Volleyball on a Moving Train?

What does finding one train crazy person leads to? Why, it leads to finding another crazy train story. Have you ever played Volleyball on a moving train? Well, Maverick has.

It was not easy to play on a moving court but defnitely more fun. Sometimes when we were planning to pass on the ball the train would jerk a bit and the person suppose to take on the pass would fall. And some other times when the ball was in air and all of us concentrating to hit the ball, a tunnel would come making the whole place dark and the ball invisible .(And cos it was a goods wagon we didnt had the lights either).

The added bonus is that his write up has the photo of the wagon too.

Things We Say

Clicked this one as we were walking from Bharmour to Dhanchow, which is almost half way to Mani Mahesh in December 2005. Even though both of us are not religious in particular, the quote in itself always brings a smile to my face. There was no one for miles around, no sensible person would venture here in freezing December and suddenly we came across this. Kind of difficult to say what I am trying to say, so I will leave you just with the picture.

For those who don't understand Hindi here goes my poor translation: God may be slow to deliver justice but it is quite just. See it all gets lost in translation!

Steve left the exact saying in the comment section: The wheels of justice grind slowly, But they grind exceeding fine. Steve you must have guessed it from my poor translation, or is it that you can read Hindi?

Have You Seen Someone This Train Crazy?

I have not. I enjoy sitting near a window on a train or a bus and let my mind wander. But Nomad with a Desk Job is in a league of his own. I quite enjoyed reading his post about MG trains:

I remember all the rides on the roof with crazy Jats for company or in the front guard van with dogs, woodcutters with a forest and school children for company. I'll never forget that biting January morning when me and Bharath Moro nearly froze to death hanging on for dear life on the catwalk of a YDM4 as it belched thick black smoke right into our faces.

On this line only, I met perhaps the friendliest railwaymen. There was nothing like having chai with the gateman at Shahbad Mohammedpur as he hurled choicest abuses at the cyclists dodging an oncoming train. Inside the coaches too the atmosphere was amazing. Bidi smoke curled thick in the air while conversation in the typical Haryanvi drawl ranged from Chautala to Mallika.

I am sure you will enjoy reading this one in full.

I am Waiting!

Update: The final word is in. So head over folks and hail Apurv.

Thanks a lot for keeping your fingers crossed for me. We can safely uncross them now!

Oktatabyebye team, you said Tuesday and I checked sharp at 12.00 midnight. No results, nothing, now are you all trying to give me high BP?

Whatever may be the final verdict, I think this contest is another turning point for my blogging, the first one being linked at the BBC.

I came from a vacation just one week back. When I went, I was not even sure I would be around to participate. We completed the trek early and I got back just in time for the second round, thank god they tweaked the dates just a little bit. So, I can't really complain if they delay the final verdict by a day or two.

Now that I am waiting for the last word, I realize how much the idea of taking another trip excites me! For me, the anticipation is not so much about winning (that would be a real plus but it is not in my hands completely) but traveling again. And if that is the case, I told myself, what is stopping me from taking another short vacation (which is completely in my hands)? I can't afford 15 days otherwise but a shorter one is definitely possible. And I am thankful to the Oktatabye contest for making me realize this. Otherwise, once I am back from a vacation, I very quickly get back to my routine, thinking that another one is possible only after a few months.

I only hope, we have not to keep our fingers crossed for much longer now?

Not My Daily Conversation

We were having dinner sitting on a flat rock near a fire on the first night of Kuari Pass trek. I wish I could say there were a million stars in the sky but almost every day by afternoon, clouds would come, cover everything and would not lift till sunrise again. Still, we were a merry lot, Sesha and I, our guide, Sonu and two teenage kids, Vikrant and Virendra. The horses that carried our tent and food belonged to Vikrant and Virendra.

The conversation that night had the awkwardness of people not knowing each-other well. Dinner over, the kids and Sonu vanished for a while. The fire started going down and Sesha took it on him to rekindle it. After many futile attempts we concluded maybe, it has gone too low. Vikrant came back after a while and gave it merest of wiffs and it started crackling again.

