6 Reasons Why A Roadtrip to Ladakh Makes for an Ideal Honeymoon.

I’m not kidding! This comes from a road trip I took to Ladakh a few months ago. Though it was purely out of adventure with a group, the place tickled the romantic in me. The place isn’t just a treat to eyes but caresses all your senses into a love affair that’s challenging and rewarding in equal measure. So here I am, stripping this place of its predominant adventurous image one facet after the other. Call me die hard romantic, crazy whatever but I’m sure by the end of this unlikely travelogue you would have added this place to your ideal honeymoon destinations (need not be a first). It’s already on mine and here are the reasons it should be on yours too.

1. The Acclimatization: As you ascend from plains to mind numbing altitudes, your body takes time to adjust. This process is acclimatization (read more about it here). People who fly in to Leh have to rest for a day or two to let their bodies acclimatize. The lack of it can cause Acute Mountain Sickness and trust me you won’t want to spoil your trip to that. So where’s the romance in all of this? Well, one that nothing tests your endurance and will power like acclimatization. That said, having your partner by your side as you face the changes together makes for an excellent bonding exercise. Also a road trip ensures that your body gets used to the altitudes in a gradual process. Best part, the beauty on the way takes your mind off the symptoms and discomfort.

Important tip: stay hydrated always; keep sipping on water every few minutes. Keep a strip of    Diamox tablets in your medicine kit. The medicine really helps. For motion sickness, spread a sheet of newspaper on your car seat and sit on it. I don’t know how, but believe me it works wonders. 
2.  The Beauty: 

Goes without saying! A road trip to Ladakh is probably the best example of the fact that “beauty lies in the journey more than the destination itself.” Here nature unfolds its beauty and brute force in the most exciting and breathtaking manner at every curve, every meter scaled, and every perspective. There are spots that look right out of a Swiss postcard or National Geographic. There are places fit for a Romantic Bollywood sequence (goes without saying that imagined a thousand songs with SRK right there). Lush green valleys, snow capped peaks, road patched broken by a drive through waterfall and most vibrant coloured flowers sprouting in harsh and dry hilly terrain. The list is endless. Do I need to say anymore about how every inch of the place is perfect for romance?
                                        

Important tip: Watch out for the witty safe driving signs put up by Border Roads Organisation (Very cool-ly abbreviated to BRO). There’s a different message at every few meters. Example: “BRO Be Careful on my Curves” How cool is that!!

3. Horses and Mermots: Remember the scene from the song Khwabon ke Parinde from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. 

Now keeping the stark blue sky and the horses, imagine a different and more beautiful setting closer home. With snow hills in the background, a stream flowing by. Yup, that’s a dream you can live on the way from Leh to Pangong Lake. Also there are these oversized rabbit like creatures named mermots you wish you could take home. Extremely cute and friendly. All you need is a biscuit in your hand to bribe them out of their burrows. Add yaks, sheeps, goats and birds to the list. These cute, furry, cuddly animals only add to the dreamlike beauty of Ladakh.

Important Tip: Avoid feeding the mermots as far as possible. A friendly nibble is enough. Because if they eat human food, they’ll eat lesser of their natural food. Result, they can’t build enough fat reserves to survive through the winters when they can’t get out of their burrows. A lot of mermots die due to this. Already they’re an endangered specie!

3. Meet your Spiritual Side

They don’t call Ladakh the roof of the word, a doorway to heaven for just the altitude. A massive trishul of the Ladakh’s cantonment area welcomes you, Monasteries, stupas, chortens, prayer wheels and Tibetan prayer flags stay companions for the entire stretch of your journey. There’s also a historical Gurudwara and a mosque in Leh. Every shop in the town has prayer flags, wheels, scriptures and other symbols to take back home. That said, just a friendly chat with the ever smiling monks makes you feel blessed. If that’s not enough just look around you. With every sight unveiling a different masterpiece from the Ultimate Creator, the very privilege of experiencing all of this in a lifetime is humbling beyond compare.

