Brand new shatabdi coaches

It was a pleasure travelling by Shatabdi from Chennai to Bangalore today morning. The coach numbers were not pasted on the sides but were neatly appearing in panels inside the coaches. The body of the coaches appeared quite spacious and good leg space too. The pouch to keep water bottles was very spacious. No really, I have had many occasions when a larger water bottle would refuse to fit into those pouches and cause minor irritant and inconvenience. The windows were not tiny openings in the sides, but almost the entire space was occupied by huge windows. No, the curtains were thankfully replaced by pull down venetian blinds. The train ride was like a tourist package, with both sides open to the outside view. There appears to have been good rains in these parts and green green and more green fields and trees were visible. Even the scenery which is quite rocky after Jolarpet had lush green tufts sprouting all over the bald surfaces. The best innovation was the sliding door. It left me wondering why was such a convenience not thought of earlier?It is a definite relief not to have the door banging all the time and it is also energy inefficient.
The icing on the cake was the arrangement of the seats. Half the seats face the engine and half the seats face the rear . So you get to see some faces rather than everybody's back, bald pate or earphones!
I would recommend this train as the only sensible way to travel to Bangalore from Chennai; exactly 5 hours, comfortable, okay the early morning timing is a bit of a hassle. But look at the bright side. No snoring companions(yes I had them the last time, and it has left me traumatised)

Mommies of the world

I had a soul searching experience yday while on the train. There was a young girl travelling with us . She kept getting calls on her handphone from her mommy every five minutes, asking her if the train has left the station. The scheduled departure is 11.45 pm, but the train is in no hurry to start as it is under no pressure to cover the distance to Chennai in the allotted time. I was wondering why her mother is pestering her like this and that too keeping up such late hour to do so.The train will leave a few minutes this way or that, I told myself. I was also quite surprised that this girl was answering her mother everytime so pleasantly.

It was 6 am and I woke to her ringtone. She was talking pleasantly again. I asked her is that mommie again.She had a bemused expression and said, no auntie, it is daddy and uncle!

Yes, I saw it coming, I was told in no uncertain terms, that while I may find it unacceptable in others, I have behaved in the same way and there is absolutely no doubt that I would continue to behave in the same way!

Do mothers have to make such a fool of themselves?

But then there was a takeaway, of a different kind. This girl got off at Perambur and when I woke up I saw that she had neatly folded the bed covers and the blanket. I was impressed. I learnt something from her. I also neatly folded my stuff, to make it a wee bit easier for the unknown railway employee. And that I should not put any pressure on the environment by my actions!

day trip to mamallapuram

Mahabalipuram is just an hour's drive from home, but i was surprised that we had not gone there more often. It is a pleasant drive along east coast road and not many bottlenecks in traffic. With friends for company this time, one hour actually just whizzed past.

I remembered an earlier occasion when we had gone there in the morning and had difficult time locating a place to have lunch. I think it was a sunday and peak holiday season. We had to come half way to chennai to finally land a good vegetarian restaurant.

I was wiser this time, so planned for a trip after lunch. The weather was mild and near the shore temple we just could not keep our dupattas in place.Suddenly the wind used to drop and it was surprising to be in and out of heavy bouts of breeze, as if somebody was switching it on and off.The climb up the entire range of rocks in and around light house proved to be exciting. We discovered new rock temples of mahishasuramardini where mahendra varma pallava used to pray. After a while we had truly lost our way and asked one of the men who was overseeing the cleanliness of the winding pathways. He pointed to both the directions of the pathway and said we could go either way, we would reach the main road. He really believed that the earth is round! We trudged a long distance before our driver spotted us and waved frantically to catch our attention. But then as it turned out, this unexpected trekking was the best part of the trip.Paul coelho would greatly approve of going out of the comfort of the tried and trusted path and attempting something totally different.