Three nights later, we were in Pana and after a nine hour walk my knees protested loudly even at the slightest movement. At dinner a fire was roaring again courtesy Virendra and Vikrant and food ready to be devoured. Suddenly, large drops start falling without any warning. I struggle to get up from the stone I have been occupying and we run inside the other tent. It starts pouring hard, our tent is watertight from below too but the other one is not. We offer that everyone move in our tent, they tell us they would only if absolutely necessary. Virendra gets busy with a knife, digging a nali (small drainage) all around the tent so that the water will flow out and not enter the tent. 15 minutes later the nali has ample water flowing through it. It rained for a couple of hours but the other tent remained dry too.

At Jhingi, after walking on stones, once again my knees are sore. I start looking through the photographs on my camera display and yearn for the tea that Sonu is making. The horses have been left to roam and they start munching happily through a potato field. Vikrant starts running after them full stride. Don’t they ever get tired?

Vikrant and Virendra are almost my elder nephew’s age. After two-three days it is easier to talk to them thanks to the rapport build by washing vessels with them twice. After two days they would just shoo me away declaring “Aap bahut thak gaye hain, iske koe jarurat nahin hai, hum kar lenge (You are very tired, no need to wash vessels, we will do it).

One of them has given their 12^th exam as a private candidate. They tell me in the summer, they move with their heard of goats as far as Tibet boarder. But in cities, they have never been farther than Joshimath and Ghat.

I frame my next question carefully (somehow it has a very hollow ring to it out there). “Tum dono karna kya chahte ho?” (What do the two of you aspire for?) The younger one says, “Abhi aur sochna padega, hum khali nahin baith sakte, bakri bahut hai aur kaam bhi bahut hai. Kabhi khali baith doo din TV dekhna ho to pareshan ho jte hain” (Will have to think about it more, we have a big heard of goats and a lot of work to do, we can’t sit idle and watch TV even for two days). Further inquiry yielded that they get the Doorshan DTH (National TV, direct to home) channels in their village.

Last day of camping and Sonu wants a mirror; he wants to shave before he reaches home. To their surprise, I am not carrying one. They manage to get it from the village. Shaving done, he shouts if someone has cold crème. I was loitering nearby and I offer to fetch one, but Vikrant gets it out of his bag. Sonu cries out loud “Fair and Handsome!” Sesha laughs, Virendra says it belongs to Vikrant, he has got nothing to do with it and I tell them they anyway are so handsome they don’t need it.

Win Free Go Air Tickets

I got tagged by Emma.

I am usually not too gung-ho about tags but if it involves anything to do with travel, I am game for it. So here is your chance to participate in order to win a free Go Air ticket. Here it goes:

## Start of GoPaGaL Tag ##

If your blogger friend has tagged you, follow this link to participate: http://www.pagalguy.com/goblog/

GoAir and PaGaLGuY.com bring to you the GoPaGaL Campaign where you can win free return tickets to the destination of your choice. Winning is simple, just copy paste this tag on your blog after adding answers to the questions below and publish this as a blog post on your blog! Then head out to http://www.pagalguy.com/goblog/ , fill in the form and send us your Name and Blog post URL & Finally, tag 5 more blog users and let the world know. Promise! Its that simple and should take you no more than 5 minutes!!

--- Answer the question below ---

Q) On which GoAir Sector would you like to win a free air ticket?
A) Delhi Srinagar

( Answer the above question after you visit http://www.goair.in )


[ Link (Tag) 4 other blog users in your network so that they too get a chance to win the tickets. Without you tagging 4 other bloggers, your entry will stand disqualified.]

Tag
I would like to link the following bloggers!
(Please include the full URL to the blogger you are tagging)
e.g: http://insane.pagalguy.com, http://whatblogmen.blogspot.com etc etc

1 -- Gangadhar
2 -- Prashanth
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4 -- Poison

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Suddenly, I see travel everywhere.

One Last Time: Just Keep Your Fingers Crossed

I met the Oktatabyebye.com team at 'The Days of the Raj.' When I got the phone call yesterday, I had no clue where the place was but thanks to my colleague Shibu, I had excellent directions when I started.

