NOIDA DELHI POLICE – DEPLORABLE

Such is the scenario today that humanity is nowhere to be seen..even if it remains then it gets stuck between laws and regulations of the country…how do I say that?? Please read the article on this link http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/noida-delhi-police-squabble-as-youth-lies-dead-on-road_10037971.html and you will definitely be left aghast after reading the deplorable condition – of ?? Of should I say the poor little 19 year old – call centre employee who worked for Agies or of the police department who were fighting on such a trivial issue – trivial as against the life of the young fellow who – poora thing – was hung like a calendar on the sharp railings of a road divider! Horrifying is it? Oh how saddening and shocking. This young lad – how much did he know that he would have such a fate – such a dread full – who is responsible..this young guy or the one who hit him and ran away leaving the guy on the verge of death – hung on the railing with an arrow of the railing passing into his stomach – tearing him apart. I am feeling so sad since the moment I heard this. Again who is responsible..should we blame the police for witnessing and ignoring this fate of the young lad and continuing to fight for disowning the case and not letting it file in their region, even if the person died on the spot, how could they simply see a dead body hung in such a bad shape for more than 2 hours – or should be blamed - the people who witnessed it live – who were such cowards not to have helped the poor guy – but could they do much. Could they do much with the law made by man – be it any country – where people would be behind the bars for fiddling with the evidence by taking the poor young guy out of the railing – oh – how unfortunate – I feel deeply for the guy who had not seen much in life – hardly anything – his youth had just begun and his beautiful days – career – family would have then started – if only he had lived..My heart full condolences to him. May his soul rest in peace..i know there are several other cases happening each instant somewhere around the world but each one is as disheartening. To all I say – May Good Luck and Happy Life be with you always. Drive Safe.

My choice in Ghazals..Jagjit Singh / Pankaj Udas / Talat Aziz / Ghulam Ali

Aaee zanjeer ki jhankaar - Khuda Khair Kare
aap jinke kareeb hote hai
Aap Ko Dekh Kar
Aapki Nazron ne
Aur Aahista (Pankaj Udas)
Aye dil-e-nadan..aarzu kya hai
Baat Niklegi to door talak jayegi
Bete Hue Lamho Ki Kasak yaad to hogi
Chand Se Phool Se Ya – Jagjit
Chandi jaisa rang hei tera
Chitthi Na Koyee Sandesh
Chupke Chupke sakhiyon se batein karna bhool gayi
Din Aa Gaye Shabab Ke, Aanchal sambhaliye
Faza Bhi Hai Jawan Jawan
Hazaar Rahen
Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi
Honthon Se Chhoo Lo Tum
Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya
Hum to hain pardes mein des mein nikla hoga chand
Huzoor Is Kadar Bhi Na Itra Ke Chaliye
Ishq Hota Nahin Sabhi Ke Liye-JoggersPark
Jab Samne Tum Aa Jaate Ho
Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar
Badhi Nazuk Hai Yeh Manzil – JoggersPark
Kabhi Yun Bhi To Ho Ki Badal Aisa Toot Ke Barse
Kal Chaudhvi Ki Raat thi Shabh bhar raha charcha tera
Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezar Aaj Bhi Hai-Bhupinder & Asha
Kiska Chehra Ab Mai Dekhoon Tera Chehra Dekhkar
Mujhse Naraaz Ho
Phir Chhidi Raat - Lata Talat Aziz
Pyaar Ka Pehla Khat_Jagjit Singh
Pyar Mujh Se Jo Kiya Tumne To Kya Paoge
Sarakti Jaaye Hey Rukh Se Naqab Ahista
Seene Mein Jalan Aankhon Mein Toofan Sa Kyu Hai
Tere Aane Ki Jab Khabar
Tere Bare Main Jab
Tumko Bhool Na Payenge Hum Aisa Lagta Hai
Tumko Dekha To Ye Khayal Aaya

Touching Songs from Makdee and Taare Zameen Par

At times the song compositions in the film industry are of such substance that they simply sweep me off my feet..two beautiful songs which have so realistically depicted a child and his/her expectations and their feelings for their mothers.
You might have seen a hindi movie called Makdee which was a children's film in Hindi directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, starring Shabana Azmi, Makrand Deshpande, Shewta Prasad, and Alaap Mazgaonkar. I think it was released in 2002/ 2003 and had a lovely song..

