Snaps from Leh on picasa....

The Leh snaps..

Snaps from Leh on picasa....

Leh 2007 - part II - Of leaking vents and a bored freshie...

Day 2 - 13th July 2007 (Friday the thirteenth)

Nothing much to report about this day... we sat in the train, and sat in the train, and sat in the train - while Googie was in Bangalore, enjoying I guess. Lemme get my hands around his neck...

Paddy had sent an SMS the previous day - "Dude if u r awake at 5 am and ther is range gimme a call". Paddy had to catch the Rajdhani from Mangalore at 6 am, so I assumed that was supposed to be reminder of sorts. Being a man down already, I took this task seriously (like everything else hehe) and set a alarm for 5 am. So, I woke up at 5 am. But, no range! I just prayed that Paddy would be up and at the station... A little later, I did get range and called up Paddy, who confirmed that he was indeed up and about and on the way to the railway station.

At 6.07 am, I sighed a huge sigh of relief when I read another of Paddy status update SMS's - "Gulz the trains the boards! Clap clap! Kini nahi hu main!"

So, the next questionable characters were Kinimaam and V-the-M-the-K, lovingly called - Pyscho or weew-a-a-ake (depending on Ojha's frame of mind)

Rajdhani trains, have a habit of waking up people at 6 am to feed them some butt ugly tea and so, the entire compartment was up and running to the loo. Early early in the morning 60 odd people vying for 4 loos, hehehe..... This was one time, when I wondered how long Kookee would have lasted. Anyways, Paddy's alarm was good enough pressure for me, so I used the fabled Rajdhani loos. Luckily for me there was toilet paper. Yes, toilet paper on an Indian railways train! So, I did not have to worry about the mug not reaching the right place and you know... hehe...

That done, and waiting for breakfast while approaching the Hussian Sagar Lake, I got talking to the other "youngster" in our compartment. Shamboo was traveling to Delhi after attending his counseling at Manipal. Small world.

In the mean while Googie, after some amount of detective work, sent out an SMS - "Clap clap! Clap clap! Ojha's cell got stolen. Contact him through .... or at his home number ....". Things got more interesting huh...

We spent most of the day, boring the daylights out of the freshie from our Alma matter. We were doling out advice by the bucket loads, something I am sure he had enough and more of.
During the afternoon, we noticed a huge Indian Ocean near the toilet. Yes boys, we had named this one the Indian Ocean, days before we encountered them again :D... Apparently the AC of our bogie had developed a leak, and there was nothing the on board maintainence crew could do about it, so much for the Rajdhani tag. The train was so freaking rotten, I have not seen a more dilapidated and F-ed up train than this one.

Anyways after lunch, comprised of rubber rotis and uncooked paneer, we tried visiting la la land. But, our assault on the unsuspecting freshie was relentless... hehe...

Some time around 2.30 pm we received a message from Googie - "Oj's addr - .... Kalkaji he said he'll be coming to pick you yo at the stn". Reassuring. Ojha had left Bangalore in one piece and was in New Delhi, again in one piece... "Phew! The trip is still on", I thought to myself.

By evening, I think even Paddy was bored of the Rajdhani. We got a message from him - "Inside maharashtra, ratnagiri, jai konkan rly ! But rajdhani is sad , tea also we ve to only make !". The never ending train journey was getting on my nerves as was the infinite loop conversations making the rounds in the compartment. Then I guess, the loneliness of the journey got to Paddy. I got a concerned SMS from him - "Sus , oj in dilli or blore ? Did u speak to him ? Is he pickin u guys ?" After answering all his queries, we readied our selves for the gastronomical delight called dinner that is served by the great IRCTC, in Agri Gold sponsored trays on board the Rajdhani express.

Dinner, or whatever it is called, commences when a waiter in red uniform brings you a Styrofoam cup fillied with red liquid - soup. If you notice something spongy floating in the liquid, then you know you do not need to wait for the bread sticks and butter to arrive. After the soup, comes the main course - one sabji, invariably with Panner as an ingredient; one container of dal, which is half cooked; two rubbery roties; some dirty sliced vegetables pass off as salad; and some very very hard rice; and a bowl of very sour curd. All placed on a tray, that won't sit on you lap even if you join you legs at the knees. So, of course, things tend to jump about and fall on the floor, where it dilutes in the vast Indian Ocean... Anways, after a day and a half in this environment, I was an expert at eating, so this dinner was quite uneventful, except that I didn't get my spoons.