There are lots of shops selling figurines, handicraft items and souveneirs. Somehow bags of varied shapes, sizes and textures seemed to catch our attention. I guess one cant go wrong with bags as a gift item.We zoomed in on a shop selling brass/brone stautes and my friend found the ganpathi idol sitting and swinging comfortably in a jhoola.She was particularly looking for such a piece she said and closed the deal.Her bag was weighing two and a half kilos more as a result of this purchase!

The crowd was just right without being intrusive and uncomfortable. Yes one noticed a distinct lack of 'foreigners' this time.The shop keepers were lamenting thin tourist arrivals after the mumbai terror attack. In a week's time the annual dance festival and peak tourist season will start.

I plan to be there with a different crowd

vedanthangal

We hit vedanthangal after a gap of over 18 years. And we were happy that the tourism department has not been sleeping in the meanwhile. There used to be one old watchtower with a single binocular mounted on a huge pedestral. Now there are quite a few watch towers and tourists bring their own binoculars and have unlimited viewing.There are no facilities for boating in the lakes unlike in Ranganathittu near Mysore. But the small pathway skirting one side of the lake is well laid and well maintained with benches all along the pathway. With cool and shady trees lining the entire pathway life was good. We enjoyed the cool breeze blowing, after the cyclone in Bay of Bengal dumped the entire depression into kavali and machilipatnam and sparing chennai of gale and gusty winds.

The birds were in good measure and were fun to watch.

I had tried the handycam for the first time outdoors. I wanted to capture the birds by zooming. They looked fantastic to me, but when we played it at home, the pictures are shaking quite  a bit. I thought it is the swaying of the bushes in the breeze but apparently not. 

We had two binoculars, one still camera and one video camera and a book on birds.So we were really like tourists.

We were told that vedanthangal is oldest bird sanctuary in India. This was due to the fact that when our winged friends from siberia and australia came over to roost, the local farmers took care not to shoot them or harm them in any way. They actually adopted these guests gladly in their midst.This is the story of the guests and their future generations  repeatedly making visits for over 200 years here.

My best view for the day were two grey herons sitting light on a rubbish heap in the water and floating gently along with the rubbish heap.We almost did not notice it, it was a perfect camouflage. I was reminded of the 'teppotsavam' in mylapore temple! One of them flapped her wings and flew a bit and landed back again and the camouflage of the grey was broken with a tinopol white of their inner feathers. Cormorants there were aplenty and their swift dive into the waters to catch fish was a treat to watch. Ibis and pelicans were in large measure and there were busy nesting and relaxing in hoardes.

The place was choc a bloc with visitors jostling for space with the birds who had come travelling from sri lanka, pakistan, siberia and australia.

