LOVING A CITY

New places have never been uncomfortable to me. In fact i love visiting as many places as possible,in the span of next 10 years or so (when my mobility is still intact)so that i can mingle with these places and get to know their nuances.

Perhaps all this liking started because of my father's employment in Raiways.He used to get passes for journey for himself and his family atleast once in an year.Possibly that was the greatest charm of railway employment in those days.I remeber travelling with him to quite few places during my child hood(i.e for about 5-6 years) as my father retired from active service when i was just 5 years old.Still there were visits occasionally after his retirement too,but these were far and few.

In the cosy comfort of the first class(you may hve to travel 30 years back to imagine what a first class compartment would look like in those days),in the warmth and security of father's arms , each station that passes by is a treat to watch. More importantly , because of the position that my father occupied in Railways and due to the respect shown in those days to those travel by first class(mind you it wasa luxury to travel in first class those days,A/C trains were not heard then), in each station uniformed railway staff would keep enquiring about food/coffee /tea requirements.And the food that is served used to be of great taste and quality.MEALS USED TO BE SERVED IN LOVELY designed plates(with no spilling over) with a beautiful cloth wrapped around the contents till it is served.Similarly the tea/coffee jars will have a unique style and greatness about them(Possibility of the british culture inculcated in them).To supplement the same, mother (who is equally fond of travels) used to bring some select items (nothing when compared to waht my wife packs of fro a train journey when she is in the right mood to travel).But a mother's touch is always different ..is it not? That much as reasons behind my fondness for travel.

The earliest journey green in my memory was the journey from Villupuram(Tamil nadu) to Vijayawada(Andhra pradesh).The hot iddlies on arrival at Vijayawada (with its great combination of Gongura chutney..my mouth waters even writing about it)the sound of train when it passed over the river Krishna, the rushing waters of Krishna below, the beautifully illuminated Goddess KANAGA DURGA temple at Vijaya wada all engraved in my memoery, instantly.SInce then there were quite a few small journeys between Chennai and Kumbakonam where my brother was staying.It used to be a night train and when we get down at Kumbakonam in the early morning hours the wind will carry a chill (courtesy , the river Cauvery which used to run at the back yeard of the houses, to its brim in those days) , the different types of Holy songs from the loud speakers from various temples in and around(Kumbakonam is called as City of temples for obvious reasons), the flavour of steaming coffee (from the famous Mangala Vilas -Brahmanal coffee kadai in those days)again stole my heart.

Then there were journeys to various places on account of career/Job.To Hyderabad,To Bangalore, To Kolkata ,To Mumbai ...all most all main metro cities .I had never felt alien or disturbed in any of those places. Instead i used to feel the very moment of my lnding at these places as if i used to belong to these places for ages.I am still unable to decipher the reson for the same(one of the points which used to be the cause for chiding by my wife who loves Chennai, Chennai , Chennai in that order!!) .Probably this made my stay/settlement at thse places much faster as compared to siblings of my age in those days.When you like a place(or for that matter a person, with out anticipating anything in return) i belive that there is more than reciprocation form the other end too and that has made my living an easy task in these places.

Yes, When you go to alien places, start developing a natural liking to the place, you will find that all other routine obstacles of anew place will fade into oblivion.And all said and done, i havae to admit one thing...The charm of journey under the warmth of my father , is not felt since then..Perhaps it is my turn to pmart that warmth to my children..I have been trying to do it whenever i can, and i think that they will also enjoy these conmforts and satrt liking the places they vist in their journey of life.