4. Wonders Unlimited: 

Snow capped mountains, lush green valleys, sand dunes of a desert and a river flowing close by. Ever thought all of this geographical diversity can fit into one landscape? That’s Nubra Valley for you. Cut to a lake in the middle of the mountains. Go closer and you notice sea like waves. That’s Pangong Tso, a salty lake that’s almost like a sea. And there’s more…the water seems to change color with the time of the day. If that’s not enough sit out in the open at night. Look up and you’re greeted by a star filled sky. Listen to the heavenly gurgle of the waves and cuddle up in a blanket near a bonfire. Now isn’t that the God of all romantic settings. While I didn’t have the company, I did find myself in a romantic mood humming my favorite romantic numbers till late after my friends had retired to their tents. The view despite the mind numbing cold was more than worth it (P.S. we didn’t have a bonfire.) And these are just two of the several wonders that await you in Ladakh.

Important tip: Pangong Lake being cut off from the main city has limited supplies. There’s no wood around the lake itself and one has to go the nearby villages to ask for wood, where too there’s a shortage. We weren’t aware of this before going and so couldn’t arrange the wood for a bonfire. But you find out before heding off to Pangong from Leh and stock enough wood, because you won’t want to miss on the bonfire (and the possibility of sitting out a bit longer amidst that breathtaking panorama).

5. Love and Warmth Everywhere:

Enough said about the natural beauty. It’s the Ladakhi people who make this place equally special. They’re friendly, helpful and can be surpisingly witty. Their smiles warm enough to melt the thickest of ice. From the humblest of maggi and tea to the fancy eateries in Leh, you’ll find oodles of love in everything brought to your table. The hotel we stayed in at Jispa Valley served us preparations of vegetables picked fresh from their kitchen garden. I found my personal heaven there in the pea plantation; eating peas straight off the pods I picked from the plants. At every junction the hospitality and simplicity blew our minds.

I know I’ve explored only 10% of what Ladakh has to offer but I’d like to keep the best for my return. Be it for a honeymoon or alone; I can’t wait to once again wrap myself with beauty, take greater adventures, walk in the lanes, camp by the river and gaze at the stars, the lake and the river. I can’t wait to have another romance with Ladakh. And while you’re packing up for Ladakh, don’t forget to put on those rosy glasses! Bon Voyage and Happy Romancing!



Bonus!! Bonus!!

My Recommendations:
1. Hire a local guide to tell you about the culture and the significance of the monasteries you visit. If you’ve taken the pains to be there, be an informed tourist.

2. Make sure you make a traditional Ladakhi home visit. Chat with the locals/ monks!

3. Try the Ladakhi butter tea. Order only one cup because it’s literally filled with butter.

4. Have a meal at the Tibetan Kitchen. The food is awesome, the ambiance nice and cozy; and it’s surprisingly pocket friendly

5. There are a number of interesting eateries around Leh. Google up, ask the locals and try for sure.

6. Have maggi and lemon-ginger-honey tea everywhere you stop. It’s unique, equally yum and amazing in the cold everywhere.

7. If you want to hire a bike, either book in advance or as soon as you reach. In peak season these get rented out real fast.

8. Stay hydrated, don’t tire yourself out and apply lots of sunscreen.

9. Enjoy the beauty more through your eyes than the camera lens.

10. Get a customized t-shirt embroidered. It’s an excellent keepsake and useful too.

11. Going to Ladakh or taking a road trip has nothing to do with age. I spotted quite a few seniors acing the place and some even biking up the terrain while we looked on in awe!

12. Last and final tip, ONLY FOR SINGLETONS: Keep your eyes open. Somewhere in this beautiful land you may just find a soul mate in a like-minded adventurous soul! I almost found mine[;)]

Blah Blah Backpacker:'Jhadoo ka Jadoo'

