The thread has two ends….(A bamboo-shoot Story)

Kharisa is a delicious pickle prepared from bamboo shoot. This is well known and very popular in Assam. By and large, most of Assamese origin people across the globe know how to prepare it at home if raw materials are available.

Photo courtesy: Google search

However, this little story has little significance to its preparation than how often we question or challenge our hypes and traditional mental barriers.

(During preparation, one activity required is to peel the Bamboo-shoot and grate with a hand held grater).

Since ages, I have seen my mother, aunts, and grandmothers preparing it at home. Of late, my both sisters have become expert to make it too. One thing very common, whoever is preparing it, keeps her mouth shut. Speaking is bane. Why? Each time I asked, it was answered only after completion of its preparation. Funnily, the answer is “The Kharisa will be too tangy and a waste if I talk during its preparation”. I believed it as a child.

Recently I asked the same question again to my grownup sister to get a better answer (who is now a working lady with a child). No different answer, she was not ready to take the risk and spoilt the Kharisa by talking to someone while preparaing, come what may. This is what she was taught by our mother and so that’s the way it is.

Bamboo shoot vegetables isolated

(Photo courtesy: Google search)

My family consist of me, my wife & our 6 year old kid. We live in New Delhi, the capital city of India, away from our parents. Or rather more correctly they do not prefer to be here as they find it too dull here living in a match-stick box (frequently use to describe our House/flat by my mother). Still the good part that remains is that every six months either us or my parents visits each other.

Whenever, they visit us here, it has become a routine that they would bring local veggies from Assam (which are not available here) & that includes raw bamboo shoot (for Kharisa). So, during their last visit, as my mother was preparing Khasira at my house, the question surfaced again at my mind, looking for a convincing answer, this time from my mother herself. But, to my amusement, the answer was on similar line-“The Kharisa will be too tangy and a waste if I talk during its preparation”. She got the knowledge pass onto her from my grandmother. I was just smiling….may be I have to go further up the thread. However, the curious wave soon fallback into the water and lost for a while.

Photo courtesy: Google search

So, this time, it was our turn to go to our native town in Assam. It was a festive time around April (the most celebrated Bohag Bihu). We along with my parents, we all went to our village home to visit our Grandparents for a get-together party (to celebrate the Assamese New Year).

We were having a blasting time with homemade cakes, sweets, wine made from rice, duck meat and what not. On such a dinner party, as my hand turned towards Kharisa, I saw some ray at the end of the tunnel for my age-old question. While everyone were there, I put the question to my grand mother! What was the answer….??? Just guess….

Breaking the juggernaut, she explained- while she was young and just married, one day she was asked to prepare Kharisa. She had a bad habit of spitting while speaking. So, just to ensure that it does not fall in the preparation and spoil it, she devised it not to speak while doing it.

We were all shell shocked and amused….and had a falling belly laugh!!!

(Photo courtesy: Google search)

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An unexpected call from the land of the vertical limits (Barot, Kasol, Manikaran- Himachal)

From our walk of life…..we slowly but wisely learn that “Not everything is destined to go as per your plan….you may have to revisit the things sometime”. However, Wiseman say in such an adverse situation you have to remain positive and find a way ahead somehow and believe that- Everything happens for a reason….and usually it is for the good in the long run.

We planned and landed at Manali (already dreamt ourselves amongst the snowfall) in end Dec-2016 to celebrate the year-end….but finding no snowfall & dry weather, only to reset the target instinctively. What lied ahead in coming few days was Jaw-dropping encounter with Barot valley & enthralling Kasol & the holy Manikaran.

Much water had flown under the bridge since we had our last adventurous journey into the mountains. It was close to a year when we walk around the Dalhousies, Khajjihars in Himachal last year. Felt like there was another call from the high lands when the idea of playing with snows at Manali came to our mind.

The Preparation:

With the 2016 year-end approaching, we (me & my wify) both had our last minute approval of our leaves from our respective organization. We were having a track for snowfall forecast in Himachal and were quite excited to see the prediction on 27^th & 28^th Dec-2016 at Manali. Our little pocket dynamite (son Jagrav) was ready to explode again with the snow.

Notably, this was our second trip to Manali, but first in the winters. As we usually do before any road trip, a quick vehicle servicing, woolens for the hills & checked out the beloved Shot Gun (SLR). Thanks to no thanks to Mr. Modiji, we somehow managed to gather some hard cash within the hovac of the demonetization period.

Day-1: (Noida/Delhi to Sundernagar-Himachal)

We started from our Noida residence at 6-30 AM. Expectation was to reach Kullu by the dying Sun. It was little foggy morning but visibility was decent. The first sign of unexpected! I tried to find my USB memory stick to live-up the car stereo. Then I realized I forgot to pick it after I loaded it. I enquired my wife if she had a one. She handed a memory stick filled with the Pink Floyds & the Scorpions. (She was finding some grooves with these evergreen bands of late).

Not bad at all! The first number came out of the stereo-Holiday (Scorpion). ”Let me take you far away you would like…. a Holiday”. It set the mood for the proceedings. May be after a break of 10 years, the Scorpions waved into my mind again. And then slowly but surely Pink Floyd effect (the Psychedelic delay tone) shown its impact in my driving too. We were in a very relaxed and enjoying state as we were surfing ups and downs with PFloyd numbers like Comfortably numb, Us & them, Another brick in the walls etc. etc. End-day result was- as the Sun was going down, we were another 90 odd kms away from our initial target Kullu. We decided for a night halt at Sundernagar. The day ended with a very good dinner experience with varieties of local pulses, green veggie recipes and hilly style Chilly chicken (spicy).

