YOU AND ME (XCIV)

I am strong

But I feel protected when you hold my hand while crossing the road


I am bold

But I melt when your hands caress my hair


I am earning

But I feel happy when you buy that cup of tea for me


I am a loner

But I like spending time with you, just you and me.

AGRASEN KI BAOLI, DELHI, INDIA

ADVENTURE PLUS NATURE- PRASHAR LAKE, MANDI, HIMACHAL (XCIII)

25th May, 2016-29th May, 2016

Sometimes it's difficult to sink in the beauty of a place. The beauty which is beyond imagination. The beauty which is so mesmerizing that you feel you are in a dream world. Yes! Finally I reached my dream destination : "Prashar"

Prashar Lake
PC: Ashish Sohal

ASHISH'S HOUSE

After travelling alone for 10 hours in bus (my favourite HRTC Volvo) from ISBT, Delhi I found Ashish waiting for me at Kangra, Himachal bus stop with his scooty. Travelling in scooty in mountains- Wow! I became all excited. The cool breeze was touching my skin, the fresh air was filling my lungs and I felt as if somebody had taken me out from an oven and put me in a refrigerator. We reached Ashish's house. Situated amidst the mountains with greenery all around Ashish's house is beautiful. It was so neat and clean that after coming back from the trip the first thing I did was cleaning my room.

THE LOST JACKET AND MY FAITH IN HUMANITY (IN TRUE SENSE 'ATITHI DEVO BHAVA)

After having breakfast (delicious omelette and tea which Ashish cooked for me) we left from Ashish's house and our journey till Prashar started on our favourite Duke. Prashar is around 160 kms from Kangra. Enjoying the weather, the roads, the mountains I went into silent mode and Ashish asked me if everything was fine. I suddenly woke up from my thought process.
"Nothing! As soon as I sit on the bike I go in meditative mode." 

Prashar
PC: Ashish Sohal

After crossing almost 60 kms I suddenly realised that I had dropped my newly bought, not too inexpensive jacket. Ashish being very patient turned the bike and we started travelling back looking on road sides. Travelling back was boring and time consuming but we had no other option. Unsuccessful in our endeavours we reached a point some 30 kms back at the market which we had crossed previously and I asked one shopkeeper about my jacket. To my disappointment he moved his head in 'No'. My mood was a little off but we again started our journey. 
Suddenly after 2-3 minutes two boys showed their hands and Ashish got little irritated but still stopped the bike. The boy just said, "Jacket!" .
I almost jumped. He took out my jacket from his bag which he had kept very neatly and tidily and told that any car would have spoilt it so they took it and were waiting for us to come back.

After my mobile was stolen in Delhi by the person to whom I offered help I lost little faith in humanity. But after this incident my faith in humanity was restored. It was cold and in that time a woollen jacket is one precious thing.  Because of this incident we had to travel extra 60 kms which almost took our 1.5 hours but as it is said "All's well that ends well", I finally got my jacket back.  

FOREST GUEST HOUSE

In Prashar there are only two places to stay- PWD Guest House and Forest Guest House. We booked Forest Guest House around 10 days before. If one does not get guest house then only option remains are tents. When we reached guest house the caretaker  told us  that our room is booked only for one day and we had to stay in tent the next day. It was 5 degree there but we didn't have any other option. The room was okay and not that great but yes atleast we had roof on our heads. We saw many cars going back as they didn't get any place to stay. The next day we were all prepared to shift in tent and Roop Singh was the owner of our tent. Roop Singh and our guest house caretaker were good friends and while we were still pondering where to put our tent they told us that they have arranged a room for us, a VIP room which is allowed only for Forest Officials. I saw the room and I controlled my happiness in front of Roop Singh. That room was amazing. If I would get a chance I could stay there for N number of days. 

VIEW FROM ROOM

FOREST GUEST HOUSE HAS ONLY 6 ROOMS WHICH INCLUDES ONE VIP ROOM. SO IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A ROOM ON THE SPOT

PRASHAR

Words are less to describe this place. Let the pictures speak:

PC:ASHISH SOHAL

PC: ASHISH SOHAL

PRASHAR TEMPLE IS TEMPLE DEVOTED TO RISHI PRASHAR AND PEOPLE FROM DISTANT PLACES COME HERE TO GET THEIR WISHES FULFILLED
PC:ASHISH SOHAL

PC: ASHISH SOHAL

FLOATING ISLAND- THE ISLAND IN BETWEEN THE LAKE IS FLOATING ISLAND. ON ONE DAY YOU WILL SEE IT ON ONE SIDE OF THE LAKE AND ON OTHER THE DAY THE OTHER SIDE. LOCALS TOLD ME THAT SOMETIMES ISLAND DOES NOT MOVE EVEN FOR 10 DAYS AND SOMETIMES IT TRAVELS THE LAKE IN A DAY ONLY.
PC:ASHISH SOHAL

PC:ASHISH SOHAL

The road from Kangra till Mandi is very smooth but the final 25 kms journey to reach Prashar is all kacha road. The journey requires a lot of patience and zeal of adventure. But then it's all worth it.

