Archive for the 'Wanderlust' Category

Bhutan

Published
by
Rinchen
on October 20, 2008
in Wanderlust
. 14 Comments

I want to visit Bhutan. My friend did last week and she said that the people there are very hospitable, friendly and helpful. She talked about huge, red apples being sold for 30 rupees/kilo and the hotels being run by local families. When they asked for the bill at checking out time, the owner said - How many plates of food did you have? Its okay, just pay an approximate amount. Quite unbelievable.

Almost every business in Bhutan is run by women. It is a very safe place to visit. The cops are extremely smart and incapable of bribes. And also , Bhutanese people know hindi and are major Bollywood fans!

I then got a copy of a Bhutanese movie called Travellers and Magicians which deals with a young government official, trapped in a remote outpost - harbouring a dream to escape to America. Loved the movie and fell in love with this wonderful place called Bhutan. Want to go there soon.

We were on a break

Published
by
Rinchen
on October 9, 2008
in Sikkim and Wanderlust
. 16 Comments

I had eleven days off from work, thanks to puja vacations. I decided not to grow roots at home and travel with friends instead. And that is how we headed off into the sunrise, since we started early morning at 7 am.

The exit road from my house till the main road is a steep uphill. Now many may wonder how it is that we actually navigate the vehicles out without getting killed everyday. Those who live here, like me, do the same - but only once a week if you must know.

As my friend sped the vehicle uphill, I yelled BODY WEIGHT agay (front) and not surprisingly, no one understood what to do. Well, you see a few years back, we were on an adventurous horse back riding trip up the steep, slush-filled hill slopes of Kufri, which was some kilometres after Shimla.

The horse guide walking in front screamed: body weight agay - after which we had to lean ahead. The call downhill was - body weight peechay! (back) and we had to lean backwards accordingly.

It was either lean or die laughing at that point of time. I leaned all right. Then felt sorry for the poor horse afterwards.

The day turned out to be quite pleasant. I like this pic here cause the sun had just risen and the whole image has different shades of blue for all contemplation. The bridge leads all the way to The Avenue. This is my favourite spot throughout the journey. 

The moment we reached there, I turned and before I could speak, my fellow passenger says - I know, The Avenue - a road which is lined with trees. I thought the I know part was stressed a bit sarcastically but I was too caught up to respond.

I think I forgot to add the Feel free to click on the pics for a larger view part in the beginning. I know most of you are smart enough to know that without me having to tell you. If nothing else, I know that I run the risk of those people getting pissed and wondering if they should stop visiting my blog for the insult. 

It may come as a surprise but I’ve recently learnt the arts of Changing The Topic When Needed Most. LOOK AT THE PRETTY PIC BELOW!

P.S. All the pics were taken from a moving car so the blur you see (if any) isnt intentional and most certainly is not bad photography, how dare you. Good trip, with Tiger and especially Stan Marsh from South Park behaving extremely well for a change.

A train of thoughts

Published
by
Rinchen
on February 28, 2008
in These thoughts of mine and Wanderlust
. 4 Comments

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Read an interesting post today titled: A Fan of Indian Railways by GWBE. Had to comment on it and my thought process refused to call it quits even after I hit publish-your-comment, thereby pursuing some more details about it on my own blog.

I never was a very big fan of Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav but he seems to be highly motivated into bringing some radical changes in our railway system. With his new railway budget declaration, he has sought to address a lot of concerns which frankly, I will be surprised to actually see it happen.

Given the choice between air or train travel, which one would I choose? Air travel - mainly because of the commute time. Although cost is a very big factor. To rephrase it, I would travel by air if its necessary and also if I have enough cash to fork out the ticket.

On a three day train journey, I have encountered:

  • Ace snorers. Cross bred between an autorickshaw engine and a fully automatic machine gun. Guaranteed to make you lose sleep. Especially if they’ve got the berth above yours.
  • Mobile phone battery drainage. That is if you were foolish enough not to charge it fully when you board the train just like me. And no, my train didnt have a phone charging point in it.
  • The train toilets. Need I say more?
  • Idiotic bickering with fellow passengers about luggage space. Some people look like they’re moving house when they travel.
  • Chappal-thieves. Once a beggar-thief nearly walked off with my slippers.

The bottomline is - if trains are indeed going to be safer, cleaner, cheaper, on time, entertaining (tv & internet on board) and have easily available tickets, then I am highly persuaded to switch over to their side.

Wanderlust

Published
by
Rinchen
on November 22, 2007
in Sikkim and Wanderlust
. 8 Comments

This road leads to my grandma’s home and I used to love travelling along the pine trees when I was a little girl.  It had been a while since I’d gone that way so when I finally did, I made sure that I took a pic this time to preserve it in memory.