We heard from locals that there was a snowfall at Shimla region the previous day (X-mas day). So, we were pretty upbeat about getting such experience in Manali too, in coming days….woww.

Day-2: (Manali)

It was a freezy and a lazy morning for us! We started from the shelter at 9-00 AM. By the last night, I filled the memory stick with some available songs from my laptop….so the driving was back to my original style again in the hills (a decent speed with alertness required in the winding roads). A few in-between halts, finally we reached Manali by 1-30 PM. Search for a good hotel started. Honestly, we preferred to stay away from busy places like mall road and market areas. Last time, we had a very good experience to stay at a hotel by the Beas river. So, we checked out the options. We were lucky again to find a good accommodation at Hotel Lord Residency. The room was facing the Beas river and it was really pleasing and serene as the melody of the flowing water of the Beas reaching our ears.

As we had visited major spots during last tour of Manali (in 2012), so we were pre-decided this time only for a snowfall encounter. During evening hours, we had a walk around the Mall Road. It was full packed. New year’s eve, as expected. Further, it was stormed with loud disposable Bollywood music.

When you want to buy your piece of happiness, there is nothing more painful than spending your hard earned cash only to witness countless numbers of heads and lost in the crowd. However, our purpose was different! That was to play in the snowfall & we were waiting for that to happen as per forecasted.

But, Weather God had different plans! Forget snow, it was bright and sunny during the day, no fog, it was just little windy, that’s it. Believe us! Delhi/ Noida, from where we started was more freezing. Even locals said that it’s not been raining since last 4 months and no snowfall is anticipated in next few days. May be in the first week on the new year 2017! But our vacation was not going to be that long to sustain.

Day-3: (Manali)

Waiting……waiting for the snow-flake! Still no signs! Again a rosy bright sunny, clear sky day. Where do go now? Sweet child o’mine? Even the road to the Rohtang pass was forced to close at a place called Gulaba. With nothing going as per plan, we decided- Lets move towards Rohtang road. May be we will get some snow from where road is closed. We reached Gulaba, it was very windy and we were informed that nearest snow point is around 1.5 kms walking distance away from the road. It was not appealing to us as we went there last time…moreover the walkway always remains slippery.

Then, during return to Manali, we turned towards the Solang valley. Its just a 13 kms away from Manali. OMG! It was horribly crowded with massive Traffic on the road. Some people were seen paragliding. It was dusty all around as the Tunnel work (which will be connecting to Spiti-Lahaul valley directly) was ongoing. The Tunnel is expected to be operational by 2018. This was very good news! Once the tunnel starts, Spiti-Lahaul valley will be accessible throughout the year. As of now, during winters, due to heavy snow fall at Rohtang pass it remains disconnected for few months in a year.

We were down and dusted! But, not out! Back to the hotel by afternoon- we put our minds together and tried to remodel the target. Finally, a quick blueprint was made as Plan-B, covering Kasol, Manikaran & Barot.

Day 4: (Kasol, Manikaran and Barot)

We had a bellyful breakfast and started for Kasol & Manikaran at 8-30 AM. We were required to come back to Kullu and from Kullu another road that diverts to Kasol (37 kms from Kullu). This area is also known as Parvati valley as the road moves along the river Parvati. The way itself is very scenic although in some patches the road is not well maintained. After Kasol, another 2 kms it is Manikaran. There is a Gurudwara at Manikaran. It is having Hot water springs. There is bathing arrangement too in the Gurudwara.

After spending the a few hours in the tiny Manikaran town & the Gurudwara, we headed towards Kasol.

Kasol is well known for Israeli tourists and a place for weed & Ganja lovers, as these are easily available. Even one can see these plants along the road. Hotels and restaurants also provide the option to serve you different Israeli cuisines. We tried a special cuisine called “Shakshuka” prepared with Eggs. Needless to say it was too delicious. Enjoy your weed & Ganja and relax here if you have ample time. A total disconnection from everything else.

Anyway, we wound up our date with Kasol by 4-30 PM. The target was to reach Barot. We had a rough idea that we are required to move through Mandi town. Difficulty in internet connectivity was not helping. At 6-00 PM, we were around Mandi, with the Sun going under the hilly blanket, the light was fading fast. I decided called up my collegue Anmol (who is also travel-choholic) to get the right road direction. Thanks to his quick backend support, we found the right direction to catch the road towards Jogindernagar. Barot was another 66 kms from Mandi. Before Jogindernagar, there is a place called Ghatasani, from where another road turns towards right to Barot (another 25 kms). But good part was, till Ghatasani the road was well maintained. However, the last 25 kms from thereon, was just pathetic but drivable.

On the way, we had a quick snack break at 7-00 pm before Ghatasani. We have to admire that these people were so adorable and affectionate. We were given Akhrut (Wall nut) free handedly, which would cost INR 500 for sure in Delhi, may be more. Also, unlike Delhi/ NCR, ATMs were not queued up, one can get cash so easily while it was war like scene (in current demonetization period) in the banks & ATMs at Delhi region.

Never the less, we were at Barot by 8-00 PM. Where to stay now? I heard about the rest House at Barot. It’s a British erected structure, more than 100+ years old. However, one needs to book it at PWD office-Mandi town. We had not time to book, also we crossed Mandi at 6-00 PM. So, no question of prior booking. Decided to try out our luck. Otherwise there are a few hotels around too.