Kehne ko tinkon ka guccha

Kone mein padi tucch ek vyastu

Par choti cheez nahi ye jhadoo

Ao tumko aj bata dun

Koi banaye tinka jod jod kar

Koi patke, jhade, chain paye ise tod kar

Kisi ke liye bas safai ka hathiyar

Kisi ki rozi roti ka adhar

Waise to ye dhool utare

Par kitno ke ye bhoot utare

Kahin bhent kahin khud bhagwaan

Har nukkad badalti iski pehchaan

Ghar angan ka alag hai jhadoo

Khet mein alag, Kachre ka alag

Har upyog ke chote bade hain jhadoo

Har khadhya-ann ki ghaas se bante hain alag akriti ke jhadoo

Koi bade prem se banaye khaas kalakriti ke jhadoo

Aise hi kahin jhaduon ka sangrah hai

Arna Jahna Maru Sanghralaya

Maru Jiwan ke kahin pahluon ka

Hai ye ek jiwant vidhalaya

Aiye ap bhi miliye is jhadoo ke jadoo se

Janiye kitne jeewan jude hain

is tuchh lekin kamal ke jhadoo se

Yes! I’m fascinated by Jhadoo. It's like enchantment. And No, I’m not out of my mind. Nor am I talking of the whichcraft broom. Before you give me that ‘duh’ look you’ve got to experience this yourself. It takes a visionary totally attached to his roots and a folklorist of unparalleled knowledge to make a museum on something as neglected as a broom. In our urban lives, we would not stop to give a second thought to brooms. How many kinds of broom would you know of; one that we use in our households or maybe two, max four. But think of a place that exhibits hundreds of its varieties. And these are from only one state, Rajasthan. Imagine how many more kinds of brooms exist in the entire country!

I visited the Arna Jharna Museum, the Desert Museum of Rajasthan almost 4-5 months ago but the place still lives fresh in my mind. Since then I’ve been wanting to write something on the museum but couldn’t come across any fitting description for the spectacular experience. And then one day this words came from nowhere and the very next day I was punching wild on the keys of my comp. Ten minutes and I had a printout in my hand and a smile on my lips! But then there’s still so much to this museum than the poem itself.

The visionary behind the museum was Padma Bhushan Late Shri Komal Kothari, a renowned folklorist. His organisation, Rupayan Sansthan has been committed to the documentation of folk performing arts of Rajasthan since six decades, besides the development and maintenance of this museum. Spread over a scenic hilly locale enroute the Jodhpur Jaisalmer highway, Arna Jharna museum does not even look like a museum from outside much less inside. It’s like visiting a farmhouse. Enter inside and you’ll feel you’ve entered a typical Rajasthani village. There are two exhibition modules, made in the shape of mud hutments. The first one is Jeewan Rupayan which is where the vast variety of brooms is exhibited. Inside one are the brooms used inside the home while the other displays those used on the outside. The brooms have been very beautifully placed in the respective settings like a mini kitchenette, granaries. Likewise there is a goat pen created in the other hut. Each broom has a tag describing, the grass it is made of, its crop zone, its usage and specific region in the state it comes from. A bigger scrap book provides further details on each broom.

The third hutment is a conference cum projection room where one can see interesting documentaries on the significance of brooms in the lives of people. Startling facts from small villages of Rajasthan and their by-lanes re-affirm the fact that brooms are indeed a big deal. I could go on and on!

Loads of knowledge to digest, beautiful locale, excellent glimpse into the desert culture, this place is a photographer’s paradise. I think I could spend a year there in solitude, come up with my own collection of beautiful pics and an entire book!

Can’t wait to be there? But before you pack your bags for Jodhpur, visit their website www.arnajharna.org

Contact them on the given no. or email. There’s loads that can be done there. Nature and culture enthusiasts, eminent folklorists have been regular visitors to this place. The museum has been witness to several cultural events and folk performances before. So what are you waiting for now? Go ahead, book your date with culture and the bounties of nature are sure to join in!

Keep Exploring...Keep Blah Blahing!

Bla Blah Bookshelf: A THOSAND SPLENDID SUNS

Almost an year after I read the “Kite Runner”, I bump into another marvelous creation by Khaled Hosseini, ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’. This time he takes up the stories of two women, both from different countries and generations. Yet spectacularly, with destiny, both are united by the turmoils of their land and lives. The union comes as effortlessly as two ribbon ends being beautifully wrapped into a bow. Bow, infact a thousand splendid bows go to the author’s genius!

The Story: Mariam, an illegitimate child of a big shot in Herat is married off by her father to a shoe-maker of Kabul, three times her age. She silently accepts her father’s betrayal and her husband’s harrasement. She even comes to accept his wrath on several miscarriages and then later his infidelity. Laila, on the other hand is born to loving parents in Kabul, but in times of endless political turmoil. She loses her brothers and then her love to the violence of heartless warlords. The final blow, a bomb blast which leaves her injured, orphaned and homeless, turns her world upside down. The homeless girl is given shelter by an elderly shoemaker in the neighborhood. This is where destiny brings Laila and Mariam together in one household. The story ahead is a touching, inspiring and gut-wrenching account of the crusade of these two women, wives and mothers. In store for them are pain, sacrifices, harassment, extreme religious fanaticism and then a miracle which would bring hope and peace; but only at the cost of lives dear to them.