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The road that we travelled makes these winding, binding turns that go on and on forever. Considering how narrow our hill roads are, I still find it incredible to see six lane highways in metro cities. Yeah, till now.

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 I like these pink(?) trees. I dont know what it is called though. Wanted to take its picture but stopped the car too close to the tree itself. Took the pic from underneath it which actually looks nice, to say the least.

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We visited this school in Pelling which lies bang in the middle of all the beautiful landscape. No doubt the students were having a hard time concentrating on boring studies while being nested in the laps of breath taking scenery. Probably thats why they found it necessary to cover up the bottom of the windows? :)

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Destination West Sikkim

Published
by
Rinchen
on November 13, 2007
in Sikkim and Wanderlust
. 2 Comments

Got back yesterday from a trip to West Sikkim which apparently is on the verge of superceding Gangtok from the itinerary of the visiting tourist. And after my trip, I can see why. We reached Pelling in the afternoon and took a short hike to Rabdentse, the ancient capital of Sikkim. The stone palace lay in ruins with the blue sky making a contrasting back drop to it. 

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In the evenings, we used to be offered Tongba, a millet based alcoholic beverage sipped through a bamboo straw. A very interesting drink which is available only in the old homes and which wont be listed on a bar unfortunately. Since we were staying at a friend’s place, his family made our stay most endearing by laying out a red carpet treatment with the most ethnic of cusines. Our favourite however was the Tongba, hands down.

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A trip to Khechoperi Lake, which is worshipped by the locals and is also an entirely natural lake was next on the agenda. Prayer flags adorned the sides of the lake as tourists thronged to turn the prayer wheels placed along the pier of the lake.

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We could not venture out to Yuksom but we did make a long journey to reach Singshore Bridge, the second highest suspension bridge in Asia. Looking down from the middle of such a high bridge is probably the bravest thing I have done in my entire life. I loved the Bridge itself and I felt it was worth travelling all the way till there just to be able to see it.

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And to think I had been wondering just last week about how long it had been since I’d last travelled anywhere. I should have such thoughts often.

Queens of the Hills

Published
by
Rinchen
on July 12, 2007
in Wanderlust
. 4 Comments

Some of the hill stations extraordinaire that are very dear to my heart; in no order of preference.

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Prayer flags & the mountains

Prayer flags: Traditionally, they are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom with the belief that the prayers and matras will be blown upward as offerings to their deities and will bring benefits (such as happiness and good health) to all who hang them, as well as their families, loved ones, neighbors, and all people throughout the world including even enemies.

1. Darjeeling

Land of Thunderbolt. As history goes, Darjeeling was once a part of Sikkim which was gifted by the Chogyal (King) of Sikkim to the Britishers long before Independance. The best thing I like about this place is walking around the misty roads, with the cold breeze blowing refreshing your soul. One of my most favourite places on earth, for its misty mountians looking as resplendant as ever, my fascination for Darjeeling stands to this day.

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2. Ooty

I’ve been to this pleasant hill station so many times during my four-year stay in Calicut mostly for the reason that it remnded me of home. A grand botanical garden housing all kinds of fauna, including one stunted, nearly-fossilized tree that’s still vivid in my memory. What amazing tea gardens… I liked Ooty!

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I’ve been here!

3. Wayanad

More than remembering this place as a picnic spot where I visited back in college, I think of this place in association with the nice film, Mr & Mrs Iyer where Rahul Bose says he’s been to WAY - NAD… If only he had learnt the proper pronounciation of the place before shooting that film…

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4. Gangtok

I suppose one never actually gets tired of one’s hometown. I will never get bored of going for a long drive up Gangtok’s lovely mountains.

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Gangtok town as seen from Ganesh Tok

5. Kalimpong

In between Darjeeling & Gangtok, lies another hill station - Kalimpong which is as beautiful as ever. I recall vsiting this place a lot with my family when I was small. We used to love travelling all the way up to this awesome place which seemed not very different to home, yet stunningly beautiful.

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6. Shimla

Another beautiful place that just takes my breath away. I had a great time travelling all over Shimla & Kasauli that I have promised to go back there some day and enjoy the place all over again. I especially liked the horse ride all the way to Kufri - some experience that was! Indeed Shimla - Queen of the Hills.

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Note: Any other hill station I havent mentioned is because I havent had the good fortune to visit it yet. But will do so sooner than later.

The Traveller Speaks

Published
by
Rinchen
on May 16, 2007
in Wanderlust
. 2 Comments

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.