickets via Shree Shakti express to Katra from New Delhi and a flight from Jammu for our return journey. And following my travel gurus and convincing my friend, booked two nights in a JKTDC cottage at Patnitop. Saving leaves, squeezing in Patnitop in the itinerary we started from office for catching Shree Shakti express at seven in the evening.</p><p><br /></p><p>This was our first trip together though we have travelled in groups earlier, mid forties aren't a good time to adjust I guess and we were a bit apprehensive. But for me it's the joy of traveling, the preparation beforehand, the salon visit, planning outfits, checking itinerary and I tried to inspire my friend as well! A trip is a trip..we will trek, make reels so what it's Devi darshan! My colleague remarked ' Your preparation doesn't seem for Vaishno Devi đ€'..hair cut and facial and the colourful outfit I assembled in the day of departure. We planned to leave tad bit early from office and catch the metro to New Delhi station. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W8rAIhUGGNrVeoNwC_fhMfZn1XP2pqfitNsBfeOsTy926TyPQw_eC2P5ESRiIQW8k3daSU23o9Wo2GAc7tjl156zVmM0E926QSTqQLsE_Os_7rBSjYMGI9sKhP74JNrk1AvJBvROEvYnMjwdkVx4G72qeMAGuUVx8QinP2w-ZxNgLYYrDIwp783k/s4000/IMG_20230215_174150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W8rAIhUGGNrVeoNwC_fhMfZn1XP2pqfitNsBfeOsTy926TyPQw_eC2P5ESRiIQW8k3daSU23o9Wo2GAc7tjl156zVmM0E926QSTqQLsE_Os_7rBSjYMGI9sKhP74JNrk1AvJBvROEvYnMjwdkVx4G72qeMAGuUVx8QinP2w-ZxNgLYYrDIwp783k/s320/IMG_20230215_174150.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKJhHVBp1eQbgc6w0a9jPxeAvpkdqF1bOzMNwIAq13ASM4SXK0Z2hLB8J8rNU1_eu6v2s8mw0SfNcNhFzWHLI2RtzQsvOrlnJqhFtqJJBiF9QjMNZodbB3rsw6k4CYL6TdBOWzWF3CkHCfbogAdSENE_c_pCBJ2ijI00LpK-wD5h_DVXFsWVdzmS6/s4608/IMG_20230215_191711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKJhHVBp1eQbgc6w0a9jPxeAvpkdqF1bOzMNwIAq13ASM4SXK0Z2hLB8J8rNU1_eu6v2s8mw0SfNcNhFzWHLI2RtzQsvOrlnJqhFtqJJBiF9QjMNZodbB3rsw6k4CYL6TdBOWzWF3CkHCfbogAdSENE_c_pCBJ2ijI00LpK-wD5h_DVXFsWVdzmS6/s320/IMG_20230215_191711.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Bharatiya Rail always romanticised me and yes the vegetarian meal in the train was a bit disappointing. I mean I've been traveling in Bharatiya Railways since time immemorial and always knew I had to choose between veg, egg and chicken. This train had no such option and I was whining to my colleague ' Is this a vegetarian train!' The remark was overhead by the aunty sitting opposite and pat came the gyan , ' <i>Beta...don't have non veg before Mata Rani ke darshan!'</i></p><p>This is so familiar in our country, plenty of advice galore everywhere. Though I know aunty was just offering what she felt was good faith for us. Anyways after the heavily spicy , devoid of taste meal, we tried to drift off to sleep. I made a huge fuss and was unable to climb the upper berth of AC 2 ( đđ), my athletic colleague offered me the lower berth! I was wondering how I'd make the fourteen kilometres to the top and back when the upper berth seemed like Everest! We huddled off to sleep, I tried some reading since the reading light was not working had to give up in sometime!</p><p><b>Day I</b></p><p>The train ran before time much to my surprise and irritation.... It was barely five in the morning! Beautiful view of the shrine atop the mountains welcomed us and we boarded an auto to Army Cantt where we put up in a guest house, courtesy my friend's Left Colonel brother. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NUkXhUVSQo7bT8LrfAJnu569G82YDftWKN0rjKcH2cQ9P2HolnJz3WU5CwvBK-HWldjCppdtN5hZolKVoebzFZ8rO-0c2VCNrrNZyl2MGJTGnk8iHGqliOngMA_OF0TOykqbdU6AePswA2nc7QamcL3vZJX6lmnK85FjWDXdchvaNyi4llRVMinM/s4000/IMG_20230216_053302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NUkXhUVSQo7bT8LrfAJnu569G82YDftWKN0rjKcH2cQ9P2HolnJz3WU5CwvBK-HWldjCppdtN5hZolKVoebzFZ8rO-0c2VCNrrNZyl2MGJTGnk8iHGqliOngMA_OF0TOykqbdU6AePswA2nc7QamcL3vZJX6lmnK85FjWDXdchvaNyi4llRVMinM/s320/IMG_20230216_053302.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />After freshening up and a breakfast of alu parathas and tea, putting our stuff in the cloak room...we chanted Jai Mata Di and started our journey. Our pass was issued from the Army office and also we were informed that if we can make it by ten thirty in the morning to Ardhkumari, we can catch the battery operated car to Bhawan. I was sure we can't make the steep climb of six kilometres within two hours. Here I need to inform all the battery cars can be pre booked around two months in advance. In our case my friend's brother used some VIP protocol to arrange our tickets in battery cars. To such caring sweet brothers đ... with whom my friend like all sisters argued, groaned and didn't take him seriously at all! Like<i> ' oh he's irresponsible and useless '</i><p></p><p>Somehow the initial climb wasn't comfortable, felt warm in sweat shirt and jacket, also my friend was in a rush for catching the battery car and the non believer me felt like giving up and there wasn't the Himalayas or anything to stop me dead in my tracks!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28c2J9gHxxd5s6IO-io3xT-v0b9xc7RnPEtykkJ9JmZUeIK49QPLx5xwGhrVvt2eS5wY_gtXSRPUvjgquy2EbdHvF4DJbqemmjwTWPMdzlTCZhq1iqoJCPB4QuA4CxljBV9gwffjasFOpifYL_OFmrfsAJS1fpFcczY8Jm88RRV7vS4zq7u4cctO4/s4000/IMG_20230216_080808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28c2J9gHxxd5s6IO-io3xT-v0b9xc7RnPEtykkJ9JmZUeIK49QPLx5xwGhrVvt2eS5wY_gtXSRPUvjgquy2EbdHvF4DJbqemmjwTWPMdzlTCZhq1iqoJCPB4QuA4CxljBV9gwffjasFOpifYL_OFmrfsAJS1fpFcczY8Jm88RRV7vS4zq7u4cctO4/s320/IMG_20230216_080808.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWqJy1OkIWsyYKA9c4sbKlTV0wSd5GRZ4GFP3Isbteyoio5MCCG4Br-eHFXIa0uIoDclB9HBK74pOgcE69aTtaLyOIh5bgk_MoD1wA18VTbhJ7yZMIvSeCDfzzcJWpHOe44SFUqMvz1I-8I7Z27RsHAgfm4_8EM4bBGGjskPRtX4LdKlFMdMuuion/s4000/IMG_20230216_090643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWqJy1OkIWsyYKA9c4sbKlTV0wSd5GRZ4GFP3Isbteyoio5MCCG4Br-eHFXIa0uIoDclB9HBK74pOgcE69aTtaLyOIh5bgk_MoD1wA18VTbhJ7yZMIvSeCDfzzcJWpHOe44SFUqMvz1I-8I7Z27RsHAgfm4_8EM4bBGGjskPRtX4LdKlFMdMuuion/s320/IMG_20230216_090643.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-THTbrz5NcKDji28DQwlOiuZXmuQRVnatjBgRCQcBN9sVlVa9Nnqtd9CAw6Pef28lqLV-GlmqlzBN1EsDihbDG9UZ9jkkFjhqj9T_0gqccsWwbXZQUUZFUev_T0b3hanQyCtppVvZbEWgL8u_IJOn6bLP_dMfgvb5Xz8Fq4Jd7j4rT9fRKut1F0Di/s4000/IMG_20230216_091424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-THTbrz5NcKDji28DQwlOiuZXmuQRVnatjBgRCQcBN9sVlVa9Nnqtd9CAw6Pef28lqLV-GlmqlzBN1EsDihbDG9UZ9jkkFjhqj9T_0gqccsWwbXZQUUZFUev_T0b3hanQyCtppVvZbEWgL8u_IJOn6bLP_dMfgvb5Xz8Fq4Jd7j4rT9fRKut1F0Di/s320/IMG_20230216_091424.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7bIMSn-WGbwg0QsskVt_7j5nxtcXXjb0A9_ptB5BFQiy4ZIsna0psJ5vxQKXf7xPZoXf2LqqO91u9y08aRYypwiXSooPtMpCmQnGpNeM7sa_szNILTez_anVAv0wF_vCBVEAHcxGI9aGSz3Lo-08pUnsPkUASgLQkyHhr_Nl0_ig8n8uBWbu0BtL/s4608/IMG_20230216_094801.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7bIMSn-WGbwg0QsskVt_7j5nxtcXXjb0A9_ptB5BFQiy4ZIsna0psJ5vxQKXf7xPZoXf2LqqO91u9y08aRYypwiXSooPtMpCmQnGpNeM7sa_szNILTez_anVAv0wF_vCBVEAHcxGI9aGSz3Lo-08pUnsPkUASgLQkyHhr_Nl0_ig8n8uBWbu0BtL/s320/IMG_20230216_094801.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>That's when Baba called, like many times in my life with the much needed ' <i>You can do it '</i> mesage. The sun , the breakfast beforehand I was beginning to have a slight chest ache with all the huffing and puffing. Vaishno Devi wasn't that steep comparing to the smallish Himalayan treks I've done...that's what Baba said as well but then those trips were done and this just began! Besides I wasn't here for a race and also there was hardly any breathtaking view and with my friend in for some relay race I was clueless for sometimes. She asked me to take a horse or a palki, well with little bit of ego I had I refused and also because they won't be comfortable as well. Gradually we understood that we won't get the ten thirty car, my friend relaxed, we clicked photos, shot reels and I was coming to form đ.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAodLshZUx6xu8x3qKD6UYwjj1jXMW9gJBmy-U04MPgO3ORMJVUaS-OGhi-ie4nedDGzRLKgXKtCl9MtXmKBg2XUET1vzU1XjkifjvJTakx3oth9FLEFE_Bn5OVczfE6Ksud2ryuvM1Mp9a39_LgWGAEIoHyuBWvfFtbq6lpy9AJZ9dxUcnfTjt2f/s4000/IMG_20230216_112046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAodLshZUx6xu8x3qKD6UYwjj1jXMW9gJBmy-U04MPgO3ORMJVUaS-OGhi-ie4nedDGzRLKgXKtCl9MtXmKBg2XUET1vzU1XjkifjvJTakx3oth9FLEFE_Bn5OVczfE6Ksud2ryuvM1Mp9a39_LgWGAEIoHyuBWvfFtbq6lpy9AJZ9dxUcnfTjt2f/s320/IMG_20230216_112046.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I chanted and played the Chitrahar song ' <i>Chalo</i> <i>bulawa aya hain'</i> ...it resonated in the hills and I remembered Rajesh Khanna Shabana Azmi again. The song sprawled to life amidst the mountains and gave me the much needed kick!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzb4c-lMLjvvQVLQGMOLdGIGjFpUzxwpsJaQLK4-2vAzx9M_LEKTa-kJ3E1mhvhwtkr5U_5LjOJx1DPzfQYg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>With little bit of drama, huffing puffing we reached Ardhkumari at around eleven fifteen and decided to wait for the next car at one thirty. The car would save walk upto five kilometres so we stayed put in the waiting area. Though Baba wanted me to climb the entire way like he did but may be that's what Mata wants...that we reach comfortably me and my friend were in mutual agreement! After having some below average Vada Sambar we waited for the battery car in between more pics and videos. The army people saw to it that we were seated in the battery car and we reached the temple in next twenty minutes. Queue wasn't much or may be because we entered through VIP gate sort, there wasn't much rush. Visit to the shrine was quiet and peaceful surprisingly and crowd was controlled inside the concrete cave. Infact the casual me took the main temple to be one of the subsidiary temples and when I heard the priest showing Kali Mata...I thought Maa Kali was so bong... Dakshineswar, Belur...Kali Badi at so many nooks and corners back home, I wondered what she was doing here in Katra! Later I was surprised this was the main temple...like all I joined my hands, closed my eyes thought about my loved ones for some fleeting moments...some power or some weaknesses what draws people since ages... questions were unanswered like life itself!</p><p>Next Bhaironath was easily done through cable car , the folklore about Bhaironath wasn't much much pleasing so I skipped the main temple. I was wondering how Maa, Baba did the entire trek in their sixties! The glance of Himalayas from Bhaironath lifted my spirits somewhat and was making my journey worth while ! Towards Vaishno Devi, entire road was fenced with net and hence no place to sink in the view. The unfiltered mountains from Bhaironath top was refreshing and for sometime I forgot my hunger pangs. As suggested by all we climbed after light breakfast , I didn't have anything on the way before Ardhkumari because of chest pain , also our Army brothers suggested to finish Bhaironath darshan by cable car timely and then stop for lunch at Sagar Ratna.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-QE419ZFDNHyEZBxtUHrgYWVayltc6JNGAEiVxSq_L-1toi93rQyKKghYxBI-neQjwLs3R_zRpEX6k9cQv5iH7ufU2LCdPfWZvVoM8ndIjgIu_fhnIJFt-AEPdWEevJj1cncxHxmKMw8SvvWqwf5Wuc4BZZs1ajM9UcM9dBJ-ugnIAf0bQu5ytsf/s3578/IMG_20230216_160401__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="3578" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-QE419ZFDNHyEZBxtUHrgYWVayltc6JNGAEiVxSq_L-1toi93rQyKKghYxBI-neQjwLs3R_zRpEX6k9cQv5iH7ufU2LCdPfWZvVoM8ndIjgIu_fhnIJFt-AEPdWEevJj1cncxHxmKMw8SvvWqwf5Wuc4BZZs1ajM9UcM9dBJ-ugnIAf0bQu5ytsf/s320/IMG_20230216_160401__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The warm crisp dosa at Sagar Ratna breathed life into me like nothing else đ. My own temple I guess, we devoured the food with our heart and soul. Might be one of the soul satisfying meals I ever had! After some mad rush at the queue for battery cars and prolonged wait, me and my friend hopped in to the vehicle. I was exhausted and sleepy. Even then the journey downhill was fast, relaxing...we chatted, had tea maggi in between, shopped for Prasad, walnuts and we were down in almost no time. We had dinner on the way and then walked to the army cantt guest house. My friend slumped in almost after reaching and me after phone calls and texts had a nice sleep.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMlln65su5Z7FDzkYOlY3X0p4aZdgFoKQt9k6Zbc1wiKMZ61zEjSP4PbATd7BdIiidRKM47Atdo2QCTePO2nRx5trzr20vS6wyXeZYxsYBDLVZZQkvU38N5JwUXdZ2bOTGW9qp_j8SiIV2xqjJvfYyDnVM3H-hnkLTf-GrNICP6MlmTSc4AbCK2Uu/s4000/IMG_20230216_230641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMlln65su5Z7FDzkYOlY3X0p4aZdgFoKQt9k6Zbc1wiKMZ61zEjSP4PbATd7BdIiidRKM47Atdo2QCTePO2nRx5trzr20vS6wyXeZYxsYBDLVZZQkvU38N5JwUXdZ2bOTGW9qp_j8SiIV2xqjJvfYyDnVM3H-hnkLTf-GrNICP6MlmTSc4AbCK2Uu/s320/IMG_20230216_230641.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b>Day 2 : Drive to Patnitop, Horse ride to Shiv Ghati </b></p><p>Next day we were up in decent time , showered and got ready for Patnitop. We hired a car for the next three days for taking us to Patnitop and drop us at Jammu airport after one day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALuP2WcUIWQwtM_LT_sxYK5xoHEZca-Lp6uGeEZ9vTpEPILgFSQShMRDhGFJxCODOzuQ_AA_Cqdawl8je9_j2ak7suuicVi0qmO52VdmFNI7rDDG2zsg1kNxKEShQi7665bYnZgWLZsFqnR5JfvNArUoltOhzTnMoUbERmsh7aOIymWAMEARAng0s/s4000/IMG_20230217_101839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALuP2WcUIWQwtM_LT_sxYK5xoHEZca-Lp6uGeEZ9vTpEPILgFSQShMRDhGFJxCODOzuQ_AA_Cqdawl8je9_j2ak7suuicVi0qmO52VdmFNI7rDDG2zsg1kNxKEShQi7665bYnZgWLZsFqnR5JfvNArUoltOhzTnMoUbERmsh7aOIymWAMEARAng0s/s320/IMG_20230217_101839.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>From my travel freak boss and colleague I heard a lot about Patnitop and raved at the lush meadows and mountain ranges. As I heard from my boss quite a few years earlier about his stay at the beautiful JKTDC cottage I didn't think twice before booking one cottage there and convincing my friend it's just ' <i>Dekho Maine</i> <i>dekha hai ek sapna </i>' wala cottage! Well truth can be stranger than fiction and let's see what's in store for us. </p><p>Though beautiful from the car, the distance between two cottages seemed overwhelming. It seemed JKTDC got the entire deodar forest and some cottages were scattered over it and distance between two nearest cottages would definitely be more than one hundred metres! Finding the reception was a strenuous task as it was almost non existing, and when we could trace it finally, the caretaker seemed straight out of haunted bungalow in Ramsay movies. Some rooms were facing the small market, mostly two bedroom cottages, I tried to convince them to shift us there. But as it was we were shown a cottage in the remote jungle with other cottages around one hundred metres away and as we doubted correctly not a single one was occupied. That wasn't of course the end to our woes, JKTDC cottages did not have a restaurant, there was a kitchen with utensils, burner and of course no groceries! My friend chose one cottage with a neat washroom, though we had the feeling we were stuck in the deadly deodars but the breezy feeling made us drive away for lunch and some ride on horses towards Shiv Ghati.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLUJeWl93xWiLcKmKqyHK2xkOi2FX0tRX052boCULHanvWqxv_rtoTXmzY6FGbj_O6k5eIJefHVbjxUZO3RLM0zpTtBTDUDGUwCReCmzwnypV2ynK0N_0qZUqXqKXLJgHUNE-gRsro1AAt4j5bi2sXFco_1_9PuJFvx9zUNwJs0K7Uh1pfai3DAjm/s4000/IMG_20230217_135858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLUJeWl93xWiLcKmKqyHK2xkOi2FX0tRX052boCULHanvWqxv_rtoTXmzY6FGbj_O6k5eIJefHVbjxUZO3RLM0zpTtBTDUDGUwCReCmzwnypV2ynK0N_0qZUqXqKXLJgHUNE-gRsro1AAt4j5bi2sXFco_1_9PuJFvx9zUNwJs0K7Uh1pfai3DAjm/s320/IMG_20230217_135858.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASK1QCQUuWRgbInPMZSYrvLRZcdNjFiA4AN8ITyhFN2FEXx3v4BlVFTTfOu3nCIp-lTXXmMIOylw5K28J0SDgqT4JvVsuFVIs3L0A64pcZFpp7cEpKwdFHKYAGQrhiJKbto38kjFAn36N4k3AoLMdtaXKkAm9-3tX8a9SZBvxbdNsrmlWDcUpsRWd/s4000/IMG_20230217_142554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASK1QCQUuWRgbInPMZSYrvLRZcdNjFiA4AN8ITyhFN2FEXx3v4BlVFTTfOu3nCIp-lTXXmMIOylw5K28J0SDgqT4JvVsuFVIs3L0A64pcZFpp7cEpKwdFHKYAGQrhiJKbto38kjFAn36N4k3AoLMdtaXKkAm9-3tX8a9SZBvxbdNsrmlWDcUpsRWd/s320/IMG_20230217_142554.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Lunch was by the roadside, simple homely pahadi Rajma chawal and Kalari bread as in local cuisine as suggested by my husband. I devoured Kalari bread with Kahwa, it was warm at the roadside joint with delectable food. I repeated the Kalari bread with chutney.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx9QoNlDKmttkQWqfNUui2WtJLF3cdHv49BiTAzTTflGM0wXVoFl3-r3eU447JJLA9d4qMTt0Xkk53iLoRGj0tDXSJeYOJqtxBOSS4meYN4aTXD-D6JrVQoWL2Xvez9RhbfSbe8Iz_VAnuvtWW2mrqkE5JryGiGLmTgt3P5V4NcMu4AYbwEp_0NtT/s4000/IMG_20230217_144300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx9QoNlDKmttkQWqfNUui2WtJLF3cdHv49BiTAzTTflGM0wXVoFl3-r3eU447JJLA9d4qMTt0Xkk53iLoRGj0tDXSJeYOJqtxBOSS4meYN4aTXD-D6JrVQoWL2Xvez9RhbfSbe8Iz_VAnuvtWW2mrqkE5JryGiGLmTgt3P5V4NcMu4AYbwEp_0NtT/s320/IMG_20230217_144300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI61LwzNI5EEPo0lOLDYMGNEv5YL45B25BeKdf2TFpEUxHcghNq_YtbcPILpUdEydcJTKOyTTisYXw-Hk2Fz18h05M_yUG-1rS9AKwPnKEZP0DFrWB8zA1F56yqhOFpsSiw4syXOmoL437M64oojPJtWBGX4Co0T8i-3ETp3BtRIQo_GpqQnZFT1C0/s4000/IMG_20230217_145247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI61LwzNI5EEPo0lOLDYMGNEv5YL45B25BeKdf2TFpEUxHcghNq_YtbcPILpUdEydcJTKOyTTisYXw-Hk2Fz18h05M_yUG-1rS9AKwPnKEZP0DFrWB8zA1F56yqhOFpsSiw4syXOmoL437M64oojPJtWBGX4Co0T8i-3ETp3BtRIQo_GpqQnZFT1C0/s320/IMG_20230217_145247.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Next though a bit hesitant initially regarding horse ride but at my friend's insistence and pony wala's persuasion we took the uphill ride to Shiv Ghati. Though we were scared stiff , the mountains lured us and we kept humming songs to ward off the fear of broken limbs if slipped from the galloping Sheru and Veer over the rugged mountains. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieZ_p57S-JP0U7YjcKXbVuJO_LcokzGEONuuGDRcP6qAlbBY6LwkC1Hsinz40ExMsxf51OWSgbpofS7NaPW92p1nDEKcTYnXF77S1u1nLKoGbxvvKH-8jma9_g98Wj0a8ODrPS3k1NMbjTO6mQUfVoXwLWaG5MkHu-7253PYqVBeWRVpv8veGFmp1/s4000/IMG_20230217_154117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieZ_p57S-JP0U7YjcKXbVuJO_LcokzGEONuuGDRcP6qAlbBY6LwkC1Hsinz40ExMsxf51OWSgbpofS7NaPW92p1nDEKcTYnXF77S1u1nLKoGbxvvKH-8jma9_g98Wj0a8ODrPS3k1NMbjTO6mQUfVoXwLWaG5MkHu-7253PYqVBeWRVpv8veGFmp1/s320/IMG_20230217_154117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa0Cp6-HizJXbmSYXjYUNuH0jcZNhbAAZpZw1O4hUUdn2J-3_tupKUtB3ywNMqyhZxSDCZAp_2UF_Z1zs4ABVDoQQSgx6uQtbGRD5gPOhxESvhItzTPJHNHnn9DLBsv1QCvxJ8CWRB62NqnH0rBL6l-GVmefPrxpAz9C32SNRWJLOjz5Og1ctMlzQ/s4000/IMG_20230217_154148_Bokeh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa0Cp6-HizJXbmSYXjYUNuH0jcZNhbAAZpZw1O4hUUdn2J-3_tupKUtB3ywNMqyhZxSDCZAp_2UF_Z1zs4ABVDoQQSgx6uQtbGRD5gPOhxESvhItzTPJHNHnn9DLBsv1QCvxJ8CWRB62NqnH0rBL6l-GVmefPrxpAz9C32SNRWJLOjz5Og1ctMlzQ/s320/IMG_20230217_154148_Bokeh.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2RtRiLcP6dqPQigCWCGNtTzYUlepyp6XllD-mUG18McyRzWWg3PLe2BPCFsqyXZ4gI_T_GtZj7mWsQpbgagg_SUqboZWntAGyXkv3bjLS405ULZ5KyhANFHKTPhOtxXGkDbWT_I8ygJY4Snc-udOwAQfe_ESWVhdYFaFnz-rQtJOi0pf9aDOK0z3/s4000/IMG_20230217_155347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2RtRiLcP6dqPQigCWCGNtTzYUlepyp6XllD-mUG18McyRzWWg3PLe2BPCFsqyXZ4gI_T_GtZj7mWsQpbgagg_SUqboZWntAGyXkv3bjLS405ULZ5KyhANFHKTPhOtxXGkDbWT_I8ygJY4Snc-udOwAQfe_ESWVhdYFaFnz-rQtJOi0pf9aDOK0z3/s320/IMG_20230217_155347.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO72Njve-neM4gfkDpfuRIXqI6osCz8DBlmXVcknKx-ytUt_fa985gWlIT9P-enTOlgNpJ1Kl78CmG3XVyf4KPVuD-wMT4sXrjXP8ofyS9VhEa_uE_ko4niSyt2sg2uKbYUvL8lAyWe4WjDHrpgi13QCfzdiWG91kM_JJ2kHxX6akTtgXyKJfHg5i0/s4000/IMG_20230217_160357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO72Njve-neM4gfkDpfuRIXqI6osCz8DBlmXVcknKx-ytUt_fa985gWlIT9P-enTOlgNpJ1Kl78CmG3XVyf4KPVuD-wMT4sXrjXP8ofyS9VhEa_uE_ko4niSyt2sg2uKbYUvL8lAyWe4WjDHrpgi13QCfzdiWG91kM_JJ2kHxX6akTtgXyKJfHg5i0/s320/IMG_20230217_160357.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Shiv Ghati was Bajrangi Bhaijaanish landscape where we tried to shoot a reel and fail miserably! The mountains were mesmerizing and the galloping pony ride was worth while!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30e3V2I6I0xqeUCwKr1ZEz2GHQx6JpIFT-URuWSFzQekhJhQYt6YbUqJkQ3f66q6EYRbmMHja8s5mIsJRVVSXAwkyAEKF31ETpcjhMuhEMP6pmPwy6g1NXF7dDIq-BbHlkp45EdtfcrlJYFv_ZQQQ5usZD1hvNXJuLkI-U4QHDE8e2enYqEWwK0ZN/s4000/IMG_20230217_160629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30e3V2I6I0xqeUCwKr1ZEz2GHQx6JpIFT-URuWSFzQekhJhQYt6YbUqJkQ3f66q6EYRbmMHja8s5mIsJRVVSXAwkyAEKF31ETpcjhMuhEMP6pmPwy6g1NXF7dDIq-BbHlkp45EdtfcrlJYFv_ZQQQ5usZD1hvNXJuLkI-U4QHDE8e2enYqEWwK0ZN/s320/IMG_20230217_160629.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr5-T5Et6vMaPwumEu3nx-s4gIsznNpGDHiy4YlXuQbxMiyPY8FGzuzPWGLPY16JzIPhVkogzZNGP4fU2g_u12600L9Iq6LRCNTdl87XhN-VRf0qiOQBmdX2MoQ3KpexQIirvfA6WaX-oXJABj9M8AMS4qAVjCyogzeLSRKrkALczUphH1VPX2_Bd/s4000/IMG_20230217_160856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr5-T5Et6vMaPwumEu3nx-s4gIsznNpGDHiy4YlXuQbxMiyPY8FGzuzPWGLPY16JzIPhVkogzZNGP4fU2g_u12600L9Iq6LRCNTdl87XhN-VRf0qiOQBmdX2MoQ3KpexQIirvfA6WaX-oXJABj9M8AMS4qAVjCyogzeLSRKrkALczUphH1VPX2_Bd/s320/IMG_20230217_160856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFATsB9VwFStnYgZARUfeupNa2cC4GmF75-iTJ9RMaLU_Xj8WECeY_gohPZycDEgfILRy6f3OV7yNYe9-0A7PEQvRXWDlYiy68eTHAWbC0h15tYTgs0hp1Xd6_z-xZEZjTOHM8z2f7VTk8Y71P7ltJQCx3Tl4xvEXQUa2a_sIw_EyT9xQmrAXof9Q/s4000/IMG_20230217_161035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFATsB9VwFStnYgZARUfeupNa2cC4GmF75-iTJ9RMaLU_Xj8WECeY_gohPZycDEgfILRy6f3OV7yNYe9-0A7PEQvRXWDlYiy68eTHAWbC0h15tYTgs0hp1Xd6_z-xZEZjTOHM8z2f7VTk8Y71P7ltJQCx3Tl4xvEXQUa2a_sIw_EyT9xQmrAXof9Q/s320/IMG_20230217_161035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnMoY1lAzi7lJ5M52Zp4p-Fl2ecRJlKe2OKP-q-T9J9SAow9ZTFkjTEHzRyVGvQ1zO21Yd9lBJkCubxsUw99RdSmjp1eeu6zw88jiaBsX2QV6cvEEJ1bh3DYMj1f6eVFJJMOk02iTW5ju1HBn2NJ9_i7HMwOCwe1IMImDQ0Iybae53SRqni5p0YqI/s4000/IMG_20230217_163006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnMoY1lAzi7lJ5M52Zp4p-Fl2ecRJlKe2OKP-q-T9J9SAow9ZTFkjTEHzRyVGvQ1zO21Yd9lBJkCubxsUw99RdSmjp1eeu6zw88jiaBsX2QV6cvEEJ1bh3DYMj1f6eVFJJMOk02iTW5ju1HBn2NJ9_i7HMwOCwe1IMImDQ0Iybae53SRqni5p0YqI/s320/IMG_20230217_163006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Making a fuss over getting down from the pony , we let go of the pony walas , paying them. Our driver took us to the nearby Mansa temple and we winded up the evening with my favourite chai and pakodas on the roadside đ.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjDPB4obzBOUDjrvpiVJasRBF7AvE1sIatjQ-8ZGY6Qe3LgWfv0ZO2nFeJXcRBhQZYF0Vi7P2V77PUPD-YMkYz3MEtGfVhRsZOJeV4OYXw7_zO25eALcjyVpcspI_0Fy0KQ3OPRb8KomGZwXxbfXsDuogQA-3at2_LyLnrC2-Lsfbd0-5voySd0Oq/s4000/IMG_20230217_180031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjDPB4obzBOUDjrvpiVJasRBF7AvE1sIatjQ-8ZGY6Qe3LgWfv0ZO2nFeJXcRBhQZYF0Vi7P2V77PUPD-YMkYz3MEtGfVhRsZOJeV4OYXw7_zO25eALcjyVpcspI_0Fy0KQ3OPRb8KomGZwXxbfXsDuogQA-3at2_LyLnrC2-Lsfbd0-5voySd0Oq/s320/IMG_20230217_180031.