Read it on someone's T-shirt yesterday, and it struck - BOOM!
Yeah, shit happens.. a lot of shit happens a lot of times ... that's what life is all about.
All this crap makes life interesting, not necessarily worth living all the time... but still interesting & spicy.
So fuck it woman... let the shit happen, enjoy and move on!!!! (OK OK I am talking to myself, and have people staring at me now!!)
What say, gals?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Betrayal....
It is like the Chinese Whispers game.
A said that B said that C told him that D was "this".
Interesting game - except that the "this" D happens to be you, after you have slogged your arse out for something you thought was your own. And you have given in your best, at the cost of your health and life. And this is what they think of you??
The feeling right now -
completely mindfucked, totally let down, feeling like an arsehole for having believed that I was doing the right thing!
But then, for being the dick head I have been with my priorities, maybe this is what I deserved!
Who is to be blamed -
- C for having said that about D (which D went a step ahead and verified from various sources);
- or A for having told D in the 1st place and mind fucking D;
- or D for making such a fool of herself!
A said that B said that C told him that D was "this".
Interesting game - except that the "this" D happens to be you, after you have slogged your arse out for something you thought was your own. And you have given in your best, at the cost of your health and life. And this is what they think of you??
The feeling right now -
completely mindfucked, totally let down, feeling like an arsehole for having believed that I was doing the right thing!
But then, for being the dick head I have been with my priorities, maybe this is what I deserved!
Who is to be blamed -
- C for having said that about D (which D went a step ahead and verified from various sources);
- or A for having told D in the 1st place and mind fucking D;
- or D for making such a fool of herself!
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Expert comments, please
There is this someone I am particularly fond of.. I genuinely like him.. (Now now, don't get ideas... that's got nothing to do with THAT kind of liking).. I like this person for the honesty in his personality... he is SO himself. I like the way he talks (again, he isn't like those "big picture" charismatic people that I usually like)
I don't meet him often.. don't get a chance to.. but I like to believe that we are on decent terms. And some ages ago we had agreed that we gotta go out for dinner (he owes me one).
Now the problem is... everytime I ask him to join me when I am going for dinner (which is once every few months) he has some excuse. This happened for the 4th time now. I even asked him if he had a problem going out with me!!!!!!! And he said, "Nautanki mat kar"
Every time he has a new excuse, and it sounds absolutely genuine to me.. but still... don't you think it's too much of a coincidence to be true.. no?
I have some theories:
1. He isn't fond of me .. but then, given his honesty, I would believe that he will tell me that!!
2. It's a genuine coincidence..
3. I intimidate him... (nah!!!.. I am sweet)
4. He is too polite to refuse.. (nah, he isn't THAT sophisticated!!)
I dunno....
Expert comments, please!
I don't meet him often.. don't get a chance to.. but I like to believe that we are on decent terms. And some ages ago we had agreed that we gotta go out for dinner (he owes me one).
Now the problem is... everytime I ask him to join me when I am going for dinner (which is once every few months) he has some excuse. This happened for the 4th time now. I even asked him if he had a problem going out with me!!!!!!! And he said, "Nautanki mat kar"
Every time he has a new excuse, and it sounds absolutely genuine to me.. but still... don't you think it's too much of a coincidence to be true.. no?
I have some theories:
1. He isn't fond of me .. but then, given his honesty, I would believe that he will tell me that!!
2. It's a genuine coincidence..
3. I intimidate him... (nah!!!.. I am sweet)
4. He is too polite to refuse.. (nah, he isn't THAT sophisticated!!)
I dunno....
Expert comments, please!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Who's the Whore?
We have a new addition in our cult – no, I am NOT pregnant.
By cult, I mean the yellow cult. All members of this cult agree emphatically that this is not a place for the common man. This is a place meant for a few who can survive. The common thread is the eccentricity. If you are sane, sorry dude, hard luck ahead! Sorry, that’s not the story, I am digressing.
So the gentleman, who is the main character here, has been with us for almost 2 months now. He truly believes that he knows it all, and what we do is irrelevant and inefficient.
This is I will change the world attitude, as I call it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I like people with “I can change the world” attitude, but then I also like people with substance. I am digressing again. Damn! That's what happens when you talk too much!
No – I don’t dislike this man for the lack of substance. He has some of that. I dislike him for the title above, and the story below.
We were all standing and doing some chit chat (coffee time), when this gentleman says out of the blue – “she’s a whore”. I was like – excuse me. So he repeats – “yeah yeah she is whore. She would sleep with anyone”. Now this gentleman isn't a bum chum, not a "good fren", not even a friend for that matter, so it was shocking that he thought he could talk to me like that!!!
I was about to ask him how exactly was that any of his business, but decided against it, given that he is a senior colleague. (I know I know, it is verrrry unlike me.. but I am trying to break away from the bitchy image, you see).
Now the woman in the conversation is not someone I am fond of. She is under the “insignificant” types in my categorization. But this comment, I REALLY didn’t like. Not that I was very fond of this gentleman anyways, but THIS…..... this is clearly something which dropped him to the "write off" listing in my classification of human beings.
I mean, come on… we all sleep with someone (some more than the others). We sleep with people for different reasons. If we sleep for love, chances are that we will continue sleeping with the same person all our lives. Or atleast the plural is serial in order, and not parallel, given that it is absolutely human to fall out of love, and in love with someone else.
Some sleep for money…
Some for publicity…
Some for fame…
Some for thrill…
Some out of lust…
Some for lifestyle…
And some for reasons best known to them.
But is that any of your business, dude? She doesn’t even care about what you think and what you have to say. Infact she doesn't even know that you exist. And here you are, racking your brains on who she is sleeping with? Gimme a break!!! Maybe you are thinking you might get lucky! Or whatever… like I care!
So who’s the whore here?
By cult, I mean the yellow cult. All members of this cult agree emphatically that this is not a place for the common man. This is a place meant for a few who can survive. The common thread is the eccentricity. If you are sane, sorry dude, hard luck ahead! Sorry, that’s not the story, I am digressing.
So the gentleman, who is the main character here, has been with us for almost 2 months now. He truly believes that he knows it all, and what we do is irrelevant and inefficient.
This is I will change the world attitude, as I call it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I like people with “I can change the world” attitude, but then I also like people with substance. I am digressing again. Damn! That's what happens when you talk too much!
No – I don’t dislike this man for the lack of substance. He has some of that. I dislike him for the title above, and the story below.
We were all standing and doing some chit chat (coffee time), when this gentleman says out of the blue – “she’s a whore”. I was like – excuse me. So he repeats – “yeah yeah she is whore. She would sleep with anyone”. Now this gentleman isn't a bum chum, not a "good fren", not even a friend for that matter, so it was shocking that he thought he could talk to me like that!!!
I was about to ask him how exactly was that any of his business, but decided against it, given that he is a senior colleague. (I know I know, it is verrrry unlike me.. but I am trying to break away from the bitchy image, you see).
Now the woman in the conversation is not someone I am fond of. She is under the “insignificant” types in my categorization. But this comment, I REALLY didn’t like. Not that I was very fond of this gentleman anyways, but THIS…..... this is clearly something which dropped him to the "write off" listing in my classification of human beings.
I mean, come on… we all sleep with someone (some more than the others). We sleep with people for different reasons. If we sleep for love, chances are that we will continue sleeping with the same person all our lives. Or atleast the plural is serial in order, and not parallel, given that it is absolutely human to fall out of love, and in love with someone else.
Some sleep for money…
Some for publicity…
Some for fame…
Some for thrill…
Some out of lust…
Some for lifestyle…
And some for reasons best known to them.
But is that any of your business, dude? She doesn’t even care about what you think and what you have to say. Infact she doesn't even know that you exist. And here you are, racking your brains on who she is sleeping with? Gimme a break!!! Maybe you are thinking you might get lucky! Or whatever… like I care!
So who’s the whore here?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
kill me please....
I have just stepped out of a 3.5 hour long meeting with a man I was ready to strangle by the end of it. I can't name him nor his company for professional reasons, but the fact that I m writing this post in the train on my way home should tell you about my plight.
This man is the son of the owner of the company in question and I am convinced that the company needs serious help if this man is to inherit the biz. I pity the dad who has slogged his arse out to build a brand which his son is bound to kill by the sheer virtue of being a Dick head. And this company IS a famous brand, I must painfully admit.
This man is the MOST clueless human being I have seen. He doesn't know what he is thinking and there is a 10 mile distance between his skull and mouth, where the thoughts tend to get lost on their way. Got to say skull, coz can't say brains ... He hasn't any of that!
He has no chain of thoughts and I can bet that he is a dopey. He is a perfect example of how u become when you have been doping since you were in the womb... Your brain doesn't develop at all.
I timed him in the meeting and there was a 17 min stretch where all he said was .. Ahem.. I mean.. U know.. Actually.. What I am saying is.. Pregnant pause.. Without actually saying what he wanted to say!! And then the inevitable "what was I saying" and my acidic response "I don't know, I couldn't figure out"...
No I don't hate him. I pity him. And his parents. Imagine how they would feel to see him everyday and think that they actually produced him!!!
This man is the son of the owner of the company in question and I am convinced that the company needs serious help if this man is to inherit the biz. I pity the dad who has slogged his arse out to build a brand which his son is bound to kill by the sheer virtue of being a Dick head. And this company IS a famous brand, I must painfully admit.
This man is the MOST clueless human being I have seen. He doesn't know what he is thinking and there is a 10 mile distance between his skull and mouth, where the thoughts tend to get lost on their way. Got to say skull, coz can't say brains ... He hasn't any of that!
He has no chain of thoughts and I can bet that he is a dopey. He is a perfect example of how u become when you have been doping since you were in the womb... Your brain doesn't develop at all.
I timed him in the meeting and there was a 17 min stretch where all he said was .. Ahem.. I mean.. U know.. Actually.. What I am saying is.. Pregnant pause.. Without actually saying what he wanted to say!! And then the inevitable "what was I saying" and my acidic response "I don't know, I couldn't figure out"...
No I don't hate him. I pity him. And his parents. Imagine how they would feel to see him everyday and think that they actually produced him!!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Blogger skins
I have been seeing a lot of blog skin changes on the ones that I visit regularly. I have been tempted all along with these sexy looking skins, and so today I decided to change mine as well (NO, not MY skin, my blog's I mean)
I am a blogging illiterate, so I went and searched on how to change blogger skin. Luckily I found this site
http://freeskins.blogspot.com/
OK, that's not funny.. I really did search for this and then realized like an idiot, that this link is available on the blogs which have new skins :S
Anyway, so I clicked on the link and stared at awe at all the lovely designs. It took me a while to chose the one which I liked. After this difficult task was done, there was a mammoth task ahead - changing the skin. I told u, I am a blogging illiterate.
I read all directions, and do's and dont's and finally managed to download the code for my new skin.
But as you will notice, my blog looks just the same - I haven't changed it.
That's coz I couldn't get myself to change the way my blog looks. It felt to me exactly like ditching VS for someone more handsome!
I love my blog the way it is - however plain and simple (it may even be called boring). But this plain and simple (and boring) blog has given me company in my good and bad times, AND in my worst times. It has never probed about what's wrong, it has patiently waited for me to come back to it and pour my heart out. It has been my confidante and friend; it has seen the change in me from good to bad to worse and never judged me. I cannot change anything about it. I love it just the way it is.
I will not say that I will never change anything about this blog... who knows ... but today I won't.
I am a blogging illiterate, so I went and searched on how to change blogger skin. Luckily I found this site
http://freeskins.blogspot.com/
OK, that's not funny.. I really did search for this and then realized like an idiot, that this link is available on the blogs which have new skins :S
Anyway, so I clicked on the link and stared at awe at all the lovely designs. It took me a while to chose the one which I liked. After this difficult task was done, there was a mammoth task ahead - changing the skin. I told u, I am a blogging illiterate.
I read all directions, and do's and dont's and finally managed to download the code for my new skin.
But as you will notice, my blog looks just the same - I haven't changed it.
That's coz I couldn't get myself to change the way my blog looks. It felt to me exactly like ditching VS for someone more handsome!
I love my blog the way it is - however plain and simple (it may even be called boring). But this plain and simple (and boring) blog has given me company in my good and bad times, AND in my worst times. It has never probed about what's wrong, it has patiently waited for me to come back to it and pour my heart out. It has been my confidante and friend; it has seen the change in me from good to bad to worse and never judged me. I cannot change anything about it. I love it just the way it is.
I will not say that I will never change anything about this blog... who knows ... but today I won't.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
Life.. Then.. and Now....
Then...
-----------------------------
Waking up in the morning, not knowing how the day was.. lazing around .. being in college but not being there.. bunking lectures...logging into your email looking forward to mails from frens... boyfriend(s)... who was (were) dying to spend every minute with you...crazy tantrums.... unreasonable demands... being pampered to no limits.. acting stubborn.. getting whatever you wanted...planning for valentines... loving every day of your life..
Now...
------------------------------
Waking up in the morning and knowing how crappy the day is gonna be... being in office and not being able to think of anything else... compulsion to go to office everyday (unless you are dead or almost there)... logging in your inbox to find stinkers; a normal non-stinker mail actually brings a smile to your face now... husband (the then boyfren) says nothing about wanting to spend time with you, maybe he has given up long long ago... tantrums lost coz no one around to pay attention... unreasonable demands, but from the other side of the table... pampered, huh what's that?... not getting anything that you want, peace being foremost.. spending the valentines either traveling or meeting clients... wondering if you have any life left!!!
-----------------------------
Waking up in the morning, not knowing how the day was.. lazing around .. being in college but not being there.. bunking lectures...logging into your email looking forward to mails from frens... boyfriend(s)... who was (were) dying to spend every minute with you...crazy tantrums.... unreasonable demands... being pampered to no limits.. acting stubborn.. getting whatever you wanted...planning for valentines... loving every day of your life..
Now...
------------------------------
Waking up in the morning and knowing how crappy the day is gonna be... being in office and not being able to think of anything else... compulsion to go to office everyday (unless you are dead or almost there)... logging in your inbox to find stinkers; a normal non-stinker mail actually brings a smile to your face now... husband (the then boyfren) says nothing about wanting to spend time with you, maybe he has given up long long ago... tantrums lost coz no one around to pay attention... unreasonable demands, but from the other side of the table... pampered, huh what's that?... not getting anything that you want, peace being foremost.. spending the valentines either traveling or meeting clients... wondering if you have any life left!!!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Finally....
The trip blog is completed.
The learning from this exercise (the writing, NOT the trip) being:
On my next trip:
1. I will either carry my laptop so that daily account can be written the same day (given that we go for biking trips, this is not practical)
2. OR use a cyber cafe every night (this is even less practical)
3. Take 2 days off after the trip - just to complete the blog (Now, this can be done)
4. If I can't do any of the above, I shall NOT write about the trip AT ALL (now you are talking!!)
The learning from this exercise (the writing, NOT the trip) being:
On my next trip:
1. I will either carry my laptop so that daily account can be written the same day (given that we go for biking trips, this is not practical)
2. OR use a cyber cafe every night (this is even less practical)
3. Take 2 days off after the trip - just to complete the blog (Now, this can be done)
4. If I can't do any of the above, I shall NOT write about the trip AT ALL (now you are talking!!)
Adventures of Venom - 13!!
Day 13 - 24th November 2007
--------------------------------------------
The day began lazy and relaxed (for me, VS was already dressed to leave by the time I was brushing my teeth). Had breakfast, while VS was busy drooling over my cousin's bike - it's a 1978 bullet completely restored. VS spent a generous 30 minutes talking about the bike and the whats and wheres and hows of it.
We left around 10:30 AM, saying our good byes and promising to call as soon as we reached and the regular stuff. The journey was regular and boring. The trip was almost over and we were heading back to Mumbai now – home sweet home.
We stopped by at a road side dhaba for lunch, and then later for some tea / coffee. I have no snaps left of this day expect one or two – But I am sure nothing mentionable happened. I remember feeding 2 puppies at the dhaba where we stopped by for coffee, and the dhaba owner giving me dirty looks. I assumed he was annoyed coz I was feeding dogs in his joint. But then suddenly, he decided that he had had enough, and blew a whistle - both the dogs went running to him, and he told them to sit quietly, which they obeyed!!! OK. The dogs were his, and he was annoyed at me for feeding them junk!!! ooopppss.. what an embarrasment!
We decided to click on last snap - to mark the near end of our journey. We reached mumbai at around 7:00 PM, but to get to our home took us another 2 hours - so much for the traffic jams!!!! We were dead tired when we reached home. We were supposed to attend a wedding reception at a dear friend's place, which I called and cancelled given our conditions. My fren decided to hang up on me, which left me with no choice but to get dressed and leave for the reception. When we reached there, it was clear that itas a good decision to come!!!! We danced our hearts out (it was a punju wedding after all!!).
The day ended at 2:00 AM - the evening made up for the lack of action during the day!!!
------------------------------
Day 13 ends, trip ends. Total kms done - 3560.
--------------------------------------------
The day began lazy and relaxed (for me, VS was already dressed to leave by the time I was brushing my teeth). Had breakfast, while VS was busy drooling over my cousin's bike - it's a 1978 bullet completely restored. VS spent a generous 30 minutes talking about the bike and the whats and wheres and hows of it. We left around 10:30 AM, saying our good byes and promising to call as soon as we reached and the regular stuff. The journey was regular and boring. The trip was almost over and we were heading back to Mumbai now – home sweet home.
We stopped by at a road side dhaba for lunch, and then later for some tea / coffee. I have no snaps left of this day expect one or two – But I am sure nothing mentionable happened. I remember feeding 2 puppies at the dhaba where we stopped by for coffee, and the dhaba owner giving me dirty looks. I assumed he was annoyed coz I was feeding dogs in his joint. But then suddenly, he decided that he had had enough, and blew a whistle - both the dogs went running to him, and he told them to sit quietly, which they obeyed!!! OK. The dogs were his, and he was annoyed at me for feeding them junk!!! ooopppss.. what an embarrasment!
We decided to click on last snap - to mark the near end of our journey. We reached mumbai at around 7:00 PM, but to get to our home took us another 2 hours - so much for the traffic jams!!!! We were dead tired when we reached home. We were supposed to attend a wedding reception at a dear friend's place, which I called and cancelled given our conditions. My fren decided to hang up on me, which left me with no choice but to get dressed and leave for the reception. When we reached there, it was clear that itas a good decision to come!!!! We danced our hearts out (it was a punju wedding after all!!). The day ended at 2:00 AM - the evening made up for the lack of action during the day!!!
------------------------------
Day 13 ends, trip ends. Total kms done - 3560.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Adventures of Venom - 12!!
Day 12 – 23rd November 2007
----------------------------------------------
Udaipur is a beautiful city and I really intended to see it. So today we decided that we will take one of those Rajasthan Tourism city tours and not venture out by ourselves.
We had to report at the meeting point by 830 AM, which meant that I had to get up at 7:00 AM (arrggh!). We left the luggage at the cloak room, since we had checked out of the hotel and intended to push off for Baroda by evening.
We reached the meeting point at 8:25 only to realize that no one is there. Well, we utilized the time by grabbing something to eat. The bus finally came at 9:00 and we took off immediately - we being the youngest couple in the bus!!!
The first stop was the “Lok Kala” museum, where different cultures were being depicted. The highlight of this place was the puppet show (we realized much later that we lost all photographs coz memory card was corrupted). There were masks from different places, which made me wonder what they stood for. For example the board under one specific mask read - MAN (Chandigarh), so I was like "men from chandigarh are like THAT????"
Anyways, overall it was a good place to visit.
The next stop was Rana Pratap garden. This garden is made near an old tattered fort, which Maharana Pratap's father had built to stay for one year. Wow man! They spent 2 years building forts JUST to stay for one year? Isn't that cool! The fort is in a bad shape, I would guess due to lack of any maintainance. Well, wouldn't it be nicer to maintain the fort than developing a garden!!! There is a lot of history behind this place, and it's best to go with a guide. If you don't you might feel that you are visiting a regular garden. Unless someone tells you the significance of each place (and each tree), you wouldn't appreciate this place.
We then visited the Udaipur Fort (sorry for forgetting the exact name). No snaps of this place as the memory card was corrupted and there was no point in carrying the camera. This is a private fort (another one!!!), and there were pereparations on for someone's wedding! This is where Ravina Tondon got married and you could actually book this place for your wedding at a modest price of 2 crores (yeah right!!).
We also saw an old temple, carved in marble. This is a temple built in 800 AD ,and is not in best of its shape. No snaps again!
The last stop was Saheliyo ki badi, which is a garden built for the queen to visit with her friends (hence the name). Some interesting snaps here, most of which were lost. We purchased a pair of camels made in leather from here, and also some Rajasthani style paintings.
We did some shopping from the Handicraft store opposite this place - a sari from mom and mom-in-law, hand painting for bro and myself!
Time to go back to the hotel and pack if we want to reach Vadodara before it's dark! So we pushed off at around 2:00 PM. I wanted to have daal-baati one last time before I exit Rajasthan and enter Gujarat. So we skipped lunch, had some snacks. The highway was smooth and beautiful. There is an expressway to Baroda, on which bikes are not allowed (of course). We knew that bikes won't be allowed on the expressway, but we just didn't know which route was NOT the express way. So we made the stupid mistake of entering the express. As was expected, a security gaurd came running and stopped us. He screamed at us, and I put him in place at once - "Tamiz se baat karo". This ofcourse annoyed him (I tend to annoy almost everyone I speak with!). He wanted us to pay a fine of 500 bucks, we ofcourse told him to fuck off. Since there were no signs nor any board mentioning that bikes are not allowed, we were adamant that we wouldn't pay. Finally we got off for 50 bucks - with him screaming in the background (who cares)!
The rest of the trip was pretty boring, expect that I ate VS's brains out for not stopping for Daal-bati. Guess it wasn't meant to be.