Song: Mai from Makdee

Link: http://ww.smashits.com/music/hindi-film/songs/4333/makdee.html

I think among the songs that have come up in the past few years, the ‘Mai’ song of Makdee has been sung very deeply. It shows feelings like despair and fear of the little child who she thinks she has nowhere to go and her mother (Maa) is whom she misses - who is not in the world anymore.

Another touching and never-so-deeply expressed song is from the movie Taare Zameen Par released this year.

Song: Maa

Link: www.songs.pk/taare_zameen_par.html

It describes how close a little boy is to his mother. The phrase ‘Meri Maa’ is touching and more touching is the song where my heart actually breathes with the rythym of the music notes and flow. How a boy is expected to be strong and does not express things openly but he also is a child as old as a girl of his age and feels old and bold in this little age. Somewhere in his mind, he compares himself since childhood to big boys of his age and holds grudges against them, feels like replying back with the same intensity of punches and showing them never to bully him again.. but somewhere deep into his heart he realizes he is young and admits a few facts which he cannot before anyone else. Such is the beauty of this song which has been very well written and equally skillfully sung. The boy cannot admit any of his weaknesses before anyone in reality not even before his parents but the only person whom he feels close to and THINKS, can speak up to is his mother..this proves the toughness of replacing any relation to that with a mother. She is loving, sacrificing, devoted, pampering, resourceful, full of will power, appreciative, best friend, beautiful in every form, most knowledgeable coz she teaches her child every day, the best doctor – she knows the best of little home-treatments, her voice is like soothing honey which gives instant relief to all problems and the mind finds rest, she helps her children reach to decisions though she may or may not be educated.

The gravity in the voice when we speak ‘Ma’ is the lifeline for all.

YESTERDAY WAS IRONICAL

At times I feel that the name of my blog ‘memorable moments’ will only indicate or so would be the perception of others or maybe only I feel so..those moments which are good to hear..I have not written many blogs yet but an ironical situation would so soon come before me, is something I never expected! I am not sure how verbose can I be in describing my state of heart and mind but still here it is for I really wish to open my heart out..

Yesterday was an ironical day. During the first half I came know of a marriage been fixed – two people got engaged..two nice people who are both worth the admiration..lot of it. It had been a pleasant surprise to hear about the engagement and I was really happy. I came back with sweets offered by them in my hands and full of happiness. It was about mid of day.

Orkut is a good community for social networking at least it links people and we come to know of things good and bad…I had scrapped a school-time friend on orkut asking how she was doing and that I was so happy to find her on orkut. I congratulated her about her sweet little baby whom I saw in the pictures uploaded. How much did I know..I was talking to a soul and not a ..

Another batchmate pinged me on chat as soon as I came back with the sweets of the engaged couple. We talked after almost 15 years..we were friends in 6th standard in school as much as I remember. I was filled with excitement when she sent a ‘Hi’. The next line said..”Appie is no more..”. She expired last Tuesday. I was shocked, speechless, didn’t know what to speak..Appie – the same friend whom I thought I had traced on orkut and had sent a message of congratulations for a little baby. It was as though the world has spun around and I felt lost. The smiles of engagement happiness faded with a jolt and my mind was trying to ask a myriad questions..what, how, sudden..and see the irony of the same day when in morning after getting the news of the engagement, I felt a myriad questions coming to my mind..what, how, sudden.

The irony was that the questions were same but the answers were so ghastly different. And the wish from my heart at the end of the day was ‘God Bless Them.’

