BRAToSPHERE

Tag: Travel

  • Train to Kanpur

    “La Camisa Negra..”

    Song playing in the headphone, thinking of the discovery of voice program. The naughty kids wails are still audible piercing through the headphones. Sue you Bose QC. Noise cancelling it says. Can’t silence a small kid.

    Am in the train en route to a major town in UP, to attend my Niece’s wedding. Niece’s wedding? How old are you? Well, this one is a long story involving 10 off springs and a huge lineage, better left for some other time.

    Song changes to “Cup Song..”

    Coming back to the train. I am in the Shatabdi train, so called king of the Indian railway trains (Maybe the prince, if Rajdhani can be called the king) hoping that it would be a pleasant silent journey for 5 long hours. Little did I hope that these five hours would seem like an eternity.

    The journey to the railway station in itself was pleasant. Thank you Delhi Metro. Post my experience, when I had to drop my Mother in law to the station, and I nearly got her to miss the train, I rely on the Delhi metro more than the Delhi Roads. Not my fault. The un-predictable traffic. Even Google Maps goes wrong by a large margin when it comes to Delhi Traffic. Well, maybe I should have estimated the travel time better. Or better still, I should have seen the departure time better. 2:15 and 2:45 look so similar right?

    Song Changes to “Tribal..”

    Anyways, coming back to the train. Post the pleasant trip to the Station I was welcomed to the very familiar filthy and dirty station. I think it is high time we get a crusader against dirtying public areas. The 0.5% cess for Swacch Bharat clearly is not working. (No! 1% would not work either. Intention and action would probably work!).

    I don’t know why we Indians cannot keep basics in place. How much more effort does it take to walk a 50 mts more to spit in the spittoon, or discard the empty chips packet into a dustbin. No!  We just throw wherever we need to!

    Song changes to “bumbaya..”

    Coming back to the train, after the dirty experience at the station, I was looking forward to the train. Shatabdi’s are generally clean. I am at the platform at 3:30 for a train scheduled to depart at 3:50. The train is still not at the platform. I kill time browsing the wheeler books trolley, and buy a couple of magazines. The time now is 3:45PM, The train is still not here. I walk to the snacks stall and pick  a bottle of water and just when I manage to wriggle to manage the last currency note out of my wallet, I hear the train’s whistle. The anger of the vendor not having moved to cashless is subsided by the coarse whistle sound.

    I jump on in the train to my seat (Thankfully this is clean) and get ready my arsenal – iPad, Music, headphones and the magazines I just bought on the table in the front. I was looking forward to the short journey. 4:15 PM. The train is still on the platform. It probably would not be that a short journey. Why God? Why? Why does it always happen to the train I am travelling in? Who is this damn lawyer Murphy?

    Song Changes to “play..”

    The train finally moves at 4:25 PM and I settle in my seat. The train is relatively empty and I wonder why? Indian trains are always crowded. I sit by the window side, deep into my iPad reading and occasionally watching the roads outside. Very soon we would be out of Delhi and the view from the window would be full of mustard fields. What a pleasant sight. I already feel like SRK.

    The train screeches stop at 5PM and gets me of the slumber. Wait! Where did so many people come from? How did the ‘not-so-empty’ suddenly get overfilled with argumentative middle aged men and young women with wailing kids? Ghaziabad. UP sure has to be the most populous state in the country. The kid behind my seats starts wailing. He probably does not like my remark on UP.

    Song changes to “My life..”

    This is my life right now. The far from perfect train journey.

    I take up the volume on VLC to 200%. Creaking sound is better than wail sounds. Damn you Bose QC.

    p.s.: Just in case you are curious, the playlist of the music is Running Music Workout 2016

  • A trip to the hinterlands

    A full 9 day trip to the hinterlands of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. A journey into myself. I have always maintained that travel is the best form of education. Any kind of travel always teaches us new things and enriches us in a completely unique way. The last time I went on a journey, it was to try out something new and I ended up learning how to fish using the best braided fishing line, and now I can proudly add that skill to my accomplishments. So what can I expect from this journey?

    This could be a travel to an entirely different continent, country, place or even to the same place that we have been to multiple times. Travelling, meeting new people and knowing about different situations and ways of life is always enriching.

    With the same quest, I embarked on my first holiday for the year – a trip to my in-laws, Bihar. This is my first trip to the beautiful rustic Eastern Indian State. To say the least, it has completely mesmerized me.

    Like it is said, do not believe anything without seeing it with your own eyes. Nothing holds truer when it comes to Bihar. The state’s image is ridden with negative news all over the National Media. Not completely refuting the news, a large part of it is probably true, but there is also a lot on the other side – its natural beauty, the vast serene plain lands and the people.

