mpsrandhawa
Member
A trip down to the memory lane- 2013 Manali travel
A trip down to the memory lane- 2013 Manali travel
- Thread starter mpsrandhawa
- Start date
mpsrandhawa
Member
Friends I am new to writing. Please forgive me for typos,mistakes and poor English. This is our story from 2013. I know it's too old. But I had not gathered the courage to write this down. I am writing this in word and then copy pasting. I hope its ok with forum rules.
Section 1: Prologue
First I would like to introduce two characters of this whole story first one being myself and second my friend.
Myself: My name is Manpreet Singh and I work as computer faculty in Government School in our state Punjab. I am a quite shy person but good at observing others, may be when I can’t communicate with others I start observing others in all little detail and in so much detail that I can predict about that persons and his behavior based on these tiny details and expression. I am a married man and have lovely spouse and a beautiful son. Like many middle class average Indian I have not seen the youthful days of myself like others do. And one day I notice I am growing old. That’s enough for now, you will get to know me more later on.
My Friend: My friend Gurbaljeet Singh also work as computer faculty in Government School. We are together since we were doing MSc (Comp. Sci) in college and our friendship withstood many ups and downs of life and geographical distance. He is also a married man with beautiful wife and two kids. He is also like me in many aspects though we sometimes think different. I somehow regard him as more open and social person as compared to me. He also is like average middle class man who under the responsibilities of family forget to live for himself. Though it may seem mean thing to live for yourself. But you should get time to do things which you ever desire.
Now we come to actual matter. For last few years he was constantly asking me to go for few holidays to visit some place. And whenever he asked me I nodded in agreement but failed to respond in time as I was burdened with few responsibilities. And the time kept running. But some desires never die, so I and my friend Gurbaljeet from many years wanted to go for a trip to some place, but for many years life has had other plans for us. And if you are denied something for a long time you try to snatch it from the clutches of circumstances. But we both have same type and quality of bad luck.
But somehow in the end of year 2012 things started to look good. And we started to plan a vacation of our dreams. So first thing comes first “Where to go?” that question stood in our face. There are so many places to go within one two days reach and we have visited none. We have not gone to any place since our childhood. So we thought of many places. Every day we talked on phone and we will start building up our interest on one place and by the next day we would find some negative points and would discard the whole plan. This continued for many weeks. This happened because misfortune had struck us many times in past. We wanted a safe place with extreme adventure. So a thought came up of a combined religious and leisure trip. We tried to combine some places to get best of both worlds. After discussing many options and very long phone calls (Longs phone calls only because we live at different places geographically separated by approx. 80 kms). Though according to some countries this would be nothing but to us it’s very much. We settled on a trip to Hemkunt Sahib and while returning to home few days stay at Mussoorie. Both in the paradise of Uttrakhand. But as saying goes: Man purposes, but God disposes.
Section 1: Prologue
First I would like to introduce two characters of this whole story first one being myself and second my friend.
Myself: My name is Manpreet Singh and I work as computer faculty in Government School in our state Punjab. I am a quite shy person but good at observing others, may be when I can’t communicate with others I start observing others in all little detail and in so much detail that I can predict about that persons and his behavior based on these tiny details and expression. I am a married man and have lovely spouse and a beautiful son. Like many middle class average Indian I have not seen the youthful days of myself like others do. And one day I notice I am growing old. That’s enough for now, you will get to know me more later on.
My Friend: My friend Gurbaljeet Singh also work as computer faculty in Government School. We are together since we were doing MSc (Comp. Sci) in college and our friendship withstood many ups and downs of life and geographical distance. He is also a married man with beautiful wife and two kids. He is also like me in many aspects though we sometimes think different. I somehow regard him as more open and social person as compared to me. He also is like average middle class man who under the responsibilities of family forget to live for himself. Though it may seem mean thing to live for yourself. But you should get time to do things which you ever desire.