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOi89tItgr5K7LF8eCo8JiUyzhy7frU0Efz1zmKVlmlk1VOSUHop80QhD-V-be8qgF2jAG0_-3StjG5sSTSv0Q9XDNLiJ6mHgtEVgskjOCq5itFLD2TF9xs7K4wnzaSuwCE3bAxoyJe-KeTSrYvUeY-8rVZkMmkqJQCOuX3TXhl2LafVlzANSYOzN/s4000/IMG_20230217_180243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOi89tItgr5K7LF8eCo8JiUyzhy7frU0Efz1zmKVlmlk1VOSUHop80QhD-V-be8qgF2jAG0_-3StjG5sSTSv0Q9XDNLiJ6mHgtEVgskjOCq5itFLD2TF9xs7K4wnzaSuwCE3bAxoyJe-KeTSrYvUeY-8rVZkMmkqJQCOuX3TXhl2LafVlzANSYOzN/s320/IMG_20230217_180243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Now waited the dreaded part in the isolated cottage ! Soon we discovered the cottage was dreadfully unhygienic, torn stained bedsheets complete with hair strewn all over! Curtains, walls had layers of dirt and stains. The caretakers appeared after call, changed the bedsheets which were as bad if not worse! Seems they were helpless! Luckily they brought us food from the market. The room was warm enough and we danced and made reels to ward off the uncanny feeling in the jungle. Called husband and daughter and showed them our plight, the eerie jungle, the one off cottage, the dirt laden upholstery, the torn stained curtains , they were squealing with laughter! Later sent me voice messages making eerie sound, the little and the big monster taking the life out of me. Finally after dance, reels and food...we slipped uncomfortably in the bed and with a resolve we will be shifting out the next day! Deodars peeped through the ventilators...it was some night! Morning was beautiful though with chirping of the birds and hooting of monkeys!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6cnjI4A_QwtKsGkLj7IAQlimw97hFI7rT4vBaV8tjnpZHzQhZ4-2Cpr1RzdwgCfpY0FlBG8SRLiBUCLsVRrN5MOX0PXz_pERaGYKJxlMJkTUzyUDHiE9cwHH8PMaX4GMBfuD2IshZp_O538dUSWJuQcxogX3XdgkR4s7zq5Hw32pPCKiJ3Z9bjn0/s4000/IMG_20230218_104323_Bokeh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6cnjI4A_QwtKsGkLj7IAQlimw97hFI7rT4vBaV8tjnpZHzQhZ4-2Cpr1RzdwgCfpY0FlBG8SRLiBUCLsVRrN5MOX0PXz_pERaGYKJxlMJkTUzyUDHiE9cwHH8PMaX4GMBfuD2IshZp_O538dUSWJuQcxogX3XdgkR4s7zq5Hw32pPCKiJ3Z9bjn0/s320/IMG_20230218_104323_Bokeh.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx3nOBcmms4kLEXb0k9xIhqVo-kHmGTqkrAQMzKbta79RLV6MHeIE2MfFh9v_iy_fKCP3taqsqfik66y5UvsVQK2oWwvJGy6OyjzhlInzP8bEDLT2S1GCjEa405IEVOZ-8iZcGnde5tB5SJ7WvP4TMmE7hXbK3i0pvb_uTcwNEZ8Mdu7vby1aCiy9/s4000/IMG_20230218_104333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx3nOBcmms4kLEXb0k9xIhqVo-kHmGTqkrAQMzKbta79RLV6MHeIE2MfFh9v_iy_fKCP3taqsqfik66y5UvsVQK2oWwvJGy6OyjzhlInzP8bEDLT2S1GCjEa405IEVOZ-8iZcGnde5tB5SJ7WvP4TMmE7hXbK3i0pvb_uTcwNEZ8Mdu7vby1aCiy9/s320/IMG_20230218_104333.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Day 3: Natha Top, Salasar Lake </b></p><p>We checked out bag and baggage from the horrific place after having breakfast with the left over food, heated up in gas. My friend kept fast for Shiva Ratri. Our first point would be Natha Top and next was Salasar lake. On the way there was onslaught of guides, shopkeepers selling warm clothes and snow boots on rent. We hired some jumbo sized clothes and ended up looking hilarious! But few kilometres drive nature changed her course from snow peaks to roads laden with snow. It wasn't my first time, I remained cool but it was breathtaking and almost gave the feeling of first time!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Txvsv0rveDxC7M9GrN2kBs9Acl_VVDp1pGH2uqm3SWYOwoTs4auTD3ATLTTrvidgBBFmWdMuRVucbFimCVATLc3rBHElGJV4OQ8V3d-XZXQ47dXst1ofi4Ch1XtOimVG7sfAd1M8k4SpqnGQMAwPJosMT59u2ctNY3AqNHeSY8GoCq952r-h_gVd/s4000/IMG_20230218_115844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Txvsv0rveDxC7M9GrN2kBs9Acl_VVDp1pGH2uqm3SWYOwoTs4auTD3ATLTTrvidgBBFmWdMuRVucbFimCVATLc3rBHElGJV4OQ8V3d-XZXQ47dXst1ofi4Ch1XtOimVG7sfAd1M8k4SpqnGQMAwPJosMT59u2ctNY3AqNHeSY8GoCq952r-h_gVd/s320/IMG_20230218_115844.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1bcD0zW_OMoCfpYY6lu_SUit3ubUzsSEuBZf2wdPm8Pl3if5udZ-G4VOpz2h9TwBKFdfZBpO3lT7GH4v8PzEDELo4xZdrfCXyeg3lrNgWP5bmRVjfVTlinvfOLenT5VV5s4QAzZstggNbRcLHqT8oYpWVwUML4wfqvsNL8YJwVmD8-gw69UV9ixp/s4000/IMG_20230218_120226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1bcD0zW_OMoCfpYY6lu_SUit3ubUzsSEuBZf2wdPm8Pl3if5udZ-G4VOpz2h9TwBKFdfZBpO3lT7GH4v8PzEDELo4xZdrfCXyeg3lrNgWP5bmRVjfVTlinvfOLenT5VV5s4QAzZstggNbRcLHqT8oYpWVwUML4wfqvsNL8YJwVmD8-gw69UV9ixp/s320/IMG_20230218_120226.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsd1GwIIdrsYO6p2At7ou4-7PrCImjNC1hzUhxYFRXBYFa5hZ2BvwqH5YxBS77Ie6N1dxR8pQmEj1IejHzAHOPM2kknIbbRfz_PUgJaRhGWrBqx1-UpXsgu0haSXGf1BXh4QmlCOBKCItrE2W4ctDqvrBTb8zOIZdBnLhXsoOiKJoo12sENOHEabZ/s4000/IMG_20230218_124720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsd1GwIIdrsYO6p2At7ou4-7PrCImjNC1hzUhxYFRXBYFa5hZ2BvwqH5YxBS77Ie6N1dxR8pQmEj1IejHzAHOPM2kknIbbRfz_PUgJaRhGWrBqx1-UpXsgu0haSXGf1BXh4QmlCOBKCItrE2W4ctDqvrBTb8zOIZdBnLhXsoOiKJoo12sENOHEabZ/s320/IMG_20230218_124720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_pTj0NHQh8oEz_Pz7ulvqf6f26QFv3wgia5gJXuKmD0T-sfJvUmUIO8mnLozp6jUhYrMg7fjUMtcHfuTzmK_X0egGRM7p5H8wyTJpOBm6jdw4oqSw4E42ecmqXeZj6zQDDBzl1C8SH7nwENfhAwL8EpZY7yyGVqXHEP8SbGiV8fc0L2D2SV89Mbc/s4608/IMG_20230218_132419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_pTj0NHQh8oEz_Pz7ulvqf6f26QFv3wgia5gJXuKmD0T-sfJvUmUIO8mnLozp6jUhYrMg7fjUMtcHfuTzmK_X0egGRM7p5H8wyTJpOBm6jdw4oqSw4E42ecmqXeZj6zQDDBzl1C8SH7nwENfhAwL8EpZY7yyGVqXHEP8SbGiV8fc0L2D2SV89Mbc/s320/IMG_20230218_132419.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCcrhLYM3hGtiw9iDv1FEBRllA66S7EC2uGlGxP00OC64CHU-6FEBqkuhrdkVB78zlWETHcHPtLzYD9h6YBz-RhOUoL7p5v4unYadutXX-JF1OysHL6lgGOlkOd0KOG2vcVeKyoe4T53B1m7WtdLoZlFxjJl4kMmoQffFoC37AbdoJ0N_PW8ds9lx/s4000/IMG_20230218_134216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCcrhLYM3hGtiw9iDv1FEBRllA66S7EC2uGlGxP00OC64CHU-6FEBqkuhrdkVB78zlWETHcHPtLzYD9h6YBz-RhOUoL7p5v4unYadutXX-JF1OysHL6lgGOlkOd0KOG2vcVeKyoe4T53B1m7WtdLoZlFxjJl4kMmoQffFoC37AbdoJ0N_PW8ds9lx/s320/IMG_20230218_134216.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5ujBgvkCzzYG_8GAWa53vyZ-PQWiwCqqkscg-pNUW9gzEafSZ9e-pJg4G8-69Lo83bf2R7per2gAHqWkFkYikmE9oSvjEZSaf_RRGo5hFsh7UInpNnxgcKD04PlPEEYOYzWocs-ULapkJWrZ2M1YjMmTS3VqtaXSuvz4TE7u0PZm2f5V-ROn-7Sx/s1280/IMG-20230218-WA0063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5ujBgvkCzzYG_8GAWa53vyZ-PQWiwCqqkscg-pNUW9gzEafSZ9e-pJg4G8-69Lo83bf2R7per2gAHqWkFkYikmE9oSvjEZSaf_RRGo5hFsh7UInpNnxgcKD04PlPEEYOYzWocs-ULapkJWrZ2M1YjMmTS3VqtaXSuvz4TE7u0PZm2f5V-ROn-7Sx/s320/IMG-20230218-WA0063.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS34yippCMWqciSqyq4l2DrDU-cuey17c5bLwyw-BVO1lzupP2xuMLI9qP9gHwXnqBfYe-CxEMaKnqPhcj_fhCD5gOygXvZEy52xZlHxKu9fKklM17HTmF-ofdzLmE9DcPGGmbjE5Y36Q7CrqUhMVhDm6cP3MqVTC9LQJ2ozR4D2yogxsRiV6tDvbL/s4000/IMG_20230218_142215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS34yippCMWqciSqyq4l2DrDU-cuey17c5bLwyw-BVO1lzupP2xuMLI9qP9gHwXnqBfYe-CxEMaKnqPhcj_fhCD5gOygXvZEy52xZlHxKu9fKklM17HTmF-ofdzLmE9DcPGGmbjE5Y36Q7CrqUhMVhDm6cP3MqVTC9LQJ2ozR4D2yogxsRiV6tDvbL/s320/IMG_20230218_142215.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM0uIsnE6Kra7L2FllJZA2W-bZ8pCHFMyUYHTvvbXQ8FlOT7piUqJV7hwYyhHh9NdbpmiUoX2ddIYG86wOtrInJQAw5ockRT3CPmBlv2nV1fLjAoOs4Bdde5lf1qY7SwmOnvrEMiG_BNOU5d56qtW9IsbFhfAzSfAEsuU2a13Iwcj6O821aQyFLgp/s4000/IMG_20230218_133012__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM0uIsnE6Kra7L2FllJZA2W-bZ8pCHFMyUYHTvvbXQ8FlOT7piUqJV7hwYyhHh9NdbpmiUoX2ddIYG86wOtrInJQAw5ockRT3CPmBlv2nV1fLjAoOs4Bdde5lf1qY7SwmOnvrEMiG_BNOU5d56qtW9IsbFhfAzSfAEsuU2a13Iwcj6O821aQyFLgp/s320/IMG_20230218_133012__01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0ICDcUN4yeu7VPZuXHoeqoYWmB0ACGz8OPCiLvVAtdFbSnaKTOj0FhLGlGcAyKULqQ8uW7RlzZYpRoglDmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>We didn't hire any guide, but stopped car on the roadside and played with snow as much we liked. We slipped, fell, giggled...had all the girly fun we could.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIxmbzJTevvTUPzOcKbgqCsBd7BEeanrIkYNa0OeJaAQIrwwqxPUgSQw7TH3XDQDAZkYppZg1MuGRm0JSlpwHUHdvkeFTskBxBmlqDo5y-NwweiF3g2a5y5f2EpNrZ_n93dYjbQTTPDot2fQvXcT26eMKCd4hFi9MHBEY6KNJ5QHeTrMI2cDg2yBa/s4000/IMG_20230218_124107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIxmbzJTevvTUPzOcKbgqCsBd7BEeanrIkYNa0OeJaAQIrwwqxPUgSQw7TH3XDQDAZkYppZg1MuGRm0JSlpwHUHdvkeFTskBxBmlqDo5y-NwweiF3g2a5y5f2EpNrZ_n93dYjbQTTPDot2fQvXcT26eMKCd4hFi9MHBEY6KNJ5QHeTrMI2cDg2yBa/s320/IMG_20230218_124107.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After the fun filled day, retreat was at Army guest house few kilometres from Patnitop. We roamed in the serene surroundings, shot more reels and gloated over our pics. The trip was nearing finale now.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYh6F7MhMbsl6Ms16X9p5fEIMF1NaKyu_oX0PjtaweS-TTQAKgWy5L57JrNnz3xE8KQ1Idz__msQU4Yya5UbysW9yC3W7e2Br-LpSTCEibN4iEX9R1v9Aa2IfzNpKH0laLqMVg0p9su7BF38pM3J-OnloGFuRQCOkEZoFTvRb-P4UVeSQ_4ktKKmoG/s1280/IMG-20230218-WA0064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYh6F7MhMbsl6Ms16X9p5fEIMF1NaKyu_oX0PjtaweS-TTQAKgWy5L57JrNnz3xE8KQ1Idz__msQU4Yya5UbysW9yC3W7e2Br-LpSTCEibN4iEX9R1v9Aa2IfzNpKH0laLqMVg0p9su7BF38pM3J-OnloGFuRQCOkEZoFTvRb-P4UVeSQ_4ktKKmoG/s320/IMG-20230218-WA0064.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9v7Bw4vH_Q-cpZWlDXNyZ0KSLjh7nNGLDO0QHQFEFPZRK0alicuDShL_DCGnwIVlBicyiI0gNHuxmFNUg1VxZU-4YqXK1KY8zhgIA3_Tu2n2bLyNDddO-OdP838RX0ssrw5uFfSu-Tw6MjG65xvsuXCkQ41yAc29vgkQ5PKXRwfdOasK5dd8DYB_c/s4000/IMG_20230218_180602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9v7Bw4vH_Q-cpZWlDXNyZ0KSLjh7nNGLDO0QHQFEFPZRK0alicuDShL_DCGnwIVlBicyiI0gNHuxmFNUg1VxZU-4YqXK1KY8zhgIA3_Tu2n2bLyNDddO-OdP838RX0ssrw5uFfSu-Tw6MjG65xvsuXCkQ41yAc29vgkQ5PKXRwfdOasK5dd8DYB_c/s320/IMG_20230218_180602.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyEUrG0cu3Xx3iXLeGLqpdi83y8S7yrhDPdoUeeXyG2IpbThsAa6zpYVBl7SbjdLJVNEp_3__3AYQVLMPDTbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw8AQn_Bi0yzfql61mwYu8C2MDUWFHK6YuSWB55VZa5i46C25k9Rb7vtjS9CoCy_yaT0MmImK_3qfZrcOB5Qw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>Sound sleep, decent veg dinner and a well furnished room what more we can dream of! Next morning we started for Jammu.</p><p><b>Day 3: Drive to Jammu Airport</b> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaUyJlkngxkIaFBUGYAT1wUDe_rgD_s3aNn3RT3Gnee8ocDSbG2j3-vBvTsuHdrpJKJm9rkNDCeLfifyzDe303424VS_clHrQiMfMA9_cpobRar2MDDM_ZcZKakcY4ep0E894Sjr3xKTdzo6kl6jpBWIJwpy8V0K5APgrk7VKdyRQev_KfevRHBQ1/s4000/IMG_20230219_073645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaUyJlkngxkIaFBUGYAT1wUDe_rgD_s3aNn3RT3Gnee8ocDSbG2j3-vBvTsuHdrpJKJm9rkNDCeLfifyzDe303424VS_clHrQiMfMA9_cpobRar2MDDM_ZcZKakcY4ep0E894Sjr3xKTdzo6kl6jpBWIJwpy8V0K5APgrk7VKdyRQev_KfevRHBQ1/s320/IMG_20230219_073645.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTPAr8J0oK9yLwBTPeJibEfPm3JMpE_FpodgTbjKTv8un_x4kYp8JJjLQlIs0mN8MEs5JVofrdeKKZEg0GIazWsIqOWYRtjc1T_si8eDtQ6pn9DponCIMeZal7riJBgLo9Si5VWjTMye6YZxnlQyPmSqY-j5RP9NgyOp68to6c6qer5eJotD9yBgt/s4000/IMG_20230219_074317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTPAr8J0oK9yLwBTPeJibEfPm3JMpE_FpodgTbjKTv8un_x4kYp8JJjLQlIs0mN8MEs5JVofrdeKKZEg0GIazWsIqOWYRtjc1T_si8eDtQ6pn9DponCIMeZal7riJBgLo9Si5VWjTMye6YZxnlQyPmSqY-j5RP9NgyOp68to6c6qer5eJotD9yBgt/s320/IMG_20230219_074317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Shopping <i>Kud ke Patise, </i>some pheron type kurtas for me and daughter, shawls for my mother and house help. No trip is complete without shopping, they essentially remind you of the moments spent. So I always have these words for travellers...little shopping doesn't harm, they take you back to those moments, pricey stuff doesn't count, the moments return with the souvenirs đ. Same is the case with trying local cuisine ...gives a real hang of the place. We stopped on the bank of Tawi river, where our driver had lunch while we clicked pics.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEh-3m1pUgo_ql8nu0wxv51WxKy_fWPGdf2_q2VNNR_q8W0pZBntVazPxVABJ6k00npTHj0EjrqU-3N1k2kugexHCF9WgJvmDNyFGZf8HXsqnxfrfyCErJGhZSLzIUhZerfJfEI2dxCRox4NnbGKeN5617xnuhdDnOk7IbMv9Qcx7_Q5oHqbcr4SX/s4608/IMG_20230219_103439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEh-3m1pUgo_ql8nu0wxv51WxKy_fWPGdf2_q2VNNR_q8W0pZBntVazPxVABJ6k00npTHj0EjrqU-3N1k2kugexHCF9WgJvmDNyFGZf8HXsqnxfrfyCErJGhZSLzIUhZerfJfEI2dxCRox4NnbGKeN5617xnuhdDnOk7IbMv9Qcx7_Q5oHqbcr4SX/s320/IMG_20230219_103439.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvdf8MvnhejqgRuNFjGdEciLn7WhBkCdflAKJ5Ufze7pDLNZSVMwMZGgrowZXEGFGkBy9mSysZ009bDRCNN5ONWVfovUUdwUIva3QyE7qQsrLTt_AqbBtmrq2jGgUeGloruFV3caTaynYmqV-LxgQ5mONmAN0ISDV7qwvFk8QPSOH_VrEuOlx3QvK/s4000/IMG_20230219_104947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvdf8MvnhejqgRuNFjGdEciLn7WhBkCdflAKJ5Ufze7pDLNZSVMwMZGgrowZXEGFGkBy9mSysZ009bDRCNN5ONWVfovUUdwUIva3QyE7qQsrLTt_AqbBtmrq2jGgUeGloruFV3caTaynYmqV-LxgQ5mONmAN0ISDV7qwvFk8QPSOH_VrEuOlx3QvK/s320/IMG_20230219_104947.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Flight was uneventful only being air traffic controllers , my friend kept jumping from the middle seat ' Look Soma, traffic in reciprocal track đ' meaning flights from opposite direction probably departures from Delhi, her ATC mind working overtime đ€.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trip was well planned, executed...our pics were hit in office, so were the reels....we came back richer , happier souls. Though my cribbing for non veg might have irritated her...well that's me I guess.. irritating, hyper and a wanderlust at heart!</div><div><br /></div><div>And yes from our pics people raved <i>you two beamed after the climb, had fun in snow, look at the pics.. weren't you exhausted ! </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We weren't, there was slight body ache...may be the battery car, may be the unfiltered fun we had...we returned richer and merrier!</div><div><br /></div><div>From believers, non believers alike...entire Katra echoes with... <i>Jai Mata Di!</i></div><div><br /></div></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-57813141741577849532023-03-15T10:46:00.008-07:002023-03-16T19:31:29.967-07:00The Road Trip II ( Jaisalmer)er <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1nIlSwzOZYVB5MKBCkEPH7VERPa75H9S4zN8rP0yGWxl5v9rhnQcqQSLaDxCRZtA0D3fnCLrvAa_6tIv_xnwpgqz4byRDFKMIMkQSCGyqxb7aAecXw2XHnDgCxRvzJZWGQMsh3yS74IhUodDiQ0MfS9fduuwdztA7-dBhg0ug-kz47yVyNVBXwfZ/s4000/IMG_20221025_180214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1nIlSwzOZYVB5MKBCkEPH7VERPa75H9S4zN8rP0yGWxl5v9rhnQcqQSLaDxCRZtA0D3fnCLrvAa_6tIv_xnwpgqz4byRDFKMIMkQSCGyqxb7aAecXw2XHnDgCxRvzJZWGQMsh3yS74IhUodDiQ0MfS9fduuwdztA7-dBhg0ug-kz47yVyNVBXwfZ/s320/IMG_20221025_180214.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>After the fun filled pre Diwali night with friends , lots of adda, drinks , music and laughter, next day would be the drive to Jaisalmer. Our friends boarded the train to Jaisalmer and we set out by our car. Not surprisingly I had a tiff with husband just after we started driving because I wanted to drive, so some tantrums and silence later I was beneath the wheels with music, lovely roads and windmills grazing the roads.That was one of the beautiful drives of my life with virgin roads, rugged landscapes and nothing but horizon ahead. Maybe being Diwali day traffic was sparse and being tough terrain as it is population seemed sparse as well!</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o68n68ctBUVZQwuPiuxj5oPHwaVZmHeTnqUPlUIxvZVbpjyQSpN-Br2Own2I0wK18vyGgPZQjy43p-10rufVOZ-F-i4vcsFzHH-VCHE-EqNg_A2-5AqRDvP-I1bY6LFdEy0tF2s4F6pYS2imtU1XJk9MyGG-7pGiuvI7-oRLQI7IFwy6qoERvzQ7/s4000/IMG_20221024_143435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o68n68ctBUVZQwuPiuxj5oPHwaVZmHeTnqUPlUIxvZVbpjyQSpN-Br2Own2I0wK18vyGgPZQjy43p-10rufVOZ-F-i4vcsFzHH-VCHE-EqNg_A2-5AqRDvP-I1bY6LFdEy0tF2s4F6pYS2imtU1XJk9MyGG-7pGiuvI7-oRLQI7IFwy6qoERvzQ7/s320/IMG_20221024_143435.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WOvhiXUNxSgRysW_TzKSydHiQpJvq3dQPXf3w1-W-VRIysotbFXxv93_SkAxMva1oSgZkNZpNrK8Zq7pmxP9x4m3admlsf57lBgDVecWfUZYS-cxEUibHhDrD4YiaxgmXT7r9eKzZ8DG7riU9euLGfXocoPMyCAjBnH7jnTGuF9myEPdpFpNPjxO/s4000/IMG_20221024_143452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WOvhiXUNxSgRysW_TzKSydHiQpJvq3dQPXf3w1-W-VRIysotbFXxv93_SkAxMva1oSgZkNZpNrK8Zq7pmxP9x4m3admlsf57lBgDVecWfUZYS-cxEUibHhDrD4YiaxgmXT7r9eKzZ8DG7riU9euLGfXocoPMyCAjBnH7jnTGuF9myEPdpFpNPjxO/s320/IMG_20221024_143452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pQ0h3P7j7hfVmZqAbNyVbmj5vhcuiSKFmd_IR5ubKxPp0R4B2UbpkxJNOqrY4Thg1QzA-YsDGPp0ACkb3iXtkc1Pnln3Rzvh1OhDo_TMwzE11lYoUHdnnXg_2ddfaByiS2ZlkmTOdVkidL3umpD8RYME1c2AMOLwGrKC_gr-M764M-uKDIg7xRUD/s4000/IMG_20221024_165951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pQ0h3P7j7hfVmZqAbNyVbmj5vhcuiSKFmd_IR5ubKxPp0R4B2UbpkxJNOqrY4Thg1QzA-YsDGPp0ACkb3iXtkc1Pnln3Rzvh1OhDo_TMwzE11lYoUHdnnXg_2ddfaByiS2ZlkmTOdVkidL3umpD8RYME1c2AMOLwGrKC_gr-M764M-uKDIg7xRUD/s320/IMG_20221024_165951.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The road was deserted and there was hardly any open restaurant. We found few choices in Pokhran with most of them being closed. But had fresh Gatta curry, rotis, kadhi chawal in a smallish local joint types. Even my daughter a bit exasperated with 'eat local cuisine' preach actually loved the food and for once agreed when in a new place we must try local cuisine overlooking the pizza burger fair once in a while.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The surprise of the drive was just waiting post lunch when I was planning to doze off with husband behind the wheels and daughter in front with him. The road straight head unfurled the most beautiful sunset which compelled husband to pull the car sideways and we just leapt out of the car. Later daughter remarked ' What a strange couple you are! One moment you were fighting tooth and nail and the next you were leaping out of the car... sunset sunset!!'</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ss6MxXryYsNkLvWAOJ0S471puTx3TTOW4dbubgZeWhmVUfyvPaHmZzOjWxKBjUmvIzD1gkwP4o5BUKNRO_9SKp_V7PnA_MG6KftnbYELzw8W9ZU4b4vwaXRvsP4ZNCmAplZitfS4bRJE3GFbCKsuEu6CEEOaOZsPxIgwBBHoKNyJIPQ4sVxkcmGD/s4000/IMG_20221024_180051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ss6MxXryYsNkLvWAOJ0S471puTx3TTOW4dbubgZeWhmVUfyvPaHmZzOjWxKBjUmvIzD1gkwP4o5BUKNRO_9SKp_V7PnA_MG6KftnbYELzw8W9ZU4b4vwaXRvsP4ZNCmAplZitfS4bRJE3GFbCKsuEu6CEEOaOZsPxIgwBBHoKNyJIPQ4sVxkcmGD/s320/IMG_20221024_180051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSZV9_tNkRC24x3HpsnaDyYQDcRdxCYV_YJ0_mTmmxjj-lNbnOSh2imd3sSBsigyrZP6o5n28VkKKA7Vc15VlX6M21-2JG0LgwaZQj7cz3yzpHYpBMEGB8XYtNzu7eauh50iH9TIktlqdT1VRW_FrplQURsXYPBsAqiky0d_82Ne-eWAUCR1Yt7SG/s4608/IMG_20221024_180318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSZV9_tNkRC24x3HpsnaDyYQDcRdxCYV_YJ0_mTmmxjj-lNbnOSh2imd3sSBsigyrZP6o5n28VkKKA7Vc15VlX6M21-2JG0LgwaZQj7cz3yzpHYpBMEGB8XYtNzu7eauh50iH9TIktlqdT1VRW_FrplQURsXYPBsAqiky0d_82Ne-eWAUCR1Yt7SG/s320/IMG_20221024_180318.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHnNmWRvJ_jHP7qS_ru4hLAtF3sMuM1Qv6ydnLKz1Gb91O11PgEqhfEMVZXgARdRvBfLEyedgd2zYWRwPxMso8ZG_Ay1DSjEncpt5MTjWfUdB12vbTXJ25wxc3NfZbOMqYM1W1fNa66yAuYBcF4jhBuHpOl3xIRN9mEU8fjYXk0GSgMK1F80AIUC9/s4000/IMG_20221024_180557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHnNmWRvJ_jHP7qS_ru4hLAtF3sMuM1Qv6ydnLKz1Gb91O11PgEqhfEMVZXgARdRvBfLEyedgd2zYWRwPxMso8ZG_Ay1DSjEncpt5MTjWfUdB12vbTXJ25wxc3NfZbOMqYM1W1fNa66yAuYBcF4jhBuHpOl3xIRN9mEU8fjYXk0GSgMK1F80AIUC9/s320/IMG_20221024_180557.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes it was one of those moments, my ' <i>Kahin dur jab din dhal jaye'</i> moment when we put behind our tiffs and just marvelled...hues of the sky , the road and the horizon!</div><p style="text-align: left;">'<i>In umr se lambi se sadko manzil pe pohochte deha nahi </i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Bas daudti phirti rahti Hain humne to theharte dekha nahi!!'</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Gulzar couplet for every occasion!</p><p style="text-align: left;">We checked in to Hotel Chowki Dhani and settled for vegetarian fare at night which was kind of disappointing for the adults and the kids alike. Though the news of availability of eggs in the morning came as a huge relief!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KRehouOM71DUCPC7kg7gD4CK1eesQTTP6LCQ0hOwWXG5FtV_Yjh4mtY0yosWlYOTqzIwAsMCq1QI-jn01Zu6JmBAX_ArjazWabkXy41zaTsmp_XHgv6tbGD486SaHoBnDtpCoQS4JLhM37n16FBely3CXTtjafM_Tmm1UiYP2WV1f__YuDFv1vnd/s4000/IMG_20221024_184905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KRehouOM71DUCPC7kg7gD4CK1eesQTTP6LCQ0hOwWXG5FtV_Yjh4mtY0yosWlYOTqzIwAsMCq1QI-jn01Zu6JmBAX_ArjazWabkXy41zaTsmp_XHgv6tbGD486SaHoBnDtpCoQS4JLhM37n16FBely3CXTtjafM_Tmm1UiYP2WV1f__YuDFv1vnd/s320/IMG_20221024_184905.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 1: Jaisalmer : Sonar Kella, Patto ke Haveli, Bada Bagh, Gadisar Lake</b></div><p style="text-align: left;">Like all bongs Satyajit Ray's Sonar Kella weaved a spell over Jaisalmer...the desert and the golden fort. Even daughter who had read the English translation kept asking ' Maa where do you think was Mukul's treasures in this crowded place!' Next morning after breakfast was the day trip of the charming old world Jaisalmer. Beginning was of course with Sonar Kella...the Golden Fort with its alleys, with its residents manoeuvring deftly their two wheelers around the tourists and stray animals, the lanes with antic shops...one would just love the vibes!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmOyAJqjvusCpWNY3I0JtGHIFbSu9bSRoKoz1IsiCkwer5WVdbUGLXAhOLWw0_RGqUBzzJLk21z6ZmK9tcMClp_yT87UQ8c7atnAb-Pvtw_M-tL4fveHvA35TlB4sLc0kBd50rpIAsPzjAkYsq4TXXtVcncfzh0-U8dr6GHn4-g7edJswxaPjtTnK/s4000/IMG_20221025_114431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmOyAJqjvusCpWNY3I0JtGHIFbSu9bSRoKoz1IsiCkwer5WVdbUGLXAhOLWw0_RGqUBzzJLk21z6ZmK9tcMClp_yT87UQ8c7atnAb-Pvtw_M-tL4fveHvA35TlB4sLc0kBd50rpIAsPzjAkYsq4TXXtVcncfzh0-U8dr6GHn4-g7edJswxaPjtTnK/s320/IMG_20221025_114431.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKusMZHnuRmadBoc7sabz50feoN7FLZPYW1eUckLZd25OeexkRx1Xt7Rohoh3ksKGCKKe7_lB04iEGlNU79MS3jQat_gwz6xzG_ehSCm3VfcQDGRpL8GCVu5A-IvKsVxPZbvPMA2F9Vdz8IzSsFrUab-1rsObXhQWKD6WrN5AfUoWPqLdawjjB4AOi/s4000/IMG_20221025_114843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKusMZHnuRmadBoc7sabz50feoN7FLZPYW1eUckLZd25OeexkRx1Xt7Rohoh3ksKGCKKe7_lB04iEGlNU79MS3jQat_gwz6xzG_ehSCm3VfcQDGRpL8GCVu5A-IvKsVxPZbvPMA2F9Vdz8IzSsFrUab-1rsObXhQWKD6WrN5AfUoWPqLdawjjB4AOi/s320/IMG_20221025_114843.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQmvPPNG5lu8A4bLSPnr5BuzgO7CNWbYi-vWXr_WUBRkMBGBHe5i8hVio1IePZIfJmTxHm_idb0PxcvUHpBxFiT1ul0iA7dUWQPoNVJUYrTiPNHiInh_gPVIwytcs5cbac_ZONnlHws40FRdeqW1j0OIZ5Ug0nGCElfihiJjs0zXOQNMmbnLwX2KE/s4000/IMG_20221025_115300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQmvPPNG5lu8A4bLSPnr5BuzgO7CNWbYi-vWXr_WUBRkMBGBHe5i8hVio1IePZIfJmTxHm_idb0PxcvUHpBxFiT1ul0iA7dUWQPoNVJUYrTiPNHiInh_gPVIwytcs5cbac_ZONnlHws40FRdeqW1j0OIZ5Ug0nGCElfihiJjs0zXOQNMmbnLwX2KE/s320/IMG_20221025_115300.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sot6YufnkNbI4H_kUfBrL05Y17X8KmCz7tKWDMBQukgysEg3I_NQqQ1kOzVCH3U-_khsLAihzXdaKk9GCHu27EEzI8u4EijJmNUc2dwh0LUc9nMeJUcBSbZchNWKAxhl1SCzBOVwWsPObXlNu3O156eiAh4Ycw3DBCrYpJVmKkEaGT3qgemuH9hK/s4000/IMG_20221025_115332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sot6YufnkNbI4H_kUfBrL05Y17X8KmCz7tKWDMBQukgysEg3I_NQqQ1kOzVCH3U-_khsLAihzXdaKk9GCHu27EEzI8u4EijJmNUc2dwh0LUc9nMeJUcBSbZchNWKAxhl1SCzBOVwWsPObXlNu3O156eiAh4Ycw3DBCrYpJVmKkEaGT3qgemuH9hK/s4000/IMG_20221025_115332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sot6YufnkNbI4H_kUfBrL05Y17X8KmCz7tKWDMBQukgysEg3I_NQqQ1kOzVCH3U-_khsLAihzXdaKk9GCHu27EEzI8u4EijJmNUc2dwh0LUc9nMeJUcBSbZchNWKAxhl1SCzBOVwWsPObXlNu3O156eiAh4Ycw3DBCrYpJVmKkEaGT3qgemuH9hK/s320/IMG_20221025_115332.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsZWASlccJh3ZZ-YnBRf7TwgPjTVY4q_ivDE3ejBY7y6BMKRpp2beDACpfBPOtiu6iaxxy5o4gDnisJX7NmM1lI3l5iFu-5r6t328QNBkMkV3L_zc7zaQY2Z4SdbJGmm-KxHOvT7l2hKK6beoWpz7lcsupK7FYUOG6xP2DRDO9vBQaWwxlF_sFyZN/s4000/IMG_20221025_115806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsZWASlccJh3ZZ-YnBRf7TwgPjTVY4q_ivDE3ejBY7y6BMKRpp2beDACpfBPOtiu6iaxxy5o4gDnisJX7NmM1lI3l5iFu-5r6t328QNBkMkV3L_zc7zaQY2Z4SdbJGmm-KxHOvT7l2hKK6beoWpz7lcsupK7FYUOG6xP2DRDO9vBQaWwxlF_sFyZN/s320/IMG_20221025_115806.