 | | |
| | |
|
Spaces home  At Your Service!PhotosProfileFriendsMore |  Tools   |
At Your Service!Welcome to the world of Jayant Chandra
The Pushkar Trip!I think it was awaited for long. The update for our trip to Pushkar. It was supposedly my first trip from GL along with my colleagues from the office. To make the matters more complicated, it was a trip with 11 foreigners and two Indians that is me and DJ. Everything started as per plan and we left in two cabs, one Qualis and another Scorpio. I along with Chie, Lynn, Vanessa, Lucie, John and Tatjana in Qualis, whereas DJ with Collin, Wagner, Annabel, Anne-Solene and Mai in Scorpio. It was around 22:45 hrs when we started from our office site on Friday, the 3rd of the month November. All through the way, we had a journey full of talking, especially for me. As in the beginning, it was discussion with the Asia team and then it was chatting with the driver, just in order to prevent him from dozing off. Yeah, we had tea at various junctions on the way and also we did stop for smoking or taking a leak break. But eventually by 5:30 hrs on Saturday, the 4th, we had crossed Ajmer and we stopped on one of the plateau pass to have a glimpse of the sunrise. We waited for half and hour and God! What a beautiful sight it was. With the orb of the day, we felt a new sense of energy flowing in us. Some of us like John and me went for some small time trekking, followed by Chie, Lucie and then Collin. We were about to start when we saw a big gang of monkeys coming down from some cave from the hill top. We moved without a delay. On reaching Pushkar, we though took some time settling with luggage and accommodation, but we found a real nice place for food. It was just an economical restaurant with breakfast like pancakes and porridge on the menu. I think we had a full breakfast, which made me start dozing. After that everyone, except me, DJ and Annabel left for a camel ride. After saying them bye, all three of us went for some sand dune hunt. It was marvelous, the beauty of the place around, it seemed like we are onto the sets of some Western Hollywood movie and out of nowhere, Clint Eastwood will drop in saying hello with bang! bang! It was a wild hunt as we found some strange looking fruits and vegetables among the shrubs. I feel sad for Anna as she was in floaters and had tough time walking in sand, though being a brave girl, she never complained. After wandering around that place for an hour or so, we were back to our small and dingy room, we had rented to keep luggage and spent some time plucking thorns from our trousers. As soon as I lay on bed, I slept. I think I had slept for a while and then suddenly we woke up and moved to see the market, the lake and the temple. The market, the lake, every place was crowded. Damn crowded! And while returning we were lucky, we bumped with the Camel Trip gang. They were escorted by some local guy from there, pretending to a guide and when I asked him to leave from there as I can take care of the team; he tried to get rough with me. Although, he realized soon, that we were one team, he went away. Later, we visited the lake again and some of us offered prayers in the lake too. God! We were hungry and Tatjana was missing! We went on for her search and finally DJ found her. We all started returning and when we were back in the restaurant in half an hour, we were squeezed. We had almost all the Italian menu on the table, with some confusion of pasta, macroni and penni on the plate. But then, it was all fun. While the rest of the crew was cruising on the ship of the desert, they also found Mr. Marc Pickering, who had arrived after a long and gruesome bus journey. So, now the team of fourteen people decided to go to Gayatri Temple on the hill top. We walked hell lot, climbed like mountaineers and went to the Gayatri Temple. I could see the entire beautiful town from the hill top and it was one of the most beautiful sites I could imagine. After climbing down, it was dusk and some of us again went for camel fair, while some left for watching circus or taking a ride on giant wheel. I went along with Anna, Mai and Anne-Solene for a giant wheel ride. That sent me nostalgic. I was on giant wheel after God knows, how many years and that gave me most cherishing memories of times. After that we started moving for our hotel and in the process, lost our way and then found it back. But the return walk ended on a bad note with DJ getting rough with some local lad, who was constantly passing comments on Anna, Mai and Anne-Solene. Anyways, we were back in the restaurant and after a long dinner on the table, we all started to pack up back. Everyone arrived and had their dinner. Later, we all waited for Marc till half past ten when he just called back to say he wont be coming and there, we were off for home! All night drive again. All tired and exhausted after a wonderful and memorable trip. Neel's Birthday Saga!It was Monday evening, the day before Neel's birthday. And we were stil wondering about the surprise to be given to her. But any thought of surprise to her seemed quite vague to me, for I think I never did anything, in recent times in Delhi, without consulting Neel or taking her opinion on it. So, it started with the 70mm Family Photograph and after that we sent Neel along with Aunty to home, asking her to wait till midnight for our arrival and celebration. Quite interestingly, the rest of the gang, which included me, Abhay, Dada and Nav, went for Dinner and indugled into another discussion of our adventures, in some forbidden lands of the untouched nature. The Dinner was heavy and after some smoke and all, we went on some bush hunting. Down the back-alleys, deep into the bushes behind the Vasant Kunj Area, all alone on those narrow lanes, between unbuilt farmhouses, we drove slowly till the dead end. It was quiet and scary, but I would have loved to get down there and spent some time fagging. Unfortunately, no one agreed and we returned along with some videography on the return journey, all in the dark.