The first time I noticed I was without a spoon, I called out to our food guy... "Bhaiya... spoon dena"
"Ji... deta hun", he cried out from the other end of the bogie.
After what seemed like an eternity he returned with a bottle of water, "Saab aapne paani manga tha..."
I corrected him, "Tch tch... spoon boss spoon... chamach, vaise paani bhi de do.. lagega.:
"Acha ji.. abhi le aatha hun..."
Again, he disappeared for another eternity. When he did return, he had a packet of rubbry roties. "Yeh lejiye... do roti", he said thriumpantly.
As much as I hate to dampn peoples spirits, I had to remind my self that I had some rice to eat, so I gently broke the news to the waiter - I had asked for a chamach and not roties. The dejected waiter dejectedly agreed to bring me a spoon.
When I did get the spoon, the guy sheepishly said, "Ji, khatam ho gaye thae. Aap ke liye naya wala laya hun..."
True to his word, it look all new - with sticker and everything. Of course by this time, I was in no mood to eat any rice or curd or dal, but to stick to the code I accepted the spoon and took a courteous dig at the rice plate. The significance of the gesture was not lost on the waiter, who promptly asked, "Saab.... chai paani".
"Nahi nahi... abhi nahi chahiye".
"Nahi saab... khane ka chai paani".
"Han han.... vohi.. nahi chahiye".
"Jo maan mei aaye, de dijye saab", he said. And thats when it sank in my thick skull, the dude wanted tips!
"Kal subhe aa jao...", I said.
"Nahi saab, hum log abhi collect kar lethe hain..."
"Teek hai", I said (grumbling internally, why the F should I tip this lousy waiter...) and gave him 10 rupees.

We did some math, if these fellows made 3 trips in a week, then in a month, they'd make 12 trips a month. If in each trip he colleceted an average of 5 rupees from 60 passengers (in one bogie), then he'd make 3600 rupees per month over and above his salary from the railways...

Shortly later, at 10 pm, we were in Bhopal, and I calld up my parents to let them know that I could have been home, if they hadn't moved... hehe...

I decided to stay up a bit, and charge the cell phone... yes they have an outlet near the sink where only one phone may be charged at a time, that too trickle charged. So charging cell phones was like the Indian govt's 5 year plan... at around two am, I received two messages. The first from Paddy - "Kini vmk boarded"; the second from Kini - "We guys on de train..... sooparaashile"

"Cool... six birdies in the hand one to go", I thought and as curled as much as I could on the middle berth and drifted off to sleep all excited about the adventure we were about to embark upon. Paddy words - "Jai Khardung La!" was echoing in the sleepy brain....

Leh 2007 - part II - Of leaking vents and a bored freshie...

Leh 2007 - Part I - Of missed trains

Day 1 - 12th July 2007

"The big day is here. I am going to go away for three, maybe four weeks!", I thought gleefully, "But first, get all the packing done, buy a camera bag for the handycam, get some money out for the trip, and...."

Anyways, all the small forest fires were put out rather smoothly and my bags were packed - one huge bag to hold the saddle bag, the riding jacket and my clothes and a smaller bag to hold the helmet. I was all set to go.

At around 4 in the afternoon I called up Googie, and reminded him that the train would leave from the Bangalore Main Railway station at 8.20 in the night. He said, "Cool, no problem. That is near Majestic, isn't it?"
"Ooops", I thought and said, "Yeah. yeah. Thats the one."
"But, where do we meet dude?"
"Why don't you come over to my place by around 6 - 6.30, and we can leave for the station by 7.15?"
"Hey, thats a good idea. I'll do that", Googie said.

One in the basket, one more to go. In the mean while, I get a call from Vatsa -
"Namaskara! finished packing?", he asked.
"Yeah dude. All done. Thanks for that Camera Point tip, I got the bag after a little bit of bargaining for 600."
"Cool... that is that original price anyway!"
"So, you done with your packing?", I asked, changing the topic.
"No, not yet, I'll go home and then do it. Are you taking a big bag?"
"Yes, I am taking a big bag."
"Do you have space for a big helmet?"
"Nah dude, no space of another helmet..."
"Hmm ok... so what time is the train?"
"The train leaves at 8.20 pm, but be there at the station by 7.45"
"Ok, which platfrom?"
"The Rajdhani leaves from platform number 8, so you can enter from the old entrance".
"Ok, see you at the station then", and he rang off.