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmCu6oOGjI39H-1jAhJaqDM4--UDGCMQGSr_M82a6Ch16hNHu2rfyia8mkB7KJoNMydgzhDwWRyWF2n2yY1NwK54A9utegbEToeVvQsvov94KGaGsQsbLiAkwQg46ewWzEInFlMrYEvA8Ipmovb3hnGEF5oyJNKlsNmitkoAxgncxSeorjnPH8p5E/s4000/IMG_20221025_115829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmCu6oOGjI39H-1jAhJaqDM4--UDGCMQGSr_M82a6Ch16hNHu2rfyia8mkB7KJoNMydgzhDwWRyWF2n2yY1NwK54A9utegbEToeVvQsvov94KGaGsQsbLiAkwQg46ewWzEInFlMrYEvA8Ipmovb3hnGEF5oyJNKlsNmitkoAxgncxSeorjnPH8p5E/s320/IMG_20221025_115829.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Absolutely ' Padharo Maro des' vibes, did some street shopping as I love, dupattas, jhumkas , sling bags, some souvenirs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QHFBGDSLtnsYVsHW6SEh-ZyWvTm-UeCO_BHutNhh1ZBjO3uwD1cxG2bjbmU3xnfYAwfBxxN2NAF3xWitC13Rm0LMvtWundpS1sMmp2ILcmp65Ovd5PZiaSo-Mn6nuMTHeGW0FWjTBVdL9dsRx1jOO9BZljLr7kMtCE9b4reCOFORdEz9CCU5pjLf/s4000/IMG_20221025_121411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QHFBGDSLtnsYVsHW6SEh-ZyWvTm-UeCO_BHutNhh1ZBjO3uwD1cxG2bjbmU3xnfYAwfBxxN2NAF3xWitC13Rm0LMvtWundpS1sMmp2ILcmp65Ovd5PZiaSo-Mn6nuMTHeGW0FWjTBVdL9dsRx1jOO9BZljLr7kMtCE9b4reCOFORdEz9CCU5pjLf/s320/IMG_20221025_121411.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwKasahdX6Fen9OpfIvBGuArKbAW78v6VRzQr5gcfxToX5H-YiD6jkGS4pgnT-6zlBoX0202mHd2Pq1vXJHJVy8fWh4PBB06W4R9n9CyWisJNXD7hZKNn8YcWqk3ahLPsWhc7UNJJ8HeYw0YO7ogW73ggW-V3TCSuUSIVTfxkr6pSiJhpH0J0nfZ/s4000/IMG_20221025_122257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwKasahdX6Fen9OpfIvBGuArKbAW78v6VRzQr5gcfxToX5H-YiD6jkGS4pgnT-6zlBoX0202mHd2Pq1vXJHJVy8fWh4PBB06W4R9n9CyWisJNXD7hZKNn8YcWqk3ahLPsWhc7UNJJ8HeYw0YO7ogW73ggW-V3TCSuUSIVTfxkr6pSiJhpH0J0nfZ/s320/IMG_20221025_122257.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu9w4QhPr2fBPLQGGMcmjHa_N2cVy6COMLGxwi9Ap_iD3GhvULsibBNpD5KMc9lt5tJkHSemOKr-YlYyQj9EDUztYpyvctL434tbMMw7kLZ35kgNk4-8MZyyTqoEK9P2AQ0g7cEQHT36BNS-5T--hyCsCSJLECqNbX-jiEP_nEW-KtDToNZdx7LoD/s4000/IMG_20221025_122534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu9w4QhPr2fBPLQGGMcmjHa_N2cVy6COMLGxwi9Ap_iD3GhvULsibBNpD5KMc9lt5tJkHSemOKr-YlYyQj9EDUztYpyvctL434tbMMw7kLZ35kgNk4-8MZyyTqoEK9P2AQ0g7cEQHT36BNS-5T--hyCsCSJLECqNbX-jiEP_nEW-KtDToNZdx7LoD/s320/IMG_20221025_122534.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQeUs72UlxE3vbBlMFJ5ZAHRZA2pBi16bV3fFMEJDrcB6Ph6O9rQgMcd8Sb6CgXM8f6zfRrln8wMkb2ITdHxnLYRkeR4hy6HUxZl9rt_PB3rh4kf-GUF9NndPdqsZxchQe7rPSOLuBxNy_fY_48r9HI1nm1r_Oi4t8NXmhShqQ8W6Pu6LBi19XPUG/s4608/IMG_20221025_123903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQeUs72UlxE3vbBlMFJ5ZAHRZA2pBi16bV3fFMEJDrcB6Ph6O9rQgMcd8Sb6CgXM8f6zfRrln8wMkb2ITdHxnLYRkeR4hy6HUxZl9rt_PB3rh4kf-GUF9NndPdqsZxchQe7rPSOLuBxNy_fY_48r9HI1nm1r_Oi4t8NXmhShqQ8W6Pu6LBi19XPUG/s320/IMG_20221025_123903.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IHzg78yrAToMU59FVzCbHNMvdF1ROHPqnzOdjZoDX74swQQmB9UdLVQfechvQsZBCt1sfNnn2F-etfGH7mF4tDx2IDSsgdHn-BGMOf0h-NDgd1ZLy4mbEozxlZk9rRvHHFoopVJLbrynxaAu1IW_BprBuVd62FLZqBqDNsh2nOb7rgBbcv-BKZVI/s4000/IMG_20221025_124205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IHzg78yrAToMU59FVzCbHNMvdF1ROHPqnzOdjZoDX74swQQmB9UdLVQfechvQsZBCt1sfNnn2F-etfGH7mF4tDx2IDSsgdHn-BGMOf0h-NDgd1ZLy4mbEozxlZk9rRvHHFoopVJLbrynxaAu1IW_BprBuVd62FLZqBqDNsh2nOb7rgBbcv-BKZVI/s320/IMG_20221025_124205.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Next stop was Patto ke Haveli , my visit to Jaisalmer wasn't first and the Jaisalmer I remembered from mid nineties...laid back, charming, royal with palaces, havelis and desert straight out of the movies and serials I had watched !</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27FvCTPjClt-b6zgypW9Qjq2SAIQ1G-HF-3AouahubIXp7kMygiTqYaIbNBl10zMs79TKkd-nVG6GFsjMEdL6XP_cahc2uzYO_gBJfQR_n1UsZ1L_5q9olrrHADvQxm9ciQ_rrYPnAsVkIrFQcdSoyRWNGMSJGi0LT0GIkHVrckvNMEfyvz3TxrB7/s4000/IMG_20221025_150057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27FvCTPjClt-b6zgypW9Qjq2SAIQ1G-HF-3AouahubIXp7kMygiTqYaIbNBl10zMs79TKkd-nVG6GFsjMEdL6XP_cahc2uzYO_gBJfQR_n1UsZ1L_5q9olrrHADvQxm9ciQ_rrYPnAsVkIrFQcdSoyRWNGMSJGi0LT0GIkHVrckvNMEfyvz3TxrB7/s320/IMG_20221025_150057.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kTAy0vWcoAzqzNWk25Uh0a0Qkeky562F45aUKMXxHgKqNd_29xNE5X6p8juotGPNzir4xb1Uec-GVyehOx0O14VEcx29LMBHAlzMVg8pe62mlEoh9RVQlSYDIMZbgdMRYDpQmSUGajVP_bSxOp5LWKLfEiprfmqziyctl2e9pYOjZ_Z04pr4-FM5/s4000/IMG_20221025_145455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kTAy0vWcoAzqzNWk25Uh0a0Qkeky562F45aUKMXxHgKqNd_29xNE5X6p8juotGPNzir4xb1Uec-GVyehOx0O14VEcx29LMBHAlzMVg8pe62mlEoh9RVQlSYDIMZbgdMRYDpQmSUGajVP_bSxOp5LWKLfEiprfmqziyctl2e9pYOjZ_Z04pr4-FM5/s320/IMG_20221025_145455.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPPmvWMlRFgiSTD9R1o6-as5pVC2MwZXJm4pr8ecvu5E5BLbEJlInAa-9ZzA8eRBjf4LEF6ThTipw6WxjH7apRa1e79GuS0b4y8yZGGeQKMm9AwjLsP7LB_xpLV2gaMKSWOZUm3zjW704n_tyP8KuR6pCQX5yzYZjzEL5EEAyRKu7pg6Vc9haipjk/s4000/IMG_20221025_145349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPPmvWMlRFgiSTD9R1o6-as5pVC2MwZXJm4pr8ecvu5E5BLbEJlInAa-9ZzA8eRBjf4LEF6ThTipw6WxjH7apRa1e79GuS0b4y8yZGGeQKMm9AwjLsP7LB_xpLV2gaMKSWOZUm3zjW704n_tyP8KuR6pCQX5yzYZjzEL5EEAyRKu7pg6Vc9haipjk/s320/IMG_20221025_145349.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7A38FZHJiqNhkinExVMUJNysJcDh7yVNsJLki-dzFLBzYQWOUh5MfPqeCoIhDG6UB4jg8C2Q6Qm3XWWXdq44muVSk1yW57q8NqKfMbP5eXAPvl0ihHUWasFjRAt5g0-7Q3q5aoGbIVS_iJuLw9BwJ7XLuvJYJkHCBsU0Qo3r9xNcpp62R79hh4fm/s4000/IMG_20221025_151919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7A38FZHJiqNhkinExVMUJNysJcDh7yVNsJLki-dzFLBzYQWOUh5MfPqeCoIhDG6UB4jg8C2Q6Qm3XWWXdq44muVSk1yW57q8NqKfMbP5eXAPvl0ihHUWasFjRAt5g0-7Q3q5aoGbIVS_iJuLw9BwJ7XLuvJYJkHCBsU0Qo3r9xNcpp62R79hh4fm/s320/IMG_20221025_151919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI12hR6rnB3yHxEay-yBd9FVFXxOOiVg-cff3QltPSKvNADNtl5ifTNMQR6j7ttQpf5_VOwYBpES8ounc3vlmQXZSlbqxVFpTfmyvAwplELu5USBGdIR7AP1jduVo7zOgeBX_wk5VtRurDqm8r0ks_vxF17lwfk9NHYrlTBGy_iNcFHJ_9f4PWW9G/s4000/IMG_20221025_150131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI12hR6rnB3yHxEay-yBd9FVFXxOOiVg-cff3QltPSKvNADNtl5ifTNMQR6j7ttQpf5_VOwYBpES8ounc3vlmQXZSlbqxVFpTfmyvAwplELu5USBGdIR7AP1jduVo7zOgeBX_wk5VtRurDqm8r0ks_vxF17lwfk9NHYrlTBGy_iNcFHJ_9f4PWW9G/s320/IMG_20221025_150131.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK1Vee0uPtlP8OQm0eOx3EncrFdjPUGeQBrlDgBBmALrUgJiaSXZA_Mmp4b9tIezP7ThvpnHzBiYQmjYhnNkWyPDFDaQYReHOWiS1ZDLwbe9CmsWWJGWnzj66sRrHza5_9eyW38Rnzaj1-yjWOLTxSNyazzt_nfEhqibK24cPO85ncUleqynEj_E_/s4000/IMG_20221025_145614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK1Vee0uPtlP8OQm0eOx3EncrFdjPUGeQBrlDgBBmALrUgJiaSXZA_Mmp4b9tIezP7ThvpnHzBiYQmjYhnNkWyPDFDaQYReHOWiS1ZDLwbe9CmsWWJGWnzj66sRrHza5_9eyW38Rnzaj1-yjWOLTxSNyazzt_nfEhqibK24cPO85ncUleqynEj_E_/s320/IMG_20221025_145614.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Day's last stop was the beautiful Bada Bagh and after that we headed for light and sound show at the Gadisar Lake. Many old movie songs were shot at Bada Bagh like 'Jihale Miskin ' that haunting nomadic track and we witnessed solar eclipse in the open horizon... which left us spell bound.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCp_-6rMNbZ22KD9pZuAtPNeDY7-Msh_pgay-aRliK-Qfba8hqpRQ6d7Ma6T-P9ycuILBbIx5w4uftfGys6TXa2-P5bSzmYckS6Kcauj-L1afjQzYFYIhGF54zkrTpbL5nqHew4fXR4A8qmnYPUnB1ygXllYQ0FLpLOOGP2kAokiUWS24e-GSWDPY/s4000/IMG_20221025_172451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCp_-6rMNbZ22KD9pZuAtPNeDY7-Msh_pgay-aRliK-Qfba8hqpRQ6d7Ma6T-P9ycuILBbIx5w4uftfGys6TXa2-P5bSzmYckS6Kcauj-L1afjQzYFYIhGF54zkrTpbL5nqHew4fXR4A8qmnYPUnB1ygXllYQ0FLpLOOGP2kAokiUWS24e-GSWDPY/s320/IMG_20221025_172451.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrCVDeQIQZjWbyi5_2A3ymzmNogqm9dNDqdyXMpOLkwHOoHZt0L9bYzTQzokO9au633_1V15cfbsSxj0CTcIzKR-sw89PzTT_6c1tAcoyrO30Ws_Pfi6SqPsCPqt_ZrvdnIvN8U6YkPKT4-LxvyWyVB4BQ8qipPnKv1ekDfYuPln6jll1xlJz8hmh/s4000/IMG_20221025_173339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrCVDeQIQZjWbyi5_2A3ymzmNogqm9dNDqdyXMpOLkwHOoHZt0L9bYzTQzokO9au633_1V15cfbsSxj0CTcIzKR-sw89PzTT_6c1tAcoyrO30Ws_Pfi6SqPsCPqt_ZrvdnIvN8U6YkPKT4-LxvyWyVB4BQ8qipPnKv1ekDfYuPln6jll1xlJz8hmh/s320/IMG_20221025_173339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitofX09EteeMHyp4vroMD4GZ5bRLkJr8jp1RBjwBRlZR_uZMJTEpzJGNDXscMVADzrpo19COzhGznjk1m43LAgxKuF7K6QzE0M7npoCNX74OHShNr58AjHGLsmh6q5_RMOKzt1nFmNpU2dt6m-UHqwigR6pBgIMhWqHlN8bDTXUnjIozbczesbPURH/s4000/IMG_20221025_173807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitofX09EteeMHyp4vroMD4GZ5bRLkJr8jp1RBjwBRlZR_uZMJTEpzJGNDXscMVADzrpo19COzhGznjk1m43LAgxKuF7K6QzE0M7npoCNX74OHShNr58AjHGLsmh6q5_RMOKzt1nFmNpU2dt6m-UHqwigR6pBgIMhWqHlN8bDTXUnjIozbczesbPURH/s320/IMG_20221025_173807.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVihZWBGKdM6TnR9PvDuXEPZeVtUQqPpbzNWI2nCw1XQGDndYhQagFzxJnpVQnIZnb40q3sPA27yiwFdrv6vDHbxEkFe6WQtTcYCPGPJmVbA5F9ibS7lxt08Ojp2Utc3xJHsA1b3ReFnKqUiDj-3y62w7YZzQUa0TF6mDKloWKJA_3xnN6LlJhr4O/s4000/IMG_20221025_175602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVihZWBGKdM6TnR9PvDuXEPZeVtUQqPpbzNWI2nCw1XQGDndYhQagFzxJnpVQnIZnb40q3sPA27yiwFdrv6vDHbxEkFe6WQtTcYCPGPJmVbA5F9ibS7lxt08Ojp2Utc3xJHsA1b3ReFnKqUiDj-3y62w7YZzQUa0TF6mDKloWKJA_3xnN6LlJhr4O/s320/IMG_20221025_175602.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lMlII7W5BB5Vvi4sxbgNJSYYOZy7hwIb-RDF6LK3FTc-1E6e4gJBrL8NNLB4kwZE3OMAqzH0YKK-7VFcVbX-QVHlkxDWwosmM9Mb5j2li-YnzMMXIATkSI3lJs3GP1hzyKovEzw4xfHbnTr0_TH-8OQ5yUSZdb9K1gzeUybLQ2u8dyXH3JaN166N/s4000/IMG_20221025_181117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lMlII7W5BB5Vvi4sxbgNJSYYOZy7hwIb-RDF6LK3FTc-1E6e4gJBrL8NNLB4kwZE3OMAqzH0YKK-7VFcVbX-QVHlkxDWwosmM9Mb5j2li-YnzMMXIATkSI3lJs3GP1hzyKovEzw4xfHbnTr0_TH-8OQ5yUSZdb9K1gzeUybLQ2u8dyXH3JaN166N/s320/IMG_20221025_181117.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 2: Drive to Longewalla, Tanot Mata temple</b> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Next day was the drive to Longewalla which was not on my bucket list but followed the group. Road was ethereal amidst sparse vegetation and almost no villages or sign of life near by. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3-bl_JBZnzAf5F9uppOTmqRBjgBN4PKzETpsZJUpy7vkdrxNMlN6bTTuzAKA1058WtYsewOsCj-DeBjTVeRUx--YSops3K8MyCb6aQ8zTdMUVrDGg38GDXqeAg7ddTRKT_yHKQoebuNvxqul41nnWQLpBuH3k0vtvTWN1PV0q7ImV5-pLAof9F40/s4000/IMG_20221026_124653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3-bl_JBZnzAf5F9uppOTmqRBjgBN4PKzETpsZJUpy7vkdrxNMlN6bTTuzAKA1058WtYsewOsCj-DeBjTVeRUx--YSops3K8MyCb6aQ8zTdMUVrDGg38GDXqeAg7ddTRKT_yHKQoebuNvxqul41nnWQLpBuH3k0vtvTWN1PV0q7ImV5-pLAof9F40/s320/IMG_20221026_124653.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11CsVQwoZ7zVnhRXJ4N4UzW5gOQKk900bbiVk6NPWGjcXbInGhqWgwzrgfwkOQSI4YzKFiWnPcpIJ7zOhA65yPJylL3KDwKnI3gAMDKxVicfSybeL8x4-JfcXENKVIgOqYBUrt7pyOy2wNuZ5aeceh6er5qS5WAkROBs5rIv4R_EP-1luvfHJoAZI/s4000/IMG_20221026_142828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11CsVQwoZ7zVnhRXJ4N4UzW5gOQKk900bbiVk6NPWGjcXbInGhqWgwzrgfwkOQSI4YzKFiWnPcpIJ7zOhA65yPJylL3KDwKnI3gAMDKxVicfSybeL8x4-JfcXENKVIgOqYBUrt7pyOy2wNuZ5aeceh6er5qS5WAkROBs5rIv4R_EP-1luvfHJoAZI/s320/IMG_20221026_142828.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDodmkQI9oIRLaZhHp3PxQgyT4LufQwOtte-YUp04OcmIGm8MOe4ytThLQ17rtI8tKBsiMj0o8Y_I6zIaZ6h3Hw_nLC2pG-ST9-fp_kfAGASq45oKwtac9H3_rjpDvFulvhwdsrX2GX3zpuV6LQEo5QPdX-nDi5dKnwzJQnfQexNVzjh8U9Tswh2a/s4000/IMG_20221026_134512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDodmkQI9oIRLaZhHp3PxQgyT4LufQwOtte-YUp04OcmIGm8MOe4ytThLQ17rtI8tKBsiMj0o8Y_I6zIaZ6h3Hw_nLC2pG-ST9-fp_kfAGASq45oKwtac9H3_rjpDvFulvhwdsrX2GX3zpuV6LQEo5QPdX-nDi5dKnwzJQnfQexNVzjh8U9Tswh2a/s320/IMG_20221026_134512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_sV8ryHbSDa1O0m6RqUzXTLXj7Qy9sI0MsCB61EzGBypALUBGiq5rDMh5XCPEdx_GIDw366zxwpzoX8pjxnCIgpQEnQDOzFYsawhN_CD8UuvBAn-MH1TVMCJxdyF3LGPOgKG3pd_1XU11JgFzrB62h5nPFOx7twOfXAd6-LoABDCtw8Kpry3pOu/s4000/IMG_20221026_145346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_sV8ryHbSDa1O0m6RqUzXTLXj7Qy9sI0MsCB61EzGBypALUBGiq5rDMh5XCPEdx_GIDw366zxwpzoX8pjxnCIgpQEnQDOzFYsawhN_CD8UuvBAn-MH1TVMCJxdyF3LGPOgKG3pd_1XU11JgFzrB62h5nPFOx7twOfXAd6-LoABDCtw8Kpry3pOu/s4000/IMG_20221026_145346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_sV8ryHbSDa1O0m6RqUzXTLXj7Qy9sI0MsCB61EzGBypALUBGiq5rDMh5XCPEdx_GIDw366zxwpzoX8pjxnCIgpQEnQDOzFYsawhN_CD8UuvBAn-MH1TVMCJxdyF3LGPOgKG3pd_1XU11JgFzrB62h5nPFOx7twOfXAd6-LoABDCtw8Kpry3pOu/s320/IMG_20221026_145346.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Longewalla evoked the emotions specially from the movie ' Border'...the songs echoed through out the drive and though anti war at heart , the place struck chords at those soft corners where it hurt! The drive to Tanot Mata temple where the supposed Pakistani bombs did not blast was also ecstatic.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzpsVkVOki4l6sAM_wP4QwsBGs9h6BUMkqco75rcwJKmd07OmDbRjWzy7yA54ftF2sDDg1Wp0kMUgjeQvb9BmZ5WI5NAL9LGlKWyg7xaGxHWBGHGV2LGK2uDdh-jQTGyCyZZkrVYF--FYrfwSYFveZ6DXVc3VGlfEcnvUq8u2PP8ssWx9DIX2rII_/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1280" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzpsVkVOki4l6sAM_wP4QwsBGs9h6BUMkqco75rcwJKmd07OmDbRjWzy7yA54ftF2sDDg1Wp0kMUgjeQvb9BmZ5WI5NAL9LGlKWyg7xaGxHWBGHGV2LGK2uDdh-jQTGyCyZZkrVYF--FYrfwSYFveZ6DXVc3VGlfEcnvUq8u2PP8ssWx9DIX2rII_/s320/IMG-20221026-WA0069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7xkQl8GFZhqTMEtdpJd-V-1j3ZnD4TrUuzhq7lDs_mwig1V4pQyubu3k8ozmas5qi7e-HUJBwyU9zcWKxQLSkldclCsBHXvxuZUScB9UhAnQ7p36Io4Fu6GE-sXksj7bo6Q5rAcpZaL8RRcmlTNlDJnyVoqy9Sh4xiVK7JWtjpEbVSH8QyhUfGa-/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1280" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7xkQl8GFZhqTMEtdpJd-V-1j3ZnD4TrUuzhq7lDs_mwig1V4pQyubu3k8ozmas5qi7e-HUJBwyU9zcWKxQLSkldclCsBHXvxuZUScB9UhAnQ7p36Io4Fu6GE-sXksj7bo6Q5rAcpZaL8RRcmlTNlDJnyVoqy9Sh4xiVK7JWtjpEbVSH8QyhUfGa-/s320/IMG-20221026-WA0074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGft8Srgz3sMitlgtuTef8WLWKCTFH9TCvmvJdWY9EGa-mZGGJoV8tnOOCWwW-SN50ywmAfL_oLU3qe-0ra42c-QiDgj5wBkpKr0Uy9pcinKqCUhoHLRpe3UvnSFGNzeF7buIYmTMJPtJLqSg--ZyDoHp8pABkMla7XD6sLisYZVN_yP6rj4u018W/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGft8Srgz3sMitlgtuTef8WLWKCTFH9TCvmvJdWY9EGa-mZGGJoV8tnOOCWwW-SN50ywmAfL_oLU3qe-0ra42c-QiDgj5wBkpKr0Uy9pcinKqCUhoHLRpe3UvnSFGNzeF7buIYmTMJPtJLqSg--ZyDoHp8pABkMla7XD6sLisYZVN_yP6rj4u018W/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1280" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGft8Srgz3sMitlgtuTef8WLWKCTFH9TCvmvJdWY9EGa-mZGGJoV8tnOOCWwW-SN50ywmAfL_oLU3qe-0ra42c-QiDgj5wBkpKr0Uy9pcinKqCUhoHLRpe3UvnSFGNzeF7buIYmTMJPtJLqSg--ZyDoHp8pABkMla7XD6sLisYZVN_yP6rj4u018W/s320/IMG-20221026-WA0085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 3: Mandir Palace, Kuldhara Village, Jeep Safari, Sam Sand Dunes</b></div><p style="text-align: left;">Next day was visit to Mandir palace and a fabulous non veg lunch of Laal Maas and other stuff and the kids jumped in with chicken chicken....well can't blame them..took after their parents after all đ.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJp-bF8CTZx-AzlO7_bnKkG0rpjI6Bym-jP_zgy0XafI2CJCUPRBbgT85m8cznTu-U3Fyu8bYg62F2fFCyPkgL9u-G1BumbNdZZncIxEb1tQIf4LKZIDLM9Ddzs9O_lfVSQTEgx4jD2OOLkyp1thXshSkkwiipEpJ1Bv4L_6VFX6MZUR9XLaZb199/s4000/IMG_20221027_133438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJp-bF8CTZx-AzlO7_bnKkG0rpjI6Bym-jP_zgy0XafI2CJCUPRBbgT85m8cznTu-U3Fyu8bYg62F2fFCyPkgL9u-G1BumbNdZZncIxEb1tQIf4LKZIDLM9Ddzs9O_lfVSQTEgx4jD2OOLkyp1thXshSkkwiipEpJ1Bv4L_6VFX6MZUR9XLaZb199/s320/IMG_20221027_133438.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSI-0REnAPhRM63TLqOUywiAGIp7HrlGiYv2rS4QgMyJxEd9dUHvK7ClOUlomLgdxi-20Z_QLun1ruypzUD80OKWoNNC064TowoXJ1yDFCkzhyLbEG_d8MpxGc3vuem0jVFX2JYJoCfRaW9X_xhuGlXcw9jlw4cTuVI3eGQTmpxeWwUnW7xbX8wHI/s4000/IMG_20221027_133843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSI-0REnAPhRM63TLqOUywiAGIp7HrlGiYv2rS4QgMyJxEd9dUHvK7ClOUlomLgdxi-20Z_QLun1ruypzUD80OKWoNNC064TowoXJ1yDFCkzhyLbEG_d8MpxGc3vuem0jVFX2JYJoCfRaW9X_xhuGlXcw9jlw4cTuVI3eGQTmpxeWwUnW7xbX8wHI/s320/IMG_20221027_133843.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9lRstMIO8esmJFlq9e671qg19pLRSzUohWSu38GxodRHKDGcdXWsAPh-_9CvDl02XlUKlQC0RDcUTEBEABawVZMGAbY_SfBthkbkKBN2t2jIWcbpVT7LLyuiW-qNUCcfomEJnUd1fhRszg8aMO6euqWc5O5sDrxbp6WBqKLZvgMX7br2-exm8P5f/s4000/IMG_20221027_132827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9lRstMIO8esmJFlq9e671qg19pLRSzUohWSu38GxodRHKDGcdXWsAPh-_9CvDl02XlUKlQC0RDcUTEBEABawVZMGAbY_SfBthkbkKBN2t2jIWcbpVT7LLyuiW-qNUCcfomEJnUd1fhRszg8aMO6euqWc5O5sDrxbp6WBqKLZvgMX7br2-exm8P5f/s320/IMG_20221027_132827.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next was the supposedly haunted Kuldhara village, nothing much noticeable , a Bhangarh like feel if anything eerie is there...is lost among the crowd!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiOP68IFkb3rN7zqaBdx8qqmehmOQoR3Lx_b_RdwVRDm6KVGhmvGdj58v1RbVsbuz-HP17F-Hry0MMcgNDMjQK2mhKiVNFLCVa0h_kL0dyGqTv4Y-th4ALYeGryvkuMXY1oOHEBraZvUjWyQstvCdHB4okiHGUXNwqFqu4hmYykmE6DlApsdRy0OY/s4000/IMG_20221027_155408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiOP68IFkb3rN7zqaBdx8qqmehmOQoR3Lx_b_RdwVRDm6KVGhmvGdj58v1RbVsbuz-HP17F-Hry0MMcgNDMjQK2mhKiVNFLCVa0h_kL0dyGqTv4Y-th4ALYeGryvkuMXY1oOHEBraZvUjWyQstvCdHB4okiHGUXNwqFqu4hmYykmE6DlApsdRy0OY/s320/IMG_20221027_155408.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We checked in to the desert camp in the late afternoon where I quickly changed for a long dress for some instagramic reel and was set for desert safari. Husband was not happy at the little stretch of sand and the crowd, his friend was raving about the vast Dubai desert and I was shooting my Raziya Sultana reel with glee and the kids giggled madly at the jeep safari where we adults had our hearts and stomach popping out of us!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbdbApCCkRB9QsORJdpn9uf5s-jcjQV6t2PJS0doS09sfEe0eXQERRpfO3SXgGAdKjiMW8MZQrqQKWvQlMrrYaR9HOkROv4JGblDbfmhAw-IjXENWK3yzlF8rA2jc3SURkkY_8rRm0zmekZMqS0aKWZubVT6bGTKtbeGWerCx6KE1uDK5AaUKL1qS/s4000/IMG_20221027_172235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbdbApCCkRB9QsORJdpn9uf5s-jcjQV6t2PJS0doS09sfEe0eXQERRpfO3SXgGAdKjiMW8MZQrqQKWvQlMrrYaR9HOkROv4JGblDbfmhAw-IjXENWK3yzlF8rA2jc3SURkkY_8rRm0zmekZMqS0aKWZubVT6bGTKtbeGWerCx6KE1uDK5AaUKL1qS/s320/IMG_20221027_172235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4GJ5Y41ZNUl9tz1WeD4orZGM1Cfjr4w1YjcZR_yTIN4qfhtLCpWkXAbJLfH-Ld8X8lAN2Q6kYZIIfJCGGbUd7JyfYTDXHG8hVWvU63KCQjX7HKUqG4NkTDlOKXnW189V65ckr8CEcEpEJNFI6-L2UOnRx528-MRpMR57ea25sZMk6-RhlqONd1Vh/s4000/IMG_20221027_172511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4GJ5Y41ZNUl9tz1WeD4orZGM1Cfjr4w1YjcZR_yTIN4qfhtLCpWkXAbJLfH-Ld8X8lAN2Q6kYZIIfJCGGbUd7JyfYTDXHG8hVWvU63KCQjX7HKUqG4NkTDlOKXnW189V65ckr8CEcEpEJNFI6-L2UOnRx528-MRpMR57ea25sZMk6-RhlqONd1Vh/s320/IMG_20221027_172511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CGVmCTp6VzbdjFMu8p74YHI08aL6TkhYP1vmQDdSdBAAYVmzBlxOXZsZ5OGDeABQa9UVeGGpxfwf3Zr_tq7wroI1IJ4FXAKFgAYgFNa3ueQLLVxZwoutJDwDQqkZWfMJ0VdIGGlamr3_Vay4TwaUn4DLEf7XWn6NSXwYAs4l-jD93VoV4t2MTcvb/s4000/IMG_20221027_172614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CGVmCTp6VzbdjFMu8p74YHI08aL6TkhYP1vmQDdSdBAAYVmzBlxOXZsZ5OGDeABQa9UVeGGpxfwf3Zr_tq7wroI1IJ4FXAKFgAYgFNa3ueQLLVxZwoutJDwDQqkZWfMJ0VdIGGlamr3_Vay4TwaUn4DLEf7XWn6NSXwYAs4l-jD93VoV4t2MTcvb/s320/IMG_20221027_172614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGzN7fbLV5FZC2A3ASIcUBl-F9aLZfASXheyw1q4kDuUp2nkoNyXe_k_g0XdBjHS9oD3zuTFdzFwhgXeM4n05rzXtXN1D7SytYa9vCjEAOBXk0UmjzBZt7ARLBtwLe-Z6QuelKsQ94bj7RKPdfscQuKzJi6KRFUOfeYQ2BYBnQ3HCHPZN843mY3NW/s4000/IMG_20221027_172655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGzN7fbLV5FZC2A3ASIcUBl-F9aLZfASXheyw1q4kDuUp2nkoNyXe_k_g0XdBjHS9oD3zuTFdzFwhgXeM4n05rzXtXN1D7SytYa9vCjEAOBXk0UmjzBZt7ARLBtwLe-Z6QuelKsQ94bj7RKPdfscQuKzJi6KRFUOfeYQ2BYBnQ3HCHPZN843mY3NW/s320/IMG_20221027_172655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTCMU_mEQk5K07M7qZMnL06Tis7N9le15QM6TZzi84Bm-9OrzNZqtq61z8ujy1MpCwOStbQGAyrABZ0gR0Oyd6AeHAlhKw-xQ6TNLVcgjac3p3r36dntrHFp7N3SLRkrarchJCgYhJ2KXzMvRIUhWVlDhYP7Xcvom252RiAXAgZC19ds79G0y9KI6/s320/IMG_20221027_173953.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-TqIub51aGU87n71MdzEHCWqK9VOReAk4vsdRuJfW04XPuaA-W1QxmD9cDhdAWFjbQXofjJvTeDrj6wMj5H3Rb_9M5gpr4FX5TdLWxbKE5AsKtquF0GrcUu7t_0imd_kiXzsKsqnD-1oT7MchOd_s-TnSvOg1PgwN-zxd0VtqiU5chFFhFjxMLbB/s4000/IMG_20221027_175929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-TqIub51aGU87n71MdzEHCWqK9VOReAk4vsdRuJfW04XPuaA-W1QxmD9cDhdAWFjbQXofjJvTeDrj6wMj5H3Rb_9M5gpr4FX5TdLWxbKE5AsKtquF0GrcUu7t_0imd_kiXzsKsqnD-1oT7MchOd_s-TnSvOg1PgwN-zxd0VtqiU5chFFhFjxMLbB/s320/IMG_20221027_175929.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitn2EoZTicu-sQFHRLsTwUVzAXA9D3-7PveeGZGjbU46dqA1wMKeK63j4nWxhSn7qN_risKfHYeOFC3kI2c8UNLPuT0oL6bn6f0Cwj6kMxvW494sDu8wa9tf8OmFGYc4E6YtsRMEYBet8HzjXiybwBjAdm-qA1M2HpaPqNXHXQeAQ2NdDHI6Y9Znm8/s4000/IMG_20221027_180143__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="4000" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitn2EoZTicu-sQFHRLsTwUVzAXA9D3-7PveeGZGjbU46dqA1wMKeK63j4nWxhSn7qN_risKfHYeOFC3kI2c8UNLPuT0oL6bn6f0Cwj6kMxvW494sDu8wa9tf8OmFGYc4E6YtsRMEYBet8HzjXiybwBjAdm-qA1M2HpaPqNXHXQeAQ2NdDHI6Y9Znm8/s320/IMG_20221027_180143__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Evening was colourful at the camp with folk music, dance under the sky and the theme of the trip , ' Maare Hivde mein ' moment for me! Under the clear sky and stars we listened to the singers then played from our playlists and for sometimes it was a Lamhe, Rudali or ' Jihale Miskin' set where we were transported! Kids made a fuss over the wild insects on the door of the camps to which we did not pay any heed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rMJm-UOHLyRciMRNR2Ke4q3R4Klw98t4gJUooZyqV5Wr5g5iGDNXKjJUKXRqaXofqK8Iq1b5RcXvpilqTg4JlrVy5oA_Ysyh1lDdVXdYUptyYVsJM1IsKkRDvvJkOMSWHG5zbbbBvUisuL8vlpy_cH_RRNs0-GRkOJL2MzraKLvQgrmVl6vssEV-/s1280/IMG-20221027-WA0081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rMJm-UOHLyRciMRNR2Ke4q3R4Klw98t4gJUooZyqV5Wr5g5iGDNXKjJUKXRqaXofqK8Iq1b5RcXvpilqTg4JlrVy5oA_Ysyh1lDdVXdYUptyYVsJM1IsKkRDvvJkOMSWHG5zbbbBvUisuL8vlpy_cH_RRNs0-GRkOJL2MzraKLvQgrmVl6vssEV-/s320/IMG-20221027-WA0081.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-mVmlXNXxuQTx8dsVnOmZTas0kBerX8PZFfoURHugtmN6GykDiq4sZHC8LN76zfCeT8ppbKETCzh9ld034jJ6xDGKFFfmbRrOhNAQJSVlzta5wZQnqkgaYjjCqGZEZMuKK9jldsaS3OByKcbCq4kaTTs2snbqCBfcL5IlAnqRRrGa-koPGfqjXW9/s1280/IMG-20221028-WA0009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-mVmlXNXxuQTx8dsVnOmZTas0kBerX8PZFfoURHugtmN6GykDiq4sZHC8LN76zfCeT8ppbKETCzh9ld034jJ6xDGKFFfmbRrOhNAQJSVlzta5wZQnqkgaYjjCqGZEZMuKK9jldsaS3OByKcbCq4kaTTs2snbqCBfcL5IlAnqRRrGa-koPGfqjXW9/s320/IMG-20221028-WA0009.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 4: Drive back to Jodhpur </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">And next day was the drive back to Jodhpur! The trip was nearing an end....the dunes of Sam, the camps at night, havelis and palaces...we were leaving the land of fables with memories and music in hearts... So many Chitrahar songs seeing the light of the day and reel life and real life turned into one for some moments!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_yFM80W2vupeO1SP-Jk0aofCF78vxR4Liwov-LIOWHae2fxx_18PBOzBEDJwfsIsqYLI3EGG0FLHgenpGMdL2dFOIkgE2T9PEBXLUkmH-_RjerFXQjof_V8bZ7TX_LQ_YCpH7sRVO8TP8txVYORKMztlNqF7spDEj8GWk0gIt1kMJnrEOx6WOcvX/s4000/IMG_20221028_121311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_yFM80W2vupeO1SP-Jk0aofCF78vxR4Liwov-LIOWHae2fxx_18PBOzBEDJwfsIsqYLI3EGG0FLHgenpGMdL2dFOIkgE2T9PEBXLUkmH-_RjerFXQjof_V8bZ7TX_LQ_YCpH7sRVO8TP8txVYORKMztlNqF7spDEj8GWk0gIt1kMJnrEOx6WOcvX/s320/IMG_20221028_121311.