I wonder if I have said this before on my blog, but in cities I can get lost even in a telephone booth if it has two exits. In the hills the matter is different because there is just one road, very clearly either going up or down! And on treks we never venture out without a guide. So, after taking all the wrong turns possible (I think took three and one led me back to the same place from where I started) and calling Shibu once from the road, I decided to park my car near the last landmark and hunt for the exact location on foot. I am just not a car person.

After struggling for a while, I finally located the place and gave a call to them from outside the restaurant. Deepak came out and I requested him to give me some more time (I was already late) so that I could get my car from where I had left it and park it properly nearby or it may get towed. So much for an introduction to the team as a traveler!

Shibu had told me (and he has a hotel background, he was a professional chef in one of the five star properties and I can vouch for it, he makes the most excellent apple pies) that the place is nice and he is absolutely right. The food was good, the conversation wonderful. There were four of us and I think I chattered a lot (what to do, we were talking about travel). For me, the time went off quickly.

While talking about trekking toNidhi and Devika, I hope I didn't alarm them. My view is that if one is not used to walking long distances it is important to choose an easy trek for the first time. Otherwise chances of getting sick increases. I think Youth Hostel of India treks are excellent in this regard. They plan it such that a person with bare minimum fittness can do it with some amount of stretch. And YHAI has this knack of picking up the most fabulous routes.

The ambiance, food and the company (but not in that order) were excellent and I really had a good time.

In spite of having such a good time, I can't resist to point it out (and I know one can't help it in the cities) but this was the view from the window of the restaurant.

Where as just 10 days back this was the view from my tent/window. So, for one last time just keep your fingers crossed that at least for another 15 days the view from my window may be like this once again.

And a big 'THANKS' to all of you for your support till now.

Just Keep Your Fingers Crossed

So, I am meeting the Oktatabyebye team tomorrow at 1.30. I know you will keep your fingers crossed for me :) I never had any intention but this line has almost become a mantra for me now.

The blogger in me was quite tempted to reply to all the comments at the contest profile page itself but then I am not sure if I am supposed to do that. And I do not want to do anything that will get me disqualified.

But this is my own place and here I go.

Max, thanks a lot for showing your faith in me. It has been great interacting with you and your team at GoNomad. In fact, the promptness that you people show in responding to your contributors is turly amazing. I was so gald to get a reply from an editor within eight hours, even though it was a reject the first time.

Chetan is known for writing longest comments in the blogsphere and even here I think he has the longest comment :) Thanks a lot for your support Chetan.

Steve belongs to the fantasitc team of GoNomad and has supported and beared my 'enthusiam' (Oktatabyebye team will probably understand what I am saying) through publishing my two travel stories at GoNomad about Goa and Ladakh. Thanks once again Steve.

Thanks a lot Krishna for liking my pictures and specially the ropeway one.

Srinath (a fellow academician) and I started interacting after I ranted about something at Desipundit. I am so thankful for your support.

Shaswat, thanks a lot for your wishes.

Ranjit, thanks.

Professor Umashankar is our dean. And if he says fantasitc, that means if need be, my leave is assured. *Huge Grin* Thank you so much, Sir.

Kirti is my colleague and when drop in her office it is very encouraging to see one of my photos serving as the wallpaper on her computer screen. Thanks a lot for supporting me Kirti.

Wasted Psuede I did not understand your comment, still thanks for showing up.

Prashanth has introduced me to the concept of mid year resolutions and I will be ever grateful to him. Thanks a lot for your support Prashanth. In fact I was quite hesitant about the contest because that would mean asking for leave again at my work place. But thanks to Prashanth, I made some mid year resolutions too and decided to take a chance :)

Divya is my fellow contestant, Hi Divya. Do you have just a little bit of butterflies in your stomach like me? I wonder.

If Shruthi would have participated in this contest she would have give all of us a run for our money, thankfully her interests are too many to concentrate just on travel. Though she enjoys taking a ride in a Volvo bus.

