Satisfaction

It's been quite a while since my last post. In between, I lost all desire and motivation to post anything. Maybe it was a blogger's block, if it can be termed so. Our autumn break of about half a month just got over. Damn, back to classes again from tomorrow! I visited Jammu, Vaisno devi, Amritsar, Wagah Border and Himachal during most part of the holidays. Anyway, that is not what i want to share with you. After i returned to Delhi, out of the blue, we (i.e. me and three other friends) all decided to visit Dehradun. While we were on our way there by train, I witnessed the sunset which was so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off it until I could see it no more. All of a sudden I was filled with an intense urge to write. Writing on a fast moving train is no easy task, but I thought that I would choke if I did not do so. Luckily, I found a pen and a torn sheet of paper in my bag and began to write, oblivious to the rest of the world (except during the times my friends interrupted, to fool around a little). The twilight outside gave me perfect setting to compose my new piece of work. When I finished, I realized that it was my only work with which I was satisfied, after completion, in countless months. It is this work of mine that I want to share with you all here. I must warn you that my friends (who are my loyal readers) have confessed that it is my only work that they have failed to understand in anyway. So if any of you all do think that you have understood anything, then please let me know. Background over. Move on to the main text now....

THE MESSIAH'S TRAIN

I heard that he was on his death-bed. In our town, we never give a person his due until he is taking his final few breaths. The entire world that I inhabit, acknowledged that he was a messiah, a prophet. Some even were audacious enough to proclaim him to be God. We were still alive in this treacherous world because of him. Yet no one gave him any importance or showed him any respect. He had many years to live, they used to say. And I am too much of a traditional youth to think of doing otherwise.
I was one of the few who came to know that he was approaching his end - the end of the journey, as the man himself used to say. I knew that it was time to pay his due and rushed with excitement to his house. His room as usual was without a roof. Strangely enough, rain drops never fell inside. This established him in our eyes as the Messiah, the Lord of the Skies. He was standing in the center of the room, and ten or twelve people surrounded him from all sides. He still had the halo of light around his head. However, it was not the dazzling white light that we knew of. It was orange in colour. He no longer seemed powerful and strong. I was reminded of the glory of the setting sun. He seemed even more holy - divine, in this condition.
It was at this moment that he gave his final sermon - the only one that anyone listened to seriously. For the first time i stood there till the end. Others were clapping in appreciation. But I was too dumb to understand, or so I thought. He was explaining the art of ruling the skies. Otherwise, there was pin-drop silence. I just stood staring at the halo which kept getting dimmer. It had now become more red than orange. How amazing can it be to imprison the Sun and see it wither away.
The speech ended and the halo disappeared along with the man whom it protected. I was one of those privileged ones to be present there. Everyone was clapping and cheering. Even my sense of awe couldn't stop me from joining in. He had even taken his clothes along with him, poor man. Everyone began looking at their watches, trying to calculate how long it would be before the great one was reborn amongst them once more. We are sure we will recognize him once he returns, from his clothes.

THE END

The Back-bencher Supremacy

Finally I had some entertainment in class today. A great teacher who is known as a master soliloquist amongst us, the Last Bench Union, brought a guest lecturer to our college to give us a talk on Latin American writing. No prize for guessing that I do not remember her name. I had gone out to get some fresh air and returned just in time, before the lecture began. My usual seat in the last bench was taken. But the entire last bench on the other row was totally empty. I started to smack my lips at the prospect of being able to lie down on my back and catch up on my sleep.

Before I did that, I wanted to hear a few lines from our guest to know if she was interesting to listen to. She began with a lot of energy and enthusiasm (which did remain till the end), but the speed at which she spoke made me feel like I was listening to a train pass by. Her words shot into my right ear and fired out from my left, at such tremendous speed that I was left mystified as to what they meant. Nevertheless, the people around me seemed to be enjoying the talk, which is surely a good thing. Then I noticed (as I always do from such an advantageous position) a teacher who has drunken, half closed eyes. What caught my attention is that he had roving eyes too. His eyes were all over the place in the classroom while it seemed that he was paying rapt attention to the speaker. Still waters definitely do run deep… very deep!

It is interesting to observe what teachers can be up to when they are sitting on the benches with us and attending a lecture. I lost no time in searching for the man some of us refer to as “The Boss.” He was sitting in the corner-most seat on the front bench. Boss was looking at the speaker in a very disinterested fashion (perhaps he was feeling a little alienated). Then right under her nose, he gave out a large yawn, put his head on the desk and went to sleep (or so it appeared). I was amused. Had he been a student, he would have been one of our close friends for sure. After some time, he got up and began to stare out of the window (just as I do from time to time). I was enjoying a quiet laugh by myself, when The Boss stood up and walked out of the class! Someone whispered that he didn’t have manners. Boss surely is qualified enough to be a part of our intimate circle of friends, never mind the generation gap….

I noticed a few more things, but they are a bit too trivial to mention. Sooner or later (I don’t know which one is applicable in this case), the lecture got over and people began to ask their questions, which she was only too glad to answer. The defining moment came when The Soliloquist fired one query at her, to which she responded with added vivacity. What she spoke was geek to me (as always), but her body language and energy caught my attention. Her forceful eyes betrayed her permanent smile as she sat at the edge of her seat, explaining I know not what! I thought that at any moment she might pounce on poor Soliloquist and tear him to pieces. The Soliloquist seemed to sense it too and looked intimidated (at least that’s what it seemed from the view of him I was getting from the last bench). I was relieved when the event got over and the poor man left the class in perfect health.