For Prior booking one may try PWD office Mandi: EE Padhar Tel: 01905-222151 (ee-mandiv1-hp@nic.in). As per my information, booking can be done by phone also.

We approached the caretaker. There were two persons, who were busy cooking food for the guests in the nearby small hut. That is used as a kitchen. They were amused to see us so late in the evening. We were informed that there are 2 family suites in the main building and we can have one. The other one was already occupied.

What was the cost? I was enquired if I was a Govt. employee or from Himachal. I said neither! He said if it were the former case (Govt. employee or from Himachal) the rate would had been INR 350 per night. Now that we fall in the second, applicable rate will be higher…that is INR 450/ night. Whoaaaa! Voiiiila! I thought, if feasible I would have book it for 10 days….hahaha.

We were advised to take food from a nearby Hotel as we were too late to arrive.

The Trout fish experience:

Barot is well known for its Trout fish culture. This once British brought fish is cultured here with the help of natural flowing water from the nearby river, the Uhl. The average size of a mature fish is around 300~350 gms. One can buy this fish from there (rate approx. INR 350/Kg) and get it cooked at Rest house or any hotel nearby.

We went to the hotel as advised and ordered a Trout fish recipe along with regular foods available. While we were exchanging our discussions with the other attendees in the hotels, food was ready within 30 mins.

People do love to shovel up hot food in cool winter and then show off their expertise on the bigger things happening around the globe….like American Presidency change, Demonetization, Global fuel price ups & downs and the very common & frequent barking like hell on the local Govt activities… Don’t they???

How could we be different!!!!

Day 5:

Good morning! After a blissful nap in the Royal suite, we woke up around 7-00 AM. The old man (Care taker) served us morning tea as per his commitment last night! We had the fresh cup of tea and then started exploring the beautiful cozy building. The Uhl river flows beside the building makes the ambience more scenic and romantic as well.

These moments certainly deserved poetic justice. Goodness me!! A Poem! I am no way close to it. Something remained with my mother exclusively, not passed on to me by GOD. Had he been here, Shakespeare would have crafted some more romantic poetry, there is no doubt.

There are a few waterfalls nearby as informed by the locals. We explored them too. After eventful few hours, we decided to return to Delhi. Although our minds were still hungry, but other things needed to be accounted too.

Time to bid adieu to the age-less beauty with a desire to date some another day. We left Barot around 11-30 AM for Delhi as we targeted to be at Home before 31^st-2016.

The Final inside out:

As we recollect the memories of this journey which is a distant ship smoke on the horizon by now. There were some good takeaways too.

It is not always possible to get what we wish for! It is rightly said- If one door is closed, there are many others that get opened. There is always a tomorrow to make it count!

An unplanned & unexpected event sometimes brings joy too. This exotic Barot thing would not have happened if we had found snowfall in Manali for sure!

We just can’t let the fear to overpower and stop us from doing things that we always wanted to do. We are the believer of-Do whatever you always once dreamt of as a child….taste the food you wanted to have, travel to the place that you always wanted to explore, play with the shallow-water in the wild river (but be careful)….climb a tree once-again because you did it long back….angle a fish to win a small battle….sky-up a kite cause you have never experienced it….dance like a crazy ‘cause you always wished to do….joke with your friends and belly-laugh till you can bear, because now is our time and it’s not gonna last forever.

Let us celebrate this event called life. Of course, you still ought to know where the brake paddle is! And being a mature human it is not that too difficult by now.

This rejuvenating little trip to Kasol, Manikaran & specially Barot will go down as yet another page in my book of life to keep it remained folded with a tag to revisit some another day.

 

 

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Sailing through the circle of life….

(It’s been ages, you touched my hands this way….it feels so strong….your hands seem colder….but your heart is still so warm…..). A few larger than life moments with my parents….

I am yet an another brick in the wall of the modern era, coming out of a country village searching for my piece of happiness and a better life in a metro called Delhi. The enthusiasm of going to the city of Big-dreams was so bright after my graduation that it just over shadowed that my parents would be lonely now back at the home town. There is a slim possibility that I would be back to my native place….though hope to be back someday. God knows what is written on the cards!

Still the good part that remains is -every six months either me or my parents visits each other. Better is that we are reaching each other almost every day through the wire and the Best part is the chemistry between my parents…..a true spirit of life called “Love” still keep them rolling.

So, it was my turn to visit them recently. This time I had to visit them without my family (my wife & kid). My parents were little upset over the matter, specially finding it difficult to unglue from the opportunity to meet their grand kid (so do from the little kid also).

But changed conditions and environments sometimes let you experience different aspects. Somehow, after a long while I felt myself to be like a kid with my parents. I wanted to maximize the experience and prolong it as much as I can. For a few moments it felt like Living in a dream….. Every minute became younger with each passing hour.

What can be more pleasing to your eyes than watching your ageing parents finding their groves once again….my eyes just could not take it anymore but needed some salty water to fill in for support.

Let me share some of those frozen dual toned moments captured through the shutter. Some of the snaps will surely find their space at our living room display.

From our walk of life, I fully understand…..This is life and is a process called “the living” where change is constant….old is replaced by new, a never ending search for betterment, where you take a lesson or some heart from the past to meet and greet the future. Here, you have to play all possible roles….A son, a brother, a friend, a father, a grand-father and many more…. (or the other side of the coin….A daughter, sister and so on…).