Nilesh is my most special commenter, he gives me no way to contact him, he drops in when he pleases and cannot be bothered rest of the time :) Nilesh I am so thankful for your support and I really appreciate your comments.

Easwer was our group leader at the YHAI Har-Ki-Doon (HKD) trek and we have met later too whenever he has been in Delhi. HKD was a time when we had a very lousy camera. Whereas Easwar had a digital camera even then. On the last day, when the most fab views were in sight our camera jammed and this guy gave us his camera to use for the rest of the duration. Can you believe it? That is as generous as anyone can get. All those cool pics from HKD have been possible due to his generosity.

Pooja is a fellow travel enthusiast and I think we have been interacting alomst since my first few posts.Thanks Pooja, your support counts for a lot.

Lily and Tom are two people whom I have met even though they live in the US. And she is another person with whom I have been interacting since our first few posts. The amazing thing is when she came to India she had so little time in Delhi, yet she and Tom came all the way to Gurgaon to have dinner with me. I hope she gets to do a trek in India on her next visit. Lily many thanks.

Update 1
If Stephen had a blog he would have a huge following of fans for his book and movie reviews. Instead he writes on Epinions.

A, I have more than 150 posts on my blog and all are not about trekking, but how I wish they were. You might have noticed most of the people I have talked about here, write on their own blogs/websites/consumer review site/(are owner)editor of travel websites. I have given enough links. Do you think I know them in my real life? I met them through my blog (sometimes in person too, like Lily) or other websites. Yes, I interact with a lot of people through my blog but I thought that is what blogging is about.

I am blogging about this contest with permission from Oktatabyebye team. If my blog friends and other friends who have seen how travel mad we are come out in my support, I can't help it. And you left out my colleagues, even they support me, because I drive them crazy with my travel anecdotes. All I can count on is support of friends, after all George W Bush is not going to support me :)

Though absolutely no problems with not having your vote. You can't win them all. I hope 'A' we can have a conversation here about your views and my reply, that is after all what blogging is all about. Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for the candidate you want to win.

Radha, thanks.

Priyatham is another blog friend who has turned into Maverick! Thanks a lot for your support and do keep your fingers crossed.

Tr, thanks for your kind words.

Modigili is yet another blog friend from the US A. Thanks a lot for your support Momo.

Emma just did her first trek and is thrilled by her experience. But she writes about much more. Thanks Emma.

Update 2

Though, I am allowed to reply at the contest website itself, I will continue updating this post too, after all I can make the hyperlink here only.

Sathish is another travel enthusiast who blogs. Thanks for your support. Seshadri you can say that :) Karishma, have fun tomorrow. Apurv, thanks for your kind words but after looking at your pictures I know how very faaaaaaaaaaar I have to go.

Mridula

Radha, thanks. Priyatham is another blog friend who has turned into Maverick! Thanks a lot for your support and do keep your fingers crossed. Tr, thanks for your kind words. Vj, you know where I am putting all my money. Vihari, the good thing about such contests is that you get to know so much about self! Thanks Anil (if I am gusseing it right who you are) it is your pictures and accounts that should have been on the net, but with the kind of workload you have (or even otherwise), I think I can never persuade you to blog and that is a pity. Harshad, that is the spirit, may the best person win. DD, thanks a lot. And till the contest is over, just keep your fingers crossed for me, please. s a lot for your comment. Alka, that is the way to go, just keep your fingers crossed. Amrit, when I see plastic left behind by trekkers (all the fancy stuff that cannot be left by the locals) it makes me so sad. Someone who takes so much effort to be with nature, how can they do this? .

Remember Oktatabyebye Travel Contest? Just Keep Your Fingers Crossed for Me!

The first lot of finalists are in at Oktatabyebye.com.

Have a look and do keep your fingers crossed for me, please! I am so excited! It would be a dream come true to take two vacations (Shhh... don't tell my employer's just yet, after all I may not need to tell them at all!) so close to each-other but that is if only I can cross the final hurdle.

