Heaven

 If this is what heaven feels like, am ready to make changes to my life and work towards reserving a berth there!

 6 days and nights of experiencing bliss through mountains, valleys, food and laughter.
 
The trip started with its own drama, flights getting delayed, connecting flight getting advanced and running from one terminal to another, pounding hearts, making it just before the flight gates closed.
 
The gates to heaven opened soon after and the heart did not stop pounding!
 
Srinagar was an eye opener, the heat was a killer, beautiful and clean and clear skies, the sun shone so bright it made us doubt the “cold scenes from Kashmir movies we had seen”
 
Our first authentic Kashmiri lunch was the beginning of many.
We were in food heaven, the Kashmiris do not rush their food, they slow cook their meat, the rice is flavorful, the rotis soft and buttery, the spices just right!!  Licking our plates, bowls and fingers became the norm.
 
Checking into the houseboat was not enjoyable, there was no electricity and it was now “Hot as Hell” The shikara ride was hot and though Dal lake glowed in the afternoon sun, we just got roasted.
Paradise Lost!
We wanted out, we wanted to go back to the coolness of our homes.
Soon after when the electricity got restored and we got to step into a shikara again in the evening for a sunset cruise on the lake.
 
This was such a beautiful sight, the majestic mountain ranges behind, the water glistening from the setting sun, the shops selling their wares along the lake.
The shikaras selling kahwa chai, barbecuing juicy meat, selling handmade mementoes were a sight to behold!
 
We gently slid along lotus ponds where they had closed for the day and along homes along the lake starting their nightly chores. 
Sunset on Dal lake! Must see! Must be there to experience it! 
The boathouses are stationary and decorated with intricate woodwork and carvings.  You feel like royalty eating and sleeping in them. 
 
Day 2 we were on our way to Pehelgam in the heat a stopover at Avantipura Ruins, one of the oldest temples in the region.
On the way you see plenty of cricket bat manufactures one of the few places where crickets bats are made because of the plentiful willow trees in the region 
Lunch again was delicious and a feast for the eyes and the stomach.
We stopped to buy walnuts which are grown in the region, so fresh and tasty. 
We bought saffron harvested from the fields we had just passed.
We tasted the finest Kahwa
 
Pahalgam is known for its valleys and rivers. The weather was pleasant and more Kashmir like 
We took a horse ride to Baisaran, a ride filled with screams and pleading. The view was worth the back breaking ride.
 
The shopping in the quaint little market, the morning walks along the hills  filled with tall pines and deodahar and chinar trees swaying in the breeze are now a pleasant memory.
 
Aru valley and Betaab valley ( named so because of the movie shooting) were green and heavenly. The road to Amarnath yatra started from Chandanwari, just the little we saw made us realize how beautiful the whole yatra would be.
 
Next day we moved onto Srinagar again and enjoyed a visit to the old dargah Hazratbal where Prophet Mohammed’s lock of hair is preserved
On the way we stopped at an overflowing apple orchard, drank fresh juice , tasted sweet jams and tart pickles and chutneys, visited the beautiful Mughal gardens, dressed up as the Kashmiris do and thus rang in my 50’s 
What a way to bring in the milestone birthday!  
 
Gulmarg was a fascinating experience from the word Gondola!
And the views were to die for! And the food we ate, the service at Khyber! This is what royalty feels! 
The ATV ride through locales where Bollywood movies were shot, the wildflowers, the winding greens and the second highest green golf course in the world- The Gulmarg Golf Club, at an elevation of 2,650 metres (8,690 ft) above sea level.
The search for the one liquor store and stepping in confidently where women do not tread! 
 