    The Indian festival of colours, Holi is celebrated with full vigour in this part of the country, and it has now become an annual custom to be here during the festivities. The long weekend with Holi being couple with Good Friday holiday helped in extending the holiday for the complete 9 days weekend to weekend.

    Our first stop was at Gorakhpur – the land of hardcore Hinduism, home to the famous Gita Press. The Railway station itself seemed impressive and much cleaner compared to the last visit here. Exactly a year back.

    My initial impressions of Gorakhpur being a small sleepy town without any modern amenities were all quashed with the Mall visit. The SRS mall here is as good as any decent mall in any metropolitan city, and the Spencers within seemed more stocked than most of the departmental stores in Gurgaon. This clearly was a picture of a growing and developing India and a reflection of the middle class aspirations. Brands like “UCB” and “Levi’s” have made an impression across and even Reynold’s feels the need to have a kiosk within the mall to promote its range.

    Talking about Reynolds, and pens, one thing I noticed across my trip is the stress on education in these parts of the country. Everywhere the roads were painted with huge hoardings with pictures of young spectacled boys and girls who have aced the different entrance exams – IIT, PMT,etc. No wonder entrance exam guide books sell on street side vending carts alongside fruits and sattu.

    I also squeezed in time to visit the famous Gita Press. The recent mainstream book on the institution surely added to the curiosity. Tucked away in the centre of a busy market place, this place is a very welcome escape to the world of Hindu Culture. The imposing museum on the first floor of the building is a must visit. Though the paintings in itself are quite old, the way in which they have all been laid and categorized is mesmerizing. Also, the first printing machine used by the press nearly a hundred years ago is in itself a trip down the history line.

    The impressive modern looking bookstore with the glass façade and neatly categorized and stacked books is an experience in itself. The store displays books on every possible Hindu learnings in most of the Indian languages, and all available for a pittance. Probably just to cover the printing charge and nothing else. No wonder, I loaded up on a huge pile limiting myself only with the fact that there is still a week of travel before I get back home. They also service online orders! I very soon would ned a new bookshelf.

    An interesting thing to note is the font used to write Gita Press. The famous Chariot frame from Mahabharata in the background, and GITA PRESS GORAKHPUR written in typeface reminds one of the early powerpoint days.

    Gorakhnath temple, from where the name of the city is derived, is another landmark in the city. I have a theory on temples in Indian Cities. In olden days, there was no culture of vacationing and our learned ancestors did realize the importance of a good holiday for a fulfilling family life. Thus, the temples. Every city in the country would have a worshipping place which would be frequently thronged by people from neighboring villages. This served the dual purpose of a picnic outing for the complete family and also served the spiritual quests.

    The Gorakhnath temple served this purpose well. With a small waterbody within the temple premises now serving as a boating place, and a hall with statues of ancient maharishis and babas jostled between Gods scultptures. The temple did feel serenic and calm even in the Hot harsh summer sun.

    Small impressive additions to the Railway Station from the last time, or were these here and I missed them the last time over? The clean irctc café just outside the station was a welcome relief from the unpredictable carts outside the station serving litti. The café had an impressive menu though most of the items were not available on the day we visited. And the hygienic “Water Point” at the station. At Rs. 8/- for a liter of drinking water (with an additional charge for the container) this was a welcome addition to avoid the wastage of a plastic bottle. This seemed like a good initiative to be scaled up across, and I bet the Water Manufacturers would be keen to use this as a branding initiative benefitting the end consumer.

    With this, our brief two day stay in Gorakhpur came to an end. we now headed to the next part of our Journey – Bihar.

  • Flight to Catch

    I just spoke about  Business travel and here I have an episode to narrate of just missing a potential stranded situation.

    After many days, and many a cancellations, I was bound to travel to a southern city earlier this week. The plan was simple. I fly out through a Jettly charter in the evening, spend the night in a hotel and return the next evening after completing my business in the city. A short sweet business trip, like the countless many I have had.

    This trip seemed to have been jinxed right from the word go!

    The trip planning begins about a month back. I was to visit three cities in a span of 10 days, and i book my tickets for some time in mid-November after confirmation to the stakeholders and aligning everyone. For once, I had made all the bookings well in advance.

    I had scheduled an action packed week.

    Alas! Like most of the planning, this was not to be and the trip had to be postponed due to some circumstances. All three trips had to be cancelled. While cancellation I was made to realize by the travel agent that the flight tickets to this south Indian city are not refundable and I could rather reschedule the trip for no penalty. Nice! I would hate wasting the company resources, and once again after aligning the requisite stakeholders I reschedule my trip to the first week of December.

    I again start planning.

    One night before the travel day, I happened to meet a friend who was visiting from the same South Indian city. We had dinner together and caught up with each other’s lives and work. It was a wonderful evening and the background thought all the time was – I am to visit his city the next day. What a coincidence!

