A marriage made in heaven, executed in London

Isn't it ironic that men made illusions like nations and religions often dominate and decimate the reality of love, probably the only thing that God ever created. So it is such a pleasant change that two of my close friends, Vishal and Natasha, a Hindu boy from India and a Muslim girl from Pakistan , are getting married, in London. The families have risen above the narrow boundaries of religion and nationalism to bless the union and the fantastically festive and cordial environment at the ceremonies bellies the complexities and drama that went behind the scenes to make it a reality. I am truly happy to be here to witness and be a part of this very special moment. 

The other two positive surprises, though admittedly on a vastly smaller scale, are the realizations that most of the public museums in London are free (God bless the Queen!) and that it doesn't always dreadfully drizzle in London at this time (the weather has been holding up). I am staying in central London walking distance from most of the attractions, thanks to two lovely ladies,  Catherine, who owns the place, and Sabiha, who invited me to couch-surf with them, and making good use of the fact by visiting as many museums as I can and meeting my old friends in London.

London is undergoing massive upgrades because of the upcoming Olympics in the summer and I am sure some of it is causing traffic nightmares and  inconveniences to the people living here, but hopefully they well be rewarded in due course with a successful extravaganza and vastly improved infrastructure once the games are over. I am impressed by the cycle renting scheme where they have created these cycle renting stations peppered over the city and you can borrow from and return to any station convenient to you.

I have thoroughly enjoyed some magnificent art exhibitions by the masters, both classical and contemporary and the Victorian and Georgian architecture littered over the city. London is a classical mosaic of many different cultures and you can see by just walking a few blocks in central London and taking a few metro rides. I hope I will return to the hustle and bustle of this wonderfully alive and thriving city again, and next time for more than a weekend.

Location : Groenendaalstraat 11II, 1058 Amsterdam Oud-Zuid,

A road-less travel

These are called luxury apartments in Gurgaon, but it's fairly common to see non functional basic amenities here. One of the elevators has been out of order for months, and we discover to our discomfort, that the other one refuses to stop except to the top floor or the ground floor, just as we have neatly lined up our luggage in front of it. Luckily, we are only on the seventh floor, and the driver has just arrived to help with the luggage. May be they are just trying to keep the residents fit by making them climb up and down the stairs with heavy luggage. It is about 400 km from Gurgaon to Kuchaman, my ancestral and birth place in Rahasthan, and with a six lane highway, I am hoping we can get there in 5 to 6 hours.

The elevator fiasco has caused a bit of delay, but it's still early morning and hopefully the peak traffic time is couple of hours away at least. However, there are other problems on the road. You see, it's a future six lane highway. At present, the construction is going on for the six lanes, so it is actually a four lane, and in some cases a two lane highway. The heavy earth moving equipments are using the lanes meant for cars only, the cars in the card lane are trying to use cash, the trawler in the cash only lane has no small change, the truck in the extreme right lane meant for cars has finally ackowledged his mistake and trying to move to extreme left lane, and couple of guys decided the toll is too much for them and decided to turn back, except they will need to create another lane meant solely for morons. Meanwhile my chacha is telling me how somebody was shot fatally over 27 rs of toll recently.

When we finally clear the toll, my hope of a speady recovery is dashed as chaos reigns supreme on the other side too. The left lane is now being used by the trucks for parking, and all trucks in all lane realizing that are trying to reach it. There is even more construction on the other side, and the right lane is dug up and partly being used for storage of construction material. There are still more u turners looking for moron lane. Some of the truckers have figured out its much cheaper to use kerosene and the resulting fumes are creating a nice Gotham city atmosphere. Batman would have choked to his death here. And driving a fast car here would remain a mission impossible for Tom Cruise.

Through the smog and the smoke, I read the two billboards put up by the toll operator, cautioning the drivers to drive slow. I mean, really?? I can almost swear I watched my nail grow since the morning sitting in this car. The pedometer says 13 km in last one hour. How much slower do you want me to go mr toll operator? My Chacha takes this in his stride - 'its painful now, but the future will be bright' he says. It's not the first time he has hoped so. The few good patches of six lane highway are a good teaser for future, just reminding the travellers what they deserve but cant have now. We eventually get to Kuchaman in little less than 11 hours, with a stop over in Jaipur for lunch, and a good patch of highway from Jaipur onwards. At less than 40km an hour, I am also hoping the future will be bright, at least brighter than now. We will get there some day. Amen.