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p>After the fun filled pre Diwali night with friends , lots of adda, drinks , music and laughter, next day would be the drive to Jaisalmer. Our friends boarded the train to Jaisalmer and we set out by our car. Not surprisingly I had a tiff with husband just after we started driving because I wanted to drive, so some tantrums and silence later I was beneath the wheels with music, lovely roads and windmills grazing the roads.</p><p>That was one of the beautiful drives of my life with virgin roads, rugged landscapes and nothing but horizon ahead. Maybe being Diwali day traffic was sparse and being tough terrain as it is population seemed sparse as well!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o68n68ctBUVZQwuPiuxj5oPHwaVZmHeTnqUPlUIxvZVbpjyQSpN-Br2Own2I0wK18vyGgPZQjy43p-10rufVOZ-F-i4vcsFzHH-VCHE-EqNg_A2-5AqRDvP-I1bY6LFdEy0tF2s4F6pYS2imtU1XJk9MyGG-7pGiuvI7-oRLQI7IFwy6qoERvzQ7/s4000/IMG_20221024_143435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o68n68ctBUVZQwuPiuxj5oPHwaVZmHeTnqUPlUIxvZVbpjyQSpN-Br2Own2I0wK18vyGgPZQjy43p-10rufVOZ-F-i4vcsFzHH-VCHE-EqNg_A2-5AqRDvP-I1bY6LFdEy0tF2s4F6pYS2imtU1XJk9MyGG-7pGiuvI7-oRLQI7IFwy6qoERvzQ7/s4000/IMG_20221024_143435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o68n68ctBUVZQwuPiuxj5oPHwaVZmHeTnqUPlUIxvZVbpjyQSpN-Br2Own2I0wK18vyGgPZQjy43p-10rufVOZ-F-i4vcsFzHH-VCHE-EqNg_A2-5AqRDvP-I1bY6LFdEy0tF2s4F6pYS2imtU1XJk9MyGG-7pGiuvI7-oRLQI7IFwy6qoERvzQ7/s320/IMG_20221024_143435.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WOvhiXUNxSgRysW_TzKSydHiQpJvq3dQPXf3w1-W-VRIysotbFXxv93_SkAxMva1oSgZkNZpNrK8Zq7pmxP9x4m3admlsf57lBgDVecWfUZYS-cxEUibHhDrD4YiaxgmXT7r9eKzZ8DG7riU9euLGfXocoPMyCAjBnH7jnTGuF9myEPdpFpNPjxO/s4000/IMG_20221024_143452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WOvhiXUNxSgRysW_TzKSydHiQpJvq3dQPXf3w1-W-VRIysotbFXxv93_SkAxMva1oSgZkNZpNrK8Zq7pmxP9x4m3admlsf57lBgDVecWfUZYS-cxEUibHhDrD4YiaxgmXT7r9eKzZ8DG7riU9euLGfXocoPMyCAjBnH7jnTGuF9myEPdpFpNPjxO/s320/IMG_20221024_143452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pQ0h3P7j7hfVmZqAbNyVbmj5vhcuiSKFmd_IR5ubKxPp0R4B2UbpkxJNOqrY4Thg1QzA-YsDGPp0ACkb3iXtkc1Pnln3Rzvh1OhDo_TMwzE11lYoUHdnnXg_2ddfaByiS2ZlkmTOdVkidL3umpD8RYME1c2AMOLwGrKC_gr-M764M-uKDIg7xRUD/s4000/IMG_20221024_165951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pQ0h3P7j7hfVmZqAbNyVbmj5vhcuiSKFmd_IR5ubKxPp0R4B2UbpkxJNOqrY4Thg1QzA-YsDGPp0ACkb3iXtkc1Pnln3Rzvh1OhDo_TMwzE11lYoUHdnnXg_2ddfaByiS2ZlkmTOdVkidL3umpD8RYME1c2AMOLwGrKC_gr-M764M-uKDIg7xRUD/s320/IMG_20221024_165951.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The road was deserted and there was hardly any open restaurant. We found few choices in Pokhran with most of them being closed. But had fresh Gatta curry, rotis, kadhi chawal in a smallish local joint types. Even my daughter a bit exasperated with 'eat local cuisine' preach actually loved the food and for once agreed when in a new place we must try local cuisine overlooking the pizza burger fair once in a while.<div><br /></div><div>The surprise of the drive was just waiting post lunch when I was planning to doze off with husband behind the wheels and daughter in front with him. The road straight head unfurled the most beautiful sunset which compelled husband to pull the car sideways and we just leapt out of the car. Later daughter remarked ' What a strange couple you are! One moment you were fighting tooth and nail and the next you were leaping out of the car... sunset sunset!!'</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ss6MxXryYsNkLvWAOJ0S471puTx3TTOW4dbubgZeWhmVUfyvPaHmZzOjWxKBjUmvIzD1gkwP4o5BUKNRO_9SKp_V7PnA_MG6KftnbYELzw8W9ZU4b4vwaXRvsP4ZNCmAplZitfS4bRJE3GFbCKsuEu6CEEOaOZsPxIgwBBHoKNyJIPQ4sVxkcmGD/s4000/IMG_20221024_180051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ss6MxXryYsNkLvWAOJ0S471puTx3TTOW4dbubgZeWhmVUfyvPaHmZzOjWxKBjUmvIzD1gkwP4o5BUKNRO_9SKp_V7PnA_MG6KftnbYELzw8W9ZU4b4vwaXRvsP4ZNCmAplZitfS4bRJE3GFbCKsuEu6CEEOaOZsPxIgwBBHoKNyJIPQ4sVxkcmGD/s320/IMG_20221024_180051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPBVieKjmVmzrDJLVGOi2fFi1yY67SkGL6kXR4SMDxyXlDN_k66oIx17sNCXNAdCL_7GyOg3Dgi5sHAJ7tYSVJcMBiKRnJrJD4sD1F_0QUOzxWWD7QJRm6GbpszWEJjkxgq5F2PJIflbFu0M_EjXJ0_uUHiCW_1fjZ8FEWahrjXrbMwwyovsG8qIx/s4000/IMG_20221024_180150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPBVieKjmVmzrDJLVGOi2fFi1yY67SkGL6kXR4SMDxyXlDN_k66oIx17sNCXNAdCL_7GyOg3Dgi5sHAJ7tYSVJcMBiKRnJrJD4sD1F_0QUOzxWWD7QJRm6GbpszWEJjkxgq5F2PJIflbFu0M_EjXJ0_uUHiCW_1fjZ8FEWahrjXrbMwwyovsG8qIx/s320/IMG_20221024_180150.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Mn8uAHZcPqjx3VI4I-CWDVZK1ce5LIZW0yUDcRzRku_0Sn85tK60cmR-bpveRs4LMA0sFKZ893yzWratmdlqSoR4jH8uoGSpTTB-8TWWoam00CcC5a13YnaoOpAlmRQdeZ2ISN3ejj2uUKpee69dRJdW5HpiVFGkBJcyhohuC84C__taS1h51la0/s4000/IMG_20221024_180223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Mn8uAHZcPqjx3VI4I-CWDVZK1ce5LIZW0yUDcRzRku_0Sn85tK60cmR-bpveRs4LMA0sFKZ893yzWratmdlqSoR4jH8uoGSpTTB-8TWWoam00CcC5a13YnaoOpAlmRQdeZ2ISN3ejj2uUKpee69dRJdW5HpiVFGkBJcyhohuC84C__taS1h51la0/s320/IMG_20221024_180223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAJlMjUGr7wPCFCIFUtKdXPOie-eSudPZW1EdxTClf3exOfhzuUL-76sPNULLkWuIjkr_cxgdqQ1dNzIoUzvJ0gkgU3qZ8f-a7qQS9EIAt9qw5YCd5zE8DF3LvIlh62WLhXKebiUrxP9Sbdvl3W3Ng6bB9DujkmKJTVfTYhp3228EAs8Mha4RPR9R/s4608/IMG_20221024_180244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAJlMjUGr7wPCFCIFUtKdXPOie-eSudPZW1EdxTClf3exOfhzuUL-76sPNULLkWuIjkr_cxgdqQ1dNzIoUzvJ0gkgU3qZ8f-a7qQS9EIAt9qw5YCd5zE8DF3LvIlh62WLhXKebiUrxP9Sbdvl3W3Ng6bB9DujkmKJTVfTYhp3228EAs8Mha4RPR9R/s320/IMG_20221024_180244.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSZV9_tNkRC24x3HpsnaDyYQDcRdxCYV_YJ0_mTmmxjj-lNbnOSh2imd3sSBsigyrZP6o5n28VkKKA7Vc15VlX6M21-2JG0LgwaZQj7cz3yzpHYpBMEGB8XYtNzu7eauh50iH9TIktlqdT1VRW_FrplQURsXYPBsAqiky0d_82Ne-eWAUCR1Yt7SG/s4608/IMG_20221024_180318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSZV9_tNkRC24x3HpsnaDyYQDcRdxCYV_YJ0_mTmmxjj-lNbnOSh2imd3sSBsigyrZP6o5n28VkKKA7Vc15VlX6M21-2JG0LgwaZQj7cz3yzpHYpBMEGB8XYtNzu7eauh50iH9TIktlqdT1VRW_FrplQURsXYPBsAqiky0d_82Ne-eWAUCR1Yt7SG/s320/IMG_20221024_180318.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHnNmWRvJ_jHP7qS_ru4hLAtF3sMuM1Qv6ydnLKz1Gb91O11PgEqhfEMVZXgARdRvBfLEyedgd2zYWRwPxMso8ZG_Ay1DSjEncpt5MTjWfUdB12vbTXJ25wxc3NfZbOMqYM1W1fNa66yAuYBcF4jhBuHpOl3xIRN9mEU8fjYXk0GSgMK1F80AIUC9/s4000/IMG_20221024_180557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHnNmWRvJ_jHP7qS_ru4hLAtF3sMuM1Qv6ydnLKz1Gb91O11PgEqhfEMVZXgARdRvBfLEyedgd2zYWRwPxMso8ZG_Ay1DSjEncpt5MTjWfUdB12vbTXJ25wxc3NfZbOMqYM1W1fNa66yAuYBcF4jhBuHpOl3xIRN9mEU8fjYXk0GSgMK1F80AIUC9/s320/IMG_20221024_180557.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Yes it was one of those moments, my ' Kahin dur jab din dhal jaye' moment when we put behind our tiffs and just marvelled...hues of the sky , the road and the horizon!<br /><p>'In umr se lambi se sadko manzil pe pohochte deha nahi </p><p>Bas daudti phirti rahti Hain humne to theharte dekha nahi!!'</p><p>Gulzar couplet for every occasion!</p><p>We checked in to Hotel Chowki Dhani and settled for vegetarian fare at night which was kind of disappointing for the adults and the kids alike. Though the news of availability of eggs in the morning came as a huge relief!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KRehouOM71DUCPC7kg7gD4CK1eesQTTP6LCQ0hOwWXG5FtV_Yjh4mtY0yosWlYOTqzIwAsMCq1QI-jn01Zu6JmBAX_ArjazWabkXy41zaTsmp_XHgv6tbGD486SaHoBnDtpCoQS4JLhM37n16FBely3CXTtjafM_Tmm1UiYP2WV1f__YuDFv1vnd/s4000/IMG_20221024_184905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KRehouOM71DUCPC7kg7gD4CK1eesQTTP6LCQ0hOwWXG5FtV_Yjh4mtY0yosWlYOTqzIwAsMCq1QI-jn01Zu6JmBAX_ArjazWabkXy41zaTsmp_XHgv6tbGD486SaHoBnDtpCoQS4JLhM37n16FBely3CXTtjafM_Tmm1UiYP2WV1f__YuDFv1vnd/s320/IMG_20221024_184905.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Like all bongs Satyajit Ray's Sonar Kella weaved a spell over Jaisalmer...the desert and the golden fort. Even daughter who had read the English translation kept asking ' Maa where do you think was Mukul's treasures in this crowded place!' Next morning after breakfast was the day trip of the charming old world Jaisalmer. Beginning was of course with Sonar Kella...the Golden Fort with its alleys, with its residents manoeuvring deftly their two wheelers around the tourists and stray animals, the lanes with antic shops...one would just love the vibes!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmOyAJqjvusCpWNY3I0JtGHIFbSu9bSRoKoz1IsiCkwer5WVdbUGLXAhOLWw0_RGqUBzzJLk21z6ZmK9tcMClp_yT87UQ8c7atnAb-Pvtw_M-tL4fveHvA35TlB4sLc0kBd50rpIAsPzjAkYsq4TXXtVcncfzh0-U8dr6GHn4-g7edJswxaPjtTnK/s4000/IMG_20221025_114431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmOyAJqjvusCpWNY3I0JtGHIFbSu9bSRoKoz1IsiCkwer5WVdbUGLXAhOLWw0_RGqUBzzJLk21z6ZmK9tcMClp_yT87UQ8c7atnAb-Pvtw_M-tL4fveHvA35TlB4sLc0kBd50rpIAsPzjAkYsq4TXXtVcncfzh0-U8dr6GHn4-g7edJswxaPjtTnK/s320/IMG_20221025_114431.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKusMZHnuRmadBoc7sabz50feoN7FLZPYW1eUckLZd25OeexkRx1Xt7Rohoh3ksKGCKKe7_lB04iEGlNU79MS3jQat_gwz6xzG_ehSCm3VfcQDGRpL8GCVu5A-IvKsVxPZbvPMA2F9Vdz8IzSsFrUab-1rsObXhQWKD6WrN5AfUoWPqLdawjjB4AOi/s4000/IMG_20221025_114843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKusMZHnuRmadBoc7sabz50feoN7FLZPYW1eUckLZd25OeexkRx1Xt7Rohoh3ksKGCKKe7_lB04iEGlNU79MS3jQat_gwz6xzG_ehSCm3VfcQDGRpL8GCVu5A-IvKsVxPZbvPMA2F9Vdz8IzSsFrUab-1rsObXhQWKD6WrN5AfUoWPqLdawjjB4AOi/s320/IMG_20221025_114843.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQmvPPNG5lu8A4bLSPnr5BuzgO7CNWbYi-vWXr_WUBRkMBGBHe5i8hVio1IePZIfJmTxHm_idb0PxcvUHpBxFiT1ul0iA7dUWQPoNVJUYrTiPNHiInh_gPVIwytcs5cbac_ZONnlHws40FRdeqW1j0OIZ5Ug0nGCElfihiJjs0zXOQNMmbnLwX2KE/s4000/IMG_20221025_115300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQmvPPNG5lu8A4bLSPnr5BuzgO7CNWbYi-vWXr_WUBRkMBGBHe5i8hVio1IePZIfJmTxHm_idb0PxcvUHpBxFiT1ul0iA7dUWQPoNVJUYrTiPNHiInh_gPVIwytcs5cbac_ZONnlHws40FRdeqW1j0OIZ5Ug0nGCElfihiJjs0zXOQNMmbnLwX2KE/s320/IMG_20221025_115300.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sot6YufnkNbI4H_kUfBrL05Y17X8KmCz7tKWDMBQukgysEg3I_NQqQ1kOzVCH3U-_khsLAihzXdaKk9GCHu27EEzI8u4EijJmNUc2dwh0LUc9nMeJUcBSbZchNWKAxhl1SCzBOVwWsPObXlNu3O156eiAh4Ycw3DBCrYpJVmKkEaGT3qgemuH9hK/s4000/IMG_20221025_115332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sot6YufnkNbI4H_kUfBrL05Y17X8KmCz7tKWDMBQukgysEg3I_NQqQ1kOzVCH3U-_khsLAihzXdaKk9GCHu27EEzI8u4EijJmNUc2dwh0LUc9nMeJUcBSbZchNWKAxhl1SCzBOVwWsPObXlNu3O156eiAh4Ycw3DBCrYpJVmKkEaGT3qgemuH9hK/s4000/IMG_20221025_115332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sot6YufnkNbI4H_kUfBrL05Y17X8KmCz7tKWDMBQukgysEg3I_NQqQ1kOzVCH3U-_khsLAihzXdaKk9GCHu27EEzI8u4EijJmNUc2dwh0LUc9nMeJUcBSbZchNWKAxhl1SCzBOVwWsPObXlNu3O156eiAh4Ycw3DBCrYpJVmKkEaGT3qgemuH9hK/s320/IMG_20221025_115332.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsZWASlccJh3ZZ-YnBRf7TwgPjTVY4q_ivDE3ejBY7y6BMKRpp2beDACpfBPOtiu6iaxxy5o4gDnisJX7NmM1lI3l5iFu-5r6t328QNBkMkV3L_zc7zaQY2Z4SdbJGmm-KxHOvT7l2hKK6beoWpz7lcsupK7FYUOG6xP2DRDO9vBQaWwxlF_sFyZN/s4000/IMG_20221025_115806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsZWASlccJh3ZZ-YnBRf7TwgPjTVY4q_ivDE3ejBY7y6BMKRpp2beDACpfBPOtiu6iaxxy5o4gDnisJX7NmM1lI3l5iFu-5r6t328QNBkMkV3L_zc7zaQY2Z4SdbJGmm-KxHOvT7l2hKK6beoWpz7lcsupK7FYUOG6xP2DRDO9vBQaWwxlF_sFyZN/s320/IMG_20221025_115806.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmCu6oOGjI39H-1jAhJaqDM4--UDGCMQGSr_M82a6Ch16hNHu2rfyia8mkB7KJoNMydgzhDwWRyWF2n2yY1NwK54A9utegbEToeVvQsvov94KGaGsQsbLiAkwQg46ewWzEInFlMrYEvA8Ipmovb3hnGEF5oyJNKlsNmitkoAxgncxSeorjnPH8p5E/s4000/IMG_20221025_115829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmCu6oOGjI39H-1jAhJaqDM4--UDGCMQGSr_M82a6Ch16hNHu2rfyia8mkB7KJoNMydgzhDwWRyWF2n2yY1NwK54A9utegbEToeVvQsvov94KGaGsQsbLiAkwQg46ewWzEInFlMrYEvA8Ipmovb3hnGEF5oyJNKlsNmitkoAxgncxSeorjnPH8p5E/s320/IMG_20221025_115829.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Absolutely ' Padharo Maro des' vibes, did some street shopping as I love, dupattas, jhumkas , sling bags, some souvenirs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QHFBGDSLtnsYVsHW6SEh-ZyWvTm-UeCO_BHutNhh1ZBjO3uwD1cxG2bjbmU3xnfYAwfBxxN2NAF3xWitC13Rm0LMvtWundpS1sMmp2ILcmp65Ovd5PZiaSo-Mn6nuMTHeGW0FWjTBVdL9dsRx1jOO9BZljLr7kMtCE9b4reCOFORdEz9CCU5pjLf/s4000/IMG_20221025_121411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QHFBGDSLtnsYVsHW6SEh-ZyWvTm-UeCO_BHutNhh1ZBjO3uwD1cxG2bjbmU3xnfYAwfBxxN2NAF3xWitC13Rm0LMvtWundpS1sMmp2ILcmp65Ovd5PZiaSo-Mn6nuMTHeGW0FWjTBVdL9dsRx1jOO9BZljLr7kMtCE9b4reCOFORdEz9CCU5pjLf/s320/IMG_20221025_121411.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwKasahdX6Fen9OpfIvBGuArKbAW78v6VRzQr5gcfxToX5H-YiD6jkGS4pgnT-6zlBoX0202mHd2Pq1vXJHJVy8fWh4PBB06W4R9n9CyWisJNXD7hZKNn8YcWqk3ahLPsWhc7UNJJ8HeYw0YO7ogW73ggW-V3TCSuUSIVTfxkr6pSiJhpH0J0nfZ/s4000/IMG_20221025_122257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwKasahdX6Fen9OpfIvBGuArKbAW78v6VRzQr5gcfxToX5H-YiD6jkGS4pgnT-6zlBoX0202mHd2Pq1vXJHJVy8fWh4PBB06W4R9n9CyWisJNXD7hZKNn8YcWqk3ahLPsWhc7UNJJ8HeYw0YO7ogW73ggW-V3TCSuUSIVTfxkr6pSiJhpH0J0nfZ/s320/IMG_20221025_122257.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu9w4QhPr2fBPLQGGMcmjHa_N2cVy6COMLGxwi9Ap_iD3GhvULsibBNpD5KMc9lt5tJkHSemOKr-YlYyQj9EDUztYpyvctL434tbMMw7kLZ35kgNk4-8MZyyTqoEK9P2AQ0g7cEQHT36BNS-5T--hyCsCSJLECqNbX-jiEP_nEW-KtDToNZdx7LoD/s4000/IMG_20221025_122534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu9w4QhPr2fBPLQGGMcmjHa_N2cVy6COMLGxwi9Ap_iD3GhvULsibBNpD5KMc9lt5tJkHSemOKr-YlYyQj9EDUztYpyvctL434tbMMw7kLZ35kgNk4-8MZyyTqoEK9P2AQ0g7cEQHT36BNS-5T--hyCsCSJLECqNbX-jiEP_nEW-KtDToNZdx7LoD/s320/IMG_20221025_122534.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQeUs72UlxE3vbBlMFJ5ZAHRZA2pBi16bV3fFMEJDrcB6Ph6O9rQgMcd8Sb6CgXM8f6zfRrln8wMkb2ITdHxnLYRkeR4hy6HUxZl9rt_PB3rh4kf-GUF9NndPdqsZxchQe7rPSOLuBxNy_fY_48r9HI1nm1r_Oi4t8NXmhShqQ8W6Pu6LBi19XPUG/s4608/IMG_20221025_123903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQeUs72UlxE3vbBlMFJ5ZAHRZA2pBi16bV3fFMEJDrcB6Ph6O9rQgMcd8Sb6CgXM8f6zfRrln8wMkb2ITdHxnLYRkeR4hy6HUxZl9rt_PB3rh4kf-GUF9NndPdqsZxchQe7rPSOLuBxNy_fY_48r9HI1nm1r_Oi4t8NXmhShqQ8W6Pu6LBi19XPUG/s320/IMG_20221025_123903.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IHzg78yrAToMU59FVzCbHNMvdF1ROHPqnzOdjZoDX74swQQmB9UdLVQfechvQsZBCt1sfNnn2F-etfGH7mF4tDx2IDSsgdHn-BGMOf0h-NDgd1ZLy4mbEozxlZk9rRvHHFoopVJLbrynxaAu1IW_BprBuVd62FLZqBqDNsh2nOb7rgBbcv-BKZVI/s4000/IMG_20221025_124205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IHzg78yrAToMU59FVzCbHNMvdF1ROHPqnzOdjZoDX74swQQmB9UdLVQfechvQsZBCt1sfNnn2F-etfGH7mF4tDx2IDSsgdHn-BGMOf0h-NDgd1ZLy4mbEozxlZk9rRvHHFoopVJLbrynxaAu1IW_BprBuVd62FLZqBqDNsh2nOb7rgBbcv-BKZVI/s320/IMG_20221025_124205.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Next stop was Patto ke Haveli , my visit to Jaisalmer wasn't first and the Jaisalmer I remembered from mid nineties...laid back, charming, royal with palaces, havelis and desert straight out of the movies and serials I had watched !</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27FvCTPjClt-b6zgypW9Qjq2SAIQ1G-HF-3AouahubIXp7kMygiTqYaIbNBl10zMs79TKkd-nVG6GFsjMEdL6XP_cahc2uzYO_gBJfQR_n1UsZ1L_5q9olrrHADvQxm9ciQ_rrYPnAsVkIrFQcdSoyRWNGMSJGi0LT0GIkHVrckvNMEfyvz3TxrB7/s4000/IMG_20221025_150057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27FvCTPjClt-b6zgypW9Qjq2SAIQ1G-HF-3AouahubIXp7kMygiTqYaIbNBl10zMs79TKkd-nVG6GFsjMEdL6XP_cahc2uzYO_gBJfQR_n1UsZ1L_5q9olrrHADvQxm9ciQ_rrYPnAsVkIrFQcdSoyRWNGMSJGi0LT0GIkHVrckvNMEfyvz3TxrB7/s320/IMG_20221025_150057.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kTAy0vWcoAzqzNWk25Uh0a0Qkeky562F45aUKMXxHgKqNd_29xNE5X6p8juotGPNzir4xb1Uec-GVyehOx0O14VEcx29LMBHAlzMVg8pe62mlEoh9RVQlSYDIMZbgdMRYDpQmSUGajVP_bSxOp5LWKLfEiprfmqziyctl2e9pYOjZ_Z04pr4-FM5/s4000/IMG_20221025_145455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kTAy0vWcoAzqzNWk25Uh0a0Qkeky562F45aUKMXxHgKqNd_29xNE5X6p8juotGPNzir4xb1Uec-GVyehOx0O14VEcx29LMBHAlzMVg8pe62mlEoh9RVQlSYDIMZbgdMRYDpQmSUGajVP_bSxOp5LWKLfEiprfmqziyctl2e9pYOjZ_Z04pr4-FM5/s320/IMG_20221025_145455.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7A38FZHJiqNhkinExVMUJNysJcDh7yVNsJLki-dzFLBzYQWOUh5MfPqeCoIhDG6UB4jg8C2Q6Qm3XWWXdq44muVSk1yW57q8NqKfMbP5eXAPvl0ihHUWasFjRAt5g0-7Q3q5aoGbIVS_iJuLw9BwJ7XLuvJYJkHCBsU0Qo3r9xNcpp62R79hh4fm/s320/IMG_20221025_151919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI12hR6rnB3yHxEay-yBd9FVFXxOOiVg-cff3QltPSKvNADNtl5ifTNMQR6j7ttQpf5_VOwYBpES8ounc3vlmQXZSlbqxVFpTfmyvAwplELu5USBGdIR7AP1jduVo7zOgeBX_wk5VtRurDqm8r0ks_vxF17lwfk9NHYrlTBGy_iNcFHJ_9f4PWW9G/s4000/IMG_20221025_150131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI12hR6rnB3yHxEay-yBd9FVFXxOOiVg-cff3QltPSKvNADNtl5ifTNMQR6j7ttQpf5_VOwYBpES8ounc3vlmQXZSlbqxVFpTfmyvAwplELu5USBGdIR7AP1jduVo7zOgeBX_wk5VtRurDqm8r0ks_vxF17lwfk9NHYrlTBGy_iNcFHJ_9f4PWW9G/s320/IMG_20221025_150131.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK1Vee0uPtlP8OQm0eOx3EncrFdjPUGeQBrlDgBBmALrUgJiaSXZA_Mmp4b9tIezP7ThvpnHzBiYQmjYhnNkWyPDFDaQYReHOWiS1ZDLwbe9CmsWWJGWnzj66sRrHza5_9eyW38Rnzaj1-yjWOLTxSNyazzt_nfEhqibK24cPO85ncUleqynEj_E_/s4000/IMG_20221025_145614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK1Vee0uPtlP8OQm0eOx3EncrFdjPUGeQBrlDgBBmALrUgJiaSXZA_Mmp4b9tIezP7ThvpnHzBiYQmjYhnNkWyPDFDaQYReHOWiS1ZDLwbe9CmsWWJGWnzj66sRrHza5_9eyW38Rnzaj1-yjWOLTxSNyazzt_nfEhqibK24cPO85ncUleqynEj_E_/s320/IMG_20221025_145614.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>Day's last stop was the beautiful Bada Bagh and after that we headed for light and sound show at the Gadisar Lake. Many old movie songs were shot at Bada Bagh like 'Jihale Miskin ' that haunting nomadic track and we witnessed solar eclipse in the open horizon... which left us spell bound.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCp_-6rMNbZ22KD9pZuAtPNeDY7-Msh_pgay-aRliK-Qfba8hqpRQ6d7Ma6T-P9ycuILBbIx5w4uftfGys6TXa2-P5bSzmYckS6Kcauj-L1afjQzYFYIhGF54zkrTpbL5nqHew4fXR4A8qmnYPUnB1ygXllYQ0FLpLOOGP2kAokiUWS24e-GSWDPY/s4000/IMG_20221025_172451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCp_-6rMNbZ22KD9pZuAtPNeDY7-Msh_pgay-aRliK-Qfba8hqpRQ6d7Ma6T-P9ycuILBbIx5w4uftfGys6TXa2-P5bSzmYckS6Kcauj-L1afjQzYFYIhGF54zkrTpbL5nqHew4fXR4A8qmnYPUnB1ygXllYQ0FLpLOOGP2kAokiUWS24e-GSWDPY/s320/IMG_20221025_172451.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrCVDeQIQZjWbyi5_2A3ymzmNogqm9dNDqdyXMpOLkwHOoHZt0L9bYzTQzokO9au633_1V15cfbsSxj0CTcIzKR-sw89PzTT_6c1tAcoyrO30Ws_Pfi6SqPsCPqt_ZrvdnIvN8U6YkPKT4-LxvyWyVB4BQ8qipPnKv1ekDfYuPln6jll1xlJz8hmh/s4000/IMG_20221025_173339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrCVDeQIQZjWbyi5_2A3ymzmNogqm9dNDqdyXMpOLkwHOoHZt0L9bYzTQzokO9au633_1V15cfbsSxj0CTcIzKR-sw89PzTT_6c1tAcoyrO30Ws_Pfi6SqPsCPqt_ZrvdnIvN8U6YkPKT4-LxvyWyVB4BQ8qipPnKv1ekDfYuPln6jll1xlJz8hmh/s320/IMG_20221025_173339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitofX09EteeMHyp4vroMD4GZ5bRLkJr8jp1RBjwBRlZR_uZMJTEpzJGNDXscMVADzrpo19COzhGznjk1m43LAgxKuF7K6QzE0M7npoCNX74OHShNr58AjHGLsmh6q5_RMOKzt1nFmNpU2dt6m-UHqwigR6pBgIMhWqHlN8bDTXUnjIozbczesbPURH/s4000/IMG_20221025_173807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitofX09EteeMHyp4vroMD4GZ5bRLkJr8jp1RBjwBRlZR_uZMJTEpzJGNDXscMVADzrpo19COzhGznjk1m43LAgxKuF7K6QzE0M7npoCNX74OHShNr58AjHGLsmh6q5_RMOKzt1nFmNpU2dt6m-UHqwigR6pBgIMhWqHlN8bDTXUnjIozbczesbPURH/s320/IMG_20221025_173807.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVihZWBGKdM6TnR9PvDuXEPZeVtUQqPpbzNWI2nCw1XQGDndYhQagFzxJnpVQnIZnb40q3sPA27yiwFdrv6vDHbxEkFe6WQtTcYCPGPJmVbA5F9ibS7lxt08Ojp2Utc3xJHsA1b3ReFnKqUiDj-3y62w7YZzQUa0TF6mDKloWKJA_3xnN6LlJhr4O/s4000/IMG_20221025_175602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVihZWBGKdM6TnR9PvDuXEPZeVtUQqPpbzNWI2nCw1XQGDndYhQagFzxJnpVQnIZnb40q3sPA27yiwFdrv6vDHbxEkFe6WQtTcYCPGPJmVbA5F9ibS7lxt08Ojp2Utc3xJHsA1b3ReFnKqUiDj-3y62w7YZzQUa0TF6mDKloWKJA_3xnN6LlJhr4O/s320/IMG_20221025_175602.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lMlII7W5BB5Vvi4sxbgNJSYYOZy7hwIb-RDF6LK3FTc-1E6e4gJBrL8NNLB4kwZE3OMAqzH0YKK-7VFcVbX-QVHlkxDWwosmM9Mb5j2li-YnzMMXIATkSI3lJs3GP1hzyKovEzw4xfHbnTr0_TH-8OQ5yUSZdb9K1gzeUybLQ2u8dyXH3JaN166N/s4000/IMG_20221025_181117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lMlII7W5BB5Vvi4sxbgNJSYYOZy7hwIb-RDF6LK3FTc-1E6e4gJBrL8NNLB4kwZE3OMAqzH0YKK-7VFcVbX-QVHlkxDWwosmM9Mb5j2li-YnzMMXIATkSI3lJs3GP1hzyKovEzw4xfHbnTr0_TH-8OQ5yUSZdb9K1gzeUybLQ2u8dyXH3JaN166N/s320/IMG_20221025_181117.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Next day was the drive to Longewalla which was not on my bucket list but followed the group. Road was ethereal amidst sparse vegetation and almost no villages or sign of life near by. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3-bl_JBZnzAf5F9uppOTmqRBjgBN4PKzETpsZJUpy7vkdrxNMlN6bTTuzAKA1058WtYsewOsCj-DeBjTVeRUx--YSops3K8MyCb6aQ8zTdMUVrDGg38GDXqeAg7ddTRKT_yHKQoebuNvxqul41nnWQLpBuH3k0vtvTWN1PV0q7ImV5-pLAof9F40/s4000/IMG_20221026_124653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3-bl_JBZnzAf5F9uppOTmqRBjgBN4PKzETpsZJUpy7vkdrxNMlN6bTTuzAKA1058WtYsewOsCj-DeBjTVeRUx--YSops3K8MyCb6aQ8zTdMUVrDGg38GDXqeAg7ddTRKT_yHKQoebuNvxqul41nnWQLpBuH3k0vtvTWN1PV0q7ImV5-pLAof9F40/s320/IMG_20221026_124653.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11CsVQwoZ7zVnhRXJ4N4UzW5gOQKk900bbiVk6NPWGjcXbInGhqWgwzrgfwkOQSI4YzKFiWnPcpIJ7zOhA65yPJylL3KDwKnI3gAMDKxVicfSybeL8x4-JfcXENKVIgOqYBUrt7pyOy2wNuZ5aeceh6er5qS5WAkROBs5rIv4R_EP-1luvfHJoAZI/s4000/IMG_20221026_142828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11CsVQwoZ7zVnhRXJ4N4UzW5gOQKk900bbiVk6NPWGjcXbInGhqWgwzrgfwkOQSI4YzKFiWnPcpIJ7zOhA65yPJylL3KDwKnI3gAMDKxVicfSybeL8x4-JfcXENKVIgOqYBUrt7pyOy2wNuZ5aeceh6er5qS5WAkROBs5rIv4R_EP-1luvfHJoAZI/s320/IMG_20221026_142828.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDodmkQI9oIRLaZhHp3PxQgyT4LufQwOtte-YUp04OcmIGm8MOe4ytThLQ17rtI8tKBsiMj0o8Y_I6zIaZ6h3Hw_nLC2pG-ST9-fp_kfAGASq45oKwtac9H3_rjpDvFulvhwdsrX2GX3zpuV6LQEo5QPdX-nDi5dKnwzJQnfQexNVzjh8U9Tswh2a/s4000/IMG_20221026_134512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDodmkQI9oIRLaZhHp3PxQgyT4LufQwOtte-YUp04OcmIGm8MOe4ytThLQ17rtI8tKBsiMj0o8Y_I6zIaZ6h3Hw_nLC2pG-ST9-fp_kfAGASq45oKwtac9H3_rjpDvFulvhwdsrX2GX3zpuV6LQEo5QPdX-nDi5dKnwzJQnfQexNVzjh8U9Tswh2a/s320/IMG_20221026_134512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_sV8ryHbSDa1O0m6RqUzXTLXj7Qy9sI0MsCB61EzGBypALUBGiq5rDMh5XCPEdx_GIDw366zxwpzoX8pjxnCIgpQEnQDOzFYsawhN_CD8UuvBAn-MH1TVMCJxdyF3LGPOgKG3pd_1XU11JgFzrB62h5nPFOx7twOfXAd6-LoABDCtw8Kpry3pOu/s4000/IMG_20221026_145346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_sV8ryHbSDa1O0m6RqUzXTLXj7Qy9sI0MsCB61EzGBypALUBGiq5rDMh5XCPEdx_GIDw366zxwpzoX8pjxnCIgpQEnQDOzFYsawhN_CD8UuvBAn-MH1TVMCJxdyF3LGPOgKG3pd_1XU11JgFzrB62h5nPFOx7twOfXAd6-LoABDCtw8Kpry3pOu/s4000/IMG_20221026_145346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_sV8ryHbSDa1O0m6RqUzXTLXj7Qy9sI0MsCB61EzGBypALUBGiq5rDMh5XCPEdx_GIDw366zxwpzoX8pjxnCIgpQEnQDOzFYsawhN_CD8UuvBAn-MH1TVMCJxdyF3LGPOgKG3pd_1XU11JgFzrB62h5nPFOx7twOfXAd6-LoABDCtw8Kpry3pOu/s320/IMG_20221026_145346.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>Longewalla evoked the emotions specially from the movie ' Border'...the songs echoed through out the drive and though anti war at heart , the place struck chords at those soft corners where it hurt! The drive to Tanot Mata temple where the supposed Pakistani bombs did not blast was also ecstatic.