Explorer

McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India

These days solo-travelling is on the cards. Facebook is swamped with photos of people going to hill stations, in India or abroad. Boasting of their journeys, taking cool-selfies, sharing stories is the heat of the moment! So taking dip in the same flow, I thought I should take the honor of sharing some stories of my journey too -

A very rare kind of internship this summer gave me the opportunity of solo-travelling to rural and urban North-India. Well, now I wonder what exactly does it mean -"solo travel". Haven't I been already going places on my own. Or does my boy-friend or someone else accompany me everywhere? Where exactly does the "solo-travel" start from? My entire family drops me to Delhi airport where my flight to JFK is awaiting - and where my entire paternal or maternal families come to pick me up at the JFK airport - can be called some solo-travel stunt? Huh?

I read many articles on solo-travel off lately, to enhance my own understanding of this term. And to my surprise I found out that I have been solo travelling since twenty years now. My papa has never been 'pro' when it comes to 'picking' or 'dropping'. He often used to tell me that who would accompany you in the US when you go there. And now it seems he was right!

So it turns out to me that my first visit to Delhi almost 6 years back was a first serious 'solo-trip'. Nobody came to pick me up at the busiest New Delhi Railway Station. And that continued on and on. Since then, I have solo-travelled to my hometown almost a hundred times in last 5 years.

However, my recent trip to Mcleodganj, a small town located in the narrow-high-hills of Himachal Pradesh, is a most memorable solo-travel stunt so far for me!

In north of India, if a woman (an unmarried one) travels alone, it's a different experience altogether. You have to be careful of just so many things. People judge you; they ask you non-sensical questions (are you single? what have you come here for? what kind of work exactly?); etc etc

An Indian girl in foreign or a foreigner girl in India probably would have much better experience. But an Indian girl in India travelling alone is a curse to bear! From the taxi-driver to the hotel manager, from children to oldies- all look at you with some strange look in their eyes - a look I couldn't understand what it pertains to. On my way from Dharamshala to Pathankot, the TTE asked me, where are you going to from Pathankot? I gently said - "How on earth is that your business?" Well, he might be a genuine person trying to genuinely help me for I-don't-know-what, but that's how it is. They take the liberty of asking you personal questions even more so when you're alone! My best friend suggested me that I could act like a pregnant woman, as I already have swelling tommy to support that stance, and could take advantage of being less-judged, less-harassed, or less-horrified etc.

Nevertheless, I won't say that I had only bad experiences. I met some very amazing people on my journey - from a doctor-family in the train to a struggling-family of two brothers in Pathankot to solo-traveller Navneet. On my way from Delhi to Pathankot, I learnt a lot of stuff about Power plants because of my conversations with this sweet guy Navneet who kept talking about his work and personal life experiences as if were old friends for long time. He later helped me to get to my bus to Dharamshala.

On my way back to home, I had to spend a couple of hours in Pathankot to catch my connecting train to Delhi. I chose to roam around the market than sitting idly at the platform. I happened to arrive to a small shop that sold women's accessories of all types. My little conversation with two brothers, who run that shop, made our bond so strong that they both came to drop me to my train and waited there with me until the train left at 11:30 p.m.! It felt as I had some relatives there to see me off and take care of me in the best possible manner!

In last one month, I have travelled to more than 10 cities across four states of India -from the west coast of Mumbai to North-Valleys of Dharamshala, it was an experience worth relishing. Putting up in a cottage, facing the mountains, feeling the rain and reading my favourite Ayn Rand to myself is something I am going to remember always!

If you're traveling solo or in-company, don't forget doing one thing - having FUN!

Cheers.

Watching a hollywood-fiction-sci-fi movie is always a pleasure for Indians. You see, it's something our Bollywood miserably fails to offer us at home. Yes, I know we have Ra.One, Krrish-series, but let's keep comedy movies aside for keeping the discussion to the point!

The recent Batman and Superman combo appearance on screen got me thinking more and more on these lines. The appearance of an ugly, deformed, non-living, yet alive, thing, from the planet of Superman, was a good treat to eyes! The background's loud sounds, coupled up with heavy rain, made everything more dramatic and filmy. But Indians love drama, so the movie is going housefull in metro cities here.

I sometimes wonder why can't Indians have movies on Nagraj (Kind-of-Spider Man), Super Commando Dhruva (No-replica-available), Doga (Iron Man), Parmanu (Atom Man), Shakti (Wonder Woman) and so many more from our childhood favorite comic producers Raj Comics.

