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Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 6 тАУ Chiang Mai

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We also spend some time in a fantastic session called тАШChat with MonksтАЩ. This particular wat, which is also a training facility for the young monks, offers tourists an opportunity to interact informally with the monks. There is a common area where the tourist group is met by one of the waiting monks. You can sit with him and discuss anything related to Monks/ Buddhism/ Thailand or any other topic of interest. Well, to answer the тАШwhyтАЩ of it тАУ such interactions enable the monks to practise spoken English as also widening their knowledge base and the tourists, of course gather valuable insight.

A good & handy source of drinking water is the vending machines placed at common areas. Though bottled water is available across Thailand costing B15 – B30 or more depending on when and where you buy them; these vending machines (working on coin system) offer you potable water @ B1 (one bhat) for a litre.

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A memorable trip on bike to rediscover myself in the foothills of Himalayas – Part I

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Life is full of joy and sorrow, happiness and disappointments, ups and down and Life can also throw unexpected surprises тАУ I was taught in my school and I am also┬аexplaining the meaning to┬аmy son now. But, at that point of time those are only “THE WORDS” for me and nothing else. Remember тАШ3 IdiotsтАЩ тАУ тАЬJab dost fail ho to dukh hota hai, lekin jab dost top kare to aur bhi dukh hota haiтАЭ

What else would you do in my place, when the requester is the CEO of your Company? Do you have any other option? I know some who might still have some other options, but fortunately or unfortunately, I am not so impulsive in nature and the other option to fly – was an unthinkable proposition for me that time.

I have a great respect for Mr. Ram S. Ramasundar, the then CEO of Electrolux India, who is like a God Father for me, I had no other option but to say “Yes Sir, I will”.

It was already 11 in the morning and I had an i-ticket. I asked permission to go to the counter to cancel the ticket, to get 50% refund for the cancellation. Who says money doesn’t matter.

“Do one thing, prepare a voucher – it will be reimbursed fully from accounts, I will approve the same.” So, one of my worry had been taken care of…but what about the disappointments.

From a very beautiful morning, all of a sudden it became one of the worst day for me. With a heavy heart, I called up home to inform that I won’t be able to come. Durga Puja was over by the time I hang up the phone for me, as well as for them, even before the first sound of Dhak.

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Pune to South Goa Road Trip

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At 12.30 pm we crossed over into Karnataka, and paid another toll. Immediately we could sense that we were in a different state. The traffic was much less in Karnataka as compared to the heavy traffic right upto Kolhapur in Maharashtra. The scenery was better, with undulating hills in the distance. There were flowering bushes in the road divider which made the drive more pleasant, and lay-byes with public utilities at regular intervals along the highway.

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рд╡рд╛рдЯрд░рдЯрди рдиреЗрд╢рдирд▓ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдФрд░ рдпреБ.рдПрд╕. рдмреЛрд░реНрдбрд░ (рднрд╛рдЧ реи)

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рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдХреА рд╕реБрдмрд╣ рдмрд╣реБрдд рдЦреВрдмрд╕реВрд░рдд рдереА. рд╣рд┐рд░рдг рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рджреЛ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдгреА рдШреВрдо рд░рд╣реЗ рдереЗ. рд╕реБрдмрд╣ рдЙрда рдХрд░ рдПрдХ рдЪрдХреНрдХрд░ рдЧрд╛рдВрд╡ рдХрд╛ рд▓рдЧрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ. рдПрдХ рджреБрдХрд╛рди рдЦреБрд▓реА рджреЗрдЦ рдХрд░ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдХрд╛рдлреА рд▓реЗрдиреЗ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ, рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рдЦрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдПрдХ рдкреЗрд╕реНрдЯреНрд░реА рд▓реЗ рд▓реЗрддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ. рдпрд╣ рджреБрдХрд╛рди рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рди рдмреЗрдЪ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛. рдХрд╛рдлреА, рдмреНрд░реЗрдб рдЪреЛрдХрд▓реЗрдЯ, рдФрд░ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рд╛ рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рди. рдкреЗрдЯреНрд░реЛрд▓ рдкрдореНрдк рднреА рдЗрд╕ рджреБрдХрд╛рди рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдХрд╛ рд╣реА рдерд╛. рд╕рд╛рде рдореЗрдВ рд╕рд╛рдЗрдХрд▓ рднреА рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпреЗ рдкрд░ рджреЗ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛. рдПрдХ рд╕рд╛рдЗрдХрд▓ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдШрдВрдЯреЗ рдХрд╛ рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпрд╛ резреж рдбреЙрд▓рд░, рдФрд░ рд╣реЗрд▓реНрдордЯ рдХреЗ резреж рдбреЙрд▓рд░ рдЕрд▓рдЧ рд╕реЗ. рд╕рд╛рде рдореЗрдВ рдореЛрдЯрд░ рдмрд╛рдЗрдХ рднреА рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдереЗ.

