C/O Indian Railways.

The next day was the BLS workshop that was conducted by members of the AHA. The Profs were intelligent, interactive with a sparkling sense of humour and even good dramatic skills. It gave a sneak peek into what the teacher student relationship might be out there and I enjoyed every bit of it. We even had written and practical tests to clear before we would be certified as Basic Life Support Providers.

After we explained our predicament of an early train to Agra, the organizers agreed to hasten the examination process for the 10 of us and we got out in time, rushed to the hostels, packed our bags and made our way to Nizamuddin Railway station about 20 minutes away.

Laymos that we were, we should have sorta chilled because trains never really arrive on time (atleast in the North). This train journey was definitely memorable because a vast part of it was solely dedicated to my leg pulling and subsequent amputation (with a fishmouth incision -_-'). What with cute uterus and Philips tubelight jokes, I still crack up at all the shit we spoke. Later on, we began playing dumb charades and antakshari much to the amusement of the co passengers.

When in Agra, you will be fleeced. Just remember that. There will be people right from the moment you step out of the grubby station who will pounce on you with offers that seem like a good deal but with hidden agendas of their own.

Our hostel (Bedweiser (hihihi) was at quite a distance from the station so we (25 of us) took 4 taxis and reached our destination; famished and fatigued. We struck up a deal with the same taxiwallas for the next day that would involve Agra Fort, Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri and back to the railway station by 4.30 and after much negotation we settled for an amount. After this we headed to the nearest (and only open) restaurant and wolfed down a few morsels before crashing into our bunkbeds by midnight.

We woke up after a few hours (4am), refreshed and then headed towards the much awaited mausoleum of love; Taj Mahal. I must admit, it felt so much more appealing in the pristine coolness of the morning; devoid of the thronging crowd and appreciated at a slight distance. We spent an hour or so, admiring the monument and enjoying the relative solitude that it offered.



After this, our cunning drivers took us to a desolate dhaba on the highway (no doubt that he had an agreement with the owner) who served the driest parathas and watery lassis after the longest wait. Our next destination was Fatehpur Sikri and we began our tour guided by a local even as the sun glared down mercilessly.

A few dargahs and many tombs later, we were walking through the palace of JodhaBai and it was indeed an awe inspiring moment; to imagine the royalty who lived in these royal palaces, a princess educated in art and culture, the menfolk upon their horses in all their armoury, the sound of horses racing back after a battle and the opulence in architechture and lifestyle.. another era indeed. :')



After this BP and I headed to Domi for lunch (bliss of something appreciable to the tummi), got back to Bedweiser to pack up (25 guys and girls in about 6 rooms) and then we rushed to the railway station to catch our 4.30 train.

Did I mention that we never learnt our lesson? Our amazing train arrived a good 4 hours late! Exhausted though we were, sleep was scanty. The next morning is one that I will remember. I woke up around 6am to the sight of the green fields of Punjab, cool and pleasant weather and I added some music for good measure.
We passed through Ambala, Chandigarh and Ludhiana but the beauty of the morning persisted. Somewhere in the middle of this long and endless journey, I found my moment of peace.

We reached by noon and the 4 of us took a rickshaw to Wow Backpackers (in some gully of Namak Mandi) while the others deposited their suitcases in the cloak rooms of Amritsar Railway station. We rushed, changed and after some confusion and angry Hindi yelling at the owner for not arranging a cab (by meehehehehe), got an autowalla to take us to Attari Wagah border and then drop us Back at Golden Temple for an agreed sum. While we skipped lunch (after having skipped an organized dinner and breakfast the following day), the rest of the group had lunch and directly proceeded to Attari without checking into the hostel.

The scene at Attari cannot be described; it must be felt. Thousands of people thronging into the arena, from little ones feeding from their mothers to age old couples holding hands to resist the rush of the crowds. Cheeks painted with the tricolor, patriotic songs blaring in the background to outdo any sounds from the opposite sides and young ones running across with the national flag in hand and sheer pride on their face.