RETURN JOURNEY

On the way we experienced hail storm  and the trip became all the more adventurous and beautiful.

BAIJNATH TEMPLE- A TEMPLE DEVOTED TO LORD SHIVA

TEA GARDENS AT BANOTU

S. SOBHA SINGH ART GALLERY

Such places could be known by a local only, thanks to Ashish he took me to S. Sobha Art Gallery in Andretta Village. Shri Sobha Singh is popularly known as Picasso of India. His paintings mainly includes portraits which looked very real. One of his famous paintings is Sohni Mahiwal painting.  Photography was not allowed in the gallery but a person who loves art, this a must visit for him. 

THAT CHAI WALA

Bidding goodbye to Ashish, I started my journey from Kangra to Delhi. While returning my bus stopped at the same dhaba and I got down to buy water bottle. I saw that chai wala from whom I took tea while coming. I recognised him and I knew he won't as he meet so many people in one day. He looked at me and immediately said "Pehchana, wapas ja rahe ho? (Did you recognise me, are you going back now?" and I smiled and said "Yes!".

YOU (XCII)

I wish this world would have been a smaller place

And the distances could have been travelled in minutes


I wish I could reach you in few steps

and could see you, embrace you


I wish to lay beside you silently for hours

just mesmerized by your presence


I wish you could be here

and I could be with you

Just You.

MATIANA, HIMACHAL, INDIA

http://nancyagarwal.blogspot.in/2015/05/my-first-solo-trip-narkanda-xxvi.html

LOVE (XCI)

You came in my life

When I needed you the most


You gave me reason to live

When I had lost all hopes


You made me built new dreams

When all previous were shattered


God gave me you

When he took other things that mattered.

BHARATPUR, RAJASTHAN

http://nancyagarwal.blogspot.in/2016/04/keoladeo-bharatpur-bird-sanctuary-day-2.html

LET'S CONNECT (XC)

LET'S MEET 

LET'S CONNECT

Pic 1- Narkanda, Himachal (Solo)
Pic 2- Sweet Water Lake, Arambol, Goa (Solo)

EVENT LINK ON FACEBOOK-

https://www.facebook.com/events/1281473915214857/

LOVE (LXXXIX)

He was the first person she shared her happiness with

And he was the first person in front of whom she confronted her sorrows

She surely fell in love with him 

But love as always

comes with pain

Pain of loneliness

And pain of departure

Pain of missing him

And seeing him going farther

BHARATPUR, RAJASTHAN

MY STORY AS PILLION RIDER- 800+ KMS RIDE FROM DELHI TO KASARDEVI (LXXXVIII)

20th April, 2016- 24th April,2016

All this while I have been reading stories of bikers travelling to distance places, but what is it like to be a pillion rider. Sitting on back seat, watching trees running at a great speed, helping the rider with directions carrying GPS in hand, a backpack on shoulders and various thoughts which keep travelling in a different world. This is my story. My journey from Delhi to Kasardevi and further till Binsar- the 800+ kms journey as a pillion rider.

DAY 1

Delhi-Haldwani

After my two trips on bike- Kasauli ( http://nancyagarwal.blogspot.in/2016/03/my-first-trip-in-himalyas-on-bike.html ) and Bharatpur (http://nancyagarwal.blogspot.in/2016/03/bharatpur-rajasthan-day-1-lxxvii.html), my dad warned me that I should not go on bike again (and I could understand his concern and love for me). So while I was leaving for this trip I told him that  I am going by bus. (Though once I came back I told him the truth and he scolded, and frowned and laughed. I know my dad very well.) With Ashish as biker and me as pillion rider we started our journey on Ashish's Duke early in morning. After travelling for more than 100 kms our stomachs started growling. We were looking for some good dhaba or restaurant and suddenly out of intuition I told Ashish to go ahead some few kms for Bikanervala. My guess was right. Well, it was not exactly the guess as I had travelled on that road before while going to Pangot and Jim Corbett, the road till Gajraula. Ashish looked at me in praise and I smiled.