Favorite Tour: Trip to Tirthan Valley - 2

We had now reached close to the place with roads narrowing down to little stony lanes.
We crossed a little bridge built on the water body, the depth of which could only be measured in dreams. I had not even dreamt of anything of such kind. All of us were from varied areas of India, some had seen deep waters, some had seen waterfalls and mountains but how could one describe what I was witnessing that moment. Though we had to hurry to reach our Stay Spot, we could not resist stopping for a minute and all went beyond the practicality– thinking how small would be a minute to just stop there and then take a look below, then a little farther, slowly gazing up the altitude and then swallowing nothing once. Such was the feeling at that moment. It took time – the playful view of waves gushing here and there and the sound of those strong waves made us want for more! I sat at the pedestrian and took a picture. Have a look:
We climbed back into our cars and moved on to see the entrance of the Trout House ahead. It was a long journey. This place had small cottages and we had booked four cottages and were looking forward to simply go and lie down like wooden logs. We were hell tired. Stones were used for making the small uneven staircase which lead to a covered clearing surrounded by trees.
We were hungry and the cool atmosphere made us hungrier than ever. It was time for an early dinner. Dinner was laid on a small and again uneven platform and both non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes were served. Though the food did not seem very interesting in the first go but since we all were very hungry, we simply gobbled down most of it and also overate a little tastefully. After this we realized the wall adjacent to the platform was done very artistically by the female among the couple who owned the place. The entire place was lit by candles and small bulbs.
The host group comprised of a couple (a unique one) with their small baby boy (very cute and chubby) along with two cooks and a few caretakers. The owner showed us into our cottages. Our cottage was facing that of the other couple.
We rushed in. There was no electricity or no other sound. We could hear water flowing through the narrow natural mountain cracks. For the first time this sound of flowing, trickling and splashing water seemed music-same as the poets describe in their musical collection of words which is thrown on a piece of paper and in moments – which is being played on guitars. With the reference of Guitar, I recollect that the owner had promised to play guitar (he knew well) the next night. How romantic, isn’t it? We were all looking forward to it.
We were all soon fast asleep. The natural aura was so relaxing that 6 hours seemed more than enough to sleep and we woke up like fresh daisies ready to bloom around into the watery terrains. I realized with the first sunlight streak that the cottage rooms were done really well. They were decorated creatively and had small but many windows to see the greens around. I woke up from the bed and first thing I did was looking outside the window. I saw another creative artwork done with stones, mud, broken glasses and plants. I felt like complementing the owner for her innovative artwork though I am not sure if other liked it.

Another bedside window showed small cherry shrubs which seemed so hilly. I had not seen red cherries’ shrubs and went close to them as we go ready and went out to have breakfast in the same clearing which was our dining cum lobby clearing.
As I stepped out of the cottage, towards my left was a stony trail which went into greens.

The instant thought was to quench my curiosity which had its solution at the end of the trail into the trees but I preferred to have breakfast first! We had a nice and quite heavy breakfast of aloo-gobhi-onion and paneer paranthas. Wow is the taste I recollect!
We planned to go to the riverside which was stormy, splashy, shiny and inviting us to bathe. Since we were almost at the top of the mountain, the river probably started somewhere close to it and carried big and small pieces of rocks so the river bed and shore were extremely rocky. It was tough to walk bare feet. All of us were dying to play with water and all suddenly grew childish and play full. It was great fun and the water was chilled. Feet felt like numb but it was a pure feeling. No one could try bathing since the water was cold but all of us played with water, clicked pictures for long hours. At times we used to dread falling ill but Mother Nature was quite liberal and all went fine.

Clouds hung from above with baskets full of water, drizzling began. Reluctantly we planned to rush back to the cottage. It started raining heavily and all day and night it rained.
Now came the real attraction of this place..I told you that I would reveal it later. Here is the secret disclosed..This place is famous for fishing and specifically ‘Trout’ fishing. Trout is a breed of fish which is found in the waters of these areas. The owner of this house was a top-shot fisherman and knew a lot in detail about fishing. He opened before us his vast knowledge about fishing and showed us how he used to make a ‘fly’ for fish..I think fly is what the trapping article was called. It sure required art, patience and knowledge of fishery. The picture below is a collection of feathers, shiny threads and metal hooks which were used to make a fly which varied in terms of size, shape, colour.