The final drive back to Srinagar and an experience of the houseboat for the night and barbecues and drinks. 
We stopped at an old Shankarachary temple and were blessed by the beautiful view of the whole city from the top.
Houseboats are made of seasoned deodar wood which can resist the water even when they are submerged for so many years.
Morning brought a different life to the lake after the quiet of the night.
The buzz of the floating vegetable and fruit sellers and the life around the lake were like a fairy tale.
Good salesmanship had us buy seeds and bulbs hoping we could grow tulips in our homes, walnut wood bowls, papier mache boxes, colorful trays!! 
Throughout the trip I shopped, I bought so many things to give away since everything was so pretty and delightful 
 
We came back to the airport, just to sit in Delhi for hours! G20 did not affect our flight, just the usual with Spicejet! A delay which brought us back to Bangalore after 8 hours of wait and entertainment provided by disgruntled passengers
 
Reliving the memories, the pictures do not do sufficient justice to the images captured in the mind, nothing I eat compares to the food I ate, 
I miss the valleys, the mountains and the river. 
Kashmir, truly heaven on earth! 

“Every journey is personal. Every journey is spiritual. You can’t compare them, can’t replace, can’t repeat. You can bring back the memories but they only bring tears to your eyes.” — Diana Ambarsari

Table for One

 You enter a restaurant

The usher asks you" Table for..?" and pauses.

They expect 2,3 4 or many, but they are never prepared for my answer- 1 please

They look up, a wondering expression and then they lead you to a table hidden away from the public and so tiny even one cannot sit.

Is it not acceptable to eat alone or are they worried people would want the peace I get from being on my own....

Udupi travels

The beach, good food, strong coffee and plenty of sun.

Spent a day with my daughter at her college and roamed the vast campus which has birthed geniuses and paved the way for wealth for many.

Enjoyed the play she produced and met several other parents who had traveled from out of town for the same.

I explored the town which is built around the institute, everything so reasonably priced, including fine dining Japanese restaurants severing top quality fresh sushi

Day 2 took us on a whirlwind tour of the coast. We beach hopped, hopped and skipped on the beach, waded in the waters, took plenty of photos, gorged on sea food,  baked in the summer sun at St Mary's Island,  rushed to get a view of the sunset from Lighthouse beach and slowly faded into the night as the sun set behind the ocean.

Day 3 on my own! 

Museums, restaurants and back home 

The Hasta Shilpa heritage village is a delight to visit!There are 20 old homes so immaculate restored and kept open for visitors.

Some brought memories of the time I lived in an old European house with wrought iron beds and old groaning refrigerators . Some made you feel like royalty being palaces of old.

A dinner paid for my daughter while I got ready to leave by the night train, time spent with her, familiarising myself with her life away from home. 

A table for one can also lead to simple joys in life and happiness.

Dream On

A lifelong dream, the trip of a lifetime

Madhya Pradesh eluded me for years

Finally a March week happened and a solo trip to Khajuraho came true

A tiny airport, small town, filled with foreign tourists and silence

Freak unpredictable weather, brought power cut, dark night and torrential rains

Luckily the sky cleared up enough the next day for a day exploring the temples 

A guide is forced upon you, but worth the talking!! They are skilled storytellers and bring to life the lives lived by the kings and queens and the lust and se depicted on the monuments

Story told in pictures, words cannot express the beauty and vastness of this place.

The sun disappeared and the clouds took their place, the wind blew hard and the leaves were swirling in front of us

But my friendly driver insisted we visit the Raneh Falls and drove fast against the wind.

The Rain Gods were not patient, it came down in sheets along with the wind the auto was now swaying.

We reached the canyon and waited for rains to abate and the government appointed guide to accompany us on the 1km trail

The waterfalls are naturally formed, while the canyons are shaped by volcanic eruptions 

Thanes to the rains, Ken flowed peacefully and calmly.

The trees washed clean and gorge shining.

Rushed back to the hotel to avoid getting stuck in the dark and potholed roads

Next day took me to a safari at Panna 

I hoped for a tiger sighting, the stories of having seen one the previous evening kept the anticipation high

we drove through the jungle and stopped at the Ken river. A beautiful sunset treat

We smelt the rain far away, the hoped it would stay there and not ruin our safari.

After a long wait, drive and plenty of sambar deer spotting, we turned back.

Though we did not see or hear the tiger prowling, the green dense forest, the vast grassland, the excitement and company made for a fun drive.