Here I was another link in the chain! Coming back to the circle of life….

People often say- Your children need your time. But all I can say “Your aging parents deserve your time and attention too”.

If Time is the greatest healer, so also may be the greatest builder of relationships, what do you say!!!Spread the smile…..it cost you nothing. Each drop of water make up the ocean….each flower put together creates a beautiful garland….(Let me decorate a memory-garland….through my photography).

In search for the perfect Timing to chase a Dream….

We live for tomorrow but how often forget to live today…..???

I went to my native place to visit my parents last month. It was also a perfect opportunity to rub my shoulders with old pals Abhi & Ashim. In one of the evening hours, while three of us were dissolved in mind over matter casual talks, amidst we discussed our old wild dreams.

Abhi and me, we grew together from pre-college till our graduation having similar interest in music and we often dreamt of making it big someday.

However, destiny had some other ideas. While I had to leave my native place in pursue of my career, Abhi managed to climb to a govt. service locally. He was almost close to realization of his musical dream with his band muscled by the poetic creativity of Ashim but somehow failed to touch the finishing line due to misunderstanding among the members.

Before they could react and repair the leaking hole inside the boat to stop the sinking, some bigger things over shadowed and pushed their unconquered dream to a darkest corner. Came in some family priorities and followed marriage and then children, building their own house….once boys found their feet as MAN.

Our dreams keep on changing with age, but some dreams don’t. Life often gives second chance only to the lucky ones. I suggested, this might be the right time for you guys to get your teeth into. I urged them to break the shackle put together their resources and give it a final chase before anything come on the way as banana peel.

They both called me last week. It was really heartening to hear that the mind wheel started to roll again!

Dream it on Abhi…Dream on Ashim! Run for your dream!

Hang on guys!!….what is my dream….am I dreaming….where do I go now?

Music in my vein….

The blind beggar who came to my house….Hey destiny! you can take away my eyes….but not my spirit!!!

Two alarms in the tunnel of love….when love was so near yet so far away and I finally found you……

March 7, another evening. I heard her say “thank you…thank you” a few many times when she received a few incoming calls….only then suddenly realised that because it was her birthday. That was her first birthday since our marriage and I missed the moment to glorify it by miles…..felt down and out every way. The toll of pushing the job-paddle hard due to corporate pressure had unsettled a balanced mind.

Never the less, I knew I had to carry the burden of this mistake through the whole year until I compensate till next time.

Throughout the year I had to listen mouthful from my wify…..like, “Before marriage you were too caring, emotional….now you have changed…..you are no more like you used to be…like this….like that….”. (I just can’t be like Great Hanuman to tear my chest to show that my love for her has never faded anyway….). I got to realise that a woman needs expressive love and affection too….

Turning back the clock by 15 years, the hormones did catch me heavy in my early days during college and I had my days of chasing the skirt….it’s only a human sign….isn’t it???

Well, I did find my heart pumping a bit faster than normal and pleasing when I found myself beneath a girl….wasn’t it a early symptom of someone suffering from love fever….However these were early moments of our friendship days.

Competition more often than not brings out the best in you. There were two guys in our hostel who had soft-corner for this girl….one being me. We came to know from someone that next day was her birthday. Me and the other guy were in a mind-war already who was gonna wish her first….to show off our respective affection. The world didn’t have mobile phones in those days, but each hostel having its own LAN-line phone. But who was gonna get connected through the wire first??

I had a plan in place. The cornered somewhere in the wardrobe my aged rusted & dusted alarm clock found a new life when I cleaned it neatly and put a new cell. Suddenly, it became my best friend for the night….it responded well as per my expectation to wake me up at 5-30 am and I was able to win the little battle over my hostel mate to wish the girl I loved, first in the morning…..

The two souls were in desperate search for the right piece of zig to complete their own world of love puzzle. As written on the cards, finally, we found love somewhere in the winters of year 1999. It did felt like we were high in the world.

In the coming days our possessiveness made us argue and fight frequently only meant that we were grooving better with each passing day and sooner realised that our dices were loaded from the heaven above. However, we could never able to master the art of balancing love and study and it was indeed recorded in our final report card. It’s not everybody’s piece of cake either, I guess. Wish it could have been maintained though.

We did have all those short of spicy moments during our heydays…..and very often would plan a perfect day by ticking away the moments that make up a dull day.

A date in the evening hours on the shore of the romantic lake in the college campus….Roaming around under a single umbrella out in the heavy pouring…..Doubling a cycle around the college campus….Holding our hands together in the crowdie-lanes of the busy town….Checking-in in the movie theatre….and choosing for the darkest corner (only love birds know the true value of a dark corner in a movie theatre just like a gemmologist knows the real value of a gem)….Sniffing out at the restaurants and the pleasure of walking on the streets with your wild best friend….

We also have a special feat of appearing at the local TV channel in one of their romantic coverage….while they caught us through the video camera in a town park without our attention. Though my parents missed the show….but our neighbours didn’t…..eventually my ears had to pass through a big blast of words later on as my mom came to know from them.

OK….back again to where I stared….I forgot the first birthday after marriage of my girlfriend turned wife.

Time flied and for yet another time we were closing in to 7 March (the 2^nd one after marriage). Oh God! I just could not afford to miss it again like I did last year and made it a bumpy ride for the whole year ahead. Then how to double ensure that??