This fly was given a look of an insect which trouts / other fishes ate so that when the fly was casted, fishes would take it as a normal insect of their routine diet and ate it, get caught. There were trout farms somewhere close.
There were special plans made by our hosts to serve us Fishes for dinner. We chatted for long and enjoyed each other’s company, had lunch and it was by evening that the clouds decided to rest. We now thought of moving around and felt like absorbing as much as eyes could make it – the clouds, waters, woods, small bridges knitted together with green leaves and making it a ‘Picture Perfect’. We also planned to visit Trout Farm to get fishes for dinner.
On way to Trout Farm..

Road adjacent to our Cottage..























While driving..






















On our way back to cottage when night had engulfed the fascinating waterfall..

Some more….here and there..



























SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL..

Female Names' Hit List

I am really impressed with some lovely names. One of my colleagues asked the team to suggest a few names for her known’s daughter and some real good ones came up. Here is our hitlist..do add or point out the ones you like:

Antara
Anushree
Arundhati
Apoorva
Atika
Diya
Farha
Ishita
Kausar
Latika
Lavanya
Lipi
Lopa
Mahi (Earth)
Marichi
Maryam
Mehrunissa
Mita
Mridula
Mrinali
Mohisha
Nafisa / Nafasat
Pearl
Puruda
Rituparna
Sarah
Shail
Shaheen
Simran
Taru

Favorite Tour: Trip to Tirthan Valley

I have visited a couple of places in recent past and would surely like to share my thrilling experience of the trip to Tirthan Valley. I am flooding with the memories of numerous and varied feelings which came up - the fun, the enthusiasm, elation and awe which was put forth by nature in one of the most beautiful way. Let me tell you where it is…The Tirthan Valley is in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. Located within the Great Himalayan National Park, the roadie way is sure long but worth it so do set aside some free time for it! We travelled from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh. The makhmal-si-roads (as one of my friends says) unfolded like a graceful carpet around the river as we moved on in full zeal with our face swirling around to catch every bit of the beautiful nature and noticing the small names like Chalogi, Mungla, Nagini, Ghushaini……And do you love eating during journeys..oh I love eating loads and loads..and we had driven for quite some time and slowly realized that we felt like sitting and having something amidst the natural flora and fauna. We were three couples and two bachelors having fun and side by side keeping a look out. We soon found a food-joint along the road and planned to take a small hault. Guys moved on to have a fag and we moved found a place to relax until the food was laid. Have a look at our hang out, haha..

After spending sometime here and relaxing, we were all charged up to move on. I never felt so close to nature..and I am basically a lover of clouds – mountains – the Evergreens..tall and proud! The beautiful time of November was apt for this and I love clicking pictures. For the moments when the raw nature leaves me speechless for its beauty-descriptions, I always take help of these clicked pics to share and express my treasured moments. Do have a look below at the breathtaking scenic views as we moved to the roads around the foothillsThe road was calm, the tree leaves reflected the small streaks of sunlight escaping through them..and the road wound up into a delicate curl between two mountain ranges and we suddenly had a blanket of moist, wavy cover of dark grey clouds which hung over us – same like when the royal guests are ushered in under big-graceful umbrellas to the royal castle..here being mother nature which welcomed us with open arms of these two ranges..it felt like nature understood the tiresome and exhausting life in the bustling cities. It caressed us with a mild drizzle and we put our hands outside the windows of the moving cars..i gently took out my cell to take a picture ..the drizzling feel on the camera lens and a beautiful picture was drawn..

Then came a broad road with the first streak of a waterfall..









The mountains had something more beautiful in store..Have a look…


Woh kehte hain ki sham dhalne ko hai to ghar ki taraf rukh ho..so with the clouds making it into an early evening, we had to start rushing to reach the key place where we planned to stay. That is a surprise..so read on!

Sometimes at night..

