Traveling is good
तो मित्रो आपने पढ़ा कि अपनी हिमाचल यात्रा हमने नैना देवी, ज्वालाजी, कांगड़ा, पालमपुर बैजनाथ होते हुए रिवालसर में समाप्त की। अब समय आ गया था इस खूबसूरत जगह को छोड़ने का व अपनी वापसी यात्रा शुरु करने का. ऩाश्ता करने के बाद हमने होटल का बिल चुकाया और एक बार फिर रिवालसर के नयनाभिराम दृष्यों को जी भर कर देखा…. और अपनी वापसी य़ात्रा शुरु की.
Read More
While clicking through the window of my compartment, I couldn’t help admiring the beautiful curves. (Again, don’t get me wrong please! I am talking of the curves our train was taking ! ) The sharpest curve our train took was of 48.12 meter radius. As regards fastest speed of the train, please don’t ever think that it can compete with Chinese Bullet Train. It can run at the maximum speed of 25 km. per hour. In case you are not happy with this speed, try the Rail Car which has an admirable speed of 30 km. / hour! From Kalka to Shimla, in all there are 20 railway stations. Although our train was labelled as Express train, it stopped at most of the stations especially in later half of the journey. It was as if it was a private bus wherein the cleaner had the moral obligation to halt the vehicle to enable an old lady to disembark. I think the guard of our train was going an extra mile by accompanying her up to the road and seeing her off before flagging the train to move on.
Read More
“Try the pancakes, with honey – they are good” She suggests.
I nod and add a masala tea to the order. Her phone rings while she is scanning the menu. “An omelet for me…” she rushes out of the café to talk.
I find a corner table and start scanning my mobile for morning news. The café rings with laughter suddenly and I pull my face to see some young girls giggling their way in. She’s still talking on the phone outside the door, shifting herself from one leg to other.
There’s cassia blooming outside on a tree behind her. Surprised at its own fertility his young flower laden branches are struggling against the bitter January wind. Perhaps, the nature wants to have spring early this year.
My eyes focus back to her slightly troubled face. I wonder…
The tea arrives and while I soak in its aroma, the pancakes too. They are good – these guys at Nik’s – they won’t serve the omelet until she’s here.
She comes back in pulling her warm coat closer; her face is back to her usual blank-happiness state.
“How is it?”
“Ummm… pancakes are good, masala tea is better at CCD!”
Read More