A successful stint from the past (my hostel days) knocked at my mind and for the second time around….I set the alarm at 7-00 am at the mobile with reminder-on with a tag line….”Happy birthday my love” (…not for waking me up) and slept peacefully and thanked the modern day innovation for this special feature. But alas! Not everything goes as per your plan always….

As usual, I woke up around 6-45 am in the morning and rushed into the wash room. While I was inside the bathroom, my mobile started to beep with the remainder tag “Happy birthday my love”. Guess!! Who saw the reminder first? Oh yessss!!! My wify.

Hope, I need not to explain what was coming next…..(A heavy thunder storm in the early morning….”You missed it last year……now we have arrived at a time when you need help of reminders to memorise my birthday…bla…bla…bla….). For a moment I felt like “Hey mother Earth open up and hide me under your lap”. A moment that squeezed me down to the bone. As they say the brightest flame burns the quickest. However, some cooling off after some convincing words from my side with a promise for a grand dinner at the evening and a D-ring. High stake for high mistake….

Remembrance is a golden chain that keeps you connected with your silver lining moments of yesteryears.

15 + years of togetherness in the tunnel of love….many more to sail over…We don’t know how long this tunnel will carry us….nor we want a measure of it or curious to know….but we both thank almighty for these moments….a legacy of this blood and bones….hope to carry forward through gen- next….to an another journey event called life.

A lot many sweet and salty moments happened…..a lot many to be happened, but as someone rightly said, “There should be laughter after pain, there should be sunshine after rain, these things always been the same, so why worry now…………..”.

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Battle of the nerves….

Celebration begins & your adrenaline gets pumped up….

Night’s going younger with each passing hour & all those thumbs up.

With every beat going faster would take closer to your high….

Music, meat & drink what else you desire.

And as you heard a loud cheer what it is for….

Then you see the wild belle dancers….could not ask for more.

One of those times when you felt alright….

To check her out…. with high dose inside.

As your eyes shamelessly slip over every curve she creates

And you wanna get closer and desire for more….

Further close ups can get you on rough and crush your toes.

A bunch of wild eyes looming over the dancing mellow….

Once the busy bar….now gone for cold show.

With DJ music going up and high….

Some getting cosy…. while some going wild.

You too wanted to ride over the line….

Then something from nowhere knocked at your mind.

You put your back….tighten your saddle & back to your horse

You knew…. you just couldn’t subsidise the truth….

Cause’ you wanted to be with the woman and the kid you call your own fruit….

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Delhi to Kashmir by Road: Chasing winter on the wheels….

(A photographic journey through the heavenly valley of Jammu & Kashmir!!!)

Jan-2015: If you are an Indian, your Travel-list is gonna remain without the red cherry at the top until you put a tick mark on Kashmir valley. Time was high for us to fill that void and shift it from the wish-list to the accomplished one….to greet the brand new year 2015 in our own-way. Mission Kashmir by road from the capital city Delhi….Howzat sir???

Kashmir in extreme-winter!!! Could imagine some eyebrows going wider and some jaw-droppings too!! Oh Yes….there will be challenges ahead to face-off with….but then, where is the taste of success without the fear of failure….! With Destiny by your side you can tear the star from the sky and wear it at your forehead. Of course, you just can’t change what is written on the cards.

They say a bride look her best in bridal dress- Just could not agree more. Kashmir- A place to admire all seasons, however, looks beyond beauty in its milky white snowy-Lehenga during winters. Imaginations, hopes, dreams, curiosity together have the power to create some super unidirectional magnetic force and here, they resulted in me, an unquenchable desire to date with the dashing beauty in its most glamorous-outfit!

Of course, there is another option: Book a flight> Reach Srinagar> Acclimatize for 1-day>Book a taxi to visit major tourist locations> Return Flight. But as they say, you miss the ground reality when you fly over it.

Approx. 1000 kms drive one-side! You need some able partners for cheering up the mood throughout and set the ball rolling. Then, who will be the partners in this crime !!! We approached a few families, but some were reluctant, some were already planned and for some not possible…….So, after a few unsuccessful attempts…. no more search for the perfect strangers and decided to give a lonely shot this time.

The preparation:

We had already run through the internet few many times, going through various websites and blogs for gathering information on below:

 Statistical predictions of the weather.
 Route map information

(Photo courtesy: Google search)

Major places to cover (Patnitop, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam)
 Getting my car ready for the journey
 Actual Cost incurred: Fuel cost 10K, Accommodation 15 K INR for 6 nights.
 Medication (First-aid, some knowledge about AMS and carried a mini-oxy cylinder)

During our preparation, as I mentioned, we did analyze the statistical predictions of the weather. But the old saying, statistics are just like mini-skirts; they reveal the most and give you fair ideas but hide the most important part. There was certainly a big gap between what were forecasted and what we actually experienced…..at least -5 degrees in the down-side in Srinagar, enough to make you a fish out of water. However, with our contingency plan, we were able to stem the rot and we were gradually coping pretty well with the conditions….how it was done?….reveal you shortly.

Day-1

4-00 AM….It was ghostly dark outside, even if a thief slaps you, you won’t be able to locate where it came from. We were already packed up since last night, so just had to get out of the bed and hit the road. This little compromise to start early would help us to avoid traffic while crossing Delhi. Just had a cup of black tea with light snacks to break the dizziness and then twisted the ignition key. Our little pocket dynamite (4.5 years old son-Jagrav) was ready to explode…..as if his favorite character from the movie Toy Story hero- Woody says to his horse, “Run like the wind…. Bulls-eye”.

