Cyber cafes across Kolkata, Kanchipuram
Cyber cafes across country have different emissions for their customers who troop in at their will. Charges range between 5 and 40 depending on the location and the minutes committed to cyber station. In a place like Kanchipuram, the rate was as low as Rs 5. With a starting rate of Rs 5, translating to at least 15-minute usage in Kanchipuram, the rates hovered between 20 and 40 for an hourly update from a cyber cafegate in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu.
In Kolkata, in areas around Central, College Street, Maouli Junction, S N Bannerjee Road, BB Ganguly Street and Bidhan Sarani, the rates start from 5,8 and 10.
As for the services provided by them, it includes scanning, printing, email, cd writing, dvd writing, mobile downloading and scanning, e-ticketing in rail and flight and fax.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
In and Around Temple Road
In and Around Temple Road
Going past Mochi Sahi Square, the aim was to reach the station in time to secure the return ticket. The rush was manageable and yet some passengers desired to be in argumentative mood. Those in the queue and those having fallen out of the same and consequentially fallen out with whom they were sharing space were caught in argumentative spell. I preferred to stand in a queue where howsoever big the rush may be there were few chances of skirmishes breaking out till i was there. Skirmishes did not break out but out were my chances as the lady at the reservation counter showed 30 the waiting for Dhauli Express and for tatkal the next day the query was met with a response that all tickets had been sold and you better get early morning bold.
Before submitting myself to the suggestion that i would come in time the next day to get my tatkal shine, i saw a message on the glass panel that showed who all were eligible for tatkal table. Posessing the identity card was a must and it trickled down to passport, voter card, pan card, identity card issued by central/state govt, student of college/school identity card, passbook bearing the picture of the holder, driving licence and credit card with the laminated picture. Laminated was the stress given the all round credit card fraud in zest.
This lamination brought me to the lingering animation i was subjected to when the laminated pan card was not able to get the perfect xerox in the city of Kolkata. Clarity was missing and on occasions more than once the xerox failed to get the job done. So across Bentinck Street, British Street and Central in Kolkata i moved around to get a new lamination on last Monday as the previous one had come apart. Shop-hopping i was faced with given some opening their store well after 10:30 am and some suggesting that new lamination can't be tried as it would break the fragile card into two. Two wasn't the idea that i was comfortable with as that would keep me shapeless for identity fit. Finally after much search i got one enlightened guy across bentinck street on first floor who did the laminated job not lending the pan card the apprehensive tearing-into-two blow. That was Monday and today being Saturday and here i was face to face with laminated stress on credit card for seeking the tatkal award.
As the way to secure the ticket could not be found, i was thrilled at the prospect as it gave one more day to stay here. The return from Station to Temple Road was on foot given the intransigence of one mode of transport to charge no less than 40 when the same journey was completed in 30. On the way i came across Delicacies serving snacks, soft drinks, confectionaries and bakery products. A little further is Padma hotel, probably from where i had veg pulao/kashmiri pulao in September 2009. Another hoarding sighted was of a hotel Janaki Residency; 3 to 4 hrs stay at Rs 300 and a day stay starting at rs 590.
Returning to my fief, i was of the belief that if no extension could be granted in the place of stay i should have my alternate options on tray. Basiram lodge in particular had the flaunting agenda so decided to stay put with the existing option.
On the way came across Arun medical Store, Allahabad Bank (the bank courteous enough to give me change) and Indane. As for United Bank of India on Bali Sahi, after securing the change with some resistance by one staff member , the message on the door read: " opening mobile banking for this branch soon".
As i am writing this from Darshan Dot Net cyber cafe which has Sathya Sai's picture, the charges here are more than reasonable. Reasonable are not the names etched on the wall opposite me. It has names like Sridevi and some other names not etched properly. Probably who occupied this seat at some point of time had a fascination for the names etched when he had too much of home stretch..
Going past Mochi Sahi Square, the aim was to reach the station in time to secure the return ticket. The rush was manageable and yet some passengers desired to be in argumentative mood. Those in the queue and those having fallen out of the same and consequentially fallen out with whom they were sharing space were caught in argumentative spell. I preferred to stand in a queue where howsoever big the rush may be there were few chances of skirmishes breaking out till i was there. Skirmishes did not break out but out were my chances as the lady at the reservation counter showed 30 the waiting for Dhauli Express and for tatkal the next day the query was met with a response that all tickets had been sold and you better get early morning bold.
Before submitting myself to the suggestion that i would come in time the next day to get my tatkal shine, i saw a message on the glass panel that showed who all were eligible for tatkal table. Posessing the identity card was a must and it trickled down to passport, voter card, pan card, identity card issued by central/state govt, student of college/school identity card, passbook bearing the picture of the holder, driving licence and credit card with the laminated picture. Laminated was the stress given the all round credit card fraud in zest.
This lamination brought me to the lingering animation i was subjected to when the laminated pan card was not able to get the perfect xerox in the city of Kolkata. Clarity was missing and on occasions more than once the xerox failed to get the job done. So across Bentinck Street, British Street and Central in Kolkata i moved around to get a new lamination on last Monday as the previous one had come apart. Shop-hopping i was faced with given some opening their store well after 10:30 am and some suggesting that new lamination can't be tried as it would break the fragile card into two. Two wasn't the idea that i was comfortable with as that would keep me shapeless for identity fit. Finally after much search i got one enlightened guy across bentinck street on first floor who did the laminated job not lending the pan card the apprehensive tearing-into-two blow. That was Monday and today being Saturday and here i was face to face with laminated stress on credit card for seeking the tatkal award.
As the way to secure the ticket could not be found, i was thrilled at the prospect as it gave one more day to stay here. The return from Station to Temple Road was on foot given the intransigence of one mode of transport to charge no less than 40 when the same journey was completed in 30. On the way i came across Delicacies serving snacks, soft drinks, confectionaries and bakery products. A little further is Padma hotel, probably from where i had veg pulao/kashmiri pulao in September 2009. Another hoarding sighted was of a hotel Janaki Residency; 3 to 4 hrs stay at Rs 300 and a day stay starting at rs 590.
Returning to my fief, i was of the belief that if no extension could be granted in the place of stay i should have my alternate options on tray. Basiram lodge in particular had the flaunting agenda so decided to stay put with the existing option.
On the way came across Arun medical Store, Allahabad Bank (the bank courteous enough to give me change) and Indane. As for United Bank of India on Bali Sahi, after securing the change with some resistance by one staff member , the message on the door read: " opening mobile banking for this branch soon".
As i am writing this from Darshan Dot Net cyber cafe which has Sathya Sai's picture, the charges here are more than reasonable. Reasonable are not the names etched on the wall opposite me. It has names like Sridevi and some other names not etched properly. Probably who occupied this seat at some point of time had a fascination for the names etched when he had too much of home stretch..
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Lodges i stayed: From incommunicative to communicative
Lodges i stayed
Why lodges across country get thrilled to have tourists/customers who can dole out a sum. As far as the experience with lodges across country is concerned, the first query is how many members the entourage comprise of. Seeing the lone figure standing and wilting under pressure, the lodgewallah sees to it that the customer can be fleeced to the maximum. This year itself i have stayed on 54 different occasions in 40 different lodges. And lodgewallahs of different repute i have come across.
If the customer is careful enough to waste no water, power or run tvs, geyser, it makes no difference to a lodge owner as long as moolah is changing hands. THe lodge i stayed for the second time in Kolkata was not bad. Inspiring was the conduct of the manager. Some cheerful character could be sighted when i used to hand over the tariff in advance. For the rest of the period he was at his incommunicative best and if by chance the rent promised to be paid by morning got postponed till evening, the reminders were not few. Incommunicative ideology he banked on and all communication barriers were lifted the day he came to know i was leaving.
To be frank he never misbehaved but one could make out his discomfort when i was told to change the room neither extra blanket was given nor towel. Made earnest request to his personnel and they handed out a thick bed sheet with frontal ruptures. THe security personnel were very cooperative but other personnel less cooperative. At the time of leaving he made a suggestion that i should try his lodge again as geyser, tv and attached bath came at a reasonable sum. I could not disagree because half of the time i had spent in Kolkata in search of lodges and they were asking for huge sums. THe lodge stay was comfortable to the point that no major commotion happenned and people all around were accommodating in their outlook.
Still the lodge-search is a herculean task and if by chance the budget is limited the options are few and there are no clues.
Why lodges across country get thrilled to have tourists/customers who can dole out a sum. As far as the experience with lodges across country is concerned, the first query is how many members the entourage comprise of. Seeing the lone figure standing and wilting under pressure, the lodgewallah sees to it that the customer can be fleeced to the maximum. This year itself i have stayed on 54 different occasions in 40 different lodges. And lodgewallahs of different repute i have come across.
If the customer is careful enough to waste no water, power or run tvs, geyser, it makes no difference to a lodge owner as long as moolah is changing hands. THe lodge i stayed for the second time in Kolkata was not bad. Inspiring was the conduct of the manager. Some cheerful character could be sighted when i used to hand over the tariff in advance. For the rest of the period he was at his incommunicative best and if by chance the rent promised to be paid by morning got postponed till evening, the reminders were not few. Incommunicative ideology he banked on and all communication barriers were lifted the day he came to know i was leaving.
To be frank he never misbehaved but one could make out his discomfort when i was told to change the room neither extra blanket was given nor towel. Made earnest request to his personnel and they handed out a thick bed sheet with frontal ruptures. THe security personnel were very cooperative but other personnel less cooperative. At the time of leaving he made a suggestion that i should try his lodge again as geyser, tv and attached bath came at a reasonable sum. I could not disagree because half of the time i had spent in Kolkata in search of lodges and they were asking for huge sums. THe lodge stay was comfortable to the point that no major commotion happenned and people all around were accommodating in their outlook.
Still the lodge-search is a herculean task and if by chance the budget is limited the options are few and there are no clues.
As i took Duronto from Howrah
As i took Duronto from Howrah
When i boarded Duronto from Howrah, the concern went back to the accommodation prospect if ever i return to Kolkata. Prior to boarding at Howrah the lady manning the enquiry counter wrote the seat i had been allotted and the platform from which Duronto was supposed to depart. Moved to platform no. 19 and there came a jan shatabdi heading to the same direction i intended to reach.
The adjoining platform saw the arrival of a train from Digha and wishing to depart to the same place after a while. This arrival of Digha train led to a surge of humanity on the platform and only after half an hour the place resonated with a trickle few. By this time the Jan Shatabdi had left and it was quarter to 2 and still no signs of Duronto which was supposed to leave at 2.25. Made some frenetic queries and it only led to the same-old revelation that Duronto is destined to come on platform 19. Seeing the surge on platforms 17 and 18, after a while i left to view the board showing arrivals and departures and here the new revelation was the train would come at 2.50 and its arrival/departure platform had still not been displayed. Two queries to different porters coming on the heels of congregation that had collected on platforms 17 and 18, the haze was lifted and the train finally arrived and left from platform 17. Before it left i did not lose the opportunity to look at the chart to make it amply sure that i had been allotted seat no 39 in C10.
Seat number 39 in C10 was a sandwiched proposition where on either side one could sit and i had to attend to all the urgency of being sandwiched fit and handle with care the tea and food kit. THere were two gentlemen on either side; one father and another son. The father asked me to take the aisle seat; i forwarded the request that i would change to a window seat if ever the father-son want to have communication with no third person in between. THe window seat he was not wiling to dispense with thereby resulting in the same sandwiched submission that i discovered soon after the train admission. For the entire duration of journey lasting over seven hours, the father used to communicate, prod and subjugate his son on how the snacks, tea and non veg meals had to be taken. In between he made not more than seven to eight calls - during the entire journey he did not receive even one - informing his associates and relations who don't issue fiats that the train had departed more than half an hour late and thus would be reaching the destination when fewer would be awake. At 3:02pm, the train had left Howrah and soon after its departure he began to inform his peers about the late running of train and how he hoped to bide time with a Bangla paper he was carrying as his aim.
His suggestions more than suggestive to his son seated next to a window and to his wife and daughter seated ahead of us were quite unparallel. Unparallel was his intervention on how the samosa and sandwich could be tried and for a better result it could be peppered with ketchup. When the tea came, he was disposed to the idea of how milk and sugar could be used to the hilt to get the mishto touch and he even physically demonstrated the art of getting the sweetest tea on earth. Since most in the adjoining seats were locked in their litmus test to reach the destination of their fest, few had the temerity to get into argumentative bit with him. Post snacks when i asked for extra sandwich, nothing to do with my sandwich stake, point blank refusal was all i had to stare. So at Kharagpur i got down and took the veg paneer puff for Rs 20 from a food joint. There i met one personnel working in a private food joint - this joint runs chains across stations of the country with some personnel in Nizamuddin at their abrasive best - who not long time ago was in Bangalore station. Been told about his past Bangalore positioning and now Kharagpur awakening, i could place him but he could not.
Seen the rebuttal on sandwich request i was upset but later realised that they carry limited stock and at one stage had refused to entertain a request from a family man on one extra rice. Little before 5 the train left Kharagpur. Amidst the father-son conversations which rarely touched on weather and weekly anticipation, the father on occasions used to flash his camera and take some pictures and up was his movement whenever he had to escort someone to bathroom to roll out their anger vent. When the night meals were brought in, the son had to wait for a while before he could lay hands to his non veg share. It was well after i had finished my meal round, his meals came. The father was irritated at this point that the son had not cared to open the non veg preparation and still fumbling with veg creations. He prodded protested and was about to be on his feet when the son finally opened the chicken and for the period he continued having it i can say with 100 per cent surety that it would be next to impossible for him to turn a vegetarian even by a bit. For railways or for any food joints on stations, premium on vegetarian meals is a tall order and it is up to an individual to make a choice. From the beginning one needs to cultivate the outlook where one can live with veg intake with a bang.
AS the train inched towards Odisha destination, when nights had seen the clock strike well past 10, i was more concerned about the lodge i would get for an affordable sum. THe lodge was secured after scouting for close to an hour and the tariff - they zero in on the seasonal rush to acclimatise themselves and the tourists that rates are up and there are no dearth of people bound to splurge - determined by extraneous rabbits.
When i boarded Duronto from Howrah, the concern went back to the accommodation prospect if ever i return to Kolkata. Prior to boarding at Howrah the lady manning the enquiry counter wrote the seat i had been allotted and the platform from which Duronto was supposed to depart. Moved to platform no. 19 and there came a jan shatabdi heading to the same direction i intended to reach.
The adjoining platform saw the arrival of a train from Digha and wishing to depart to the same place after a while. This arrival of Digha train led to a surge of humanity on the platform and only after half an hour the place resonated with a trickle few. By this time the Jan Shatabdi had left and it was quarter to 2 and still no signs of Duronto which was supposed to leave at 2.25. Made some frenetic queries and it only led to the same-old revelation that Duronto is destined to come on platform 19. Seeing the surge on platforms 17 and 18, after a while i left to view the board showing arrivals and departures and here the new revelation was the train would come at 2.50 and its arrival/departure platform had still not been displayed. Two queries to different porters coming on the heels of congregation that had collected on platforms 17 and 18, the haze was lifted and the train finally arrived and left from platform 17. Before it left i did not lose the opportunity to look at the chart to make it amply sure that i had been allotted seat no 39 in C10.
Seat number 39 in C10 was a sandwiched proposition where on either side one could sit and i had to attend to all the urgency of being sandwiched fit and handle with care the tea and food kit. THere were two gentlemen on either side; one father and another son. The father asked me to take the aisle seat; i forwarded the request that i would change to a window seat if ever the father-son want to have communication with no third person in between. THe window seat he was not wiling to dispense with thereby resulting in the same sandwiched submission that i discovered soon after the train admission. For the entire duration of journey lasting over seven hours, the father used to communicate, prod and subjugate his son on how the snacks, tea and non veg meals had to be taken. In between he made not more than seven to eight calls - during the entire journey he did not receive even one - informing his associates and relations who don't issue fiats that the train had departed more than half an hour late and thus would be reaching the destination when fewer would be awake. At 3:02pm, the train had left Howrah and soon after its departure he began to inform his peers about the late running of train and how he hoped to bide time with a Bangla paper he was carrying as his aim.
His suggestions more than suggestive to his son seated next to a window and to his wife and daughter seated ahead of us were quite unparallel. Unparallel was his intervention on how the samosa and sandwich could be tried and for a better result it could be peppered with ketchup. When the tea came, he was disposed to the idea of how milk and sugar could be used to the hilt to get the mishto touch and he even physically demonstrated the art of getting the sweetest tea on earth. Since most in the adjoining seats were locked in their litmus test to reach the destination of their fest, few had the temerity to get into argumentative bit with him. Post snacks when i asked for extra sandwich, nothing to do with my sandwich stake, point blank refusal was all i had to stare. So at Kharagpur i got down and took the veg paneer puff for Rs 20 from a food joint. There i met one personnel working in a private food joint - this joint runs chains across stations of the country with some personnel in Nizamuddin at their abrasive best - who not long time ago was in Bangalore station. Been told about his past Bangalore positioning and now Kharagpur awakening, i could place him but he could not.