monsoon magic in maharashtra

It is sheer magic to do the Pune Mumbai trip during monsoon. It is wonderful to be in Pune during monsoon especially in a self contained campus on the outskirts of the city. It is enchanting to stay in the company guest house on the second floor overlooking oval maidan.
Normally when I go on business tours, the good part of the day is spent inside closed doors and travel is invariably during late evening night. It was different this time. We made the Pune mumbai trip in the evening and hence were mesmerised by the visual treat. Nature has no business to spread its wares so beautifully. I really wonder there are very many places where there are so many shades of green . I have not seen such shades in such abundance for the entire stretch of two hours by road. The cool weather and the continuous drizzle which was not dropping down but wafting in lazily onto our faces now and then.We will stop our gossip and sit still for a minute or two to praise nature. Beyond the lonavla/kandala hills were lush fields.The dark earthy brown and deep coffee brown fields freshly ploughed were sitting pretty next to lush green fields. It was a tapestry more beautiful and captivating than any words can explain.I remembered the quilt making taught to us during our school days. We used to have a tough time matching colours. But mother nature seems to do it so carelessly with such a flourish.There is no jarring note or mismatched colour in the entire quilt spanning few kilometres!
I reached my house in Pune late evening and it was drizzling. The smell of nithyamallis in full bloom and pavazhamalli again in full bloom and the lovely light orange colour roses gleaming in the pitch dark night brought such a pleasurable home coming, that I stayed for a full five minutes drinking in the sight and smell and capturing in my mind's eye.
In Mumbai oval maidan took a totally different look and feel. Gulmohars were in full bloom. A very imaginative architect had constructed the rooms such that it had windows on the entire wall structure facing the oval maidan. I lifted the curtains and opened all the windows and My God, the view was spectacular.The rain clouds were looming at a distance and now and then a spray would come into the room and wet the page of the novel I was reading. Yes, rains are beckoning me to shut the book and look at them, just like children want your undivided attention all the time. I shut the book and leaned out.The Mumbai court building on the other side of oval maidan was majestic in all its gothic spirals and clock tower. I am a sucker for these heritage structures and as the clock tolled every half hour I was transported to a bygone era where time was a abudant resource and people had time to stand and stare.Children and boys and girls were playing happily in the grounds with all the slush. Hindustan unilever must be happy! Daag acha hai they must be merrily saying to each other as the offtake of surf would skyrocket during this time!
Back from Maharashtra, I was taking my early morning walk on Besant nagar beach. I was stunned at the sky/skyline and waterfront. The sky was a very very light gray and the entire sky that i could see was of the same colour without any blemish whatsoever. No blue sky,no rainbearing clouds of dark grey, just one continuous light gray.And more surprise was the skyline touching the sea was such a thin line and the water was again the same colour. It was mesmerising and so unusual that I stood and watched and watched some more till I could fill myself in with the sheer beauty.I felt nature was like an artist sitting there and painting and for a moment had come out with the perfect texture and colour, so evenly spread and so beautiful.
Chennai too has its magic moments....

ganpathi temple pune

I thought it is going to be yet another visit to a temple. We planned and went to siddi vinayak temple in Saras bhag,Pune. Only after darshan did we realise that the place has an excellent collection of vinayak idols, tastefully exhibited as in a museum. Ganpathi museum does sound unusual.But it was a very unique experience and we thoroughly enjoyed viewing more than 1000 ganpatis in various forms.

We saw ganpati as a child playing around; we saw ganpathi holding a newspaper and reclining and enjoying the read; we saw ganpathi holding an umbrella and a kamandal as if going on a pilgrimage(kasi yatra?); we saw ganpathi having more than one head; we saw ganpathi in kalinga nardana pose ; we saw ganpathi who has his tusk turned right; we saw ganpathi carved in a tiny shell to a gigantic form in wood.Several idols were intricately made and kept adorning the entrance to the museum.Ganpatis were also made of every conceivable medium; cocoanut husk, sea weed,cocoanut shell,porcelein, terracota, wood of various kinds, glass, paper mache, engraved on rock, brass and bronze .

I went into a philosophical mode thinking how it is always a pleasure to look at ganpathi whatever way he is depicted. The tusk and the massive tummy are unique to him. Also his image as the smarter of the two siblings, who uses his brain rather than rushing to perform.Sporting a massive tummy obviously means he is indiscreet and indulges in food. Must be endearing him to all kiddos as being one of their kind.Having the tiny rat as his vaahanam again makes him a winner. I remember during ganesh chaturthi it is particularly fascinating for kids to shape the moonjooru from the clay brought for the occasion.

Ganpati chaturthi is also a fun affair for most where you are allowed to depict him in whatever form. He is truly a God you can relate to .

The maharashtrian fervour for Ganpati has truly bit me.

Pune sizzles

This was the lead story in all newspapers yesterday in Pune. The temperature had crossed 42.6 degrees and it definitely was lead story material no question about that.(did I give away that I have a newspaper connection somewhere?). I could not believe that Pune could record such temperatures. But then the newstory mentioned that the earlier occasion was in april 1981. I was very much here in Pune then. I do not recall ever feeling very hot and huffing and puffing in Pune ever.It could be that I was busy and buzzling about to notice and comment on such trivial matters as summer temperatures. It is also possible that mind plays games with us sometimes. Perhaps J also has a point when she says, it is usual for everyone to believe that the current year is the worst summer whereas when we look up the met office records invariably they are wrong.