But the real prizewinner is the display of military power by our soldiers in the Beating Retreat. The majesty and grace of their moves, the strength in their stride and the grim determination etched upon their faces after years of rigorous training are a sight to behold!

After this, we egged our driver to go faster and made it to Golden Temple. Glowing and resplendent against the backdrop of the starry sky, this place is a lesson in humility and service. We were lucky enough to be served at the Langar. It is indeed a sobering moment as you hold out your hands to receive the sofest roti you have known in days by the volunteers here.

With our batteries down, we depended on the kindness of the localites to help us find our way back to the hostel; pack up and once again rush to the railway station. The train was thankfully not too late and thus began the penultimate leg of our journey. May I take a moment to explain how damn amazingly well I can yell at pushy women who dare to push me and my friend while boarding the train; in chaste and pure Hindi until they finally (decided I was a raving lunatic) let us pass without much scuffle.

The next morning we refreshed, took the direct metro to the airport and feasted for a while before we boarded the flight back to Namma Bengaluru. After two more hours in the Vayu Vajra, it was finally time to sink into the cushions of my own bed, the comfort of my parents home and the efforts of my father's cooking.

Chugging Along.... A day on Trains... (Shimla Day 1)

We got up early, packed and left the hotel. Baba Inn is located very close to the Railway Station, so there was no need for the driver to come. But we couldn't walk either. Not with the luggage. So we got into a Cycle Rickshaw. The ride was great! Sadly I've no pictures of this cute gaadi.

The Rickshaw took us only till the RS Entrance, after this we had to manage our own luggage. I especially, had a tough time manoveuring my suitcase which appeared to have a mind of its own. So I kept jogging to keep pace with the other 3. It didn't take us long to find our platform. The platforms were rather shabbily maintained. I felt nauseated by the not-so-clean surroundings. Our train was an AC chair car and we found our seats. Even the train had a slight disgusting smell to it. Papa was outside and did'nt enter the train inspite of my pleading looks, until the train began to slowly move. He gets some thrill by doing that, I tell you!

There was a plug point, so Papa was working on his laptop for a while and Vidha3 and I went ol later..

We passed Kurukshethra, Chandigarh, Ambala and several other towns. We remained on level ground and the landscape was barren. We were supplied cutlet and coffee. Both were just satisfactory. Soon we reached Kalka. The station was surprisingly very clean. It almost seemed like a Model-Railway Station. We found our train. Honestly, It looked more like a toy train. Papa got us food from a vendor in the station. It was sweet of him, but it was poorly packed. The train began and a few more people made a surprise entry. Vidha3 and I opened our food packets, but most of the contents spilled out. It was tasty actually. Aloo Sabzi and Chappati. Rice and Rasam. The lady in front of us helped us to clear the mess. I was highly embarassed. We had to throw the food away to avoid making a mess of it. Somehow Papa and Vidha3 managed to finish their food without spilling not so much as a grain. Bah.

Very soon, we got acquainted with the family near us.The lady, her husband, their son, their daughter, her husband and child, Mishti, all of them, were a jovial lot. Vidha3 spoke quite well with them. And so did Papa. And as for me, well, I tried, but honestly, my Hindi didn't take me very far. Apparently they had been to Bangalore once, and they had stayed in Koramangala. I won't forget this dialogue, He peered through his glasses and asked us "Are you both Post Graduate students?". Lol, he couldn't believe we had just finished out tenth. This family actually hadn't booked tickets. Somehow, in the last minute, they managed to get seats. After a while, they got down. Next their seats were occupied by Punjabis. They were travelling to Shimla, and would stay in the Gurudwara. It was a family of four. The husband, (a well built man. Papa looked tiny in front of him), his wife, daughter and son. While Papa and the Man chatted away, the rest of the family sat like mice. Not a word. A completely patriarchal family, I surmised. How unlike the previous occcupants! Apparently the man worked in the gardens of the Sultanate in Saudi. After a while, For reasons best known to them, they chose to sit in the other end of the compartment. I have my own theories, but let's not go down that path. :)

There were several other people in the train, a family of three, and a man and his elder sister ( I hope) and of course newly weds. The view was great and there were about 100 tunnels!