Seen the rebuttal on sandwich request i was upset but later realised that they carry limited stock and at one stage had refused to entertain a request from a family man on one extra rice. Little before 5 the train left Kharagpur. Amidst the father-son conversations which rarely touched on weather and weekly anticipation, the father on occasions used to flash his camera and take some pictures and up was his movement whenever he had to escort someone to bathroom to roll out their anger vent. When the night meals were brought in, the son had to wait for a while before he could lay hands to his non veg share. It was well after i had finished my meal round, his meals came. The father was irritated at this point that the son had not cared to open the non veg preparation and still fumbling with veg creations. He prodded protested and was about to be on his feet when the son finally opened the chicken and for the period he continued having it i can say with 100 per cent surety that it would be next to impossible for him to turn a vegetarian even by a bit. For railways or for any food joints on stations, premium on vegetarian meals is a tall order and it is up to an individual to make a choice. From the beginning one needs to cultivate the outlook where one can live with veg intake with a bang.
AS the train inched towards Odisha destination, when nights had seen the clock strike well past 10, i was more concerned about the lodge i would get for an affordable sum. THe lodge was secured after scouting for close to an hour and the tariff - they zero in on the seasonal rush to acclimatise themselves and the tourists that rates are up and there are no dearth of people bound to splurge - determined by extraneous rabbits.
Monday, December 26, 2011
The ride to Hati Bagan and return from Park Circus in Tram Clan
The ride to Hati Bagan and return from Park Circus in Tram Clan
As i took the bus for Hati Bagan with a view to get the cyber cafe i had spotted the other day, i was ruminating over how the day had started. Hadn't even stepped out of the lodge in the morning in came a priest whispering the Lord's name and dropping hints that the new territory could be tried. Unexpected was his entry and unexpected was my imagination that the 500-km away territory could be on the itinerary. By the time i was in Dharmatala Reservation Centre and the effortless ease with which the ticket for the said destination was procured, it amply showed the time was not ripe for National Capital foray.It was for the umpteen time that plans had been shelved for National Capital bell and here another railway ticket not requiring the identity proof gell was procured against a thought process that hardly remained static and constantly hectic.
As against the ease with which the ticket had been procured this morning the attempt to procure the same the previous day was met with a repeated wall. First the query to a lady in the enquiry counter suggested the waiting list to be 31 and howsoever hard i may have tried the battle against the waiting list would not have been won. Not convinced at the conviction at which she spoke that no single seat could be pledged for the next day journey to a Capital beginning with letter D ( as N denotes Nervous and not New), i tried to do a double check at a different reservation centre about 1 km away.
The reservation centre on the ground floor had all the resources on the nuances of reservation and patience not bordering on emotions. The query here suggested that waiting list could well be 3 and there were fair chances that a confirmed ticket could be handed with glee. THe reservation personnel was swift to press that no tatkal ticket could be dispensed with unless the xerox of identity proof was parted with. Perhaps with no xerox machine in functioning mode in and around the GPO reservation centre led me to postpone my departure by a day and post reservation meeting with babas and good-looking gems i parked myself at BBD Bag for a tram fun.
Tram was not easy to be found as number 2 and 6 going to the destinations were not sighted from which perhaps i could have boarded and alighted. THere were fewer and disappearing flock that came to BBD Bag during the time i was committed to the tram bang. Some came, had a long conversation with those aligned to tram fame and took time to decide on the destination they wanted to gain. With no hope in sight, someone getting down from one tram suggested i better try the bus or any vehicle that doesn't lead to rancour and fuss. Readily accepted his suggestion but here in entire readiness were not the buses and one could understand being a Sunday with trickling business. Buses to Kalighat, Behala and other distant places came and disappeared but not one could be sighted that would take me to College Street where some sport back-of-the-mind thriving wear. Perhaps the walk, which should have been tried in the first place, could have reduced the trouble and handed me daily dispensed hug and care .
Disoriented i was post no ticket infusion and tram transition, i took the meals from Lakhan Lal on S N Banerjee Street and this gave me the confidence to undertake the renewed walking feat. Walks have been unparallel not accompanied with shrieks and there is something magical in the air that no matter how much has been covered on foot, you may look disoriented for an hour or so and get the magical spring in your steps as the city is earthy and repeated visit worthy.
If Saturday saw me try to secure a setting for a Bangla Cinema in and around Hati Bagan, the success wasn't coming my way as i was well past show timings and most seats taken by those who had prospective planning. On the spur of the moment, the cinema decision was made and it was not like i could repeat the 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' feat(where i entered the theatre with the ticket and prime positioning in hand and post viewing had tea amidst a College band).
The return from Hati Bagan to Esplanade was by tram and it was a treat given the spectacular commotion the streets were in and not ready to retreat. Time spent in the tram was considerable given the stoppages it shines after every two-minute interval. Slow and yet steady are the arsenal at its command; hopping and getting down comprises the majority of its flocking band. If Saturday saw me relish the tram wonder, Sunday came with no thunder. But Monday was again different. Post rail ticket and meals, i hopped on to another one going towards Park Circus intersped with searches on lodges across KIdwai Road. Tram was the priority for the return towards Esplanade too as it gives overwhelming answers to life bordering on clue. With no pushing and shoving trams are the best when time is plenty and the knowledge that is ushered in is more than elementary.
As i took the bus for Hati Bagan with a view to get the cyber cafe i had spotted the other day, i was ruminating over how the day had started. Hadn't even stepped out of the lodge in the morning in came a priest whispering the Lord's name and dropping hints that the new territory could be tried. Unexpected was his entry and unexpected was my imagination that the 500-km away territory could be on the itinerary. By the time i was in Dharmatala Reservation Centre and the effortless ease with which the ticket for the said destination was procured, it amply showed the time was not ripe for National Capital foray.It was for the umpteen time that plans had been shelved for National Capital bell and here another railway ticket not requiring the identity proof gell was procured against a thought process that hardly remained static and constantly hectic.
As against the ease with which the ticket had been procured this morning the attempt to procure the same the previous day was met with a repeated wall. First the query to a lady in the enquiry counter suggested the waiting list to be 31 and howsoever hard i may have tried the battle against the waiting list would not have been won. Not convinced at the conviction at which she spoke that no single seat could be pledged for the next day journey to a Capital beginning with letter D ( as N denotes Nervous and not New), i tried to do a double check at a different reservation centre about 1 km away.
The reservation centre on the ground floor had all the resources on the nuances of reservation and patience not bordering on emotions. The query here suggested that waiting list could well be 3 and there were fair chances that a confirmed ticket could be handed with glee. THe reservation personnel was swift to press that no tatkal ticket could be dispensed with unless the xerox of identity proof was parted with. Perhaps with no xerox machine in functioning mode in and around the GPO reservation centre led me to postpone my departure by a day and post reservation meeting with babas and good-looking gems i parked myself at BBD Bag for a tram fun.
Tram was not easy to be found as number 2 and 6 going to the destinations were not sighted from which perhaps i could have boarded and alighted. THere were fewer and disappearing flock that came to BBD Bag during the time i was committed to the tram bang. Some came, had a long conversation with those aligned to tram fame and took time to decide on the destination they wanted to gain. With no hope in sight, someone getting down from one tram suggested i better try the bus or any vehicle that doesn't lead to rancour and fuss. Readily accepted his suggestion but here in entire readiness were not the buses and one could understand being a Sunday with trickling business. Buses to Kalighat, Behala and other distant places came and disappeared but not one could be sighted that would take me to College Street where some sport back-of-the-mind thriving wear. Perhaps the walk, which should have been tried in the first place, could have reduced the trouble and handed me daily dispensed hug and care .
Disoriented i was post no ticket infusion and tram transition, i took the meals from Lakhan Lal on S N Banerjee Street and this gave me the confidence to undertake the renewed walking feat. Walks have been unparallel not accompanied with shrieks and there is something magical in the air that no matter how much has been covered on foot, you may look disoriented for an hour or so and get the magical spring in your steps as the city is earthy and repeated visit worthy.
If Saturday saw me try to secure a setting for a Bangla Cinema in and around Hati Bagan, the success wasn't coming my way as i was well past show timings and most seats taken by those who had prospective planning. On the spur of the moment, the cinema decision was made and it was not like i could repeat the 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' feat(where i entered the theatre with the ticket and prime positioning in hand and post viewing had tea amidst a College band).
The return from Hati Bagan to Esplanade was by tram and it was a treat given the spectacular commotion the streets were in and not ready to retreat. Time spent in the tram was considerable given the stoppages it shines after every two-minute interval. Slow and yet steady are the arsenal at its command; hopping and getting down comprises the majority of its flocking band. If Saturday saw me relish the tram wonder, Sunday came with no thunder. But Monday was again different. Post rail ticket and meals, i hopped on to another one going towards Park Circus intersped with searches on lodges across KIdwai Road. Tram was the priority for the return towards Esplanade too as it gives overwhelming answers to life bordering on clue. With no pushing and shoving trams are the best when time is plenty and the knowledge that is ushered in is more than elementary.
THe old man on Bidhan Sarani Street
THe old man on Bidhan Sarani Street
The query the other day on oranges emergence in the city and the windfall it is witnessing was set to rest by a vendor stress that it was all from Nagpur Nest. Nagpur was all he had to say to sway the debate on Oranges and those which were on Kolkata Way. If Oranges abound, Guava is nothing less Kolkata bound. Apart from these two fruits for which residents have a tacit understanding to take and fly, there are bananas but fewer having the desired appetite and give a daily try.
Sri Gopala Mistan Bhandar on S N Bannerjee Road has city's best curd and so do Ghose on Co on same road. Close to Divine Cyber Cafe is Ghosh Mistaan Bhandar. Near this Mistaan is one roll centre as one turns right and next to the roll centre is a shop manned by an old man. The old man sells biscuits. If possible people should help this old man. He has no sales round the day and if his sales pick up it would bring cheer in his life and life of those who help him.
The query the other day on oranges emergence in the city and the windfall it is witnessing was set to rest by a vendor stress that it was all from Nagpur Nest. Nagpur was all he had to say to sway the debate on Oranges and those which were on Kolkata Way. If Oranges abound, Guava is nothing less Kolkata bound. Apart from these two fruits for which residents have a tacit understanding to take and fly, there are bananas but fewer having the desired appetite and give a daily try.
Sri Gopala Mistan Bhandar on S N Bannerjee Road has city's best curd and so do Ghose on Co on same road. Close to Divine Cyber Cafe is Ghosh Mistaan Bhandar. Near this Mistaan is one roll centre as one turns right and next to the roll centre is a shop manned by an old man. The old man sells biscuits. If possible people should help this old man. He has no sales round the day and if his sales pick up it would bring cheer in his life and life of those who help him.
The ride to Hati Bagan and return from Park Circus in Tram Clan
The ride to Hati Bagan and return from Park Circus in Tram Clan
As i took the bus for Hati Bagan with a view to get the cyber cafe i had spotted the other day, i was ruminating over how the day had started. Hadn't even stepped out of the lodge in the morning in came a priest whispering the Lord's name and dropping hints that the new territory could be tried. Unexpected was his entry and unexpected was my imagination that the 500-km away territory could be on the itinerary. By the time i was in Dharmatala Reservation Centre and the effortless ease with which the ticket for the said destination was procured, it amply showed the time was not ripe for National Capital foray.It was for the umpteen time that plans had been shelved for National Capital bell and here another railway ticket not requiring the identity proof gell was procured against a thought process that hardly remained static and constantly hectic.
As against the ease with which the ticket had been procured this morning the attempt to procure the same the previous day was met with a repeated wall. First the query to a lady in the enquiry counter suggested the waiting list to be 31 and howsoever hard i may have tried the battle against the waiting list would not have been won. Not convinced at the conviction at which she spoke that no single seat could be pledged for the next day journey to a Capital beginning with letter D ( as N denotes Nervous and not New), i tried to do a double check at a different reservation centre about 1 km away.
The reservation centre on the ground floor had all the resources on the nuances of reservation and patience not bordering on emotions. The query here suggested that waiting list could well be 3 and there were fair chances that a confirmed ticket could be handed with glee. THe reservation personnel was swift to press that no tatkal ticket could be dispensed with unless the xerox of identity proof was parted with. Perhaps with no xerox machine in functioning mode in and around the GPO reservation centre led me to postpone my departure by a day and post reservation meeting with babas and good-looking gems i parked myself at BBD Bag for a tram fun.
Tram was not easy to be found as number 2 and 6 going to the destinations were not sighted from which perhaps i could have boarded and alighted. THere were fewer and disappearing flock that came to BBD Bag during the time i was committed to the tram bang. Some came, had a long conversation with those aligned to tram fame and took time to decide on the destination they wanted to gain. With no hope in sight, someone getting down from one tram suggested i better try the bus or any vehicle that doesn't lead to rancour and fuss. Readily accepted his suggestion but here in entire readiness were not the buses and one could understand being a Sunday with trickling business. Buses to Kalighat, Behala and other distant places came and disappeared but not one could be sighted that would take me to College Street where some sport back-of-the-mind thriving wear. Perhaps the walk, which should have been tried in the first place, could have reduced the trouble and handed me daily dispensed hug and care .
Disoriented i was post no ticket infusion and tram transition, i took the meals from Lakhan Lal on S N Banerjee Street and this gave me the confidence to undertake the renewed walking feat. Walks have been unparallel not accompanied with shrieks and there is something magical in the air that no matter how much has been covered on foot, you may look disoriented for an hour or so and get the magical spring in your steps as the city is earthy and repeated visit worthy.
If Saturday saw me try to secure a setting for a Bangla Cinema in and around Hati Bagan, the success wasn't coming my way as i was well past show timings and most seats taken by those who had prospective planning. On the spur of the moment, the cinema decision was made and it was not like i could repeat the 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' feat(where i entered the theatre with the ticket and prime positioning in hand and post viewing had tea amidst a College band).
The return from Hati Bagan to Esplanade was by tram and it was a treat given the spectacular commotion the streets were in and not ready to retreat. Time spent in the tram was considerable given the stoppages it shines after every two-minute interval. Slow and yet steady are the arsenal at its command; hopping and getting down comprises the majority of its flocking band. If Saturday saw me relish the tram wonder, Sunday came with no thunder. But Monday was again different. Post rail ticket and meals, i hopped on to another one going towards Park Circus intersped with searches on lodges across KIdwai Road. Tram was the priority for the return towards Esplanade too as it gives overwhelming answers to life bordering on clue. With no pushing and shoving trams are the best when time is plenty and the knowledge that is ushered in is more than elementary.
As i took the bus for Hati Bagan with a view to get the cyber cafe i had spotted the other day, i was ruminating over how the day had started. Hadn't even stepped out of the lodge in the morning in came a priest whispering the Lord's name and dropping hints that the new territory could be tried. Unexpected was his entry and unexpected was my imagination that the 500-km away territory could be on the itinerary. By the time i was in Dharmatala Reservation Centre and the effortless ease with which the ticket for the said destination was procured, it amply showed the time was not ripe for National Capital foray.It was for the umpteen time that plans had been shelved for National Capital bell and here another railway ticket not requiring the identity proof gell was procured against a thought process that hardly remained static and constantly hectic.
As against the ease with which the ticket had been procured this morning the attempt to procure the same the previous day was met with a repeated wall. First the query to a lady in the enquiry counter suggested the waiting list to be 31 and howsoever hard i may have tried the battle against the waiting list would not have been won. Not convinced at the conviction at which she spoke that no single seat could be pledged for the next day journey to a Capital beginning with letter D ( as N denotes Nervous and not New), i tried to do a double check at a different reservation centre about 1 km away.
The reservation centre on the ground floor had all the resources on the nuances of reservation and patience not bordering on emotions. The query here suggested that waiting list could well be 3 and there were fair chances that a confirmed ticket could be handed with glee. THe reservation personnel was swift to press that no tatkal ticket could be dispensed with unless the xerox of identity proof was parted with. Perhaps with no xerox machine in functioning mode in and around the GPO reservation centre led me to postpone my departure by a day and post reservation meeting with babas and good-looking gems i parked myself at BBD Bag for a tram fun.
Tram was not easy to be found as number 2 and 6 going to the destinations were not sighted from which perhaps i could have boarded and alighted. THere were fewer and disappearing flock that came to BBD Bag during the time i was committed to the tram bang. Some came, had a long conversation with those aligned to tram fame and took time to decide on the destination they wanted to gain. With no hope in sight, someone getting down from one tram suggested i better try the bus or any vehicle that doesn't lead to rancour and fuss. Readily accepted his suggestion but here in entire readiness were not the buses and one could understand being a Sunday with trickling business. Buses to Kalighat, Behala and other distant places came and disappeared but not one could be sighted that would take me to College Street where some sport back-of-the-mind thriving wear. Perhaps the walk, which should have been tried in the first place, could have reduced the trouble and handed me daily dispensed hug and care .
Disoriented i was post no ticket infusion and tram transition, i took the meals from Lakhan Lal on S N Banerjee Street and this gave me the confidence to undertake the renewed walking feat. Walks have been unparallel not accompanied with shrieks and there is something magical in the air that no matter how much has been covered on foot, you may look disoriented for an hour or so and get the magical spring in your steps as the city is earthy and repeated visit worthy.