The absence of any life form in those dark and deeper areas, made us quite happy, when we finally saw life back in D-3 society. We went at Dada's place and had tea and guess what was on TV? "Tom and Jerry". So,after watching the Hell Cat episode, for God knows, umpteenth time, we really felt that it was "US", who were having the moment of fun and wished, if Neel could have been with us.
Anyways, the bell was ringing and we left for Neel's place. She was asleep and lying on bed, enjoying the winter coziness. So, we all started with presenting her the flowers, sent by her friend, Shweta and singing the birthday song. It was time for Dada to give some wild performance of "Iron Maiden" on guitar. Everyone was on the heap of excitement. Then came the mud pack or "The Mud Cake", which to my surprise was quite tasty. That evening ended on a smooth note.
The Birhtday evening was yesterday, i.e. 28 Nov. and we decided to land up at Saket. The things were happening as if usual; we were not allowed in one of the pubs; Nav purchased a fabulous dress, out of nowhere; we went to Bennigans. No, this was not usual. We had one thing in mind and that was Neel's suggestion of trying wine. So,we went on to try some red wine at Bennigans. it was some "Shiraz Creek", from God knows, an 1847 company. But it was awesome!
and the seafood was tasty. Abhay, as usual ended up drunk after having two glasses of wine, down his throat, despite his resisitance.
There was a lot of photography going all the time.
But these are mere words. I feel, I can't describe, how wonderful it was. Sometimes, the food, the drinks, the cigarette, the camera, nothing gives the pleasure. It's the company, that gives you the divine comfort, the relaxation, the time of your life. And truly, thats what we were having since Monday evening till last night. After we all were "no more sober", we left for home singing some neo-classic pieces of S.P.Balasubramanyam.
Adios and Good Night. It ended that ways to me; but still that was the most beautiful picture, portrayed in my mind, of the last two days I could imagine, in my life in New Delhi. Good Ol' Days!A long, long time ago...
I can still remember How that music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And, maybe, theyd be happy for a while. .
.
.
True.The lines from one of the most famous songs of Don McLean today holds an important place in my mind and life. But, indeed in a different way. The entire song definitely emphasizes some other theme, but the opening lines to me means the 'golden ol' days'. The days when I had plenty of time for others. The time when I felt and did participated in others joys and sorrows. Today, I feel, I try to escape from quiet a good number of people, based on my convenience and choice. Unfortunately, I never was same. There used to be times when I used to compromise on my part of schedule to participate in my friends business.
With the passage of time and insurgence of work and more scheduled personal life, I am unable to determine, whats right. The work keeps on piling up, and so are the responsibilites. Maybe, for me, at times, even money becomes a matter of concern to keep up to other person's requirement. Still, there are lot of adventures in life, which I am missing, whatever way I choose, whether, with friends or without them.
However, this is the time of judgement. Maybe the output of this situation and practice, which I am following will reap some decisive and eye-opening results some day.
So, till then, lets sing...
So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye Singin, thisll be the day that I die. Thisll be the day that I die. .
. The Beginning!I am coming.
The storm is awaited!
Hold your breath!
(Sigh)
God!Please give me some time!
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Invite as friend