    On the day of travel, I pack my bags in the morning ensuring I have all the essentials to cover myself from both the sultry hot south Indian weather and winter wearing for my return to Delhi back, the next night. I was all prepared.

    I had booked a cab for myself a good two and a half hours before the take-off time. The last meeting gets extended and give an internal signal to myself. Half an hour more and I leave, even if the meeting is not done. Two hours before the take-off time is good to reach the airport and complete all the check-in formalities.
    The meeting is done right in time, and I pack my laptop and head off to the airport. Here I get a mail from my colleague announcing that the business in the city has been postponed and I could cancel my ticket. What? Not again! I decide to go on and finish the other part of the business and push for this first meeting to be scheduled the next day. I sure could postpone my trip by a day. I so did not want to postpone this already delayed trip. The traffic on the way to the airport is bad even during this time of the day. Pity people who ply on this road everyday especially during the peak hours, I think to myself.

    The phone rings, and a quick chat later I realize the reason for the postponing of my scheduled meeting. I was now unnerved. Is it really that bad? I call up my colleague and check the situation. She gives no hope! I am still on the way to the airport.

    Now, with potentially all my meetings getting cancelled there is no reason I need to go to Chennai. But would I get a refund on my air tickets and the hotel? I have already web checked in to my flight. But what do I do after getting there? Battling these thoughts in my mind, i am suddenly shaken by the jerk of the car. He has taken the turn to the airport. I have less than 5 minutes to be deciding.

    I call up the hotel and check if I could cancel my booking. I would not want to waste so much money – flight and the hotel! After a brief wait, they confirm that the room would be cancelled without any penalty. Awesome! I ask them to hold on.

    Now it is the flight cancellation. I call up the travel agent incessantly but to no avail. What do I do?

    The cab enters the departure terminal at the airport and halts. The driver looks at me, and in a moment I signal him to go on. He looks at me in a confused manner and I speak, “Wapas office le chaliye” (take me back to office). He is still confused and gives me a puzzled look. He turns to look in the front and drives out of the terminal.

    The travel agent is still not reachable. The decision has been made. I tell the reason to the driver on why we are returning. He now seems convinced. I make calls and announce my return. Still not sure if I have made the right decision. Should I have carried on and pushed my way through the meetings? Maybe. Or maybe not! It probably would not have been worth it. Nevertheless, no point thinking now. The decision has been made.

    I return back to office and walk to my Manager’s cabin – “I returned back from the airport”, I exclaim, telling him my reasons.

    I then head straight to the travel desk.

    “Where are you guys?”

    “Why are you not answering my calls?”

    The guys give me a puzzled look.

    “Can you please off board me and cancel my flight ticket to Chennai?”

    The next day morning I get a news alert on my iphone – “Chennai Airport shut for the day due to rains”.

    Pictures start flowing all day of the inundated city with water logging everywhere. The news alert in the evening – “Chennai airport to remain shut till Sunday”.

    #PrayforChennai

  • Business Travel and its Joys

    It has again been a long gap and I have no reason except for my sheer lethargy and multiple commitments resulting in non-management of my time in the best way possible. Phew! After that long sentence, I hope I can reduce this guilt of being away from long.

    I would personally like to blame this long gap on the frequent travel. Only issue here is that the travels were much frequent in earlier years and the post frequency then was much better than it is now. So, back to square one! No real reason!

    Talking about Business travel, a necessary part of today’s corporate life. When did someone close a deal, or influence a new investment over a phone? Video Conference you say? Well, that is just a glamorous way of seeing different people across the geography and deciding on when to meet next to close it. Please don’t even try suggesting the phone. These have long been abandoned even by the College lovers. They prefer facetime!

    Many people would equate business travel to a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, and no blame there. I, after all these years of Business travel, still love these. But well, there are many of my friends who state having a different experience.

    As per these friends of mine, few unpleasant things are as glamorized as frequent business travel. Really? Don’t you like being up in the air?

    Their argument – frequent travel leads to unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., poor diet, lack of exercise, excess drinking), while jet lag causes stress, mood swings, disorientation, sleep problems, and gastrointestinal problems, all of which impair job performance.

    Ranting on, they state the need to be resilient enough to cope with the adverse effects of frequent travel on them and their families. Clearly, these guys sure have a high price to pay for reaching the top frequent flyer status.

    I have been in corporate for more than six years, and one thing that I have realised over all these years is that Business Travel is here to stay. A recent Economist article states the multifold increase in the number of travellers over the years. Yes, this is in spite of the huge strides in Communications technology.

    To survive in the corporate world, and to survive as an individual, one needs to travel. Full Stop.

    There are some things that we can take care of though, to ease the pain (if any) out of these Business Travel.