Be it innocence, trust, friendship, infatuation, love, motherhood, empathy, or the extremes of disillusionment, pain, suspicion, hatred and resignation. Each emotion etches out with as much beauty and grace, thanks to Khaled Hosseini’s excellent yet simple writing style. Another up for the book is the shocking description of political turmoil and wars, the toll they take on minds and lives of ordinary people. The parts spelling out the hardships faced by women brings tears to the eyes and sends chills down the spine. Reminds me of my favourite book, ‘Not without My Daughter’, which was a woman’s real account. This fiction, nevertheless is most recommended and a must read. Happy Reading!

My favourite parts:

‘…he told her that Herat, the city where Mariam was born in 1959, had once been the cradle of Persian culture, the home of writers, painters, and Sufis.

"You couldn't stretch a leg here without poking a poet in the ass," he laughed.’

-------

‘ Nana said, "Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam."’

-----

When the Taliban had found the paintings, Tariq said, they'd taken offense at the birds' long, bare legs. After they'd tied the cousin's feet and flogged his soles bloody, they had presented him with a choice: Either destroy the paintings or make the flamingos decent. So the cousin had picked up his brush and painted trousers on every last bird

"And there you have it. Islamic flamingos," Tariq said.

-------

‘She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last. No. It was not so bad, Mariam thought, that she should die this way. Not so bad. This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings’

------

‘…she'd thought of her childhood friends Giti and Hasina, and Hasina saying, By the time we're twenty, Giti and I, we'll have pushed out four, five kids each. But you, Laila, you'll make us two dummies proud. You’re going to be somebody. I know one day I'll pick up a newspaper and find your picture on the front-page. The photo hadn't made the front page, but there it was nevertheless, as Hasina had predicted’

-------

So go ahead get your copy! Read the rest yourselves! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!

Till the next blog post, take care,
God Bless

And Keep Blah Blah-ing

The Rush for Immortality

The others pass me by indifferent
I strut and stop every now on my muddy path
Endless is my pursuit, it seems
I can see many celebrating at the finish line
Some more ‘new’ unlikely names leave me behind
And lo here’s a twist in my story, (Tsk…A story I’ve never had)
My road breaks into two, one hazy, the other gory.
Which path do I take to Junction Immortality?...

Yes want to be immortal! No it’s got nothing to do with reading all parts of the Twilight series back to back. Though I wouldn’t mind having a bf like the oh- so-sexy Robert Pattison (ahem) and passionate (double ahem) Edward Cullen! (Let’s not get drifted away) The urge however could contest a vampire’s thirst for blood!

For those who’ve not yet guessed the theme, read the sixth line of the stanza above for a hint. Others pat your back on my behalf. :)

It is indeed about a writer/author’s biggest desire…

IMMORTALISATION IN A BOOK

And this desire is burning my mind day in and out as I see millions others get so easily what’s a mirage for me!

A 12 year old girl in Bangalore has done it. MBAs, engineers, and people from all professions are doing it. Politicians, corporate tycoons, celebrities have either ruled the bestsellers chart or will pretty soon be there! (Dammit, celebrities like Obama, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bacchan, SRK and the likes need not even lift a pen…their fans would happily spare them of the trouble! Still they do! Guess immortality is also something they want customized! :P)

And here am I, feeling nowhere close to an inspiration for my book let alone, writing it! For those who’ve read Twilight, my frustration matches Edward’s when he’s not able to read minds or of Alice finding holes in her future visions! Not that I’m bothered whether being specially gifted that way would translate into writing a book, also immortality is a hand-me-down they needn’t bother about. But being gifted with writing talent MUST translate to atleast one book. Makes me question- Am I really even gifted? (Well I’m already contemplating a visit to Forks, bumping into a vampire…If I’m lucky like Bella Swan!)

Okay, I read your mind! I shouldn’t be so hard on myself! My first needn’t be magnum opus! Everyone’s isn’t. Leave magnum opus the questions that are killing me (pun intended) right now are.

1. What to write?

Novel, novella or short stories; Fiction or non fiction; Love, Suspense or life in general? Should I broach upon a written documentary, write something educational, a celeb biography, an autobiography or memoir? Makes me clueless as ever.