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A visit to Jallianwala Bagh, Golden Temple & Wagha Border

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Today India is a vibrant Nation. However, we tend to take many things for granted. In our normal day to day, routine life we hardly remember them who sacrificed their life to free our motherland. On our 66th years of Independence, let’s make a resolution to make India beautiful and fight against terrorism, anti-social elements, corruptions…each one of us can make a difference.

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Mesmerizing Canadian Rockies

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Relentless rain and flash-flooding kept us pretty much house-arrested for the first couple of days, after which, the sun shone. And, all of a sudden the wide ranges of Canadian Rockies appeared at the west horizon of the city of Calgary. The gloomy city is all set for a bright and warm weekend. We set out for Banff in my sistersтАЩ car on Saturday morning.

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Motorcycle Diaries. Road to LadakhтАжat Tso Kar

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As we entered the mountainous terrain, I observed the colour of the flowing river on our left тАУ so different than the rivers we were used to see during this ride!
Out first break of the day was at Rumtse, the same hamlet where we stopped on our way to Leh a few days ago.
As I sat down here, I observed an acute silence amongst riders, as if all excitement had gone missing, as if we left it at Leh. There werenтАЩt banters flowing around, no one was pushing each other, no laughter; only a passive waitтАжtill this Ladakhi kid showed up.

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рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рд░рдВрдЧ, рджреЗрдЦрд┐рдпреЗ рдореЗрд░реЗ рд╕рдВрдЧ…..

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рд╡реИрд╕реЗ рддреЛ рдЖрдП рджрд┐рди рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рди рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХрд╛рдо рд╕реЗ рдЖрдирд╛ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рд▓рдЧрд╛ рд╣реА рд░рд╣рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╣реА рд╢рд╣рд░ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рд╡рдЬрд╣ рд╕реЗ…

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Bamsaru Khal Trek

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In the morning, view outside our tents ┬аwas spectacular. We saw snow capped Mountains all around , took some pics, but after 15-20 Min┬а Mist covered the valley and mountains were not visible. We were supposed to start early , but got ┬аlate, we finished our breakfast by 8:30AM and started ┬аwalking towards Gidara.

From Dayara one black dog started walking with us , we thought it will go away after sometime but it ┬аremained ┬аwith us till the end of trek. The Dog was too hairy, and resembled a┬а bear , got scared of him twice, he also had a bad habit┬а of crossing ┬аthe path when there was a difficult climb or narrow path.

While on the trek an idea popped up that we should also visit тАЬDoditalтАЭ ( Lord Ganeshji Birthplace ). Dodital situated at a distance of 30 km from Dayara Bugyal, is also popular among tourists. Going there meant an ┬аextension of 2 More days , which we could not ┬аafford. Hence all ┬аagreed to keep walking towards Gidara.

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рд╡рд╛рдЯрд░рдЯрди рдиреЗрд╢рдирд▓ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдФрд░ рдпреБ.рдПрд╕. рдмреЛрд░реНрдбрд░ (рднрд╛рдЧ рез)

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рд╡рд╛рдЯрд░рдЯрди рдиреЗрд╢рдирд▓ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдпреБ.рдПрд╕. рдХреЗ рдореЛрдВрдЯрд╛рдирд╛ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдиреНрдд рдФрд░ рдХреИрдиреЗрдбрд╛ рдХреЗ рдЕрд▓рдмрд░реНрдЯрд╛ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдиреНрдд рдХреЗ рдмреЛрд░реНрдбрд░ рдкрд░ рд╕реНрдерд┐рдд рд╣реИ. рд▓рд╛рдЦреЛрдВ рд▓реЛрдЧ рдпреБ.рдПрд╕. рдФрд░ рдХреИрдиреЗрдбрд╛ рд╕реЗ рд╣рд░ рд╕рд╛рд▓ рдиреЗрд╢рдирд▓ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдШреВрдордиреЗ рдЖрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ. рдлреЛрд░реНрдЯ рд╕рд╕реНрдХреЗрдЪреНрд╡рди рд╕реЗ рд╡рд╛рдЯрд░ рдЯрди рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдХреА рджреВрд░реА ремрежреж рдХреА. рдореА. рд╣реИ.

