A TRIP TO SHIMLA (CTD)

FOR fear of people mistaking my blog as a tavelogue of some sorts, i refrained from this post for some time. but the inner surge to sahre the beauty of that trip with some anticlimax and finally an wonderful climax prodded me to post this.Hence you are reading this .

First things first, the trip itself was a suddenly planned one, or the one thrust at the last minute (thanks to a scheme announced by credit card issuers some time last year for its Golden card holders,).Since i have already planned for a trip to Delhi inconnection with an official trip it became comparatively easier to extend the programme form Delhi to Simla. The added attraction is the presence of my wife by my side.The fact that we both had been looking for an escapade, after some hectic events back at home, which were physically and mentally tiring, all at the same time, we were in fact ( to gether for a change!!) looking forward to that trip.

AND THE CRedit goes to my ever inspiring and ever ready daughter , who checked and booked confirmed tickets for all legs from Delhi to Simla and back to CHENNAI.(in no time using her cards/online bank transfers etc). Special thanks to her for making the trip memorable, as things were in place even before we departed thus removing the uncertain elements.

The journey was to Delhi, and then from Delhi to KALKA and from KALKA to SIMLA and again from Simla to another peak point above simla (called KUFRI).The schedule was, on ward train from Delhi to be boarded at 9.40 pm, with the schedled arrival at KALKA at 4.40 am, (the next day), just in time to catch the hill train from kalka leaving from Simla at 5.40 am.The official duies were over as per plans and i was back in home to have a relaxed dinner and arrive in time at Old Delhi raiway station .Immediately on arrival we were greeted by the board at the entrance of Delhi station to the effect that the train frm Kolkata to Simla via Kolka is behind schedule by 2hrs and is expected to depart only at 11.40 pm instead of 9.40 pm.There were hardly any options left as the journey from RK puram (my brotherin law's place) to old DElhi has already consumed an hour and a quarter and thus the only choice was to stay at the station.Our immediate worry was that the connecting train from KALKA to SIMLA is not psossible to be boarded as our train , (going by the announcement )will reach Kolka by 6.40 am (instad of 4.40 am )whereas train to Simla is to depart at 5.40am. We do not know when is the next connecting train.Added to that the loss of tkt cost on account of train missed.All charms of going to Simla , HAVE STARTED DRYING OFF AT THAT MOMENT.

Still we were known to have come across several such instances in our life journey together and we decided to take it in its strides. There was a MACDONALD RESTAURANT AWAITING WITH ITS NEON sighns declaring 24 hrs "open" sign.WE decided to have a retreat there, to spend the next two hours and also to have a cup of hotchocolate (which is surprisingly not available in Macdonalds situated near our residence at Velachery , Chennai.)

We also thought we could engage in small and sweet conversations with my son (celebrating his 26th birth day , for the first time away from all of us at Hongkong) and daughter who is left alone at CHENNAI in the company of her grand mother.Accordingly we carried out our plans, talked to son and daughter, munched french fries and gulped hot chocolate, gossiped about our earlier visits to hill sations/resorts , and saw the time nearing 11.30 pm.In anticipation of arrival of train, we left the warmth of MACDONALDS,proceeded to the platform No 10, where the train from Kolkata is expected to arrive only to be greeted with the announcement that the train which was running late earlier by 2 hrs is running late by 4 hrs and the expected time of arrival was indicated at 2.30 am. We knew then for certainty that our plans are going helter skelter and we also know by then that what can not be cured shall be endured.The icy night and the blowing wind added to the discomfiture and again made an attempt to spoil our moods.But we have decided that what ever be the outcome, we are going to experience every minute as fresh and positive as it could be, for the day happens to be our son's birth day and we did not want any event to beseech our happiness on that day.

After a few more announcements stepping up the delayed arrival, by 15 minues each time, the train atlast came at 3.30 am.( A DELAY OF 6 HOURS).We immediately boarded and went to sleep, to compensate for the earlier loss of sleep. While my wife realy succeeded in getting some sleep, my ill equipped preapredeness for the late train joiurney, in dipping temperatures , made it difficult for me to sleep and as such i started travelling backward in my memory towards the earlier birthdays of my son and how each of his last 3 bith days were unique in some sence or other.2009 at Mumbai, 2010 at HYDERABAD and 2011 at Hongkong..wah:)By the time my eye lids closed on me due to sheer tiredness, and the early morning sun was slowly giving the much desired warmth as a shield from the previous icy night we have arrived at Kalka.Yes train has made up atleast 90 minutes of delay and reached Kolka at 9.15 am.