We are like that only

3:30 am is an unearthly time to get up but not if you plan to travel long distance by road in India, wish to avoid the traffic and prefer to take freshly made parathas with you. While my chachi makes way to the kitchen, my bleary eyes focus on the television, which had been on all night, as it usually is at my chacha's house, may be he is just afraid of missing out the wholesome entertainment cable tv dishes out or some earth shattering breaking news the nth time.

I watched NDTV desperately trying to damage Arun Kejriwal's credibility in a no holds barred manner for the nth time, and govt. and opposition parties, who have not united to bring a single meaningful legislation for the country in many years, were unanimous in condemning him for mentioning the statistics about how many Indian parliamentarians were convicted felons or has criminal records or fighting criminal cases against them ranging from extortion to murder. Mentally sick, unbecoming of a gentleman, spoiling the decorum of this great country's great institutions and many such things they all said unanimously, not to their fellow parliamentarian criminals, but to Mr. Kejriwal, who had dared to mention this statistic at a public forum.

We are like that only. We can tolerate sending hardened criminals to parliament and watch them hollowing out the country from inside, we even stand and applause their ill gotten wealth, and we hope against hope that their bad karmas will catch up with them sooner or later, but we don't like somebody mentioning inconvenient facts to spoil the reputation of out great parliamentarians. You see, if the facts can't be mentioned, then they dont exist. We can take abject poverty of millions of people in our stride, karma it is after all. 'Why do they have so many children if they can't afford to raise them properly' we murmur to fellow companion before rolling up the car's window against street children. But we take strong objection to any body who makes 'slum dog millionnaire' and shows the reality to rest of the world. It's commercializing somebodys misfortune for personal gains, sullying the reputation of our great country, and in very bad taste.

I change the channel to some other news, But it only gets worse. The chief witnesses of some multi billion dollar scams are getting bumped off systenpmatically, which media prefers to call dying in mysterious circumstance, a girl jumped to her death in a mock fire drill because the police and firemen didnt take even the basic precautions, a girl gets raped in broad daylight in a moving car and the police is blaming her for drinking with the boys while revealing her identity to the media - may be they are hoping she will now commit suicide and the case will be closed. I can feel my blood pressure rising. I switch channel again and this time it's the trio of Govinda, Kader Khan, and Shakti Kapoor doing some silly slapstick comedy. At least, they are sullying their own reputation, and a couple of wasted hours is the most harm they can inflict on me. In fact, I might even laugh in a few of those scenes. That's why I prefer to watch the movies than the news. Now I better hurry up and pack, it's time to hit the road.

A perfect little weekend

Some journeys are just not meant to be. Vipassana turned out to be one such journey for me. Sujata had to leave to take care of her parents a day before I was supposed to leave for vipassana so I stayed back with the kids. Between taking care of the kids, completing long pending errands and reorganizing the house, the time really flew. I want even sure if I could do the India trip at all but Suj came back Friday morning and I took the evening flight out. Since tiger airways has no refund policy, I still had to come in via Bangalore instead of directly flying into Delhi, but that turned out to be a good decision.

I was back in the city probably after a seven year period. My last experience was that of horrible traffic jams which had made me cancel a few meetings, and despite all the infrastructure progress it felt like city traffic had grown faster than the infrastructure and filled all available space. The airport was new, nice and shiny but way too far from the center of the city, where

Kavita and Manish lived, who had generously agreed to host me in Bangalore. Manish, or tiger as he is known among friends, is easily one of the most well read person I know, and both are passionate about education. Unfortunately, the other thing he likes is horse riding for which you have to wake up at 6:30 in the morning. I had no desire to burden the poor animal with my heavy weight but it seemed like a good opportunity to practice some early morning photography. Dhruv, their 10 year old son not only shares his passion in horseriding, but he had been equally passionate about drawing horse figure. He had seen the horse figure I had done in blank ink many years ago and was keen for me to spend some time giving him some sketching tips. Now I never really learned sketching, but past experience a have taught me that giving kids even very little tips, but lots of encouragement and practice usually have the right learning effect.

A birthday party in the afternoon and a pizza party at home in the evening were perfect recipes for a sumptuous Saturday, made better only by a chance meeting with Ashok, who happened to be my roommate asking with Tiger in or first year of college. Dhruv wanted me to watch war horse, and from what little I saw and read on Rohan's blog about the movie, it certainly was worth watching except that I was too jet lagged by now. At least for me, those many houses in a day was enough.