Sitting On the Edge Of The Train: Vidhathri and I.

After a while, Vidha3 and I sat near the train door. It was a wonderful experience! Vidha3 was a lil scared, But she enjoyed it anyway. We sung songs and clicked photos. I will always look back, years from now and think of that day.



After this, it became slightly chill, and my clothing was doing nothing to insulate me. We reached Shimla, took our luggage, found our driver and got into the Alto. It took us about 20 minutes to reach Mashobra. Vidha3 and I were hugging for most part of the journey- mostly because we were feeling Really Cold! The driver was a talkative man and we got to know a lot about Shimla/ Mashobra/ Marigold Cottages/ himself that day itself...

We reached the resort which was really splendid! We all played TT for a while after refreshing... And met the Manager, Mr.Thakur to discuss the plans for the nest few days.. Geetesh Thakur, a young man of about 20, was our room attendent. A bright young guy, who did his job well. We loved our cottage. The entire 2nd and 3rd floor was ours! It was like a House! The beds looked soo Inviting! And the balcony, with its views, the bathroom too had views (LOL). All In All, The resort was magnificient! I could only think of and thank Amma for making it all happen...

And so, the day came to and end, all of us were tired and cold after a day spent mostly on trains.. Vidha3 and I were hidden under layers of blankets, but even that seemed insufficient! Oh, and I watched that Rajnikant movie, Robot. :)

Papa And Me. <3

Delhi Day 3 (or 4?)

This was our fourth day in Delhi, i.e if you consider the third day, most of which was spent in Agra or travelling...

So, on our fourth day, we got up a bit leisurely, got ready and packed up. Why? Because we were going to Baba Inn. I know, the name sounds... Different, and I had my preconceived notions about the place even before we saw the place. Why, you may ask, did we leave good ol' Ginger. Well, our booking was only for 3 days, and there was no chance of getting another day there. So rather reluctantly, we left the pigeons and the comfy beds and the Titanic TV.(Yes, I watched Titanic (first time) in Delhi. Aww. What A Movie.)

Baba Inn was hidden in some corner of the not-so-posh (rather dingy and crowded) Dariyaganj. The Innova took us close to the hotel, but the road was too narrow. I'm not exaggerating, but a lot of people were watching with interest as we unloaded our luggage (about 8 bags in all :]). I kept giving Papa doubtful looks and he said nothing. And then we entered the hotel. From some other entrance, since the main entrance was under construction.

And we were led to our rooms. I was highly apprehensive about the state of our room, but I was pleasantly surprised. The Rooms were Just Fine! Papa and Lokesh took the bigger room and Vidha3 and I took the room with the softer bed. Our room was cozy and perfect! Lol.

We went to Jantar Mantar. It was a nice place, but honestly, we really couldn't understand the importance of the structures.After this, next stop was Dilli Haat (Recommended by WikiTravels). So, our driver took us there.

Papa kept saying, "Now girls, Its your turn. I take the backseat. You decide what you like and buy it."

One thing I love about my Dad, (Rather, one of the zillion things I love about him) is that, he spends wisely.He says" when you visit some place you are not likely to visit frequently, you should buy a souveneir. Or you see something really good, don't lose it. You don't visit everyday. Spend wisely in Bangalore." (Splurge elsewhere? :P) He demonstrated this several times during our Travels, especially at Indira Gandhi Intl. Airport. He wanted me to buy something for Divya from one of the stores in the airport. I found everything overpriced, so I told him its not worth it. I must say he was disappointed. He pointed out that everytime he went abroad, he would get me something from the Airport in that city. And not think twice about the price. Simply because, he didn't think he would go back there again. And also so that I could say, "My Papa got this toy from XYZ City". I realized I shouldn't deprive Divya of the privileges I had in my childhood, and went ahead and got a soft toy (which incidentally is of the mascot of the 2011 World Cup).