We were stopping over at my cousin's place in Baroda, so no tension of booking a hotel. We reached her place at around 9:00PM. She stays with her in-laws so I couldn't remove my jacket even after I reached her place (worried that I might offend her in-laws with my strap top under the jacket!!!) Her husband is a very sweet man, and her son sweeter. We chit chatted till 1:00 AM, we were of course verrry sleepy, but the son wanted to play cricket (he is just 3 yrs old). And he (the son) wouldn't talk to me coz I don't speak Gujarati, he would talk only to VS!! Yeah right, talk about a punjabi talking in gujarati!!!! But VS did a good job and actually impresed me. Now this is strange, coz I am a Maharashtrian (and so is my cousin and her husband, but their son speaks Gujarati!!)
We finally went off to sleep at around 1:30 AM and we slept like logs.
----------------------------------------------------
Day 12 ends.
----------------------------------------------
Udaipur is a beautiful city and I really intended to see it. So today we decided that we will take one of those Rajasthan Tourism city tours and not venture out by ourselves.
We had to report at the meeting point by 830 AM, which meant that I had to get up at 7:00 AM (arrggh!). We left the luggage at the cloak room, since we had checked out of the hotel and intended to push off for Baroda by evening.
We reached the meeting point at 8:25 only to realize that no one is there. Well, we utilized the time by grabbing something to eat. The bus finally came at 9:00 and we took off immediately - we being the youngest couple in the bus!!!The first stop was the “Lok Kala” museum, where different cultures were being depicted. The highlight of this place was the puppet show (we realized much later that we lost all photographs coz memory card was corrupted). There were masks from different places, which made me wonder what they stood for. For example the board under one specific mask read - MAN (Chandigarh), so I was like "men from chandigarh are like THAT????"
Anyways, overall it was a good place to visit.
The next stop was Rana Pratap garden. This garden is made near an old tattered fort, which Maharana Pratap's father had built to stay for one year. Wow man! They spent 2 years building forts JUST to stay for one year? Isn't that cool! The fort is in a bad shape, I would guess due to lack of any maintainance. Well, wouldn't it be nicer to maintain the fort than developing a garden!!! There is a lot of history behind this place, and it's best to go with a guide. If you don't you might feel that you are visiting a regular garden. Unless someone tells you the significance of each place (and each tree), you wouldn't appreciate this place.
We then visited the Udaipur Fort (sorry for forgetting the exact name). No snaps of this place as the memory card was corrupted and there was no point in carrying the camera. This is a private fort (another one!!!), and there were pereparations on for someone's wedding! This is where Ravina Tondon got married and you could actually book this place for your wedding at a modest price of 2 crores (yeah right!!).
We also saw an old temple, carved in marble. This is a temple built in 800 AD ,and is not in best of its shape. No snaps again!
The last stop was Saheliyo ki badi, which is a garden built for the queen to visit with her friends (hence the name). Some interesting snaps here, most of which were lost. We purchased a pair of camels made in leather from here, and also some Rajasthani style paintings. We did some shopping from the Handicraft store opposite this place - a sari from mom and mom-in-law, hand painting for bro and myself!
Time to go back to the hotel and pack if we want to reach Vadodara before it's dark! So we pushed off at around 2:00 PM. I wanted to have daal-baati one last time before I exit Rajasthan and enter Gujarat. So we skipped lunch, had some snacks. The highway was smooth and beautiful. There is an expressway to Baroda, on which bikes are not allowed (of course). We knew that bikes won't be allowed on the expressway, but we just didn't know which route was NOT the express way. So we made the stupid mistake of entering the express. As was expected, a security gaurd came running and stopped us. He screamed at us, and I put him in place at once - "Tamiz se baat karo". This ofcourse annoyed him (I tend to annoy almost everyone I speak with!). He wanted us to pay a fine of 500 bucks, we ofcourse told him to fuck off. Since there were no signs nor any board mentioning that bikes are not allowed, we were adamant that we wouldn't pay. Finally we got off for 50 bucks - with him screaming in the background (who cares)!
The rest of the trip was pretty boring, expect that I ate VS's brains out for not stopping for Daal-bati. Guess it wasn't meant to be.
We were stopping over at my cousin's place in Baroda, so no tension of booking a hotel. We reached her place at around 9:00PM. She stays with her in-laws so I couldn't remove my jacket even after I reached her place (worried that I might offend her in-laws with my strap top under the jacket!!!) Her husband is a very sweet man, and her son sweeter. We chit chatted till 1:00 AM, we were of course verrry sleepy, but the son wanted to play cricket (he is just 3 yrs old). And he (the son) wouldn't talk to me coz I don't speak Gujarati, he would talk only to VS!! Yeah right, talk about a punjabi talking in gujarati!!!! But VS did a good job and actually impresed me. Now this is strange, coz I am a Maharashtrian (and so is my cousin and her husband, but their son speaks Gujarati!!)We finally went off to sleep at around 1:30 AM and we slept like logs.
----------------------------------------------------
Day 12 ends.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Adventures of Venom - 11!!
Day 11 – 22nd November 2007
---------------------------------------------
After the night’s adventure, the day began late. We woke up lazily around 10.00 AM (OK.. I had to be clicked and woken up). I finally woke up to some grumbling in the background. I guess VS was mumbling to himself as to how he will never get me on any trip ever again and all that I do is to sleep and sleep and sleep… it didn’t take long to shut him up.. The “shut up kiss” did the trick.. ;)
We reached Pushkar at about 11.00 AM. It’s only 30 KM from Ajmer, and by now that was more like next door for us. The Pushkar Mela is very colourful and there are only 2 kinds of people evident there – the rural locals, and the firangs. We are clearly out of place. We do some time pass, eat extremely unhealthy food and stare at the much decorated camels with an open mouth!
We click some brilliant pictures, not suspecting that the memory card would be corrupted and all pictures lost. We tried to salvage some, but the damage was already done. I insisted on doing everything that I shouldn’t have done – paid 50 bucks to sit on a merry-go-round, which 2 men were manually operating (now how much fun could that have been!!), paid 200 bucks to sit on a camel for 10 minutes, almost cried when VS didn’t let me eat that horrible looking poori-alu. I chatted away to glory with the Camel owner (a small boy of about 16-17), his camel was called Moti (see I remember), and a camel costs 30K – 5L depending on the age!!!!
I wanted to see the horse racing, but I guess it was over for the day. We could only see the horses parading – WOW. I instantly fell in love with one of them and threw a tantrum on the spot. VS had to go and enquire about the price – he came back grinning and said “Chalo, let’s buy it, its only 11 Lakhs”. “Very Funny”
This is the one that I fell in love with, but couldn’t afford.
Some day baby, for sure, I promise!!
I also wanted to get the Mehendi done, but VS put his foot down. :( I had to content myself just looking at the lovely designs that those young girls make with their mehandi cones, in no matter of time. And the firangs just love them. I was tempted to tell them that they shouldn't be paying more than 50 bucks for the designs on both their hands, but the fear of getting beaten up kept me shut. They actually ended up paying 300 bucks per hand!!! (what the heck, its just 7.5$ for them!!)
We also went to the animal trading section of the fair – now that’s exactly what Pushkar is famous for!! I have never seen so many horses together in my life. In fact I have not seen so many animals together!!!! We lost the snaps of the camel section :( The horses are a beauty and the Mare is more expensive than the horse (the feminist in me loves it!!)
We finally wound up at 1.30 and left for our hotel. We had to pack up and leave for Udaipur. The objective was to cover as much distance as possible bofore sunset!
We left the hotel at around 2.30 PM. Decided to have lunch on the way. At around 3.30 PM, I had created a ruckus - Yes, I also feel hungry!! We stopped by at a dhaba where VS insisted that I try out Besan ki sabzi. He says it is a Rajasthani speciality. I try it out and I need lots and lots of water to douze the fire in my mouth!!
The rest of the journey is regular. The standard stuff of VS not listening to me when I tell him to refuel and then we running around for a petrol punp in the middle of nowhere.
We reach Udaipur at around 8.00PM. We are booked into the Rajasthan Tourism Hotel.
After last night adventure of hotel finding, it was heavenly to walk into a pre-booked hotel!!!
We have plenty of time on hand, and VS takes me out for a romantic dinner to Ambrai - its an old haveli converted to a heritage hotel.. its by the lake and the view is beautiful. We could see the Udaipur Lake Palace from here and VS promised to take me there for a vacation someday, when he has made it big in life!!!
I will eagerly wait for that day - not coz I want to vacation in Lake Palace, but coz I want VS to make it big
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 11 ends beautifully with memorable dinner
---------------------------------------------
After the night’s adventure, the day began late. We woke up lazily around 10.00 AM (OK.. I had to be clicked and woken up). I finally woke up to some grumbling in the background. I guess VS was mumbling to himself as to how he will never get me on any trip ever again and all that I do is to sleep and sleep and sleep… it didn’t take long to shut him up.. The “shut up kiss” did the trick.. ;)
We reached Pushkar at about 11.00 AM. It’s only 30 KM from Ajmer, and by now that was more like next door for us. The Pushkar Mela is very colourful and there are only 2 kinds of people evident there – the rural locals, and the firangs. We are clearly out of place. We do some time pass, eat extremely unhealthy food and stare at the much decorated camels with an open mouth!
We click some brilliant pictures, not suspecting that the memory card would be corrupted and all pictures lost. We tried to salvage some, but the damage was already done. I insisted on doing everything that I shouldn’t have done – paid 50 bucks to sit on a merry-go-round, which 2 men were manually operating (now how much fun could that have been!!), paid 200 bucks to sit on a camel for 10 minutes, almost cried when VS didn’t let me eat that horrible looking poori-alu. I chatted away to glory with the Camel owner (a small boy of about 16-17), his camel was called Moti (see I remember), and a camel costs 30K – 5L depending on the age!!!!
I wanted to see the horse racing, but I guess it was over for the day. We could only see the horses parading – WOW. I instantly fell in love with one of them and threw a tantrum on the spot. VS had to go and enquire about the price – he came back grinning and said “Chalo, let’s buy it, its only 11 Lakhs”. “Very Funny” This is the one that I fell in love with, but couldn’t afford.
Some day baby, for sure, I promise!!
I also wanted to get the Mehendi done, but VS put his foot down. :( I had to content myself just looking at the lovely designs that those young girls make with their mehandi cones, in no matter of time. And the firangs just love them. I was tempted to tell them that they shouldn't be paying more than 50 bucks for the designs on both their hands, but the fear of getting beaten up kept me shut. They actually ended up paying 300 bucks per hand!!! (what the heck, its just 7.5$ for them!!)
We also went to the animal trading section of the fair – now that’s exactly what Pushkar is famous for!! I have never seen so many horses together in my life. In fact I have not seen so many animals together!!!! We lost the snaps of the camel section :( The horses are a beauty and the Mare is more expensive than the horse (the feminist in me loves it!!) We finally wound up at 1.30 and left for our hotel. We had to pack up and leave for Udaipur. The objective was to cover as much distance as possible bofore sunset!
We left the hotel at around 2.30 PM. Decided to have lunch on the way. At around 3.30 PM, I had created a ruckus - Yes, I also feel hungry!! We stopped by at a dhaba where VS insisted that I try out Besan ki sabzi. He says it is a Rajasthani speciality. I try it out and I need lots and lots of water to douze the fire in my mouth!!