It happens more often in cities like Pune or Bangalore where the senior citizens feel the city has changed beyond comprehension due to rapid urbanisation.As an outsider you are made to feel that somehow you are to blame for the state of the weather.

I immediately asked for a aircooler to be installed at home. They came instantaneously and while they were fixing it up I thought I never could believe that I would be having a aircooler at home in Pune. When I had come here for the first time after marriage, I was told that our house does not have a single fan. I panicked in the true Madrassi fashion, who needs her roti, kapda and makan with fans. But I was assured that I would never need one. After a few days I insisted that I need a fan. A rickety old table fan of unknown vintage was dragged out and fixed in our room. It used to circulate lot of air alright but made such a noise that it disturbed S. I slept through and he would get up and switch it off. Which is when I would wake up and quietly switch it on again. This game went on for a while and it had to stop sometime. It was a great event at home when I came back from office and was told to inspect the new ceiling fan installed. It called for some sort of celebration.

And now more than 25 years later, an air cooler ushered in such a happy mood.

I was also amazed at the sharp contrast in the climate and environment when I had come here last in October. It was unusually cold and it was with great difficulty I used to go for my morning walks. The pathway from my house to the jogging track used to be lined with flower beds and flowers of all shapes and colours used to be inviting and pleasing the eye. My mood used to lift immediately and I would be floating on a bed of euphoria throughout my walk. The jogging track used to be lined with asoka tress and the mist would be clearing slowly and sharp and pencil straight yellow rays would be piercing through.The lawns and the entire campus used to look painted a vivid green. It was good to be alive.

Now the campus looks forlorn and the roses are there no doubt but they are shrunk and want to be left alone.The saving grace is the jasmine bushes.The white scented flowers cover the entire bush and the nithyamalli flowers and the jasmine together waft into the house and give a joyous feeling. Y used to say thank god there is summer, we can have mangoes. I want to say now thank god for the summer, for there is mallippo.

pragati express

I had this ticket from Mumbai to Pune and it said starting station as CST. I had a nagging doubt that it could be Churchgate station , or Mumbai central station. I asked my colleague who is a hardcore Mumbaite and she said CST is of course VT station. I double checked with another friend and only then I was at ease. The places which are so well known have been name changed just like the Maharashtrian women have an annoying habit of changing their maiden names after marriage. Their surname of course changes and their maiden names are also changed and the person really goes into an invisible mode for the outside world. I remember while working in Pune ,on several occasions someone wants to locate a girl from their school/college days and they would ask me "Asha Tolankar" hai kya aap ka office me? I would tell them very faithfully that we dont have such an employee with us. Immediately some staff member who would have eavesdropped on the conversation would say immediately , that we do have Neha Dube and of course they are asking for her!

I got into Pragati express in the good old VT station. I felt i was travelling in Chennai Bangalore Shatabdi express. The ambience, the pantry service and more than that the profile of persons travelling made the connection. It started on time and immediately from the pantry, bottled water was brought out. The interiors of the compartment were full of pictures of Pune and the various tourist spots there. As the train picked up speed, so did the vendors of snacks. We had a choice of cheese sandwich, batata sandwich, cutlets, tomato soup and the 'must taste' batata vada. All the items were wrapped in paper napkins and paper bags. Railway catering service is truly going 'green'.I am a great one for tasting authentic cuisine of that place and got tempted with the batata vada. But i resisted the temptation!

I was politely approached by a man with a request if i could shift to another seat further down the compartment. He said his family was travelling and only his mother is sitting all alone in that seat. I would have readily agreed but for what he said as a clinching argument; it is a window seat maam.I did not want to accept the lollypop that he was offering me for what was a simple act of courtesy. So I stuck to my seat.