    1. Plan Early and in detail (If you have someone to plan your itinerary, do ensure that the person knows your preferences in terms of kind of room, kind of airline seat and the airline timings!)
    2. Stay at the Right place (This does not always mean the best place in town. This would mean the place closest to your area of work in the new city and close to the airport too, if possible!)
    3. Talk to new people and try absorbing the new culture. (During my last visit to Lucknow, in spite of having stayed there for a good two years of my life, it felt so refreshing to have a chat with my cab driver on the way to the hotel. It was like him fast reading the newspaper of over three years, in less than thirty minutes!). So, no matter how many times you have been to the city, the local guy there always knows more than you.
    4. Savour the local cuisine – be keen to try out different kinds of food. If you are not the vegetarian types, the world is your playground. Of late, even vegetarians are having a gala time! There is so much to see and eat around us! No?
    5. Read the local Newspaper – This is one thing that I have always been fond of. From my childhood days, during our long summer holidays train to Rajasthan, I made it a point to buy newspapers at different stations and then see what is happening local to that place. Helps put in a perspective.
    6. Walk Around – nothing better! Serves the health bit too
    7. Learn some local phrases – This helps in making an immediate connect with the city as well as the locals. And you learn something new.
    8. Read and Spend time with yourself – Contradicting to my earlier suggestions, but well the long flights and the innumerable hours spent waiting for the delayed flight at the airport terminal is the best time to be spending time with yourself, sipping on a cup of coffee.

    In Short, Live Life. There is so much to see and do around us, and Business travel is a wonderful opportunity. As they say, seek opportunities in difficulties and you would always be a happy person (refrained from saying man, lest the feminists take offence!)

    Overall, Business travel is not as terrible as my friends think. Having the right attitude could actually make it a wonderful thing. Now, I would take your leave, as I have a plane to catch…

  • Train journey musings

    I am sure there are a lot many articles written in the train and this one is adding to the list.

    I am right now in a train, on my way to Vizag from mumbai – a full 28 hours in the train. Yehhhh!

    The train has always brought fond memories of my childhood when it was an annual ritual for us to go to my maternal grandparent’s house in Rajasthan. Criss-crossing the length of the country from one corner to another corner, with the fascinating journey itself taking about two complete days.

    Those all familiar sights of the yellow board with black letters announcing the name of the station, trolleys with chips and Coke, Red dressed coolies running towards an arriving train (they always reminded me of Amitabh Bachchan), vendors shouting “Chai.. Chai.. Chai..”, the rail announcement ‘Kripiya dhyaan dijiye.. Gaadi number….” and the crazy commotion like they all have to catch a train. Well, i guess they did!

    I remember this habit of buying newspaper at all major junctions, and being surprised at the fact that all of them carry the same news. So, my mind wondered, that the same movie is being discussed in Bhopal also, as in Hyderabad. This became my favorite hobby, to guess what news of the Raipur newspaper would make it to the Delhi newspaper.

    What I was basically trying to do was segregating the national news from the local news. My young brain did not know this so implicitly at that time.

    Godavari River, clicked from a moving train

    The train journeys made me proud of the diverse heritage of our country. The landscapes, rivers, forests, tunnels, farms, made me realize what a beautiful country we live in.

    Another fond memory of the train journey is meeting new people. I realize I have always liked meeting new people and talking to them about varied things, right from a popular movie to the latest comic on the book shelves. In most of my train journeys, I have always encountered interesting people in the way, making me realize the diversity of the country.

    Talk about train journeys and how can I forget the “wheeler” book trolley. One of the main reasons why i loved a train journey were the books. My book allowance would increase manifold during a train journey and I think this was more to keep me away from any mischief.

    “Chacha chowdhary, tinkle, wisdom,..” and the likes would all comprise my adorable small book shelf on my return. I loved them so much that I used to get the entire collection hard bound, and saved for posterity.

    An interesting thing to do while traveling in trains – remove the ear plugs! There are so many interesting conversations happening all around, eaves dropping on any one of them gives a whole new insight into the thought process of the common man. Well, this is the topic of discussion on presently in my compartment – the Aam Aadmi Party.

    Sadly, after having started working, my train journeys have largely reduced mainly due to the time constraints.

    In spite of this, I try to squeeze in a train journey whenever possible, making the most of it. This reminds me of a small poetry,

    “My heart is warm with the friends I make,
    And better friends I’ll not be knowing,
    Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take,
    No matter where it’s going.”
    ― Edna St. Vincent Millay, The Selected Poetry

    Train journeys is perfect time when I am all to myself without the irritating phone beeping all day (thanks to the intermittent network I tend to switch it off), and immersed in books and thoughts for the entire period.

    Back to my book for now.

    I am sure all of you too have fond memories of train journeys during your childhood, so which one do you remember the most?