At times I wonder when I look into the sky,
Think about you and my heart questions..why?
Why do I love you? I think and smile
Remembering those moments..really fine
Those first flirting words which made my toes curl
First drive together..first yawn before everyone!
My embarassed eyes but no words on tongue
The speeding car..the fun-filled moments
Ur grabbing of cell, my striving for return
Some occasional meetings..my resistance to one
Our god-made couple..then the desitned knot done.
Starting of life with a lil known person
Ur wavelength matching mine, our love divine
The whisper of ur voice, the warmth of ur touch
so many little things that make me want you so much
The way that ur kiss, fills me with desire
And how u hold me with the warmth of a blazing fire.
The way ur eyes shine when you look at me..
lost with you forever is where I want to be.
The dreams that I dream that all involve you
the way you let me snuggle close to you.
I could go on for always,telling of what I feel
but all you must know is my love for u is deep..

Pains of being a TENANT

Well, I really need to make an effort bringing myself to write this incident!! Life is tough for tenants until they buy their own places. At least it has been for me after this incident, I wonder how it is for all those couples who are working in Gurgaon and have come from different cities.

It all started from the fact that we had to change our current place since our landlord’s son is getting married. He was putting up in Australia till sometime back and now they are getting him married fast so that he stays in India. (Same old story…). Our landlord and his family are real good people very courteous and absolutely non – interfering which makes them one of the best. I and my hubby Prashant have really lived peacefully here for about 10 months now. All was going fine and then suddenly the marriage came up and we were looking for a nice place to shift. We did not get anything in Sector 14 even after long search through brokers too. We then started searching in Sector 23 and 23 A.

Our 1st sight of the house
A week back we went to a broker who showed us 3-4 houses on rent but we liked one and only – White Beauty. This was a big three floor building with ground, first and second floor. It is completely done in marble and appealed to us at the first instant. We went there in the evening and the broker told us that the landlord did not live here. He had another house nearby which was identical to this one but a lane away from this one. Coincidently, we met him here only so need not go to his own house. He was a Colonel and about 75 years old – he spoke like a lot and lot means TOO MUCH. He wouldn’t let anybody speak anything at all. Anyhow he had yet not shown us the house from inside – the 2nd floor was on rent. The broker went away and the landlord took us to his own house and showed us the second floor of that house. He said since both the houses were identical so anyone could be seen. Some one was still staying in the place which we were supposed to occupy and he did not want to offend them since he had good relations with them. He said he didn’t mind showing the original place on 29th when it would be vacated. He showed us the ground floor of both houses in order to convince us that both houses were identical. He said that it was 26 on that day and 29th and 30th the tenants would vacate the place after which we could see and shift whenever comfortable.

We did not have many options which were as nicely done so we agreed to pay him the security thinking that he and his wife were good people with reputed backgrounds and this was their only condition. We gave the security amount but I was firm on one point that once we entered into the actual place on 29th only then the deal would stand final. To this his wife agreed but said that the security would be payable now only since then they would not entertain any more requests. She was quite adamant so we thought that since the place is really nice so we could agree to this condition as such she promised to refund the security in case we did not like it on 29th. We had almost finalized the place and landlord told us to shift on 30th itself and that he would arrange for the old tenant’s to shift fast.

Our 2nd visit BUT to the actual house (DEVASTATING)
On 29th we tried calling the landlord to know whether the tenants had shifted or not and that we could come and see the place. We somehow could not get in touch on phone so we moved to the rented place. The couple was shifting and we introduced ourselves. (NOT KNOWING WHAT THE ACTUAL PLOT OF LANDLORD WAS!!!). They told us that they were paying 3k less than what landlord was charging us. We were SHOCKED. When we actually saw the second floor we were very disappointed. It was in a deplorable state and very shabby coz of the current shifting going on. I instantly refused to shift here and so did Prashant. That couple told us the actual story then…….. landlord gave them a short notice of shifting to the first floor below since his daughter and son-in-law were coming and forcibly asked them to vacate or pay 10k straight for 1st floor since it was bigger!!! They were helpless since their child was small and was going to a crèche just opposite to the house so they could not search house instantly and were forced to shift. The landlord suddenly raised the rent of the second floor and did not even show us the actual place since it was in a bad shape though it was built in the same fashion as the floor at his second house. They requested us not to tell the landlord that the couple had told us anything about the place. We promised them so and went to landlord’s house.