The first thing that caught our eye as soon as we entered DH was the DH Haasu.

I made my first buy for Divya. (A cute choli). Incidentally I began the business for the day for the lady. We bargained (or so we thought). It was fun.'Thoda kum kardijiye. Yeh tho bahut zyada hai. Bangalore me itna costly nahi Hai." Yes, Butler Hindi. And the tactic Amma tries never fails. We bargain for a while, and if the shopkeeper does not relent, pretend to walk away. Very often, he will quote a lower price and seal the deal.

We strolled around the stalls, taking in the mela-like atmosphere. An old man sat huddled in a corner. Producing melodies of yesteryears in his intrument. Not many stopped to listen to his tunes, but those few who bothered, were happy they did. I think its a Piteel. We bought one. To this day, I haven't mastered the art of producing any melody in it.

After buying a few other things, we had authentic Rajasthani Khana. And I got drunk. (Haha Yes. I drank Fruit Beer.) *Non Alcoholic, for the moronic. :P

After this, we landed at Sarojini Market. After passing AIIMS. Papa said he'd take a short nap and asked if we'd be okay with shopping with Lokesh to help. Of course, we were fine with and it and we began. Only we didn't know where to begin. The whole market, has clothes, shoes, accessories, cosmetics. You name it, They have it. After a bit of wandering and enquiring we got what we wanted. Some of the stuff were really cheap. I got a pant for Rs.200. How cool is that? (The fact that it tore the second time I wore it is noteworthy.) Then we got a few Tees, a dress and a dress material for Amma. After this we began to trace our way back. Only, we got lost. Completely lost. Luckily, Sarojini Market has maps of the whole area at regular intervals and we found one. We called up Dad, but we couldn't give him specific instructions where to come. Finally, after a lot of confusion, Papa arrived!! =) He had a few words for us. Nothing wrong in getting lost, but atleast describe the location where you are, the stores nearby, the layout. Whew!

After that, what'dya think we did? Duh. We clicked pictures. In our new clothes. What fun. And we went online. (Vidha3 and I had a lot of fun regd. Comments on Facebook. =P)

We then backed allt he clothes we needed for the remainder of the Travels in one bag and those we didn't need in another. This bag was to be kept in the hotel.The Manager was kind enough to allow this arrangement since it would be highly inconvenient to carry so many bags, especially since we were travelling via train. After this, we had something like a Gobi Manchurian and went to bed (i.e after going on FB). I guess it was around 10:45 when we slept. Not ideal when You have a train to catch the next day...

Oh, and I remember getting stuck in the washroom for a few minutes since the doorlock was jammed. I spent a few anxious moments thinking. And finally, much to Vidha3 and my relief, the door righted itself. That was a close shave!

Agra.

We started out very early. We had our breakfast on the way. The place seemed okay. We saw camels, I think.It took us nearly 4 hours. And the Sun beat down on us mercilessly. First, we went to Akbar's Tomb. We went underground, a Man sung a song in Urdu which reverbrated throughout the underground chamber. The acoustics of the entire structure was very interesting and we spent some time experimenting.

Enroute, we encountered a man with his monkeys. He thought we'd be amused. It was sad to see those monkeys in the clutches of that guy.

We saw the Mathura Oil Refinery which was mentioned in our EVE textbook, and a thick black smoke was billowing from its chimney..Then, after what seemed like forever, we Reached!

We glimpsed the structure from a distance and slowly made our way through. Dad purchased tickets and we hopped into a battery powered vehicle. As soon as we got down. We were mobbed (Yes, people pushing each other to get to us first) by eager Guides. Dad wanted one, but none seemed genuine and couldn't produce any ID card.



Papa And Me In front of Taj.

Photo Courtesy: Ms. Urala :)

Note: You cant smile when its scorching.

And there it was, The Taj Mahal- Monument Of Love. Built under the rule of Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

It was stunningly beautiful. And crowded. And to click a picture with the Taj in the background is not easy with hordes of people wanting to do the same thing, all at the same spot, at the same time. Yet we managed to get a few good pictures..