Target of the day was to reach Jammu before sunset. As usual, it was the typical North-Indian dense foggy winter morning, probably 10~20 meters of visibility. The need of the hour was to drive defensively, drive safely. 3.5 hrs of drive, surprisingly after Ambala, it was clear.

Approx 4 Hrs of driving, time for a little break. We had a halt for break-fast somewhere after entering Punjab. Cool weather with hot stuffed Paratha with warm-tea and omlet. Between the Alu-paratha till lunch, our target was to cover a distance of 200 odd kms. However, with clear weather and excellent road-way we managed to reach Jammu by 3-00 PM (which we expected to reach by 5-00 PM). We took lunch and revised our target to reach at Patnitop. And our 4-wheels keep on turning for another 3 hours to finally reach Patnitop at 6-30 PM. Stayed the night at a reasonable good hotel with warming facilities. After approx. 14 hours of drive (720 km)….very quickly surrendered to the night after dinner. So next day we have to cover only 180 kms to reach Srinagar, but most of the part will be at the hills.

Day-2

Good morning Patnitop!! We all had sound sleep till 8-00 AM. My wify and kid had light snacks while I extended my dreaming for another half an hour. By 9-00 AM we left the shelter. My morning break-fast was the song “Nothing else matters” by Metallica which warmed me up by few degrees.

After half an hour drive, we located a roadside tea stall and decided for a halt. It reminded me of our college days, where we used to have our morning-tea during break, at an Old man’s tea stall in front of the college main gate. I tried to emulate the same feeling by pouring the tea into the plate and then sipping in…..super pleasure!!! Felt like going back by 15 years…..Sweet 20 revisited.

Continuous driving on the hilly winding road….no inhabitation….occasional trucks crossing us….all alone….really was a tough testing time. My delicate-wall separating enjoyment and irritation was melting to thinner & thinner. Finally some respite came when John Bonjovi fittingly started in my stereo with his masculine baritone, “Nothing good come easy….every good thing takes some time”….one of my favorite number “Dry Country”. I just could not help but stepped up the volume by few decibels. There is always a divine power in music. It recharged me with the much needed high…..as R.Shambora screamed in with the high-voltage fast guitar-lead.

Two more hours of drive from Patnitop, we reached Jawahar tunnel (a 3.5 km long tunnel). We crossed the tunnel to reached the little famous “Titanic view point”. Suddenly the mountains made way to the valley below. As we had our first glimpse of the Himalayan valley from the “Titanic view point”, a shivering run-through my spine!!!….. Rising from the dust….a hail to the king of the mountains!!! The mighty Himalaya and the heavenly valley Kashmir started.

And then, our kiddo wished to get lighter. It was time to have a short juicy break. As they sipped in some pulpy fluid, I took the chance to burn the stick of slow death. We had the delicious maggy too at the cool breezy Titanic point.

As the landscape gradually started to change its color and contour….felt like the snaky highway wanted to say…follow me down to the valley below….

Reached Srinagar by 3-00 PM and just roamed around the Dal lake on the Boulevard road to find a suitable hotel. Finally, zeroed on a beautiful Hotel named “The Nehrus”. Tried hard with our negotiation skills and deal finalized for an executive-suit for INR 2600/night (felt good to run away with such a deal as this time of the year very less travel-traffic is around in Srinagar). A very rare win-win situation for both the parties.

After one hour of rest, we had the first trial Shikara side for ½ an hour in the beautiful Dal lake which spreads around 27 kms (INR 200 for ½ an hour). We had a short walk around the lake in the evening then back to the den and ordered for the dinner.

The mercury showed -6 degree. Needless to say, you ought to take support from the bacteria-fermented fluid to keep up the heat-on in those bone-chilling conditions. Of course, it also does help to get closer to your hopes & dreams…..We did warmed ourselves up with a few pegs of the Old Monk with Luke-warm water….before hitting the bedtime.

Day-3

There is a divine music in the drawn in early morning at Dal lake. We experienced the frozen Dal.

Target of the day was to explore Srinagar.

This wonderland’s allure lays in its beauty, culture, food and history. Let’s check it out. During our evening walk in the prior evening we met a Shikara boat rider and his warm hospitality and politeness impressed us. After a few casual talks, we decided to take him as our guide.
Apart from major places like a few Mughal gardens (Nishant Bagh, Shalimerbagh, Chashm-e-shahi etc), Hazratbal, the most interesting was when he invited us to his village located at an island in the Dal lake. It was certainly a bonus. Just unable to explain the experience….however, a picture can convey better than words…just check it out….

He then also took us to a restaurant named Shamyana for lunch where we tasted delicious Kashmere cuisine.

During the evening Shikara ride- The jaw-dropping views made us spell-bound for a while. A photographer enjoys and views by his lens just like a soldier lives and dies by the sword. The honey dipped sunset was just mesmerizing ….but the photographer in me said to me…. shutter speed 1/200 @ F 8.0.

It was end of day-3 already.

Day-4

Target of the day was Gulmarg. It is just 56 kms from Srinagar, hence decided to make a day trip. We reached Gulmarg at around 10-30 AM.

Oh’dear! I am running out of superlatives to describe you the unparallel majestic divine beauty. If the snow blanket around is not sufficient to push your adrenaline to flow out then, the frozen water streams and white painted sky kissing pines by its side could be more than enough to put the switch on though.