Back at the hotel for the night, with a plan to travel to Gwalior the next day.

Gwalior speaks history

The forts, palaces, cenotaphs all sing a song of yonder

I climbed narrow run down stairs, tread passages where kings and queens had, marveled at the architecture and ingenuity of the builders of yesteryears

The rains played spoilsport again and made me rush back to the hotel for the night.

Next day was a relaxed day, with just one flight departing from Khajuraho, I waited it out, spent the day in silence, observing the yoginis, absorbing the clean air and being at peace.

A memorable vacation, solitude is a blessing.

No one stared, no one questioned, traveling alone was a pleasure.

My pace, My dream place.

Coastal Delight

 When was the last time you did something for the first time

Just what I needed to reaffirm I was enough

The sea was calling me, what the doctor always advises for the mind, soul and body.

The closest beach was chosen as the destination, the cool winter picked to avoid humidity and dehydration for the spoilt Bangalorean

The trip was mostly a closely kept secret from most including family, kids were informed, few friends in Chennai were informed.

 

Though it was meant to be a "be alone:" kind of trip, one friend was keen on joining

But as fate would have it, it was not meant to be and I was on my own as it was meant to be

Surprises never end, bumping into old friends at airports and stations are such a pleasant surprise and a harbinger of good times to come.

So it was this time too and catching up on past and making plans for the future always leaves you feeling good filled with the anticipation

Station to the beach was one long drive, along perfect roads and zero traffic once we left the city limits! 

Reaching the shack and hotel , I checked in and inhaled the sea! 

It was a clear sunny day and the waves were enjoying the solitude before the crowds came in.

Located in the Tsunami nagar, it was obvious that the fishermen had been affected by the Tsunami of 2004, but being the only trade they know, they have returned to the sea

Lunch was ordered, had, not the best for a seaside restaurant. Feedback was given.

the room was basic and comfortable with a sitout to enjoy the view

The view from the hotel was breathtaking, with the fishing boats lined up ready for their daily trips, the shore temple outlined among the casuarinas in the distances, the waves going back and forth, steady, wooshing, calming.

Once the sun was sliding down, I decided to walk down and visit the monuments the place was renowned for.

Enjoyed the walk down to Arjuna's penance and from there on spent 2 hours following the crowds, admiring the sculptures, the artistry and the commercialisation of the area.

the climb up to the lighthouse was the highlight of my trip as I have always been enchanted by them and the important role they play in guiding the ships to safety 

It stands tall,silent, and constant. Only giving, never expecting.

walked towards the Shore temple, a marvel, looked smaller than when i had last seen it. Maybe I have grown up? 

Walked back towards the hotel, walked along the waves of the sea, the chatter, the laughter of people enjoying the rise and fall of the waves, the silent boats waiting to get into the water, the search for the elusive crabs in the shores, fishermen, playing cards, the smell of the sea, the salt of the water.

The feeling of calm, the setting sun, the changing colours, the night bringing with it music and a change in mood 

Dinner by the beach was what I always craved for, the food made extra special for me and a non alcoholic wine, miraculously touched by the sea giving  me a high on an higher plane.

The fishing boats were to leave at 2:00 AM and return by 5:30 AM, some of the fishermen could be seen checking their nets, the engine and the boats at night.

I set my alarm to wake up and see them leaving, 

The night was noisy, young crowds partying till early morning, unfortunately no boats left, I did wake up early to catch the sunrise on the eastern coast 

An early morning walk along the beach, avoiding bottles from the previous night, few walkers with the same aspiration, to catch the sun rising from below the water, and an interesting conversation with a stranger. How nice to avoid niceties and exchange pleasantries, but have a pleasant conversation in the here and now.

The lapping of the waves a constant reminder that everything is transient.

Some of the boats left early morning to try their luck, high tide is not the safest for them to venture into the vast ocean for a meagre catch.

Saw the boats return with the catch of the day, locals swarming to get their glimpse and buy what they could , fishermen bowing to the sea.

It doesn't end with the sale, they spend the next few hours, cleaning and untangling the nets to get ready for the next day.