He received us warmly. We requested him to show us the place so that we could finalize on the place – whether to shift or to search for another. He sounded shocked and his wife doubted us for having searched another place. We denied doing so and they started interrogating all the more asking us whether we had seen the rent place without them. We denied even that. Finally we forced him to show it to us but he insisted on knowing why we did not get our luggage with us.

Finally it all ENDED!
They were behaving strangely but still they both took us to the rented house and introduced us to Pinky and her husband – the tenant couple. We pretended not to know each other. After seeing the place we got back to his house and sat down to discussion. We asked him to repaint the place before we had shift to which he point blankly refused and said that we were moving away from our requirement and goddamn promise. They both created a big scene and his wife indicated about not giving the security money back too. We were saved only on one statement that I had given on the first day saying that we would take the place only when we saw the actual place and in case it did not appeal to us then we would take our security back!!! I thank god for blessing me with this good thought on the first day. Imagine loosing 10k for nothing!! We sat for about 4 hours at their place and then got our security amount back. It was a nasty experience and we have decided never to make such a mistake again. The house was some 2919-P, Sector 23, Gurgaon as far as I remember. For all those searching a rented place in Gurgaon – never visit the place. We learnt a lot from such an experience and were shocked to see that even educated people from reputed segments like army etc behave like this!

Narkanda – An Exciting Trip

I would like you all to steal some moments from your busy schedule and read this small excerpt on a unique place. In my opinion this place is specially for a couple planning for some sweet moments together but families would find the place worth enjoying and most of all kids would find it thrilling. Imagine where is this cottage situated - it is right on a HILL – TOP. It’s hidden among dense trees in a small clearing. You see not a single soul generally except for the two servants manning the entire cottage.

I initially had plans to visit Simla but when we reached there the place seemed hot and crowded. I was surprised at the high temperature there. It also does not look as neat and beautiful. We then moved on to Narkanda. On the way we found a cool place called Kufri. This place was pleasant and was much lower in temperature with chilly winds. We loved the low temperature here but did not find the place worth spending 2-3 days. We moved further to Narkanda and found another small place called Chhail. This place again was a little low in temperature but it was a quite one. Further on the way, we came to a beautiful spot amidst the forest and mountains. It was a little diverse from the normal route – say about 20 kms at a very high altitude. It was as if we had come to plains. A big entertainment centre was newly constructed. We tried exploring and enjoyed the place thoroughly. On the way to this place, there were no people but when we reached there were many people and kids enjoying the place. Beautiful songs were played and there were small joints for foodies. A separate space was given for a variety of swings where not only kids but families too were having great fun. We spent about 4 hours and enjoyed every bit of it including a ride on Yaks!

With the time running fast we started packing-up in order to reach Narkanda before dark. Since we drove on our own we wanted to search for ATMs at Narkanda from where we could draw cash for fuel and hotel expenses. Amongst all this we were forced to enjoy the serenity of the nature with its beauty at the best. With the beautiful hilly breeze touching our cheeks and with cold shivers running down our spine, we drove towards our destination Narkanda. We reached there well before dark and were searching for a good hotel to stay. We considered many options including one decently maintained hotel by tourism department of the state. We considered a few more and while talking to a few locals we got a small thread to the LAKESIDE COTTAGE. We wanted to give it a look but there was one factor discouraging us that it was a little away from the main town market. In fact it was at a higher altitude too so in case we planned to go to the market walking sometimes then coming back could cause a trouble sometimes since we were not acquainted with the ways and were not used to traveling uphill. The cottage belonged to a family which lived in the plains but owned the entire hill on which the cottage was made. When we visited the place we took an instant liking to it.
It was like staying at a farm house so close to nature in fact surrounded by trees and birds.We reached in the evening and confirmed our 3 day stay there to the owners. We were not left with much of money since we could not find any ATMs after Simla (In case you visit places above Simla do carry more of cash!!). Also, in case you go by your own conveyance then you will find the petrol pump in Simla and do take the fuel there. We did not know where to go but thankfully we took fuel from Simla and did not face any problems ahead.