If Saturday saw me try to secure a setting for a Bangla Cinema in and around Hati Bagan, the success wasn't coming my way as i was well past show timings and most seats taken by those who had prospective planning. On the spur of the moment, the cinema decision was made and it was not like i could repeat the 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' feat(where i entered the theatre with the ticket and prime positioning in hand and post viewing had tea amidst a College band).
The return from Hati Bagan to Esplanade was by tram and it was a treat given the spectacular commotion the streets were in and not ready to retreat. Time spent in the tram was considerable given the stoppages it shines after every two-minute interval. Slow and yet steady are the arsenal at its command; hopping and getting down comprises the majority of its flocking band. If Saturday saw me relish the tram wonder, Sunday came with no thunder. But Monday was again different. Post rail ticket and meals, i hopped on to another one going towards Park Circus intersped with searches on lodges across KIdwai Road. Tram was the priority for the return towards Esplanade too as it gives overwhelming answers to life bordering on clue. With no pushing and shoving trams are the best when time is plenty and the knowledge that is ushered in is more than elementary.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
As i took the bus for Science City from Lenin Sarani
As i took the bus for Science City from Lenin Sarani
As i decided to take the bus for Science City the other day, it was the search lasting for over half an hour that finally led me to Lenin Sarani. The need to visit Lenin Sarani was accentuated by the fact that a Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had refused point blank entry to me; perhaps not even bothered by the fact that close to two hours had been spent the previous day. The logical explanation proferred by them was none of the seats were vacant; it is true that all seats had computers open but few men/women could be seen visibly trying their hands. With terminals open and seats vacant, it was hard to digest how could they refuse point blank. Still acceptable.
The approach to the Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had tell tale signs of something fishy. Because before i reached there on the second consecutive day, there were fair number of men and women milling around. The congregation i could not understand and the chorus for which band. It all looked strange and this was something reminiscent of Triambakeshwar in the month of November where the information that filtered out was the cyber cafe had downed its shutters for the time being as the manager had gone for the meal break. When the manager returned, he showed his helplessness to up the shutters that were down as it looked appropriate for him to get it opened the next day count. So Dum Dum experience was nothing new; only one could make out the irrational logic by which they open and shut the terminals for some at their convenience. Given the inconvenient nature the cyberwallahs displayed, it was more than convenient for me to scout for another cyber cafe and the odds seem to be stacked against me. (That does not discount my visiting the Dum Dum Cyber Cafe in future as it houses some who are devotees of Lord Venkateshwara; it was the picture of the Lord hanging on the wall that drew me to this cafe).
Returned to Esplanade and made enquiries about going to Science City (Mega Trade Fair). String of enquiries saw me head towards Maidan Stand; return back and finally settle at Lenin Sarani bus stand. It was bus number 24A/1 coming from Mukandapur and heading towards EM bypass that i took. Unimaginable was the rush in the bus and unimaginable was the scenario that no sooner i boarded the bus i secured the seat. The seat that at least gave me the comfort that i won't end up travelling standing till my destination. There was still a fair amount of pushing and shoving and the man seated next to me was fair enough to guide me that the commute would last over half an hour. Before some of us were to deboard came this piece of news that one set of mobile had disappeared and this led to the adjacent man to remove his wallet from back and place it in the bag. I could sense the apprehensions he was swelling with. As Science City came, perhaps not in the heart of the city is its plus point, some of us deboarded including the tail which follows everywhere.
Once inside the Science City, the entry fees was Rs 10 and i could sense there won't be maddening number of stalls. The limited number of stalls at least gave the breathing space which one desires following visits to such mega empire. Unimaginable was the entry given the unimaginable rush inside. The entry ticket came with the coupon to be filled and post filling and felling in the box, the lady opposite the collection box seem to be the one relishing the job and belonged to an inspiring lot. The way she spoke and handled the crowd showed the cheerful cheerleader she could be. As i went inside to come out that very evening, the one to be cheerfully cheered was the West Bengal pavilion. The rush in other pavilions was unimaginable and the unimaginable way the crowd was filing past. Buy one get one free saw me take one soft drink and finish the round in under 30 minutes. Outside the pavilion and next to the gates the first sighting was of Georgia coffee. With a price tag of Rs 15, the poster behind said it all.
Post coffee intake, tail of vehicles different from tail of men women and babies could be spotted; more to do with some metro construction/road upgradation. Buses could be spotted to a point where it was better to leave them and walk. Finally it was the connectivity by bus for Rabindra Sadan i could get hold of and in no time i was in Central by metro.
Unimaginable was the day for the unimaginable surging crowd i came across and in no time the unimaginable rush was cleared. Unimaginable was the day for the umpteen time i came across men women and babies with same degree/application of mind.
As i decided to take the bus for Science City the other day, it was the search lasting for over half an hour that finally led me to Lenin Sarani. The need to visit Lenin Sarani was accentuated by the fact that a Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had refused point blank entry to me; perhaps not even bothered by the fact that close to two hours had been spent the previous day. The logical explanation proferred by them was none of the seats were vacant; it is true that all seats had computers open but few men/women could be seen visibly trying their hands. With terminals open and seats vacant, it was hard to digest how could they refuse point blank. Still acceptable.
The approach to the Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had tell tale signs of something fishy. Because before i reached there on the second consecutive day, there were fair number of men and women milling around. The congregation i could not understand and the chorus for which band. It all looked strange and this was something reminiscent of Triambakeshwar in the month of November where the information that filtered out was the cyber cafe had downed its shutters for the time being as the manager had gone for the meal break. When the manager returned, he showed his helplessness to up the shutters that were down as it looked appropriate for him to get it opened the next day count. So Dum Dum experience was nothing new; only one could make out the irrational logic by which they open and shut the terminals for some at their convenience. Given the inconvenient nature the cyberwallahs displayed, it was more than convenient for me to scout for another cyber cafe and the odds seem to be stacked against me. (That does not discount my visiting the Dum Dum Cyber Cafe in future as it houses some who are devotees of Lord Venkateshwara; it was the picture of the Lord hanging on the wall that drew me to this cafe).
Returned to Esplanade and made enquiries about going to Science City (Mega Trade Fair). String of enquiries saw me head towards Maidan Stand; return back and finally settle at Lenin Sarani bus stand. It was bus number 24A/1 coming from Mukandapur and heading towards EM bypass that i took. Unimaginable was the rush in the bus and unimaginable was the scenario that no sooner i boarded the bus i secured the seat. The seat that at least gave me the comfort that i won't end up travelling standing till my destination. There was still a fair amount of pushing and shoving and the man seated next to me was fair enough to guide me that the commute would last over half an hour. Before some of us were to deboard came this piece of news that one set of mobile had disappeared and this led to the adjacent man to remove his wallet from back and place it in the bag. I could sense the apprehensions he was swelling with. As Science City came, perhaps not in the heart of the city is its plus point, some of us deboarded including the tail which follows everywhere.
Once inside the Science City, the entry fees was Rs 10 and i could sense there won't be maddening number of stalls. The limited number of stalls at least gave the breathing space which one desires following visits to such mega empire. Unimaginable was the entry given the unimaginable rush inside. The entry ticket came with the coupon to be filled and post filling and felling in the box, the lady opposite the collection box seem to be the one relishing the job and belonged to an inspiring lot. The way she spoke and handled the crowd showed the cheerful cheerleader she could be. As i went inside to come out that very evening, the one to be cheerfully cheered was the West Bengal pavilion. The rush in other pavilions was unimaginable and the unimaginable way the crowd was filing past. Buy one get one free saw me take one soft drink and finish the round in under 30 minutes. Outside the pavilion and next to the gates the first sighting was of Georgia coffee. With a price tag of Rs 15, the poster behind said it all.
Post coffee intake, tail of vehicles different from tail of men women and babies could be spotted; more to do with some metro construction/road upgradation. Buses could be spotted to a point where it was better to leave them and walk. Finally it was the connectivity by bus for Rabindra Sadan i could get hold of and in no time i was in Central by metro.
Unimaginable was the day for the unimaginable surging crowd i came across and in no time the unimaginable rush was cleared. Unimaginable was the day for the umpteen time i came across men women and babies with same degree/application of mind.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Walk past Rabindra Sadan and Mone Pore Ajo Seidin
Walk past Rabindra Sadan and Mone Pore Ajo Seidin
It was the search for a lodge that led me to Rabindra Sadan and from Elgin Road i was on foot to scout for a temporary residence of easily manageable proportion. Walking past chai break, the food joint, and a poster of a job in 99 days, Chowringhee Mega CEntre, it all sounded great. The walk down the road and it did not take long for me to be in Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani and its developing clout. Here few girls were seen giggling and a stand alone man in a corner trying to retrieve a cell conversation that actually had seen him some moments ago fumbling.
From Elgin Road i turned right and the Sarat Bose Road Encounter looked to be pleasantly bright. Could have easily imagined that S B Road could well have residences of high notch value turning to a tariff well beyond a tourist's parting cash avenue. Still went to one or two lodges in the hope i would be able to ascertain their reasonable charges. All were in the muddle of a steep rent and given the road and its roundabout appearing to be distinctively clean, with some pathways tiled and green, there were fewer chances to take part of that sheen.
From Choco wonder the coffee fill came for Rs 15, and the man at the counter was hearty enough to pour one extra pouch of powder in my cup to make the required fudge. Further down the road with a turn to right of course came across cafe chokolade which had thick shakes and ice cream as its serving beam.
After 6A Madhab Chatterjee street i turn to left on Ashton Road and it reminds me of some places in Kanniyakumari before one hits the seashore beat. Sighting of Ma Pratima on Chakraberi Road and moving further opposite 10 Justice Dwarka Nath road was another Durga Pratima with an enlightened glow.
Walking past shops and with no skirmishes around in the Bhowanipore roundabout, i am told the Maharashtra Bhawan would be appropriate and kind. Stepping inside, the idol of Lord Venkateshwara is a delight to watch and whatever may be the rent one could try for some days that would glow and be bright. Another query to a man coming from stationery clan leads me to a home past lanes turning to bylanes and here i was meeting a person who had a port trust assignment to his fame. The room/rent both looked skyrocketing and i could least afford to be in a position of pressure wilting. Bidding him goodbye and having turned off any more try, in the vicinity of netaji bhawan at Sanguvalley i take my veg fried rice. Moving further i come across Bijoli theatre and there is a scooter in the most uncherished state of affairs bearing number WBY 8229. Been in stationary vault for ages perhaps waiting to be lifted by sages. Indefinite has been its existence, quite different from indefinite tasks some have been battling with.
Then there is Sen Pharmacy, with a tag line "we are at your service for the past 60 years (1943-2003). Here in this row are xerox centres coming for as low as 0.35 paise and moving further is the Ashutosh College which has some demonstrative aces. Next to Jatin Dask Park Metro Station there is a demonstration-cum-speech underway, probably organised by a youth federation who have to up the ante because of some provocation.
The Bijoli theatre continues to play 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' given the strong performances belted by characters. Adjacent to the theatre on occasions the game of carom is played as some have skills to flaunt and can't resist this bait.
It was the search for a lodge that led me to Rabindra Sadan and from Elgin Road i was on foot to scout for a temporary residence of easily manageable proportion. Walking past chai break, the food joint, and a poster of a job in 99 days, Chowringhee Mega CEntre, it all sounded great. The walk down the road and it did not take long for me to be in Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani and its developing clout. Here few girls were seen giggling and a stand alone man in a corner trying to retrieve a cell conversation that actually had seen him some moments ago fumbling.
From Elgin Road i turned right and the Sarat Bose Road Encounter looked to be pleasantly bright. Could have easily imagined that S B Road could well have residences of high notch value turning to a tariff well beyond a tourist's parting cash avenue. Still went to one or two lodges in the hope i would be able to ascertain their reasonable charges. All were in the muddle of a steep rent and given the road and its roundabout appearing to be distinctively clean, with some pathways tiled and green, there were fewer chances to take part of that sheen.
From Choco wonder the coffee fill came for Rs 15, and the man at the counter was hearty enough to pour one extra pouch of powder in my cup to make the required fudge. Further down the road with a turn to right of course came across cafe chokolade which had thick shakes and ice cream as its serving beam.
After 6A Madhab Chatterjee street i turn to left on Ashton Road and it reminds me of some places in Kanniyakumari before one hits the seashore beat. Sighting of Ma Pratima on Chakraberi Road and moving further opposite 10 Justice Dwarka Nath road was another Durga Pratima with an enlightened glow.
Walking past shops and with no skirmishes around in the Bhowanipore roundabout, i am told the Maharashtra Bhawan would be appropriate and kind. Stepping inside, the idol of Lord Venkateshwara is a delight to watch and whatever may be the rent one could try for some days that would glow and be bright. Another query to a man coming from stationery clan leads me to a home past lanes turning to bylanes and here i was meeting a person who had a port trust assignment to his fame. The room/rent both looked skyrocketing and i could least afford to be in a position of pressure wilting. Bidding him goodbye and having turned off any more try, in the vicinity of netaji bhawan at Sanguvalley i take my veg fried rice. Moving further i come across Bijoli theatre and there is a scooter in the most uncherished state of affairs bearing number WBY 8229. Been in stationary vault for ages perhaps waiting to be lifted by sages. Indefinite has been its existence, quite different from indefinite tasks some have been battling with.
Then there is Sen Pharmacy, with a tag line "we are at your service for the past 60 years (1943-2003). Here in this row are xerox centres coming for as low as 0.35 paise and moving further is the Ashutosh College which has some demonstrative aces. Next to Jatin Dask Park Metro Station there is a demonstration-cum-speech underway, probably organised by a youth federation who have to up the ante because of some provocation.
The Bijoli theatre continues to play 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' given the strong performances belted by characters. Adjacent to the theatre on occasions the game of carom is played as some have skills to flaunt and can't resist this bait.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Water flow in Bentinck Street is in plenty
Lodges i stayed and lodges i sailed in states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal have been distinctive to a point where i humbly put my request and hope to latch on to if departure is not in a zest.
Laborious has been the stay in different cities across India coming close to the possibility of thinking of running away when the days spent and the nights gone by have been laboriously difficult to kill. It was on a Sunday when i took a taxi to Kalighat and in a space of 15 minutes the destination was reached that was 5.6 kms apart. Told to shell out Rs 60, the highly reasonable fare was an inducement that such taxi travels could be tried as it gave the opportunity to be witty and give the thoughts to fly. Because some travels in different modes of transport stale you to the point of derailing you.
It is adjacent to 61 Bentinck Street, M M Ghose & Co that water discharge is in plenty and most dismiss this to be water from ganga ka kal. Quite in vicinity of this place is the tram station and buses going to different destinations. The other day i took the tram for Park Circus. The message on the tram read: " kindly tender the exact fare, 100/50 rs cannot be changed by the conductor." Quite logical indeed as fare begins from Rs 3.50 paise.
Going past lenin sarani, hotel paradise, thacker's shoppe (dry fruits and nuts), maulana azad college, rafi ahmed kidwai road, elliot road and ajc bose road, Park Circus was reached in a record 25-minutes flow. A stroll past Park Circus brought the Park Circus Maidan in focus and how gigantic it looked from which ever angle you took the shot. Inside the maidan some were playing cards and some mingling with their teenage guards. Hardly a collection of men women and babies could be seen around; perhaps more to follow when the evening setting would be sound.
The return journey was completed on foot from AJC Bose road to M G Road. And post Singhara infusion, at Swapanlok sweets (most singharas and sweets are rs5 a piece)
i set for my lodge submission.
Laborious has been the stay in different cities across India coming close to the possibility of thinking of running away when the days spent and the nights gone by have been laboriously difficult to kill. It was on a Sunday when i took a taxi to Kalighat and in a space of 15 minutes the destination was reached that was 5.6 kms apart. Told to shell out Rs 60, the highly reasonable fare was an inducement that such taxi travels could be tried as it gave the opportunity to be witty and give the thoughts to fly. Because some travels in different modes of transport stale you to the point of derailing you.
It is adjacent to 61 Bentinck Street, M M Ghose & Co that water discharge is in plenty and most dismiss this to be water from ganga ka kal. Quite in vicinity of this place is the tram station and buses going to different destinations. The other day i took the tram for Park Circus. The message on the tram read: " kindly tender the exact fare, 100/50 rs cannot be changed by the conductor." Quite logical indeed as fare begins from Rs 3.50 paise.
Going past lenin sarani, hotel paradise, thacker's shoppe (dry fruits and nuts), maulana azad college, rafi ahmed kidwai road, elliot road and ajc bose road, Park Circus was reached in a record 25-minutes flow. A stroll past Park Circus brought the Park Circus Maidan in focus and how gigantic it looked from which ever angle you took the shot. Inside the maidan some were playing cards and some mingling with their teenage guards. Hardly a collection of men women and babies could be seen around; perhaps more to follow when the evening setting would be sound.
The return journey was completed on foot from AJC Bose road to M G Road. And post Singhara infusion, at Swapanlok sweets (most singharas and sweets are rs5 a piece)
i set for my lodge submission.
