Tiresome has been search for cyber cafe; equally tiresome has been the effort to scout for a lodge. In a world bordering on lunacy made plausibly possible by cell lunatics, the cell conversation has been the most regrettable act of the mankind. For the sake of instrument they explode and float.

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.

Cell talks bordering on lunacy.

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

Are we suffering from fatigue fury?

THe one with a pony tail and hope has a smooth sail.

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.