This had been one of the best lectures I had attended so far this year, I reflected. I wish we can have this guest lecturer give us a talk every now and then. I am more convinced than ever that the back bench is the most superior position to be in, in any classroom. The data I collected today is invaluable and has increased my knowledge of our English Department manifold. Today, I solemnly swear to remain a backbencher for as long as I am a student.
Long live Last benchers’ Union!!!

The Wonder Drug

What is it with sleep that makes us relish it so much? This is one question I pondered ever while I watched my friend, Pushkar carry on his exploits in his dreamland, as he prolonged his sleep into the late hours of the morning. If only he had narrated all his adventures in his dreams to me, I might have written a book titled, “Pushkar’s Adventures in Dreamland” by now.
Sleep, I reflected, is a wonder drug without any serious consequences on your health. Something if you’re blessed with it can ease you off all your sorrows and miseries for a few hours everyday. Some may call it escapism, but to a person like me who knows the joys of sleeping, it is one of nature’s greatest gifts bestowed on us, a medicine that can heal the scars of the body and the mind, and help to rejuvenate the spirit without consuming any spirit! Best of all, it comes without any charge to most people.
As I watched this fortunate pal nodding his head and smiling while he enjoyed the greatest luxury of the poor man, I recollected my former days when I too could afford to waste my days in the sinful pleasure of slothfulness. It is a sin for which I would not mind going to hell time and time again.

City Life

I wonder from where people developed this love for shopping. This evening I went to Kamala Nagar with the intention of buying a few items of clothing. The shops are crowded like a fish market in Kolkata. There is hardly any space to breathe, let alone look for what you want. Is it the “population explosion” or is the trend these days? Most of the t shirts on the shelves were of a design I wouldn’t dare to wear for the fear of being hounded by dogs on the streets.
Then I was at a shop to buy a pair of slippers. I stood at the counter waiting my turn to pay the bill. The guy at the counter asked the lady in front of me, “Kya aap ke paas change nahi hain?” The “polished” lady answered in the negative, in a language that I think was English, but the accent was really indistinguishable. Where did she acquire such an accent from, Timbuktu? The poor chap at the desk was perplexed and clearly at his wits end. However, he chanced to see her shaking her head and realised what she had wanted to say.
Is this the “hip and happening” city life that people are crazy about? Your house seems to be the only place where you seem to have enough place to stretch your arms wide without the fear of striking down the person next to you. Living in free air is now a distant dream in this much celebrated city.
THREE CHEERS TO CITY LIFE!!!

And the twilight fades into the night…

As twilight faded away, rains graced the earths surface with as much dignity it could carry after being absent for so long and prolonging the miseries of creatures from all walks of life. It was as if... as if it was a gift from the deity, Indra on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami. You may make me out to be a deeply religious man, but I wanted to escape the hustle-bustle which is music to the ears of city dwellers, and the noise and lights of the temples and the streets. I wanted solace - few moments which I could own, moments that would perhaps be lost with the waves in mind forever. Welcoming the rains, I walked into a park where I could feel nature at its best in the colony where I live. No lights, little sound. Just drops of water soothing the wounds in the body…and even mind and perhaps the soul.
The silhouette of the trees against the backdrop of a sky covered with clouds which reflected the moon’s beautiful “Happydent” smile. The artist in me awoke and I saw things in new light. Within moments the same nature which was no better than the most tormenting hell was transformed into a relative paradise – something I never felt in Delhi. How a little extremity can push us to the hilt! Once more I wished that I had been a painter instead of a poet (if you permit me to call myself one).
I began to search for the Divine in those surroundings. If He does exist (and I’m sure he does), he had to be there somewhere in the magic created by the cool breeze that came just in time for the party of Nature going on…. Nothing mattered. Joys, sorrows, pleasures, grieves – all seemed to have taken leave of me. They too must have been admiring the loveliness that was possible only because of the scorching heat that preceded the rains.

Now, dear folks, do I get a little philosophical? Some people make it seem that being philosophical is a crime of an abominable nature. To them, I say that if you prove it to be so, then God perhaps has committed a fault caught by great people like your holiness. If looking at the truth of existence from different angles and observing them in the various colours that they exist in, is a crime then hang me. I would rather enjoy the beauty of all colours – they intensity of darkness, the joy of light, the gloom of grey… rather than stand under the street lights even during the day.

Achievements of a Backbencher (a.k.a. The Backbencher Identitiy)

The stories of various ‘events’ occurring in the backbenches of schools and colleges are prevalent everywhere. Sometimes, when people sit down to gossip or recall their days students, many folks, irrespective of their experience in the backbenches (if any) claim to have been eternal backbenchers with a devil-may-care attitude and renowned naughtiness.
Now by my final year in college, that too as a die hard backbencher, I have discovered the joys and secrets that continue to make this revered bench so fascinating. Majoring in English, I have been able to learn quite a few noteworthy things that frontbenchers can only aspire to in their dreams. Before I boast of the achievements of the LBU (Last Benchers’ Union), of which I am a decorated member, let me clarify a few things. Backbenchers are not dumb. We are just a few enlightened beings who have realised the real value of life and competition. It is because of our efforts at the back that the seemingly intelligent ones at the front can run away with the cake, and we are content to have it that way. Selflessness is the basic characteristic of a backbencher. People at the back are wonderful human beings with an amazing sense of humour and a zest for life. There is rarely a truly dull moment among the LBU members. While classes take their due course, we, the pioneers and philosophers of tomorrow train hard to attain an excellence of temperament, a vividness of imagination, and a refinement of thought by our own unique methods. New discoveries are made by those who dare to move off the beaten track.
Now, as for my personal achievements, I have been able to distinguish between a soliloquy and a dramatic monologue, just by observing our teachers and students in class, inconspicuously from the last bench. I have learnt about the desperate measures the critics can resort to, to have their “observations” accepted among a literary circle of toadies. Thanks to this precious bench, I have been able to catch up on my sleep every morning and therefore remain in sound health. I also have been able to look within and carry on with this wonderful thing called self discovery.
The last bench has plenty to offer to those who look forward to having something unique in their lives. It is a place for future artists, inventors and discoverers. I am quite certain that Einstein and Newton too must have been backbenchers. Too bad, our very own Rabindranath Tagore never went to school. We could have boasted of another “celebrity.”