They are planning a get together both in Delhi and Mumbai over the weekend, and then will decide the winner. How to handle this one? All suggestions are most welcome, in fact they are awaited fervently.

Different Moods

Street Food

You might have noticed, I rarely post pictures of the people I meet on our travels. That is because I rarely can muster up enough courage to ask them for their pictures. It is easy to click things that do not talk back, like the stuff in the picture above, so colorful, easy to shoot, and no chance of offending anyone by mistake too.

For a pleasent change, the stall owners demanded that I take their picture too and not just the food stuff they had and I gladly obliged. Their grins incresed when they saw the image on the display of my camera. Sesha (my husband) was as usual standing far away from me, and watching the scene.

Almost in Tears

We met this kid standing quite alone with her school bag and all, quite tearful. When Sesha inquired what was the problem, she said "Nani chali gaye hai udhar, mugjhe daar lag raha hai" (Granny has gone that side and I am afraid). To amuse her we took her photograph and showed it back to her. It distracted her just a little bit. And soon enough, other people came and told her to come with them, as her Nani was visiting someone and she would be late.

The good thing in this trek was that even the remotest of the villages that were not connected by road or had a doctor, still had school. I am not sure about the quality of education, but places like Jhinji that are really small maybe not more than 40-50 household too had school. The sad part is people often ask for common medicine like crocin and combiflam (sir dard aur bukhar ke liye) as it is not easily available in the villages.

Smile and Hesitation

The Brat Pack (No points for guessing who is the gang leader in this one)

And here is a picture I am really fond of. The women and the kid saw us passing by from a distance. I gave her a tentative but big smile. She came near to me leaving her work just like that and I mustered up enough courage to ask her if I could take a picture? She nodded her head and sat down (while standing she is quite tall and so slim). I clicked the photograph and showed it to her. She made her eyes very wide and smiled at me again. I moved on, just a few words exchanged but it was wonderful taking her and the kid's picture.

Kuari Pass Trek, Uttranchal Himalayas, India

We decided to trek through Kuari Pass, in Uttranchal Himalayas and the journey started from New Delhi. It was raining for the most of the journey and when we reached Rishikesh at 12 midnight, it was still raining. I was quite disappointed and I started bugging my husband that maybe we will not be able to trek at all if it rained like this. He too got confused for a while and we considered alternatives but he pacified me, saying if it would rain too much we would trek through Valley of Flowers instead.

So we checked into Gaurav Hotel, which is just in front of the bus stand and it is nothing to write home about. The only saving grace: no carpet that would stink and relatively clean washroom.

Next morning, we started for Joshimath on this Khatara (uncomfortable) bus. Our journey for the Kuari Pass Tek had finally started. It was full of pilgrims intending to visit Badrinath, which is quite close to Joshimath. Both of us have motion sickness and have no option but to get zonked on Avomine.

The Journey Begins in Earnest: Two of Our Fellow Passengers on the way to Joshimath

The journey was the usual bus journey with lovely view of the river Ganga, stops at Dhabas for lunch and tea, the aching limbs and the fervent wish that we may reach soon. Most of the time, because of taking Avomine, we both fall asleep and miss the view.

This bus had particularly sharp edge (I kept my tracksuit top on it) where I rested my hands on the window and I hit my head on the seat in front so bad a few times that I had small bumps (blame it on Avomine induced sleep) till two days after.

We Liked their Philosophy: Our Trekking Agency for the Kuari Pass Trek

When we travel, we never book a hotel in advance (don’t ask me why, ask H) or decide on a trekking agency we would use. While we were walking to a hotel with huge rucksacks (and shoes tied to them), a young guy asked us if we were here to trek? He pointed out Grand Adventures to us and we were sold on their punch line 'Where you come from is not nearly as important as where you are going!' We liked their philosophy and decided to give them a try. They gave us good rates and ultimately we trekked with them. Our guide's name is Sohan Singh Bisht (Sonu and I recommend him highly as a guide) and not only he is an excellent guide but an excellent cook too, a much appreciated quality by both of us! He along with our two horsemen (young lads really, of 18-19 years of age) told us so many fascinating stories. And by the time we reached Joshimath, the rains had completely disappeared. We really had a sunny trek this time.