Our beautiful stay at the cottage began from this night. We had a cook and a peon cum servant provided by the owners. Car parking in itself was a mission since the road to the cottage was very narrow and then the clearance in which the cottage was built was not sufficient to reverse the car but we managed. The entrance started with a small staircase which led to a garden.


................................................................
Towards the right was a small cottage house which had the dining hall and the kitchen. Towards the left of the garden was a staircase actually going down towards the valley. After about 20 steps we found a beautiful cottage which was the place we would stay in. The entire hill slope was covered with apple orchards though we could not find the apples which the servants told us were seen in September to November season.The ambience was nice. Just opposite to the entrance was a natural lake around which the owners of the cottage had made a pedestrian for walks in the mornings/evenings.
Tired with the long drive we went to our room down the staircase amidst the valley.
..............................................................................
After sipping the hot coffee served by the servant we came upstairs, took a stroll nearby and came back for dinner since venturing into an unknown forest area did not seem a convincing idea! Even after being so tired we felt refreshing with the atmosphere there and watched TV for long, listened to songs in the garden and sat there regaining our composure after the hectic city life. I sat there for long thinking about myself and the special moments of my life. It was rejuvenating. I am sure the people visiting the place would love the ambience, the hospitality and the scenic beauty around the cottage at rates as cheap as Rs.5000 for 3 days / 2 people / food inclusive!! Does it sound attractive?? To us it did.

By the time we felt sleepy, our room was neatly done in a colorful bed sheet and small pillows.


Our room had a window just opposite to our bed which was overlooking the valley. The hilly atmosphere was so soothing and relieving that I woke up around 4 AM in the morning just as if the nature was welcoming me to the most awaited and precious view of snow clad mountains so that I might not miss it!!
I wore my jacket and went out to look at the mesmerizing dawn with a streak of yellow appearing from behind the snowy mountain. I tried capturing them in a picture too but did not come out to be very clear in the picture. Have a look.

I let out s silent prayer to god for blessing me with this moment and went back to bed to relax leisurely. We woke up, had breakfast and left for another destination called Hatu Mandir which was again at a higher altitude and believe me the way to the temple actually called for a lot of guts but then the place we finally reached was worth all the risk.
....................................................................The way was very narrow and risky. On way I first found ICE at this place!
In case another car came from the opposite direction you just wouldn’t know since there were so much curves and turns on the roads. Moreover, there was extreme risk when two cars crossed since the road was too narrow. We were stuck at one such moment and just missed slipping down the valley since we gave a high acceleration and somehow managed to cross fast! This probably was the most risky moment in my life though might not sound as dangerous to you in words but it took our breath away. When we reached at the top the Hatu Peak and Mandir which were two places worth visiting not because of their own beauty actually but because of the surroundings. This was on a adjacent hill to the one on which our cottage was made so when going to this place we first came down hill from our cottage and then went up hill – an experience worth remembering.
We found another family there and then coming back wasn’t as dreadful since we had become accustomed to the ways.
Before coming back to our cottage we went to a small town market downhill and took a few eatables – biscuits and fruits were the only things available. I missed eating candies there and ice creams too since there were hardly anything available. No ATMs, no banks and hardly handful of shops. We came back to the cottage and relaxed well before we got up in the evening for our evening coffee. We had dinner at the fireplace in open which felt like a luxury having steaming hot food amongst a small clearing in the tees. We also went to walk at the lake side which was nice after having lots at dinner. The days at the cottage were pure adventurous and we think we were very lucky to have got to stay at such a beautiful place venturing into the forest ‘greens’ and enjoying nature.