NOTE
1. Newton had all the time in the world to sit/sleep (probably, he was bunking work) under the apple tree ‘waiting for the apple to fall’- this guy had to be a backbencher.
2. Einstein could never understand Mathematics in school – hallmark of a backbencher. So he invented his own maths and relativity.
(This was written while Dr. Saint was busy doing what only he is capable of, inside the classroom.)

Delhi as a prospect for the future

Just a couple of days back, Delhi received a hell lot of rainfall. I'm sure most of u know all about it. It was there for all to see. Even the news channels increased their ratings because of it. During those hours of epic rainfall, I was on my way back to my room in vijaynagar from Nehru Place. Needless to say, there was a huge traffic jam and the roads were flooded. In fact i was wondering if the Yamuna shifted its course and encroached upon then Ring Road. Well, no mater what the govt. says, we as indians know that self help is the best help. I have an idea. We should carry a boat...no a raft - you know the ones that can be inflated and deflated at will, with us whenever heavy rains are predicted. At this rate delhi, kolkata and mumbai will be no different from Venice in the coming years. It might even help to promote tourism. We can have Gondolas for those who are romantically and artistically inclined and rafting and kayaking for the sporty ones.
So, dear MCD stop making false promises about improving drainage and all that nonsense. Do something about water transport. There is a lot more moolah in here!

Classes: the greatest source of creativity

It was the last period going on in college today. Our beloved teacher, Mr Manish Sharma was going hammer and tongs on the subject of conscious and subconscious. Just then, my mind crossed the barriers of consciousness and reached the realm of subconsciousness and the result is down for you all to read. May be it can be read as a dramatic monologue too...i remember him talking about it too in class today.

Demons in the Sun
Now my dear unwanted friend,
Have you followed me here, so far?
I thought I had chased you
Far behind those huge castles
Whose gates I knew you couldn’t cross.
Now once more you creep up from the shadows,
Whispering into my mind from the dark side of light.
Why have you chosen this useless wretched creature?
What am I to service you with?
For you are not one that can be thrown into oblivion.
Come here my ghostly friend,
Face me just once before I request you to be a ghost to me.

The Discovery in English Hons.

The content of this piece reflects the findings and opinions of me alone (and may be a friend or two). Therefore I need to mention that those who do not share my opinion need not be offended. I have all the respect your views deserve.
I have come to the conclusion that the only way to read a literary text is through discrimination (it is believed to be present in all forms in all texts). The primary task is to identify the form of discrimination present in each text. Once this is accomplished, you will need to realise that there are four “discriminatory ways” of reading texts. They are:
1. Marxist Reading
2. Feminist Reading
3. Colonial/Post colonial Reading, and
4. Psychoanalytical Reading
Marxist reading deals with the discrimination between classes. Feminist reading deals with the discrimination between genders. Colonial/Post-colonial reading deals with the discrimination between the rulers and the ruled. Psychoanalytical reading involves discrimination over the author. It deals not with what is apparently conveyed by the author, but with what some self righteous analysts think what (s)he was “actually” trying to say.
Therefore for one to be a literary scholar, one must be thoroughly acquainted with these forms of discriminatory readings and must be prepared to go to all lengths to enforce them in all texts that (s)he comes across. Otherwise, in all probability, literary criticism will continue to be a distant dream and nothing more.
However, as with all cases and theories, there are and will be a few (remember only a few) works which may continue to elude the hands of such “discriminators.” I am now beginning a search for some books. The real purpose of me writing this is to request you to give me the names of such books if you do come across any of them. I am eagerly looking forward to your cooperation in this endeavour of mine.

La Revista: 21st May ’09, Delhi, 11.45pm

Whew! I made my longest journey by road, without rest. On the day before yesterday, the car came to pick us up at 4.30 in the evening from our hotel. The car was the promised Scorpio and it was as comfortable as expected. Shared our goodbye-hugs with Wolf and the two the two hotel-boys with whom we had become good friends (they claimed that we were very warm and friendly and that they enjoyed serving us. Actually it was we who enjoyed their efficient service.).
We reached Kargil by midnight. By then, as you must’ve guessed, I was fast asleep (this time in a much comfortable middle seat). I woke early yesterday morning before dawn, to find ourselves at Dras. Then, I learnt that we had been there since two in the morning. The route ahead had been blocked due to bad weather. We made use of this time by drinking “chai” and eating boiled eggs which made our breakfast, and clicking some even more beautiful photos of the snow peaked mountains which were just a stone’s throw away. We even heard rumours about the roads remaining closed for the rest of the day. Yet something deep within me told me that we would reach Delhi by the next day (i.e. today). Yes, the route was thrown open for vehicles at eight in the morning and we carried on with our journey.

