RIP (CXXIII)

Warning: This is not a happy post

Death is always hurtful. And all of us have experienced the pain related to it. But I wonder whether we actually respect it. This is one thing where the scientists also could not reach. We do not know what happens after death. What happens beyond this world. We only know the pain attached to it. And that pain is not felt by the dead, but by the people who are alive. That pain is felt by us.

We must respect that pain, we must respect the life of the person who is gone, who is no more with us, we must respect his contributions to this world, we must respect the feelings of the people attached to him. 

In today's world we have become so busy that we feel that if we type simple "RIP" we have done our duty. I would rather say that do not type anything. Do not waste those 'important' few seconds of your life typing these three letters. 

A person needs our call, our assurance, our friendship when he loses somebody. Our 'RIP' does no good to him, where we do not have much time to write its full form. 

I sometimes wonder that why acronyms came into existence and I studied the history behind it. Acronyms usually are used to define long Proper Nouns (NATO, UN, Scuba, BBC etc.) and later for SMS where there was a world limit. Well, both the uses do not hold good in this case. What holds good here is that we have become emotionless, money making machines. We hardly care for people around us. We hardly respect.    

To all of us who have saved those few seconds:

RIP the humanity

RIP the time we have saved typing RIP

पत्र पेटी - लेटर बॉक्स (CXXII)

पत्र पेटी यानि की अंग्रेजी में लेटर बॉक्स l लाल और  काले रंग का l आज भी जब मैं अपने घर के बाहर इस लेटर बॉक्स को देखती हूँ तो पुरानी यादों में खो जाती हूँ  l इसके बड़े से मुख  में लेटर फेंकना बहुत ही दिलचस्प लगता था मुझे  l  ऐडमिशन   की ऍप्लिकेशन, कॉलेज  के पत्र, दादी को खत- सब कुछ ये एक लेटर बॉक्स समेट  लेता था l  

कहते थे की लाल रंग की मेल  गाड़ी देखो तो उँगलियाँ क्रॉस करके कुछ भी मांग लो, और उन उँगलियों को इस लेटर बॉक्स को देखकर खोलो, सारी ख्वाहिशें  पूरी हो जायेंगी  l  मैं  घंटों इस लेटर बॉक्स के आने  का इंतज़ार करती थी l  उँगलियाँ दर्द हो जाती थीं , पर वो  तमन्नायें ज़्यादा ज़रूरी थीं l 

अब  तो ना  ही वो तमन्नायें रहीं और ना  ही वो पत्र l  बस ये लेटर बॉक्स है और मेरी कुछ यादें l 

   

MY STAY IN KALPA, HIMACHAL (CXXI)

..Continued from the last post Jouney to Kalpa ..

Let me start from where I left the last post. 

So in last post I had reached Kalpa after travelling for 21 hours and Aman, my host from Apple Pie was waiting for me. All this while I was in continuous  touch with Aman. We had never met before but he already became my confidante and I was eagerly looking forward to meet him. I saw Aman and we gave a formal hug to each other.  

Well! It is difficult to write about a person when you know him too well, when you are close to him and when you know that he would be reading this. But I will be honest with my feelings here. That is the whole purpose of my writings. 

So as I entered Apple Pie one word "Wow" came from my mouth. View from Apple Pie was ecstatic. Snow covered peaks, Tibetan flags, view of Kalpa Village, everything was serene about that place.

Aman's cook was on leave so he prepared omelette and chai for me. I must say that he is a great cook and I being mean, I wished till the time I was there his cook should not come. And my wish was granted. So for the next 5 days I had the most scrumptious and luscious food.

I spent the first day lazing around- watching mountains, eating, reading, thinking.  I was quite tired after the long journey. I was trying to imbibe the place, the people. It was almost evening and I was sitting reading my book in the cafe. A family of four - husband, wife and two kids came to Apple Pie. Aman knew them before. Those kids- I have not come across such kids in this modern society before. Though they were naughty but they were well behaved, smiling , laughing and talking. The girl was in eight standard and quite intelligent. She was creative too. And the boy must be in pre-school only. I hardly saw them crying or cribbing. Obviously the credit for this goes to their parents. The mother- Prerna, who was fond of learning languages and reading books, she told that they often travel, the whole family. They had come to Kalpa from Delhi in their car. That was a long journey. And that was their second time to Kalpa. I feel travelling helps children in their growth- to grow as a mature and an understanding person, to adjust easily to different situations, to be more compatible. I had a great time with those kids.

Night view from Apple Pie- when moon was shining brightly

 IT IS A SMALL WORLD

My stories of "It is a small world" never ends. (other stories which were shocking for me Arambol, Goa)
- It was the third day and I was sitting in balcony when a group of three people came on bikes. Two guys entered and the third one was wearing the helmet. They booked a room after talking for a while with Aman. I saw them and did not pay much attention. I was engrossed in my thoughts. At night when I was sitting for dinner, one of the guys entered (the helmet guy). I saw him and I could not believe my eyes. I got confused. I asked in shock, "Mishra!". And he replied in shock, "Nancy". And we started laughing.
Me: How come you are here?
He: On a trip. I saw you in afternoon also, and I thought that I have seen this girl somewhere.
Me: You have forgotten me?
He: No no! I thought that it was you but then I felt that how could you be here. This place is so far. It was may be some other girl who resembles you.
Me: (Laughing) I am so glad to see you after such a long time.

I was meeting Yogesh Mishra almost after an year. I met him in Bir through a common friend. And here I was meeting him in Kalpa.