The lokpal drill and the campaign looking shrill
The lokpal drill and the campaign looking shrill
Opportune has been the time to get prepared with lokpal drill lest the new year bashes won't have the required thrill. Howsoever hard one may try to gauge the import of this lokpal drafting, redrafting, exacerbating followed by ameliorating, ameliorated looks to be the status/profile of those who have given standing instructions to go beyond standing committee recommendations. Equally ameliorated look to be the politicos who time and again waggle their tongue given the leverage that is given by their tv chums.
POliticos digging their feet not realising the slide the political class is under seige. It is not high time but beginning of the seasonal shine when civil reps look to broaden their base given the tv commitments they have as their ace. Rally across cities and towns they went for, hoping to build the momentum they welled for. It was in the month of April followed by month of August that campaign managers of civil reps decided National Capital beginning with the letter D would play host to an agitation of no aspirational hesitation. It was not for political office or jockeying for power that caught them in the agitational whirr; it was showcased to get the desired lokpal in the ambit of administrative tier.
Agitations in April and August saw them witness a record turnout thereby leading them to thrust this agenda that a law on this lokpal would be a civil reps inclusive funda. Not scaling down a bit on their range of demands was their momentum turnaround, equally strong was their logic that a fair number were turning with able bodied pound. Calls and convulsions were set in motion when they begin to encircle those attending House session. August was not the month when House was disrupted to a scale seen in November/DEcember. A SEnse of the House was all it took for civil reps to retreat coming with a looming threat that come Winter Session if the all-pervasive all-aggressive LOkpal does not take the form of a law, there would be in abundance the protests and some at their fast best.
In between August and DEcember, hardly a day has passed when someone from either side hasn't had a microphone blast. Umpteen are the sympathisers of civil reps and umpteen are their spokespersons; equally umpteen occasions they flirt with loose talks/threats and voluble fest. Threats range from bringing down the government to placing themselves a notch above Parliament. Caution is the least they exercise when they open their mouth; quite swayed by the fact that a turnout they have seen in some centres of the country would be instrumental in getting the numbers for jail bharo entry. A lokpal-less life is the least they can reckon with and against this background uprising is what they can't fathom a bit. Irreconciable may look the differences between the establishment and Civil Reps firmament and herein the catch may lie for the two to get a pedestal to fly. Never in the history of post independent INdia has seen the civil reps and the government at loggerheads and street protests descending to uprising should be something on which no bets should be hedged.
Against this climate of cynicism, most have carried on with their life; and they seem untouched with lokpal rhythm-turning-to-a-prize. It is looking increasingly agitative to keep thoughts alone on Lokpal as there are some whom we need to prod and push like the character popularly known as ammoniumpal.
Ammoniumpal as a character hasn't made his presence felt; lights would be thrown on ammoniumpal only and only if the heat has diluted on a loner-turned-blower lokpal.
Wall or no wall the best antidote to graft is to get your work done with a labour and by any short-circuiting you are setting a wrong precedent which few would find it necessary to waiver. Short cut to freedom does not entail you bypass the process; the best route is to stick and follow the rules to a degree.
Opportune has been the time to get prepared with lokpal drill lest the new year bashes won't have the required thrill. Howsoever hard one may try to gauge the import of this lokpal drafting, redrafting, exacerbating followed by ameliorating, ameliorated looks to be the status/profile of those who have given standing instructions to go beyond standing committee recommendations. Equally ameliorated look to be the politicos who time and again waggle their tongue given the leverage that is given by their tv chums.
POliticos digging their feet not realising the slide the political class is under seige. It is not high time but beginning of the seasonal shine when civil reps look to broaden their base given the tv commitments they have as their ace. Rally across cities and towns they went for, hoping to build the momentum they welled for. It was in the month of April followed by month of August that campaign managers of civil reps decided National Capital beginning with the letter D would play host to an agitation of no aspirational hesitation. It was not for political office or jockeying for power that caught them in the agitational whirr; it was showcased to get the desired lokpal in the ambit of administrative tier.
Agitations in April and August saw them witness a record turnout thereby leading them to thrust this agenda that a law on this lokpal would be a civil reps inclusive funda. Not scaling down a bit on their range of demands was their momentum turnaround, equally strong was their logic that a fair number were turning with able bodied pound. Calls and convulsions were set in motion when they begin to encircle those attending House session. August was not the month when House was disrupted to a scale seen in November/DEcember. A SEnse of the House was all it took for civil reps to retreat coming with a looming threat that come Winter Session if the all-pervasive all-aggressive LOkpal does not take the form of a law, there would be in abundance the protests and some at their fast best.
In between August and DEcember, hardly a day has passed when someone from either side hasn't had a microphone blast. Umpteen are the sympathisers of civil reps and umpteen are their spokespersons; equally umpteen occasions they flirt with loose talks/threats and voluble fest. Threats range from bringing down the government to placing themselves a notch above Parliament. Caution is the least they exercise when they open their mouth; quite swayed by the fact that a turnout they have seen in some centres of the country would be instrumental in getting the numbers for jail bharo entry. A lokpal-less life is the least they can reckon with and against this background uprising is what they can't fathom a bit. Irreconciable may look the differences between the establishment and Civil Reps firmament and herein the catch may lie for the two to get a pedestal to fly. Never in the history of post independent INdia has seen the civil reps and the government at loggerheads and street protests descending to uprising should be something on which no bets should be hedged.
Against this climate of cynicism, most have carried on with their life; and they seem untouched with lokpal rhythm-turning-to-a-prize. It is looking increasingly agitative to keep thoughts alone on Lokpal as there are some whom we need to prod and push like the character popularly known as ammoniumpal.
Ammoniumpal as a character hasn't made his presence felt; lights would be thrown on ammoniumpal only and only if the heat has diluted on a loner-turned-blower lokpal.
Wall or no wall the best antidote to graft is to get your work done with a labour and by any short-circuiting you are setting a wrong precedent which few would find it necessary to waiver. Short cut to freedom does not entail you bypass the process; the best route is to stick and follow the rules to a degree.
Typewriters on Lenin Street
Typewriters on Lenin Street
As i come across typewriters, some in the glare of the sun and some warming up to the expected rush, the first hint of its survival and brush was on Lenin Street. The Lenin Street man was sitting idle with the typewriter, summoning the courage to brood on the days gone by and the days that were to come with his attempted typewriter try. Adjacent to College square is the Surya Sen Street and the walk past classic tailors, globe optics, all india educational consultancy and coaching centre, all doctor consultation and ranu surgical mart leads you to the sighting of a shop which has typewriter etched on top. And a close look inside reveals three functioning typewriters in one row. A man is working on a typewriter, hoping to complete the assignment with no rancour. Rancour and rage defining the disappearance of a typewriter is primarily to do with the simple tasks this machine could do and how it came to be abhorred by the computer clamour.
PCs followed by laptop lollipops descending to tablet crop made its very sighting unthinkable. Unthinkable was its sighting in a metro given the fast pace the liberal faces desired to get into the race. Candour were the suggestions by some that in the heat of lollipops and tablet, typewriter could still be assumed to be a machine of ascending habit. Because the draft prepared in enlightened glare was all about serious business. here the grammatical tidiness was by and large maintained and need for abbreviation and abuse ammunition never rained. Those deft with typewriting skills were handsomely confident about the language they drafted; and this confidence was not misplaced. Misplaced were not the enormous drafts that were typed day in and day out, showcasing the labour that worked through their heart and that itself was their clout.
The emerging clout of PCs and laplops shows the distance traversed and the man's assimilation with typewriters as an eyewash. Fewer are spotted here and there. In a bigger metro it could well be a no cakewalk to sight them unless one has gone past lanes and by lanes and right into an adda where most still swear by 60s and 70s funda. Lenin Sarani, College square could just be a tip of the iceberg. Tollygunge, Jatin Das Park, Bentinck Street, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street Raja Ram Mohan Roy Sarani could seamlessly have the typewriter beat. Hope this beat sails and the fascination for this blemish free, where once you start typing, the incorrigible optimist never reneges and grows to a fair degree.
As i come across typewriters, some in the glare of the sun and some warming up to the expected rush, the first hint of its survival and brush was on Lenin Street. The Lenin Street man was sitting idle with the typewriter, summoning the courage to brood on the days gone by and the days that were to come with his attempted typewriter try. Adjacent to College square is the Surya Sen Street and the walk past classic tailors, globe optics, all india educational consultancy and coaching centre, all doctor consultation and ranu surgical mart leads you to the sighting of a shop which has typewriter etched on top. And a close look inside reveals three functioning typewriters in one row. A man is working on a typewriter, hoping to complete the assignment with no rancour. Rancour and rage defining the disappearance of a typewriter is primarily to do with the simple tasks this machine could do and how it came to be abhorred by the computer clamour.
PCs followed by laptop lollipops descending to tablet crop made its very sighting unthinkable. Unthinkable was its sighting in a metro given the fast pace the liberal faces desired to get into the race. Candour were the suggestions by some that in the heat of lollipops and tablet, typewriter could still be assumed to be a machine of ascending habit. Because the draft prepared in enlightened glare was all about serious business. here the grammatical tidiness was by and large maintained and need for abbreviation and abuse ammunition never rained. Those deft with typewriting skills were handsomely confident about the language they drafted; and this confidence was not misplaced. Misplaced were not the enormous drafts that were typed day in and day out, showcasing the labour that worked through their heart and that itself was their clout.
The emerging clout of PCs and laplops shows the distance traversed and the man's assimilation with typewriters as an eyewash. Fewer are spotted here and there. In a bigger metro it could well be a no cakewalk to sight them unless one has gone past lanes and by lanes and right into an adda where most still swear by 60s and 70s funda. Lenin Sarani, College square could just be a tip of the iceberg. Tollygunge, Jatin Das Park, Bentinck Street, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street Raja Ram Mohan Roy Sarani could seamlessly have the typewriter beat. Hope this beat sails and the fascination for this blemish free, where once you start typing, the incorrigible optimist never reneges and grows to a fair degree.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Raw perfume and incense sticks
AS i wait for raw perfume from perfume and zarda store,the incense sticks i come across are sai flora, bajrang, chameli, champa, holy prayer, yatra, woods, sandal forest fire, balaji and rose pure.
Amidst the tea from favourite cabin, the congregation comprised of those who were old and yet fit to place a bet. The bet they were placing on the upcoming series down under and those who could be free from blunder. If the tea from favourite cabin could get you the momentum you seek, it was all to do with the tea-preparation of your liking that you reap. Move few kms further and you are face to face with Singhara from Swapanlok Sweets which can put you on a refreshing beat. There are some who have done away with Kashmiri Singhara coming for 20 and special chaat coming for 25, and this one is from a food joint opposite broadway and not haughty.
As on other occasion, the old ambys spotted were WRA 0914; WMC 6349 and a standard probably bearing number WBA 2847.
Amidst the tea from favourite cabin, the congregation comprised of those who were old and yet fit to place a bet. The bet they were placing on the upcoming series down under and those who could be free from blunder. If the tea from favourite cabin could get you the momentum you seek, it was all to do with the tea-preparation of your liking that you reap. Move few kms further and you are face to face with Singhara from Swapanlok Sweets which can put you on a refreshing beat. There are some who have done away with Kashmiri Singhara coming for 20 and special chaat coming for 25, and this one is from a food joint opposite broadway and not haughty.
As on other occasion, the old ambys spotted were WRA 0914; WMC 6349 and a standard probably bearing number WBA 2847.
From Shyambazar to B T Road
From Shyambazar to B T Road
As i was approaching B T Road, the hoarding said it all : "we fly high,competition sinks low...again." Competition that you and me face from quarters not in progress. While taking a commute in a metro city is itself a competition given the chances you would get the mode of transport and seat you desire are not abundantly clear. Equally not clear are the destinations you wish to reach on time and with no extra fine. Taking the much-hailed Shyambazar followed by B T Road for the immense traffic load they take each day, some hoardings/shops i sighted were Dolphin group of hotels, Avenue dental clinic, Moustache - mini max dress maker (jeans and trousers), Up To Date dry cleaners, Bengal jewellery, Attitude ladies beauty salon. Intersped were Universal signature advertising, Dazzle family salon and Spoken English Corporate English (Tobin Road , Shyambazar). Rounding this heat of advertising,shop sighting was we fly high competition sinks low...again.
As for the Spoken English vis-a-vis Corporate English, the two appear to be distinctively different as the poster seems to suggest. It is in Tobin Road and Shyambazar where expertise on the same can be gained. While Spoken descending to Corporate English is what the trend looks like, the emphasis on English suggest no matter what the expertise the law makers may have on the language, when the question hour gets disrupted repeatedly on repeated days the English that is heard down the corridors is neither Corporate nor Spoken and definitely not Audible.
In Corporate English one tries to define the corporate chorus through bottomlines, take home, deceive one, fame none and courtesy pay cheque have loan lump. In spoken English the words bandied around are English is the mother of all languages and here India has an impressive average. Mornings begin with Good to all and sundry and evenings descend with those taking our laundry. English is better belted out when spoken on a cell as it gives the temerity to influence those seated near you and those attempting to sit in the next couple of hours if the duration of English spoken is to last for that period. It has been observed that english spoken on a cell is much better than a verbal bell often turning to a duel.
Still English is a language we all resist to learn; yet learning is mandatory given the impression quotient it turns. How much English words are belted out in Hindi Films are yet to figure out; time is not far when the entire Hindi picture won't have one single sentence in the language which involves labour and the movie would be a perfect pitch to have corporate/spoken english waiver.
As for the language spoken during Question Hour, it is not questionable by any means; it is in fact a test case of halting-cum-parting language where words exchanged and blows never coming to cane is a passing phase because by the time the halting heat has evaporated and halting language has been belted the time is over for the Question Hour and answers remaining unquestionably afar.
As i was approaching B T Road, the hoarding said it all : "we fly high,competition sinks low...again." Competition that you and me face from quarters not in progress. While taking a commute in a metro city is itself a competition given the chances you would get the mode of transport and seat you desire are not abundantly clear. Equally not clear are the destinations you wish to reach on time and with no extra fine. Taking the much-hailed Shyambazar followed by B T Road for the immense traffic load they take each day, some hoardings/shops i sighted were Dolphin group of hotels, Avenue dental clinic, Moustache - mini max dress maker (jeans and trousers), Up To Date dry cleaners, Bengal jewellery, Attitude ladies beauty salon. Intersped were Universal signature advertising, Dazzle family salon and Spoken English Corporate English (Tobin Road , Shyambazar). Rounding this heat of advertising,shop sighting was we fly high competition sinks low...again.
As for the Spoken English vis-a-vis Corporate English, the two appear to be distinctively different as the poster seems to suggest. It is in Tobin Road and Shyambazar where expertise on the same can be gained. While Spoken descending to Corporate English is what the trend looks like, the emphasis on English suggest no matter what the expertise the law makers may have on the language, when the question hour gets disrupted repeatedly on repeated days the English that is heard down the corridors is neither Corporate nor Spoken and definitely not Audible.
In Corporate English one tries to define the corporate chorus through bottomlines, take home, deceive one, fame none and courtesy pay cheque have loan lump. In spoken English the words bandied around are English is the mother of all languages and here India has an impressive average. Mornings begin with Good to all and sundry and evenings descend with those taking our laundry. English is better belted out when spoken on a cell as it gives the temerity to influence those seated near you and those attempting to sit in the next couple of hours if the duration of English spoken is to last for that period. It has been observed that english spoken on a cell is much better than a verbal bell often turning to a duel.
Still English is a language we all resist to learn; yet learning is mandatory given the impression quotient it turns. How much English words are belted out in Hindi Films are yet to figure out; time is not far when the entire Hindi picture won't have one single sentence in the language which involves labour and the movie would be a perfect pitch to have corporate/spoken english waiver.
As for the language spoken during Question Hour, it is not questionable by any means; it is in fact a test case of halting-cum-parting language where words exchanged and blows never coming to cane is a passing phase because by the time the halting heat has evaporated and halting language has been belted the time is over for the Question Hour and answers remaining unquestionably afar.
Taking a train journey
Taking a train journey
It is not quite often that one takes a train journey. If calculations have materialised in a way that a train journey has to be undertaken, there are ways to avoid whipping up a fury if the situation is discomforting. There have been occasions when you are about to board a train, the sight of the passengers in the vicinity and those distant trying to read the chart as many times as possible. Perhaps their association with chart-reading continues for the period the train has not departed.
The pasting of the chart on the train is itself an indicator that the train would proceed towards the final destination no matter how torn and twisted the chart comes to appear even before the journey has started. Chances are once in a million that the chart from the point of origination to point of destination remains unshackled from the plausible forces comprising passengers and those destined to be passengers but could not board. Chart details out the name of passengers, gender, age and the destination they would have to deboard failing which there would be enough ammunition to shovel them out. Here all forces real and imaginary come into play to shovel you around if the co-commuters reprimand and tte's command has not been followed and you continue with your rant.
As the train pulls inside the station to enable commuters and foreseeable commodities to board, some trains come with chart pasted and some postponing it seeing this act for which hands are not free to be wasted. Once chart has been pasted and the passengers determined to take their journey forward as their name and name of their successors are crystal clear, there are some roaming around to see if any of their followers and followers-turned-foes are in the same coach sporting different wear.The point of origination is the one where some passengers make rounds and rounds of the chart to read the fine print. Perhaps memorising the entire chart including the names, their gender, age and the proof through which their identity would be established is on top of their mind even though they desist to be topless for the entire duration of the journey. It is only when their companions prod them, they go shirtless and the fabric rounding them are underpants.