The fountain-like small water body in front of the Mahal was like an oasis in the stiffling hot desert that we were in. We made our way towards the structure (barefoot after a while) and saw ducks in a river at a distance (Yamuna I presume). After this, we went out, bought a few souveneirs. And had South Indian Meals (I think I was the only Loser in the group to try N.Indian) in a Udupi Hotel (Run by N.Indians).

"Alli snow idya? Hegidira?"

Vidha3 talking to her KulluManali cousin.

Location: Agra Fort
Photo Courtesy: Yours Truly.

Post lunch, we did a very quick tour of Agra Fort which is like a replica of Red Fort in Delhi.

After this, we went to Krishna's Birthplace. Mathura. Now, i.e a few months after the trip, my memories of Mathura consist of: Cows, More Cows and Cow dung. :P

It was hot. Which meant I wasn't in the best of moods. But the temple was good. And the paintings on the ceiling (I wonder how they did it). And the best part of Mathura is that, next to this huge temple, there's an equally big mosque. :)

And after this, It was straight back to Ginger. (No wait, we stopped for tea at some dhabha but all I remember of the place is mosquitos. Vidha3 and I had a tough time swatting them out. And that was all for the day.

I bet we would've crashed into bed after gobbling something....

Delhi Day 2

Red Fort

Bahai`i House Of Worship

Akshardham

 

Qutb Minar

After a good night's rest, we entered Old Delhi and our first stop was Red Fort. Contrary to what I had thought, Red Fort is a HUGE complex. Built of Red Sandstone, we first entered a shopping area full of colourful, eye-catching trinkets.The Mughal style of Architecture was evident in all the structures we saw here.The Museum here several photographs and articles related to the freedom movement. We also found the picture which had come in our HCG exam ( Boards). We walked around, looking at the red sandstone or marble wonders.

Next we went to Akshardham.  When v3 and I heard Cameras  , Mobiles, etc were not allowed, we were devastated. Mayur mahal had beautiful interiors as well as exteriors.

There was this beautiful fountain and in the sweltering heat, I found it rather hard not to jump into the pool of cool water. Akshardham has beautiful sculptures and attention is given to all minute details. There was also a Boat Ride, which would take you through the different ages of India's rich heritage. (Owing to time constraint, we didn't go for the ride.)

" Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi epitomises 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss. It brilliantly showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind. The grand, ancient-styled Swaminarayan Akshardham complex was built in only five years through the  colossal devotional efforts of 11,000 artisans and BAPS volunteers. The complex was inaugurated on 6 November, 2005.Akshardham means the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the abode of eternal values and virtues of Akshar as defined in the Vedas and Upanishads where divine bhakti, purity and peace forever pervades."

We had lunch at the Premvathi Food Court and suddenly the weather became cool and pleasant. There were all signs of a mild shower, but we were left high and dry....

The Baha`i House Of Worship was our next stop (Btw on our way, we passed IIT-Delhi and AIIMS. I immediately sent messages to the "Concerned People" regarding their future college! :P)

The garden leading to the Lotus temple was vivd with flowers aplenty. (Another Photo Opp). Inside the Temple, we sat in a semi-circular fashion and heard the volunteers recite verses from Quran, Bible, Gita, Guru Grant Sahib, and the Zend Avesta as well. It was a nice place.

After this, it was Qutb Minar. Unlike what I had imagined, there are a lot of structures around the Qutb Minar, apart from the Iron Pillar. Eg: Alai Minar, Iltutmish's Tomb and several minarets and other tombs. Papa got us this Audio guide, and this provided a LOT of information on what monument we were looking at, like it told us why was it built, out of what was it constructed and other details of that period. It was very interesting, however I personally felt a bit guilty becuase I don't think I utilized it to the fullest extent. Of course, the main attraction, Qutb Minar looked stunning!

And then, It was back to Good Ol' Ginger! :)