Both birdies in the basket, Papa Bear was a relieved man. Not for long. It was 6 pm and there was no sign of Googie, so I called him up.
"Dude, where are you?"
"Man I am still at home, I still have to clean up."
"What? Clean up? what it iz?"
"You won't understand dude... I really really have to clean up this place before leaving. It won't look good otherwise", he whined. Yeah Googie really really whined.
"Ok, so whats the plan?"
"I'll meet you at the station directly", he said.
"Hmm.. fine... but remember, the train leaves at 8.20 from platfrom number 8, so plan to be at the station by 7.45".
"Ok dude, it is near majestic right?"
"Yes yes... it is the station near majestic", I confirmed.
"Ok dude, I'll see you there."

Papa Bear, feels a little uncomfortable, but dismisses it as mere speculation.
I just left home, and I get a call from Paddax - "Namaskara! Hortra saar?" "Hello, did you leave?"
"Yes boss! just left", I said.
"So, you have taken everything right?", he queried.
"Yes, yes, everything is all packed in the bags!!!"
"Drivers License, Identity card etc....?"
"Yes, yes... everything... I have my company id card... I hope that is ok.."
"No voters ID or something..."
"No yaar... why take all that chuma?"
"RighRight.. So I am leaving for Mangalore now, I have some shopping to do there and then I'll catch the train next morning... "
"Yeggzalento...!!"
"See you in Delhi then... Jai Khardung La!", he said and rang off.

I reached the station as per my plan i.e. by 7.45 and dragged my 25 kg luggage for almost a kilometer on platfrom 8 to find my elusive bogie - AS5. I found an old couple sitting in our compartment. "This is going to be fun", I thought and stuffed my bags under the lower berth. One birdy in the hand, two more to go!

I called up Vathsa - no response. Then I called up Googie - "Dude where are you?" I asked.
"On my way dude, on my way. How much time do you think it will take to get from Lifestyle to the railway station?"
"In this traffic... hmmm around three quarters of a hour... why?"
"I am just outside Lifestyle... I don't think i can make it...."
"Haha... just pray Kookeeee", I chuckled.

Then Vathsa called up, "Hey where are you?"
"I am at the station, where are you?", I asked.
"Almost there man.. sure, we don't have to go to the new entrance right?"
"Yes boss... platform number 8."
"Ok, I'll be there"

By 8.10 Vatsha was at the station, closely follwed by his friends and Rommies, who had come to see him off. Was to make sure that he really really did board the train to New Delhi? hehe... only Vathsa knows :D

There was no sign of Googie still, and we received a message from him, "Dude delay the train somehow... I'm sure I'm not making it. But the trip is definitely on.I'll catch a flight and come".
So we called him up again - "Dude! Where are you?"
"Man I don't think I can make it... We are stuck.. the traffic isn't moving an inch...", he whined. Yes, yes... our Googie actually whined.
"Dude, just try maadi... maybe you'll make it in time..."
"Hey dude... try talking to the TC, he may stop the train..."
"Hehe... magga I'll tell him, he can expect a reward from Googie if he delays the train... hehe", I chuckled.
"Man, pull the chain! Do something dude... ", he said desperately.
"Relax dude, try to make to the station." I tried to smoothen he frayed nerves.
"Ok dude", he sighed and cut the call.

It was 8.12 and there was no hope, so I told Vathsa... "Looks like its going to be just you and me on this train to Delhi".

At exactly 8.20 the train began to roll from the platfrom, and no sign of Googie. Yet. The bogie had just rolled out of sight from the platfrom, when I got an sms from him- "Has it left yet?"

So I called him again - "We just left... where are you?"
"I am just outside the station... did it leave?"
"Ya dude, it just left..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes... it really really left..."
"Can't you pull the chain?"
"Nah... that I can't do... you are good fella... but I won't go to jail for you...". Poor Googie... I felt for him. But really, when you have friends like me, who needs enemies... :D
"Ok dude... I'll ask the auto walla to go to take me home...... man he is laughing at me dude!!!"
"Sigh... what it is to be done dude... what it is to be done..."
"Can you cancel my tickets with the TC??"
"Yes dude... you don't worry about that... we'll take care of that.. Tension nahi leneka..."

I was pretty peeved, it was for Googie's sake that we had booked train tickets. So that, in case of a cancellation we would get full refund. And now the moron was flying, while I would be cooking in a train... tchk tchk... tchk tchk... and would be like James Bond's drink when I get off at Delhi - shaken, but not stirred. Hehe... Pretty pretty peeved.

Equally strange, was that Ojha was not answering his phone. There were a million questions in our minds - "Did he leave Bangalore?"; "Did he get leave?"; "What about the bikes?"; "What will we do once we reach Nizzamuddin station early on Saturday morning?"

That pretty much sums up the first day of our, as the Ancient Chinese would put it - interesting trip. Full of action, suspense and drama.

Leh 2007 - Part I - Of missed trains