I had another lady who was right behind me, who was talking quite loudly on her handphone and also to her neighbours. I know where she lives, what her views are on every political issue of the day and what her plans for the evening and weekend in Pune are. But then this habit of talking loudly on the handphone seems to be a prevalent disease. There were atleast three others in the compartment who were quite seriously bitten by this infectious bug. No, I dont want to know the multi crore deals they are putting through; i dont want to know the umpteen instructions they are giving to their secretaries; also I dont want to hear them telling their friends/family about the exact location of the train every half an hour.It was really comical when the train was just outside the Pune station.Every one of them had to inform their whereabouts to someone who is eagerly(!) waiting for them.We are great communicators, no doubt about that.

I had a young mother as my next seat neighbour. Her son was all of 3 years perhaps and thankfully slept through most of the journey after taking some snacks and cool drinks at the beginning of the journey. He was rudely woken up just before Pune and the mother started to dress him up! I was shocked to see her taking out a plastic box half full of powder with a nice 'puff' sitting inside. She started applying the face powder liberally on the face of the child. What is special you may ask. From time immemorial all mothers atleast in India have been following this ritual. But then this kiddo was very fair and cows milk was oozing from his countenance!What was the purpose of spoiling a blemishless flawless milky white complexion with 'face powder'. Mothers are inscrutable.

The station was nearing and everyone was taking out their luggage from the luggage rack. There was this young girl who was trying to bring down a rather heavy bag. I saw two young men passing by but none of them offered to help.I am not talking chivalry here, but helping another person who needs it.I offered to help and of course she politely refused, but of course i helped her anyway.

Three and a half hours and the time passed swiftly with interesting people and erich sehgal to keep me company. I would gladly do this trip anyday.

amma's travel post

Amma wrote a very beautiful piece about their sudden mumbai trip.I want to upload it on my blog.