 I even have in mind who should be starred on these roles. I believe Hrithik Roshan can do the role of Nagraj well, as his face has a natural similarity with the former, and I think he is quite "available" for taking new roles. Also, given his "only" famous series Krrish, Indians will accept him for the new role quickly. For Shakti, Deepika Padukone would suit best, but in case she doesn't have a date free, Anushka might get a chance. For Dhruva and Doga other bollywood stars can be starred. But let's please keep SRK aside this time, and make it a serious sci-fi, fiction movie instead of comedy.

Hoping to see one Indian version of these movies in coming years!!!!

All I know at this moment is that I am happy that I joined TFI; for there is a different peace and content in my mind at this time that I never had in my life ever befor

Located in the outskirts of the National Capital Region, in the state of Haryana, a distant, lost-in-darkness, too chaotic a place to notice one's cries or laughter, popular for its delicious offering of Indian food - vegetarian and non-vegetarian that is reasonable in price and royal in quality, overflowing in customer capacity but servile in attitude, is one of the most longed-for destinations, Murthal Restaurants. After driving about half a century of kilometers away from the city toward north, following a long, paused, silent voyage, when you see palaces glowing in dim and bright lights, with long queue of cars waiting outside their gates at 2 a.m, you would know you have reached Murthal.


With Delhi's weather playing I-spy these days, who knows if you get an awesome drizzling experience on your way back home or toward the destination.


After a long week of tiring days, followed by a long drive to the place, the appetite increases to its highest. The taste and variety of the food you get there works only as the icing on the cake. It's a vivid place, mixed with young and old, pretty and bold, guys and gals. Ah! What a crowd.. I felt so lively after so long..!


Hope to visit it again very soon!

The article below needs more research for proper conclusion. I need to re work on it based on the feedback from my valued readers. 



OLD CONTENT-

An air trip is supposed to make the journey faster and more convenient for us. But my faith has been shrinking on this fact since my recent domestic trips.

They call it a low-budget flight, which I don't think is very low in budget. Given the rising demand of commute by netizens among metro cities, the facility provided by these airlines is only falling with time. The flights are often delayed in take-off and landing. There is no male flight-attendant in their crew as if it's some menial job that must be done only by females. The air-hostesses are dressed up in not-so-high-quality-cloth, and seem to have applied unnecessary heavy make-up that makes them only uncomfortable.

The low-budget Indigo airlines is not providing even water for free; forget about the meal. I don't know why they can't add a few more bucks in the ticket fare, and provide the basic amenities as a part of the package? The air hostesses get busy in collecting pennies from the travellers who place their orders during the flight. The worst comes when the hostesses carry the dust-bin in their hands and wander throughout to collect the wastes. Can we not have a trolley instead for disposing the trash? Shocking and pathetic it is!

I had some high expectations from the newly launched  Tata Group and Singapore Airlines joint venture- Vistara flights. But it also seems to also have failed in providing the luxury experience per the promises made. There are no TV's or personalized music systems. Though they have succeeded in moving out from the Western shirt-skirt to the Indian kurti-legging outfit which gives natural and elegant look. However that also needs to be standardized yet, as the color and quality of their dresses vary a lot.

We have a long way to go before we have a world-class luxury experience in domestic air flights. Hope the airlines realize this soon, and be more accountable and responsible in their services!

Recently, I got the privilege of spending a few hours on the airport of Abu Dhabi. Those few hours sufficed to let me experience their renowned, and rich arabic culture. Actually my experience started to count right from the time I entered the business-class suite of the United Arab Emirates National Airlines- Etihad, in New Delhi airport. 


I still remember the comforting notes of the arabic music that was being played inside the plane; the lavish maroon color sheet that covered the off white seats; the whitish brown carpet that provided a nice contrast to the beautiful interior of cubicles; the glittering sparkles on the ceiling over dark that gave the feel of sleeping in a galaxy between the stars and moon; and the delicious exotic fruits and drinks picked from the best parts of the world that gave the finest dining experience. It seemed as if every minute thing was given detailed attention. I was so busy enjoying it that I could not realize where those few hours were spent on and when my flight was landed on Abu Dhabi airport.