- While I was roaming around Kalpa I met a guy- J K Pandey. He was also on solo trip. Married and settled in Mumbai he was a mountain lover.  We talked for a while and he went on his own way.
Later that day Anshul messaged me (Anshul, the guy whom I had met during the Journey to Kalpa).
He told that he had met a guy who was talking about me. Being a female solo traveller, he was quite inspired from me. He was J K Pandey. I was shocked and glad at the same time. Two people whom I had met randomly at different places, at different time met somewhere and talking about me.

My five days stay at Apple Pie went amazing. Days were spent around roaming, visiting places. And evenings were spent talking with Aman. We used to talk for hours, sitting in cafe, in balcony, in car while he puts his camera on tripod for making star trails or time lapse videos (the tripod which I had collected from his friend and brought from Delhi on a deal that he would click my photos, which he did). Aman looks totally different of what he actually is. Being straight forward he sounds rude but he is kind, he sounds arrogant but he is very down to earth. He is a voracious reader and he writes poetry. It is not easy to understand him without spending time with him. He knows what he wants and he is quite clear in his thoughts. He respects women. And towards me- I got pampered like anything. He packed food for me when I went for Chaka trek (that food came as a saviour), he was almost packing food for my return journey where I pleaded him that I would prefer eating road side food. He almost knew what I wanted before even asking for it. While returning he gifted me special Shimla apple jam which I still relish.

This place is a hub for travellers and people who are associated with this industry. I met so many different kinds of people here- people running tours and travel business, transport business, travel couples, groups.

And for me- this place became home in just few days.

Places around Kalpa and an adventurous trek are following in next blog. 

Videos and more pictures on Facebook page and Instagram handle

The Day I Realised that I Am Alive

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MY 7 DAYS IN KALPA, HIMACHAL (CXX)

28th March- 4th April, 2018

JOURNEY TILL KALPA

Kalpa- What is it? 

In Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, kalpa refers to the period of time between the creation and dissolution meaning the recreation of Universe. 

And I must say this place is as beautiful as its meaning.

I wanted to go to Kalpa since the first solo trip I took to Narkanada. And this was probably the time. 

I took evening bus from ISBT Delhi till Rampur, Himachal. I knew that for the next 14 hours my life was confined to that small rectangle, with a window on my right and one unknown person on my left. Watching outside the window I tried to decipher lives of people outside and also to touch the life of that unknown. So that Mr 'Unknown' turned out to be Amit, Amit Thakur from Shimla. Our conversations started normally with our professions and jobs. Some cliche conversations which always help to break the ice. And those cliche conversations turned out to be interesting where we talked about travelling, college days, old songs, poetry and different treks. We did not exchange any numbers neither the social media profiles. He got down at Shimla and I bade him goodbye.

The conductor came to check the tickets and asked me twice to ensure that I was really travelling to Rampur. The bus stopped at the dinner point and I purchased a token for Masala Dosa. I was at the counter and the conductor came to me, " Arre, I was looking for you. Where were you? Oh! You purchased the coupon. I was inviting you to have dinner. They cook special dinner for us. Anyways, enjoy your meal." I was little shocked but I thanked him. 

In Shimla half the bus became empty and further in Narkanda another half. For a while I was alone in the bus. The bus stopped at a breakfast joint. Conductor was very inquisitive and protective too. He asked me where and why I was travelling alone. Where- I replied to Kalpa. And his eyes became wide opened. "Too far", he said. Why- I myself did not know the answer of it. So to sound genuine and authentic I told him that I had been travelling alone and had previously came to Narkanda and on another trip to Sarahan.  He was amazed. I ordered paranthas for me when the cook who was listening to our conversation started smiling at me. I smiled back and he said, "Wapis aate huye zarur milna (Do meet me again on your return journey)"  

After 14 hours I got down at Rampur where the conductor told me to catch bus till Reckong Peo. I sat in the bus reading my book. It was approximately 4-5 hours journey. A guy was sitting beside me. For once or twice my eyes got shut, owe it to the long travelling hours and I almost fell on him. I was feeling sorry but he smiled. He was Aman from Rampur doing mobile business in area around Rampur. Listening to my story he was shocked and happy at the same time. He said, "It is good to meet people (girl/female) like you. I wish you a happy journey. I hope our paths meet again." He got down somewhere in between and I again started looking out of the window. 

Best part about travelling alone is that I meet random people where we do not discuss our jobs or the problems attached to it. We discuss books and authors, poets and poetry, stars and weather, cafes, cinema and theatre. 

The bus took another halt and I got down stretching my legs. A guy with wide smile, specs and a geek look (I easily get attracted to geeks) suddenly asked, "Are you travelling solo?" "Yes", I replied. "Wow! Where are you heading to?" and our conversation started where I got to know that he was travelling to Chitkul alone and that he writes poetry. Poetry, that one thing which connects me to people easily. We exchanged numbers with a promise to meet again in Delhi. That guy was Anshul and now my very good friend. 

I reached Reckong Peo and I felt ecstatic after seeing the view. White mountains, fresh air and Indian flag dancing on the sound of winds.  From Reckong Peo I had to catch another bus till  Kalpa. I spent some time at bus stop and boarded the bus which would take me to my final destination Kalpa.

I reached Kalpa in half an hour from Reckong Peo, where Aman, my host from Apple Pie was waiting for me. All this while I was in continuous  touch with Aman. We had never met before but he had already became my confidante and I was eagerly looking forward to meet him. 

View from Apple Pie

My stay in Kalpa, more people I met in the journey, places around Kalpa and an adventurous trek are following in next blog. 

Videos and more pictures on Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/thedayirealisedthatiamalive/