And when we hurriedly disembarked and started enquiring for the next train to Shimla, from Kolka we were informed that the next train is to depart in about 15 minutes from the adjacent platform.And when we reached in break neck speed to the platform we saw the galmour and splendour of the train Himalayan Queen , standing majestically , waiting to depart. And hold your breath...The attendants checked our tkts and escorted us to the Coach C1, WITH OUR RESERVATIONS intact and politely enquired as to the break fast that we would like to have, after serving us a hot flask of fragrant tea.My wife's sullen moods, if any all drifted away (surianai kanda pani pola)on seeing the flask with steaming tea(she is a connnosiur of good tea)and when we settled respectively in our seats the train left the plat form.

The journey time , is one of the longest, i have seen.It took about 5 and half hours and what a journey it is.Unforgettable one. There were 101 tunnels,enroute, besides double the number of bridges and curves.The sight which came before us was enthralling and engulfing at the same time. Nature's gift was at its best .THE BREAK FAST COMPRISING OF Alu tikkia, biscuits, and pot of tea were equally attractive.It was as if we have been transformed from human beings to DevaS.So lovely. so reassuring and so quietening on our nerves. WE missed our near and dear very much at that time. At the same time the manner in which the day has beautifully unfloded before us after a night of uncertainties, also gave a signal to us that our Son's birth day is going to be an unforgettable one and that the year AHEAD for him is going to be a glorious one.SENTIMENTS AND WISHES OFCOURSE!!And i am sure that they will come true.

To make the long story short, we checked in at our resorts at 4pm(behind schedule by 4 hrs)took a long hot shower bath, went down to the lobby to the bar to keep ourselves warm, had some hot chapathis and fried rice and retired to bed just in time to discuss the next days programme.Simla was at its best in the glowing sun, the next day morning. As usual after missing the buffe break fast (which was supposed to be available up to 11 am , which was however declared closed at 10 am itself when we arrived at the restaurant,)we settled for some hot puris and sambarvadas.When we enquired about sight seeing we were informed that there is nothing much to see except hills , hills and hills in that order.However when we rechecked again we were informed that 12 kms from where we stayed (Mind you we were at a height of 2800 meteres above sea level-i,e 7500 feet above sea)the town Kufri has got a few market places besides horse riding etc. The temperatures were hovering between 1 degree and 10 degrees and as such we have to physically do some thing to keep warm and hence we decided to move out.ANd what a fantastic experience it turned out to be.

After initial reluctance to go for horse riding, some how we managed to reach the concensus and took to riding along with another couple and then suddenly saw the entire place was swarmed by people of all ages from all parts of the world, riding on the back of horses of various sizes and colour.It was a journey of 2 hrs up and down by the horse.After being tempted to take the photos on the backdrop of ice and after having slipped twice in the process (fortunately no major injury to either) we decided to call it a day and return back. Then we saw the nature's gift of ice and snow. What started as small drops sooner grew in size to that of pellets and when we were half way thru our return we have been covered by snow and ice and the entire area became a dream coloured in white, absolute,unpolluted white ice and snow.We took a few photos again in the back drop of snow (which came much more beautiful than the ones which we took at the spot intended for such photos earlier after almost breaking our knee joints!!)Oh Eththanai Kodi Inbam vaiathai engal Iraiva!!

And the story never ends when the tide is good and flowing . THE MOMENT WE CAME DOWN to the place frm where we started and got down from the horses, the aroma of hot tava chapathis accompanied by the smell of the side dish from a near by hutment drew us (like a magent attracts the iron ore) and each us us after the horse ride were really ffeing hungry. Thus the food we had in the back drop of the icy rain is one of the most unforgettable ones and the priceless one at that.

the photos we took as memoirs will always bring back the pleasant memories of this trip and if there could be another trip, i wish the same to be in the company of my son and daughter so that the smiles and warmth of the journey will ever be itched in memeory.