The rest of the journey is regular. The standard stuff of VS not listening to me when I tell him to refuel and then we running around for a petrol punp in the middle of nowhere.
We reach Udaipur at around 8.00PM. We are booked into the Rajasthan Tourism Hotel.
After last night adventure of hotel finding, it was heavenly to walk into a pre-booked hotel!!!We have plenty of time on hand, and VS takes me out for a romantic dinner to Ambrai - its an old haveli converted to a heritage hotel.. its by the lake and the view is beautiful. We could see the Udaipur Lake Palace from here and VS promised to take me there for a vacation someday, when he has made it big in life!!!
I will eagerly wait for that day - not coz I want to vacation in Lake Palace, but coz I want VS to make it big
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 11 ends beautifully with memorable dinner
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Adventures of Venom - 10!!
Day 10 – 21st November 2007
-------------------------------------------------
The day starts early – I am up and ready at 7.00 for a change. Then starts the exercise – trying to accommodate the luggage on the bike. Well, the greedy me wanted to carry all that we had purchased the evening before. But it’s a no brainer as to how much luggage anyone can carry on the bike. So we have to leave the bag (the one which has all my precious shopping) at my fren’s place with instructions to my brother to carry it back with him to Pune, and that we shall pick it up from there. (sob sob)
Its already 8, and we should be leaving by now. So we are well on our way. The next destination is Jaipur. We ask for directions to the delhi-Jaipur highway, and then it’s a straight road, we assume. Well, the straight was actually a little right – we realized that after we went straight on our way to Rewari. We ask for our way back, and a smart arse tells us to retrace our steps. But, riding in the wrong direction (on a one-way highway), is nothing but suicidal. So we decide to take the longer detour. Trying a short-cut on the way, testing the bike’s strength with some off-roading. Finally we are back on track after some adventure.
The way to Jaipur is fairly routine and boring. We spot a biker (of course on VS’s favorite Royale Enfield) struggling with his bike. VS promptly stops by to help, but it isn’t needed – before VS can reach him, his bike is fixed. They both wave at each other (so much for the biker fraternity!!) and we go our way. A few meters away the bikers group is waiting for him, and they wave at us for the help offered!!! Nice of them. I want to stop by and say hi, but VS says we will meet them again – they must be on their way to Jaipur. Well, we never see them again in the whole trip! Never mind.
We stop by a good looking restaurant – this is our first non-dhaba breakfast in so many days. But the food is so much worse than the dhaba, I instantly regret it. I believe that in the restaurants hygiene and taste don’t go hand in hand!!!
We reach Jaipur at around 12.00 noon. The first stop is the Amer Fort (just outside Jaiour). We spend a good hour here. The guide shares some interesting facts, including the story where a group of drunk boys drove inside the fort and fell off the high wall and how since then vehicles are not allowed in the fort. This is a private fort still owned by the “king” of Jaipur. (WOW, why didn’t I marry someone like that!). This fort also has the Jaivana cannon, which is supposedly the 3rd largest in the country.
We then push off to the City Palace – again privately owned. Beautiful!!!! We didn’t find a place to keep our luggage and VS is tired carrying it around. There is a grand display of cannons and chariots used by the kings. I am told that they are still used by the now "king" once a year.
The intricate paintings on the wall are too good to believe. I would love to meet the people who actually do it!!! The entire palace is painted pink, with hand paintings on the wall. The walls seem to be freshly painted. We spend more time than we had planned - couldn't help it.
Also its almost 4.00 PM. All monuments close at 5.00 PM, so we gotta rush!!!
We briefly see Jantar Mantar (briefly = 15 minutes), then push off to the Hawa Mahal. Hawa Mahal is a disappointment, I must admit. It could have been beautiful if only they maintained it properly. We spot an old couple in Hawa Mahal who were holding hands (wow man, romance at this age!!!). I am impressed and insist that we click a picture with them – just to remind us that we can still love each other when we are 50+!!
I am tired and hungry by now, and VS will vouch for how irritable I can be when I am hungry. So the next mission to find daal-bati. (I insisted that I eat Daal-bati – after all I was in Rajasthan)
We stop by at a restaurant at around 6, and ask for daal-bati. The restaurant owner thinks we are mad, and takes what seems ages to get us some food…. but the daal bati is worth the wait!
The last visit in Jaipur is for JK Temple - built in While Marble. Must watch. We spend only 10 minutes here, and then push off to Ajmer. We plan to spend the night at Ajmer and go to Pushkar in the morning. We reach Ajmer at around 11.00 PM. We stop by a motel, where we like the room and then the manager comes running and says -"Sorry, can't give the room". Now this is wierd!! But it doesn't take us long to realize that he hadn't seen me till then. And now he thinks something wierd about us. We tried to tell him that we are married, to which he says - "haan haan maloom hai". This is when VS loses it, holds the manager by the collar and almost gives him a punch!! I have to intervene and tell VS to just get out of the place.
We have to stop by 3 hotels before we can finally find a place to sleep. That's what happens in small towns. They are not used to women wearing jeans coming over to spend a night!! For them - respectable women would be wearing sindoor and chhori and god knows what!!!
Finally after the day's adventure, all that I want to do is sleep!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 10 ends, Enough adventure already, who cares for the trip meter
-------------------------------------------------
The day starts early – I am up and ready at 7.00 for a change. Then starts the exercise – trying to accommodate the luggage on the bike. Well, the greedy me wanted to carry all that we had purchased the evening before. But it’s a no brainer as to how much luggage anyone can carry on the bike. So we have to leave the bag (the one which has all my precious shopping) at my fren’s place with instructions to my brother to carry it back with him to Pune, and that we shall pick it up from there. (sob sob)
Its already 8, and we should be leaving by now. So we are well on our way. The next destination is Jaipur. We ask for directions to the delhi-Jaipur highway, and then it’s a straight road, we assume. Well, the straight was actually a little right – we realized that after we went straight on our way to Rewari. We ask for our way back, and a smart arse tells us to retrace our steps. But, riding in the wrong direction (on a one-way highway), is nothing but suicidal. So we decide to take the longer detour. Trying a short-cut on the way, testing the bike’s strength with some off-roading. Finally we are back on track after some adventure. The way to Jaipur is fairly routine and boring. We spot a biker (of course on VS’s favorite Royale Enfield) struggling with his bike. VS promptly stops by to help, but it isn’t needed – before VS can reach him, his bike is fixed. They both wave at each other (so much for the biker fraternity!!) and we go our way. A few meters away the bikers group is waiting for him, and they wave at us for the help offered!!! Nice of them. I want to stop by and say hi, but VS says we will meet them again – they must be on their way to Jaipur. Well, we never see them again in the whole trip! Never mind.
We stop by a good looking restaurant – this is our first non-dhaba breakfast in so many days. But the food is so much worse than the dhaba, I instantly regret it. I believe that in the restaurants hygiene and taste don’t go hand in hand!!!
We reach Jaipur at around 12.00 noon. The first stop is the Amer Fort (just outside Jaiour). We spend a good hour here. The guide shares some interesting facts, including the story where a group of drunk boys drove inside the fort and fell off the high wall and how since then vehicles are not allowed in the fort. This is a private fort still owned by the “king” of Jaipur. (WOW, why didn’t I marry someone like that!). This fort also has the Jaivana cannon, which is supposedly the 3rd largest in the country. 
We then push off to the City Palace – again privately owned. Beautiful!!!! We didn’t find a place to keep our luggage and VS is tired carrying it around. There is a grand display of cannons and chariots used by the kings. I am told that they are still used by the now "king" once a year.
The intricate paintings on the wall are too good to believe. I would love to meet the people who actually do it!!! The entire palace is painted pink, with hand paintings on the wall. The walls seem to be freshly painted. We spend more time than we had planned - couldn't help it. Also its almost 4.00 PM. All monuments close at 5.00 PM, so we gotta rush!!!
We briefly see Jantar Mantar (briefly = 15 minutes), then push off to the Hawa Mahal. Hawa Mahal is a disappointment, I must admit. It could have been beautiful if only they maintained it properly. We spot an old couple in Hawa Mahal who were holding hands (wow man, romance at this age!!!). I am impressed and insist that we click a picture with them – just to remind us that we can still love each other when we are 50+!!
I am tired and hungry by now, and VS will vouch for how irritable I can be when I am hungry. So the next mission to find daal-bati. (I insisted that I eat Daal-bati – after all I was in Rajasthan)
We stop by at a restaurant at around 6, and ask for daal-bati. The restaurant owner thinks we are mad, and takes what seems ages to get us some food…. but the daal bati is worth the wait!
The last visit in Jaipur is for JK Temple - built in While Marble. Must watch. We spend only 10 minutes here, and then push off to Ajmer. We plan to spend the night at Ajmer and go to Pushkar in the morning. We reach Ajmer at around 11.00 PM. We stop by a motel, where we like the room and then the manager comes running and says -"Sorry, can't give the room". Now this is wierd!! But it doesn't take us long to realize that he hadn't seen me till then. And now he thinks something wierd about us. We tried to tell him that we are married, to which he says - "haan haan maloom hai". This is when VS loses it, holds the manager by the collar and almost gives him a punch!! I have to intervene and tell VS to just get out of the place. We have to stop by 3 hotels before we can finally find a place to sleep. That's what happens in small towns. They are not used to women wearing jeans coming over to spend a night!! For them - respectable women would be wearing sindoor and chhori and god knows what!!!
Finally after the day's adventure, all that I want to do is sleep!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 10 ends, Enough adventure already, who cares for the trip meter
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Adventures of Venom - 9!!!
Day 9 – 20th November 2007
-----------------------------------------------
We had resolved to carry on with our trip, as too many days were being wasted just chilling. So last night we swore to wake up at 6 and leave.
For all our plans to leave early in the morning, I wake up at 10.00 AM. VS never wakes me up, when I am sleeping (he says he loves me more when I am sleeping, but something tells me that it is only coz I am not talking while I am sleeping!!!).
I quickly dress up and am ready to leave, but its already 12.00 noon (so much for my hurrying up!)
It is clear that we cannot leave on our trip, so we chill around, have home-cooked muli ka parathas.. and decide to go shopping to Sarojini Nagar. The day suddenly seems worthwhile. I have very fond memories of Sarojini Nagar. I was there with VS almost every Saturday, when we were in college and were “JGF” (Just-good-friends).
I shopped crazy like the old days; the only difference being that in those days I used to shop for skimpy clothes, this time I shopped for curtains, cushion covers and the likes – how life changes…
I ended up shopping so much that we had to shop for a bag to carry those :) That’s SO me.. and I guess that what VS loves about me (I like to believe that he loves everything about me)
We shopped dead, and by the time we were on our way home, I couldn’t even stand straight.
Reached home at 11.00 PM. Decided to watch Saawariya. It was a blunder. If you haven’t watched it, you are lucky and I envy you! For days to come, I was to get nightmares about this movie!!!
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Day 9 ends. Loads of shopping and daaru
-----------------------------------------------
We had resolved to carry on with our trip, as too many days were being wasted just chilling. So last night we swore to wake up at 6 and leave.