If you think that by now we had seen all the good sceneries that were there to be seen (and clicked all their photos), then you could never be more mistaken. There was snow all around us except on the road on which we were travelling. And, the snow was slowly melting into water which often flowed over the road, to join the river which flowed alongside the road. We were crossing the Zoji la pass. I felt like as if we were travelling through a glacier. The route was dangerous, but I had one of the most exciting journeys till date.

We reached Srinagar late in the afternoon (after 2pm). After another hour of so, we were sitting in a car bound for Jammu. For the first time ever, I paid fifty bucks for a plate of “rajma-chawal” when we stopped for dinner at a road side “dhaba” at night (there was nothing else available). I slept while we travelled the rest of the way to Jammu. Travels by cars have the effect of sleeping pills on me. I realised that we reached Jammu when Palzer poked me to wake me up. It was well past midnight. (Oh! The car had also had a flat tyre along the way.). Luckily, we found a bus at that unearthly hour, and I went back to sleep again inside the bus. We reached Ludhiana early this morning, where we changed buses (into one bound for Delhi). As the day progressed, it began to get hotter and more humid. It felt like stepping out from a refrigerator into a frying pan. I could see from his face that Palzer’s condition was miserable. My case was not too different either. Both of us looked like as if we were retuning from a hard day’s labour inside coalmines. We reached Delhi at around two in the afternoon. We had been on the road continuously for more than forty five hours!
I don’t know when I will get another chance to go back to Ladakh. I rue the fact that I could not trek there. The trip may have gotten over, but the blue skies (and they actually appear blue), the crystal clear waters, the refreshing air and the warm-hearted people of those places will keep calling me back for the remaining portion of my life.

La Revista: 19th May ’09, 1.40pm, Leh

Determined to have breakfast at the hotel, we woke up a little early (or rather, earlier than usual). Booked two seats in a Scorpio that will take us to Srinagar. It is supposed to pick us up from the hotel at five this evening.
Having finished these necessary activities, we went down to the main market to buy a thing or two for some friends. Much as I would love to return empty handed, I am afraid of getting murdered if I do so. Kenny left early this morning when we were sleeping. We had already said our “goodbyes” last night. Got Wolf’s email address. Even though we have known him only for a few days, we have become good friends with him. Our ways part this evening – that’s life, isn’t it? It reminds me of the time I parted from all my friends from school a couple of years back.
I realised that during this trip, I had been subconsciously looking for something I have no idea about. I can’t say I have found it, nor can I say otherwise. I travelled this far, searching for mystery. Now I return back with an empty head, a great experience, some breathtaking photographs and a couple of hilarious videos of Palzer dancing to the tunes of a guitar (played by Wolf).

La Revista: 18th May ’09, 11.00pm, Leh

Got up from bed later than usual. There was no breakfast available at the hotel. We had to go outside. We actually had breakfast at noon. It was too late to go to Hemis by cycle. After making a few calculations regarding our travel, we decided that we have to leave tomorrow. So, there was no way Palzer and I were going to waste the rest of the day wandering in the market.

After a late breakfast, Palzer, Wolf and I hired some cycles and went mountain-biking to Stok which is around 15kms from here. Kenny decided to stay back and surf the internet (which he claimed he had not done for ages). Today was the first time I rode a cycle with gears. The first 6kms of the way went downhill (and it was quite steep). Irrespective of the traffic, we raced down at a breakneck speed (for a cycle). I was lucky to escape without breaking my neck! The rest of the way to Stok went uphill, though it was not as steep. It was an experience that cannot be described – cycling through the picturesque mountainside. Those reading this will have a better idea of what I’m trying to say if they went through our photos of this trip. Yes, photos – Palzer was busy, shamelessly capturing all these memorable moments inside the magic box called the camera.

We reached Stok palace sometime in the evening. Had a nice time glancing over the items in the museum inside the palace. The palace was not a grand one like the others in other regions of the country, but I found it impressive. I would definitely have enjoyed staying there, inside those cosy walls. After our inspection of the ancient place, we sat on top of the palace gates and shared some light hearted moments together. The scenery around a place seems so much better when you have to work hard and tire yourself to get there. It is like, “Harder the work, sweeter the success.”

The way back seemed much shorter now that we were going downhill. Within half an hour, we were sitting on the banks of the Indus River. We had taken hours to cover the same distance while going uphill. It was around 5.30 in the evening when we sat down on the banks of this historic river and had our ‘lunch,’ which consisted of biscuits, chips, uncooked noodles (which were ready-to-eat) and cold drinks. It was one of the most beautiful spots I have ‘dined’ in. from the Indus, Leh was still 6kms away. It was uphill all the way and the road was steep. I found it quite tough to ride uphill along this road even though I was in the first gear. My thighs were screaming for mercy and I obliged. I got down from the cycle and walked with it beside me nearly all the way up to Leh. I didn’t mind walking at all. In fact, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I love to walk especially in the hilly regions. Palzer and Wolf didn’t seem to have a problem cycling uphill at all. I was quite content to follow them on foot from a distance. I was glad to have two things squeezed into this short trip – mountain-biking and a short hike.

We returned back to Leh by eight in the evening. On reaching the hotel, a cup of hot tea and a hot bath sent me to heaven, if only for a few minutes. I must mention that so far I have been touched by the warmth and kindness of the people in this part of the country. Sometimes I really wonder if I am still in India!