JOURNEY

I saw a family eating, chatting, laughing, sharing jokes and I remembered all the trips I had with my mom. 

BIKANERVALA

We took halt at Haldwani to get ready for the next day journey till Kasardevi. This trip was going to be my longest trip on bike and I was not sure whether I would be able to do it or not.

GETTING PUNCTURE DONE

DAY 2

Haldwani-Kasardevi

After travelling for 100+ kms when I saw that first glimpse of mountains, automatically all the tiredness vanished and a natural smile came on my face. Ashish, not sure whether I would be able to travel so much on bike kept asking me if I needed any rest and I kept saying in all excitement to go ahead. 

We reached Kasardevi in afternoon. Kasardevi is a small hill town under Almora district and became famous when Swami Vivekanda meditated there. It was indeed beautiful, peaceful and meditative. Our home, New Dolma Guest House offered amazing tea (my style of strong tea) and snacks. Our room was mountain facing with a balcony and offered an amazing view from the window.

Nature is one thing of which with whatever angle, with whatever camera, in whatever light, with whatever pose you take the picture, it will always be good.

VIEW FROM BALCONY

A CUTE WANDERING SOUL

KASARDEVI TEMPLE

It was a 2 kms trek for Kasardevi temple- a temple built on hill top out of natural caves. We thought that we would visit the temple and would come back in half an hour or so. But the view, the temple, the ringing of temple bells, the winds, the sunset and moon-rise kept us so engrossed that we came back at dinner time. I sat at the hill top and I didn't realise when I went into deep meditation. I opened my eyes and saw Ashish clicking pictures. He smiled at me and I felt as if I had woken up after a deep sleep.  

VIEW FROM KASARDEVI TEMPLE

DAY 3

Kasardevi- Binsar

Some 10 kms from Kasardevi, Binsar is a wild life sanctuary and the best way to travel Binsar is through bike.  Covered in dense forest, Binsar offers a picturesque view. Exploring Binsar we reached at a point where the bike could not go any further and a trek of around 2+ kms started till Zero Point. We started our trek and it felt amazing to walk on dry leaves. Sound of dry leaves, birds and the winds was adding music to that silence. Chatting, walking, running, romancing we reached Zero Point. 

I wondered that all throughout life we keep running behind things but in the end everything comes to Zero. And the ultimate peace is in that zero only. 



      

ZERO POINT

BINSAR

While coming back we experienced forest fire but luckily it was not that widespread. Hungry, we stopped at Simba Cafe. While Ashish was parking the bike, I very confidently went inside the cafe and came back running all afraid. Ashish couldn't control his laugh seeing me and behind me was tiger like dog- Simba. The cafe was named after him. But he was peaceful and later became our good friend too. We hogged on delicious maggie, bread, eggs and tea. On Binsar gate we requested the care-taker to open the museum and he happily brought the keys and showed us the museum around. 

FOREST FIRE

SIMBA

GOLU DEVTA TEMPLE

A temple full of bells, letters having wishes written on them, monkeys all around, Golu Devta Temple is  very colourful and beautiful. I started reading the wishes and after reading some I got tears in my eyes. There was a letter from a sister praying for his brother's job, a letter from a daughter asking good health of his parents, a letter from a student asking for his good marks in exam. The most interesting was a letter with stamp paper and I couldn't control my laughter. 














































































We came back to our home- The Dolma House. It was cold outside. Sitting in my room I looked outside the window. It was full moon day. The moon was shining brightly. The sky was glittering with stars and far away earth was shimmering with lights. Seeing the moon I thought, "One should be like moon, which shines brightest in the darkest of nights."


DAY 4

Kasardevi- Rudrapur

Next day we started our journey back to Delhi with Rudrapur as our stoppage. Leaving hills always makes me sad as if I am leaving my home. Having ample time of 2 days in our hands we made maximum out of the return journey- taking longer halts, enjoying view to the fullest, sometimes chatting and sometimes just sitting quietly, clicking pictures, listening music and sometimes driving at a speed on 20km/hr to enjoy the winds.

BHIM TAL

DAY 5 

Rudrapur- Delhi

I was back home. The trip still seems like a dream to me. I was proud of myself to complete this 800+ journey without any hassles. For a pillion rider a journey is as adventurous, rather more adventurous than the biker. It is not easy to sit behind and be a support system to the rider, to remain as active as the rider. For me this long journey was full of adventure and fun. Each trip changes something in me. Each trip teaches me something. Travelling let me know the struggles in the world, and the happiness which people find in those struggles.