For all our plans to leave early in the morning, I wake up at 10.00 AM. VS never wakes me up, when I am sleeping (he says he loves me more when I am sleeping, but something tells me that it is only coz I am not talking while I am sleeping!!!).
I quickly dress up and am ready to leave, but its already 12.00 noon (so much for my hurrying up!)
It is clear that we cannot leave on our trip, so we chill around, have home-cooked muli ka parathas.. and decide to go shopping to Sarojini Nagar. The day suddenly seems worthwhile. I have very fond memories of Sarojini Nagar. I was there with VS almost every Saturday, when we were in college and were “JGF” (Just-good-friends).
I shopped crazy like the old days; the only difference being that in those days I used to shop for skimpy clothes, this time I shopped for curtains, cushion covers and the likes – how life changes…
I ended up shopping so much that we had to shop for a bag to carry those :) That’s SO me.. and I guess that what VS loves about me (I like to believe that he loves everything about me)
We shopped dead, and by the time we were on our way home, I couldn’t even stand straight.
Reached home at 11.00 PM. Decided to watch Saawariya. It was a blunder. If you haven’t watched it, you are lucky and I envy you! For days to come, I was to get nightmares about this movie!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 9 ends. Loads of shopping and daaru
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Adventures of Venom - 8!!!
Day 8 – 19th November 2007
----------------------------------------------
The day starts early for us – remember we had planned to go to the Taj. OK. Early means 6.00 AM. (Now, that’s midnight as far as I am concerned).
We planned to visit Agra and come back at night, so no luggage (what a relief!). We finally manage to leave home at 7.30 AM. It is freezing outside and more so, on the bike. Within the first 10 minutes, I realize that fashion will get me killed. So we stop by and I wear my jacket and gloves.
We stop by at a road-side dhaba for breakfast at 9.00 AM. The cook is still sleepy and it shows in the parathas that he makes. We eat the so-not-meant-to-be Gobhi parathas without much complaining and proceed on our way.
As is ALWAYS predictable, I need to use the loo, in the middle of nowhere. So VS is back on job again, hunting for a place. But there’s nothing available and I have to wait till Meerut. The McDonald’s on the highway is like god-sent for me. We order a thick shake so the usage of the loo looks genuine.
We reach Agra by around 12 noon. The first look at the Taj proves that the entire trip was worthwhile. The Taj is so much better than what we see in snaps and pictures. There is nothing as marvelous compared to this monument of love (I love to believe of Taj as the monument of love, even when VS eats my brains out on why Taj was built and how ShahJahan built it not coz he loved Mumtaz but coz he thought he was God, and blah blah)
We get our pictures clicked – you can’t go all the way and not click a picture of this marvel. I also clicked a picture of some stupid arse having carved her name (or maybe it was a guy who carved his girl fiend’s name).
We then went to the DayalBagh temple. On the way we briefly saw the Red Fort (yeah, before this day even I thought that Red Fort was in Delhi – but this one is much larger, and cleaner than the one in Delhi).
The Dayalbagh temple is a work of beauty – the pillars and the ceilings and the stairs are carved out of single slabs of marble. The work is more intricate and grand than that of Taj (that was a different era all together, so wrong comparison) or any of the Jain temples (again, wrong comparison – the Jain temples were even before the Taj).
No cameras allowed so no snaps.
By this time my shoes are in such shape that I could pass off as a begger. On our way back, we just stop by and pick up a pair of shoes for me – a much needed thing!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 8 ends, I have lost track of the trip meter.
----------------------------------------------
The day starts early for us – remember we had planned to go to the Taj. OK. Early means 6.00 AM. (Now, that’s midnight as far as I am concerned).
We planned to visit Agra and come back at night, so no luggage (what a relief!). We finally manage to leave home at 7.30 AM. It is freezing outside and more so, on the bike. Within the first 10 minutes, I realize that fashion will get me killed. So we stop by and I wear my jacket and gloves.
We stop by at a road-side dhaba for breakfast at 9.00 AM. The cook is still sleepy and it shows in the parathas that he makes. We eat the so-not-meant-to-be Gobhi parathas without much complaining and proceed on our way.
As is ALWAYS predictable, I need to use the loo, in the middle of nowhere. So VS is back on job again, hunting for a place. But there’s nothing available and I have to wait till Meerut. The McDonald’s on the highway is like god-sent for me. We order a thick shake so the usage of the loo looks genuine.
We reach Agra by around 12 noon. The first look at the Taj proves that the entire trip was worthwhile. The Taj is so much better than what we see in snaps and pictures. There is nothing as marvelous compared to this monument of love (I love to believe of Taj as the monument of love, even when VS eats my brains out on why Taj was built and how ShahJahan built it not coz he loved Mumtaz but coz he thought he was God, and blah blah) 
We get our pictures clicked – you can’t go all the way and not click a picture of this marvel. I also clicked a picture of some stupid arse having carved her name (or maybe it was a guy who carved his girl fiend’s name).
We then went to the DayalBagh temple. On the way we briefly saw the Red Fort (yeah, before this day even I thought that Red Fort was in Delhi – but this one is much larger, and cleaner than the one in Delhi).
The Dayalbagh temple is a work of beauty – the pillars and the ceilings and the stairs are carved out of single slabs of marble. The work is more intricate and grand than that of Taj (that was a different era all together, so wrong comparison) or any of the Jain temples (again, wrong comparison – the Jain temples were even before the Taj).
No cameras allowed so no snaps.
By this time my shoes are in such shape that I could pass off as a begger. On our way back, we just stop by and pick up a pair of shoes for me – a much needed thing!
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Day 8 ends, I have lost track of the trip meter.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Adventures of Venom - 7!!!
Day 7 - 18th November 2007
----------------------------------------------
Well, this day wasn't really an adventure for venom - she was happily parked in the garage.
Didn't go ANYWHERE.. spent the day at home - drinking (of course!!!!!), playing carrom (VS more than me), playing with Rohit (or is it Arush now - the oh-so-famous 10 month old baby of my fren, who still doesn't have a name)
Watched Om Shanti Om - good fun, especially when you are watching it with a bunch of crack pots like me!!!!
Resolved to go to see the Taj the next day, and went off to sleep at 2.00 AM.
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Day 7 ends, nothing to mention, chilled and relaxed
----------------------------------------------
Well, this day wasn't really an adventure for venom - she was happily parked in the garage.
Didn't go ANYWHERE.. spent the day at home - drinking (of course!!!!!), playing carrom (VS more than me), playing with Rohit (or is it Arush now - the oh-so-famous 10 month old baby of my fren, who still doesn't have a name) Watched Om Shanti Om - good fun, especially when you are watching it with a bunch of crack pots like me!!!!
Resolved to go to see the Taj the next day, and went off to sleep at 2.00 AM.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 7 ends, nothing to mention, chilled and relaxed
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Adventures of Venom - 6!!!
Day 6 – 17th November
----------------------------------------
We wake up at 1230 PM. Breakfast is at 130 PM, so we call it lunch!!! Start drinking at 200 PM. Meanwhile someone suggests that we should play carrom, so the board was set, and guys get a chance to show off!!!
Nothing of any mentionable importance happens; we drink till 800 PM. Then VS wants to meet up a friend, so we spend some time getting dressed (me more than him) and then leave. Catch up with his fren at 32nd Milestone, a pub at Gurgaon (actually calling it a pub will be an insult – it’s a huge place with everything – pub, bowling alley, garden restaurant, family restaurant and what have you). We decide that this is not the place we want to be, so we park our bike there and go with the fren (in his car) to a pub (now this is what I call a pub – dark with half naked girls and music so loud that you can’t talk!!). I don’t remember the name of the pub, but I it was a great place.
We drink (I drink while VS sips an orange juice); VS and MJ (not me, his fren) catch up on their old times – VS narrating how their college has changed in all these years (we had just been there 5 days ago, so VS wanted to tell it all). I am busy looking at the girls around and trying to figure out which ones are available for pick up!!!!! (OK I AM very bitchy, I know it).
Suddenly the music stops and someone interrupts – “Gurrls and guys, if you want to have sexy tattoos done, it’s on the house”.
TATTOOS – and why not!! I run and queue up before VS can realize what happened. This is a temporary tattoo – I don’t have the guts to get a permanent one done!! I patiently await my turn. Finally the patience pays – I am sitting on the stool examining the designs. I choose plain and simple “Om” to be tattooed on my back (not the word OM, but the symbol). I remove my jacket, and turn my back towards the guy. He paints it on my bare back – shows me the tattoo in the mirror, and says with a smile – “you have a nice back, and that’s a nice top. You should remove the jacket”. I have no idea if that was a compliment or what!!! I smile, say thanks and sprint away.
I walk to VS and show off my new asset (the tattoo!!!!!!) he says I should get one done on my neck too!! Cool! So I go back again. He smiles at me, and I get a preference over others!!! (Wow man, I like that!). I jump the queue and tell him "I want a snake on my neck."
"You should go for a butterfly."
"OK. If you say so!"
"And instead of the neck, you should get it done on the collar bone!!!!"
"Amhuh!!!OK. I agree."
He patiently paints the butterfly on my “collar bone” (I thought it was a little lower than that.. but what the heck – it was a nice tattoo!). I wait till he has finished.
Then I turn and tell him – “Thanks. I am sure my husband will love it!!!” and I walk away while he stares at me in disbelief. Good fun, I like doing this to people who are over smart!
We drink till 1130 PM, have food and then head back. On the way back, I get into some stupid argument with MJ, I don't even remember the topic now. But at the end of the day, it was a good evening.
We reach home (Gurgaon) at about 1200 midnight. VS is dying to sleep but carom is calling!! And for me, booze is calling!!
We drink till 200 AM again and snore off to sleep.
Day 6 ends. No trip to talk about. But loads of fun time with friends.
----------------------------------------
We wake up at 1230 PM. Breakfast is at 130 PM, so we call it lunch!!! Start drinking at 200 PM. Meanwhile someone suggests that we should play carrom, so the board was set, and guys get a chance to show off!!!
Nothing of any mentionable importance happens; we drink till 800 PM. Then VS wants to meet up a friend, so we spend some time getting dressed (me more than him) and then leave. Catch up with his fren at 32nd Milestone, a pub at Gurgaon (actually calling it a pub will be an insult – it’s a huge place with everything – pub, bowling alley, garden restaurant, family restaurant and what have you). We decide that this is not the place we want to be, so we park our bike there and go with the fren (in his car) to a pub (now this is what I call a pub – dark with half naked girls and music so loud that you can’t talk!!). I don’t remember the name of the pub, but I it was a great place.
We drink (I drink while VS sips an orange juice); VS and MJ (not me, his fren) catch up on their old times – VS narrating how their college has changed in all these years (we had just been there 5 days ago, so VS wanted to tell it all). I am busy looking at the girls around and trying to figure out which ones are available for pick up!!!!! (OK I AM very bitchy, I know it).
Suddenly the music stops and someone interrupts – “Gurrls and guys, if you want to have sexy tattoos done, it’s on the house”.