Now we come to actual matter. For last few years he was constantly asking me to go for few holidays to visit some place. And whenever he asked me I nodded in agreement but failed to respond in time as I was burdened with few responsibilities. And the time kept running. But some desires never die, so I and my friend Gurbaljeet from many years wanted to go for a trip to some place, but for many years life has had other plans for us. And if you are denied something for a long time you try to snatch it from the clutches of circumstances. But we both have same type and quality of bad luck.
But somehow in the end of year 2012 things started to look good. And we started to plan a vacation of our dreams. So first thing comes first “Where to go?” that question stood in our face. There are so many places to go within one two days reach and we have visited none. We have not gone to any place since our childhood. So we thought of many places. Every day we talked on phone and we will start building up our interest on one place and by the next day we would find some negative points and would discard the whole plan. This continued for many weeks. This happened because misfortune had struck us many times in past. We wanted a safe place with extreme adventure. So a thought came up of a combined religious and leisure trip. We tried to combine some places to get best of both worlds. After discussing many options and very long phone calls (Longs phone calls only because we live at different places geographically separated by approx. 80 kms). Though according to some countries this would be nothing but to us it’s very much. We settled on a trip to Hemkunt Sahib and while returning to home few days stay at Mussoorie. Both in the paradise of Uttrakhand. But as saying goes: Man purposes, but God disposes.
rameshtahlan
Super User
Great.
now let the images flow to complete the story
happy landings
RT
now let the images flow to complete the story
happy landings
RT
mpsrandhawa
Member
thanks sir
mpsrandhawa
Member
First view of hills for us
Gurbaljeet on Kullu bus stop
and thats me
Gurbaljeet on Kullu bus stop
and thats me
mpsrandhawa
Member
Section 2: Plan and Pain Phase
We were busy in making our plans for a trip in 2013 June. But God had other plans (You will come to know later or you already know if you keep up with news from around the world). We started searching internet, went through numerous forums and blogs about Hemkunt Sahib and trekking to high altitude places. Through these forums we came to know that trek to Hemkunt Sahib is very difficult. For the first time in life we came to know about the term AMS (acute mountain sickness). We started noting every little detail. We noted down the medicines needed to prevent AMS and medicine needed in case one is suffering from it. Shoes to be worn while trekking, what we need to carry to eat while trekking, what things needed in case of emergencies? What type of food to eat in high altitude places?
So we settled for the month of June. As this is the month when roads to most of high altitude places open in India (I don’t know about whole world). One more reason for this month is due to our profession. As we both are teachers and we have summer vacation of 30 days, which we can utilize for travelling. But we needed to decide a date. Gurbaljeet is farmer also, paddy sowing seasons also starts in same month. We thought that by 19th of June he would be free. So we decided for 19th June as to be our departure date.
As the days were passing our phone calls were getting longer and longer and excitement increasing by manifold, while we were continuously researching and reading about the trip. We even made our hotel bookings in Mussoorie to avoid holiday rush and any late minute regrets. Time was flying while we kept ourselves a bit busy in our daily routine.
Summer vacations started, we went for a basic shopping to Amritsar (but in all ways it was beyond basic shopping as per our standards). Shoes and raincoats were bought according to the weather conditions. Some new clothes also came along with other things, just for the trip. And though, at first, we decided to keep mum about our trip, we advertised it a lot among relatives and friends. We also had to decide the mode of transport as this is the first thing that can make your trip memorable both ways good or bad. So we discussed a lot about all the available options. We could go by our own car, but we both have never driven in hills. So other option was bus or train. But we did not wanted to go by public transport. It would have been lot uncomfortable for us. We chose something in between: partly by our car and partly by sharing taxi. We planned that up to Rishikesh we will go by our own car, there we will park our car and take shared taxi to Hemkunt Sahib and after coming back to Rishikesh we will again have our car to travel to Mussoorie. As Mussoorie is not very far from Rishikesh we will manage that much hill drive even if it had to be at slow pace.
