RingChen

There’s something magical about the deserts of Jaisalmer, where we used to camel-race all over the sand dunes; there’s an exotic feeling of walking through old Rajput kings’ palace where one can imagine kings & queens who walked around the very same place. Or about the winding, binding roads that lead to the queen of hills, Shimla itself, which incidentally reminds me of travelling home to my very own Sikkim.

I love travelling. To visit wonderful places seeped in history, to be remembered by later generations of travel-hardy people. How do you feel when you walk along the Mughal gardens that lead to the amazing Taj Mahal? The gigantic white-marbled structure that gets bigger & larger-than-life as you approach it? Words fail me. Agra is blessed to host one of the true 7 wonders of the world. The same emotions engulf you as you visit the Qutub Minar, Red Fort & other historic structures in Delhi. I love the India Gate the most because it always reminds me of a welcome gate to the heart of Delhi. What a beautiful way to arrive in the capital of India!

Its a treat to travel through the clean, well-planned cities of Chandigarh & most importantly, talking to the friendly, kind-hearted people living there. My trip to Chandigarh always remains incomplete without visiting the Rock Garden and swinging on the huge swings at the far end of the garden.

Travelling through the backwaters of Kerala again will be a dream come true for me; to walk along the magnificent beaches, watching the sun go down… life couldnt get any better than that. A visit to God’s own country is long overdue in any case. I liked Marina Beach a lot too, even though its been a decade since I visited it. Ooty, Wayanad and Kodaikanal are these amazing places which bear so much resemblance to Sikkim that I could mistake it for my home and be very much happy there anyway.

I am partial to Bangalore cause all my good friends live there and I always have such a great time whenever I visit it. I remember a trip to Hoganakkal Waterfalls a lifetime ago where kids actually dove off the highest cliffs straight into the stream for 10 bucks! Our boat was a bowl-shaped one made out of sticks, I think. Imagine our daring attitude and fierce disregard for life navigating the river in it!

I love the Forums, the Globus, the multiplexes & the malls of the metro cities too much to be happily settled in Sikkim perhaps. I love Jogger’s Park in Bombay (now Mumbai before anyone corrects me) Incredible Juhu Beach, the Taj landmarks, SRK’s Mannat, sleek Marine Drive, et all. Likewise for Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge & my favourite Park Street in Calcutta (or Kolkata - although I liked the previous names!)

Any other places I didnt mention is next in my list of To-Visit. There’s a very nice saying in Discovery T&L channel, ‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read but a page‘ The goal is to complete the book before departing for the big meadow above. Lord have mercy.