TATTOOS – and why not!! I run and queue up before VS can realize what happened. This is a temporary tattoo – I don’t have the guts to get a permanent one done!! I patiently await my turn. Finally the patience pays – I am sitting on the stool examining the designs. I choose plain and simple “Om” to be tattooed on my back (not the word OM, but the symbol). I remove my jacket, and turn my back towards the guy. He paints it on my bare back – shows me the tattoo in the mirror, and says with a smile – “you have a nice back, and that’s a nice top. You should remove the jacket”. I have no idea if that was a compliment or what!!! I smile, say thanks and sprint away.
I walk to VS and show off my new asset (the tattoo!!!!!!) he says I should get one done on my neck too!! Cool! So I go back again. He smiles at me, and I get a preference over others!!! (Wow man, I like that!). I jump the queue and tell him "I want a snake on my neck."
"You should go for a butterfly."
"OK. If you say so!"
"And instead of the neck, you should get it done on the collar bone!!!!"
"Amhuh!!!OK. I agree."
He patiently paints the butterfly on my “collar bone” (I thought it was a little lower than that.. but what the heck – it was a nice tattoo!). I wait till he has finished.
Then I turn and tell him – “Thanks. I am sure my husband will love it!!!” and I walk away while he stares at me in disbelief. Good fun, I like doing this to people who are over smart!
We drink till 1130 PM, have food and then head back. On the way back, I get into some stupid argument with MJ, I don't even remember the topic now. But at the end of the day, it was a good evening.
We reach home (Gurgaon) at about 1200 midnight. VS is dying to sleep but carom is calling!! And for me, booze is calling!!
We drink till 200 AM again and snore off to sleep.
Day 6 ends. No trip to talk about. But loads of fun time with friends.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Adventures of Venom - 5!!!
Day 5 – 16th November
----------------------------------------
The day starts late. We wake up at 930 AM. And then the rush begins. What about the Taj Mahal plan!! Weren’t we supposed to leave at 600 AM. Everyone conveniently blame me for being a lazy bum! Oh yeah rite, so I am the one who over slept! And what about you all? As if you are ready to leave!
I forgot to mention that my brother was also at my friend’s place in Delhi (Gurgaon). And whenever VS and my bro are together, their favorite pass time is to bitch about me and how lazy I am and how VS is a gentleman coz he copes up with me …. and …. and ….. and…...
We finally manage to leave at around 1200 noon. By the time we are on our way, its already 1230, thanks to some shopping on the way – essentials you see – you have to be prepared for that if you are traveling with a 10-month old baby!!!! (Friend’s dumbo, not mine)…
Getting on the highway takes us a lot more time than was expected. That happens when you don’t know the way, and think that you do, and you claim that you do, and try bragging about a short-cut!!!! No, I wasn’t driving, it was my friend. Actually my fren’s hubby, but since he has become so close to us that he is also counted as one of our frens! And what makes it interesting is that he is as crazy as I am!! (And my fren is as sane as VS is, so it’s a purrrrfect jodi!!!)
As everyone had predicted, I doze off to sleep as soon as we leave home (actually I manage to keep awake for good 15 minutes). I don’t know of what happened while I was sleeping so I shall skip it – VS can narrate it better! I am shaken awake at around 4.00 when we stop for lunch at a Dhaba on the highway. The break is much needed. We have good food – that’s one thing I really miss in Mumbai. Though I am a Maharashtrian by birth, I have been born and brought up in north of India, and that explains my liking for north-Indian food!
We reach Agra at around 600 PM. We head straight to the Taj Mahal. We notice that it was unusually less crowded. “It’s the evening chill” VS tells me. I am surely excited at the thought of watching Taj Mahal at near moon-light and having a good view in absence of the maddening crowd. We quickly park our car in the lot, and jump out.
An annoying shrill sound hits our ear-drums – “Kahan jaana hai?”
What a funny question – “Ab yahan aaye hain to Taj Mahal hi jaana hia”.
I am sure I saw a smirk on that fat face. “Aaj Friday hai”.
“Haan maloom hai ki aaj Friday hai”. Now, what’s THAT got to do with this? I am losing cool now!!!
“Haan to Friday ko Taj Mahal band rehta hai”
WHAT!!!!! SAY THAT AGAIN. Says who? I want to know. We stand there for the next 10 minutes, not knowing what to do.... But there nothing that anyone can do about it
We are all hysterical by now.. Giggling and laughing at ourselves – driving down 220 Kms to figure out that we cant see the Taj Mahal!!!!
We paid 50 bucks to a Tangawala to take us some place from where we can get a glimpse of Taj Mahal. We stand at the roof of a 2 storyed building looking at the monument hidden behind trees.
We just click some snaps of this disaster…. Buy a small marbel Taj Mahal souvenir and head back.
I sleep all the way back. We stop by at McDonalds for a quick meal. We reach home at around 1130 – way back is much faster.
We drink till 200 AM and doze off to sleep.
Day 5 ends… nothing achieved at the end of the day.
----------------------------------------
The day starts late. We wake up at 930 AM. And then the rush begins. What about the Taj Mahal plan!! Weren’t we supposed to leave at 600 AM. Everyone conveniently blame me for being a lazy bum! Oh yeah rite, so I am the one who over slept! And what about you all? As if you are ready to leave!
I forgot to mention that my brother was also at my friend’s place in Delhi (Gurgaon). And whenever VS and my bro are together, their favorite pass time is to bitch about me and how lazy I am and how VS is a gentleman coz he copes up with me …. and …. and ….. and…...
We finally manage to leave at around 1200 noon. By the time we are on our way, its already 1230, thanks to some shopping on the way – essentials you see – you have to be prepared for that if you are traveling with a 10-month old baby!!!! (Friend’s dumbo, not mine)…
Getting on the highway takes us a lot more time than was expected. That happens when you don’t know the way, and think that you do, and you claim that you do, and try bragging about a short-cut!!!! No, I wasn’t driving, it was my friend. Actually my fren’s hubby, but since he has become so close to us that he is also counted as one of our frens! And what makes it interesting is that he is as crazy as I am!! (And my fren is as sane as VS is, so it’s a purrrrfect jodi!!!)
As everyone had predicted, I doze off to sleep as soon as we leave home (actually I manage to keep awake for good 15 minutes). I don’t know of what happened while I was sleeping so I shall skip it – VS can narrate it better! I am shaken awake at around 4.00 when we stop for lunch at a Dhaba on the highway. The break is much needed. We have good food – that’s one thing I really miss in Mumbai. Though I am a Maharashtrian by birth, I have been born and brought up in north of India, and that explains my liking for north-Indian food!
We reach Agra at around 600 PM. We head straight to the Taj Mahal. We notice that it was unusually less crowded. “It’s the evening chill” VS tells me. I am surely excited at the thought of watching Taj Mahal at near moon-light and having a good view in absence of the maddening crowd. We quickly park our car in the lot, and jump out.
An annoying shrill sound hits our ear-drums – “Kahan jaana hai?”
What a funny question – “Ab yahan aaye hain to Taj Mahal hi jaana hia”.
I am sure I saw a smirk on that fat face. “Aaj Friday hai”.
“Haan maloom hai ki aaj Friday hai”. Now, what’s THAT got to do with this? I am losing cool now!!!
“Haan to Friday ko Taj Mahal band rehta hai”
WHAT!!!!! SAY THAT AGAIN. Says who? I want to know. We stand there for the next 10 minutes, not knowing what to do.... But there nothing that anyone can do about it
We are all hysterical by now.. Giggling and laughing at ourselves – driving down 220 Kms to figure out that we cant see the Taj Mahal!!!!
We paid 50 bucks to a Tangawala to take us some place from where we can get a glimpse of Taj Mahal. We stand at the roof of a 2 storyed building looking at the monument hidden behind trees.
We just click some snaps of this disaster…. Buy a small marbel Taj Mahal souvenir and head back.
I sleep all the way back. We stop by at McDonalds for a quick meal. We reach home at around 1130 – way back is much faster.
We drink till 200 AM and doze off to sleep.
Day 5 ends… nothing achieved at the end of the day.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Adventures of Venom - 4!!!
Day 4: 15th November 2007
------------------------------------------
The day starts late – as usual. This time for a change, I am in bad shape. The dust has caused my sinus to aggravate and I can’t breathe. I have a running nose and am cranky. (I usually am, but when I am unwell I can be intolerable).
We have breakfast at the Hotel and then push off, of course after clicking a picture of where we were staying. We needed to know right? it was too dark at night to realize how shady the place was. Ajmer is still almost 70-80 kms away. We again realize that someone has been playing with the trip meter, and it is again set to zero. Damn!!!!
We have enough time at hand, and we cruise away. Nothing of mentionable importance happens on our way, except for my insistence of having an ice cream, which we never managed to get.
We reach Ajmer – our 1st stop being the “Ajmer Sharif” dargah. It is said that this is a very holy place and that whatever you ask for here, is always granted. We are asking for directions every 2 minutes – it is in the old city, and we all know how congested and confusing can that be. The lanes are extremely narrow – to the extent that 2 bikes cannot pass each other in parallel. It’s amazingly crowded and it feels like sunlight never touches these lanes. We have trouble finding ourselves any parking. Suddenly we hear someone creaming “yahan aao”. We obviously do not know anyone there and this is very surprising. We turn around to find out that one extra helpful gentleman is calling us out to follow him. Not knowing what to do, we stand there, while he insists that we come with him. Having no other choice, we follow him deeper into the intricate lanes. Finally he helps us park in front of an over crowded food shop and points towards a gate which reads “khwaja Garib Nawaz Guest House”. We are asked to deposit our bags there, as no bags are allowed inside the dargah. We reach the cloak room – a fat lazy guy looks at us from head to toe and says “Isme kya hai”.
I am amused by this question and say “Kapde hain, aur kya hoga?” He clearly takes offence to that and says, “Check karana padega”
OK. If you say so! VS promptly emptied the handbag. Then he turns towards the saddle bag and wants us to empty that as well. I am annoyed by now.
I tell him “Packing kya aap kar ke doge wapas”. This is too much for him and he goes on a tangent. “I can check all bags, I am a defense personnel”.
OK. “Show me your I-card” (That was of course me, while VS is banging his head on the wall, literally). He promptly takes out his card which reads “police constable”. I am almost laughing at this!!!!
Needless to say that after all this story, the ‘defense personnel’ insisted on us taking out each and every piece of clothing. VS, by now, has lost his patience and refuses to keep the bags there. He picks up (more like throws it over his shoulder) the bag and walks out. I run after him.
The guy who had taken us there in the 1st place, now offers to let us keep our bags in his shop. “Why is he being so helpful?” is what VS wants to know, but I tell him “Learn to trust people, Bhagwaan to darwaze pe khade ho”. We accompany this character to his shop, and he lets us keep the bags. Now its time to buy flowers – 350 bucks for a Chadar & some flowers. OK now I know why he was being so helpful!!!! LOL
The Dargah is crowded and like most other places of worship, there are people at every step trying to fleece you! Thanks to VS’s bad mood, we manage to get out of there without paying too much.