Yes you’re allowed to laugh. Go ahead, coz even I’m laughing at the idea of me writing something educational, documentary! Anything related to research konks me off plus its sooo boring! Celeb Biography, yes I could write about SRK (I can hear you snickering, sulking). Hah I could compete Webster’s Encyclopedia in the number of volumes but then what would I say that’s not already said? And the biggest laugh goes to my autobiography…why would anybody XYZ read Meet Kaur’s autobiography? Those who know me, know me well enough and others need not take the trouble to pick up my biography when there are thousand more influential names on the book rack.

2. Who would read my book?

Whatever be the theme, I’d like the person who’s picked my book to read it to the end! A page turner in short. Isn’t that the most basic yet the most tricky need of a book?

The simplest would be a bouquet of my poems published for a selected few people. But then I’m not the one who’d settle for something so easy for starters… The poem book could come anytime later! I’m still on the lookout for a story or ideas!

To conclude I’ll suggest another reading of the top stanza; it must make more sense now.

Meanwhile I’ll also keep the vampire option open! Edward Cullen or Wordsworth, whichever comes first! ;) :P

Immortality is what I seek…And immortality is what I’ll get!

Till then keep Blah Blahing!

P.S. Keep suggesting great ideas for a book! I’ll need all your support and encouragement even if it’s in favour of the vampire option! Though donno what the Indian version of Edward Cullen is gonna look like. :P

Baby, It’s all about making headlines!

Hello Readers and my dear friends,
The other day I suddenly realized It's been long since I posted smthing on my blog...So after much cajoling I managed to convince the writer in me to work on a random idea sputtering in my mind.
What I'd almost let go as a fused bulb luckily started showing signs of life... A little push and out came words which I suppose were as eager to get out of their cave as I'm always.

So here's a poem, a mild satire on our Indian politicos!
Read on...

P.S. the lines may be a bit jittery...a pen has just come out of hibernation! Torture or Treat do lemme know!

Baby, It’s all about making headlines

Hoard grains for a drought
Without guilt or after thought
There’s centre to blame when it rots
Do you see an earning opportunity behind a famine
Baby it’s all about making headlines.

Policy making is all boring crap
There are better ways of adding feathers to one’s cap
Build the highest statue or change another name on the map
Rope in a bollywood or TV star, to get the shutterbugs rolling
Keep your legacy on, Introduce your wife, kids or even the farthest kin
That’s the bitter truth; belch or take it with a dash of lime
Politics my dear is all about making headlines

Learn from the big fishes of the game
They play their gambles, fearless of national shame
They get the loot and every media frame
Leaving tadpoles like us the blame game
So what if the capital city looks like an abandoned mine
Till the last moment it’s all about making headlines

100% hike is just not enough
Who’s counting the assets we bluff
The luxury bungalows and foreign trips
A few extra green slips won’t do much harm
We welcome Lakshmi with open arms
Go ahead make a few ‘under- the- table’ deals
The common man can manage a price hike or two less meals
Scams will be history; futures are made at the election time
“Poverty is passé, in our government the state will always be on its ‘prime’! ”
Sugary Dialogues like this and a few fake statistics, polished extra to shine
Winning or opposition, as long as you’re there, it’s all about making (money and) headlines

Speak when you should not and stay mum in chaos
What’s a controversy without some drama and public property loss
Turn a deaf ear to riots, strikes or ‘petty’ violence
There’s always lathi charge and army to restore silence
Close your eyes to pain (people’s of course)
There’s relief fund for calamities,
hospitals for the suffering and Municipalities for potholes,
Peace talks can be done while cutting ribbons, high teas or a lavish dine
At the end of a busy day and public appearances
It’s all about making headlines

Who says politicos don’t have profession blues
Press conferences and flying shoes
Boring assembly speeches that force to snooze
Campaign time takes the toll, feed the voters, give them booze
Making false promises of water, land and shrines
But then it’s all about making headlines

Need Help? Say "Barah Baj Gaye!"

Now this is an interesting mail I recieved from my friend. Being a Sikh I've too have been jeered by ppl saying "Barah Baj gaye?... Meet!"

I used to pity such ppl thinking they din know the significance of these words. Now here's something for all those ppl who may have unknowingly used this phrase earlier to tease their Sik friends. This anecdote beautifully explains the significance, something I couldn't have in in that spur of moment.

"I was standing at Jalandhar station when my attention was drawn towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban, sporting a long beard and wearing a kirpan (sword) over his shirt. After a while, one local train arrived, totally packed.

The Sikh youth tried to board the train but failed to do so. Just then a voice was heard from the back coach 'Sardarji Barah Baj gaye' (Sir it's 12 o'clock!).