Men and women, beautifully dressed in white and black clothes from head to toe, welcomed me on airport as a part of their hosting culture. The next few hours that I had to spend on airport until my connecting flight was ready, seemed too less to admire its complete beauty and feel the luxury. I was ready to set for my next destination with the beautiful memories I have had there. I hope some day I would get the chance to explore the more of arabic culture.

U.S. B1/ B2 VISA INTERVIEW 

I did extensive research on how to qualify the-one-minute-VISA-interview, and get the most coveted US VISA approved; How to convince, or, rather say, impress them in just one minute that I am qualified to travel to their country on a business trip. Once a VISA is rejected, you can't complain about it. All you can do is to go through that whole process over again, only to accept the rejection for the second time and by extension making yourself almost ineligible for VISA application after three consecutive rejections. The interview is very much like other Indian competitive examinations selection process, in which also you don't know the reason behind your rejection; no answer-sheet is ever shared, nor any question-key ever published; After spending the whole year, or sometimes, years, all you're left in the end is with your mark-sheet on which your destiny is written by the people in power and position.

On a smoky, foggy and chilly morning of December, I appeared for my US VISA interview. A massive spiral queue, that I joined, had people from all caste, color, creed, occupation, gender and age having their own reasons: old eyes waiting to have a glimpse of their children who are now settled in the U.S.; students hoping to get admissions in their dream universities; wives wishing to get their dependent VISA's approved to finally be with their NRI husbands; and many others like me who just wanted to have their childhood dreams to travelling to the U.S. realized.


DEL TO JFK

It was like a dream come true when I finally had JFK tickets in my hands. I could literally feel butterflies in my stomach.It seemed as if the earth were rotating with a speed so high that I could feel it, or I were flying in the seventh sky. I wanted to shout at the top of my voice. I knew nothing but that finally my dream to travelling to a foreign country on my own was going to be realized. My excitement knew no bounds. I never thought that my first trip in an airlines would be an international business-class trip.

I had not the slightest idea what all surprises were waiting to be unveiled there.

ARRIVAL TO THE STATES


I saw a rare combination of technology and nature, witnessed a perfect balance of glamour and humbleness, experienced a sheer, fine contrast of freedom within the boundaries of rules and regulations. I couldn't speak but one word -"Wow!".  I have heard people say all my life, "You are young and so you haven't seen enough of this world yet"; now come to me and I will tell you how it feels like to see the land of lands, to smell in the garden of dreams, to live in the city of New York.

I have had plenty of such experiences when I found people friendlier than in my own country. I remember asking them for directions-to-an-umbrella-shop or nearest-path(metro)-station, they would explain me again and again until I was convinced and properly understood, and if that didn't suffice, they would take me in person to that place or shop and be there til my purpose was met.


To Be Contd...

I am allergic. Of all the flus that have attacked me till date, "The Shopping Flu"- I claim to be the most harmful! I have seen this flu attacking on different people in different ways based on their calibre. Well, uptill now, for me, it has always been predictable, and I've known somewhere in my heart of hearts already about its depth and height. That is: how deep has been the infection and how high would have been the reaction. But my recent one-to-one with this flu, has been an unforgettable experience- both in terms of cost and worth!

I happened to land on Capital's famous Market of Karolbagh this weekend. I was excited to enjoy shopping  for a pair of salwar-suit that I would wear in my childhood friend's wedding at my hometown. I asked a friend of mine to accompany to help me buy the same. She was asked by some other friend from her PG, to help her in her Wedding Shopping. So because of  of overlapping of timing, cause and place, we decided to do the shopping together. Now we were a flock of 4 girls- me, my friend, my friend's friend & my friend's friend's friend!!!

We decided first to take a round of the entire market to have a glimpse of 'what's hot', and then to accomplish the shopping-mission. We were two girls out of four, who were supposed to buy salwar-suits, one for a bride herself, and one for a bridesmaid. Nothing else was the purpose of the shopping trip of the day! The rest two girls were supposed to accompany us, in order to help us make the better choice and grab the butter piece. Mind You- they came only for HELP. God bless them!

In an attempt to explore the market thoroughly, we got to see shops of all things and items we did and did not need. The target was of course the shop of suits and sarees. We entered in first decent shop of its kind that came our way. Inside it was such a fair- Ladies and Sarees...The girls that were getting married were surrounded by friends/ relatives- around them were nature's all colors present in one or other piece. We somehow found a corner for ourselves. Started looking for types of suits that we were interested in. After a lot of research and trials, we selected a couple of them. We decided to go and find out market rates for similar pieces, and ensured that if we come back in case nothing better at lower price is available, we will buy this one.

