Trip to Kullu Manali

Heeelloooo 2 all….how are you?

I am back from a very COOL trip…and now trying to adjust in this hot weather of Chattisgarh…it’s very very very HOT….no thnx to Global Warming but thnx to the beautiful places in the world...who help us in enjoying the wonderful nature.

I Love the Sun beam

Every day I sat with my Laptop to write and share my wonderful trip with you all ..but couldn’t write….You can call me lazy in that…but today I have decided I will share it…So the trip goes like this…..
We started our journey from Delhi and headed towards Manali by Volvo….I was little hesitant about Neil’s health that whether he would feel comfortable during the whole journey of 18 hrs? But he is my baby…he was so sweet all through our trip…..thank you kid…umhaa…

31st May: We stayed in Sterling Hotel…as we are its members……the room was great…could see nice hilltop from the window.

View from Our hotel room's window

That day we decided to stay in the hotel and relax…one thing which was nice in Sterling, that every night there were some games held in the garden area, which was a nice entertainment for the guests. That night there was a Magic show along with the games.

1st June – Woke up late at 9 am. Enjoyed the hot Aloo Parathas in the small eating joint. The first day tour included Naggar Castle, Castle of the King, now turned into hotel; Roerich Art Gallery and Museum(Roerich was the artist of Russia married to Devika Rani; our old bollywood actress).

One made Taj Mahal for his wife and the another, her Portrait, made by Roerich

We visited many places but still missed something…think what? We were in hilly area…how could we miss a waterfall?? So the driver took us to a beautiful fall. Check the pic down here. Enjoying the fall
Below the mountain being covered by heave dense cloud. It was such a amazing view.

Shadow of Cloud over Mountain, Beautiful, Isnt it?

2nd June – Ah!!! This was the crucial day..why? As it was coz of this day, we all three were out on holidays…It was our Marriage Aniversary…. Yes….:-)
This day we had to climb Rohtang Pass…by taxi Ofcourse…..!! we woke up at 4 am in the morning and left the hotel by 5 am. The road was not that good. It can be scary too for few…but definitely not for me….(atleast this time, as I had seen much scary roads and climate in Sikkim…driving on the hills is exciting but one has to be very careful)
Reaching at the top was too awesome….all the tiredness of sitting inactive in the car paid off when stepped out of the car….Snow everywhere…………..WOW!!!!

The weather was great….helped us to explore more there…..Neil got excited after seeing the white colour of snow….I saw heaps of people playing in it…..enjoying themselves totally, unreservedly. We too threw balls of snow at each other….saw it in films….and did it in real…:-)….

Playing with snow

I had visited RP when I was in 5th std in 1992…..and I remember visiting this palace, wearing a knee length frock and bare chappals. I saw a wide change in every aspect. The road became less dangerous….there were numerous shops in the way, of the coats, wollens, small eating joints……At the peak point too I could see lots of things to munch, like hot bhutta (corn which we enjoyed immensely in that freezing weather), Tea, Maggie, aloo paratha, sandwiches …..and so on….. Enjoying CornCrowded

But the place was little crowded so decided to go to Zero Point….but with Neil it would have been too exhausting to climb. So started searching for the options. One option was by horse..but Neil was too scared to sit on it….second was by carriage which was pushed by two or three people….but I felt sympathy for all those…the last one was a Snow Bike…remember seeing it in Fanaa movie…it looked so Smart..but these smart things doesn’t come to you easily…it was quite an expensive affair….but we went there to experience and enjoy so why not this smarty thing…so here went…. took a motor Bike (BLACK - very stylish one) and reached the point within seconds….(the seconds ride was too thrilling)…..

COOOOLLLL!!!

At the Zero Point, the snow was much dirt free and white….RP is a Must Visit….

Holding Cloud ?

On the way

3rd June: Morning commenced with the hot cup of coffee…but with no mountain view from our window…..the heavy clouds embraced it…..we could see rain approaching our area swiftly….That was our last day in Manali…..

Cloudy Weather

But before leaving we wished to visit Manikaran and Hadimba Temple….
Hadimba temple was beautiful….lots of school children had come on the tour…The temple with lots of sky touching trees….reminded me of Saudagar movie

Hadimba Temple

…we spent our time sitting on one swing imagining that this would be the best place for the youngsters to date….singing romantic songs amidst the trees…… “akele hai toh kya gum hai…bas ek jara saath ho tera”……Tall Trees Sneak Peek through Leaves
Next was a Club House but seeing the traffic we dint wish to enter inside its campus…rather we spent time sitting on the rocks beside the river Vyaas…I was very much eager to do river crossing but there was a time limit…we had very less time in our hands …so skipped the idea of seeing hot springs….koi nahi….next time sahi….

