I have been back for a week, but took some (more) time off to relax. I know my holiday was meant to do that, but with my health continuing to bother me, I needed a few extra days to recover.
I hate being out of sorts mainly because I have to put on hold the hundred things that I usually rush about doing. But as a friend of mine commented, when I complained about my lack of enthusiasm and lacklustre spirits over the last few weeks, “It’s good you did nothing for a change!â€
My abode in Manali for a few days.
And ‘nothing’ sums up exactly what I did! I lazed around and looked at the beautiful snow clad mountains everyday for 10 days. In Manali, I stayed in a little cottage right in the middle of a valley waking up to 360 degree views of mountains all around. Then in McLeodganj, Dharamsala where I headed in the hope of bumping into Richard Gere (no, not the Dalai Lama!), I took up room in a hotel overlooking the valley, so I could see both the market and the mountains from my window every day.
The scenic drive from Manali to Rohtang Pass…
I slept a lot. And I am actually not kidding when I say ‘a lot’! I went out for short walks during the day, came back to my room and slept some more. I also lost my appetite (the food on offer is amazingly varied) during this phase so instead of biting into hot momos, I went looking for crispy masala dosas instead and then overdosed on toasted bread and butter.
My last sunset at Mcleodganj, Dharamsala
While the rest of the gang went on the trek, I wandered around the place feeling totally out of work and lazy — a kind of holiday I very infrequently indulge in.
The rest of the gang, refreshed and tired after their trek, came back to Manali where I caught up with them again. Was I glad to see all of them, now several shades darker, but happier than ever before. I guess the mountain air, being back to nature and freezing cold does something strange to you!
Back to Delhi on the 31st May and we discovered the true meaning of HEAT : at 42 degrees. We were close to perishing when we discovered something else — air-conditioning and South Indian food at Saravana Bhavan.
In Mumbai, where we spent a day, it rained like crazy during the night. But during the day it cleared just enough so we could raid the all chappal shops on Linking Road. And then go on a rampage at a store called Cottons, where they had to literally throw us out because they were closing.
Back in Bangalore, it’s taken a while to get used to life again. I have been wallowing in that feeling that accosts you after weeks of doing nothing at all. Isn’t it always the hardest thing to get back ‘into’ things after a holiday?
Lapping it up: Kit Kit happy to be back to her rightful place :)
Manali,Mcleodganj.….feeling lil J :P
Yes the drive from Manali to Rohtang Pass is beautiful.…but scarry too.…btw did u visit Mani-karan near Manali??
Ohh Momos…dont get much of em here in bangalore…the only place where i have had them is an eatery run by tibetians in an arcade called Dubai Plaze on Rest House Road.…okayish hai !!
Ohh linking road.…wonderful place to shop around..have spent 13 yrs of my life there :)
The pics are fab as always…
Kit-Kit Jee..Namaste :P
Posted by Mehak | June 12, 2006, 1:40 pmanita — welcome back …Too bad you didn’t bump in richard gere. his tibetan name is sonam it seems
and mehak…you get lovely momos in ‘popsies’…that’s just opposite chung wah in koramangala.
Posted by aqua | June 12, 2006, 1:53 pmSeems like my kind of a holiday — lovely scenery and no rush to go anywhere. Pure joy, amidst nature.
We too thank Saravana Bhawan for opening shop in CP, now we have an added incentive to goto the British Council library there with our children :).
Posted by rajeev | June 12, 2006, 4:54 pmwow — sounds great !!
i can still smell that air your blog brought in with the words :)
Posted by prasoon | June 12, 2006, 11:04 pmColourful HoliDays!
Posted by scribbledthoughts | June 13, 2006, 8:50 amThe little hut like house hidden in the greens looks so inviting to my vacation-deprived soul.
I notice that all you have to say about Delhi is that is hot! :p
And Kit Kat went to all these places with you? Lucky kitty.
PS: Do we call a male cat a kitty as well?
Posted by anupma | June 13, 2006, 12:25 pmWow! You have a nice collection of snaps! :)
I saw your flickr collection too…
Posted by claytonia vices | June 13, 2006, 4:23 pmWow… awesome photos. Must be great to have a vacation and not do anything at all… Now thats what I call a vacation :)
Posted by Swapna | June 13, 2006, 10:57 pmVoila! You had wonderful time. Hope to see more pics in coming days.
Colors of green are so good looking from your cottage. and position of sun is so set in hues of orange.
Posted by Paavani | June 14, 2006, 9:54 amhey
good to see ur cat happy.. he is one suspicious cat.
vasu
Posted by vasu | June 14, 2006, 1:52 pmmehak: yes, did visit manikaran, but did not spend too much time there. it was the base camp for the gang who went trekking. i like the taste of tibet momos and i’ve written about them also. you get momos at infinitea and they’re not bad either!
rajeev: it was a nice relaxed holiday indeed :) though i missed some company. i usually don’t mind travelling alone, but this time it was kind of depressing, maybe because i knew the rest of the gang were together having fun climbing mountains!
anupma: you should definitely go for a holiday. and you stay in delhi so the himalayas are so close to you!! and no, kit kit did not come with me! she was well looked after by several of my friends here who all had cat duties for the days i was away!!
thanks swapna, paavani!
shame on you vasu. kit kit is very much a girl!! you should know ;)
Posted by Anita | June 22, 2006, 11:07 amDon’t you think it is time for you to go back to where you came from? You have overstayed your welcome in Bangalore and it is unfair on the hosts. The city is overcrowded and stretched to its limits and we would appreciate your early departure to your home town. If it helps, you can click as many photos of our poor people as you wish to fulfil your voyeuristic tendencies…
Posted by danny | June 24, 2006, 8:09 pmthese are nice pics i m also from dharamsala and am surprised to watch this beautiful sceneries anybody can contact me if he/she want
Posted by dheeraj mahajan | November 2, 2006, 11:27 pmwow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow no words to explain .
Posted by dheeraj mahajan | November 2, 2006, 11:29 pm