I love to let the flow of thoughts and emotions to take over the rest and drive the lead while I convert our experiences and encounters into ink….just to give you a first-hand kick-up.

Anyway, snow and snow all around…. Wooohooo! We can’t wait any longer….

We decided to try out some skating and sledging. We were very enthusiastic…..tried and failed several times and same with others around. It looked little embarrassing though. However, significant improvement after few more tries; Impressive!!!….and then we left it to the professionals to explore further.

After the whole days of fun, we returned back to Srinagar.

Day-5

We checked out from the hotel at 9-30 AM to date with another hilly beauty- Pahalgam (Approx. 95 kms from Srinagar). On the way, we noticed a chain of cricket bat factories. We curiously went inside in one of them.

Opportunity comes with an unseen lady called Luck. My wify spotted a lady. We were little hesitant in the unfamiliar terrain & people…but warm welcome broke the ice and we had a nice session with the willow shapers. We ended up buying one of the finest straight-grained bat for INR 1200. (Would cost around INR 15~20K in retail market).

Reached Pahalgam around 12-30 PM. Checked in a reasonable good hotel with warming facilities. After having lunch, we went exploring the town and also went to famous points like Betaab valley and Chandanbari (starting point for Amarnath yatra).

Day-6

Time and river waits for none. We are on the day 6 already. Time to bid adieu Kashmir valley. Target of the day was to reach early at Patnitop and explore. We checked out at 8-30 AM. After a drive of 5 hrs, via Anantnag we reached Patnitop at 2-00 PM. Checked in hotel and then explored the little hill top.

Day-7

Back to where we started. We began at 8-30 Am and reached Delhi at 11-30 PM.

So……Kashmir…..A heaven on earth….yet dented by terrorism and recent natural disaster. With our first hand experience we can say that they see tourist as their cultivation as whole system dependent on tourism. These warm-hearted bunches of people have clawed back to their life against all odds and need our love. You just can’t question their honesty (although may be a few bad elements has given a bad name).

Also on a different note-Kashmir is the land with most political turmoil with each inch of land dearer for both the countries. Peace on Sale, but who is buying? Some people believe that justice lie in the barrel of an AK47….This is nonsense! Utter nonsense….strange illusion, isn’t it?

The Final inside-out

If really a seventh heaven or a cloud nine exist we don’t know…..but if they do….we are pretty sure, we were not far away from them being here in this heavenly valley. Now, we could safely say….we lived yet another dream once we dreamt together while our little emotional bubble bursted.

As we drove through the heavenly valley of Jammu & Kashmir, through the lush green meadows with sky kissing pines, ice creamed mountains, aquamarine-sky, winding rivers, white snow blankets, deserted mountains and honey dipped sunsets, apart from my wife & our son Jagrav (& also our maid) another two companions made this expedition more memorable.…Thank you my trusted Honda for being our chariot and thank you my Nikon for holding those memories.

Like the Holy Geeta says, “everything that has a beginning has an end”. Finally by the grace of Almighty, we are back at home safe and sound. A few more days required to soak in what we experienced in last 7 days. And then as I am jotting down our enjoyments & encounters in black & white, but somewhere deep down I know, conversion of feelings into ink has its own limitations.

You just can’t have it all!!! Due to various factors and circumstances we missed several things….A visit to Sonamarg, a ride in the gondola at Gulmarg, the floating vegetable market or may be something more….But we understand-“You just can’t have it all”! ….May be…Destiny might have made us miss the gold to reward the platinum someday.

 

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12 Composition Secrets that can make you an Instant Photographer!!!

In recent times, I came across people who often ask me looking at my photography….”Which camera do you use?” And my answer more often than not is short and crisp “My old war-horse Nikon D90 with 50mm 1.4D lens or my favorite 85mm 1.8G”.I am by no means close to a Pro…..Not too bad either!! Being self-taught, I normally restrain from going further into the nuts and bolts until someone shows curiosity and have common interest. But sharing ideas and knowledge release an inner joy as well as scope to grow further…hence decided to put my pen down finally….

Of course, a DSLR (a D90 or any other) will give you better result than a Point & shoot or a Bridge-camera. But then, this is only the beginning. In parallel, one must also acquire the soft-skills to align with the hardware for narrowing the gap with a Pro.

In the very outset—Yes!! Photography does look a little complicated to general mass with terms like Composing, Aperture, Shutter speed, White-balance, ISO, Len type like 18-200mm F3.5~5.6, Focusing, Editing….etc. How do you start then?

Even if you have some interest to dive deep to collect some knowledge-pearls, our fast paced lifestyle does not help it further. However, these quick tips may elevate you a few steps closer towards your unconquered dream. Here in “The Instant Photographer-Part1” I would like to start with some low hanging fruits (my top 12)….your first baby steps- “Composing a Shot”-The foundation of a photo.

Let me tell you one thing for sure, photographic concepts are just mere guidelines to explore your creativity, unwind your imagination and empower your thought process with wings to fly. You can always play with them; twist as per your desire or even challenge them at times once you know the purpose of the rules. You may apply them with any kind of tool you have…….even with a simple Point & Shoot camera.

Simplicity is the key, someone rightly said,” Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible”.

What is composing of a shot then? It is the base or skeleton of your photo…..the first glimpse impression while you observe the arrangement of the subject and its surroundings.

(1)    The Rule of Third:

Rule of the Third (Correct)

This is the most simple yet most widely used and proven rule. This rule says divide your frame to 3 columns both side (vertically and horizontally) and put your subject somewhere 2^nd line/plane. Or to say it in simple- Avoid putting your subject right in the middle.