With the attempt to memorise the entire chart these illuminated passengers get down at every conceivable stops of the train and read the chart for umpteen times. Perhaps the failure of the chart to sketch out details like the status they are in; monthly income they dispense to get a new fling and the occupational hazards of holding to a turf that has rotating fears. Some read the chart to precisely find out the versatility of those who are far away in the coach or in other coach and who could be reached at appropriate moment. Perhaps the best bet is to try the option in the coach you have been sedated given the competition you would be facing in other coaches as your arrival is not awaited.
It is not quite often that one takes a train journey. If calculations have materialised in a way that a train journey has to be undertaken, there are ways to avoid whipping up a fury if the situation is discomforting. There have been occasions when you are about to board a train, the sight of the passengers in the vicinity and those distant trying to read the chart as many times as possible. Perhaps their association with chart-reading continues for the period the train has not departed.
The pasting of the chart on the train is itself an indicator that the train would proceed towards the final destination no matter how torn and twisted the chart comes to appear even before the journey has started. Chances are once in a million that the chart from the point of origination to point of destination remains unshackled from the plausible forces comprising passengers and those destined to be passengers but could not board. Chart details out the name of passengers, gender, age and the destination they would have to deboard failing which there would be enough ammunition to shovel them out. Here all forces real and imaginary come into play to shovel you around if the co-commuters reprimand and tte's command has not been followed and you continue with your rant.
As the train pulls inside the station to enable commuters and foreseeable commodities to board, some trains come with chart pasted and some postponing it seeing this act for which hands are not free to be wasted. Once chart has been pasted and the passengers determined to take their journey forward as their name and name of their successors are crystal clear, there are some roaming around to see if any of their followers and followers-turned-foes are in the same coach sporting different wear.The point of origination is the one where some passengers make rounds and rounds of the chart to read the fine print. Perhaps memorising the entire chart including the names, their gender, age and the proof through which their identity would be established is on top of their mind even though they desist to be topless for the entire duration of the journey. It is only when their companions prod them, they go shirtless and the fabric rounding them are underpants.
With the attempt to memorise the entire chart these illuminated passengers get down at every conceivable stops of the train and read the chart for umpteen times. Perhaps the failure of the chart to sketch out details like the status they are in; monthly income they dispense to get a new fling and the occupational hazards of holding to a turf that has rotating fears. Some read the chart to precisely find out the versatility of those who are far away in the coach or in other coach and who could be reached at appropriate moment. Perhaps the best bet is to try the option in the coach you have been sedated given the competition you would be facing in other coaches as your arrival is not awaited.
Friday, December 16, 2011
To be disclosed by time vault
To be disclosed by time vault
Mission Cafe was all i intended to reach to get the coffee i had sensed would free me of body ache and turn me to experimental best. Walking itself is an experiment of sorts given the passage you have to discover to escape the ignominy of a passing lot. Walk past streets and gullies have been instrumental for it brings on board the common man's most relished wonder.
As i took the coffee and disapproved tea, it was a decision not made in haste. Tea could have been tried but coffee appeared to be better option when the price difference between the two was just light.Two cuppas opposite broadway adda were enough to broaden my walking sprinkled with a little effusive writing agenda. As coffee was being taken, there was a sight where a woman was washing clothes and another man taking bath, popularly known as morning blast which normally is performed provided enough water are in the taps. Water scarcity here may not have reached a stage of concern truly circulating round the year but for tourists visiting the city of determination the lodge-scouting is something that at times tests your patience. Wait is not that enduring and equally the formalities are not complaining. What the people need to do at stations having record footfalls is a helpline number that would detail the lodges and the budget it would come across. Locality-mentioning is a must.
This time round, the lodge-scouting in the city of Howrah began with a note to not approach those quarters where bedbugs performed appreciably or where the lights were kept on for long and the commotion drowning you down. Because in one particular outing in October the bet to take parking in avenue was a miserable move given for all tea and toast i had to get down time and again and even once the suggestion for tea was met with muted glee. That was October and the stay quite elaborate.
This time round as the stay began in a city where food options galore closely followed by oranges and apple that can have you floored, the first foray on the second day was to Metia Burz followed on another days to Jatin Das Park and beyond. After the search for lodge was complete and equally complete was the food i fete, the search began for cyber cafes where on occasions some were in the thick of jungle and some in Koyle market which had the broadband speed of a fumble.
Having sighted Bus no43, going from Bonhooghly to Esplanade, probably that would be tried to get the new writing skills in sight. As for some cyber visitors who visit to open the facebook to update their faces and the races seldom they check their laces being in order and post facebook are in more disorder. Disorder that originated from cell soak and it has descended to a profile cloak. Which one is more hard to control; probably it would be disclosed by time vault.
Mission Cafe was all i intended to reach to get the coffee i had sensed would free me of body ache and turn me to experimental best. Walking itself is an experiment of sorts given the passage you have to discover to escape the ignominy of a passing lot. Walk past streets and gullies have been instrumental for it brings on board the common man's most relished wonder.
As i took the coffee and disapproved tea, it was a decision not made in haste. Tea could have been tried but coffee appeared to be better option when the price difference between the two was just light.Two cuppas opposite broadway adda were enough to broaden my walking sprinkled with a little effusive writing agenda. As coffee was being taken, there was a sight where a woman was washing clothes and another man taking bath, popularly known as morning blast which normally is performed provided enough water are in the taps. Water scarcity here may not have reached a stage of concern truly circulating round the year but for tourists visiting the city of determination the lodge-scouting is something that at times tests your patience. Wait is not that enduring and equally the formalities are not complaining. What the people need to do at stations having record footfalls is a helpline number that would detail the lodges and the budget it would come across. Locality-mentioning is a must.
This time round, the lodge-scouting in the city of Howrah began with a note to not approach those quarters where bedbugs performed appreciably or where the lights were kept on for long and the commotion drowning you down. Because in one particular outing in October the bet to take parking in avenue was a miserable move given for all tea and toast i had to get down time and again and even once the suggestion for tea was met with muted glee. That was October and the stay quite elaborate.
This time round as the stay began in a city where food options galore closely followed by oranges and apple that can have you floored, the first foray on the second day was to Metia Burz followed on another days to Jatin Das Park and beyond. After the search for lodge was complete and equally complete was the food i fete, the search began for cyber cafes where on occasions some were in the thick of jungle and some in Koyle market which had the broadband speed of a fumble.
Having sighted Bus no43, going from Bonhooghly to Esplanade, probably that would be tried to get the new writing skills in sight. As for some cyber visitors who visit to open the facebook to update their faces and the races seldom they check their laces being in order and post facebook are in more disorder. Disorder that originated from cell soak and it has descended to a profile cloak. Which one is more hard to control; probably it would be disclosed by time vault.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Post visits to Somnath, Ahmedabad, Jharsuguda on radar.
Post visits to Somnath, Ahmedabad, Jharsuguda on radar
Nearing Jharsuguda by train to be followed by Bamra and other stations, the thoughts were on the probability of success in finding the requisite accommodation in a new place. It had been over three weeks since i left the national capital, with the overwhelming need to be in the requisite momentum. This has become repetitive over the years to shift base from the Capital and return to soon leave again. This time round, the journey to Maharashtra and beyond had been made possible by different train journeys across country.
It was 7.10 in the morning that the train inched towards Jharsuguda and somewhere around 7.45 Bamra was accessed. The bridge past Jharsuguda and the sight it offered was no less enriching. Somewhere during this time i sight two locomotives; 14921 number etched on one of them. Here the train is at its spontaneous best; speed is the barometer of its sucess and equally spontaneous is the teawallah who having sighted me courtesy the chain of command in operation offers tea that has no life to it as far as its quality goes. The second round is followed by tea bags sprinkled offering; and that one is a delight. That was the third day of Ahmedabad-Howrah ride coming against the backdrop of a ticket procured from Nathdwara in the tatkal category.
Just more than a week ago on a Friday, the Ahmedabad halt began after my return from Somnath via Rajkot. Rajkot was accessed on Thursday, Dec.1, late in the evening. Post Overnight stay not procceeding beyond 4 in the morning, i left for the station and took the Jamnagar-Bandra Intercity train. With a general ticket, the ride was more than an expected turnaround. Turnaround for the fact that a seat was procured and the rush was manageable to a point where people could move in the aisle despite some occupying it. Stoppages along the way included Surendranagar, Wankaner and Viramgram. Not moving an inch on either side, the seat-occupation was all on my mind and parting was once and for all when i reached Ahmedabad. Concern was over the state of disrepair the luggage had been reduced to and the shop near relief road from where the bag had been procured, the man was helpful enough to repair the same. At a charge of Rs 100, it was not an exorbitant one given the state the luggage was in, with its stand, chain and handle tearing apart beyond redemption.
With the stay in Ahmedabad for three days, the tummy got the time to be in shape, which too had been showing signs of eruption for over a week. On Sunday i left Ahmedabad for Ajmer and this train ride was a bit unsettling given the winter spell and the general coaches coming with no quilts. The coach appeared to be overused one, quite understandable given the load the railways carry. In Ajmer, i was entirely to be blamed for taking an accommodation that was far away from Khawaja's dargah. Possibly seeing the possible help coming from a rickshawallah, the possibility of taking accommodation on a second floor in Kohinoor Inn was a foolhardy decision. Neither it came dirt cheap nor the commute to Dargah from there was blemish free. THe staff was cooperative in the lodge and there was nothing else to boast. Having been to Ajmer for over 15 years i should have realised from where i can get lodges and yet on occasions don't exercise the power to be distinctive. Best lodges can be tried in the vicinity of Delhi gate and on the either side of the road leading to Khawaja's Dargah enough accommodation options are there.
After the visit to the Dargah, the next place on itinerary was Pushkar. And here both the bus ride and the stay was something to forget. The bus conductor had problems on my seating ; he himself had kept the machine from where tickets are issued on the seat i was occupying and all along was pestering me to sit straight or sit other way. Once i alighted, the two places i went to were Brahma temple and Shri Rama Vaikunth Temple. Here too, the tummy revolted and i used a room coming with a bathroom paying rs 150 for occupation not lasting minutes amounting to 30.
Nearing Jharsuguda by train to be followed by Bamra and other stations, the thoughts were on the probability of success in finding the requisite accommodation in a new place. It had been over three weeks since i left the national capital, with the overwhelming need to be in the requisite momentum. This has become repetitive over the years to shift base from the Capital and return to soon leave again. This time round, the journey to Maharashtra and beyond had been made possible by different train journeys across country.
It was 7.10 in the morning that the train inched towards Jharsuguda and somewhere around 7.45 Bamra was accessed. The bridge past Jharsuguda and the sight it offered was no less enriching. Somewhere during this time i sight two locomotives; 14921 number etched on one of them. Here the train is at its spontaneous best; speed is the barometer of its sucess and equally spontaneous is the teawallah who having sighted me courtesy the chain of command in operation offers tea that has no life to it as far as its quality goes. The second round is followed by tea bags sprinkled offering; and that one is a delight. That was the third day of Ahmedabad-Howrah ride coming against the backdrop of a ticket procured from Nathdwara in the tatkal category.
Just more than a week ago on a Friday, the Ahmedabad halt began after my return from Somnath via Rajkot. Rajkot was accessed on Thursday, Dec.1, late in the evening. Post Overnight stay not procceeding beyond 4 in the morning, i left for the station and took the Jamnagar-Bandra Intercity train. With a general ticket, the ride was more than an expected turnaround. Turnaround for the fact that a seat was procured and the rush was manageable to a point where people could move in the aisle despite some occupying it. Stoppages along the way included Surendranagar, Wankaner and Viramgram. Not moving an inch on either side, the seat-occupation was all on my mind and parting was once and for all when i reached Ahmedabad. Concern was over the state of disrepair the luggage had been reduced to and the shop near relief road from where the bag had been procured, the man was helpful enough to repair the same. At a charge of Rs 100, it was not an exorbitant one given the state the luggage was in, with its stand, chain and handle tearing apart beyond redemption.
With the stay in Ahmedabad for three days, the tummy got the time to be in shape, which too had been showing signs of eruption for over a week. On Sunday i left Ahmedabad for Ajmer and this train ride was a bit unsettling given the winter spell and the general coaches coming with no quilts. The coach appeared to be overused one, quite understandable given the load the railways carry. In Ajmer, i was entirely to be blamed for taking an accommodation that was far away from Khawaja's dargah. Possibly seeing the possible help coming from a rickshawallah, the possibility of taking accommodation on a second floor in Kohinoor Inn was a foolhardy decision. Neither it came dirt cheap nor the commute to Dargah from there was blemish free. THe staff was cooperative in the lodge and there was nothing else to boast. Having been to Ajmer for over 15 years i should have realised from where i can get lodges and yet on occasions don't exercise the power to be distinctive. Best lodges can be tried in the vicinity of Delhi gate and on the either side of the road leading to Khawaja's Dargah enough accommodation options are there.
After the visit to the Dargah, the next place on itinerary was Pushkar. And here both the bus ride and the stay was something to forget. The bus conductor had problems on my seating ; he himself had kept the machine from where tickets are issued on the seat i was occupying and all along was pestering me to sit straight or sit other way. Once i alighted, the two places i went to were Brahma temple and Shri Rama Vaikunth Temple. Here too, the tummy revolted and i used a room coming with a bathroom paying rs 150 for occupation not lasting minutes amounting to 30.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Having left Nathdwara
Having left Nathdwara (Lord Shreenathji's abode) , Ahmedabad was the place i was supposed to reach to catch a train for Howrah. Probably under the impression that 1pm ST bus departing from Nathdwara would be handy enough to get me the meals and the newspaper in time, i took the transport with a fair degree of commitment given my share of viable experiences with ST buses hailing from Gujarat. Appropriate wasn't the conduct of the staff and despite fierce resistance from some quarters i took the bus and took the standing instructions from them on where to place the luggage and where to make it look disappear.
Minutes before 9 in the evening i was in Ahmedabad , made possible by the change of man at the wheels as soon as the bus entered the Gujarat territory. With nothing to boast of expressive range of options, the driver's commendable job in ensuring a seamless transition before and beyond Himmatnagar could not be lost. Co-passengers were equally cooperative and those seated on 1 and 4 for the journey lasting till Bawalwada and the Rajasthan-Gujarat border drew my plausible level of appreciation. For the peanuts and chips they sailed with and nodded their head on the plausible possibility of ST buses reforming at some stage. For the one deboarding as soon as Gujarat territory began i could read the signs but could do the least as the seat had been secured with much effort and the luggage had been parked against appearance of unappreciable jest.
It was well past two in the afternoon and certain sections in Udaipur reminded me of Udhagamandalam for the clogged streets and the winding beats. Jodhpur Mishtan Bhandar and such other centres seemed to be the one with fewer aversions. A sum total of 125 kms including 50 for Udaipur was covered in over three hours and the ride post Himmatnagar showed the alertness with which the challenge had been conquered. No joke, it's a challenge driving on national highways no matter how smooth the surface may be given the insurmountable odds you may come across at any stage. LIke always, the approach to different toll plazas was greeted by single and multiple entry visit board and earlier to that by a declaration on exempted dignitary and how they stand to gain from this long cherished inventory. If that declaration meant going overboard there was another earthy in nature. The entry to the gates of a bus stand was marked by labourline number for rescuing labours in distress. Distress call was what the labourers had been advised to make and no hesistation whatsoever was asked to be shed.
With 159 kms still to be covered the signboard showed the turn that one had to take to the left for proceeding towards Dungarpur. With all such turns and twists and armed with a new driver quite clear about his responsibility the 300km-long ride was against the backdrop of sighting of kirana stores, food joints and a record number of girl students returning to their fiefdom after a record day out in school and sun. Probably all would be employable and get gainful employment in due course. Sighting of jeeps was no mean task given the number of commuters cruising; some being fixed on roofs and others latched to every enviable and not readily made available space.
Few minutes before nine the commuters were in Kalopur in Ahmedabad and those headed for station deboarded and those headed beyond continued the bus loaded.Post meals from the first floor of Ahmedabad station, the wait continued and this ended on a note where the Choksi entourage boarded the train and made their presence felt with someone having more than a pony tail. Choksis were seen as a boisterous group making up for the hours they hadn't spoken and days they hadn't slept. It was a boisterous reunion as i could sense with thoughts on the one with a pony tail and how effective would be her future sail. Tataland was where the entourage deboarded and from hereon the repetitive misery of cruise refusing to come to a screeching halt got reloaded. As the journey beyond Tataland continued i was of the view that such occasions create a rupture of sorts from where getting out surmounts to a battle lonely fought.
THere was one with the beard who did not belong to the group but was expressively handing out instructions on when to get the tea and other feast. That beardy soul disappeared after having handled his brief with utmost care. As for performances by other compatriots, listless would be an aberration as some were down with injury and thus needed to be sedated. Seating became troublesome but one has to live with that and thus no case of a repetitive rant. The journey was fruitful and for one soul who had plaints on the services i reminded him the load the indian railways carry and it is a record of sorts as far as those whom the railways ferry. I, too, have my share of grievances against TTEs and TCs; like the point blank refusal of a ticket for Kolkata from Ajmer by a TC. But hadn't been that one i would have failed to keep my tryst with Shreenathji whom we all adore for the blessings bestowed on us. Shreenathji was charming and enriching.