For dinner, the food was the same as the one we had had yesterday, and it was just as delicious. Kenny has a flight to catch early tomorrow morning. He has gone to bed early. Palzer is teaching Wolf a Nepali song. Now as I write, Wolf is singing in Nepali and singing quite well for a foreigner. The music has created a beautiful atmosphere for me to write. I must stop now so that I can listen to him more intently.

La Revista: 17th May ’09, 11.58pm, Leh

Here is some remarkable news – I had breakfast today for the second day on the trot. After breakfast, we decided to go mountain biking to Hemis, Stok and other places along that route. Unfortunately, three of the four cycles we hired had some sort of a problem with the gears. The people at the shop tried to repair it while more than an hour passed by. Soon, even before we knew it, it was one-thirty in the afternoon. It was perhaps a bit too late for the cycling trip we had in mind. We had no option but to cancel this plan of ours for the day.

We all unanimously decided to visit the Shanti Stupa (which we had given a miss yesterday). After a short walk from our hotel, we arrived at the base of the rocky cliffs on which the Stupa was situated. The only way to reach up there seemed to be a number of hundreds of steps lined up together in a zigzag fashion. They appeared to be long, boring and monotonous right from a distance. Kenny and Palzer were content to go up the steps while Wolf and I decided to make our way up through the rocks. The climb was not as dangerous as it looked, except during the last part of the climb where things did get a little tricky as there were not many regions to hold on to, and the presence of sand made the rocks slippery. You must have guessed – we made it safely. Later, Wolf and I joked that if we did fall from that height, then we would never fall again in our entire lives.

The majestic Stupa stood like a giant on top of the hill, and it also had a lot of sculptures on its walls inside. The view from there was amazing. (You must be fed up of reading about great sceneries that we see everyday here. But every sight is amazing in Ladakh.). We parked our bases in one quiet place up there and munched on chips and sipped mango juice while we enjoyed the beauty around us. There was a small place of worship, with an idol of Buddha a little below the Stupa (though in the same complex). It was a very peaceful place and I enjoyed the luxury of a few minutes of meditation there and came out feeling tipsy.

On our way back, we had lunch at the K.C. Garden. Kenny was not feeling well and decided to return to the hotel (to my relief). The quality of the food was quite unimpressive. After our lunch, we saw a donkey on the road. Wolf swiftly went up to it and held it by its mane. The donkey resisted and tried to run away. But with Wolf in action, the donkey never had a chance. Within a matter of seconds, Wolf was riding the donkey while it tried to run away. It was one of the most hilarious sights I have seen in ages. After walking for a few steps, we came across another donkey. Wolf seemed determined to ride this one too. This time, his tactics were a little different. He went up to the poor animal and patted it on the neck. Just when it seemed to be enjoying all the attention, Wolf grabbed it by its mane and sprang on top of it. We could clearly see that the poor beast was caught off guard. It began to run frantically while Wolf enjoyed another short ride. Then just as we were outside our hotel, we came across a third donkey. The donkeys seemed to have had an outing today. By now, Wolf had lost his interest in donkeys. However, Palzer went up to it, patted it and climbed on its back. Surprisingly, this donkey offered no resistance to the gentle guy. It stood completely still with Palzer on top of it. I had all the time to get the camera out and look for a suitable angle before I could take a snap.

Then we went back to our room and had more music. It was so much better with the Motor-mouth fast asleep in the other room. In the evening, we went to the main market to loiter about for the umpteenth time. Visited a couple of bookstores. Gifted Palzer the Dhammapada. I knew he would be glad, but I also had selfish reasons. If the book was with him, I could read it anytime without having the responsibility of taking care of another sacred text.

Had a nice meal of rice, dal, chapatis and chicken for dinner. The food cooked in the hotel is much better than the food we get in the restaurants outside in the market. Woke Kenny up in time for him to have dinner with us. This time he didn’t seem so irritating. May be it was because we had not had a dose of him the entire afternoon. We had some tea in our room after dinner, immediately after which Kenny went to bed. This definitely seems to augur well for tomorrow.

La Revista: 16th May ’09, very late at night, Leh

It is nice to wake up in the morning and have breakfast waiting for you. Can’t remember how many days later I had a proper breakfast this morning. Some toast with honey (yes, sweet and wonderful honey), poached eggs and some black tea is enough to make a breakfast table look decent.

We were a little more active today. We climbed up to the Leh palace and the monastery situated on top of the mountain. I came out of a shop in town to find Palzer and Kenny with an Austrian guy with them, named Wolfgang. All four of us said goodbye to the road and challenged the rocky mountain slopes as we made our way up to the palace and the monastery. The palace was situated at a fair height on the mountain. We reached there first, without much difficulty. The palace was built in the fourteenth century by the then monarch of the place (obviously). Now it is quite a ruin and is undergoing some renovation. Inside, there was a museum (which didn’t have a wide variety of stuff on display) and many empty rooms and passages. We could get a spectacular view of the whole place down below (including the town of Leh) from any open space up there. Kind of enjoyed exploring the entire place. It had a different feel to it. The place really gave me the feeling of being a part of that ancient monument as we climbed up and down the walls of the place. After there was nothing left to be explored, we set our sights on the monastery. It was situated at a reasonable height from where we were, right on top of the hill. It was going to be one tiring climb if we carried on giving the road a miss.