Sudden bombay trip

A fleeting thought and a wish transformed into reality!That is how our Bombay trip can be explained.To accede to their father’s wish the daughters, son and grandson did things in such a quick way that we were in the plane in a matter of 7 hours.One daughter brought a suitcase and packed our things;grandson brought another suitcase and quick eats for the night, just in case; he also booked our tickets; another daughter filled in the necessary details for the trip and also reminded me of all the things to be done before leaving.We were mere spectators. Nice to have efficient children.The funny part was, I was supposed to be the executive, ordering about the subordinates!
Once we reached the airport we were told the flight was delayed, so we relaxed in the lounge. Our son had asked that we take the business class and hence we soaked in the luxury.When we asked for a magazine, we were given a magazine of unknown language!The attender also did not know what language it was.We had the funny experience of being wheeled into the lift and also lifted right up to our seat on the plane. No security check up, no checking in, no tagging our luggage; everything was taken care of by an attendant .The night scene of Chennai from the flight was most beautiful.We enjoyed the benefits of traveling business class. The solicitousness of the airhostesses, the number of magazines given to us and that too in a tray,the umpteen glasses of fruit drinks and tender cocoanut water that were offered and of course not to mention the capacious seats and leg space made our travel quite comfortable and memorable.
We landed in Mumbai and saw quite a few saffron clad swamis in the arrival lounge.I came to know later that Swami chinmayananda’s disciple was holding a meeting in Mumbai that day.The airport has been modernized beyond recognition and it can very easily compare itself with the best in the world.I was amazed at the sheer number of planes taking off and landing and taxiing in such a short span of time.Spicejet aircraft with their colourful tails were very prominent.
We reached home late in the night.
Mumbai is unique; there is very little parking space, so if you need to go somewhere, the driver will drop you and keep circling the area and pick you up when you call him on his mobile!
This trip was arranged as per KRR’s wishes .His next wish was to visit ahobila mutt temple in chembur.Kumar made necessary arrangements for the same. While traveling in the car , ‘’anda naal nyabagam nenjile vandade”.It was 1945, just after the Allies victory. My father had taken me to the VT station, which was illuminated with colourful bulbs of various hues and sizes.I can still recall the illuminated tram with the words ‘allies won year 1945’.This tram was the cynosure of all eyes on that day.As a ten year old girl I was also delighted to see this.Even after so many decades, this picture frame is etched green in my memory.So also, the memory of a ship explosion when we were crossing Bycullah, and its aftermath is still fresh.While passing through Matunga, the memory of Dec 1978, when we had come there after my daughter’s engagement in Pune, was fresh.We were now passing through Ghatkopar and I was busy searching for Chandra Shah hospital where my son was born. My brother Babu liked the food the hospital served so much, that he used to polish off the food given to me. I could not consume anything as it was very rich with ghee and I barely could manage the ‘pathiya saapadu’ that my mother used to bring.For the first time I saw mothers after a few hours of delivery, consume sweets like mysore pak and laddu. I was told that it is necessary for the mothers to regain strength and the nurse used to goad me to try some. She used to tell me, aap log imli ka pani letho ho, isliye koi takath nahi.I was still intrigued how they are able to digest these heavy foods and I was told that they are given a health drink of gum and some herbs, first thing in the morning; they are also given a special gum laddu which is supposed to strengthen the waist and uterus.
While I was traveling back in time wistfully , the car was busy covering lot of ground.
We did not witness any traffic jams.The roads were fairly clean and .broad and also had footpaths on which people can actually walk.In Chennai everyday we come across in the newspapers about traffic accidental deaths; but in Mumbai for the two weeks that we were there, I did not read about a single accident.
We reached Ahobila mutt after nearly one and a half hours .The temple as such is not a very imposing one.You can see the main sannidhi as you are entering the temple.In front of the main sannidhi, there are small sannidhis for periya thiruvadi and siriya thiruvadi and also enough space for doing pradakshanam. In the main sannidhi you have lakshmi narasimhar and Lakshmi hayagrivar.There is another sannidhi for mahalakshmi. The sannidhi doors are made of pure goldThe doors of lakshmi sannidhi were more elaborate and intricate than that of the moolavar. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and it was not surprising!There are other small sannidhis including one for guruvayooorappan.There is a big pond and we could see brisk business of puja articles on the banks of the same.I was happy to see kadambam being strung with malli dhavanam and Krishna tulasi.In Chennai I have never seen Krishna tulasi being used for kadambam.A group of ayyangar mamis were chanting sri sthuthi and Vishnu sahasranamam.I have usually come across bhajan groups which chant desika sthothrams and divya prabhandam but sristhuthi and that too by women was unsual.
Our return journey was fairly quick and we were back home in less than an hour.