I had a reasonably early flight on Sunday to Delhi but we did manage to find time for some roller blading on a dead end road near the lovely Vidhan Sauda building and sumptuous breakfast at the Oberoi. I was worried that the legendary Bangalore traffic may cause me to miss the flight but luckily it was a Sunday morning and driver knew how to avoid any roads with potential traffic problems.

The flight was uneventful and my cousin Neel came to pick me up at the airport. By this time India was facing another humiliating loss to Australia in cricket.after meeting every body at home, Neel suggested we go and see the hockey Olympic qualifier final between India and France. India had not even qualified to play in the last Olympics. The organization was poor even by India's usually abysmal standards, but Indian team made up for it and mauled France 8-1. It was a great result for my first ever live hockey match and a good way to end a perfect little weekend in India.

Location : Kachnar Marg, DLF City Phase I, Sector 26, Gurgaon, Haryana,

Prashant

Location : Kachnar Marg, DLF City Phase I, Sector 26, Gurgaon, Haryana,

Prashant

Location : Kachnar Marg, DLF City Phase I, Sector 26, Gurgaon, Haryana,
Prashant

Exploring an island

3 Ltrs in this and you can cover all of Samui

On top of the SUV

Like all successful ones on the Internet, couchsurfing.com is brilliant but simple idea, which is effectively executed to satisfy a human need. It is designed to connect travellers and hosts in different countries, each benefitting in a certain way, and fostering great friendships and experiences along the way. I should thank Chachra for introducing me to this, and after mostly hosting for a couple of months, it was time to see if it works the other way too. Before coming to Samui, I had sent a few random requests if any body would have time and inclination to show me around, and I did get a few responses, if only to meet up for lunch or drinks. It wasn't a bad start.

Chinese Buddha

Waterfall 2

Anastasia Simakova, a tall lanky Russian girl (and why btw, are they all six feet plus!), wasn't quite the 'local' I was expecting to meet through couchsurfing, but she worked in a travel and tour company, and lived near the Big Buddha temple - the biggest tourist attraction on the island. She agreed to meet me for lunch. I rented a scooter for the day, but as I was driving one after many years, and for a tourist attraction Samui has very few signs in English, I was duly late though she was polite enough not to complain. She is from Sochi, the winter Olympics location for 2014, and told me incredible stories about how the government dresses up english teachers as ushers and bartenders to give the impression of English speaking city to the Olympics committee, or give a day off to everybody to make it look like a busy happening place. And how the government officials come before the elections to get the details of how many people are voting from the household, and for whom! She doesn't think Russia will be a democracy ever.

Big Buddha

Buddha in Durga Avatar?

Even though she doesn't like two wheelers as she has no sense of balance, she decided to show me around Samui. The first stop was the Big Buddha temple. This a magnificent structure on a hilltop near the sea, with beautiful views around it. But I was more intrigued by the next Buddha temple we visited, which depicted Buddha with 18 hands, very much reminding me of way Durga is depicted in Hindu mythology. They also had the laughing Buddha in the same complex. Next stop was few kilometers away to see the mummified monk, who has been positively dead for over 23 years, but the body has been preserved with supposedly very little mummification. We were close enough to visit the nature park and the waterfalls with in, though it was bit of a climb and our hired car with in the park abandoned us when their office closed. Luckily a very nice couple from singapore gave us lift back to our scooter. On the way back we stopped by to see The grand pa and grand ma rocks, Shaped like human genitalia, and one couldn't help but wonder that the grand pa must have been a real hony man in his day.

Finally managed Lotus pose

Mummified Monk, dead since 79

It was a long drive back so we stopped by for some dinner. I had seen pretty much all that I wanted to see of the tourist attractions in Samui. Anastasia had some other plans for the weekend but she liked the way it eventually turned out. It was, as she skyped me later, 'a very peaceful, relaxing and positive-energy-filled day'.





Location : Mae Nam, Ko Samui, Surat Thani 84330,
Prashant

The Closure

Still need to lose more!