Just a glimpse of the summit excited me. Isn’t it exciting to set your eyes on the top and make your way there by any means? As for me, I love to climb. After an apparently tedious climb, we reached one high point on the mountain – it was a kind of a cliff. The view from there was splendid. The entire town of Leh surrounded by mountains on all sides, that too at so great a height. It appeared magical to me. As we sat there, lost in the ecstasy of the place, the direct sunlight and the cold wind kept kissing us all over, the entire time. After a brief rest there, we scaled the entire mountain and reached the monastery up there. Unfortunately the monastery was closed and the place seemed to be in some sort of a ruin. However, that didn’t stop us from getting all over the place within minutes. We made our way to every place we could possibly reach in the monastery. Standing on the roof – the highest point on that peak, gives an entirely different feeling altogether. The entire landscape of the region from up there reminded me of the videos of Afghanistan I had watched on the Discovery Channel. I think that I would not be able to tell the difference if I were actually in Afghanistan, perched on one of the hills there.

Initially we had planned to hike across some of the mountains to the Shanti Stupa. Unfortunately for me, everyone else seemed to be tired and hungry, and wanted to get back to the town as soon as possible. Reluctantly, I followed these three guys as they swiftly made their way down the very slopes of the mountain we had climbed some time earlier. All the while I kept admiring the scenery around me. Watching Nature from an oblivious point in its bosom gives a better high than anything I have known. When I looked at my companions, I found Palzer leading the pack, moving towards the town at commendable speed. Hunger and thirst are unrivalled motivating agents!

By the time we sat down to have lunch at one of the many Tibetan restaurants in Leh, I had become completely irritated with Kenny (though I did not show it). This guy has got a motor fitted inside, in his buccal cavity. He simply can’t stop yapping. Most of what he talks is crap, as far as my limited understanding is concerned. For the first time, I thoroughly agreed with the saying, “Empty vessels make the most noise.” His head does seem quite empty to me now. Anyway, this time our food tasted pretty decent. To be safe, I had ordered some chicken chowmein. We then returned back to our hotel. I took a siesta while the guys played chess. In the evening, Wolf brought his guitar and we had some nice music and some singing. Wolf is a good guitarist and the other two too can play the guitar. I, once again played the role of the spectator with great perfection. Had a great time (and a relaxing one too) listening to music while sipping on cups of tea in the cosiness of our hotel rooms.

At a time like this, the only annoyance was Kenny yapping away to glory with his secretly designed “motor-mouth.” In this respect, our Austrian Wolf is more agreeable. He seems to have more substance in him. May be that is because he does not speak unnecessarily. Even if he does, he does not yap his way to stardom. I am reminded of a line from the movie, Deadman, which says, “He who talks loud says nothing.” By the way, it’s well past midnight by now, and I must do what I do with great efficiency – sleep.

La Revista: 15th May ’09, 11.00pm, Leh

I am trying my best to forget about a stiff neck (and back) and an aching pair of arms as I sit down to waste the time of all of you who are bothering to read this. It was quite an achievement for us yesterday morning when Palzer and I managed to wake up early in the morning. We were just in time to catch the last taxi bound for Leh. I was very happy to be able to finally leave for Ladakh, little knowing about what awaited us. After travelling for 75kms, we stopped at a place called Sonamarg. Yeah, the scenery along the way was simply stunning. It just kept getting better. Now coming back to this place where we stopped – it was surrounded by mountains on all sides, with snow melting in patches all over them. Initially we thought that we had stopped for tea. Soon we realised that we had to spend an eternity here. There had been a landslide up ahead and the road was blocked.

Palzer, Kenny (an English guy travelling with us) and I spent our day climbing up one of the hills and looking down below. It may sound pointless, but there is nothing else to do when you reach right up there. By the way, Palzer and Kenny tried to ski down the hillside, through a patch of snow. It was funny to see them wrap some plastic bags around their shoes, and try their best not to lose control over themselves and reach the bottom of the hill. In the evening, we learnt that the road would only open the next morning. So we checked into a hotel to spend the night. About an hour later (around 8.30pm), the driver came to our room to inform us that the road had just opened and we were going to leave in a few minutes. Huh, the bastard who was in charge of the hotel didn’t even give us a refund!

It was dark and the roads were bad. Soon it began to snow. “You wanted an adventure, and you’ve got one,” joked Palzer as I stared outside the window of the car on a bumpy night. By the time we reached Dras (I believe it is the second coldest inhabited place on earth), I was comfortably asleep in a most uncomfortable position. Woke up for a while in Kargil, but even before I could blink I was asleep again. I woke early in the morning to find myself in a completely different seat from the one I had dozed off in, the previous night. We had entered Ladakh and were on our way to Leh. On our way, we managed to catch glimpses of the Lama Yuru Gompa (the oldest monastery in Ladakh) and the Alchi Gompa.

Reached Leh finally this morning. The car ride during the night was one of the tougher journeys I’ve been on. We decided to rest today and start going around the place from tomorrow. Got a pretty decent hotel for a reasonable price. After a meal of momos and fried rice, we dozed off again, but this time in our cosy hotel beds. I woke up in the evening with a severe body ache. Palzer slept right till eight o’ clock. Considering the fact that he hardly slept last night in the car, I felt that he needed it more than anyone else. However, when I now reflect back at the circumstances in which I managed a sound sleep last night, I know that I am going to be the man to beat if there is ever going to be such a thing as a “sleeping contest.”

I spent the evening looking at some paper-mache stuff in a store nearby, and collecting some information about local spots of tourist interest. Have thought of some things. Will keep recording them here as things happen. By the way, Kenny joined us for dinner and we ate in a Tibetan restaurant. We were glad to find the rates reasonable, but to our horror, the food tasted terrible. The meat was old and undercooked. None of us could finish what was on our plates.