As the days were getting closer our excitement was increasing. I read a lot on internet about the trek. I started to watch live telecast from Hemkunt Sahib. I admired the beautiful huge mountains laden with snow. It all looked like a paradise. I hoped one day I will be there. I have habit of creating fantasy in my mind about these trips. I tend to think a lot and then I would imagine all nearby beautiful places to cover and would try to make it a big grand trip. And I then I tend to blew plans out of proportion, which results in dismay later. But few days before our trip (if I remember it correctly three days to be exact) telecast from Hemkunt Sahib was interrupted. I though it to be a technical fault and stayed glued to TV screen to watch the telecast if it resumed.
We packed our bags two days in advance, so that we don’t forget anything in haste. Bags were packed and kept aside in cupboards. Then the news of heavy rainfall in Uttrakhand started coming on news channels. I started to pray in my heart. I hoped that rains will stop by the time we reach there. As I am not realistic enough that is why I forced ourselves to keep the plan intact. But a day before we were about to start the tour. News came about the tragedy in Uttrakhand. Everything was washed at Gobind Ghat by raging waters. Almost all the TV channels were showing buildings washed away like matchboxes by water. The force of nature does not distinguish like men. My heart sank and I nearly got a mild heart attack, as in back of my mind I knew that something will go wrong. I cursed the GOD for not allowing us to travel. How selfish our emotions are that at slight downfall we start cursing the culprit without analyzing the real benefits or reasons behind something. But later when I came to my senses I thanked the GOD for saving us.
I called my friend he was also feeling the same, we felt dejected and broken. We prayed and prayed that somehow things will ease but this was not to happen. I spent two days like a rejected lover laying on bed all the time. There was shame also involved by our mistake. We advertised out trip a lot among our friends and relatives and the lesson was learnt that never tell people before you actually go somewhere. Now there was fear that people will laugh at us as we were not destined to enjoy. From the start of the thought of trip in the back of my mind I always feared that something will go wrong. And trust me worst fears often come true in life. But what are we in front of GOD: a tiny useless creature, we can’t challenge his will. But I didn’t want to go down so easily. I wanted to travel somewhere. I called my friend and asked him to search for alternatives. So the search again began with the lot of fear as previous plans were shattered by single stroke of luck.
But later in my life I was very thankful to GOD as our new plan brought something with it in my life that was out of this world.
Gurbaljeet called in evening and suggested that we should go to Manali next day. I immediately agreed. So we didn’t have anything for discussions, only thing to be decided was the mode of transport for the travel. We decided to do this trip by bus as this would be our first trip in hills. And moreover because we didn’t wanted any surprises this time. We wanted to relax. At last something that was denied to us for a long time, we tried to snatch it from the clutches of luck. In hope that at last Goddess of luck will smile upon us. In the evening I selected my things from the already packed bags, so not much was needed for preparations.
We were busy in making our plans for a trip in 2013 June. But God had other plans (You will come to know later or you already know if you keep up with news from around the world). We started searching internet, went through numerous forums and blogs about Hemkunt Sahib and trekking to high altitude places. Through these forums we came to know that trek to Hemkunt Sahib is very difficult. For the first time in life we came to know about the term AMS (acute mountain sickness). We started noting every little detail. We noted down the medicines needed to prevent AMS and medicine needed in case one is suffering from it. Shoes to be worn while trekking, what we need to carry to eat while trekking, what things needed in case of emergencies? What type of food to eat in high altitude places?
So we settled for the month of June. As this is the month when roads to most of high altitude places open in India (I don’t know about whole world). One more reason for this month is due to our profession. As we both are teachers and we have summer vacation of 30 days, which we can utilize for travelling. But we needed to decide a date. Gurbaljeet is farmer also, paddy sowing seasons also starts in same month. We thought that by 19th of June he would be free. So we decided for 19th June as to be our departure date.
As the days were passing our phone calls were getting longer and longer and excitement increasing by manifold, while we were continuously researching and reading about the trip. We even made our hotel bookings in Mussoorie to avoid holiday rush and any late minute regrets. Time was flying while we kept ourselves a bit busy in our daily routine.