Hey forgot to tell you all, I also did Paragliding, while returning from RP…..it was crazy, thrilling, wonderful experience…I always wished to do it…..and this time I did it ….intially I was very afraid but at the same time confident too…but thankfully the take off and landing both were done nicely…..the wind pressure was awesome…..too chilly up in the sky… …I was having an eye of eagle…everything was seeming so small…. WOW I still feel it…….
Thrill
Kullu Manali was an astounding place to spend one’s vacation…..Running from the Hot climate visit beautiful Himachal Pradesh….
Valley

PS – I started writing this post on 9th June and finished it today……9th was too hot and today its pleasant…..I assume the Manali’s Post affected the climate here in real……

HAPPY HOLI

I on my behalf of my family and myself. wish you a Happy Holi.........

May you enjoy every second of it.......

May You eat lots of Gujias.....mathri....puran poli's.....chuda...etc etc....

May Your stomachs' diameter increases so that the suface area for the person who puts colour on you would become more and in that case you would make him more happy.

May you do all naughty things...and you are not recognised for ...

May you look like a Colourful parrot...and all your friends come to see you..and say...."hey hi yeh tu hi hai kya, kabootar,,,??????"

May you brush your teeth properly to have that sparkling effect once you smile....Your teeth having a border and shading of mixed awesome colours...

May you don't have to bear the expenses of colouring your hair...as it will be borne by your friends...at the end of the day you will see your hair .....multicoloured....

And at the end...No space for more colour....No space for more of modern painting....you are fulll your skin is fulll....and you go to have a bath...and here you get a nice warm welcome....Sorry no pani......No water in the tanki......:-()

Sorry to all folks.....but this happened to my friend today..hihihihi.......

Anyways Enjoy....On a serious Note-Which song you sing the most when you think of this colourful festival.......??????

Superstition

I have been taught to follow the truth which can be scientifically or logically proved. I am fortunate that my family has never given importance to them.
‘billi rasta kaat gayi; chhikkna, kala dhaga’ and the most common ‘ nazar lagna’

Nazar lagna being the most common acceptable belief amongst the society has somehow influenced my thinking in some ways. If one is beautiful,ek kala tika; if one is going to start a new work, dahi khilana. .If one is good at something he catches an evil eye….

I wasn't understanding the funda at all. Then one day I was blessed with a baby boy. Like every mother I wanted him to be healthy and happy. At continuous cries of his, made everyone think that he had caught a bad eye. Then all the process of taking out that nazar used to take place. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

I often wonder how was my life so simple before, when all these believes were not there with me…and I still managed to live a happy life and now after a baby why am I trusting these things, which are not scientifically proven. (Is my education telling me not to believe it?)

But now slowly and slowly, I have also started thinking like the society. Now I think twice before praising him, kisi ne nazar lag gayi toh.

But the basic human thinking or views don’t change so easily. I sometimes find myself on T-point, one where you are a superstitious and another where you are not. Though in doubt, I would still like to choose the second road. Mat be beacause of my upbringing.

Imbalances

India is the largest populated country. Rich in culture and heritage. It has rich minerals and a large base of agriculture. After 60 yrs of independence we have developed a lot. Statisticaly our progress graph is rising high and high. Our human resource is valued abroad too.

But like "diya tale andhera", there are lots of area where we are lacking. Today two men came to our home. They work in the Govt school. They gave us the inside story that they have not been paid for about 7 months. I know that these are not the only people who dont get their respective salaries but there are many more. Sometimes they dont get paid for about 1.5- 2 yrs. (Kadva sach)

These people borrow the money from their friends and live(not earn) their lively hood. Have to fill the stomachs of their family members in the limited pay or without pay. Sometimes in worse case they have to sell the property and also lead to home violence. Such a miserable state. Where the prices are mounting high day by day a portion of the population are still striving hard to get their basic necessities. (and people like us are never satisfied with whatever luxuries we have).

On the other hand , few months before ,I read in newspaper that one person was caught throwing notes in the municiple dustbin...just because he had too much money to handle. Such an monetray imbalance.

If there is any power to control this one sided money inflow, i wish it gets its charge as quickly as possible. This was one of the point India lags in ...will come up with many more..

My Heart cries out.......

As in my earlier post I mentioned about the monetary imbalance. Cotinuing on the same, I feel sad and ashamed when :-

• i see sucides being committed by our farmers, because of land reasons, inability to pay loans, wastage of the farm yeilds etc.


• i hear the news of women being molested in trains, airoplanes etc. Heart is filled with anger and agony. Few dogs dont even care to abuse our foreign guests.


• i see little children begging at railway station, parks etc. (remembered Slumdog...)


• we pay taxes and still we dont get the basic things like electricity and water.
  i see the worst roads, filled with gutter water etc. and instant repairing of those before the minister's arrival. Such a fake people.


• i hear about terrorists attack. I really feel the pain and anger in me. I pray to god for peace in the country.


• when i see human violence for no big issue... and issue just being the religion. i dont understand why our ancestors created this religion thing.....they should have got the futuristic attitude.....

I hope we as a responsible citizen, make few good changes within ourselves and the society.