On Sunday Kumar took us to Malabar Hills. There was hardly any parking space. So we found some space for sitting while Kumar parked the car. It was very very chilly in the garden area and so we were not able to enjoy the sylvan surroundings and ambience. We had to return soon. After coming back we took a taxi to Banaswadi Balaji temple. The road leading to the temple was one way so we had to get down and walk some distance. Kumar was most careful leading his father in law, holding his hand. I was lagging behind because the road was not good. This temple is almost like oppiliappan koil, with the temple situated amidst residential buildings. Most of the temples in Tamil Nadu are situated far away from the street with a big compound wall of imposing length and width.
We were happy to see Prakara valam of Devaraja Perumal with chamaram kudai, theevati and a shenai was also being played instead of the usual nadaswaram. After sometime there was a recorded nadaswaram music. This temple has undergone vast improvement.The entire gita has been inscribed on the walls as also the pictures of the 108 divya desams. The temple was well maintained and spotlessly clean.The Bangurs of Calcutta built this temple and the archakas have been provided residential quarters inside the complex itself. After a satisfactory darshan of Lord Srinivasa and Alarmelmangai thayar,we hired a taxi in front of the temple itself and returned home.
I told Kumar that there need be no more outings but Vasu’s father after 2 days of walking inside the compound wanted to go to Gateway of India. Once again there was no parking space and the driver Francis asked us to have a leisurely and he would pick us up after 20 minutes. There was a wedding in the Taj Hotel and we saw a beautifully decorated white horse. The baratis were standing on the platform and waiters were serving them cool drinks and cookies. A car with orchids about a foot wide and shaped in the form of a n S was standing.This itself must have cost a fortune. Renovation work was going on in front of the Gateway of India and we could not go anywhere near it. There were lots of boats of various sizes and my mind flew back to the time when we went to elephanta caves as a group. I was able to touch the sea from the boat and was thrilled beyond words.
From Gateway of India we went to Cuffe Parade and saw the President hotel and the park where we used to have our evening walks when Raja was there in Mumbai. In the mornings we used to go beyond Hotel President and walk upto M FHussain’s flat situated in a big complex. On the way back we saw lots of fishermen repairing their nets and the entire space was very dirty.
The next day was Satyanarayana Puja in kumar’s office. We went down by 11 o clock and the puja was going on and on. The marathi priest was saying the mantras in a sing song voice and it took some time for me to understand what he was saying.Towards the end the priest drew a kolam on a plate. There was a maharashtrian couple doing the puja. The wife was conspicuous by her loose hair. It was strange because we in south India don’t keep the hair loose as it is considered inauspicious. The office staff were informal and it was very nice. They were chatting and joking.When the priest started a bhajan everyone joined and clapped hands keeping tala. The priest went on adding one camphor after another and it took more than 15 minutes. After which the karta was asked to do sashtanga namaskaram which he tried to avoid. But all the others egged him on.All of us put flowers and aashtadai.
There was another function in which emplouyees who have put in more than 10 years of service were honoured. We came home and refreshments meant for us were brought by an office boy. Our going to this function resulted in lot of people exchanging smiles and greetings whenever we were having our walk. The watchmen used to get up and say salam sir. Generally the people were very courteous and were very respectful.While going in the lift the other occupants used to open the door and come out to make way for us.
Exactly on the 15th day we started on our return journey.As the flight was scheduled to leave by 7 am we had to leave rather early.We got up at 4.30 am . Much to my chagrain Kumar came in to find out if I have got up. By the time we started it was 5.35 am. It was a very nice drive on empty roads and cool air blowing. While we were on our way to the airport, Kumar made a remark that my efficiency level has come down as he thought that I would wake him up. Ageing process! During the flight we had pink colour upma with big raisins and cashew. The breakfast was very heavy and I had to refuse some dishes.
Thus we came back home ; home sweet home after an unforegettable fortnight in Mumbai.

Mumbai to Balewadi

I have come to national insurance academy, Pune on a number of occasions earlier. Off the cuff i can recall programmes on health insurance, IT appreciation, finance for non finance,counselling skills, corporate governance seminar that i had come here earlier for.Every one of those programmes were very unique and enjoyable. Yes, I enjoyed playing badminton those times, enjoyed the kitchen free evenings/mornings, enjoyed the company of other colleagues, enjoyed the morning/late night walks on the beautiful lawns.Enjoyed classes? Yes, to some extent, but then the classes were a necessary prop for the real enjoyment which took place outside of it.
But today was special. I was not attending a programme but came here as a guest faculty. I had made up my mind some years back that i have been a participant enough number of times and i want to be on the other side of the classroom in NIA. I have just finished my session and am resting before leaving for mumbai. I enjoyed being in the classroom this time!
The road from Mumbai to Balewadi was picturesque and had those unique shades of green that one can witness soon after monsoon on the western ghats. It was a feast for the eyes and i over indulged myself to the full.The bald rocks sported green topis, skewed at an angle reminding me of dev anand and his rakish angle hats that we used to fall for in those days.The tunnels were quite a few and as i have never done this stretch on road, I was looking forward to each one of them. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, is a phrase which kept popping up in my head everytime i entered a tunnel. The weather was perfect and we kept a steady pace. We did it in a little over 2 hours. It is bang on the national highway and the bold letters on the tall water tank in the NIA compound did help matters.
I enjoyed the trip, I enjoyed interacting with lady managers from all the insurance companies and i enjoyed chit chatting with madhumita, the course coordinator and a very good friend.