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzpsVkVOki4l6sAM_wP4QwsBGs9h6BUMkqco75rcwJKmd07OmDbRjWzy7yA54ftF2sDDg1Wp0kMUgjeQvb9BmZ5WI5NAL9LGlKWyg7xaGxHWBGHGV2LGK2uDdh-jQTGyCyZZkrVYF--FYrfwSYFveZ6DXVc3VGlfEcnvUq8u2PP8ssWx9DIX2rII_/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1280" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzpsVkVOki4l6sAM_wP4QwsBGs9h6BUMkqco75rcwJKmd07OmDbRjWzy7yA54ftF2sDDg1Wp0kMUgjeQvb9BmZ5WI5NAL9LGlKWyg7xaGxHWBGHGV2LGK2uDdh-jQTGyCyZZkrVYF--FYrfwSYFveZ6DXVc3VGlfEcnvUq8u2PP8ssWx9DIX2rII_/s320/IMG-20221026-WA0069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7xkQl8GFZhqTMEtdpJd-V-1j3ZnD4TrUuzhq7lDs_mwig1V4pQyubu3k8ozmas5qi7e-HUJBwyU9zcWKxQLSkldclCsBHXvxuZUScB9UhAnQ7p36Io4Fu6GE-sXksj7bo6Q5rAcpZaL8RRcmlTNlDJnyVoqy9Sh4xiVK7JWtjpEbVSH8QyhUfGa-/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1280" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7xkQl8GFZhqTMEtdpJd-V-1j3ZnD4TrUuzhq7lDs_mwig1V4pQyubu3k8ozmas5qi7e-HUJBwyU9zcWKxQLSkldclCsBHXvxuZUScB9UhAnQ7p36Io4Fu6GE-sXksj7bo6Q5rAcpZaL8RRcmlTNlDJnyVoqy9Sh4xiVK7JWtjpEbVSH8QyhUfGa-/s320/IMG-20221026-WA0074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGft8Srgz3sMitlgtuTef8WLWKCTFH9TCvmvJdWY9EGa-mZGGJoV8tnOOCWwW-SN50ywmAfL_oLU3qe-0ra42c-QiDgj5wBkpKr0Uy9pcinKqCUhoHLRpe3UvnSFGNzeF7buIYmTMJPtJLqSg--ZyDoHp8pABkMla7XD6sLisYZVN_yP6rj4u018W/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGft8Srgz3sMitlgtuTef8WLWKCTFH9TCvmvJdWY9EGa-mZGGJoV8tnOOCWwW-SN50ywmAfL_oLU3qe-0ra42c-QiDgj5wBkpKr0Uy9pcinKqCUhoHLRpe3UvnSFGNzeF7buIYmTMJPtJLqSg--ZyDoHp8pABkMla7XD6sLisYZVN_yP6rj4u018W/s1280/IMG-20221026-WA0085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1280" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGft8Srgz3sMitlgtuTef8WLWKCTFH9TCvmvJdWY9EGa-mZGGJoV8tnOOCWwW-SN50ywmAfL_oLU3qe-0ra42c-QiDgj5wBkpKr0Uy9pcinKqCUhoHLRpe3UvnSFGNzeF7buIYmTMJPtJLqSg--ZyDoHp8pABkMla7XD6sLisYZVN_yP6rj4u018W/s320/IMG-20221026-WA0085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><p>Next day was visit to Mandir palace and a fabulous non veg lunch of Laal Maas and other stuff and the kids jumped in with chicken chicken....well can't blame them..took after their parents after all đ.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJp-bF8CTZx-AzlO7_bnKkG0rpjI6Bym-jP_zgy0XafI2CJCUPRBbgT85m8cznTu-U3Fyu8bYg62F2fFCyPkgL9u-G1BumbNdZZncIxEb1tQIf4LKZIDLM9Ddzs9O_lfVSQTEgx4jD2OOLkyp1thXshSkkwiipEpJ1Bv4L_6VFX6MZUR9XLaZb199/s4000/IMG_20221027_133438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJp-bF8CTZx-AzlO7_bnKkG0rpjI6Bym-jP_zgy0XafI2CJCUPRBbgT85m8cznTu-U3Fyu8bYg62F2fFCyPkgL9u-G1BumbNdZZncIxEb1tQIf4LKZIDLM9Ddzs9O_lfVSQTEgx4jD2OOLkyp1thXshSkkwiipEpJ1Bv4L_6VFX6MZUR9XLaZb199/s320/IMG_20221027_133438.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSI-0REnAPhRM63TLqOUywiAGIp7HrlGiYv2rS4QgMyJxEd9dUHvK7ClOUlomLgdxi-20Z_QLun1ruypzUD80OKWoNNC064TowoXJ1yDFCkzhyLbEG_d8MpxGc3vuem0jVFX2JYJoCfRaW9X_xhuGlXcw9jlw4cTuVI3eGQTmpxeWwUnW7xbX8wHI/s4000/IMG_20221027_133843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSI-0REnAPhRM63TLqOUywiAGIp7HrlGiYv2rS4QgMyJxEd9dUHvK7ClOUlomLgdxi-20Z_QLun1ruypzUD80OKWoNNC064TowoXJ1yDFCkzhyLbEG_d8MpxGc3vuem0jVFX2JYJoCfRaW9X_xhuGlXcw9jlw4cTuVI3eGQTmpxeWwUnW7xbX8wHI/s320/IMG_20221027_133843.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9lRstMIO8esmJFlq9e671qg19pLRSzUohWSu38GxodRHKDGcdXWsAPh-_9CvDl02XlUKlQC0RDcUTEBEABawVZMGAbY_SfBthkbkKBN2t2jIWcbpVT7LLyuiW-qNUCcfomEJnUd1fhRszg8aMO6euqWc5O5sDrxbp6WBqKLZvgMX7br2-exm8P5f/s4000/IMG_20221027_132827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9lRstMIO8esmJFlq9e671qg19pLRSzUohWSu38GxodRHKDGcdXWsAPh-_9CvDl02XlUKlQC0RDcUTEBEABawVZMGAbY_SfBthkbkKBN2t2jIWcbpVT7LLyuiW-qNUCcfomEJnUd1fhRszg8aMO6euqWc5O5sDrxbp6WBqKLZvgMX7br2-exm8P5f/s320/IMG_20221027_132827.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Next was the supposedly haunted Kuldhara village, nothing much noticeable , a Bhangarh like feel if anything eerie is there...is lost among the crowd!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiOP68IFkb3rN7zqaBdx8qqmehmOQoR3Lx_b_RdwVRDm6KVGhmvGdj58v1RbVsbuz-HP17F-Hry0MMcgNDMjQK2mhKiVNFLCVa0h_kL0dyGqTv4Y-th4ALYeGryvkuMXY1oOHEBraZvUjWyQstvCdHB4okiHGUXNwqFqu4hmYykmE6DlApsdRy0OY/s4000/IMG_20221027_155408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiOP68IFkb3rN7zqaBdx8qqmehmOQoR3Lx_b_RdwVRDm6KVGhmvGdj58v1RbVsbuz-HP17F-Hry0MMcgNDMjQK2mhKiVNFLCVa0h_kL0dyGqTv4Y-th4ALYeGryvkuMXY1oOHEBraZvUjWyQstvCdHB4okiHGUXNwqFqu4hmYykmE6DlApsdRy0OY/s320/IMG_20221027_155408.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>We checked in to the desert camp in the late afternoon where I quickly changed for a long dress for some instagramic reel and was set for desert safari. Husband was not happy at the little stretch of sand and the crowd, his friend was raving about the vast Dubai desert and I was shooting my Raziya Sultana reel with glee and the kids giggled madly at the jeep safari where we adults had our hearts and stomach popping out of us!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbdbApCCkRB9QsORJdpn9uf5s-jcjQV6t2PJS0doS09sfEe0eXQERRpfO3SXgGAdKjiMW8MZQrqQKWvQlMrrYaR9HOkROv4JGblDbfmhAw-IjXENWK3yzlF8rA2jc3SURkkY_8rRm0zmekZMqS0aKWZubVT6bGTKtbeGWerCx6KE1uDK5AaUKL1qS/s4000/IMG_20221027_172235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbdbApCCkRB9QsORJdpn9uf5s-jcjQV6t2PJS0doS09sfEe0eXQERRpfO3SXgGAdKjiMW8MZQrqQKWvQlMrrYaR9HOkROv4JGblDbfmhAw-IjXENWK3yzlF8rA2jc3SURkkY_8rRm0zmekZMqS0aKWZubVT6bGTKtbeGWerCx6KE1uDK5AaUKL1qS/s320/IMG_20221027_172235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CGVmCTp6VzbdjFMu8p74YHI08aL6TkhYP1vmQDdSdBAAYVmzBlxOXZsZ5OGDeABQa9UVeGGpxfwf3Zr_tq7wroI1IJ4FXAKFgAYgFNa3ueQLLVxZwoutJDwDQqkZWfMJ0VdIGGlamr3_Vay4TwaUn4DLEf7XWn6NSXwYAs4l-jD93VoV4t2MTcvb/s320/IMG_20221027_172614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGzN7fbLV5FZC2A3ASIcUBl-F9aLZfASXheyw1q4kDuUp2nkoNyXe_k_g0XdBjHS9oD3zuTFdzFwhgXeM4n05rzXtXN1D7SytYa9vCjEAOBXk0UmjzBZt7ARLBtwLe-Z6QuelKsQ94bj7RKPdfscQuKzJi6KRFUOfeYQ2BYBnQ3HCHPZN843mY3NW/s4000/IMG_20221027_172655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGzN7fbLV5FZC2A3ASIcUBl-F9aLZfASXheyw1q4kDuUp2nkoNyXe_k_g0XdBjHS9oD3zuTFdzFwhgXeM4n05rzXtXN1D7SytYa9vCjEAOBXk0UmjzBZt7ARLBtwLe-Z6QuelKsQ94bj7RKPdfscQuKzJi6KRFUOfeYQ2BYBnQ3HCHPZN843mY3NW/s320/IMG_20221027_172655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTCMU_mEQk5K07M7qZMnL06Tis7N9le15QM6TZzi84Bm-9OrzNZqtq61z8ujy1MpCwOStbQGAyrABZ0gR0Oyd6AeHAlhKw-xQ6TNLVcgjac3p3r36dntrHFp7N3SLRkrarchJCgYhJ2KXzMvRIUhWVlDhYP7Xcvom252RiAXAgZC19ds79G0y9KI6/s320/IMG_20221027_173953.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-TqIub51aGU87n71MdzEHCWqK9VOReAk4vsdRuJfW04XPuaA-W1QxmD9cDhdAWFjbQXofjJvTeDrj6wMj5H3Rb_9M5gpr4FX5TdLWxbKE5AsKtquF0GrcUu7t_0imd_kiXzsKsqnD-1oT7MchOd_s-TnSvOg1PgwN-zxd0VtqiU5chFFhFjxMLbB/s4000/IMG_20221027_175929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-TqIub51aGU87n71MdzEHCWqK9VOReAk4vsdRuJfW04XPuaA-W1QxmD9cDhdAWFjbQXofjJvTeDrj6wMj5H3Rb_9M5gpr4FX5TdLWxbKE5AsKtquF0GrcUu7t_0imd_kiXzsKsqnD-1oT7MchOd_s-TnSvOg1PgwN-zxd0VtqiU5chFFhFjxMLbB/s320/IMG_20221027_175929.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitn2EoZTicu-sQFHRLsTwUVzAXA9D3-7PveeGZGjbU46dqA1wMKeK63j4nWxhSn7qN_risKfHYeOFC3kI2c8UNLPuT0oL6bn6f0Cwj6kMxvW494sDu8wa9tf8OmFGYc4E6YtsRMEYBet8HzjXiybwBjAdm-qA1M2HpaPqNXHXQeAQ2NdDHI6Y9Znm8/s4000/IMG_20221027_180143__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="4000" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitn2EoZTicu-sQFHRLsTwUVzAXA9D3-7PveeGZGjbU46dqA1wMKeK63j4nWxhSn7qN_risKfHYeOFC3kI2c8UNLPuT0oL6bn6f0Cwj6kMxvW494sDu8wa9tf8OmFGYc4E6YtsRMEYBet8HzjXiybwBjAdm-qA1M2HpaPqNXHXQeAQ2NdDHI6Y9Znm8/s320/IMG_20221027_180143__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Evening was colourful at the camp with folk music, dance under the sky and the theme of the trip , ' Maare Hivde mein ' moment for me! Under the clear sky and stars we listened to the singers then played from our playlists and for sometimes it was a Lamhe, Rudali or ' Jihale Miskin' set where we were transported! Kids made a fuss over the wild insects on the door of the camps to which we did not pay any heed.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rMJm-UOHLyRciMRNR2Ke4q3R4Klw98t4gJUooZyqV5Wr5g5iGDNXKjJUKXRqaXofqK8Iq1b5RcXvpilqTg4JlrVy5oA_Ysyh1lDdVXdYUptyYVsJM1IsKkRDvvJkOMSWHG5zbbbBvUisuL8vlpy_cH_RRNs0-GRkOJL2MzraKLvQgrmVl6vssEV-/s1280/IMG-20221027-WA0081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rMJm-UOHLyRciMRNR2Ke4q3R4Klw98t4gJUooZyqV5Wr5g5iGDNXKjJUKXRqaXofqK8Iq1b5RcXvpilqTg4JlrVy5oA_Ysyh1lDdVXdYUptyYVsJM1IsKkRDvvJkOMSWHG5zbbbBvUisuL8vlpy_cH_RRNs0-GRkOJL2MzraKLvQgrmVl6vssEV-/s320/IMG-20221027-WA0081.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-mVmlXNXxuQTx8dsVnOmZTas0kBerX8PZFfoURHugtmN6GykDiq4sZHC8LN76zfCeT8ppbKETCzh9ld034jJ6xDGKFFfmbRrOhNAQJSVlzta5wZQnqkgaYjjCqGZEZMuKK9jldsaS3OByKcbCq4kaTTs2snbqCBfcL5IlAnqRRrGa-koPGfqjXW9/s1280/IMG-20221028-WA0009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-mVmlXNXxuQTx8dsVnOmZTas0kBerX8PZFfoURHugtmN6GykDiq4sZHC8LN76zfCeT8ppbKETCzh9ld034jJ6xDGKFFfmbRrOhNAQJSVlzta5wZQnqkgaYjjCqGZEZMuKK9jldsaS3OByKcbCq4kaTTs2snbqCBfcL5IlAnqRRrGa-koPGfqjXW9/s320/IMG-20221028-WA0009.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>And next day was the drive back to Jodhpur! The trip was nearing an end....the dunes of Sam, the camps at night, havelis and palaces...we were leaving the land of fables with memories and music in hearts... So many Chitrahar songs seeing the light of the day and reel life and real life turned into one for some moments!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_yFM80W2vupeO1SP-Jk0aofCF78vxR4Liwov-LIOWHae2fxx_18PBOzBEDJwfsIsqYLI3EGG0FLHgenpGMdL2dFOIkgE2T9PEBXLUkmH-_RjerFXQjof_V8bZ7TX_LQ_YCpH7sRVO8TP8txVYORKMztlNqF7spDEj8GWk0gIt1kMJnrEOx6WOcvX/s4000/IMG_20221028_121311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_yFM80W2vupeO1SP-Jk0aofCF78vxR4Liwov-LIOWHae2fxx_18PBOzBEDJwfsIsqYLI3EGG0FLHgenpGMdL2dFOIkgE2T9PEBXLUkmH-_RjerFXQjof_V8bZ7TX_LQ_YCpH7sRVO8TP8txVYORKMztlNqF7spDEj8GWk0gIt1kMJnrEOx6WOcvX/s320/IMG_20221028_121311.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-25726030861744121652022-11-20T03:31:00.001-08:002022-11-20T03:51:01.458-08:00The Road Trip I (Gurgaon, Jaipur, Jodhpur)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">This was our plan for long. Our love for the roads and love for travel, squeezing in the leaves, tying up with our friends from different cities to meet up in Jodhpur thereafter travel to Jaisalmer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Our friends had booked flight tickets to Jodhpur from Mumbai and Kolkata where they stay and husband was tempted once should we take flight to Jodhpur. I did put my foot down then..I mean taking a flight to Jodhpur then book a car or train for Jaisalmer... where would we get the feel! His next idea was shall we hire a vehicle from Delhi...but to depend on a driver with rash driving in all respects and over the top music to bear with! I again uttered a big no! Here I'd like to mention that lover of soft music of yore with Gulzarish lyrics, once we had travelled by car to Kaushani ...in the lush Himalayas and the driver in his late teens kept playing the super nasal vocals of Himesh Reshammiya with the latest chart buster then ' Aashiq banaya apne' which began with some ultra nasal octave beginning with O-o-o-o! Till then I had this phobea of traveling with drivers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;">D</b><b style="text-align: left;">ay One</b><span style="text-align: left;">: Official commitments, leave management..we started for Jaipur after 6.30 pm from Gurgaon after picking husband from office . Would give credit to husband ( albeit unwillingly) for booking a nice hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur which gave us a regal feeling and one of the best feasts of entire trip.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN9LNNBXZxJBHJtWy7rgRz85O5aw2mEBPzxmm2wB3p9fIIaZ2CCC_0yESxwdhj9ojHEE1c7-Og1nDSsx7nwk8GV3B8c10LefzXv8Z3kQ1WqSlT15R9jUriD5ir2fLJMetFs5QiG89T52RU4AeKL6a1UJ-f0YOzp80CQswEHEPoQUgHb-r2jv3oZk5/s4000/IMG_20221021_221549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN9LNNBXZxJBHJtWy7rgRz85O5aw2mEBPzxmm2wB3p9fIIaZ2CCC_0yESxwdhj9ojHEE1c7-Og1nDSsx7nwk8GV3B8c10LefzXv8Z3kQ1WqSlT15R9jUriD5ir2fLJMetFs5QiG89T52RU4AeKL6a1UJ-f0YOzp80CQswEHEPoQUgHb-r2jv3oZk5/s320/IMG_20221021_221549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6yxeUmen7d3xk8KghUKmbwNHgRDV9EvqE3WSZPTBK0qeE3ZRFG3-lbVd6yvg5G-GNeP4c9ozg8lEjZOKB37glszvpmhea70qaeHYuGgUcDswbRp74aM4K9OvAoNzrttokjOE-wGMGyUTsUKJCBbGj78XmbzVryEyzi3MXhEjiStPWs9DGbbjNQgo/s4000/IMG_20221021_221552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6yxeUmen7d3xk8KghUKmbwNHgRDV9EvqE3WSZPTBK0qeE3ZRFG3-lbVd6yvg5G-GNeP4c9ozg8lEjZOKB37glszvpmhea70qaeHYuGgUcDswbRp74aM4K9OvAoNzrttokjOE-wGMGyUTsUKJCBbGj78XmbzVryEyzi3MXhEjiStPWs9DGbbjNQgo/s320/IMG_20221021_221552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ercDthSbOWxHPatOFBJdnb-n-lHnC6D9mMB8PikZKMRtgfdobk8jL1DE9j1bsrhcA-wUdDsOgO59V2iXIC2W_KDm8iXx83PDEqut9xI5YWVJoKas5iSnBIzmF008FdGdn5FQ1NHZwd2rBKlsU6UUIAsczQWbhmUrH70P8CXVdWbGHY0yWDxH889r/s4000/IMG_20221021_224152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ercDthSbOWxHPatOFBJdnb-n-lHnC6D9mMB8PikZKMRtgfdobk8jL1DE9j1bsrhcA-wUdDsOgO59V2iXIC2W_KDm8iXx83PDEqut9xI5YWVJoKas5iSnBIzmF008FdGdn5FQ1NHZwd2rBKlsU6UUIAsczQWbhmUrH70P8CXVdWbGHY0yWDxH889r/s320/IMG_20221021_224152.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Day Two: </b>The fabulous food and kind of Royal Rajasthani hospitality and music lifted our moods and after a real sumptuous breakfast where we savoured kadhi kachoris and lots of other delicacies with relish we sat out for our day's drive to Jodhpur.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCNL8qBH9OQvNy8XjPgsG1r0JW03lDVE55CaJULphRnXvYrko_GpIO2vfpmhgOSmI-kQsfFG0_U_6yI3cN4A7vOZfNInnIzimb0o4v9cgUn_oBlEx0CR1AyzpaNFC5gaKt59RY2fFzVhtAqs_zkEZAevRE3kaREdDWrDXNXmN4pknFySwF1jEj0KC/s4000/IMG_20221022_093344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCNL8qBH9OQvNy8XjPgsG1r0JW03lDVE55CaJULphRnXvYrko_GpIO2vfpmhgOSmI-kQsfFG0_U_6yI3cN4A7vOZfNInnIzimb0o4v9cgUn_oBlEx0CR1AyzpaNFC5gaKt59RY2fFzVhtAqs_zkEZAevRE3kaREdDWrDXNXmN4pknFySwF1jEj0KC/s320/IMG_20221022_093344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezCTChPWv0bqfjJz5-SokybgBXdW7zAzZ7WoDyKFhokQxmdS3rHf80dY03E4Qwdkjztzx5Ynk044jqldd4t1Q6mpiSs3F77GoN7E0X2UwhWuj5JWrFRV6F98Hx0wFxsAc9oKTK1-VIaZzOrcRGHWZyVldOfUGGxJRPHIkEbYN1rQ1mtKiBjrpTVyf/s4000/IMG_20221022_094330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The drive through busy roads of Jaipur was not pleasing and soon I was questioning myself was road trip a really good idea! But then outside Jaipur roads widened and welcomed us just the way we wanted and after a routine tiff with husband I was behind the wheels...bit nervous but it was fun with pestering daughter to play all the mushy old school road songs I love. Roads were surprisingly traffic free and traffic disciplined no unnecessary honking or overtaking spree a breather from Delhi roads.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='363' height='302' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_oMPdQ2Szew1NNvgQZLhax1pIeSd7VE13qqwJkaKVQPIKUDq6mZCoVY46pUN0FSrQEj1HjXsb3AA97TDzYQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbe7ZjenuFQhbjwEq9QNvfw17WK9AWjEBRbRc-aiR-vIRu_u1q1CKKaFd5J0KYAu80mw72V-KLXnqsVSELNPLSqfU9JPSuW-rGbNLOZWX0qBl0u2cGPoXS2tffOy9_A_faTxPhSaqI9psKs8FDxT_elF6O-wzpvHZXU1_ZixIbfxdrULj-yw-HDbjx/s4000/IMG_20221022_161126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbe7ZjenuFQhbjwEq9QNvfw17WK9AWjEBRbRc-aiR-vIRu_u1q1CKKaFd5J0KYAu80mw72V-KLXnqsVSELNPLSqfU9JPSuW-rGbNLOZWX0qBl0u2cGPoXS2tffOy9_A_faTxPhSaqI9psKs8FDxT_elF6O-wzpvHZXU1_ZixIbfxdrULj-yw-HDbjx/s320/IMG_20221022_161126.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barring Ajmer not many places for stop over , since we normally set out after a heavy breakfast our lunch was late at Megh Malhar, Khinawari. Food was fresh and loos clean and the break was welcome. Thereafter we reached Jodhpur in the evening, drive was smooth except for locating the hotel inside the city somehow navigating through almost kuccha road as directed by google. The hotel was located in a clean peaceful area of the city and we joined our friends for big hullabaloo in the night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Day Three</b>: Jodhpur</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the blue city we all geared up in blue and boy it was fun! Umaid Bhawan, Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada was on my list as I could recall my more than two decade old trip to Jodhpur with my parents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhofkEGmRzNhZZqWWffnl6I8cd5hgsIbUxOVK47ycevFJZkIAx8K9V45h-3vQbbAfSKnFeNt05DSmyQywU3Iigia1ApBX4vussPIqaheDcVBYwFN5Ivm7KkIAcqXlbhomFep0SFxqBuIGCqgX0viKD-OXXGq8KYNhH1IBDGUJNwKzsH8KArPL0xIMA/s4608/IMG_20221023_111441%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhofkEGmRzNhZZqWWffnl6I8cd5hgsIbUxOVK47ycevFJZkIAx8K9V45h-3vQbbAfSKnFeNt05DSmyQywU3Iigia1ApBX4vussPIqaheDcVBYwFN5Ivm7KkIAcqXlbhomFep0SFxqBuIGCqgX0viKD-OXXGq8KYNhH1IBDGUJNwKzsH8KArPL0xIMA/s320/IMG_20221023_111441%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISzqw2fNuOrHbw2P1L6LqClccRZMV-RHIkk0pP0qmHWlWG2MWlUTpLiHaWmuXci6oCcto6ygJYwpX4SKEQUJ0kovnTsAW8EY4y8N8R3WJ00fbZgsuNYLz6-Dkxs9y-8412X2stxCruJRywEpKalOT5QceWlloanmfQXQGy2a6SloFhjfUiE8pYEXn/s320/IMG_20221023_124139%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The artefacts, grandeur, elegance and contemporary look of Umaid Bhawan had the kids in awe as well and after a delicious Kulfi in the blazing sun our next stop was Mehrengarh Fort.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJDSLGyC8AGeqaOGIb_p_npSkdfE9CKZK8L_rQ4v3MvffiEmvMkDdPjulmTrT5Uo0hlMPiOD4w9x6kkrcml1CPbiuExVP_yBwlmDydzL5F4NdHjhcYuFK3U3-3xpvex9a1whnmM3K5RlSXdNE6URuoosdQZGaBvbLVOckSBZ3CLdJAXwJA9vYfDUZ/s4000/IMG_20221023_132121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJDSLGyC8AGeqaOGIb_p_npSkdfE9CKZK8L_rQ4v3MvffiEmvMkDdPjulmTrT5Uo0hlMPiOD4w9x6kkrcml1CPbiuExVP_yBwlmDydzL5F4NdHjhcYuFK3U3-3xpvex9a1whnmM3K5RlSXdNE6URuoosdQZGaBvbLVOckSBZ3CLdJAXwJA9vYfDUZ/s320/IMG_20221023_132121.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvf6qW6ACu8i4HFMZcqz3rWQ5G0zgRta6q1jjlQ10HkP_RNDade94toVvy1Ic-Y1y4fjhiuHDqhOl5MSFh4FMRz6d8LYwFkgDU2MkCEm6PWQAYm_aJbCYD1W0e-TpuZzM9XZ7GxnPiUinNMnNrvTke43NxbwwRxaAwzn_gu5YE9zEQi33QoY0Jm2t/s4000/IMG_20221023_143641%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvf6qW6ACu8i4HFMZcqz3rWQ5G0zgRta6q1jjlQ10HkP_RNDade94toVvy1Ic-Y1y4fjhiuHDqhOl5MSFh4FMRz6d8LYwFkgDU2MkCEm6PWQAYm_aJbCYD1W0e-TpuZzM9XZ7GxnPiUinNMnNrvTke43NxbwwRxaAwzn_gu5YE9zEQi33QoY0Jm2t/s320/IMG_20221023_143641%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> The delectable gigantic Kadhi Kachori at the restaurant in Mehrangarh Fot</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODqxlBZxEgkjtbf9fHaSqbXwhEyZ8V5ZIWV_M452Q_UMy9z1kjv4PIba3CSXgudU7JbjR-_odN31C3mG1gANjk2TmdJrGbHrf7wOoqV784BLFE7-CGsYoiX0QOnqPmLdZlhlCh09l1l4t-EiDLMCedHq9Gw2TmotdfVEZuO9_SoHWGzlJ8iJMTTix/s4000/IMG_20221023_151955%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODqxlBZxEgkjtbf9fHaSqbXwhEyZ8V5ZIWV_M452Q_UMy9z1kjv4PIba3CSXgudU7JbjR-_odN31C3mG1gANjk2TmdJrGbHrf7wOoqV784BLFE7-CGsYoiX0QOnqPmLdZlhlCh09l1l4t-EiDLMCedHq9Gw2TmotdfVEZuO9_SoHWGzlJ8iJMTTix/s320/IMG_20221023_151955%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jaswant Thada story intrigued me when I visited in my late teens, though our driver this time shrugged it off as nothing but a tomb of the king...he might have missed the part it was built by his wife with love, grit and more love.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sL4QRPiNkUJ27IuDXm-aeBMzPwOEa9hSlLQyH9sNuYg8PBeSzVA_9cBfn14vjgvUbXbLxo-DiwDzVQctjQEw9Cwc9tySxr7zG2ng51uPjJ6MkiB-X8uMUBYpPDc2Bp9fJWVPNa6Bj2FqK9hS3KP_Njg-N_mTySRoXkpvVZ5DcAILxDZfbYKKyAHm/s1280/IMG_20221031_194138_123%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV8B904DULp5FiiRXKY8r0-icUrah72jN-HxqOVuiBE7LgchkI6N4K3h1BwNmwOVJl4TcYNcQQ4y0ec-zRj7DsROp90c3um56a_N_pHOo9NoYtorO-rK65RqXonQQLb3MilpllXfrxTzAhlJR-odh_LZiZipOSVBgR6cMaZKz8kaAEqN1-koWbcwo/s4000/IMG_20221023_154620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV8B904DULp5FiiRXKY8r0-icUrah72jN-HxqOVuiBE7LgchkI6N4K3h1BwNmwOVJl4TcYNcQQ4y0ec-zRj7DsROp90c3um56a_N_pHOo9NoYtorO-rK65RqXonQQLb3MilpllXfrxTzAhlJR-odh_LZiZipOSVBgR6cMaZKz8kaAEqN1-koWbcwo/s320/IMG_20221023_154620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mDVrfzYiQJ-aEj0N41tWm8Zjuuf7qdjpnMQT7pNJfTT-IUcroArUWeoz9N28gFMt4A0in5t3V0HpkVUCFYwUtH8f2JC-lqPUMueTDSLTjhhor87wKfLUE6aKb0qcP4_CY7MebjSH100nC2b1seTOPIsD34ZtGw7_qTteaOW2rtd9_0kn-OrZaIw0/s1280/IMG-20221024-WA0047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mDVrfzYiQJ-aEj0N41tWm8Zjuuf7qdjpnMQT7pNJfTT-IUcroArUWeoz9N28gFMt4A0in5t3V0HpkVUCFYwUtH8f2JC-lqPUMueTDSLTjhhor87wKfLUE6aKb0qcP4_CY7MebjSH100nC2b1seTOPIsD34ZtGw7_qTteaOW2rtd9_0kn-OrZaIw0/s320/IMG-20221024-WA0047.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>We did venture for the old city in those autos which run through the heart of the city. Being Choti Diwali the rush was mad and as they said roads were closed we missed Clock Tower, Ghanta Ghar and those beautiful blue doors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There just might be a next time!</div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-2515743366661210072022-07-25T02:07:00.003-07:002022-07-25T02:07:33.355-07:00Another Life<p>Ashima's eyes were on the mobile, as usual. Her hair tied in a bun, legs parted slightly, hinting at the creamy flesh of thighs beneath her dress, tummy bulging out of her dress slightly, maybe more so as she was stooping comfortably, relaxed... sometimes her eyes on the road, sometimes flipping channels of FM. Anuj glanced sideways at her screen, was a chat box open..he jerked his eyes off her phone and looked at the road ahead... Did he really doubt her after all these years...his partner, his wife, mother of his newly teen daughter, his friend, beautiful sex they shared!</p><p></p><p><br />He felt himself stir, thinking of the last time they...did he make her happy? Obviously, he does, the way she screams out, his inside was stirring again, he fixed his eyes on the road, but did she want more...They are in their mid-forties, and he makes her happy most of the time, then why does he have the feeling she wants more... more than he's able to give.</p><div id="midAds1"></div><p></p><p>He's overthinking obviously! Wife of fifteen years, decades of sex, and at this age can a woman want more! But then who writes these rules that libido wears off with age, theirs didn't, in fact, sex got better with age, the nuances of the act were just at their best! Ashima wasn't bored or uninterested in the act, in fact, their camaraderie, and sexual comfort had grown along with their relationship. He knew when she had an orgasm...but it wasn't always like that! Well, porn helped, but didn't divulge all the secrets, the way you could win over a woman, get access to her deepest feelings, touch her on the spot where she squeals with pleasure and fulfillment!!<br /><br />Why was his mind wandering uselessly! Ashima raised her eyes from her mobile and was speaking something about the party they were returning from, he joined in the conversation out of his reverie. Of late, the doubt in his mind, preserved silently after he caught her chatting with a stranger within the first year of their marriage, resurfaced sometimes, the reason he was not sure of! After all these years, after all they have been through and all they have shared, did he dread he would snoop in some sort of intimate chat or some literary or musical sweet nothings? His mouth twisted in distaste, is this doubt that he overlooked and neglected all these years, is this because of Sunaina, his new junior who joined his workplace a few months back?</p><div id="midAds2"></div><p></p><br /><br />Anuj never had a girlfriend in his life and much to his wife's dismay there was hardly anyone he ever wanted! He wanted friends, booze, a career, and sports, but liking someone wasn't in his scheme of things, loving, yearning, and dating did not find many places either. Was he boring? Somehow he never felt so, standing up to his peers, pitting himself against them, he liked girls and sex but he never was the romantic kind. He was witness to many love affairs of his friends, patch-ups, and fights but his hands were always full, carrying the weight of his father's hugely successful rapport in the small town of theirs. Life and partnership were about responsibility and caring. Meeting Ashima as a bridal prospect did not make him fall in love of course, but she was funny and interesting and they could strike in conversations for long.