  

(2)    Breathing Space and Movement Space & Follow subjects view

Give your eyes some breathing room….keep some space towards the movement of the subject to give it a dynamic feel….follow the subjects view.

  

(3)    Meet in the Middle

If you are working with more than one subject….meet in the middle is a good option.

 

(4)    Vertical-Horizontal lines

Human mind does love to see some vertical and horizontal lines.

 

(5)    The Magic of Back-ground Blur and foreground and Bokeh.

Blurring the back-ground or foreground helps the viewer to concentrate on the subject. Of course there is magic in the bokeh.

(6)    Show emotion, drama and connection of subject with surroundings

Add some emotion, drama and try to connect subject with the surrounding. It provides your photo another dimension.

(7)    Frame within a frame

This concept again helps to draw attention of the viewer to the subject.

 

(8)    Point of view

From which angle you are taking the snap is also very important. Example-A kid looks best most of the time if you shoot from his height level. Taking a shot from your standing position will make him dwarf.

  

(9)    Drawing attention through a line

Help the viewer to draw attention to the subject through a line.

 

(10) Pepping Through

Give a firsthand feel to a scene by experimenting with pepping-through shots.

 

(11)Freeze the action

We always love to see action and a freezing moment….Don’t we??

(12)Be innovative….and dare to break the rules

As you will learn, sooner or later you will realize that rules are mostly made to broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind. Dare to break the rules…set your own rules and play with a free mind.

  

Avoid disturbance:

We often make silly mistakes while framing a shot. Just -look at the below two shots.

     

The 1^st shot would have been better (Mother & child together) if the photographer avoided the other people. In the 2^nd one (Father & son), look at the left corner…the half appearing child could have been avoided. However, little mistakes can be corrected during editing too…..but a correct framing will cut short your extra effort.

Photography is one of those things which once you learn the basics, will remain activated at your sub-conscious mind. It is just like learning the balancing of a bicycle, once you learnt you can’t go wrong for rest of your life or just like driving a car when you change gears sub-consciously with respect to your speed.

Photography skills are like a fine old wine which gets better and better with time, of course with practice.

So, how do you find the above???….and I once thought composing was not so important!!!

 

(From a Photography hobbyist…..to a budding Photography hobbyist…..Professionals can relax…:))

 

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Die Young….

Give your body the first 30 min of a morning….it will do wonder for the whole day.

 

I am in my mid 30s, not getting younger anymore. If I check myself in the life-health indicator graph, I am probably in the stable zone in between the ascending and declining curve. Who don’t want to prolong this period before going to the eventual down-slide to the sick-hurry age?

Last 10 years-I have been promising myself every season for some morning workout. However, my cozy bed becomes dearer in the morning. It was just not happening.

 

There were handful of advices from near and dears- Morning workout before sun-rise brings in positive energies. It’s like an investment or your health insurance in this age when Health care business carries a hefty price tag…etc etc. Still you know; it is difficult to pour that first mug of water, when you are taking a winter bath.

Of late I looked at my tummy; it was going out of allowable shape. Also, I used to feel out of gas quickly in the evening after the day’s work when our little son eagerly waits for his share of time with us. Now, I am slowly starting to realize, it’s the high time to battle with the inner devil.

Back in my native country-village, my grandfather, an achiever of octogenarian will celebrate his 92^nd birthday shortly still commutes by a bicycle, play cards with people who are 3 generation younger to him. Am I able to replicate who carries the same gene???? My father is diabetic; already fail to emulate the fit. G-father’s case might be little different from our current given conditions, his case has been advocated by pure nature-fresh food products since his childhood…what today we call it organic products which comes at an expensive rate at a metro/ city while availability being an issue as well. Moreover back then, communication means were either by walking or cycling which improved their fitness and agility.

Here, we have to survive by the food and vegetables that are primarily grown with hormones and industrial fertilizers. How much benefits or side effects they bring to the table is a separate issue.

Further, in this fast faced life-style, those occasional moments of social gatherings do invite some extra fat to your waistline. Someone jokingly said- your best friends are harmful for your Lever……indeed.

So modernity comes at a cost. You just can’t take it all, has to be a trade off. So then, how do we minimize the dent?

It is difficult to build a habit, but once it becomes a habit we all know, it becomes more difficult to break it. I am firm believer of the approach >>>>Motivation is what gets you started…..Habit is what keeps you going.

  

So what can motivate you to start the kick off? >>>Your will power, a friend who is already doing it with some result, a pair of new shoes, a new track suit. Whatever may be….Choose the one, which has the power to overpower your mental barrier.

Now it’s been close to a month I am doing it on regular basis and my wify also joined me in this renaissance. First 2~3 days we did take some pain for the gain, as body were reacting and adjusting to the new system in place.

We know result will start to show up gradually but surely. My tummy is showing some positive outcome already. It is getting close to becoming a habit now which once we were finding a hard target. We eagerly wait for the those 30 min, especially for those double refreshing last 10 min where we walk bare foot on the cool grass with little water droplets….rejuvenating.

 

A good testing time is waiting as we are planning our next trip to a place at the Himalayas which requires a mediocre track of approx. 7~8 kms.

So then, when you run and run to catch up with the sun…….before it’s too late…….

Remember: Motivation is what gets you started…..Habit is what keeps you going.

Die young………

 

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