By the way, I wrote a poem an hour ago. I mention this because I wrote one after quite a while. Now as the night covers itself in silence and chill, I must say goodbye, until… (Well, tomorrow of course! Just wanted to make it rhyme.)

La Revista: on 13 May, 11.50pm, from Srinagar

What an adventurous day! Woke up at 12.30 in the afternoon. Palzer got up a little later. I have been a little concerned about my fitness lately. Though it is not bad, I would like to be a lot fitter. Anyway leaving this aside, we could not go to Leh. We went to Lal Chowk and feasted on some bread, kababs and some tea. The elections were successful as the day passed without any kind of violence.

After a satisfying lunch, Palzer began to feel drowsy and decided to go back to the hotel and sleep. However, I was not ready to waste an entire day in the hotel watching TV. We might never again return to this place. I decided to hike all the way to the Shankaracharya temple which is situated right on top of the hill. No matter how hard I tried, I could not persuade my friend to join me. Finally, I decided to make my way up there all alone. Made up my mind to take the shortcut through the forest. My path went through a guarded property where the water-tanks were situated. Unfortunately, the gate to this place was locked. So, I wandered through the cemetery nearby and the swampy area on the other side, asking for directions from the local people passing through the area. However, I couldn’t get any conclusive answers. Finally, I decided that I had to trespass.

I slipped through from under the large iron gate (thank god I have slim frame), and then I jumped over a wired fence, and in five minutes I was on the other side of the property, from where the jungle got dense. I found a path and followed it without knowing if I was going in the right direction. After walking for about ten minutes, I came across a couple of Kashmiri guys and went to them asking for directions. “You have come in the wrong direction, but have made the right choice,” one of them said. “That way is short, but it is tiring and dangerous as there are a lot of snakes there. Along this way (the one I had taken), you will have a wonderful scenery to enjoy. The trip to the temple up above will cost you about a hundred bucks by a vehicle. But the way you have chosen is worth eight hundred bucks.” Now when I look back, I disagree with him on the last point. The hike was priceless. They took me along with them a little farther and showed me the way out from the point our ways diverged.

When we parted ways, one of them invited me to join him as he smoked ‘charas.’ I politely declined their offer and made my way. The scenery around was wonderful even as the jungle kept getting denser. I was scared of coming across some snakes on my way. Fortunately, I did not come across any of those reptiles.

After another fifteen to twenty minutes, I stumbled upon the main road. The temple was just a couple of kilometres away. By the time I reached the temple, I was quite exhausted and had a tough time climbing up those endless steps leading up to the main temple complex. Finally, I reached up above and had a proper ‘darshan.’ The view from the top was majestic. Unfortunately, they did not allow anyone to carry their cameras inside. I could see the entire Kashmir valley down below- the city of Srinagar, Dal Lake, the meandering river (I think it is Jhelum) – everything. The trip was definitely worth all the effort. Sadly it was almost six in the evening and the temple was going to close for the day.

On my way back, I decided to stick to the main road for a different experience (even then, I couldn’t help taking a couple of shortcuts through the jungle). I did not regret my decision at all. The main road was beautiful too, with greenery all around and beautiful flowers on both sides of the road at various places. After about a nine kilometres walk back, I finally reached back to the hotel – exhausted but extremely satisfied. It was then that I realised there is nothing more relaxing than a long, hot shower when one is exhausted.

At night, we had dinner at Shamyana Restaurant on the recommendation of our host (i.e. the “hotel-wallah”). He said it was the best restaurant in Srinagar. The place was wonderful and the food delicious (though a bit expensive). Palzer and I gorged on chicken biriyani. After a hearty meal, we sat near the Dal Lake and did what wee are good at – kill time. Palzer has been an enjoyable companion to have along in this trip so far, but he needs to be a bit more adventurous. The curfew is over now, and we are determined to wake up early tomorrow morning (anyhow), and leave for Leh.

Goodbye Srinagar…Ladakh, here we come!

La Revista: 12th May ’09, 11.55 pm, Srinagar

It was such a great birthday bash. I was having the time of my life. Just then there was a knock on the door which dragged me out of bed. I reluctantly left the party for ever and opened the door. Someone had come to wake us up at 5.00 am so that we could get a taxi for Leh. After having travelled continuously for twenty four hours (from Delhi to Srinagar), I had slept for only four hours at night. I definitely deserved more sleep. Went back to bed and fell unconscious in two seconds. Woke up much later, perhaps at around 9 o’clock. Then took a walk outside, showered and then began to wait for Mr. Moktan to wake up- what a sleepy head! He slept like a log for hours on end. In the meantime, I finished reading The Eleventh Commandment by Jeffery Archer and began to surf through the channels on TV. Palzer definitely can sleep like hell. I’m sure he will be frontrunner for the “Sleeping Competition” if there is anything like that. Nevertheless we are on a holiday and he has all the rights in the world to sleep like that.

We were finally ready to explore Srinagar by 1 o’ clock. We gleefully jumped into a shikara which first of all, took us to a restaurant by the Dal Lake, where we had brunch. Man! Kashmiri food is delicious to say the least. Some Kashmiri bread (or bun I should say), kabab, Kashmiri chicken and some tea made sure that our day began in a grand fashion. Food was cooked in saffron, almonds and many other spices that I have no idea of. Even though the food was spicy (which I dislike), I couldn’t help devouring the food. I was ready to burn my oesophagus ten times over with spice if I could lay my hands on food like this!