Summer vacations started, we went for a basic shopping to Amritsar (but in all ways it was beyond basic shopping as per our standards). Shoes and raincoats were bought according to the weather conditions. Some new clothes also came along with other things, just for the trip. And though, at first, we decided to keep mum about our trip, we advertised it a lot among relatives and friends. We also had to decide the mode of transport as this is the first thing that can make your trip memorable both ways good or bad. So we discussed a lot about all the available options. We could go by our own car, but we both have never driven in hills. So other option was bus or train. But we did not wanted to go by public transport. It would have been lot uncomfortable for us. We chose something in between: partly by our car and partly by sharing taxi. We planned that up to Rishikesh we will go by our own car, there we will park our car and take shared taxi to Hemkunt Sahib and after coming back to Rishikesh we will again have our car to travel to Mussoorie. As Mussoorie is not very far from Rishikesh we will manage that much hill drive even if it had to be at slow pace.
As the days were getting closer our excitement was increasing. I read a lot on internet about the trek. I started to watch live telecast from Hemkunt Sahib. I admired the beautiful huge mountains laden with snow. It all looked like a paradise. I hoped one day I will be there. I have habit of creating fantasy in my mind about these trips. I tend to think a lot and then I would imagine all nearby beautiful places to cover and would try to make it a big grand trip. And I then I tend to blew plans out of proportion, which results in dismay later. But few days before our trip (if I remember it correctly three days to be exact) telecast from Hemkunt Sahib was interrupted. I though it to be a technical fault and stayed glued to TV screen to watch the telecast if it resumed.
We packed our bags two days in advance, so that we don’t forget anything in haste. Bags were packed and kept aside in cupboards. Then the news of heavy rainfall in Uttrakhand started coming on news channels. I started to pray in my heart. I hoped that rains will stop by the time we reach there. As I am not realistic enough that is why I forced ourselves to keep the plan intact. But a day before we were about to start the tour. News came about the tragedy in Uttrakhand. Everything was washed at Gobind Ghat by raging waters. Almost all the TV channels were showing buildings washed away like matchboxes by water. The force of nature does not distinguish like men. My heart sank and I nearly got a mild heart attack, as in back of my mind I knew that something will go wrong. I cursed the GOD for not allowing us to travel. How selfish our emotions are that at slight downfall we start cursing the culprit without analyzing the real benefits or reasons behind something. But later when I came to my senses I thanked the GOD for saving us.
I called my friend he was also feeling the same, we felt dejected and broken. We prayed and prayed that somehow things will ease but this was not to happen. I spent two days like a rejected lover laying on bed all the time. There was shame also involved by our mistake. We advertised out trip a lot among our friends and relatives and the lesson was learnt that never tell people before you actually go somewhere. Now there was fear that people will laugh at us as we were not destined to enjoy. From the start of the thought of trip in the back of my mind I always feared that something will go wrong. And trust me worst fears often come true in life. But what are we in front of GOD: a tiny useless creature, we can’t challenge his will. But I didn’t want to go down so easily. I wanted to travel somewhere. I called my friend and asked him to search for alternatives. So the search again began with the lot of fear as previous plans were shattered by single stroke of luck.
But later in my life I was very thankful to GOD as our new plan brought something with it in my life that was out of this world.
Gurbaljeet called in evening and suggested that we should go to Manali next day. I immediately agreed. So we didn’t have anything for discussions, only thing to be decided was the mode of transport for the travel. We decided to do this trip by bus as this would be our first trip in hills. And moreover because we didn’t wanted any surprises this time. We wanted to relax. At last something that was denied to us for a long time, we tried to snatch it from the clutches of luck. In hope that at last Goddess of luck will smile upon us. In the evening I selected my things from the already packed bags, so not much was needed for preparations.
mpsrandhawa
Member
I don't have great collection of photographs. Because neither I have great eye for photographs and nor great camera. Just few photographs.
mpsrandhawa
Member
One question to moderators. how to make it to the second page. so that this page does not become heavy.
mpsrandhawa
Member
Thanks Sir, I did not know that. Will write more and post here