The Sikh youth looked over at the speaker (who was a young person) and instead of showing any anger, smiled at him. The smile was so enigmatic that it seemed as if there was some hidden truth behind it. Not able to hide my curiosity, I walked towards him and asked why he smiled at the person who teased him. The Sikh youth replied, 'He was not teasing me but
was asking for my Help'. I was surprised with these words and he told me that there was history behind those words. I was eager to know what he was talking about and the
Sikh youth narrated the following (I did not reveal that I was a non-keshdhari (Sikh)):

During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by Moghals, all the Hindu people were humiliated and were treated like animals. Moghals treated the Hindu women as
there own property and were forcing all Hindus to accept Islam or face death. During this period our Ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadarji came forward, in response to a request of
some Kashmiri Pandits to fight against these cruel activities and save them. So our Guruji went to the Moghal Emperor and told him that if he succeeded in converting him to Islam, he would ensure that all the Hindus would accept the same. But, if he failed, he should stop all these atrocities. The Moghal emperor happily agreed to that but even after lots of
torture to Guruji and his four fellow members he failed to convert him to Islam. Since the Moghals were unable to convert them to Islam, the Moghul Emperor ordered for their assassination. The Guruji along with his other four fellows sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk.
Thus our ninth Guruji sacrificed his life for the protection of the Hindu religion. In history, can you show me any instance of anybody laying down his life for the protection of another religion?

This is the reason he is still remembered as "Hind Ki Chaddar" (Shield of India). The people for whose sake he had sacrificed his life did not have the guts to come forward to lift his body,
fearing that they too would be assassinated. Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji, Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) founder of Khalsa (the Pure) made a resolution that he would convert his followers to such human beings who would not be able to hide themselves and could be easily identified.

At the start, the Sikhs were very few in numbers as they were fighting against the Moghal Army. At that time, Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan treasures and nearly 2200 Hindu women along with him.
The news spread like a fire and was heard by a Sardar Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. He decided to attack Nadir Shah's Kafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu women and they were safely sent to their homes.

It didn't happen only once but thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis attacked, looted Hindustan and tried to carry the treasures and Hindu women along with them for selling them in Abdal markets, the Sikh army (although fewer in numbers) attacked them at midnight, 12 O'clock and rescued all the women.
After that time, whenever there was a need, people started to contact the Sikh Army for their help and the Sikhs used to attack the raiders at Midnight, 12 O'clock.

Nowadays, these "smart people" have spread these words that at 12 O'clock, the Sikhs go out of their senses. This historic fact was the reason which made me smile over that person as little did he realize that he was asking for my help saying 'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye' and it meant that his Mother, Sister, Wife or Daughter was in trouble! " "

Plz pass on this message so that others too can know about Sikh history (of course, if you feel it worth sharing with others).

God Bless

The Haat, Heat and the Hawties!

She looked at me with an expression that would melt any stone of a heart! Having met her after ages I didn’t want to make her sad…it was such a small sweet request that couldn’t have caused much harm! Her pleading eyes tucked at my heart but my mind knew what to do. Taking a risk…I uttered just what seemed right in the situation. Time had taught me how and when to say ‘No’. While I was hoping I’d not broken her heart…little did I know that 30 minutes from now she’ll use my own sisters to avenge my denial to her gift!

Sorry Shruti for exaggerating! LOL! Had to add some masala to increase my BRPs (Blog Rating Points or I may say Blah-blah Reading People. Not to be mistaken for burps please)!

To all my BRPs (for full form refer the above), Presenting a short fun account of an amazing day out in Delhi with Special Mention of the awesome time Shruti (my dear school friend), Simran, Harjyot and I had at Delhi Haat.

Acknowledgements

To my Dad: who financed my trip to Delhi, my shopping etc etc…

To my Mom: who endured a week in Delhi with her restless, hungry-to-roam daughter

To Simran and Harjyot: My lovely sisters, who endured the roasting heat, the burning sun, choking pollution to take me round to my favourite spots in Delhi! Harjyot dear, really sorry for making you go through all that torture of endless walking thru SN market! Thanks for being the sport you are even in the most uncomfortable footwear.

To Shruti Fotedar: who came all the way from Vasant Kunj to Delhi Haat only to meet her long lost school friend. Even after a sweaty jazz session at the dance class and an important meeting at CP, Shruti, you looked fresh as ever!