After a hearty meal, we set off to explore the length and breadth of the Dal Lake in a shikara. Whoever first said that that Kashmir was paradise was definitely not joking. The mountains surrounding the enormous lake offered one of the most picturesque sights I’ve seen. The numerous houseboats with their strange and even funny names kept us amused right till the end. Palzer got busy with the camera right from the word go. I think he is seriously considering a profession in this field. Srinagar is a hotspot for tourists you see (he even told me that he would love to settle down here). A lot of businessmen in their shikaras kept pestering us, trying to sell us gemstones, ice-cream, saffron and so on. These people left me alone perhaps thinking me to be a local guy (with my light beard and sharp features, I look quite like some of the people here), and hounded Palzer thinking him to be a foreigner (one of them even tried talking to him in Japanese). Poor friend of mine bore the brunt of it all alone. Our host (the guy who owned the shikara) was quite a chatty fellow and pointed out to us various five-star hotels, expensive houseboats (hotels), Akbar’s fort, cottage industries and so on, as we surveyed the lake. He even took us through a vegetable garden which lay floating on the lake. Our four and a half hour boat ride had been worth every rupee we paid for it.

Then we went walking to Lal Chowk hunting for an ATM, after which we found ourselves inside a small café. Hot chicken patties, spicy kabab with bread and tea- had a really delicious evening snack. Palzer believes that at this rate we will fatten up in a week. I believe that in a month, we will transform into hogs. Even after such a heavy snack, we managed to enjoy our simple dinner which consisted of roti, jeera rice and rajma. I think that the wonderfully cool weather here makes us relish our food like never before. The ambience at this town could also be another factor.

Tomorrow, elections are going to be held here, so we may not get any vehicle for Ladakh. We may have to spend another day here. There’s not much we can do about it, can we? Let’s see how another day unfolds.

La Revista: When I was in Srinagar, 11th may 09, 11.00pm

What a way to begin our journey! Last night we boarded the Jammu Mail to find little spoilt brats (with of course, their parents accompanying them) as our co-passengers. I particularly enjoyed being the chief source of discomfort to one “Little Lucifer” by stifling him for space as I sat next to him. Palzer and I soon climbed up to our upper bunks and spent half the night chatting. My dear friend was his usual self with his wisecracks and a carefree attitude.

This morning at around 11 o’ clock, we set our first steps on the exciting land of J&K as we got down in Jammu. The landscape reminded me of Dehra Dun – a unique mixture of hills and plain flat land, or should I say a fusion of two different landscapes. The clear and fresh air was a sharp contrast to the stifling and polluted one of Delhi. After a quick lunch, and a long wait in the car (as passengers slowly filled up the seats), we finally set off for Srinagar. As we ventured further up the hills, the scenery around kept getting better. Unfortunately, sleep seemed more irresistible than the beautiful scenery as I dozed off quite often in the car. All the while, an enthusiastic and excited young man called Palzer kept clicking photos of the priceless natural beauty around us. He has certainly done a commendable job, and has a promising career ahead of him in this field if not anything else….

Along the way, our driver was a good source of entertainment as he kept sharing his interesting experiences with us. Even though I have spent a very long time in the hills, its beauty seemed so much more as I returned to hilly regions after spending an awfully long time in Delhi. The view of the snowy Himalayan range spreading across the valley at twilight is something I would like to remember for a long time to come. Unfortunately Palzer had dozed off by the window seat and we did not have any photos clicked of this magical scenery. Our unending car ride finally ended when we reached Srinagar at 9.30 pm. The hotel we are staying in is quite an impressive one for the five hundred bucks we are paying (with TV, geyser, etc.). The view at night of the Dal Lake with all its houseboats lit up is a majestic sight for any traveller from any land. Also, I bought some “kesar” or saffron for my mom. I think she will be pleased to receive it.

I have begun to like the attitude of the people here. They are warm and friendly and seem to have a no-nonsense air about them- just as I like. This has been a smooth beginning for us as far as our trip is concerned (thought the travel expenses are sky high). I am beginning to see why Kashmir was known as the “Paradise on Earth.”

La Revista: before it all began

It is the 10^th of May ’09. At 1.45 in the morning, it seems just another hour in this long break of about a couple of months. What makes it different is that I have packed my bag for a trip to Ladakh. It is a trip that I have always dreamt about going on. The route through Manali hasn’t opened yet. That means we have to make our way to Leh via Jammu and Srinagar- not a wise move, my family members would say. However my dream (of going there) has managed to surpass all their disapproval and all “common sense.” But life is not lived well if lived with fear as a companion. Life exists because of faith, and faith will carry us through and decide the fate of our trip. We have tickets to take us to Jammu tonight by train, which leaves from Delhi Railway Station at 9.25. Just hours away from what might be one of the most memorable trips in my life.

1st Time

Hey,

I have started this blog to...to...well, let me think of a reason and i'll post it as soon as I do so.

Anyway, you guys may need to be informed that my friend, Palzer and I had gone on a trip to Kashmir and Ladakh during the month of May this year. It was quite an achievement for me as I maintained a journal during the trip. Those who are familiar with my nonchalant attitude will have a decent idea about how tough a task it is for me to do so. So, I have decided to post a chapter at a time from the journal, for the aesthetic pleasure of my friends and anyone else who has all the time in the world to waste over the "finer" things of life.
All you folks keep visiting here from time to time (esp. if you are of a non-moronic nature) and entertain me with your comments. Humour and sarcasm are always welcome.