I wish I had access to this sight every day! The fishermen grateful to the sea for their livelihood, for their everyday lives!

Soon after it was time to say goodbye to a day of solitude among noise and crowds, being able to silence everything else around you including the mind and just let the ocean take over your being.

My first time being on my own, traveling alone on business or meeting others halfway or for pleasure with other travelers is not the same as completely being on my own.

Some of these local tourist towns are still not comfortable with a single Indian woman but are more accepting of a foreigner traveling alone

Felt safe all the time though it was crowded. I did avoid the beach late at night, not trusting the unruly crowd out drinking on the beach.

Some memories will last forever, some lessons learnt will remain for a lifetime.

Travel solo! You will experience the world differently. 

My All

4 years seemed like a lifetime

Especially when I had not done any races and stuck to short distance running

Signing up for a Full marathon in 2023 Jan was more to get my life back on track and give myself a goal. 

2022 was a year of change on the homefront.

Parents moved out, children found their calling far away from home, I shifted homes after 16 years of familiarity.

This unknown though long awaited, was not an easy adjustment.

I stopped cooking, eating, surviving on bread and air! 

So a challenge was needed to get into good habits and become consistent.

Thus a signup and the much needed preparation for a long run.

Having a gym within the apartment complex was an advantage which I used till I gave up.

Having a chance to hangout with my daughter when I was in the city was another reason to sign up. 

Training was going well, till it did not!

Pre Menopause and Its painful effects were a constant battle between mind and body.

A vacation derailed all my routine and I struggled to get back to the plan.

Just when I thought I had figured it all out, I tripped, my knees and ego took a fall!

There was a constant nagging worry that I was not doing enough

Will I be able to complete, what if I cramp, what if I get exhausted due to insufficient strength training.

Not having a nutritious diet always made me think of cooking, eating, but never had the energy for it.

Oh the struggle with nutrition is deep!

Why did I go to Mumbai having all these second thoughts?

for my daughter, who felt proud to tell her friends that her mother was coming to run

for my friends who believed I could 

For me to know I still had it in me!

Weekend before the run, I met my cheerful optimistic running friend and he convinced me to come.

I went.

And am glad I did

No, I did not run my "personal best" though I could have.

But this run was personally my best marathon.

Mumbai did not fail me

The weather was better than Bangalore, no humidity, chill breeze and the vibes!! 

I knew the spirit of Mumbai would see me through and they did!

Every nook and corner, every stranger, every child, policemen, volunteers, runners!!

Running through once familiar roads, this time with no time pressure, no goal other than to finish smiling, I enjoyed every step and celebrated every kilometre 

Saw many familiar faces over the two days, smiled, cheered and finished smiling.

People who know me as a runner know that I don't just run for PB's, I love stopping, helping others while on the route! 

Even better than running your race is when you know you helped someone else accomplish their race goals!!

and 30 kms is when people lose it!  Met a friend who was zoning out! Stopped to pace him and help him stay focused

TMM 2023, now carrying with me the joy of giving back to a fellow runner the joy of running TMM.

Thank you Mumbai

Than you to the lady who was handing out tiny heart shaped mint candies, which not only brought a smile, but a breath of fresh air in my mouth!!

Thank you to all who were handing out water, electrolytes,oranges dipped in salt, salt to stick your finger in and lick! No cramps for the first time ever in all my years of running full marathons! 

Thank you to the lady who handed out jaggery at the 39th km, maybe that is what made me run the last 2 kms with fresh legs!! 

Thank you to the ones who screamed "Peddar road is over" That is music to every runner's legs!

But mostly

Thank you to my daughter for whom I ran TMM 2023

She took me around, she ensured I slept, ate, took me to her favourite places, showed me Mumbai as a localite!!!

Hugged me when I needed it most, my biggest cheerleader!! 

Never have I stopped to smell the roses that Mumbai has to offer when I visit the city for TMM 

We enjoyed the city because I had no aches, no pains,no cramps, no dehydration, I could walk around like a normal person!!

#TMM2023 

- nothing but joy!