Roads

Driving from Lucknow to Nainital and Corbett – Road Review

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The road upto Bareilly was generally good and but bad in a few patches. However, Bareilly to Lalkuan was a different story altogether. I believe there is a bypass outside of Bareilly but I couldnтАЩt find it so I had to go through the city. If someone gets to know of the location of the bypass do inform. The number of trucks have to be seen to be believed. Coupled with bad roads itтАЩs definitely a slow track. ThereтАЩs some kinda factory before Lalkuan and trucks are lined up on both sides of the road. Where there are trucks, there are traffic jams and coupled with atrocious truck drivers the experience is tough. There is also extensive construction work on this sector.

The road improves dramatically from Lalkuan. A stop is advised before the climb from Kathghodham to Nainital. The Drive from this point on is smooth cos the roads are very good, maintained well and arenтАЩt as steep as people would have you believe.

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Self-drive in Central Europe/ Alps тАУ III ( Driving on the wrong side)

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The fuel cost is about INR 100/- per litre which varies slightly depending on the country, location (ones nearer the airport are costlier than others), etc. Most of the petrol stations are self service types тАУ you park the car, fill up the tank and then go to the counter to make the payment.

Now, some other issues about driving. Honking is uncivilised, so itтАЩs best avoided, except in emergencies. Similarly, it is illegal to flash/ beam headlight either frontally or from behind, onto another car. German rule considers flashing of headlight on other vehicle a coercive act. Driving on the right lane, keeping the left ones free for overtaking, is followed as a rule. After overtaking, the car promptly shifts rightwards. Overtaking from the wrong side, irrespective of how many empty lanes are there, is a strict no-no.

Overtaking тАУ there are defined portions on the road, where this act can be performed. For starters, the continuous yellow/ white line dividing a two-way road is not be crossed over randomly.

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Self-drive in Central Europe/ Alps тАУ II (Itinerary & Car rental)

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The rule says that Schengen Visa should be sought from the country which you visit for the main business. Rule of thumb is, the country where you plan to stay for maximum period of time should be the one to issue you the Schengen. Maximum number of days rule, however, may not hold good in some cases, e.g. if you intent to spend max time in the country which is not of your main business.

In our case, we approached Czech Embassy for the visa, since we were to spend maximum period (about 6 days) there.

Schengen Visa regime has also altered the procedure for entry into EU zone. For instance, since we took a FINNAIR flight, we changed flight at Helsinki. Now, after landing at Helsinki Airport, we shifted into тАШEU ZoneтАЩ part of the terminal. So, it was here in Helsinki that we underwent immigration/custom checks. Thereafter, once in EU part, all flights within EU were like domestic flights, despite flying from one country to the next.

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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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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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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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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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Kareri Lake ~ a poetic trail

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Gaddis are basically a nomadic tribe who mainly lead a pastoral life depending on their cattle for their livelihood and wander in the high altitude alpine meadows for green and protein rich grass for their cattle and the nectar like pure water. These gaddis seem to be the happiest souls in the world without any worry cheering and living life happily in the lap of mother nature enjoying her eternal and purest beauty to the fullest. You envy at their life for a moment and then wish if you were born a gaddi, maybe in your next lifeтАж:)

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Road Journeys – Somnath to Diu – Sea and Sand

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On the way, we deliberately stopped at one point sighting a very unusual Palm-Tree with multiple branches. Later we found jungles of such trees in entire Diu and its adjoining areas. Browsing, it revealed, those were the Hokka-Trees, African specie of Palm brought by the Portuguese which in due course adapted DiuтАЩs atmosphere and grow in plenty throughout. Locals call it Hokka, not found any where else in the country and also bore edible fruits that have medicinal properties.

Unlike Daman it was pleasing to notice a decent surrounding without the chaos of liquor shops and drunken-brawls instead, the hard drinks were available in much civilized and socialised manner. The places worth a visit in Diu are the Ghoghla Beach, Diu Fort, St. PaulтАЩs Church, Nagoa Beach, Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple, Shell Museum, Naida Caves and Fortim-do-mar (Panikota).

