Self-drive in Central Europe/ Alps тАУ I (Intro)

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In the course of our travel, we stayed in a variety of accommodations, including pensions, home-stays , tent (tipi, as it is called locally, located in the midst of Slovak wilderness where Sharmi heard scratching noise on the outside in the middle of night) and an apartment, which was vacated by the occupant for our stay. In many places, we had kitchens to ourselves.

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Getting lost in Sambhar Lake

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On the way back, we drove the entire distance over lake only. Trying to absorb more of that dry-dusty frame. We also learned that ‘Jodha Akbar’ was shot here and apparently they created the entire war set here. Another movie, this time of junior Bacchan was shot in the main town. We dropped the Sambhar Salts gentleman back after thanking him for all his help and started back.

As we were driving back, I was thinking that how long the lake would remain like that. Probably 50 years down the line, this story would look like a legend. May be the area would get habituated, the land would be reclaimed to build SEZs and factories or may be the new Jaipur Airport. Who can imagine a 230 sq KM dry lake which is open for driving. You tell that to your grandkid and he would laugh it off. Go and look at it before it vanishes.

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Biking across Thailand – Bridge over the river kwai

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After our brief encounter with wild cats concluded, we headed to River Kwai bridge. River Kwai bridge was constructed under Japanese command during world war 2, to enable Japanese troops to cross across Thailand to Burma and eventually India. Thousands of PoW (Prisoners of wars) were deployed for construction work, without adequate food, rest or medical care. This resulted in deaths in thousands and being alive for one more day was a luxury at that time. Our generation isn’t really exposed to such life and death hardships and all we complain about is traffic, high fuel prices and slow internet. But life back then was very different. A visit to the museum and war memorial will remind us of harsh realities of life in the times of war. River Kwai bridge stands as a testimony to the fact that thousands had to die to satisfy greed of few emperors. The movie by its name, which was pictured in Srilanka has made this bridge immortal.

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Rock climbing - Dr Taher loves adventure but his family doesn't like to rough it up too much

Ghumakkar Featured Author Interview with Doctor Taher

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When Nandan informed me that this month’s Featured Author is none other than Dr Taher Kagalwala, I was delighted, because not only is Dr Taher a gifted writer, but is also an extremely inspiring human being, both as a person as well as a professional. I have had the privilege of knowing him for several years now. I “met” him on a writing website, where he was leading “Team India” in a competition. The team did pretty well in the competition, and he came across as an able, thoughtful, and fair leader, settling arguments and misunderstandings, and at times taking hard calls wherever required. I took a break from the writing website, but we stayed in touch through emails and messages.

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My trip to Garh Mukteshwar

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Finally, we had arrived at Unchagaon. We stopped in front of a stable. For a moment I thought this was where we were going to stay. Thankfully they took us to neat and clean rooms. The rooms were quite big. We stayed in room no 16. My roomies were some boys from my section. In that room the bathroom door was of frosted glass. You could see through the door! The bed was so high they could have given us a ladder to climb it. In the night we would go to the girls room and scare them. We would knock, make scary sounds and then run away. We’d keep our lights off so that the teacher wouldn’t discover us.Two or three times teacher would come and check if we had slept. When they would come, then we would run and get into our beds, swith off the lights and pretend to be asleep. Sometimes we’d fall in the process.

In Unchagaon, there was a big garden in which there were lots of lounge chairs. Sitting on them was real fun. I wish I had one of these in our balcony back home. There was small shed in which there were balls, bats, rackets etc. We were very careful with the equipment, because if we broke anything weтАЩd have to pay for it. Sehej is going to pay for a bat. There were two terraces. From one we could see a beautiful lake. On the other side we could see a village.

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One Day Adventure Trip Around Delhi: Zipping at Neemrana

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We had Ankit, Avinash and Sumaila joining us from Munerka. So at around 7 we had crossed the Gurgaon toll and were on our way to Neemrana. We halted at Haldiram’s which is around 60 km from the Gurgaon toll bridge but that 60 km had taken a lot out of us as the highway really sucked. There are lot of flyovers under construction, a huge truck line follows you everywhere and the dust and heat will always be there to do a creamy facial. By the time we reached Haldiram’s my grey shirt’s collar had turned black. In that sweaty mood and dirty face we were just looking for some good food but Haldiram’s had more to offer. The moment we entered the door we saw girls from the fairy tales walking around carrying chole bhature in their hands, smiling, chatting, luring us more and more towards them. We controlled our emotions and started looking for a nice seat, preferably closer to, you know what, but the whole ground floor was full and we had to occupy the first floor, yes and then we enjoyed the TOP VIEW. We had our stomachs overflowing when we came out of the door but a lot of them had left their hearts inside, even I had fallen in love with 6-7 girls in that very hour. Rest of the journey was no different, the same dust, the same trucks as if they also had breakfast with us. We were able to reach Neemrana by 10 and the fort by 10 30. As soon as you enter the Neemrana, just opposite to the Japanese colony is an underpass below the flyover from which you have to take a right turn. Any local guy can help you out with the way and also there are sign boards available. Parking is free at the hotel and a vintage Rolls Royce Phantom is always parked caged inside a glass chamber. By this time my top half of the grey t-shirt had turned black, our faces almost unrecognisable and our our eyes amused at each other.