It's natural to be disappointed when you lose only a couple of kgs after a week of fasting, detoxing and yoga. Even more so when Tanya has lost 6 and Yurgen is down 4, and feeling 'feeling like a baby again'. No doubt, I am feeling much better, and lighter, but that scale is not confirming it. May be my mother has been right all along - she always said I wasn't overweight, I just had heavy bone structure - but then she really is incapable of finding any faults with me - I guess that's how moms are. Could I just do another couple more, please. Ok, just one more, pretty please...

First Acupunture in Life

To make the matters worse, I developed some skin rashes. 'this is a natural response to cleansing - body is detoxing through skin' I am told. Khalid thinks he can fix this with his acupunture, and even without believing it much, I book him for couple of sessions. He says he will charge me for only one because I am his friend now. Pushpa says she uses coconut oil. Manta prepares a clay mixture to be put at night, which eventually dries up, comes off and I get up feeling like I was sleeping on a sand dune. Khalid gets me a herbal concoction to drink, which will help purify my blood, if the taste doesn't make it curdle up in protest first. I am not yet willing to try the cortizone creams, giving the naturalist a chance first. So I am trying every all of these. It's helping, but slowly, I guess that's the way nature works.

A new dawn

Tomorrow will be a happy day:-)

The program is almost over, just another three days left. I might just have to go back without reaching my internal goal, even though liver detox was still pending. I mean, how much can you lose in a day? Even with drinking just water and herbs mixed juices, and making multiple trips to the loo. I guess a lot. Last day of program, I am happily surprised to see the marker down a little over 4 kgs from the day one reading. Celebration time! Start with a full bowl of papaya, the first solid food in last 10 days. It is time to rent a bike and go exploring the island, before I go back.

The people

Brian, the self help guru

This is the peak season. People come here constantly with some aim, some hope, some curiosity and a common aim - to feel healthy again. Louisa, from London, is here to quit her smoking habit. Brian, an affable Canadian hynotist and self help guru, has been on a long detox tour, coming from a Srilankan Ayrurveda resort. Elma, from Hongkong is too stressed out. Yurgen, from Maldives, just want to lose weight. Some of them seem to have lived a life of gluttony and look to be in dire need of a long term program. Some seem to be in perfect shape, atleast as far as I can see, but they are still here, may be just recovering from some ailment. Zil and Aina, from lithuania, are just plain tourists, no interest in Detox - She is a yoga teacher herself! The guests keep changing, but the crew remains the same.

Zil and Aina from Lithuania

Donnatella, from holland, has an amazing story. She lost her two mates and one leg in a handgranade accident. Then she contacted Lyme disease, was bed ridden for 2 years, barely survived, and then with the help of a few generous doctors and a reconstructed leg, she managed to move to this resort. With the help of an india naturopath, who worked here then, she regained her health, and decided to settle down in thailand. "you should live your dreams" she says with some nostalgia "because you never know when a hand Granada might go off". This place abounds with such stories, if one cares to sit down and listen.

Sakda, the yoga teacher

Madhav is a lanky Australian, who spent years learning yoga in Bihar school of yoga, and now can speak heavily accented Hindi. Hes studying to be a naturopath. "india is full of spirituality" he says contelatively " but very few spiritual people". Just to play it fair, he adds "we Australians are like that too, one hour of church every Sunday, and then we forget God exists for the rest of the week!" he met Pushpa at a yoga training center, she happens to be daughter of part owner of this resort Manta, a Thai herbalist, who busily struts around the resort, taking care of every detail. Dah manages reception, and Tai cooks lovely vegetarian food. They are the 'management'.

Khalid- The Egyptian naturopath

Khalid is an Egyptian, who recently joined this place as the naturopath, acupuncturist, herbalist - I call him the doc. We have hit it off well. "its because you and I" he says "come from a very old culture". Being a Muslim, he has been subjected to som racism in US and Australia, and he has trouble accepting that everybody there is not racist. He told me to try acupuncture and I do it for the first time in my life. I have invited him to singapore, and he has invited me to Cairo. "I have a brother in police who can arrange to pick you from the plane, I have a house right in front of the pyramids, and a cousin who will be happy to show you around in his car" he smiles "I am a well connected man in Cairo". Hmmmm, that's a thought. Few clicks on the iPad, and I see the air Italian deal from Rome to Cairo. I can squeeze that in. That takes care of continent number 4 in this years travel plans too. Few minutes later, I have the bookings, and Khalid has a shock. Thanks to my new Egyptian friend, I am heading for a new adventure soon.