рдХреИрд▓рдЧрд░реА рд╢рд╣рд░ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╕рдмрд╡реЗ рдкрд░ рд▓рдВрдЪ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд░реБрдХрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ. рд╕рдмрд╡реЗ рдХреА рд╕рдВрд╕рд╛рд░ рдореЗрдВ 37,207 рд╕реЗ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рд▓реЛрдХреЗрд╢рди рд╣реИрдВ. рднрд╛рд░рдд рдореЗрдВ 282 рд▓реЛрдХреЗрд╢рди рд╣реИрдВ. рд╕рдмрд╡реЗ рд╕реЗрдХреНрдЯрд░ 15 рдлрд░реАрджрд╛рдмрд╛рдж рдореЗрдВ рднреА рд╣реИ. рд╡рд┐рджреЗрд╢ рдореЗрдВ рд╢рд╛рдХрд╛рд╣рд╛рд░реА рднреЛрдЬрди рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╕рдмрд╡реЗ рдЕрдЪреНрдЫрд╛ рдЖрдкреНрд╢рди рд╣реИрдВ. рдореЗрдиреВ рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рд╕рдлрд╝реЗрдж рдпрд╛ рдмреНрд░рд╛рдЙрди рдмреНрд░реЗрдб, рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╕реМрд╕, рдЦреАрд░рд╛, рдЯрдорд╛рдЯрд░ рдкреНрдпрд╛рдЬ, рд╢рд┐рдорд▓рд╛ рдорд┐рд░реНрдЪ, (рдХрдЪреНрдЪреА рдХрдЯреА рд╣реБрдИ) рдЖрджрд┐ рдбрд╛рд▓ рдХрд░ рд╕рдм рддреНрдпрд╛рд░ рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ. ┬арднрд╛рд░рдд рдореЗрдВ рдпрд╣ реореж рд░реВрдкрдпреЗ рд╕реЗ рд╢реБрд░реВ рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рд╡рд┐рджреЗрд╢┬а рдореЗрдВ рек рд╕реЗ рем рдбреЙрд▓рд░ рдХрд╛ рд╣реИ.

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Rewalsar тАУ A sacred confluence of multi religions

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When you come to Rewalsar, you cannot be untouched by the spiritual vibrations being reflected in every activity in this sacred land, be it the chirpings of the birds, soulful chantings from the monastery or temple or Gurubani from the Gurudwara, people feeding hungry souls in the lake, pondering monkeys over the trees, Buddhist prayer flags swirling in the air, swimming ducks in the lake, meditating and contemplating holy people on bank of the lake, the green and serene water of the lake, monks running the prayer-wheels, beautiful surrounding hills, finely ornated colourful monasteries with young monks playing around, burning oil lamps, ringing bells, cows and dogs resting near the lake, swaying trees, smiling flowers etc, whatever passes through your eyes gives you a sort of positive vibrations.

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Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 5 тАУ Bang Saen to Kampaeng Phet

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We had plans of visiting heritage sites and local night market, but lassitude takes over as soon as we arrive. After strolling around the neighbourhood, spying on local shops and outlets, we are back to the guest house.
There are number of cosy sit-outs within the house. In the evening, guests have gathered here to relax and chat-up. Soon I connect up with Bill, an Austrian from Vienna and Shoo, a Thai traveller. Yes, they tell, they are also travelling across Thailand. While exchanging notes I discover that both of them (though travelling separately) are very special Ghumakkars. Bill (actually Bills, a couple) has arrived here Cycling all the way from AUSTRIA! Well, the story goes like this. They are avid cyclists. They have covered large parts of the globe cycling. Bill roughly cycles for an year in one go! By end of the year long loop, he is back in Vienna to earn his livelihood. After earning for about 6-8 months, he is again out for the next trip. He tells us that he does not own a car and has a very small house in Vienna. He works just to make enough money for the next trip. Same is the story of his partner. She is from the same place and they share the same passion. They are 6 months into the current trip and plan to cycle north to China and then through Kazakhstan and Eastern Europe to Vienna. Their belongings, typical for cyclists, comprise of two rucksacks (strapped to either side of the carrier) and a sleeping bag cum tenting equipment.

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