<p>Soon they were dating, having long chats over the phone and it was obvious they were going to be hitched soon. The initial days were turbulent, living under the same roof, well he had no idea how to go about it. He had seen it smooth with his parents, his Baba used to take classes in Medical College and was busy practicing other times, and his mom managed all other stuff from managing finances to new constructions to acquiring new property to set up the motor for water availability, from their PTMs to their tiffins, she was just the one answer to every question under the sun. She was the pillar of their support and he has hardly ever seen his parents fight.</p><div id="midAds3"></div><p></p><p>Here he didn't know at all how to handle the dynamite & volatile woman called his wife, bursting with temper, a plethora of allegations, yet calming down after a few minutes, smiling at times. Women! How does one handle them really! They fought tooth and nail, patched up, had god sex, and well that chatting incident which maybe was the outcome of his excessive tours, dilemma before joining a new job, his physical absence from her life, well that's how he had explained and moved on! But had she... He didn't always care, job... immense pressure, boss, so much on his plate! Wife chatting away with a stranger...did this demand so much of his attention really! Besides after Saina's birth, when he was finally back from his on site assignments and she from her remote posting, they were finally building a family, building love, trust, friendship. She wasn't the epitome of caring wife and mother but she was fun to be with inspite of their repeated bickering!</p><p>So what changed now, with Sunaina's advent in his office and his life... First time at this juncture of his career and age, Anuj was a bit relaxed. Yes he had many female colleagues earlier but flirtatious exchanges and romance was never on the card for him. Though he felt Ashima was his opposite, she enjoyed all the male attention and company, she was honest about many things, may be the things she felt she could be upright about. Sharing his first cuppa with Sunaina at office, they discussed about work, about life and someone as blunt as Anuj as Ashima would allege sometimes was aware of the undercurrent between them and actually began to love it. Sometimes the serious man in him wondered was she distracting him from his career, the career he built with each drop of his sweat, he did not have big business schools to his name, only his hard work and grit. And Sunaina got that. Anuj was hopeless at texting, typing in Hinglish, for the first time he wanted to try...and Sunaina got that too.</p><div id="midAds4"></div><p></p><br /><br />From then on he sometimes wondered..is that how you cheat...he looked at Ashima more closely, like him was she comfortable somewhere else! It was nonsense he was conjuring up! Her love for literature, music which he did not relate at all like she didn't relate to his penchant for career from her secured government job!<br /><br />They were driving in to the basement, Ashima was still talking about the party, raving about someone she met, Anuj listened half heartedly... smiling sometimes. Fifteen long years...he stared into her eyes and the slight patch of sindoor not at all matching with her LBD, he grabbed her hand at the elevator.'What...' Ashima looked back curiously.<br /><br />'Nothing' he dragged her along arm in her waist.<br /><br />'It's awfully late...not tonight ' Ashima tried to sound sane.<br /><br />'As if you care' his eyes twinkled!<br /><br />Her eyes answered the twinkle in his eyes. There's a life beyond mobiles and virtual world, a life where man and woman bond, have sex, raise a child, fight, live....like caveman! Another life, another chance it would be Ashima only and was it the same for her...<br /><br />Well Anuj wasn't sure! Maybe another fifteen years down the lane he'd know...<br />Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-15348343174607533912022-07-13T06:54:00.005-07:002022-07-14T03:27:56.342-07:00Barapani Diary ....We the women!<p style="text-align: justify;">Barapani had beckoned me time and again and I was drawn to the hills, the serene lake, the simple folk and the breathtaking beauty all around. At the beginning of my career, the pure of the hills had taken me to the forsaken place where I worked as a temporary Physics teacher with a meagre amount. Sharing flat with a pompous music teacher, living on my own and dreaming day and night in this heaven, what not it taught me...and again this job as an air traffic controller brought me to this place for an year, an year with my toddler and an year without spouse, an year of retrospection, an year of bliss, an year of solitude!</p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">All said and done I know one thing I'd take with me from here is ( provided I leave in the right time) the memories of these girls here.. simple, smiling, hard working.. running small shops in one hand and large families in the other. Independent, struggling, smiling and when required they can tackle their menfolk in an enviable manner, give them a taste of their own medicine..! I have seen all the domestic helps wherever they are Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata one common thread binds them, one single story with one common character...a drunk violent jobless husband..here somehow the story has a twist... braveheart hardworking womenfolk...decision makers..and supporting men behind them..well things may not be so simple as they seem..but for a change this is interesting ..and I can't help admiring these women.. starting from their Jainsems wrapped neatly over their clothes, and when dressed for an occasion,their cardigans matching with the Jainsems and bellies following suit or the beautiful silk dharas adorning them...to their grit and tenacity...they are just enchanting!</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Iva, the beautiful young girl with bright red lipstick in the days she is well and a nice flirty smile works in the office from eight to five thirty, has two sons at home, most of the days as I return from evening walk I see her standing in queue to collect water from the roadside tap, sometimes beating up her son and rarely sometimes her contagious sound of laughter catches my attention as I turn to see her sipping tea in the small tea shop with other folks, waving at me smiling with her kowai stained lips. There is Rani pale timid, three children at home, studying for her Class XII exams when she is not cleaning office and making tea, there is Meera smiling chatting , she lost her working husband of excessive drinking, left with five kids, no compensation from office yet. Meera runs a tea shop the lifeline of the airport.. provides poori for breakfast, simple rice sabji for lunch and roti for dinner. Sometimes I wonder without Meera's shop all the airlines staff, office staff, workers all would starve to death..even the passengers when flight is delayed because nothing edible is found inside the airport. Debo, Meera's helping hand, over worked, stressed out often sick with stomach ache and fever, sits in the shop from morning to night, without her pooris aren't fluffy enough, lunch isn't ready in time and when she is taking a break I have seen her carrying a pile of hay while returning from harvest. The pimpled, smiling girl..people say won't get married.. some failed love affair..who knows..<br /><br />Peaceful the sweet fragile tiny office assistant whom everybody love to tease, Theresa hardworking shy office attendent..comes to office leaving her infant at home. And the numerous girls who run different shops, some sell Kowai the local betel nut, some pork and fish and in the local market day so many would flock around, some with a stoic expression, some using a smile to bypass the language barrier, oldies smiling and speaking in pure Khasi.. I hardly get the language barring a few stray words I have picked up..but the smile is infectious and the toil the hardship..my salutes to these women..hardworking, financially strong but empowered and independent...are they.... naah we have a long way to go...<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-60120486256199225872022-06-21T00:14:00.005-07:002022-06-21T00:25:24.955-07:00Barapani Diary IV... We, the women!<p><span style="text-align: justify;">As much as it was solitude and bliss, beautiful tranquil nature all around, it was lonely at times, specially without better half and without any restaurant or even a samosa shop nearby! The little TV with dish and the data card I had was my connection to the world with the city being a forty kilometres away with a bumpy road and unpredictable traffic and a toddler at toe. But I guess this was the year I had read maximum number of books, started blogging. There was a power cut at eleven o clock every night when I put away my book and slid behind the mosquito net. But I longed for the city and some so called hustle bustle sometimes.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">I enjoyed my little long holiday in Delhi given the boredom and missing spouse. It was a mixed bag holiday with health playing some tricks on me, my little one..but then life is something you have to squeeze out some happiness from and no perfection awaits us anywhere. Onset of Delhi chill, mall hopping, long rounds in SN Market, Karol Bagh in the foggy Delhi sun and yes...mouth watering Shawarmas at Defence colony Al Bakes, those crispy fried besan pakodas covered with muli and mint chutney at Lajpat Nagar (Ram laddoos) and the show stopper... sending my help for Chole Bhature from INA footpath .. once husband steps out of the house đ€..well he can't be blamed considering my non alcoholic fatty liver and high triglycerates (whatever that means). Speaking of Delhi, can't get over the taste of good food and good times... that hot cuppa at Barista with a warm almond muffin and a new found husband đ, rediscovering same old relationship in Saket malls sharing a plate of Sushi..watching deer and peacocks with daughter at Hauz Khas in a leisurely warm sunday morning and of course Dilli Haat with its colorful bangles stoles and yes yes.. fried momos at Nagaland stall..with red hot chutney..and not to miss the sabudana vada at Maharashtra stall.. ah yes the foody in me is up, awake, hungry and relishing, savouring good times...</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc8oioqFqSY/Tvitk1N9_HI/AAAAAAAAAds/NJzran2Y5AQ/s1600/DSC00837.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc8oioqFqSY/Tvitk1N9_HI/AAAAAAAAAds/NJzran2Y5AQ/s400/DSC00837.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Colourful Dilli Haat</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlWjODWSnt4/UF1mbVVz0gI/AAAAAAAAA70/fZ6J5pu1hYQ/s1600/DSC00920.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlWjODWSnt4/UF1mbVVz0gI/AAAAAAAAA70/fZ6J5pu1hYQ/s320/DSC00920.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Christmas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRH4feLNQO8/UF1pQJPYg8I/AAAAAAAAA8E/9uHOyJvlj9Q/s1600/DSC00856.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRH4feLNQO8/UF1pQJPYg8I/AAAAAAAAA8E/9uHOyJvlj9Q/s320/DSC00856.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Deer Park..Hauz Khas</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNmRRVbg7D0/UF1m6lNojyI/AAAAAAAAA78/btn3OxnZmm8/s1600/DSC00932.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNmRRVbg7D0/UF1m6lNojyI/AAAAAAAAA78/btn3OxnZmm8/s320/DSC00932.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Sushi at Sushiya.. Select City Mall Saket...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H0dZX4qIl_Q/UF1pqxPt7oI/AAAAAAAAA8g/shLJPNlZKQ8/s1600/DSC00930.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H0dZX4qIl_Q/UF1pqxPt7oI/AAAAAAAAA8g/shLJPNlZKQ8/s320/DSC00930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />After the crests and troughs.. health problems in family, being stuck in a fog affected Rajdhani Express but toddler of my daughter keeping everyone busy in the compartment.. finally I was back and I was about to write back to where I belong..who knows where I belong to...that four lane clad, malls and flyover embellished city of Delhi where somehow I found my little space ( I know many would object to me occupying little space đ), city of Guwahati where school college university days zoomed by in the bank of Brahmaputra.. or this place where I am supposed to spend one year more and had spent another year earlier in my first job. In Delhi I'd always feel I belong somewhere in Assam in Guwahati..while at Guwahati I just longed to see the world and while being in this place there's a sense of calm and peace, a feel of ' Shangri la ' where time stands till and whose inhabitants hardly venture out of this land..but this loneliness I wasn't much equipped to bear it all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">All said and done I know one thing I'd take with me from here is ( provided I leave in the right time) the memories of these girls here.. simple, smiling, hard working.. running small shops in one hand and large families in the other. Independent, struggling, smiling and when required they can tackle their menfolk in an enviable manner, give them a taste of their own medicine..! I have seen all the domestic helps wherever they are Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata one common thread binds them, one single story with one common character...a drunk violent jobless husband..here somehow the story has a twist... braveheart hardworking womenfolk...decision makers..and supporting men behind them..well things may not be so simple as they seem..but for a change this is interesting ..and I can't help admiring these women..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Iva, the beautiful young girl with bright red lipstick in the days she is well and a nice flirty smile works in the office from eight to five thirty, has two sons at home, most of the days as I return from evening walk I see her standing in queue to collect water from the roadside tap, sometimes beating up her son and rarely sometimes her contagious sound of laughter catches my attention as I turn to see her sipping tea in the small tea shop with other folks, waving at me smiling with her kowai stained lips. There is Rani pale timid, three children at home, studying for her Class XII exams when she is not cleaning office and making tea, there is Meera smiling chatting , she lost her working husband of excessive drinking, left with five kids, no compensation from office yet. Meera runs a tea shop the lifeline of the airport.. provides poori for breakfast, simple rice sabji for lunch and roti for dinner. Sometimes I wonder without Meera's shop all the airlines staff, office staff, workers all would starve to death..even the passengers when flight is delayed because nothing edible is found inside the airport. Debo, Meera's helping hand, over worked, stressed out often sick with stomach ache and fever, sits in the shop from morning to night, without her pooris aren't fluffy enough, lunch isn't ready in time and when she is taking a break I have seen her carrying a pile of hay while returning from harvest. The pimpled, smiling girl..people say won't get married.. some failed love affair..who knows..<br /><br />Peaceful the sweet fragile tiny office assistant whom everybody love to tease, Theresa hardworking shy office attendent..comes to office leaving her infant at home. And the numerous girls who run different shops, some sell Kowai the local betel nut, some pork and fish and in the local market day so many would flock around, some with a stoic expression, some using a smile to bypass the language barrier, oldies smiling and speaking in pure Khasi.. I hardly get the language barring a few stray words I have picked up..but the smile is infectious and the toil the hardship..my salutes to these women..<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--tgrWmDM_u4/UF1qhWsvQqI/AAAAAAAAA8o/QNo1BiJ2W00/s1600/232.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--tgrWmDM_u4/UF1qhWsvQqI/AAAAAAAAA8o/QNo1BiJ2W00/s320/232.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">We, the women...<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-80508311484940633692021-11-24T07:06:00.005-08:002021-11-26T04:35:35.861-08:00Hunky Dory<p> </p><p></p><p><br />Forty two! At this juncture what would one want from life and to be precise what I want. The selfie camera popped the face I know so well, the face with a blunt nose, heard mom regretting since I was a kid, expressive eyes as some men had expressed in different times, slight eyes bags popping out, I rubbed my hands confirming, whole bunch of grey hair staring wide from the skull!<br /><br />I shut the camera off, trying to cover the grey bunch. Thin hair stared back at me, is it time to accept? Slightly sagging breasts and the protruding stomach, I almost threw away the mobile! But that's not how I look, my Display pictures and Instagram pictures, even without much filters looked great most of the times, only you need to choose the right angle! I was shaken from my frustrating chain of thoughts, thrust mobile in my trouser pocket, stuffed earphones, switching on my playlist began to walk.</p><div id="midAds1"></div><p>On one such walk, I had set eyes upon , let's call him hunk, almost two years ago.<br />My eyes scanned for him every day. Almost a hunk, salt pepper hair, those biceps and the stare! Did he stare at me really? I mean why me? Well, men do stare. There isn't anything surprising about it and nothing to be overwhelmed about, there are psychos, sick men. I caught his eyes just then, we looked away just in time, he with his jog, me with my walk now almost stumble. Would we talk one day but how? My romantic hopeless mind conjured some pictures. Would he smile some day? May be say ' Hi'!!<br /><br />For those who think I'm completely out of my mind, it is necessary to inform that's how I've been all these years.. romantic, useless, weaving stories! With the daughter turning ten, hubby turning decent what was this madness about! Few days back I had a hopeless crush on husband's boss, he too had paid me all the attention I needed and then thankfully he went ahead with his corporate chores neglecting me and I was back in my senses! Had he been as intelligent as he looked, I shuddered! I'm gonna cross hunk again, I pulled my indifferent face, oh my side locks must be showing my greys , tried to push them aside. We crossed, of course nothing happened. 'Hunk I wouldn't be there tomorrow, my morning shift, my heart cried out.' <i>You know</i> <i>hunks are dumb my sane mind argued</i>.' But this one isn't ' my frivolous self whispered!</p><div id="midAds2"></div><p>Hunk was stretching his limbs in the monkey bar. Chiseled body did not attract me, it's brains, I clenched my teeth, trying to convince myself, looking away from hunk, brains, humour, my kind of man! Some images flashed in my head in super sonic speed. Hunk in bed, like I saw Milind Soman in the web series! I swallowed hard,sex gets better when you know someone! I left the park with a heavy heart and more jumbled up thoughts!<br /><br />It was a ritual..hunk and me, locking of our eyes. My hair brushed a tad bit tidy, my smartest jogging tee, light lip balm sort. <i>But</i> <i>hunk likes me just as I am, </i>my heart hummed! Wait what... since when he likes you, my head rebuked! You really think he likes you!! Supposing he does what are you expecting..head was glaring at heart!<br /><br /><i>What's app texts, coffee date m</i>ay be, <i>stare at his eyes more, smile coyly...uuuhh what not!</i><br /><br />Ok then... head waited<br /><br /><i>'Then...then..oh then..his..'.</i>heart blushed , ' <i>His place may be'</i><br /><br />Wonderful....then<br /><br />' <i>It can be steamy, passionat</i>e...' my lips went dry , ' <i>In his arms...he's so gentle..duniya dari holding him, his passion'</i><br /><br />I crossed hunk just then, sweating almost<br />Next morning and day after , I was not there in the park , with hunk out of my mind as well, job, daughter, husband, maid. After that tsunamis called corona and lockdown happened, daughter began her online classes after a few hiccups and I stopped my morning walks. It was dropping her off to bus stand, waving her off to school then the morning walk ritual in the park where hunk happened. Well with online classes, my job was limited to waking daughter up, then waking my help, switching on wifi, then switch on laptop and drift off to bed!<br /><br />Almost last two years daughter did not go to school and me no morning walks! Today I came to bus stand , felt a bit awkward waving daughter off now on the brink of her teens. Felt strange at the park, pulled my mask to let my nose breathe, set my watch and music felt so great, it was my head breathing!<br /><br />Wait ....just wait.. wasn't that?....<br />I slowed my pace, hunk had slowed his too. He was looking at me, his lips curving in a smile. I wasn't sure what I was doing? I think my lips curved in smile too!</p><div id="midAds3"></div><p>Hunk was approaching, today he was going to say ' Hi'! I knew he would!</p><p><br /></p>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-90760262436921160292021-10-27T00:33:00.000-07:002021-10-27T00:33:05.453-07:00The Leh Land<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Tripping is in my veins! Nature with her flurry used to embrace me in my beautiful home town in northeast India. Hills, rivers, greens...so much in abundance, I never knew I had to seek nature living in a concrete jungle one day. My home was nestled between the hills, immensely green on all sides.<br /><br /><br /><br />This write up is about the latest crazy trip I had. My travel buddy and I had almost wild adventurous trips while we set for our first abroad trip to Singapore, then all self arranged trip to Greece. Now that she's posted at an almost remote airport at Diu, with a three year old and the pandemic called covid engulfed our world, trips got fewer.<br /><br /><br /><br />So this sudden unplanned trip materialised when we booked tickets the day before we travelled. Her family, work commitments and sheer distance made this trip next to impossible but we being hardcore travel freaks met at Delhi airport and with my favourite Salzburg blue coat hung over my shoulder, medicines and other essentials packed according to checklist, we were hugging and boarding the plane, catching up on office and spouse gossips!!</p><div id="midAds1"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Both of us are well traveled, at least that's what we felt, with mountains by the window, we weren't excited, assuming we weren't missing anything. ' Oh I've had excellent views before landing at Srinagar' My friend too bragged about Alps, but then there was a commotion in the flight with maximum passengers huddling towards windows, we peaked outside and the barren Zanskar ranges caught us unaware and awestruck! The river was flowing between mountains, like few thousand years of year of civilization, we knew we were going to be transported in a different world in the week to come.</p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211024-61754e4ba0df7.