Close Encounters of the Annoying Kind.Part 2.The motormouth.

Storytellers.Man,they are a pain.Especially when you meet one in a train.I did not actually met one but my fellow passengers did.I was travelling from Nagpur to Raigarh in a train.As always I had booked a upper berth.I do that to avoid talking to people and on this particular journey even that precaution was not going to save me.There was this fellow sitting there with the other passengers who started telling stories.At first he was quiet.I fell asleep quite soon after the train started but then constant chatter broke my sleep.I could hear a guy telling a story.At first I tried to listen what it was about.It was something about mythology.I never heard of the characters he kept talking about.And no  it was not even remotely interesting.I mean he was talking about some guys slippers which he wore on a particular day and why he wore a green chaddi with a yellow shirt on a full moon.I was truly irritated but atleast I thought I did not have to fake enthusiasm like those poor listeners below.I was thinking about those guys while his jibber jabber was going on continuously when suddenly out of nowhere,one of the listeners asked him a question.I was incredulous.So the listeners were also of the same mould.They were indeed interested and had questions too.I cursed my luck for falling in this bunch of nincompoops.Anyway I pressed my blanket over my ears and tried to fall back to sleep but thanks to that motormouth and his loyal group of listeners I couldn't sleep properly and had to endure a torturous journey. 

When my article got published in 'The Hindu' (School days)

King Solomon's Mines is one of my all time favorites.It was one of the books responsible for starting in me a desire for travel.I wrote a brief review about it back in by Intermediate days.The actual article was largely edited and the result was considerably different from what I wrote.But nonetheless I was and still am happy that my article got published in 'The Hindu'

5 Changes I would like to see in Indian railways.

Here are Five changes that I would like to see in Indian railways.


1-There should be a complete overhaul of the classes that exist in our Railways.I think that there is a huge gap between a sleeper class and 3A.Indian Railways should introduce a new class between Sleeper and 3A.Something which is more comfortable and has bit more amenities.No need of AC just basics.

2-The maintenance of toilets of all classes should be improved dramatically.The trains already have a rocking motion ,add to that the unclean toilets and the lack of basic facilities like a proper jug,a faucet and hooks to hang stuff on,the task of going to an train toilet is the stuff of nightmares.

3-More number of Chair car and 2s bogies should be added in most of the trains.Personally I think Indian Railways underestimates the potential of Chair cars and 2s classes.

4-Food quality has to be improved.I have seen tea vendors selling tea in makeshift vessels.I have even seen one guy with a half cut bisleri bottle using it as a funnel.One look and you are no more hungry.

5-Start another system of booking tickets between the normal booking and tatkal.Maybe at double the price and at a weeks advance.

Bonus-Introduce a host for every train.Someone along the lines of a Airhostess.Someone who would help the people with any minor problems like getting their blankets,food, or any other needs.

Protect Your Heritage

Bungee Jumping!

                     I looked at my feet. Half of them were on the platform and the other half were hanging in the air.The drop was 83 metres.My heart was throbbing and my breathing became shallow.

                       I was standing at the edge of India's highest bungee jump platform. I felt the harness around me as it clung to me. Till the time the crew was giving me the initial demonstration of the exact way of jumping I was fine but as soon as I made my way to the edge I became painfully aware of the true extent of this extreme adventure activity. As I had my first glance at the drop, my breath was sucked away. My first reaction was to back away from the jump. Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead. Slowly as they glided over my skin the whole world around me came to a standstill. I was terrified. There was no denying that. I asked the crew to give me a moment’s time so I could steel myself.

                     My mind went back to the day I had actually decided to someday do this bungee jump. Me and my friends were sitting in a roadside dhaba and on television we saw a guy do the bungee jump. I remarked that someday I would do it. I was met with laughs. Someone asked why would anyone do this. For the answer I thought of George Mallory. When a reporter asked him about why he wanted to climb the Everest. He replied simply with 'because it is there' I said the same for the jump because it is there and also because I can.

                    So finally in my recent Uttarakhand Adventure Trip, Bungee jumping was the last and the most thrilling activity planned. After a week of trekking and rafting the time to do the ultimate adventure activity came upon me. All of that conversation played in my mind and with Mallory’s words ran inside me I was ready. Ready to jump off. I told my instructor that I was ready and he started the countdown. Three. My breath started heaving. My muscles clenched. Two. I bent my knees to take the proper position. My hands were now tightly holding the harness near my shoulder. One. I propelled myself and jumped. My hand dug into the harness and into my own skin. I fell. I fell with the acceleration of gravity. What was happening I knew not. The ground was rushing towards me with alarming speed. My mind all the time was in a trance. This trance was broken suddenly by a jerk as the bungee expanded. Whatever fear was left was gone now. Fear turned into exultation. I unwrapped my hands from the shoulder harness and shouted at the top of my voice 'Yes'! My voice echoed in the surroundings as I made a gentle arch in the air. I spread my hands outwards and shouted again 'Yes'! I had done it. I conquered the initial fear and made the jump. That moment of joy was the purest joy I ever felt. Slowly the bungee settled down and I hung there rocking to and fro gently. As I let down my hands and was hanging upside down I felt a sense of calm and serenity overcome me. Soon I was received at the bottom and a badge was given to me certifying that I had guts. The feeling of ecstasy that I felt during the jump is exactly why I travel and do these adventurous stuff

My Top Ten Food Experiences

I am not much of a foodie but once in a while I get to experience something that makes the whole eating experience an important point of the whole trip.The factors that I have taken into account here are the ambience,the taste and the location.Without any particular order Here goes the list

1- Fish Curry in Agartala,Tripura
2- Andhra Meals in a quaint hotel somewhere in between Hyderabad and Bidar,Karnataka
3- Chocolate bars in Ooty,Tamil Nadu
4- Prawns in Puri,Odisha
5- Momos in a Tibetan Restaurant in Mainpat,Chhattisgarh
6- Parsi food in Jamshedpur,Jharkhand
7- Bread omlette in Srinagar,Jammu and Kashmir
8- Fried Fish dishes in Kolkata,West Bengal
9- Pani Puri in Mumbai,Maharshtra
10-Squashed Potato while trekking in Uttarakhand