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Road Journeys – Towards Sinh SahebтАЩs Abode at GIR

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How many of you have sighted a big cat in wild? Will all of you agree that sighting it for the first time is a nerve-breaking, shaky, crazy, ecstatic, intoxicating, heavenly, euphoric, blissful and rapturousтАжтАж.., short of words to explain, state of mind and body! All eyes still, hoping another sight of the shy animal petrified motionlessly for another few seconds. No chance, assured by the whispers of the guide. Everyone on board was busy browsing their cameras, for the best clip out of multiple shots taken in few seconds. Triumphantly, only my camera crowned the honor with one better close-up with a promise to share it with everyone later.

Soon, we sighted one more leopard crossing the road much closer, but that one was in haste and soon out of sight before, anyone could shoot it. The guide and driver were unanimous view of our better luck to spot two, too shy animals so easily in our first few minutes. I feel, they were right because back home, surprisingly we were informed that none have sighted any big cat that morning.

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рдПрдХ рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рдРрд╕реА рднреА… рдкреАрд░рд╛рди рдХрд▓рд┐рдпрд░, рдкреБрд░рдХрд╛рдЬреА рдФрд░ рд░реБрдврд╝рдХреА рдХрд╛ рд╕рдлрд░рдирд╛рдорд╛

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рд╕рдордп рдХреА рд╕реБрдИрдпрд╛рдВ,┬а┬ардЕрдкрдиреА рд░рдлрд╝рддрд╛рд░ рд╕реЗ рдЖрдЧреЗ рд╕рд░рдХ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реИрдВ, рдЕрдд: рд░рд╛рдд рдореЗ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рджреБрдмрд╛рд░рд╛ рд╕реЗ рд▓реМрдЯрдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рд╡рд╛рджрд╛ рдХрд░, рдкреБрд░рдХрд╛рдЬреА рд╕реЗ рд╡рд┐рджрд╛ рд▓реЗрдХрд░ рд╣рдо рд░реВрдврд╝рдХреА рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдмрдврд╝ рдЪрд▓реЗ | рд░реВрдврд╝рдХреА рд╢рд╣рд░ рдкрд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдХреЗ рд╣рд░рд┐рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ 24 рдХрд┐рдореА рджреВрд░ рдкреАрд░рд╛рди рдХрд▓рд┐рдпрд░ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдкрдбрд╝рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬреЛ рдпрджрд┐ рд╣рд░рд┐рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рд╕реЗ рдЖрдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗ рддреЛ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рд╕реЗ 12 рдХрд┐рдореА рдХреЗ рдЖрд╕рдкрд╛рд╕ рд╣реИ | рд╕рдм рдХреБрдЫ рдареАрдХ рдЪрд▓рддреЗ рдЪрд▓рддреЗ рдЕрдЪрд╛рдирдХ рд╣реА рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рдХреА рдЕрдЧрд▓реА рдЦрд┐рдбрд╝рдХреА рдХреЗ рдкрд╛рд╡рд░ рд╡рд┐рдВрдбреЛ рдиреЗ рдХрд╛рдо рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдмрдВрдж рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ | рд╕рд╛рд░реЗ рдпрддреНрди рдХрд░рдХреЗ рджреЗрдЦ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ, рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдмреАрдЪ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рдЕрдЯрдХрд╛ рдкрдврд╝рд╛ рдерд╛, рдлреМрд░рди рд░реВрдбрд╝рдХреА рд╢рд╣рд░ рд╡рд╛рдкрд┐рд╕ рд▓реМрдЯрдХрд░ рдПрдХ рдХрд╛рд░ рдореИрдХреЗрдирд┐рдХ рдХреЛ рдвреВрдБрдврд╛, рдЬрд┐рд╕рдиреЗ рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рджрд░рд╡рд╛рдЬреЗ рдХреА рд╕рд╛рд░реА рдкреИрдХрд┐рдВрдЧ рд╡рдЧреИрд░рд╣ рдЦреЛрд▓ рдХрд░, рд╕рд┐рджреНрдз рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдХрд┐ рдЗрд╕рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд▓рдЧ рдЦрд░рд╛рдм рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдЕрдм рдпреЗ рддреЛ рдмрдбрд╝рд╛ рдФрд░ рдЭрдВрдЭрдЯ рдХрд╛ рдХрд╛рдо рдерд╛, рдордЧрд░ рдЙрд╕рдиреЗ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рддрд░рд╣ рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдКрдкрд░ рдЪрдврд╝рд╛ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдХрдиреИрдХреНрд╢рди рд╣рдЯрд╛ рджрд┐рдпрд╛, рдЬрд┐рд╕рд╕реЗ рдХреЛрдИ рдЧрд▓рддреА рд╕реЗ рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдирд╛ рдХрд░ рджреЗ, рдХреНрдпреВрдВрдХрд┐ рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдЙрддрд░ рдХрд░ рдКрдкрд░ рдирд╣реА рдЬрд╛ рдкрд╛рддрд╛ | рдмрд╣рд░рд╣рд╛рд▓, рдЪрд▓рддрд╛рдК рдХрд╛рдо рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпрд╛, рдордЧрд░ рдЗрд╕ рд╕рдм рдореЗрдВ рдПрдХ рдорд╣рддреНрд╡рдкреВрд░реНрдг рдШрдВрдЯрд╛ рдирд┐рдХрд▓ рдЧрдпрд╛ | рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЕрдм рд╣рдо рдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рдВрдд рд╣реЛрдХрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдХрд╛рд░ рдХрд╣реАрдВ рднреА рдЦрдбреА рдХрд░ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рдереЗ | рдЗрд╕ рдЕрдХрд╕реНрдорд╛рдд рд╣реБрдпреЗ рдЕрд╡рд░реЛрдз рдХреА рд╡рдЬрд╣ рд╕реЗ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдкреАрд░рд╛рди рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪрддреЗ-рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪрддреЗ, рд╢рд╛рдо рдХреА рдзреБрдВрдзрд┐рд▓рдХрд╛ рдЫрд╛рдиреА рд╢реБрд░реВ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпреА рдереА, рдЕрдм рд╕рдорд░ рд╕рдордп рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рднреА рдерд╛, рдЕрдд: рд░реБрдХрдиреЗ рдХреА рдЬрдЧрд╣ рд╕рдм рдХреБрдЫ рдЬрд▓реНрджреА рдЬрд▓реНрджреА рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдерд╛ |┬арддрдорд╛рдо рддрд░рд╣ рдХреЗ рдЭрдВрдЭрд╛рд╡рд╛рддреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╛рд░ рдкрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реБрдпреЗ, рдЖрдЦрд┐рд░рдХрд╛рд░ рдЧреМрдзреВрд▓реА рдХреА ┬ардмреЗрд▓рд╛ рдореЗрдВ рд╣рдо рдЗрд╕ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ | рдмрд┐рд▓реНрдХреБрд▓ рд╕рд╛рдзрд╛рд░рдг рд╕рд╛ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рд╣реИ, рдпреВрдкреА рдХреЗ рддрдорд╛рдо рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡реЛрдВ рдХреА рддрд░рд╣ рд╣реА,┬арддрд░рдХреНрдХреА рд╕реЗ рдмрд┐рд▓реНрдХреБрд▓ рдЕрдЫреВрддрд╛, рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдЬрд╛рддреА рдХрдЪреНрдЪреА-рдкрдХреНрдХреА рд╕рдврд╝рдХ рдФрд░ рджреВрд░ рддрдХ рдлреИрд▓рд╛ рдорд┐рдЯрдЯреА рдХрд╛ рдореИрджрд╛рди | рд╣рд╛рдБ, рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдкрд░ рдкрддреНрдерд░ рдХрд╛ рдмрдирд╛ рдПрдХ рдмрдбрд╝рд╛ рд╕рд╛ рдЧреЗрдЯ, рдЗрд╕ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдХреА рдХреБрдЫ рд╡рд┐рд▓рдХреНрд╖рдгрддрд╛ рдХреА рдореБрдирд╛рджреА рд╕рд╛ рдХрд░рддрд╛ рдкреНрд░рддреАрдд рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдордЧрд░ рдЗрддрдирд╛ рд╕рдордп рдирд╣реА рдирд┐рдХрд╛рд▓ рдкрд╛рдпреЗ рдХрд┐┬ардЪрдВрдж рдкрд▓ рд░реБрдХ рдХрд░, рдЗрд╕ рдЧреЗрдЯ рдХреА рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдЙрддрд╛рд░ рдкрд╛рддреЗ,┬ардХреНрдпреВрдВрдХрд┐ рдЬрдВрдЧ рдЕрдм рдШрдбрд╝реА рдХреА рд╕реБрдИрдУрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рднреА рдереА, рдФрд░ рдЗрдзрд░ рд╢рд╛рдо рдЕрдм рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╕реБрд░рдордИ рд░реВрдк рдмрджрд▓, рдХрд╛рд▓рд┐рдорд╛ рдХреА рддрд░рдлрд╝ рдмрдбрд╝рдиреЗ рдХреЛ рдЕрдЧреНрд░рд╕рд░ рдереА | рдЕрдд: рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдХрд╛ рдореЛрд╣ рдЫреЛрдбрд╝ рд╕реАрдзреЗ рдЗрдорд╛рдо рд╕рд╛рд╣рдм рдХреА рдЦрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд╣ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рдЬрджрд╛ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ | рдРрд╕реА рд░рд╡рд╛рдпрдд рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рд╣рдЬрд░рдд рд╕рд╛рдмрд┐рд░ рдЕрд▓реА рдХреА рджрд░рдЧрд╛рд╣ рдкрд░ рджрд╕реНрддрдХ рджреЗрдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдЗрдорд╛рдо рд╕рд╛рд╣рдм рдФрд░ рд╢рд╛рд╣ рдмрд╛рдмрд╛ рдХреА рджрд░рдЧрд╛рд╣ рдкрд░ рд╣рд╛рдЬрд┐рд░реА рднрд░рдиреА рдкрдбрддреА рд╣реИ, рдФрд░ рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рдЬрдЧрд╣реЗрдВ рдПрдХ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рд╕реЗ рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ 2 рдХрд┐рдореА рдХреА рджреВрд░реА┬ардкрд░ рд╣реИрдВ | рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рд╣рдордиреЗ рдпрд╣реАрдВ рдЗрдорд╛рдо рд╕рд╛рд╣рдм рдХреА рджрд░рдЧрд╛рд╣ рдкрд░ рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╕рдЬрджрд╛ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдордиреНрдирдд рдХрд╛ рдзрд╛рдЧрд╛ рдмрд╛рдБрдзрд╛ | рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рд╕реЗрд╣рди рдореЗрдВ рдХрд┐рддрдиреЗ рд╣реА рдзрд╛рдЧреЗ рдФрд░ рдЕрд░реНрдЬрд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рд▓реЛрдЧ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдордиреЛрдХрд╛рдордирд╛рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рдкреВрд░реНрддреА рд╣реЗрддреБ рдмрд╛рдБрдз рдЧрдпреЗ рдереЗ |

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Road Journeys – Ahmedabad to Jungarh

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Finally a huge granary, a few steps from the step-wells, covered with stage wise storage facilities enabled the curators to use the stocks in hardships as per its requirement by taking it out of the selected chamber designed by high class engineering technique without disturbing the entire storage. Preserved with natural herbs and their way of modern-ancient techniques of keeping the grains dry and free from pesticides is a matter of research. We are happy with pride to know that we were always ahead of time.

An interesting fact, which I feel prominent to mention, is that Zulfikar Ali Bhutta, the deceased veteran of Pakistan, hanged in a political trial was an administrator of the Nawab of Junagadh and played a role during annexation, post independence. Also the very famous, beautiful actor in Bollywood, Parvin Babi was a kin to Junagadh Nawab of Babi dynasty, sadly died in pitiable condition. A few fresh blooms and a solitary eagle on a dead dried tree impressed me with the balance of nature.

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