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><br />Leh airport was crowded, it was hot outside, contrary to AccuWeather prediction. We checked in to the super luxurious hotel my partner booked, way out of my budget. Day one as all suggest, stay put in room, at least rest for two/three hours to acclimatize before venturing out.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617772017bc7e.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211027-6178d4387e90e.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><br />Evening we took a cab to visit the stupa, gobbled on some magnificent momos from the market, bought some local jackets, reasonably priced and warm and walked back to the hotel.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617773f1ec7fa.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><br />REAL DAY ONE: Leh can be daunting at times. My partner did not have a sound sleep, claustrophobia, breathing issues, high altitude syndromes. But travel freaks we are, sumptuous breakfast, photo session, we checked out from the luxury hotel, staying another night at this one would be ludicrous and we were set for the day. Glimpse of Indus nestled between the mountains, a river as old as civilization and the mountains out of picture, ancient, barren, wild and beautiful! Zanskar Indus Sangam was like someone flipped an ancient page from a lost civilization!<div id="midAds2"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61777745b07f2.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><br />Breathtaking to say the least! Magnetic Hill was beautiful and rustic, though you need not comprehend magnetic theory for that! There was something about Leh and I understood it was #neverbefore for us! The landscapes, rugged terrains, clear blue sky..it was a gateway to Shangri-la I read about long back!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61777ae229e2b.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><br />As it is with overworked drivers rushing everywhere even in my Shangri La, we checked into a very reasonable, almost sasta tikao hotel amidst his rush, almost one fifteenth of the price we paid the day before! Well that's the fun when two wanderlust wander merrily. Since travelling was our sole priority and also clicking pics like mad, we changed and went to visit Leh Palace after one round of average coffee and noodles.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61777fecaf75e.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211027-6178cb261478d.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211027-6178ca4a440fc.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />DAY TWO:<br />We had planned for a hectic day, for Turtuk village and Nubra via Khardungla Pass and difficult to believe we were set at six thirty sharp. Well there wasn't any warm water, so we dispensed with necessary washroom antics, brushed, changed and checked out. I was wondering with family, a super lazy cribbing hubby, equally lazy child it's a mammoth task to awake them, plead them to get ready before breakfast clock ticks! Huh..here we reached Khardungla at eight in the morning, we might have been the first ones for the day!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211027-6178da811051d.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-6177889d647c0.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-6177894ca741c.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />We followed the pahadi Shyok river to Hunder, in between road closure due construction, we could sink in the sights slowly, feel the magic of the land we were in! I was awestruck by Leh, it's strategic location, Tibet , China, Pakistan, amazing place it had/has in history!<div id="midAds3"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61778ac11b529.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Food was basic, vegetarian to my surprise and disappointment!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61778c4d8f8c5.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Turtuk was our next stop after wild drive through ancient terrains, desert like arid mountains, I was transported to a different world, some where in the beginning of civilization, some where where nature was unscathed, somewhere where man has not been able to mercilessly rob nature of its abundance. After those rugged terrains, Turtuk was like an welcome oasis, tiny village with a lovely stream, lush green mountains and farmlands out of a Yash Chopra movie!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61778ebf2b7f3.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61778f2f32708.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61778faa4627f.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />After some heated arguments with our driver, me playing peace mission agent, convincing him to stop for pictures, we drove towards Hunder.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-6177904e0e151.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617790a4efb34.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617790f28d599.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Filmy poses in the filmy setting, we found our camp and slumped in bed after a warm dinner at the camp. Next day would be the drive to Pangong.<br /><br />DAY THREE: We started for Pangong almost leisurely and our first stop was Diskit monastery. At our Nubra camp, the flow of stream echoed through the night, though I had a strong desire to view the source, we skipped it to save time. Diskit was a must as my father would quietly enquire...that large Buddha statue... would you go there!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617792a520c19.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-6177965837227.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-6177968f14c0a.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Tried hard for the monastery shot and as with every travel..here the song echoing in my head was hunk John Abraham's ' Lagi tumse man ki lagan' đ..well these are my travel inspirations, keeps me and my companions on toes always with craziness unplugged!<br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779720e9918.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />The Buddha pic for my Baba and many who were traveling through us, our wild spirit!<div id="midAds4"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617797597b025.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />She wasn't as happy as us !!<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779780e690d.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Shyok and me â€ïž...<p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617797a13181e.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617797b8a0daf.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Towards Pangong, driver Sahab was a bit cool today, given up on the crazy souls may be!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617797f16b942.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-6177980d3f121.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779823d5cb4.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Pangong...we knew the hyped destinations normally disappoint specially with an overcast sky..let's see what the next day has in store.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-6177988fde6b7.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />It did look mundane, we suppressed our disappointment.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-617798da3b4ac.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />We retreated to our camp after an wild search without GPS...no signal works there. Camp was cold, power cut at night, no warm water at all. Solar power was supposed to give warm water in the morning, but overcast sky, bone chilling water, we stuck to basics. Over friendly guys in next camp, playing ' Manike maage hithe' , getting wide eyed as I declared we were traveling alone. Later I discussed with my buddy .... should we have said our hubbies are at Leh looking after our kids!!! I was hopeless at lies and with no lock in camps only zips, I tossed and turned in bed tensed, while I heard the heroes in next camp snoring off peacefully đĄ. That was when I began to have a headache!<br /><br />DAY FOUR:<br />We had plans like most women for a Pangong photoshoot. And we had a clear blue sky welcoming us, as I stumbled in the pebbles with headache gnawing at my forehead!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779ab7676e5.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />I did that too đ<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779adeb164d.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />With driver Sahab getting furious at the photo shoots and the time we were taking, after argument and bargain he drove us to the main lake again brooding continuously. I perform worse with people breathing down my neck!<div id="midAds5"></div><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779b5990602.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779b6ab2fcf.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />But wasn't it a dream what we just witnessed! Can I not be born for this again and also have the latest mobile for the pics!!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779bbabf2d4.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779bd236565.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />I am a non believer all right, but would have loved to believe in god, after the view we had in road.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779c12cf957.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />We did not dare to ask driver Sahab to stop for the ethereal magic that was unfolding in front of us, I clicked from the car.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779c82b21a1.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779cab72fd7.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779cc158c82.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779ce2637f5.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Chang La pass...we crossed the almost non existent road, high altitude headache drove me dizzy!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779d245bff5.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779d3b470ce.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />I have to mention here I was absolutely contact less with my family for almost twenty four hours. Husband was crazy without my whereabouts! I could message them after we descended from Chang La and surprisingly my headache disappeared at a sane altitude! ' Maa we thought, you were kidnapped' was my twelve year old's take with input from her Baba of course! ' Baba said China wale might have abducted you!'<br />The husband was murmuring , ' Leke rakh nahi paye, wapas kar diya!!'<br />Talk of a warm welcome from family after I emerged from the depth of ancient mountains!!<br /><br />Driver Sahab rode like a supersonic and stopped at Thiksey monastery, his favorite one!<br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779e7f1619f.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779e9a941f8.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779eb18fc6d.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Driver Sahab got rid of us finally and we checked in a decent hotel, chilled , relaxed, reveled at the pics we have clicked.<br /><br />DAY FIVE: We went to airport for our early flight to Delhi. As I read in blogs there's a grand finale not to be missed from flight window!<div id="midAds6"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779f5090fc8.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779f695c279.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;">l</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779f84708cb.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />Ladakh is going to call me again, transport me to my Shangri La!! Till then...<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img _="_" src="https://cdn3.mycity4kids.com/images/article-images/client-apps/details/img-20211026-61779fc57f9db.png" style="width: 100%;" /></p><br />May we remain as crazy as we are!!<div><br /></div><div><br />PS : I caught covid five days after I returned ! With my finicky husband jumping when the thermometer ticked 99, I went for a test just for his sake and lo behold! I did wear N95 mask, avoided crowds..yet..but being double vaccinated it passed away mildly me being furiously bored in a room! So girls pack your bags, take your guards, set sail with your pal, yes I missed my family a lot but let's take that ' ja Simran ja' trip once. Bon voyage , live your life , it's a beautiful world and we live once. Our moms, aunts, took this trip through us and it is with their indomitable spirit, we would wander off again into a different world soon!<br /><br /><br /></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-57540450316970453052021-08-20T00:32:00.000-07:002021-08-20T00:32:20.066-07:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fMp3Dh4Lc20/YR9aSq2nbJI/AAAAAAAAd6w/RYtCbiuzgWogwux3IWm5N3kIYaivV1-dACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/IMG_20210818_111443_912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fMp3Dh4Lc20/YR9aSq2nbJI/AAAAAAAAd6w/RYtCbiuzgWogwux3IWm5N3kIYaivV1-dACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210818_111443_912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Dear Ninni</p><p> What kind of mother am I! If I ever tell you the story of my motherhood... Ninni, being a mother was certainly not in my scheme of things, as I was growing up. Career, love, romance, travelling the world, meeting my soul mate starry eyed all were, rearing a child, changing diapers were certainly not! Not that I was against or repulsive about it, but the world was inviting me with open arms as if to make my mark and this wasnât what I was bothered about.</p><p>Well I certainly didnât make any mark, as much as I assumed world was waiting for me with bated breath, but I settled for a different unique job after fair share of struggles and stories that I can tell you, that are exclusively mine. Gradually I got to know I was almost mediocre in hoards of things and not the unique mind I speculated myself to be. I followed my peers, though a tad bit tenacious about job and career, rest I followed peers got married and settled for a not so different life. I wasnât that magnanimous social worker I saw myself as when I was a child, I wasnât that brilliant writer I assumed I would be, also I could not get myself rebellious fighting for the love of my life, nor I could adopt a little girl and do something exemplary.I got lost, confused and most rebellions ended with my mother later husband and did not see much light of the day!! </p><p>Yet there was me, Ninni, growing learning and an entity of my own. Rebellious in my beliefs, did not take on the world exactly but not bowed down either. So body clock ticking, earlier it ticked real fast, I convinced ourselves to prepare for you, the little monkey to endorse our world. Your father , as he is, kept mumbling...life will never be the same from now on. I was like..is it..casuality you know I wear like my second skin! After you, life was a tad different, we , initially your grand mom and I did not have much idea what to do with the crazy wailing bundle we had in our arms. IT did not sleep, wailed ten minutes after every feed and actually I was seeing stars. First night at home after hospital your Nani and I were up the whole night, clueless with a wailing you! </p><p>â Sheâs hungry, give her formulaâ , your Nani was whining as I struggled feeding you. This superseded any night shift I ever did, at work I knew shift was going to end soon. Here it never ended!! Then it was roller coaster , there was a bonding at times, the warm soft bundle cuddling to you, snuggling with her warmth , at the same time life was different. Yet I like every other mom knew I had a longing heart to come home to, had a pair of eyes trusting me with her life. Also the pragmatic me knew this wasnât for ever, some years and then empty nest syndrome. Sometimes I think it wasnât me who sacrificed etc , it was you with your trust, faith made me who I am, I wasnât sure I deserved all this. Little bit of honesty here I was not particularly close to my mother and only as I kept growing I understood that bond I shared with my own mom! Difficult to understand I know, but thatâs how it was. But for you I was your very own, might be very natural, but you had all your questions, aspirations, even you are scared of me at times! Slowly you got myself to believe I deserve this. Selfish as I was, job, friends , yes even little out of station trips without you! That way I was nowhere near other dedicated moms. I left you most of the times with our help, who nurtured you and in many ways she was way better than me! She cooks your favourite food, sorts your fish from the bones. I see my colleague moms toiling hard, balancing job, kid while I led an almost easy casual life. Maybe I missed out a lot but Iâm not complaining and Iâm almost sure you are not either.</p><p>As you stepped into your teens yesterday, and when I wonder about the great expectations load I carry on my shoulders..I have not failed definitely but thatâs because of you, your father, your Pishi (our help). I have only just been myself! I had shut my eyes in fear when you were vaccinated, promised myself weeping I wonât take any trips after your wrist fracture, which I broke obviously, one hand holding mobile with other one I have lulled you to sleep.</p><p>Away, away from perfection I am! And you have stated I am not your role model. Yet would there be respect, little bit of wish to be like your mom, wee bit of respect when you grow up and judge me as a human, putting aside the shackles of relation..if you ever do..I know Iâve been a super mom. When you would know thereâs a living person with a throbbing heart which ached for all, may not be a perfect mom but a living soul full of follies whom you loved and trusted blindly till you grew up and whom you would criticise, judge but love more when you are an adult...then Iâm a mom who need not fit in the societal standards , a mom who has made it.</p><p>Love</p><p>Ma</p>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-43359405379273967212021-08-16T12:18:00.006-07:002021-08-16T21:25:27.753-07:00Dear Ninni...on your twelfth <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MswcTiPOnyI/YRq7v929ZGI/AAAAAAAAd1E/WrDHwGZtUlUYdnM6ca99IeoJDNpFB59-ACPcBGAsYHg/s1280/IMG_20210817_002138_701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MswcTiPOnyI/YRq7v929ZGI/AAAAAAAAd1E/WrDHwGZtUlUYdnM6ca99IeoJDNpFB59-ACPcBGAsYHg/w150-h200/IMG_20210817_002138_701.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>No rebel yet </div><div>There is a voice, faint but unique </div><div>No thinker yet </div><div>There is a mind,curious and kind!</div><div> </div><div>Independence, freedom are ideas great </div><div>Yet Ma and Baba's delicious delight!</div><div>Too much gizmos, games and chat,</div><div>Little bit of Maths, quite a brat!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Toy shop gazing, are a thing of past </div><div>Greek hunks, Percy Jacksons are a must!</div><div>The girl for whom desserts can be the only meal </div><div>Strange sounding music, head banging gives her the thrill!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The world waits to be unfurled, words colours as she chooses</div><div>Take on life, take on world, all are hers if she wishes!</div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-59614426014326549572021-07-24T00:17:00.003-07:002021-07-24T00:17:49.335-07:00What ails her!<p>The gentle breeze caressed her </p><p>Her blow dried hair muttering soft</p><p>The diamond sparkled in the moist air</p><p>Her pale eyes lost in thought!</p><p><br /></p><p>'Coffee madam', my mom stood in front</p><p>Her painted fingers held the cup</p><p>Mom waved off with a nod,</p><p>What ails her, this goddess, I gaze dumbstruck!</p><p><br /></p><p>She fiddles with her cell phone</p><p>Stares deep into the screen, </p><p>Her fingers tap wistfully</p><p>For a second I hear her breathe in!</p><p><br /></p><p>'Hey take the cup!'</p><p>She asks with a frown,</p><p>My surreptitious glances laid bare and sore</p><p>Out of my trance, I do as I'm told!</p>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-10274203014008765432021-07-19T23:48:00.002-07:002021-07-19T23:48:44.575-07:00All that was right<p>Determined I was,</p><p>To wash off the moments and years</p><p>That clung to me..</p><p>Ostracize myself from all that was wrong</p><p>Or awfully right!</p><p><br /></p><p>Determined,</p><p>I wipe off the moistness from the hollow of my eyes </p><p>Let eyes glimmer, light and live</p><p>Smile away all those excruciating pain</p><p>That hit hard once!</p><p><br /></p><p>Determined, I chose my path</p><p>Pressed the delete button with a cool tap</p><p>Cathartic it was, I breathed anew</p><p>Time to let go, loose ends few.</p><p><br /></p><p>Moments still play havoc with me,</p><p>Moist eyes threaten to overflow,</p><p>From delete to Ctrl alt del</p><p>My resolve, here you go!</p>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-50961973033730475592020-10-08T07:49:00.017-07:002022-05-21T03:30:01.049-07:00Chai Chai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-8bjiMH72o/X39K2iJ8CwI/AAAAAAAAU8A/RFyfqspJfNwMaQlVu-nh7kcdAJ8gREcQQCPcBGAsYHg/s707/IMG-20201008-WA0052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JnFsPHbG5nI/X4ADV95QuZI/AAAAAAAAU9c/7HTxI7BMUOQbNudlRe7li0crQcv8O3leACPcBGAsYHg/s720/FB_IMG_1602224699147.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--T_FfQVJrVw/X4AFz2rcy6I/AAAAAAAAU9s/LmQOq6GPLNckkKI7ZLdmFyn7vNCVaTBcACPcBGAsYHg/s707/IMG-20201008-WA0052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="707" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--T_FfQVJrVw/X4AFz2rcy6I/AAAAAAAAU9s/LmQOq6GPLNckkKI7ZLdmFyn7vNCVaTBcACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG-20201008-WA0052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p>Tea, coffee or... real cheesy line of yester years đ! Tea it would be for most of us , in daily mornings , family evenings, work breaks, in between studies, for the masses as well as for the classes. Yes in airport lounges though we hold the boisterous coffee cup for a while succumbing to somewhat peer pressure may be, yet most of the times we Indians have that <i>Dil Se</i> connection with chai be it cutting, adrak wali , doodh patti ( I never knew it existed) , masala chai, lemon tea...just strikes a chord with heart and the cup of freshness plucks the strings just at the right places.</p><p>Reminiscence of childhood summer vacations often take me to the lush green tea gardens of one not so famous tea estate owned by the Tatas, Hathigor tea estate! My grandpa's quarter was my idea of a big house, three bedrooms , one living room and the huge space in front of the house and the larger backyard along with a big garden full of mango, jamun, jackfruit trees and yes a pair of toilets almost hundred metres away and just beyond the toilets there was this wire fencing and acres of green tea gardens almost covering the horizon! Tea garden labours were heard chatting, blabbering as they made their way to the gardens in the morning and while they returned in the evening after the siren . The tea leaf factory was nearby, we could hear the machines buzz, look at the exhaust fans roll and smell the warm whiff of tea leaves, specially at night . Naturally being from this land , tea was our go to drink once you reach adolescence or teens, for those evenings with <i>chai samosa</i> or <i>chai pakoda</i> or dipping those Marie biscuits or rusks in the morning, or those late night study sessions with a cup of <i>laal sa</i> ( Assamese for black tea)may be.