Ropeway To Auli from Joshimath

The starting point of our trek was Auli, and one can take a jeep to Auli from Joshimath, but that would have meant Avomine and being zonked again. So, we decided to take the ropeway along with Sonu. We were quite scared that the state government authorities would not let us take so much of luggage on the ropeway but they were really nice and helpful. I have high praise for them for treating us with a lot of consideration. Our horses were waiting for us in Auli. We started quite late on the first day but it really did not matter, as we covered a very short distance.

.
A Temple (built by ITBP) on the Way to Gurson Baghyal from Auli

We walked barely for 45 minutes when our guide told us we would be camping for the day. Our guide helped us pitch our tent and then took over the kitchen! Very soon we realized we had forgotten to bring sugar. But our guide, with the help of the young lads managed to get it from some village. As I said earlier, Sonu cooked excellent food and we feasted throughout this trek.

Our Home in the Hills: The First Day of the Kuari Pass Trek

Crossing Gurson Baghyal: The Second Day of the Kuari Pass Trek

From the second day we started trekking in earnest, and we camped at the base of Kuari Pass. We decided to sit there idle for one day, as the views were fabulous. Usually, people camp at Chitrakanta but our guide took us further probably to compensate for the little walking we did on day one.

Nandadevi Peak

We got the most wonderful views from Kuari Pass base and I share a few of them below.

The Hathi-Ghori Peak: Views on the Third Day of the Kuari Pass Trek

Chaukhamba Peaks: The Views on the Third day of the Kuari Pass Trek

After sitting for one day we were raring to go and our guide set us a really ambitious target. We had to reach Pana (skipping two campsites along the way), and even he was anxious, as to how long we would take. We started at seven in the morning and crossed Kuari Pass and continued walking on and on and on ... We walked for nine hours that day and even the locals would feel surprised that we managed to cover all that distance in one day. We feasted on Maggi in the evening before dinner and this was the most tiring day of our trek. The day after this was moderate and we camped at, Jhinji.

From Jhinji, we again had a long day, a walk of 8 hours. I thought people would be quite convinced that I can do this walk as I had done the nine hour day without any complaint. But it was not to be.

By now, our rations were really getting light and H kept joking that if I can't walk, then I can sit on a horse and complete the trek! He also kept harping on how playing TT (I play table tennis almost daily) can never keep me fit. The guide also chimed in a few times with H. I decided to teach H a lesson.

Look What We Found: Day Six of the Kuari Pass Trek

When I walk on a trek my head is usually in the trees, flowers, hills and peaks or the stream that is flowing by. But on our walk from Jhinji to Dhuni, I kept it firmly on the path and I started with my former athlete tread and then I do not stop much (a lifetime ago, I could run ten kilometers without too much sweat). We climbed two hills that day to reach our destination and H kept struggling to keep pace.

We took a small break (where H is posing with the buffalo skull above) and after he reached there panting, much later (OK, maybe not that much later, but still after me) I told him he could use the horse if he felt like it. I also asked for his opinion on TT again and it had changed considerably in the short span of time!

Our walk downhill was a really tough one as the road was full of loose stones and believe me, itne pathron per tou mein jindagi mein kabhi nahin chali hun (I have never walked on so many stones in my entire life). Even now my knees hurt.

Please Don't Leave Plastic Behind: Litter on the Kuari Pass Trek Route

Kuari Pass trail is not that littered but in the pictures above you can see the typical haul for a day. Both H and I try to pick up as much plastic as we can from the way but sometimes we are just too tired to bend down one more time or go after a off the track piece. We burn it at the camp later. If you have a better suggestion to deal with the plastic problem, do drop in a comment.

Village Dhuni: The Last Stop on the Kuari Pass Trek

The last stop on our trek was quite close to this village and the kids have a favorite hobby, they hang around the campsite and just sit and stare at you! Quite unnerving if you ask me.