In mid of this research, a lot of things tried to allure me and my friends. I wanted to stop at stoles shop, other wanted to get some air in accessories shop, the would-be bride was lost in her thoughts of the beloved, we made sure that she doesn't loose the way and fourth of us was keeping an eye on her only. No need to mention that on our way to find the most reasonable-price-suit shop, we visited and checked all other shops too that had nothing to do with suit and salwar.

When the excitement crossed all its bounds, and we felt a unanimous liking for a shop that sells style bags and purses, we decided to stop for a while and take a look. With no intention to buy anything out of the plan, we went inside. The prices were so reasonable! I realized I would soon need a bag, as my daily-bag is on the verge of getting torn or I don't know what. I guess the other three had the same realization too. Soon we departed to all directions of the store and started looking for everything they were offering; from bags to sandals to bangles and so on. We came out in an hour or so, with heavy shopping bags with both hands full. We looked at each other, eyes were speaking more than words, nodded heads admitting that this would not happen again until at least we would buy what we had come to buy.

After checking all other suit shops, we discovered that prices were almost similar. Every new piece only looked different and better. Alas! The more options, the more confusion. The budget that was earlier about Rs. 2500, rose close to Rs. 4000 by now- a 60% hike!And as it stuck to me, I decided to go back to the first shop where it was still in limits to our budget line. We ran fast to that shop before they might have sold the piece off.

Now officially our purpose of shopping had been met. We were tired and hungry. Carrying any more baggages all the way to PG and hostel was unimaginable. The shopping flu had worked well and we were caught badly. Waiting for any longer there, would only help it spread more. It is so damn infectious!!! God save those poor fellows who are still glowing the market with their presence. As they don't know about this flu yet... It's enjoying spreading and having its presence everywhere. The wedding season has the so right temperature only to help it grow more... So friends, now you know both- its symptoms and effects, stay away! ;)

The biggest Automotive show in India and the only complete Automotive show in world is the 11th Auto Expo 2012! Everyone in Delhi wants to witness this great show whether or not they understand the reason behind its grandeur. This is the speciality of we all Indians actually. We just want to become the part of the crowd. If a lot of people are doing something, we'd just go and blindly join them. Be it Anna Hazare Movement or something just out of the blue.
So these days, the season in Delhi is NOT Winters, but Auto Expo 2012! In this foggy, rainy and chilly weather, people of Delhi besides sitting at home enjoying winters, are going to watch this Automotive exhibition. Hats off to the level of enthusiasm of the Mango People, the Aam-janta of Delhi!  People from all caste, creed, age, status, color have joined this rally. On auto-rickshaw, bus, metro, car, scooter and if not getting any of these, then on their eleven number rail (walking;). Aaah, what a crowd for a show!

But when they reach there and see the panorama of show pieces, all the fatigue is forgotten. When they get to watch beautiful hot models in every display ground, they bless the organizers from bottom of the heart. Now they are not bothered anymore to watch the bikes on display but the lady who is riding on it. Guys are busy shooting it. Models are busy showing off. A few interested in vehicles would actually be taking a look at them. Rest all are posing themselves for photographs.
You can imagine how much the halls would be crowded there. But finding a very long queue of janta outside a hall was a surprise for me. To find the end point of the queue, I traveled many miles but the queue was not stopping even then. I wonder, do they ever wait for that long before any temple? May be not. Because here, something more than that was on display, the Ferrari and the Ducati. :D
Now if you're tired a bit and feel hungry, go to the Pragati Maidan's Food Court. A 20 Rs. Mazza bottle is being sold in 50 Rs. What a nice way of generating income; selling items 2.5 times their actual MRP's! But even there, it seems as if some prashad (food devoted to God) is being distributed for free. The mango people is now not concerned about rates, corruption, dearness issues. A thirsty throat just wants water, be it at any price.
Many good things inside other halls are still waiting for your snap shots. Even if it's too stuffy inside, janta would go. They are joining all rallies one by one irrespective of the fact that the things on display are already launched ones. But watching the entire show gives Indians a great feeling, which is called Paisa Vasool! ;)
I also don't want to return home that soon...may be because returning home is again like riding Everest, in Delhi these days...