Then we head towards Taragarh Fort. I am insisting on it as I am a sucker for Forts / Palaces. The way to Taragarh is very cool. It is steep and the turns make it sexy. After a strenuous ride, we reach the top, only to find that the fort has been demolished (long long ago, by some invader) and all that remains is a Mosque which was built after demolition of the fort!!!!!!! Enough of worship for the day, so we decide not to go in.
We just click some snaps and push off. On our way back, the inevitable search for loo starts!!! LOL!!! We stop by “Prthviraj Smarak” hoping to find something interesting (monuments AND the loo), but all that we see is some couples seeking privacy. Again, we are unwelcome, so we push off.
We enquire about Pushkar, but people tell us that its no fun going there now. The world famous Pushkar Mela is due to start on 18th and that is the time we should visit it. OK. We will do it on our way back then.
We plan to take a night halt at Kishangarh. Again, for the fort. The plan is that we will see the fort in the morning and then push off to Jaipur.
Somewhere down the line we have already ditched the Jaisalmer plan, and I am cribbing about it. Jaisalmer has amazing sand dunes I am told. So that’s a regret I have – traveling all the way to Rajasthan and not seeing the sand dunes!!! Some other time, maybe!
Its already 330 PM and it will get dark before we realize. So we are on our way. By this time, my running nose has made my life miserable and I am unable to enjoy anything. We decide to skip Kishangarh and head straight towards Jaipur. By 400 PM it is clear that I am in a bad shape and could do with some rest. So we decide to head to Delhi (Gurgaon) to our friends place, and do Jaipur on our way back. I can’t keep my eyes open, have a terrible headache and am claiming high fever (which VS does agree to). I cling to him like a monkey and try and get some sleep. (Remember, I told u that I sleep on any moving vehicle unless I am the one diving /riding it!). It is getting dark and cold. The Ajmer – Kishangarh road is bad and takes maximum time for us to cover. Once we cross Kishangarh, the road to Jaipur is just beautiful. It’s a 4 lane highway nicely planned and better constructed. It is chilling on the highway. But we decide to cover as much distance as possible before it gets dark. At around 700 PM, after riding for 3 hours non-stop, VS’s fingers are numb coz of the cold; he can’t see a thing, coz he is wearing shades; and there is no fuel in the bike.
We search for a petrol pump and with each km I feel that I will have to push the bike any minute now. Finally just after crossing Jaipur (on the highway), we spot an IOC petrol pump. We take the opportunity to wear warm clothes, gloves, fuel up and change glasses. Back on the road again.
At around 800 PM, I create a ruckus. Just coz I haven’t asked for a break, VS is not giving me one!!!! I need food! We stop by at some dhaba for Kadhi-Chawal – yummy!!! Hit the road again, hoping that the next stop will be Gurgaon. But we need to stop at 930PM again – we need a coffee to thaw ourselves. VS is wearing all his T-shirts one over the other by now (he is looking funny and fat, but I will skip that!!). I am not that cold, coz I am clinging to him and avoiding the wind all along!! LOL!
The last 20 kms were most killing. Just when you feel that you have reached now, you hit a traffic jam – just outside Gurgaon. The jam took us 30 mins and a lot of off-roading to clear.
We finally reach the friend’s place at 1030 PM. Want to hit the bed right away, but as soon as I reach home, I am already feeling better.
We chit chat till 200 AM, planning about the next day and the trip to Agra. VS has never seen the Taj Mahal and I think that it’s a crime to come all the way here and not see it.
I finally doze off around 230, not realizing that people are still probably talking to me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 4 ends. Trip meter reads apprx 475 or something.. I am losing track of kms
------------------------------------------
The day starts late – as usual. This time for a change, I am in bad shape. The dust has caused my sinus to aggravate and I can’t breathe. I have a running nose and am cranky. (I usually am, but when I am unwell I can be intolerable). We have breakfast at the Hotel and then push off, of course after clicking a picture of where we were staying. We needed to know right? it was too dark at night to realize how shady the place was. Ajmer is still almost 70-80 kms away. We again realize that someone has been playing with the trip meter, and it is again set to zero. Damn!!!!
We have enough time at hand, and we cruise away. Nothing of mentionable importance happens on our way, except for my insistence of having an ice cream, which we never managed to get.
We reach Ajmer – our 1st stop being the “Ajmer Sharif” dargah. It is said that this is a very holy place and that whatever you ask for here, is always granted. We are asking for directions every 2 minutes – it is in the old city, and we all know how congested and confusing can that be. The lanes are extremely narrow – to the extent that 2 bikes cannot pass each other in parallel. It’s amazingly crowded and it feels like sunlight never touches these lanes. We have trouble finding ourselves any parking. Suddenly we hear someone creaming “yahan aao”. We obviously do not know anyone there and this is very surprising. We turn around to find out that one extra helpful gentleman is calling us out to follow him. Not knowing what to do, we stand there, while he insists that we come with him. Having no other choice, we follow him deeper into the intricate lanes. Finally he helps us park in front of an over crowded food shop and points towards a gate which reads “khwaja Garib Nawaz Guest House”. We are asked to deposit our bags there, as no bags are allowed inside the dargah. We reach the cloak room – a fat lazy guy looks at us from head to toe and says “Isme kya hai”.
I am amused by this question and say “Kapde hain, aur kya hoga?” He clearly takes offence to that and says, “Check karana padega” OK. If you say so! VS promptly emptied the handbag. Then he turns towards the saddle bag and wants us to empty that as well. I am annoyed by now.
I tell him “Packing kya aap kar ke doge wapas”. This is too much for him and he goes on a tangent. “I can check all bags, I am a defense personnel”.
OK. “Show me your I-card” (That was of course me, while VS is banging his head on the wall, literally). He promptly takes out his card which reads “police constable”. I am almost laughing at this!!!!
Needless to say that after all this story, the ‘defense personnel’ insisted on us taking out each and every piece of clothing. VS, by now, has lost his patience and refuses to keep the bags there. He picks up (more like throws it over his shoulder) the bag and walks out. I run after him.
The guy who had taken us there in the 1st place, now offers to let us keep our bags in his shop. “Why is he being so helpful?” is what VS wants to know, but I tell him “Learn to trust people, Bhagwaan to darwaze pe khade ho”. We accompany this character to his shop, and he lets us keep the bags. Now its time to buy flowers – 350 bucks for a Chadar & some flowers. OK now I know why he was being so helpful!!!! LOL
The Dargah is crowded and like most other places of worship, there are people at every step trying to fleece you! Thanks to VS’s bad mood, we manage to get out of there without paying too much.
Then we head towards Taragarh Fort. I am insisting on it as I am a sucker for Forts / Palaces. The way to Taragarh is very cool. It is steep and the turns make it sexy. After a strenuous ride, we reach the top, only to find that the fort has been demolished (long long ago, by some invader) and all that remains is a Mosque which was built after demolition of the fort!!!!!!! Enough of worship for the day, so we decide not to go in. 
We just click some snaps and push off. On our way back, the inevitable search for loo starts!!! LOL!!! We stop by “Prthviraj Smarak” hoping to find something interesting (monuments AND the loo), but all that we see is some couples seeking privacy. Again, we are unwelcome, so we push off.We enquire about Pushkar, but people tell us that its no fun going there now. The world famous Pushkar Mela is due to start on 18th and that is the time we should visit it. OK. We will do it on our way back then.
We plan to take a night halt at Kishangarh. Again, for the fort. The plan is that we will see the fort in the morning and then push off to Jaipur.
Somewhere down the line we have already ditched the Jaisalmer plan, and I am cribbing about it. Jaisalmer has amazing sand dunes I am told. So that’s a regret I have – traveling all the way to Rajasthan and not seeing the sand dunes!!! Some other time, maybe!
Its already 330 PM and it will get dark before we realize. So we are on our way. By this time, my running nose has made my life miserable and I am unable to enjoy anything. We decide to skip Kishangarh and head straight towards Jaipur. By 400 PM it is clear that I am in a bad shape and could do with some rest. So we decide to head to Delhi (Gurgaon) to our friends place, and do Jaipur on our way back. I can’t keep my eyes open, have a terrible headache and am claiming high fever (which VS does agree to). I cling to him like a monkey and try and get some sleep. (Remember, I told u that I sleep on any moving vehicle unless I am the one diving /riding it!). It is getting dark and cold. The Ajmer – Kishangarh road is bad and takes maximum time for us to cover. Once we cross Kishangarh, the road to Jaipur is just beautiful. It’s a 4 lane highway nicely planned and better constructed. It is chilling on the highway. But we decide to cover as much distance as possible before it gets dark. At around 700 PM, after riding for 3 hours non-stop, VS’s fingers are numb coz of the cold; he can’t see a thing, coz he is wearing shades; and there is no fuel in the bike.
We search for a petrol pump and with each km I feel that I will have to push the bike any minute now. Finally just after crossing Jaipur (on the highway), we spot an IOC petrol pump. We take the opportunity to wear warm clothes, gloves, fuel up and change glasses. Back on the road again.
At around 800 PM, I create a ruckus. Just coz I haven’t asked for a break, VS is not giving me one!!!! I need food! We stop by at some dhaba for Kadhi-Chawal – yummy!!! Hit the road again, hoping that the next stop will be Gurgaon. But we need to stop at 930PM again – we need a coffee to thaw ourselves. VS is wearing all his T-shirts one over the other by now (he is looking funny and fat, but I will skip that!!). I am not that cold, coz I am clinging to him and avoiding the wind all along!! LOL!
The last 20 kms were most killing. Just when you feel that you have reached now, you hit a traffic jam – just outside Gurgaon. The jam took us 30 mins and a lot of off-roading to clear.
We finally reach the friend’s place at 1030 PM. Want to hit the bed right away, but as soon as I reach home, I am already feeling better.
We chit chat till 200 AM, planning about the next day and the trip to Agra. VS has never seen the Taj Mahal and I think that it’s a crime to come all the way here and not see it.
I finally doze off around 230, not realizing that people are still probably talking to me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 4 ends. Trip meter reads apprx 475 or something.. I am losing track of kms
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Adventures of Venom - 3!!!
Day 3: 14th November 2007
------------------------------------------
Two days of biking and the enthusiasm is at its peak, but our bodies are not. Given that we went to sleep very late the night before, we have an excuse to start the day late.
We wake up at 800 AM, and laze around for a while. Finally we are ready to leave at 930 AM. A good Idli Dosa breakfast is filling. And it’s lovely to have a sambhar which does not taste ‘sweet’. Now that we are out of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the food is no longer sweet and that feels nice.
The ride is good and boring – nothing much is happening. And then suddenly we see something!!! By the time we realize what it is, we have already crossed it. But we turn and go back to have a good look at it. And we have a good laugh as well!!!
“Talk about competition” – this one is an ad painted on a huge rock, and says “Reliance se sasta Diesel”. If only Reliance was to ever see this! LOL! While I am trying to climb up, I see an ugly looking red and green huge chameleon, waiting to pounce on me, obviously hating that I am trespassing in its territory! I am shit scared but also want to act brave!!! Well the snap comes out really funny!