The Bridge that Leads to the Roadhead to Ghat:the End of Walking at the Kuari Pass Trek

The last day's walk was relatively easy and we soon reached the road head and once again back to the reality. Oh! and if you trek through Kuari Pass, the villagers consider you either Ungrez (Foreigner! imagine me, dark and sunburned on top of that, being mistaken for a foreigner) or a bangali (Bengali, which is far from ture but at least West Bengal is in India). For the local people no one else treks!

PS. More pictures of this trek are here and here.

I am Back!

We completed our trek and came back today. Thanks a lot for your comments on my previous posts. I am trying to catch up with my mail and posts and comments. I am still on leave till the weekend and will be visiting my sis. So the regular post will take some time. Here are two pictures I thought I will share quickly from Kuari Pass in Uttranchal Himalayas.

This flower was facing downward so I kept my camera below it and caught a bit of sky too!

Mountains, mountains, I saw a lot. Here is a picture from Gurson, our first stop of the trek. I had a fabulous trek. A detailed post will follow soon.

Travel Time!

I am off to Uttranchal Himalayas now, pray that it won't rain too much for the next 15 days. Will see you all in two weeks time.

Travel on My Mind

Some of the comments on my last post made me think hard (I guess I read constantly to avoid thinking but I am not 100% sure as of now :) and motivated me to write this post.

First Prashanth said:

I have decided to travel atleast once a month - kinda mid-year resolution ;

Now 'mid year resolutions' seem to be such a nice idea! Come New Year and everyone would be talking about resolutions on their blogs and after a while the topic starts to get on my nerves (I originally wanted to write 'I get sick to my teeth reading them' but thought this is too harsh on 'New Year' resolutions). But tell me, how many times you came across the word 'resolutions' in the mid year? I guess you came across it only on this blog and we should thank Prashanth for it.

So here is my first mid year resolution: I will exercise my utmost capacity to drag H (my husband) out of the house more frequently in a year. Don't get it wrong, he loves to travel and it is he who investigates and finds out off the track places. But the problem is, he does not want to go any place other than the mountains (and only the Indian Himalayas qualify as mountains for him). Ask him to come to a day trip to Taj Mahal (go by morning Shatabdi Express Train and come back by the evening Shatabdi) and he flatly refuses. If he goes to London, he works and comes back to the hotel and refuses to explore anything on his own. And even in December we end up going to Bharmour (Himanchal Pradesh) that is freezing cold. But I am resolute that I will drag him around more from now on and to places other than the Himalayas. After all, it is a shame that the last trip we made was around January 26. And now it is only in June that we are going to travel again. This has to change, are you reading this H? Well, you will get a link anyway in your mailbox as soon as I publish it.

Then we have this person in our organization who used to climb mountains, did advanced mountaineering courses and mentioned that he has climbed the highest peak in Laddakh and was once involved in a rescue in Bara-La-Chala in Laddakh. How much vacation has he taken this year? A measly five days, because they are too busy. The person is fairly senior to me and I can see 10 years down the line we may also travel differently but I never want it to happen such that we get too busy to travel. That is where Sathish's comment comes in.

in the industry am in, if you travel so much in a year you are considered non-performer!!! :-)

So my second mid year resolution is: I am not going to fall into the trap of 'I am too busy to travel' or ever be tempted to join an industry where I become a 'non-performer' just because I like to travel.

And then comes this comment from Rajeev

nice resolution Prashanth ! I guess it will take some more time for us as a society to reach the point where we will be comfortable with taking a couple of years off to travel :). Thanks to Mridula and her ilk, we are waking up to life.

Rajeev, this comment of your's gave me jolt. You know what, you speak kind words about me and my ilk but here is the truth. I love to travel so much but the thought of 'taking an year off' never even crossed my mind. I think it will not be possible for me to do something like this in the near future but it is my long term resolution to keep this idea in my mind and at least once in my life, take one year off and just travel. My mind refuses to function properly when I start thinking of such a possibility and the practical problems seem insurmountable, but I am sure if we keep chipping at the idea, who knows 10 years later I may be able to pull it off.