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BahaтАЩi House of Worship тАУ The Lotus Temple

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The figure of тАЬ9 тАЬ seems to have some significant meaning as we could see the temple surrounded by nine pools and there were nine archways into the temple. Another interesting thing is that a simple nine-pointed star is generally used by the BahaтАЩis as a symbol of their faith. At the Information center, we were told that тАЬnineтАЭ is chosen because it is the highest single-digit number and in many countries symbolises comprehensiveness, oneness and unity.

The most astounding thing is that this beautiful edifice has no pillars or beams. The petals are made of white concrete and are covered by marble (the same quality of marble as used in the Parthenon, mined in Greece, cut and polished in Italy and 10,000 pieces were brought to the site and assembled as a jig saw puzzle).

The volunteers at the entrance tell the visitors to maintain absolute silence in the temple, though every one is free to meditate or pray as per oneтАЩs religious practices.

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рдЭреАрд▓реЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рд╢рд╣рд░ рдФрд░ рдмрд╛рд░рд┐рд╢ рдХреА рд░рд┐рдордЭрд┐рдо (рдЙрджрдпрдкреБрд░ рдореЗрдВ рджреЛ рджрд┐рди)

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рд╕рд┐рдЯреА рдкреИрд▓реЗрд╕ рдХрд╛ рднреНрд░рдордг рдкреВрд░реНрдг рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдкрд╢реНрдЪрд╛рдд рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдг рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╕рд┐рдЯреА рдкреИрд▓реЗрд╕ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдирд┐рдХрд▓рддреЗ рд╣реА рдСрдЯреЛ рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рдЦрдбрд╝реЗ рдереЗ, рдЙрдирдореЗ рд╕реЗ рд╣реА рдПрдХ рдСрдЯреЛ рдкрд░ рд╕рд╡рд╛рд░ рд╣реЛрдХрд░ рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмреИрдЧ рдХрд┐ рд╕реИрд░ рдкрд░ рдЪрд▓ рдкрдбрд╝реЗ. рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд╛ рдирд╛рдо рд╕реБрдирдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рддреЛ рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд╛ рд╣реА рдкрд░рд┐рджреГрд╢реНрдп рдЖрдБрдЦреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдШреВрдорддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдкрд░ рдЗрд╕ рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдореЗрдВ рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛ рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖рдХрд░ рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд▓реБрднрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЬрдиреНрддреБрд╢рд╛рд▓рд╛ (zoo), рдЯреЙрдп рдЯреНрд░реИрди рдХрд┐ рд╕рд╡рд╛рд░реА, рдЭреВрд▓реЗ, рдЬрд▓рдкрд╛рди рдЖрджрд┐ рдХрдИ рдЕрдиреНрдп рдордиреЛрд░рдВрдЬрдХ рд╕реБрд╡рд┐рдзрд╛рдПрдВ рднреА рдЙрдкрд▓рдмреНрдз рд╣реИрдВ. рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рддреЛ рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд┐ рд╕реИрд░ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рдЖрдирдВрджрджрд╛рдпрдХ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣реА рдереА. рдЗрд╕ рд╕рдордп рдмрд╛рд░рд┐рд╢ рднреА рд░реБрдХ рдЧрдпреА рдереА. рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЭреВрд▓реЗ рдЕрднреА рднреА рдЧреАрд▓реЗ рдереЗ рдФрд░ рдЙрдирдХреЗ рдЖрд╕-рдкрд╛рд╕ рдкрд╛рдиреА рднрд░рд╛ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЗ рдЭреВрд▓реЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рдордЬрд╝рд╛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд▓реЗ рд╕рдХреЗ. рдЗрд╕ рдХрдореА рдХреЛ рдЯреЙрдп рдЯреНрд░реИрди рдХрд┐ рд╕рд╡рд╛рд░реА рдиреЗ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛. рдЯреНрд░реИрди рдореЗрдВ рдмреИрдареЗ-рдмреИрдареЗ рд╣реА рдкреВрд░реЗ рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХреЗ рднреНрд░рдордг рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рдЬрдиреНрддреБрд╢рд╛рд▓рд╛ (zoo) рджреЗрдЦрддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЗ-рдмрдбрд╝реЗ рд╕рднреА рд░реЛрдорд╛рдВрдЪрд┐рдд рд╣реЛ рдЙрдареЗ.
рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд┐ рд╕реИрд░ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╣рдорд╛рд░рд╛ рдЕрдЧрд▓рд╛ рдкрдбрд╝рд╛рд╡ рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдирд╛рдордХ рд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдерд╛. рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдЙрджрдпрдкреБрд░ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рд╕реБрдиреНрджрд░ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдг рд╣реИ. рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдирд╛рдо рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдЫреЛрдЯрд╛ рд╕рд╛ рддрд╛рд▓ рд▓реЗрдХ рдкрд┐рдЫреЛрд▓рд╛ рд╕реЗ рд╕рдЯрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ. рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдЖрд╕ рдкрд╛рд╕ рдХрд╛ рджреГрд╢реНрдп рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рд╕реБрд╣рд╛рдирд╛ рдФрд░ рдорди рдХреЛ рдореЛрд╣ рд▓реЗрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рд╣реИ. рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреЗ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдгреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдкреИрджрд▓ рдмреЛрдЯ, рдореЛрдЯрд░ рдмреЛрдЯ, рдХреИрдорд▓ рд░рд╛рдЗрдб, рд╕рдирд╕реЗрдЯ рдкреЙрдЗрдВрдЯ, рдХрд░рдиреА рдорд╛рддрд╛ рдордВрджрд┐рд░, рд░реЛрдкрд╡реЗ рдЯреНрд░рд╛рд▓реА рдЖрджрд┐ рд╣реИрдВ. рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЪрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдордиреЛрд░рдВрдЬрди, рд░реЛрдорд╛рдВрдЪ рдФрд░ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдХреГрддрд┐рдХ рд╕реМрдВрджрд░реНрдп рдлреИрд▓рд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ. рджрд┐рди рднрд░ рдХреЗ рд╕реИрд░-рд╕рдкрд╛рдЯреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдХрд┐ рдпреЗ рд╢рд╛рдо рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рдЖрд░рд╛рдорджрд╛рдпрдХ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣реА рдереА.

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Rain Fury in Chakrata, Uttarakhand in June 2013 (Part II)

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With loud jaikaras of mighty Lord, journey was resumed. It was going good for 10 odd kilometres, our car was leading the show with Atit car following us. Soon the task of clearing boulders and rocks from road started as they were all on the road due to landslides. We all were going mad by getting out of the car in the rain after every 200 m to get various kinds of blockages cleared. We were actually afraid by not seeing any human existence in the entire stretch of road and having not seen any vehicle crossing us in the past 3 hours. It was not a journey of 22 kms, it was manifolds, and appearing to be never ending due to disastrous hurdles coming our way. To add to our fear and bring our jaws out of the mouth, we saw a mighty river flowing over a bridge that we were supposed to cross. There was no point of going back, and crossing that flooding river over the bridge was a task we have never ever imagined, so after much courage both the cars decided to keep accelerating without any thought of applying brakes. Both the cars managed to cross the river but that courage comes with a price, and the bumper of our car was washed off by the river flowing perpendicularly to the motion of car with mighty pace. Had we even thought of applying brakes, we could have been flowing in river along with cars. We celebrated our victory of crossing the hurdle by clicking a photograph and moved ahead.

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Ghumakkar Monthly Digest – December 2013

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Now back to our roster on December. The month definitely belonged to Ajay Sharma who kept driving, almost every single day. If you have not been able to read his road-trip spanning thousands of kilometres then please take some time off and cherish this real road-trip. Closer to home, Avtar Singh brought two poetic and lyrical logs on Amer Fort (Rajasthan) and тАШSabir AliтАЩs DargahтАЩ (Western Uttar Pradesh). Both the logs were tremendously liked, commented, discussed and excited among us also took well-meaning jibes at our Editorial desk. Thank you. Going further Ram finished his North-East trip with a excellent log on Majuli, a nondescript island town and treasure trove of art and culture. Before we move further, let me take a little break and take you through this snippet from the Interview post where Archana interacted with Upanshu Singhal, our outgoing Featured Author.

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Some Days in Gujarat…. Adalaj Ni Vav and GandhiNagar sojourn

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Legend says that Mahmud Begara was mesmerised by the beauty of the Queen Roopoba, the wife of the chieftain and had promised to complete the structure if the queen marry the ruler as the Vaghela ruler had died till then. Structure was completed by Mahmud but the queen instead of marrying him, committed suicide by jumping from the uppermost story of this step well.

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A Serene Kasauli Trip

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Finally we reached our destination Kasauli after a 7 hour wonderful road journey, which made us more energetic. The only motivation about this trip was that we would detox our soul with this trip. Which was actually we were experiencing. Though Kasauli is a small town and is about 12 kms from Dharampur. You have to change the route from Dharampur, which is on Chandigarh Shimla highway. It is small town which is actually a cantonment.

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