The next stop is Jodhpur which is still a good 250 Kms away. I insist on purchasing some singharas. For those who don’t know what it is – it is a triangular thorny fruit (or is it a vegetable, not sure) which is peeled and the sweet pulp is eaten. NO - It’s not as bad as it sounds here, it’s actually nice. So there I am – peeling and eating singharas on the pillion seat. Also trying to put some in VS’s mouth – sometimes missing the mouth and getting the nose!! Some way down the road, we get stopped by the police (I had been thinking since long – we look like terrorists, how come we haven’t been stopped as yet). Didn’t I tell you I have a black tongue?
So back to the police story – the policemen want us to show them all the bike papers. They seem disappointed at not finding anything suspicious. Then they want us to tell them all about the 2 of us and where we are off to. They are more disappointed. And then they finally come to the point – “Chalo Diwali karte jaao” Simply translated, that would mean they want money. This annoyed me and I asked them “Hum acche bhale jaa rahe the, hume roka kyu?” So one of them grins and says, “Namaste karne ke liye”. Translated again, that would mean, ‘we stopped you for money’. VS has no intentions of dragging this issue, and he promptly pays them and we walk towards the bike. I hear one of them calling, “kya kha rahe hian madam?” Translated to - we want to eat it too. So gave my packet of singharas to them and we rode off (sob sob)
Today is the day of detours – so we take a deviation – don’t know where, but follow the signs to a Jain temple. It’s worth the extra 60 kms. The temple, like all other Jain temples, is pure marble and is almost 900 years old. It’s the “parshwanth temple”. The pujari doesn’t seem to like the way I am dressed and makes a face, but he doesn’t have a choice. The temple is quiet and serene, and a Jain family (a very large one I must say) is performing some sort of rituals. We are clearly unwelcome and so we take leave after spending good 20 minutes over there.
We reach Jodhpur at around 400 PM. The trip meter reads 1110. We are pleased with ourselves.
Our 1st destination is the Mehrangarh fort. The entrance is grand and standing at the gate, I am thinking about how cool it would be to be living in this, in those days. Shit! Why wasn’t I born a princess!!! VS parks the bike and we can't find a place to keep the bags. So VS has to carry it in his shoulders. He promptly decides that he wants to take the lift to the top (the fort is very well managed. The tour starts from the top and ends at the ground floor. You have an option of climbing to the top or taking the lift – the top is 12 floors high, though the fort only has 4 floors!!). We finally manage to get a place to keep our bags, now its better!
Each room in the fort has its own story and the history is fascinating. My “wow, imagine” is driving VS nuts.The fort took us a good 2 hours to complete. And it was beautiful. I have no words to describe it here. The glass rooms are out of this world. They apparently were the bedroom! Wow man, imagine waking up in the morning to such a beautiful room! There I go again!
There is the dining room, the children’s room, the kitchen, the meeting room, the entertainment room, the guest room and what have you. I almost had a debate with VS on whether I would marry him if I were a princess… maybe if he agreed to come and live with me in the palace. He promptly refused. And that was the end of the discussion.
It is now that we realize that all the forts / museums close at 500 PM. It’s a miracle that we were allowed till 600 inside Mehrangarh. We have loads of places to see and no time at hand. We compromise on just visiting the places – the thought of being a part of it is enough. We are just short of running towards our bikes, but then it’s of no use – it’s already 615 PM.
It’s now that we notice that some a%&^hole has reset our trip meter to zero. Can you believe that!!!! We are pissed, we are upset, but there’s nothing we can do. So we move on.
We visit the “Jaswant thada” which is just outside the ‘Mehrangarh’ fort. This used to be the Royal crematorium – it still is. We tried to click a picture of the actual monument, but bad light and no access didn't do any good! We had to come back without one. Next we tried to visit the "Umedh Bhavan Palace". We were not even allowed entrance, leave aside getting any snaps. The watchman (or should I say the royal guard), shooed us away. . We then tried the “Mahamandir” – which as the name suggests, is a HUGE temple. It has now been converted to a school (a good thing to do, but has taken away the historical value of the monument)
We now started worrying about the night halt. It was only 800 PM and it didn’t make sense for us to stay back in Jodhpur. We should proceed towards Ajmer. But Ajmer is another 250 Kms from Jodhpur and there is no way we can make it all the way. We decide to take a night halt at Byawar. It’s a small town almost 70 Kms before Ajmer and is a decent place to stay. We reach Byawar at around 1200 mid-night. Dead tired and sleepy - looking around for a hotel. We tried Raj Darbar, but no rooms available. Then we tried Vinod, still no luck. Damn the wedding season!!! Raj Darbar and Vinod were the only 2 big hotels that we had done a ref check on – now what to do?? The receptionist at Vinod helped us out by telling us of another one – Hotel Vikrant. He said it is small, but a place where families live and you could stay with your wife. That’s all we need dude, give us the directions. Finally we managed to check in a room at around 1230 AM.
The only room available was a single room - means, we have to sleep on a single bed now… well well I don’t mind ;) The room was one of its kind, it had a basin in the room!!!!! Yes you heard it right. But we didn’t have any choice, nor the enthu to go and find some other place!
So we sleep like logs again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 3 ends. Trip meter reads 165 (remember that a%$^hole who set it to zero)….. 10 more days to go
------------------------------------------
Two days of biking and the enthusiasm is at its peak, but our bodies are not. Given that we went to sleep very late the night before, we have an excuse to start the day late. We wake up at 800 AM, and laze around for a while. Finally we are ready to leave at 930 AM. A good Idli Dosa breakfast is filling. And it’s lovely to have a sambhar which does not taste ‘sweet’. Now that we are out of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the food is no longer sweet and that feels nice.
The ride is good and boring – nothing much is happening. And then suddenly we see something!!! By the time we realize what it is, we have already crossed it. But we turn and go back to have a good look at it. And we have a good laugh as well!!! “Talk about competition” – this one is an ad painted on a huge rock, and says “Reliance se sasta Diesel”. If only Reliance was to ever see this! LOL! While I am trying to climb up, I see an ugly looking red and green huge chameleon, waiting to pounce on me, obviously hating that I am trespassing in its territory! I am shit scared but also want to act brave!!! Well the snap comes out really funny!
The next stop is Jodhpur which is still a good 250 Kms away. I insist on purchasing some singharas. For those who don’t know what it is – it is a triangular thorny fruit (or is it a vegetable, not sure) which is peeled and the sweet pulp is eaten. NO - It’s not as bad as it sounds here, it’s actually nice. So there I am – peeling and eating singharas on the pillion seat. Also trying to put some in VS’s mouth – sometimes missing the mouth and getting the nose!! Some way down the road, we get stopped by the police (I had been thinking since long – we look like terrorists, how come we haven’t been stopped as yet). Didn’t I tell you I have a black tongue?
So back to the police story – the policemen want us to show them all the bike papers. They seem disappointed at not finding anything suspicious. Then they want us to tell them all about the 2 of us and where we are off to. They are more disappointed. And then they finally come to the point – “Chalo Diwali karte jaao” Simply translated, that would mean they want money. This annoyed me and I asked them “Hum acche bhale jaa rahe the, hume roka kyu?” So one of them grins and says, “Namaste karne ke liye”. Translated again, that would mean, ‘we stopped you for money’. VS has no intentions of dragging this issue, and he promptly pays them and we walk towards the bike. I hear one of them calling, “kya kha rahe hian madam?” Translated to - we want to eat it too. So gave my packet of singharas to them and we rode off (sob sob)
Today is the day of detours – so we take a deviation – don’t know where, but follow the signs to a Jain temple. It’s worth the extra 60 kms. The temple, like all other Jain temples, is pure marble and is almost 900 years old. It’s the “parshwanth temple”. The pujari doesn’t seem to like the way I am dressed and makes a face, but he doesn’t have a choice. The temple is quiet and serene, and a Jain family (a very large one I must say) is performing some sort of rituals. We are clearly unwelcome and so we take leave after spending good 20 minutes over there. We reach Jodhpur at around 400 PM. The trip meter reads 1110. We are pleased with ourselves.
Our 1st destination is the Mehrangarh fort. The entrance is grand and standing at the gate, I am thinking about how cool it would be to be living in this, in those days. Shit! Why wasn’t I born a princess!!! VS parks the bike and we can't find a place to keep the bags. So VS has to carry it in his shoulders. He promptly decides that he wants to take the lift to the top (the fort is very well managed. The tour starts from the top and ends at the ground floor. You have an option of climbing to the top or taking the lift – the top is 12 floors high, though the fort only has 4 floors!!). We finally manage to get a place to keep our bags, now its better!
Each room in the fort has its own story and the history is fascinating. My “wow, imagine” is driving VS nuts.The fort took us a good 2 hours to complete. And it was beautiful. I have no words to describe it here. The glass rooms are out of this world. They apparently were the bedroom! Wow man, imagine waking up in the morning to such a beautiful room! There I go again! There is the dining room, the children’s room, the kitchen, the meeting room, the entertainment room, the guest room and what have you. I almost had a debate with VS on whether I would marry him if I were a princess… maybe if he agreed to come and live with me in the palace. He promptly refused. And that was the end of the discussion.
It is now that we realize that all the forts / museums close at 500 PM. It’s a miracle that we were allowed till 600 inside Mehrangarh. We have loads of places to see and no time at hand. We compromise on just visiting the places – the thought of being a part of it is enough. We are just short of running towards our bikes, but then it’s of no use – it’s already 615 PM.
It’s now that we notice that some a%&^hole has reset our trip meter to zero. Can you believe that!!!! We are pissed, we are upset, but there’s nothing we can do. So we move on.
We visit the “Jaswant thada” which is just outside the ‘Mehrangarh’ fort. This used to be the Royal crematorium – it still is. We tried to click a picture of the actual monument, but bad light and no access didn't do any good! We had to come back without one. Next we tried to visit the "Umedh Bhavan Palace". We were not even allowed entrance, leave aside getting any snaps. The watchman (or should I say the royal guard), shooed us away. . We then tried the “Mahamandir” – which as the name suggests, is a HUGE temple. It has now been converted to a school (a good thing to do, but has taken away the historical value of the monument)We now started worrying about the night halt. It was only 800 PM and it didn’t make sense for us to stay back in Jodhpur. We should proceed towards Ajmer. But Ajmer is another 250 Kms from Jodhpur and there is no way we can make it all the way. We decide to take a night halt at Byawar. It’s a small town almost 70 Kms before Ajmer and is a decent place to stay. We reach Byawar at around 1200 mid-night. Dead tired and sleepy - looking around for a hotel. We tried Raj Darbar, but no rooms available. Then we tried Vinod, still no luck. Damn the wedding season!!! Raj Darbar and Vinod were the only 2 big hotels that we had done a ref check on – now what to do?? The receptionist at Vinod helped us out by telling us of another one – Hotel Vikrant. He said it is small, but a place where families live and you could stay with your wife. That’s all we need dude, give us the directions. Finally we managed to check in a room at around 1230 AM.
The only room available was a single room - means, we have to sleep on a single bed now… well well I don’t mind ;) The room was one of its kind, it had a basin in the room!!!!! Yes you heard it right. But we didn’t have any choice, nor the enthu to go and find some other place!
So we sleep like logs again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 3 ends. Trip meter reads 165 (remember that a%$^hole who set it to zero)….. 10 more days to go
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