Having left Nathdwara (Lord Shreenathji's abode) , Ahmedabad was the place i was supposed to reach to catch a train for Howrah. Probably under the impression that 1pm ST bus departing from Nathdwara would be handy enough to get me the meals and the newspaper in time, i took the transport with a fair degree of commitment given my share of viable experiences with ST buses hailing from Gujarat. Appropriate wasn't the conduct of the staff and despite fierce resistance from some quarters i took the bus and took the standing instructions from them on where to place the luggage and where to make it look disappear.
Minutes before 9 in the evening i was in Ahmedabad , made possible by the change of man at the wheels as soon as the bus entered the Gujarat territory. With nothing to boast of expressive range of options, the driver's commendable job in ensuring a seamless transition before and beyond Himmatnagar could not be lost. Co-passengers were equally cooperative and those seated on 1 and 4 for the journey lasting till Bawalwada and the Rajasthan-Gujarat border drew my plausible level of appreciation. For the peanuts and chips they sailed with and nodded their head on the plausible possibility of ST buses reforming at some stage. For the one deboarding as soon as Gujarat territory began i could read the signs but could do the least as the seat had been secured with much effort and the luggage had been parked against appearance of unappreciable jest.
It was well past two in the afternoon and certain sections in Udaipur reminded me of Udhagamandalam for the clogged streets and the winding beats. Jodhpur Mishtan Bhandar and such other centres seemed to be the one with fewer aversions. A sum total of 125 kms including 50 for Udaipur was covered in over three hours and the ride post Himmatnagar showed the alertness with which the challenge had been conquered. No joke, it's a challenge driving on national highways no matter how smooth the surface may be given the insurmountable odds you may come across at any stage. LIke always, the approach to different toll plazas was greeted by single and multiple entry visit board and earlier to that by a declaration on exempted dignitary and how they stand to gain from this long cherished inventory. If that declaration meant going overboard there was another earthy in nature. The entry to the gates of a bus stand was marked by labourline number for rescuing labours in distress. Distress call was what the labourers had been advised to make and no hesistation whatsoever was asked to be shed.
With 159 kms still to be covered the signboard showed the turn that one had to take to the left for proceeding towards Dungarpur. With all such turns and twists and armed with a new driver quite clear about his responsibility the 300km-long ride was against the backdrop of sighting of kirana stores, food joints and a record number of girl students returning to their fiefdom after a record day out in school and sun. Probably all would be employable and get gainful employment in due course. Sighting of jeeps was no mean task given the number of commuters cruising; some being fixed on roofs and others latched to every enviable and not readily made available space.
Few minutes before nine the commuters were in Kalopur in Ahmedabad and those headed for station deboarded and those headed beyond continued the bus loaded.Post meals from the first floor of Ahmedabad station, the wait continued and this ended on a note where the Choksi entourage boarded the train and made their presence felt with someone having more than a pony tail. Choksis were seen as a boisterous group making up for the hours they hadn't spoken and days they hadn't slept. It was a boisterous reunion as i could sense with thoughts on the one with a pony tail and how effective would be her future sail. Tataland was where the entourage deboarded and from hereon the repetitive misery of cruise refusing to come to a screeching halt got reloaded. As the journey beyond Tataland continued i was of the view that such occasions create a rupture of sorts from where getting out surmounts to a battle lonely fought.
THere was one with the beard who did not belong to the group but was expressively handing out instructions on when to get the tea and other feast. That beardy soul disappeared after having handled his brief with utmost care. As for performances by other compatriots, listless would be an aberration as some were down with injury and thus needed to be sedated. Seating became troublesome but one has to live with that and thus no case of a repetitive rant. The journey was fruitful and for one soul who had plaints on the services i reminded him the load the indian railways carry and it is a record of sorts as far as those whom the railways ferry. I, too, have my share of grievances against TTEs and TCs; like the point blank refusal of a ticket for Kolkata from Ajmer by a TC. But hadn't been that one i would have failed to keep my tryst with Shreenathji whom we all adore for the blessings bestowed on us. Shreenathji was charming and enriching.
Having reached Howrah the next challenge was to spot the requisite accommodation. Been to Broadway hotel where i was told that for Rs 580 the room would come with no attached bathing beauty. That price or close to that i was quoted in the month of Oct. when the season was strong and the room came with an attached bath form. Hopped to the next Club Inn and the enquiries revealed that my budget was too feeble and with no feel. Finally settled for one in BBG Street adjacent to College Street that has its long fleet and this was the initiation of the day-long beats.
Train Number 12833 to Train Number 12834: Amidst the Cheerful Lot
Train Number 12833 to Train Number 12834: Amidst the Cheerful Lot
Train number 12833 was the one boarded to move from Ahmedabad to a destination 2087 kms away. It took two nights and two days to reach the same. Considering the seat number 22 was allotted to me, i could barely offend someone by taking the lower berth. From 23 onwards the seats on occupation were by a group from Gujarat, probably comprising 26 in one slot. Some seats had been reserved in A1 coach as well for the Choksi Group. It was at Tataland, popularly known as Tatanagar,the affable Choksis took time to deboard and disappear and i headed towards WB Fare. Parting being painful as the one with more than a pony tail being most cheerful. SM College product was ahead of the Pony subject on the Tataland station and yet time was not ripe for my all round submission.
In the midst of bongs and antakshari songs they bided their time and had their lavish meals prime. Not for once i was a party to their lavish spread leading to littering outside the coach deck. Not amounting to offence these acts of littering and leveraging and yet it showed them to be morally strong gems believing in strong family fence. Post meal infusion from station food joint and 15 cups of masala tea grind, they were back to their boisterous boast as they very well knew their Tataland host. Probably on Dec. 16th 12834 would be the train ride they would be taking back home where in the aisle and beyond the entire group would have the first mover advantage to roam. I won't be in the midst of this Group given the long ride i would have to take from Kol to Rourkela and back. Probably the 12834 train ride would have given the opportunity to get the round the clock familiarity with them.
On purpose i have decided to give a miss to 12834 train ride as it amounts to taking the train at odd hours at 11.55 pm followed by their appearance at 3.50 am in Tataland and i left with precisely three and a half hours to give my presentation to the Choksi band. Because at Rourkela i would have to deboard to catch another train to Bong Fort. All this would have been arduous and with no certainty on train reservations the up and down 16 hours journey would have been labourious. Nights and days have gone to brood on this subject and only this morning i decided to give 12834 train ride reject. No certainty was on my successful presentation but the Monday morning eye contact gave me enough room to get on board to act. Though i lost this time, if and ever i try to be in Satellite i would try to get a Choksi sight.
Best wishes to Choksis and especially to Pony Tail Perfectionist for the future ahead and morally strong is their standing i can bet.
Train number 12833 was the one boarded to move from Ahmedabad to a destination 2087 kms away. It took two nights and two days to reach the same. Considering the seat number 22 was allotted to me, i could barely offend someone by taking the lower berth. From 23 onwards the seats on occupation were by a group from Gujarat, probably comprising 26 in one slot. Some seats had been reserved in A1 coach as well for the Choksi Group. It was at Tataland, popularly known as Tatanagar,the affable Choksis took time to deboard and disappear and i headed towards WB Fare. Parting being painful as the one with more than a pony tail being most cheerful. SM College product was ahead of the Pony subject on the Tataland station and yet time was not ripe for my all round submission.
In the midst of bongs and antakshari songs they bided their time and had their lavish meals prime. Not for once i was a party to their lavish spread leading to littering outside the coach deck. Not amounting to offence these acts of littering and leveraging and yet it showed them to be morally strong gems believing in strong family fence. Post meal infusion from station food joint and 15 cups of masala tea grind, they were back to their boisterous boast as they very well knew their Tataland host. Probably on Dec. 16th 12834 would be the train ride they would be taking back home where in the aisle and beyond the entire group would have the first mover advantage to roam. I won't be in the midst of this Group given the long ride i would have to take from Kol to Rourkela and back. Probably the 12834 train ride would have given the opportunity to get the round the clock familiarity with them.
On purpose i have decided to give a miss to 12834 train ride as it amounts to taking the train at odd hours at 11.55 pm followed by their appearance at 3.50 am in Tataland and i left with precisely three and a half hours to give my presentation to the Choksi band. Because at Rourkela i would have to deboard to catch another train to Bong Fort. All this would have been arduous and with no certainty on train reservations the up and down 16 hours journey would have been labourious. Nights and days have gone to brood on this subject and only this morning i decided to give 12834 train ride reject. No certainty was on my successful presentation but the Monday morning eye contact gave me enough room to get on board to act. Though i lost this time, if and ever i try to be in Satellite i would try to get a Choksi sight.
Best wishes to Choksis and especially to Pony Tail Perfectionist for the future ahead and morally strong is their standing i can bet.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Having left Nathdwara
Having left Nathdwara
Having left Nathdwara (Lord Shreenathji's abode) , Ahmedabad was the place i was supposed to reach to catch a train for Howrah. Probably under the impression that 1pm ST bus departing from Nathdwara would be handy enough to get me the meals and the newspaper in time, i took the transport with a fair degree of commitment given my share of viable experiences with ST buses hailing from Gujarat. Appropriate wasn't the conduct of the staff and despite fierce resistance from some quarters i took the bus and took the standing instructions from them on where to place the luggage and where to make it look disappear.
Minutes before 9 in the evening i was in Ahmedabad , made possible by the change of man at the wheels as soon as the bus entered the Gujarat territory. With nothing to boast of expressive range of options, the driver's commendable job in ensuring a seamless transition before and beyond Himmatnagar could not be lost. Co-passengers were equally cooperative and those seated on 1 and 4 for the journey lasting till Bawalwada and the Rajasthan-Gujarat border drew my plausible level of appreciation. For the peanuts and chips they sailed with and nodded their head on the plausible possibility of ST buses reforming at some stage. For the one deboarding as soon as Gujarat territory began i could read the signs but could do the least as the seat had been secured with much effort and the luggage had been parked against appearance of unappreciable jest.
It was well past two in the afternoon and certain sections in Udaipur reminded me of Udhagamandalam for the clogged streets and the winding beats. Jodhpur Mishtan Bhandar and such other centres seemed to be the one with fewer aversions. A sum total of 125 kms including 50 for Udaipur was covered in over three hours and the ride post Himmatnagar showed the alertness with which the challenge had been conquered. No joke, it's a challenge driving on national highways no matter how smooth the surface may be given the insurmountable odds you may come across at any stage. LIke always, the approach to different toll plazas was greeted by single and multiple entry visit board and earlier to that by a declaration on exempted dignitary and how they stand to gain from this long cherished inventory. If that declaration meant going overboard there was another earthy in nature. The entry to the gates of a bus stand was marked by labourline number for rescuing labours in distress. Distress call was what the labourers had been advised to make and no hesistation whatsoever was asked to be shed.
With 159 kms still to be covered the signboard showed the turn that one had to take to the left for proceeding towards Dungarpur. With all such turns and twists and armed with a new driver quite clear about his responsibility the 300km-long ride was against the backdrop of sighting of kirana stores, food joints and a record number of girl students returning to their fiefdom after a record day out in school and sun. Probably all would be employable and get gainful employment in due course. Sighting of jeeps was no mean task given the number of commuters cruising; some being fixed on roofs and others latched to every enviable and not readily made available space.
Few minutes before nine the commuters were in Kalopur in Ahmedabad and those headed for station deboarded and those headed beyond continued the bus loaded.Post meals from the first floor of Ahmedabad station, the wait continued and this ended on a note where the Choksi entourage boarded the train and made their presence felt with someone having more than a pony tail. Choksis were seen as a boisterous group making up for the hours they hadn't spoken and days they hadn't slept. It was a boisterous reunion as i could sense with thoughts on the one with a pony tail and how effective would be her future sail. Tataland was where the entourage deboarded and from hereon the repetitive misery of cruise refusing to come to a screeching halt got reloaded. As the journey beyond Tataland continued i was of the view that such occasions create a rupture of sorts from where getting out surmounts to a battle lonely fought.
THere was one with the beard who did not belong to the group but was expressively handing out instructions on when to get the tea and other feast. That beardy soul disappeared after having handled his brief with utmost care. As for performances by other compatriots, listless would be an aberration as some were down with injury and thus needed to be sedated. Seating became troublesome but one has to live with that and thus no case of a repetitive rant. The journey was fruitful and for one soul who had plaints on the services i reminded him the load the indian railways carry and it is a record of sorts as far as those whom the railways ferry. I, too, have my share of grievances against TTEs and TCs; like the point blank refusal of a ticket for Kolkata from Ajmer by a TC. But hadn't been that one i would have failed to keep my tryst with Shreenathji whom we all adore for the blessings bestowed on us. Shreenathji was charming and enriching.
Having left Nathdwara (Lord Shreenathji's abode) , Ahmedabad was the place i was supposed to reach to catch a train for Howrah. Probably under the impression that 1pm ST bus departing from Nathdwara would be handy enough to get me the meals and the newspaper in time, i took the transport with a fair degree of commitment given my share of viable experiences with ST buses hailing from Gujarat. Appropriate wasn't the conduct of the staff and despite fierce resistance from some quarters i took the bus and took the standing instructions from them on where to place the luggage and where to make it look disappear.
Minutes before 9 in the evening i was in Ahmedabad , made possible by the change of man at the wheels as soon as the bus entered the Gujarat territory. With nothing to boast of expressive range of options, the driver's commendable job in ensuring a seamless transition before and beyond Himmatnagar could not be lost. Co-passengers were equally cooperative and those seated on 1 and 4 for the journey lasting till Bawalwada and the Rajasthan-Gujarat border drew my plausible level of appreciation. For the peanuts and chips they sailed with and nodded their head on the plausible possibility of ST buses reforming at some stage. For the one deboarding as soon as Gujarat territory began i could read the signs but could do the least as the seat had been secured with much effort and the luggage had been parked against appearance of unappreciable jest.
It was well past two in the afternoon and certain sections in Udaipur reminded me of Udhagamandalam for the clogged streets and the winding beats. Jodhpur Mishtan Bhandar and such other centres seemed to be the one with fewer aversions. A sum total of 125 kms including 50 for Udaipur was covered in over three hours and the ride post Himmatnagar showed the alertness with which the challenge had been conquered. No joke, it's a challenge driving on national highways no matter how smooth the surface may be given the insurmountable odds you may come across at any stage. LIke always, the approach to different toll plazas was greeted by single and multiple entry visit board and earlier to that by a declaration on exempted dignitary and how they stand to gain from this long cherished inventory. If that declaration meant going overboard there was another earthy in nature. The entry to the gates of a bus stand was marked by labourline number for rescuing labours in distress. Distress call was what the labourers had been advised to make and no hesistation whatsoever was asked to be shed.
With 159 kms still to be covered the signboard showed the turn that one had to take to the left for proceeding towards Dungarpur. With all such turns and twists and armed with a new driver quite clear about his responsibility the 300km-long ride was against the backdrop of sighting of kirana stores, food joints and a record number of girl students returning to their fiefdom after a record day out in school and sun. Probably all would be employable and get gainful employment in due course. Sighting of jeeps was no mean task given the number of commuters cruising; some being fixed on roofs and others latched to every enviable and not readily made available space.
Few minutes before nine the commuters were in Kalopur in Ahmedabad and those headed for station deboarded and those headed beyond continued the bus loaded.Post meals from the first floor of Ahmedabad station, the wait continued and this ended on a note where the Choksi entourage boarded the train and made their presence felt with someone having more than a pony tail. Choksis were seen as a boisterous group making up for the hours they hadn't spoken and days they hadn't slept. It was a boisterous reunion as i could sense with thoughts on the one with a pony tail and how effective would be her future sail. Tataland was where the entourage deboarded and from hereon the repetitive misery of cruise refusing to come to a screeching halt got reloaded. As the journey beyond Tataland continued i was of the view that such occasions create a rupture of sorts from where getting out surmounts to a battle lonely fought.
THere was one with the beard who did not belong to the group but was expressively handing out instructions on when to get the tea and other feast. That beardy soul disappeared after having handled his brief with utmost care. As for performances by other compatriots, listless would be an aberration as some were down with injury and thus needed to be sedated. Seating became troublesome but one has to live with that and thus no case of a repetitive rant. The journey was fruitful and for one soul who had plaints on the services i reminded him the load the indian railways carry and it is a record of sorts as far as those whom the railways ferry. I, too, have my share of grievances against TTEs and TCs; like the point blank refusal of a ticket for Kolkata from Ajmer by a TC. But hadn't been that one i would have failed to keep my tryst with Shreenathji whom we all adore for the blessings bestowed on us. Shreenathji was charming and enriching.
Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath
Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath
Having stayed in Dwarka for close to six days, the next destination happened to be Somnath for which a readily available bus i could get access to on a Monday. Prabably i was at fault at not keeping the excitement quotient in check when i sighted the GSRTC bus heading towardsPorbandar on Nov. 28th morning right after my exit from the third gate (Rabari gate) ofDwarka. THe consolation this time round was that the departure was not shadowed by looming arguments or someone going expansive on argumentative perch. Peace was running thick and the dwarka departure showing me the stage of a bliss.
Once inside the bus, it was teeming with numbers; still the realisation pretty strong that seat would come in due course if not a case of being readily pampered. But that was not the case to be as one co-passenger having raised his voice in alarming proportion for not getting the seat of his choice; this dislocating him to a place next to my luggage and the fury and anger drowning me was enough to shed this piece of journey and as i deboarded the bus at Harshad, the wait for the next transport began. Used this time to scale steps to Harsiddhi Mata temple. THe view from the top was amazing and if possible one should scale the steps to not only pay obeisance to thereigning deity but have the breathtaking view of the sea.
It were the two glasses of lassi in a space of half an hour and acts like this that occasionally set the raging debate on tummy's proclivity to go in a stage of disrepair (this followed late in the evening when i reached Rajkot) and how i fail to read the warning signals and yet let the eruption take its due proportion. Post lassi intake, the bus i sighted and boarded was the one headed forPorbandar; intersped with takes from others on how foolish i was in keeping the wallet in the front packet not realising the gravity of losing it all in one flat act. One had nothing good to talk about Porbandar, the region he hailed from; more upfront in his desire to paint it as a place where losing is rampant thereby letting others to go full throttle on their anger vent.
Once in POrbandar, decided to give a miss to a bus about to depart for Somnath and waited for the next one. Half an hour later got the desirable seat in the bus and was on the way to Somnath. Came across one Alli staying in Patan; he told me Alli is spelled with double l. At Patandeboarded the bus as it intended to go towards Diu. From the sample of interaction one could make out Alli to be a man of peace; describing in detail some city ride incidents that took place on roads. Further he went on to sketch details of his life, having been raised in Pattan and his daughter who is a lawyer.
In Patan took another transport to reach Somnath. Well it was late in the night and as against two in the morning i reached last time round, this time i was there well before nine had set in. Got into Somnath Trust Residential Quarters and stayed there for four days. Inducements were far and thick to take private lodges but i refused them point blank since a simple accommodation with an attached bath was all i desired . Perhaps with no tv around - watching tv on days can give you all sorts of ache - i had to have something up my sleeves to kill time. After SomnathDarshan, it was the search for tea and paper that took care of the idle time. On occasions the day ride to Veraval in search for a newspaper saw vendors like Girish probe further into my paper fascination (kya aapko paper ka shauk hai?). Interaction with Girish and others revealed that prior to their dislocation near the bus stand they were right across the road for years together and it was a decision thrust by the Trust. Hope the Trust would look into their grievances and do some justice as the likes of Girish had been selling their wares right across the road for ages before being dislocated to another place.
Somnath was great for the simplicity it brings on table and whatever view one could get during day or night of the sea was no less fantastic. Next to the Shiv shakti Restaurant & Parota House (Breakfast, South Indian, Pav Bhaji, Punjabi and Gujarati) is Dil Khush Chai, doodh coffee centre. Adjacent to that is one shop from where i used to take my water; sometimes it had the staff to attend to customers and sometimes none. Used to have the meals at Somnath Trust runbhojanalaya and the quality looked to be better than last time. Still advisable to be loyal toSomnath TRust rooms for their simplicity. Except for the tea which is prepared inside and on occasions the noise that filters in late at night there are no dearth of moments to cheer in Shiva's abode . It has been over three years since i tried chhas from Amul parlour; hope to catch on the next time .
On the final day i made a beeline to a village in Patan. Adjacent to the temple is the VIP Guest House. Few metres away is Annaporna Bhojanalaya Shiv Bhojanalaya. THen there is MahilaMandal Sanchalit food joint offering breakfast, aloo paratha, methi paratha, jeera paratha &pooha. Adjacent to that is a shop (run by mother-daughter duo) from where one can collect honey, soaps & peanuts for their durability. Moved deep inside the village in search of mysoresandal soap and could not collect this time round; perhaps the daughter doing BBA was correct that mysore soaps are hard to get. As i left Somnath and was on the way to Veraval, the shared auto service came cheap and has enough momentum to carry a sizeable load.
Yes
Friday, December 9, 2011
Days in Nathdwara were spent in the vicinity of Lord Shreenathji. The opportunity came after two and a half years. The last visit was when it was exceedingly hot leading to repetitive ruptures in tummy. THis time round i reached the Abode Of Shreenathji well before the night had set in and i stayed in Shree Palace for the next four and a half days.
Started from Ajmer. Places the bus went through were Beawar, Bhim, DEogarh, Gomti and Raj Nagar before reaching Nathdwara.
The rush inside was as thick as it is at any given time ; and the doors are flung open at 5.15 am, 7am, 9:15 am, 11: 30 am (this lasts the longest) followed by openings probably twice in the evening.
Gujarati/Rajasthani thali rates have been hiked against 30 to 45 five years ago, they come for no less than in the 80-90 range.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath
Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath
Having stayed in Dwarka for close to six days, the next destination happened to be Somnath for which a readily available bus i could get access to on a Monday. Prabably i was at fault at not keeping the excitement quotient in check when i sighted the GSRTC bus heading towards Porbandar on Nov. 28th morning right after my exit from the third gate (Rabari gate) of Dwarka. THe consolation this time round was that the departure was not shadowed by looming arguments or someone going expansive on argumentative perch. Peace was running thick and the dwarka departure showing me the stage of a bliss.
Once inside the bus, it was teeming with numbers; still the realisation pretty strong that seat would come in due course if not a case of being readily pampered. But that was not the case to be as one co-passenger having raised his voice in alarming proportion for not getting the seat of his choice; this dislocating him to a place next to my luggage and the fury and anger drowning me was enough to shed this piece of journey and as i deboarded the bus at Harshad, the wait for the next transport began. Used this time to scale steps to Harsiddhi Mata temple. THe view from the top was amazing and if possible one should scale the steps to not only pay obeisance to the reigning deity but have the breathtaking view of the sea.
It were the two glasses of lassi in a space of half an hour and acts like this that occasionally set the raging debate on tummy's proclivity to go in a stage of disrepair (this followed late in the evening when i reached Rajkot) and how i fail to read the warning signals and yet let the eruption take its due proportion. Post lassi intake, the bus i sighted and boarded was the one headed for Porbandar; intersped with takes from others on how foolish i was in keeping the wallet in the front packet not realising the gravity of losing it all in one flat act. One had nothing good to talk about Porbandar, the region he hailed from; more upfront in his desire to paint it as a place where losing is rampant thereby letting others to go full throttle on their anger vent.
Once in POrbandar, decided to give a miss to a bus about to depart for Somnath and waited for the next one. Half an hour later got the desirable seat in the bus and was on the way to Somnath. Came across one Alli staying in Patan; he told me Alli is spelled with double l. At Patan deboarded the bus as it intended to go towards Diu. From the sample of interaction one could make out Alli to be a man of peace; describing in detail some city ride incidents that took place on roads. Further he went on to sketch details of his life, having been raised in Pattan and his daughter who is a lawyer.
In Patan took another transport to reach Somnath. Well it was late in the night and as against two in the morning i reached last time round, this time i was there well before nine had set in. Got into Somnath Trust Residential Quarters and stayed there for four days. Inducements were far and thick to take private lodges but i refused them point blank since a simple accommodation with an attached bath was all i desired . Perhaps with no tv around - watching tv on days can give you all sorts of ache - i had to have something up my sleeves to kill time. After Somnath Darshan, it was the search for tea and paper that took care of the idle time. On occasions the day ride to Veraval in search for a newspaper saw vendors like Girish probe further into my paper fascination (kya aapko paper ka shauk hai?). Interaction with Girish and others revealed that prior to their dislocation near the bus stand they were right across the road for years together and it was a decision thrust by the Trust. Hope the Trust would look into their grievances and do some justice as the likes of Girish had been selling their wares right across the road for ages before being dislocated to another place.
Somnath was great for the simplicity it brings on table and whatever view one could get during day or night of the sea was no less fantastic. Next to the Shiv shakti Restaurant & Parota House (Breakfast, South Indian, Pav Bhaji, Punjabi and Gujarati) is Dil Khush Chai, doodh coffee centre. Adjacent to that is one shop from where i used to take my water; sometimes it had the staff to attend to customers and sometimes none. Used to have the meals at Somnath Trust run bhojanalaya and the quality looked to be better than last time. Still advisable to be loyal to Somnath TRust rooms for their simplicity. Except for the tea which is prepared inside and on occasions the noise that filters in late at night there are no dearth of moments to cheer in Shiva's abode . It has been over three years since i tried chhas from Amul parlour; hope to catch on the next time .
On the final day i made a beeline to a village in Patan. Adjacent to the temple is the VIP Guest House. Few metres away is Annaporna Bhojanalaya Shiv Bhojanalaya. THen there is Mahila Mandal Sanchalit food joint offering breakfast, aloo paratha, methi paratha, jeera paratha & pooha. Adjacent to that is a shop (run by mother-daughter duo) from where one can collect honey, soaps & peanuts for their durability. Moved deep inside the village in search of mysore sandal soap and could not collect this time round; perhaps the daughter doing BBA was correct that mysore soaps are hard to get. As i left Somnath and was on the way to Veraval, the shared auto service came cheap and has enough momentum to carry a sizeable load.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Travails of travelling
Travails of travelling
As i left National Capital by Goa express, hope was all i could float with given the fast-changing permutations and combinations of travelling in a state where some had reached a stage of expression beyond comprehension and some were miffed to the point of bearing no emotions Apart from the bro-sis duo hoping to catch a manufactured wedding in Agra, there was one another manufactured entity who could not prevent from disclosing the location he was headed for umpteen time. Not less than 40 in all , he thundered on his cell that he was headed for a place near Ahmednagar.
Conversations he had with not so near ones through cell and direct verbal bell to those adjacent to his seat any boundary he refused to accept and more prone to narrate the misfortune he suffered at the hands of a videshi lady given the losses the garment business had suffered. i was made familiar by his conduct when he suggested that beyond a certain station in Madhya Pradesh he has his wait listed ticket for Kopargaon in sleeper and for the two tickets he had to ferret out more than the sum mentioned in the ticket in Nizamuddin station counter. That was hard to believe since i had collected the Gwalior ticket from the same counter and if his version was true then he is to be blamed for getting access to services by paying more. And here i was apprehensive that if similar outlook is maintained i would stand the least chance of extending the journey beyond Gwalior. And that actually happenned. That is just one of the many tales as far as travails of travelling is concerned.
Lost count of the number of times one has had to leave the national capital and different modes of transport that has been tried including trains, buses (ST is preferable given the haughty airs that private volvowallahs are swimming with) where on occasions either the man at the wheels or the conductor begins to feel the pulse of the state the commuters are in by getting abrasive, shared autos( any day better for the commute they deliver and the checked tariff they work under), chakdas (both covered and uncovered variants) and other such modes.
First sign of hostility emerge from the mode of transport you engage in and if it happens to be a train the source of trouble is the wait listed status. One has lost count of the number of occasions when one is at the mercy of TTE/TTI; some could be accommodating and some could be haughty. Though the railways has come to the rescue of passengers by getting the new methodology at work on tatkal tickets, there are still some gaps in it and in the coming period the media would be able to highlight that. Still, the new version is comfortable. Once the confirmed ticket comes to your rescue for which you have to shell out hefty fare if upgraded category is sought as other classes show the waitlisted status, this reality one has to live with since a confirmed ticket would be a better bet than a waitlisted one.
As i left National Capital by Goa express, hope was all i could float with given the fast-changing permutations and combinations of travelling in a state where some had reached a stage of expression beyond comprehension and some were miffed to the point of bearing no emotions Apart from the bro-sis duo hoping to catch a manufactured wedding in Agra, there was one another manufactured entity who could not prevent from disclosing the location he was headed for umpteen time. Not less than 40 in all , he thundered on his cell that he was headed for a place near Ahmednagar.
Conversations he had with not so near ones through cell and direct verbal bell to those adjacent to his seat any boundary he refused to accept and more prone to narrate the misfortune he suffered at the hands of a videshi lady given the losses the garment business had suffered. i was made familiar by his conduct when he suggested that beyond a certain station in Madhya Pradesh he has his wait listed ticket for Kopargaon in sleeper and for the two tickets he had to ferret out more than the sum mentioned in the ticket in Nizamuddin station counter. That was hard to believe since i had collected the Gwalior ticket from the same counter and if his version was true then he is to be blamed for getting access to services by paying more. And here i was apprehensive that if similar outlook is maintained i would stand the least chance of extending the journey beyond Gwalior. And that actually happenned. That is just one of the many tales as far as travails of travelling is concerned.
Lost count of the number of times one has had to leave the national capital and different modes of transport that has been tried including trains, buses (ST is preferable given the haughty airs that private volvowallahs are swimming with) where on occasions either the man at the wheels or the conductor begins to feel the pulse of the state the commuters are in by getting abrasive, shared autos( any day better for the commute they deliver and the checked tariff they work under), chakdas (both covered and uncovered variants) and other such modes.
First sign of hostility emerge from the mode of transport you engage in and if it happens to be a train the source of trouble is the wait listed status. One has lost count of the number of occasions when one is at the mercy of TTE/TTI; some could be accommodating and some could be haughty. Though the railways has come to the rescue of passengers by getting the new methodology at work on tatkal tickets, there are still some gaps in it and in the coming period the media would be able to highlight that. Still, the new version is comfortable. Once the confirmed ticket comes to your rescue for which you have to shell out hefty fare if upgraded category is sought as other classes show the waitlisted status, this reality one has to live with since a confirmed ticket would be a better bet than a waitlisted one.
Best wishes to Somnath
Best wishes to residents of Somnath and how the crowd has surged in the years gone by.
As i begin the search for Fire 'N' Ice Cyber Cafe, located near Navrangpura, i come across the sight of shutters down in Ratnam Complex. That was enough to rue over the time lost in reaching the cyber cafe and the search turning to be in vain. It has been a ride for the past three weeks where there are no dearth of forces out with their horses. Frustration is writ large on their faces and their conduct is in collaborative efforts to win the big time races. The other day when i reached Rajkot i was in the most dishevelled stage given the dishevelled alignments i was grappling with. The luggage had torn apart beyond redemption and strutting with this luggage was giving me all signs of demotion. Demoted i was not in the eyes of watchful janata but the way i had to keep with the struggle to deboard the bus which i boarded just 10 minutes before to board another bus in Junagardh bus depot, i knew my phase of struggle was far from complete and i had to compete.
The rajkot stay in a lodge could have given nightmares to any soul and before five set the next day i was in the thick of train gin. The train ride was better. I am attempting to write further but can't do so as the fabricated smell from my shoes is giving the cyberwallahs new blues. He has admonished me repeatedly by sending his men and asking me to disappear in no time and this admonishment is no different from the Lucky restaurant manager wearing glasses in the morning and how he lost cool for no fault from mine.
These are travails of a tourist who steps out and faces heat from cyber to food jointwallah. The cyber cafe is too slow and sluggish. They are exceptions in society.
The rajkot stay in a lodge could have given nightmares to any soul and before five set the next day i was in the thick of train gin. The train ride was better. I am attempting to write further but can't do so as the fabricated smell from my shoes is giving the cyberwallahs new blues. He has admonished me repeatedly by sending his men and asking me to disappear in no time and this admonishment is no different from the Lucky restaurant manager wearing glasses in the morning and how he lost cool for no fault from mine.
These are travails of a tourist who steps out and faces heat from cyber to food jointwallah. The cyber cafe is too slow and sluggish. They are exceptions in society.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
The December One bandh and those who fear ton
The December One bandh
Bharat bandh against FDI retail was observed on December One, the numerical figure the government stresses on the need for the newly weds to commit less it becomes a ton. Ton is what the govt and govt resembling departments fear as this would tantamount to more pressure on its machinery gear starting from school enrollment to upscaling the job sentiment. Coming back to the DEcember 1 bandh which was observed against clinical observation by the parties concerned that it had been ages since Bharat Bandh as a numerical descending to a surgical weapon was bandied around and once this clinically prepared bandh was observed, there would be dearth of those arguing for FDI Retail ground.
The bandh on December One, which happened to post November discovered ton, i was in Veraval in search of a cyber den and i was told point blank that bharat bandh had taken the form where shopwallahs who dared to open were on a run. Clinically glued to my task i cruised to a cyber cafe which was open and daring the customers to open their heart and have their anger vent. i was no game for pouring out my heart on the travails of travelling and tailing as this had become 24X7 wailing. Weep and scream was the least i could afford given the long distance i had to traverse to come on board. So post meal infusion at Prakash Dinning Hall in Veraval i was up and ready for another game of survival.
Tea fill and with no will to take the Ahmedabad ride in one stretch, i took the first bus to Keshod, which i was able to reach well before three on my watch. At platform no 1 there was a signboard indicating the buses headed in the direction of Ahmedabad, Wapi, Vadodara, Junagarh, Gondal and Rajkot section.