And so the story begins…

The day started with a good omen. One, after trying Shruti’s no. endlessly, I finally got through to her. It was decided that we’ll be meeting in the evening and we’ll be working it out anyways! Two, luckily we got a nice comfy cab from Gurgaon to Medical (the Delhi lingo for AIIMS). We took an auto to IHC.

At IHC, it was love at first sight. Yeah in the several years of visiting Delhi, I’d never been to IHC. But from the first step inside to the last peep from the auto after leaving it I loved every bit of it. The Eatopia, the lobbies, exhibitions, the sitting areas, a corner for theatre, the fountains and sculptures kept here and there, the innumerable photographic possibilities and of course our photo session. Thanks to our parantha brunch… we were completely decked and didn’t spend much time on food. No Thanks to the little time we had, so much of IHC was left unexplored! But then we were so excited for the shopping session at SN, IHC had to wait till the next time.

Reaching SN we plunged into hardcore bargaining from the first shop we saw. From home itself I’d announced my mission to find a sexy pair of shorts for myself. Soon Harjyot found a zoozoo tshirt she’d been looking for and I found a nice top for myself. It was a nice start. We then proceeded to more shops scanning each up and down for good buys and even dismissing many at a glance. Around 5 we gave up our search dead tired, hungry and thirsty as hell and still without a decent pair of shorts (some too short, some “don’t-waste my time” types, some which didn’t seem to survive one wash and some ok ones had a fabric like shrapnel to skin in the summers)! Phew the sun and heat had actually taken its toll! God Bless the juice shop where we found the best nimbu soda of our lives! In the meanwhile Shruti too had contacted us and confirmed to meet at Delhi Haat (DH).

So my dear BRPs, we three cousins were now set on another search, now for an auto to DH. When none of the autowallahs seemed to come to a decent fare we finally gave into Harjyot’s requests whose feet were almost shrieking with pain. We took the nth auto without any further protests on the fare. (Nth because none of us had the power to keep count)

Finally the Haat!

DH welcomed us in two delighting ways! Right outside was a board “DELHI FOOD FESTIVAL” and alighting from the entrance compound to the sky was a string of tri-colored kites. The sun had also considerably humbled. And then came Shruti!

The threesome of hawties now became a foursome and we progressed ahead chatting away endlessly and glancing at the shops. The only one we stopped at was one with accessories. I found myself some beautiful things and declined Shruti’s request to let her gift me something as a souvenir. C’mon Shruti, ur coming all the way from Vasant Kunj and making this possible, the gesture itself was the most precious gift I could get! Now read the first para and you’ll know the conflict I went through saying ‘No’ to your request. Hmph!

Having already tested our hunger pangs enough, we headed straight towards the Delhi Food Festival. We washed down three plates of gol gappas and one aloo chaat before we finally settled at the Sikkim food shop of DH. While we ordered for the famous fried momos and fruit beer we’d already made arrangements for the time gap. There was Paneer Parantha from the stall of Delhi’s Paranthe Wali Gali. Another first for me in Delhi the deep fried Parantha looked equally tempting and scary with glistening oil peeping from every pore in it.

In came Fruit Beer and momos. Both, trust me, are among the most heavenly things I’ve tried to date. Another photography session started here till we found a waiter who obliged to take a nice picture.

The Haat…The Hot momos and four hawties were immortalized in a frame. Now comes Shruti’s revenge. The three Delhi-ites conspired and did not let me pay for the treat I so wanted to! They blankly ignored my request as if I was speaking on Mute mode. :P!! Well the time also didn’t seem to listen and soon we had to leave. Outside DH we said our final goodbyes. Shruti got an auto to her place while we caught the bus to Gurgaon. The sun set into twilight and then dark till we reached our stop. But I noticed none of it.While my stomach was reeling from the overstuffing at Haat my heart and mind were constantly cherishing and feasting on the refreshing, enjoyable and even the dead tired moments of the day!

Catch a glimpse of these moments captured in camera at the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=420593&id=840120704&l=1884211f41

Again as I always say, my lovely BRPs your comments are what make my blah blah all worth it. So please keep putting in a feedback now and then! It’ll be very encouraging!

In short…Keep Blah Blahing!

God Bless all…Ciao

P.S. Shruti my cousins simply adored you! All the way back they were telling me “Your friend is so cute and fun!” I’m still speculating whether they were exaggerating it or is their a special quota of mutual liking among Delhi-wallahs? ;)