</p><p>Being a hardcore foodie, I know tea lovers will vehemently oppose, for me tea was always an accompaniment for<i> muri bhaja</i>, biscuits, <i>dalmoth</i> and without snacks Iâd be lost with my cuppa like a rudderless ship! Though sometimes for the sake of long hours of study did manage a biscuit less cup of tea but no not at all my cup of tea exactly. Getting hitched with someone who can gulp gallons of tea changed the equation a bit and I began to long for my morning and evening cuppas as my habit, needless to say with accompaniments galore. Rainy days ( rains are scarce in NCR region) calls for <i>chai</i> <i>pakoda</i>, as ideal as it gets for a combo and with it if you add the bong quintessential adda and some music ,heaven it is! Winters too just hanker for tea , the warm cuppa dealing with the chill specially if it is served in bed and you just need to get one arm out of the blanket to hold the cup! That's called bliss really.</p><p>Sipping tea with elders was considered first official entry to the adult world! College canteen, umpteen cups of runny tea with occasional<i> matthi, balusahi</i>, literal storms over tea cups, from politics to art, tea has seen it all. Slipping through the backdoor, buying sweets and samosas to be served with tea for the unannounced guest! Well guests if at all, aren't unannounced any more. Back in Assam we love our tea with strong flavour of tea leaf while here in north it's more milk and ginger and masalas. All said and done nothing like this concoction for our Indian minds to rejuvenate, refresh, give soul to our addas... and from the tea gardens of childhood, to the solitary<i> chaiwala</i> humming <i>Chai Chai</i> untiringly in the wee hours past midnight in a compartment with passengers peacefully tucked in their blankets!</p><p>' <i>Bhai do baje koi chai lega'</i> Someone spoke with exasperation</p><p>' <i>Kya pata sahab!</i>' He went on , ' <i>Chai Chai'</i></p><p>Still railway stations and train compartments reverberate with the sound... Chai Chai.... Chai anyone!</p><p>Time for my evening tea.</p><p><i>Axom deshor baagisa re suali.</i>..after all...as Bhupen Da had mentioned âșïž!( Girl from the tea gardens of Assam)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Y5L3Bwxf7Y/X4AGB0JBH5I/AAAAAAAAU9w/gvZoz8urHGU2QafSA0SnUJ9isgQnIy5sgCPcBGAsYHg/s720/FB_IMG_1602224699147.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Y5L3Bwxf7Y/X4AGB0JBH5I/AAAAAAAAU9w/gvZoz8urHGU2QafSA0SnUJ9isgQnIy5sgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/FB_IMG_1602224699147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-84250582496872967102020-09-28T02:19:00.000-07:002020-09-28T02:19:47.526-07:00Dear Daughter<p> </p><p><br /></p><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tq6k5mXBvGk/X3GqMJZgiAI/AAAAAAAAUxw/jGvPvS3FCgscmzPD29FVGl27-8gJYhQnACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_20200915_220310.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: center;" /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Exaggeration you shudder at</p><p>'Cut the drama' is what I get!<br /><br /></p><p></p><p>The stage was set long back</p><p>When the pediatric waved a little bundle</p><p>Is it a girl, I nudged your dad!</p><p>The warm soft wrap who smelled of love</p><p>Bellowing, grunting for food moment she was up!</p><p><br /></p><p>Of moments of growing up</p><p>Toothless smiles and colic galore</p><p>Of sleepless nights and lulabies sans notes</p><p>Of My Little Pony,unicorns ,Chota Bheem too!</p><p><br /></p><p>Of a little lady caught surfing youtube in online classes!</p><p>( Already being killed for this!)</p><p>Of a supercool mom screaming discipline </p><p>While editing her dp in insta!</p><p><br /></p><p>The show is on girl!</p>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-60381338035085166692020-08-03T12:48:00.000-07:002020-08-03T12:48:07.488-07:00Drift<div>The drift was there, slow and steady </div><div>Dark clouds gave way</div><div>To a listless bleak evening.</div><div><br /></div><div>Could we freeze the perpetual flow of time</div><div>Hit pause button may be,</div><div>Lock those fervent moments, for time immemorial!</div><div><br /></div><div>The roads we walked, the closest we stood</div><div>The cracks that crept in stealthily </div><div>Love that slipped lucidly </div><div>Were we ready to lose </div><div>What we could never have!</div><div><br /></div><div>The road ahead ,dead and deserted</div><div>Few twists and drifts later, </div><div>Together would we tread ,</div><div>Deadly curves , unlimited speed</div><div>Yet closest would we meet!</div><div><br /></div><div>Like floating clouds,would we merge</div><div>And prittle prattle as much!</div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-25164719505676414302020-06-26T02:04:00.004-07:002020-06-26T02:06:39.961-07:00Dear Ninni<div><br /></div><div>'Unlock the Lock Down'</div><div><br /></div><div>These are the days of lock down! Corona virus has creeped in to our country, city, society, building and we stay huddled in our homes most of the times! You too play those strange games in tab and listen to those strange songs day and night! Your so called wanderlust mom too initially blown apart by lock down cringed and fretted but then you learn loving what you have, once you find out ways to deal with it! We all dealt with it in ways we could find. </div><div><br /></div><div>This post isn't about lock down though. Lock down, corona would be etched in your memory. Online classes , sessions with friends and as I see you growing tall all within the four walls, as if you almost are going to miss a year of your life. But then we do not know what lies ahead, global warming, pollution , would there be air to breathe, would there be life as we call normal,we do not know really. At this stage being alive and healthy in our country seems an accomplishment.</div><div><br /></div><div>People are doing wonderful things in the lock down, facebook flooded with posts of exotic food, jaw dropping paintings, dance, music what not and finishing all household chores deftly as well. First few days I was at loss, slept, slept and slept more, barring a few chores, slept through the day! Then gathering myself a bit, juggled between books, bit of cooking or chores, bit of exercise, unlimited time in mobile marveling at others' feats and life wasn't so bad after all. Holidays, vacations, socialising weren't as important as it seemed in social media and the beauty of doing nothing was setting in. </div><div><br /></div><div>There wasn't any dearth of time, though we used to have long talks earlier as well, me and and your grandma had longer talks these days. All mundane regular talks, what to cook, what to eat, what my neighbours did, what my masis worked at and lots of reminiscing of bygone days! Of grandma and aunts, of childhood days when I used to throw huge tantrums, and gradually conversation would drift to those uncomfortable genres, ' You were so so spoiled, look at your daughter, she isn't like you!'</div><div>'Yeaah, ok, Let me hang up.' I would shift uncomfortably, then she would add ' Ok I wasn't so lovey dovey, you were so scared of me!' Then as I would relax bit, would come the smash ' You were impossible though'. Conversations would linger, reflections, music, movies, relatives , Baba being withdrawn in his world of books, sports with an ailing ear, my handsome brother's photo been rejected here and there,we would talk and talk. </div><div><br /></div><div>With time immense, catching up with old friend, ignited some memories of the late eighties, when Baba was posted at Goalpara. The quaint little town, with the mighty river and hills was my grazing ground. Not at all aware of the realities lurking around, I used to roam around the town with friends, whose parents let them. Ma being busy with infant brother, I almost knew the little town , its lanes, road to the river, the club where my father played table tennis and quite well at that , the dreamy road to circuit house, the tower up the hill. </div><div>'How I let u wander like that' Ma would ponder, some guilt and some dread at the possibilities thirty two years back.</div><div>Then memories working overtime, I could recall all the names of the roads, shops, the directions, the people I knew, the names we called them, Baba would have some fictional names for all. Friends I had, things I tried to do, from being Famous Five to emulate Steffi Graf ( Not to be disclosed how). Then it was confession time and I disclosed, first to you and your father, then to your grandma , well I was a little younger than you when I watched the first movie with my classmate without telling anyone of course! Movie was Qayamat se Qayamat Tak, which after much persuading Baba had taken me to watch, then why I...just we wanted to watch again so me and my classmate, one fine day amidst all the long walks we had, I don't remember how we gathered the funds, might be I saved money from rickshaw fares and we barged in to Kalpana Cinema Hall with hearts beating fast. Rest of the movie passed by incident free, except for the man sitting by my side staring hard or pushing slightly with elbow, we were too dazed to be bothered with something so trivial! Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla painted our world for us, though I remember my classmate was not promoted to sixth class and might be her parents enrolled her in a different school. Me too guilt ridden and with the gory realities I was vis a vis with, hushed hushed our adventures and tried not to remember . Though picture postcard of Aamir Khan in white jogging suit, sun behind was tucked safely in the last page of LIC diary I got from Baba, important to tell you here good boxing I got in my ears as Baba discovered the post card!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally the cat was out of the closet, and my Ma howled ,' How could you!! You were just ten may be! How did I not know! Why did I let you!'</div><div><br /></div><div>Year was 1988, and I still didn't know why I did or how I could. Certainly not proud of myself and the man next to me pushing elbows, but then it was done. Yes you may say or your grandma would say I did take advantage of all the freedom they let me have unless I was scared stiff of the world around and would think of cringing in my home and not venture out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Your wanderlust mom still has it in her, the seeds of freedom sown in childhood you cannot let go. My soul still takes flights, my mundane body as well, be it through books or travel websites or those trips with friends. And as I reflect, your grandma and I shudder at those possibilities, both have our souls loaded with guilts but then since when I wanted to be perfect and there remains still a lot of things I have done, which technically I must not have. Accepting helps, guilt isn't necessary, sometimes we do things unaware ,sometimes we know fully yet tread into paths which do not make much sense. Yes I know it was only a movie I watched, you having access to almost all the movies of the world , this hardly makes any sense also this twelfth floor balcony does not give you much idea of roaming in woods, river bank , climbing the lovely green hill. Yet your world is beautiful, all entertainment at your finger tips, hardly any curiosity or prying in the adult world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Make your memories, make your mistakes. Life isn't about being perfect .Would love to listen thirty two years hence and wonder how I let you! Preserve your guilts, love yourself , unlock the lock down and rock on!</div><div><br /></div><div>Yours Ma</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-6651102155020163182020-04-04T10:54:00.001-07:002020-05-19T23:08:28.028-07:00Coffee...?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Coffee...?<br />
I was thinking lunch...<br />
We pondered...<br />
Ok lunch then!<br />
We shot those smileys at each other!<br />
Whilst memories stirred...love,laughter<br />
Togetherness..insane moments<br />
There weren't lost promises...<br />
Promises there were none<br />
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Years between us<br />
Love found and lost<br />
Time won and we were apart<br />
Yet we decided one lunch it would be.<br />
Might be some laughter, some old times<br />
We would hold hands, look into eyes!<br />
Hum some tunes, speak of life<br />
Of diabetes and kidney stones!<br />
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Awkward and shy, we met.<br />
Years melted and there were us!<br />
As we were, as we never had been.<br />
We cracked stupid jokes<br />
And laughed and loved<br />
To be back to life by evening!<br />
Like phoenix love rose<br />
Raised her feeble voice...<br />
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We were busy, so busy<br />
'Hey listen, listen to me, I'm here!!<br />
I've always been here, listen to me once.'<br />
Your rings of smoke, did pause once...<br />
But we were smart, we called the shots<br />
One lunch and we move on!<br />
We did like always<br />
She did wail..'Listen to me!'<br />
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A decade turned upside down<br />
We couldn't answer the questions we posed<br />
She laughed her way into us<br />
'I told you, listen to me'<br />
There was no coffee,only some badly assembled lunch<br />
There were us, decade long us<br />
There was love, gloating over her victory<br />
There were us, whom she left, who left her<br />
And found again!<br />
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Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-83822109304220481192020-03-28T04:43:00.000-07:002020-06-06T06:41:30.089-07:00Parichay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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' Parichay on tv! I was what eight/nine,we were watching Parichay at the big coloured screen at our neighbour's when Baba dragged me midway. My hungry soul gobbled the story from u later, Ravi jumped from train for Rama!</div>
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' I was brilliant at stories' Ma gloated, ' Once my sisters were spellbound when I narrated Basera, the story unfolding like movie '</div>
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' That explains! Girls common room, me spinning yarns from novels , "Is it a movie," Girls listened wide eyed!Carribeans to Pariries, my fables wandered!'</div>
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Two decades later, two disagreeable, argumentative souls smiled in agreement .</div>
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#100wordstory</div>
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Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922298046259741627.post-22877511158149596142019-10-09T05:57:00.000-07:002020-02-18T09:56:59.666-08:00NATS to DATS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It stood tall, relentless as we stared awe struck ,sinking in its enormity . We, as in around twenty of us on our first day at IGI Airport in a foggy wintry morning in the NATS complex! The ATC tower was nothing like anything we had set our eyes on before, for most of us who came from different corners of the country and all small towners!</div>
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We stepped in with lots of pride, awe and really a mixed bag of feelings as one ponders a decade after. By this time we had a fairly good idea of what our job was going to be like after rigorous grilling sessions of six months in CATC but the sheer magnificence of the structure blew the arrogance out of the super smart among us even! For most of us seeing an airplane this close was something we never imagined we would be doing on a regular basis. Each departure and arrival was a manoeuvre of grace, technology all rolled into wonder and it did take time to sink in actually the planes listened to us! Years later I remember overhearing my juniors, actually one explaining another pointing to a jumbo waiting in a taxi track intersection...â Dekh bhai a rickshaw wonât stop in your mohalla no matter how you scream, here ek awaz doge, jumbo ruk padega.â I smiled in my chair, that was some synopsis of our job and funny it may sound ,actually holds true. Each word counts and counts dearly.</div>
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Before around fifteen years, when I joined Delhi airport, it was not such a complex mesh of taxiways and terminal buildings. Things were much simpler with one domestic and one international terminal and few taxiways connecting the main runway on domestic and international side. Tower position was a dreaded one with continuous arrival departures in a single runway and the quickening of heartbeat as an aircraft taking a tad longer to roll, arrival approaching and all so neatly visible most of the times. With the radar screen as aid, with various figures in display , controller making his decisions and sometimes the one and a half hour slot passed in a jiffy. Low cost airlines were mushrooming at that time, Air Deccan leading the band and traffic density gradually burgeoning. The single runway was unable to sustain the increasing load, and using existing converging secondary runway did not help much either. We were at the edge of our seats most of the time, waiting for the tail of arrival to steer clear of runway , read â Cleared for take offâ , wait with bated breath till the aircraft is airborne and assuring the arriving aircraft runway will be vacant till she reaches final all the while...some conviction it requires really! Surface movement radar was not commissioned initially and the great foggy days of Delhi were dealt with much difficulty and the total chaos once the fog lifts with all airlines jostling for sequence! Remember one pilot shooting at me , â Madam, are you allowing me to leave Delhi or not today!!â Glad he imagined Madam was bestowed with so much brains and brawn!</div>
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With privatisation of the airport , like magic ,taxiways, new bays and an entire new runway sprung out of nowhere and we were floundering coping up with the changes and procedures induced by these rapid construction everywhere. The entire new group of bays, terminals and the slick swanky T3 (functional in 2010) the crafting of a new state of the art airport ,this tower witnessed it all. Change was so drastic and so overwhelming and so frequent that we stopped being perplexed and bowed down. Not that we had much of an option ! From the soft blue taxiway lights at lazy nights, mainly catering to few international departures and arrivals it turned into a busy airport with all the hustle bustle all 24/7 now with all sorts of lightings available , catering up to CAT III B arrivals ( RVR upto 50 metres) and LVTO departures. The number of movements increased drastically with many low cost carriers plunging into the field and aviation industry saw a major boom. The figures kept soaring, and the new runway south of airfield was constructed as if with a magic wand, to cater to the ever growing demand of flights ,to feed the hungry giant of development. Our tower witnessed in awe the new runway and the total 360 degree occupancy of controllers, more and more complicated taxiways and more SOP s to cope with it all! We were growing and how! Like all things that grow and flourish, the growth itself gets so gigantic, it consumes the agents which were the harbingers of change as a minuscule part of the system. So with new bays, new terminals, the epitaph of this tower was gradually being coined with the rapid construction of the grand new tower, taller ,mightier and in a few months seemed to stare down with amusement at its not-so-affluent counterpart.</div>
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We began working with Auto Track1, the automation system functional at IGI, and then upgraded to its advanced versions AT 2 and 3. With new radars installed, the entire system performed seamlessly and IGI was the airport yielding maximum daily and hourly movements.We were having over 1300 movements per day which by itself was an achievement. With all its glitches, the controllers, the system, the tower all worked in unison with a common goal and the output inspired to achieve more. But as they say nothing is more permanent than change. We were ushered into the tall, slick, gigantic new tower (DATS) and this new tower had a new automation system just to make our life a tad more tough, as if the ensuing change was not enough! We huffed and puffed and are still struggling to manage the entire traffic, to come to terms with this paradigm shift. The work we performed all these years suddenly threw more challenges and we are fighting as a team to achieve what we are supposed to.</div>
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' The old order changeth yielding place to the new!' Lord Tennyson could foresee it a century earlier so we just need to follow suit. On being asked by our GM , I said ' Sir we are trying to adjust our eyes in the new radar screen' , 'Yes' he had nodded, ' Fifteen years of habit won't wane off in a day'. Indeed it won't. Our 'old' workplace and consoles are deserted now, that which used to be the heart and soul of Delhi ATC lies barren, untouched, uncared for. Seniors fondly recall the old tower which was operational from 1999 (NATS ) and what a shifting it had been twenty years ago! The shift from procedural to radar environment, secondary radar firming its foothold over primary, the feeling of practically ' seeing' each aircraft as a firm beep in radar screen, the controlling took a massive leap from conjuring images in the head to blatantly reacting to things visible clearly with the minute details. Delhi ATC was almost at par with its international counterparts.</div>
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The NATS tower is etched in our heart and soul, the nooks and corners, the roof just beneath the tower area, where I had quietly watched many take offs and landings. Me and my friend had sneaked in to the roof to watch the Air Force One land in a misty morning and had waved to Barrack Obama silently!! Saw the first Airbus 380 land , witnessed so many storms , spent nights controlling and in the initial younger days, someone told me some prince landed from some middle east country, I had stretched my eyes for a glimpse... well , prince, really!!</div>
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Time to bid goodbye, to the place of work and worship with lots of memories, lots of love and tighten the seat belt for a tough road ahead. Shed off doubts and apprehensions and plunge in, like we always had and ensure perfect controlling in DATS. The Delhi ATC fraternity will wade through this tough time and emerge again confident, passionate and with a zeal to achieve more. Just a matter of time. With hopes high, aspirations galore, targeting high numbers as much as 1500 daily by next year, leap in hourly movements as well, we would be and still are a force within ourselves,striving for excellence and committed whole heartedly to assure the safety and security of the aircraft we provide service to and an asset to the organization we work for.</div>
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Till then from DATS to NATS... Goodbye...<i>time to let go!</i></div>
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Somahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164369066602692833noreply@blogger.com0