The tea at Keshod i had from Om Shakti Travels & Tea Xerox Centre, which had other shops aligned on the way: Vishal Hair Art and Ghanshyam Paan (for gaane ka raas). Tea this time was no magic and in fact the ganne ka raas from Ghanshyam Paan was enough to forget the ride with a broken luggage that had begun to bite. Well the soft toy, popularly known as Magic, i took from Keshod for my journey to Junagadh, and this move i regretted for the discordant note it gave to my luggage which more or less was disjointed and sedated. By the time the soft toy reached Junagadh and the driver handed me the luggage from the roof in the most inhospitable manner , the luggage's handle had torn apart leaving the bag in the most forgetful stage where its stand had broken, the zip had been ripped apart and it was just matter of minutes before anyone gave it a bloody thrust and the luggage would have in all directions burst.
From Junagadh i took the bus post tea fill from Mamta hotel, which is adjacent to Jai Ambe cold drinks. The Jai Ambe guy after handing me soft drinks gave me suggestions on how to repair the bag and for which i won't have to brag. Time was a scarcity and i took the bus in all sensitivity. The ride was for over two-and- a- half hours before i reach the Rajkot Dwar.
Bharat bandh against FDI retail was observed on December One, the numerical figure the government stresses on the need for the newly weds to commit less it becomes a ton. Ton is what the govt and govt resembling departments fear as this would tantamount to more pressure on its machinery gear starting from school enrollment to upscaling the job sentiment. Coming back to the DEcember 1 bandh which was observed against clinical observation by the parties concerned that it had been ages since Bharat Bandh as a numerical descending to a surgical weapon was bandied around and once this clinically prepared bandh was observed, there would be dearth of those arguing for FDI Retail ground.
The bandh on December One, which happened to post November discovered ton, i was in Veraval in search of a cyber den and i was told point blank that bharat bandh had taken the form where shopwallahs who dared to open were on a run. Clinically glued to my task i cruised to a cyber cafe which was open and daring the customers to open their heart and have their anger vent. i was no game for pouring out my heart on the travails of travelling and tailing as this had become 24X7 wailing. Weep and scream was the least i could afford given the long distance i had to traverse to come on board. So post meal infusion at Prakash Dinning Hall in Veraval i was up and ready for another game of survival.
Tea fill and with no will to take the Ahmedabad ride in one stretch, i took the first bus to Keshod, which i was able to reach well before three on my watch. At platform no 1 there was a signboard indicating the buses headed in the direction of Ahmedabad, Wapi, Vadodara, Junagarh, Gondal and Rajkot section.
The tea at Keshod i had from Om Shakti Travels & Tea Xerox Centre, which had other shops aligned on the way: Vishal Hair Art and Ghanshyam Paan (for gaane ka raas). Tea this time was no magic and in fact the ganne ka raas from Ghanshyam Paan was enough to forget the ride with a broken luggage that had begun to bite. Well the soft toy, popularly known as Magic, i took from Keshod for my journey to Junagadh, and this move i regretted for the discordant note it gave to my luggage which more or less was disjointed and sedated. By the time the soft toy reached Junagadh and the driver handed me the luggage from the roof in the most inhospitable manner , the luggage's handle had torn apart leaving the bag in the most forgetful stage where its stand had broken, the zip had been ripped apart and it was just matter of minutes before anyone gave it a bloody thrust and the luggage would have in all directions burst.
From Junagadh i took the bus post tea fill from Mamta hotel, which is adjacent to Jai Ambe cold drinks. The Jai Ambe guy after handing me soft drinks gave me suggestions on how to repair the bag and for which i won't have to brag. Time was a scarcity and i took the bus in all sensitivity. The ride was for over two-and- a- half hours before i reach the Rajkot Dwar.
Days Spent in Somnath amidst some people with a big heart
As i headed towards Somnath, the starting point happened to be Dwarka with twin stops coming in HARshad and Porbandar . THe ride in a bus may not have been soothing enough given the senseless movements by some co-passengers but all reflex and rescue plans followed in quick intervals.
As i headed towards Somnath, the starting point happened to be Dwarka with twin stops coming in HARshad and Porbandar . THe ride in a bus may not have been soothing enough given the senseless movements by some co-passengers but all reflex and rescue plans followed in quick intervals.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
CAN the Exempted List Ever be Expandable: Round the clock commentary on all those whose performance has been exemplary
CAN the Exempted List Ever be Expandable
As i stretch and fumble to take buses that would take me to different destinations where the space would be ample, the approach to a toll plaza is greeted with big signboards of NATional Highway Authority of INdia Exempted List. On the approach road is not only a list of exempted but there is a man who has been giving round the clock commentary on all those who have shown their performance to be no less exemplary. Exemption has been granted to these individuals for the exemplary valour shown by them and the exemption they seek now and then. THe round the clock commentary by a man for those being exemplary and thus seeking exemption has been meant to broaden the list and thereby include those who give commentary and don't boast.
This exempted list has been no short of a feast and the round the clock commentary is primarily targeted to include those who repeatedly take public transport and withdraw this exemption to those who come in red beacon boat. To make the toll plaza a truly toll experience, double hike in toll rates is the need for those coming in personal car of all shapes, sizes and sense. As exempted list has stayed for long the exempted list dignitaries have truly been seeking the much-required exemption at places of their work and stay. Exemption they seek from volcanic eruption from their near ones whom they fear and the rhymes they hum. Because once their near and nativeland occupants come to know that their dignitary kin has traversed the distance courtesy exemption, they seek similar exemption for the college they are rolled in or the duty hours in place of work they are soaked in.
As for the round the clock commentary that is being heard in the corridors of toll plazas, round is the shape of the exempted dignitaries and this is making the officials go round who decided to give exemption to this round about entities. Entities shaped round abound and this has led to all masters vested with powers to make others look thin and trim fall apart as expandable exempted list is bound to bloat. Exemption would be sought at every stage and this toll plaza has set the craze. This exempted list is expandable is the refrain ; after all this is very much possible after application of little brain.
As i stretch and fumble to take buses that would take me to different destinations where the space would be ample, the approach to a toll plaza is greeted with big signboards of NATional Highway Authority of INdia Exempted List. On the approach road is not only a list of exempted but there is a man who has been giving round the clock commentary on all those who have shown their performance to be no less exemplary. Exemption has been granted to these individuals for the exemplary valour shown by them and the exemption they seek now and then. THe round the clock commentary by a man for those being exemplary and thus seeking exemption has been meant to broaden the list and thereby include those who give commentary and don't boast.
This exempted list has been no short of a feast and the round the clock commentary is primarily targeted to include those who repeatedly take public transport and withdraw this exemption to those who come in red beacon boat. To make the toll plaza a truly toll experience, double hike in toll rates is the need for those coming in personal car of all shapes, sizes and sense. As exempted list has stayed for long the exempted list dignitaries have truly been seeking the much-required exemption at places of their work and stay. Exemption they seek from volcanic eruption from their near ones whom they fear and the rhymes they hum. Because once their near and nativeland occupants come to know that their dignitary kin has traversed the distance courtesy exemption, they seek similar exemption for the college they are rolled in or the duty hours in place of work they are soaked in.
As for the round the clock commentary that is being heard in the corridors of toll plazas, round is the shape of the exempted dignitaries and this is making the officials go round who decided to give exemption to this round about entities. Entities shaped round abound and this has led to all masters vested with powers to make others look thin and trim fall apart as expandable exempted list is bound to bloat. Exemption would be sought at every stage and this toll plaza has set the craze. This exempted list is expandable is the refrain ; after all this is very much possible after application of little brain.
Three hoardings i come across in the city.
First clothing for students going abroad. What it intends to arouse is clothing is a necessity if going to another country which is not receptive to a change of your residential status. Second is on discover the country in a city with 2 bhk from 31 lakh onwards and 3bhk from 50.5 lakh onwards. Third is on discover the genius within. Amply it states that we all are genius except the temperamental generosity that we are battling with.
First clothing for students going abroad. What it intends to arouse is clothing is a necessity if going to another country which is not receptive to a change of your residential status. Second is on discover the country in a city with 2 bhk from 31 lakh onwards and 3bhk from 50.5 lakh onwards. Third is on discover the genius within. Amply it states that we all are genius except the temperamental generosity that we are battling with.
The ride to Okha and beyond
The ride to OKha and beyond
Having been to Bet Dwarka on the second day of a six-day stay in Dwarka and its suburbs, the third day began on the note of taking a bus from Dwarka bus depot for Okha at 10.38 in the morning. Having seized a seat with no resistance whatsoever from near and distant co-passengers, the one seated adjacent to me was carrying agreement paper for hiring of a locker facility in a public sector bank. The locker facility paper was an alibi for taking the trip as the actual terms of movement had been fashioned by reasons best known to him.
Just two minutes ride and you are face to face with a board showing Okha 28 and mithapur 18, with Rukmini Mandir 1 km away. Just one and a half kms later a poster of Lord Govinda is sighted on the national highway. Sighting of not that equitable proportion in Mithapur is LIC Premium Collection Centre and Bharat stores .
As i inch towards the Okha beach (some prefer to call it Mithapur beach) the signboard of Okha Nagar Palika welcomes you is the sign of times we live in and a sureshot indication that visits by outsiders are welcome. Perhaps the fear of coming across dogged refusal by unsurpassable entities won't come true is the consolation.
Post Jetty transition, i come across Gujarat Maritime Board Okha Port Office. Head straight, turn left and from Dwarkadish Centre shop turn right and 200 metres away is the Okha beach, with the glow of the sea as enticing as ever. There is a Khodiyara Mata Mandir; some tracing its 25-year-old roots and adjacent to that is a SHiva idol in proximity to an idol of a saint. Two light houses can be spotted; one amidst the sea and other near the seashore. For a crystal clear view of the one near the seashore one has to trek a bit before getting the commanding view. Some make enquiries about why i intend to see the light house when one is there in DWARKA. That is truly and a testing case of getting inquisitive details.
With no commands whatsoever i take the view and head towards the railway station. Adjacent to the station is MAHadev Mandir; something that gets me inside and stay there for a while. Being the first visit to Mahadev CEntre, i relish the stay and head towards STation. Opposite to that is Western Railway Health Unit Okha and Officer Rest House; inaugurated in 2008.
Inside the station there are declarations holding true round the clock and round the year. All type of ticket and platform ticket available round the clock; there is a current reservation and enquiry centre; Working hrs Mon to Sat (8 to 2 and 2.15 to 8 pm) and on Sunday (8 to 2pm).
WHen i step out of the railway station, not having stepped inside the platforms of any durability and demeanour, the tea stall from where i took the tea is probably manned by others. During my turn there is an old tall guy taking care and handed the tea cup after bringing it close to his glasses. A bit strange but i don't find it offensive or intimidating as he is a man with a heart. This tea shop also serves as STD/ISD centre. There is a Vaishali Pan and cold drinks shop . Here atop the machine is written Jai Shri Krishna. It serves jeera soda, masala soda, orange, cola, lemon, fruit beer, kachi keri. One fill all for five, i settle for no less than four. Adjacent to this Aashapura restaurant and a SBI ATM centre. The wait for the bus makes me see a declaration by a declared entity who has discovered that the train to Rajkot is at 2.30 in the afternoon. But i declare in no uncertain terms the readiness to take the bus.
The return journey takes the bus through Welcome to Gujarat Maritime Board, Main Gate Okha Port. From GMB, the bus turns right and 500 metres away is jetty on the left. Then it turns right and heads straight. There on a wall is etched "Thanks for visit, Okha Gram Panchayat". Few minutes later on a house on the right side is etched "Hare Krishna Hare Rama Hare Hare" message and this is followed by spotting the Poster of Maha Param Dham Shri Tirupati Balaji Mandir, Highway Road , Barwala Dwarka ( 9825485235) .
THat was the third day followed by other three days during which i chanced upon the Dwarka station and the trains bound for Mumbai and Howrah. The interesting bit being they had fewer coaches from five to eight as they were supposed to get the big load from Rajkot. THe Dwarka station has had an entire makeover incurring an expenditure of Rs 312 lakh. The visit to Platform 1 after taking the platform ticket was interspersed with the sighting of a crowd sitting and standing waiting for their respective trains. If possible one should avoid the tea served on PF No 1 as it leaves you with enough thoughts of what all you could have done to avoid it.
As for other possible sighting made plausible once i stepped out of lodge in Dwarka were Mashak selection, vashtralaya selection, saray dharamsala, hotel shreejee (they are all near the Jawahar Road). On the same road is Adhunik hair art, hotel radha madhav and two different carts selling bombay masala puri, shreenath icecream.
Rest of the sighting on this road includes shreeram xerox, chetan selection and a board showing videocon, airtel, reliance. The Kismat Vinay hotel board shows chai, doodh coffee bournvita garam garam yahan se milega. Adjacent to mangalam shop is rudraksh gifts. Near mangalam shop is a tea cart from where i had tea in August is what all i can recall.
Having been to Bet Dwarka on the second day of a six-day stay in Dwarka and its suburbs, the third day began on the note of taking a bus from Dwarka bus depot for Okha at 10.38 in the morning. Having seized a seat with no resistance whatsoever from near and distant co-passengers, the one seated adjacent to me was carrying agreement paper for hiring of a locker facility in a public sector bank. The locker facility paper was an alibi for taking the trip as the actual terms of movement had been fashioned by reasons best known to him.
Just two minutes ride and you are face to face with a board showing Okha 28 and mithapur 18, with Rukmini Mandir 1 km away. Just one and a half kms later a poster of Lord Govinda is sighted on the national highway. Sighting of not that equitable proportion in Mithapur is LIC Premium Collection Centre and Bharat stores .
As i inch towards the Okha beach (some prefer to call it Mithapur beach) the signboard of Okha Nagar Palika welcomes you is the sign of times we live in and a sureshot indication that visits by outsiders are welcome. Perhaps the fear of coming across dogged refusal by unsurpassable entities won't come true is the consolation.
Post Jetty transition, i come across Gujarat Maritime Board Okha Port Office. Head straight, turn left and from Dwarkadish Centre shop turn right and 200 metres away is the Okha beach, with the glow of the sea as enticing as ever. There is a Khodiyara Mata Mandir; some tracing its 25-year-old roots and adjacent to that is a SHiva idol in proximity to an idol of a saint. Two light houses can be spotted; one amidst the sea and other near the seashore. For a crystal clear view of the one near the seashore one has to trek a bit before getting the commanding view. Some make enquiries about why i intend to see the light house when one is there in DWARKA. That is truly and a testing case of getting inquisitive details.
With no commands whatsoever i take the view and head towards the railway station. Adjacent to the station is MAHadev Mandir; something that gets me inside and stay there for a while. Being the first visit to Mahadev CEntre, i relish the stay and head towards STation. Opposite to that is Western Railway Health Unit Okha and Officer Rest House; inaugurated in 2008.
Inside the station there are declarations holding true round the clock and round the year. All type of ticket and platform ticket available round the clock; there is a current reservation and enquiry centre; Working hrs Mon to Sat (8 to 2 and 2.15 to 8 pm) and on Sunday (8 to 2pm).
WHen i step out of the railway station, not having stepped inside the platforms of any durability and demeanour, the tea stall from where i took the tea is probably manned by others. During my turn there is an old tall guy taking care and handed the tea cup after bringing it close to his glasses. A bit strange but i don't find it offensive or intimidating as he is a man with a heart. This tea shop also serves as STD/ISD centre. There is a Vaishali Pan and cold drinks shop . Here atop the machine is written Jai Shri Krishna. It serves jeera soda, masala soda, orange, cola, lemon, fruit beer, kachi keri. One fill all for five, i settle for no less than four. Adjacent to this Aashapura restaurant and a SBI ATM centre. The wait for the bus makes me see a declaration by a declared entity who has discovered that the train to Rajkot is at 2.30 in the afternoon. But i declare in no uncertain terms the readiness to take the bus.
The return journey takes the bus through Welcome to Gujarat Maritime Board, Main Gate Okha Port. From GMB, the bus turns right and 500 metres away is jetty on the left. Then it turns right and heads straight. There on a wall is etched "Thanks for visit, Okha Gram Panchayat". Few minutes later on a house on the right side is etched "Hare Krishna Hare Rama Hare Hare" message and this is followed by spotting the Poster of Maha Param Dham Shri Tirupati Balaji Mandir, Highway Road , Barwala Dwarka ( 9825485235) .
THat was the third day followed by other three days during which i chanced upon the Dwarka station and the trains bound for Mumbai and Howrah. The interesting bit being they had fewer coaches from five to eight as they were supposed to get the big load from Rajkot. THe Dwarka station has had an entire makeover incurring an expenditure of Rs 312 lakh. The visit to Platform 1 after taking the platform ticket was interspersed with the sighting of a crowd sitting and standing waiting for their respective trains. If possible one should avoid the tea served on PF No 1 as it leaves you with enough thoughts of what all you could have done to avoid it.
As for other possible sighting made plausible once i stepped out of lodge in Dwarka were Mashak selection, vashtralaya selection, saray dharamsala, hotel shreejee (they are all near the Jawahar Road). On the same road is Adhunik hair art, hotel radha madhav and two different carts selling bombay masala puri, shreenath icecream.
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