My experiments with travelling

History has the proofs. Mysteries have always been a part of my wanderings. From the starting times wen I learnt to step my feet to this, I have collected many stories treasured along with my wander lust.
I have enjoyed almost all possible modes of travel- road, air, water...
And so is the diversification of my experiences ;)


Early 1990's. A bus ride. From amritsar to chandigarh. There came a halt for lunch. While my family was having lunch at the bus stop, I escaped quietly. I went in some other bus which left the stop after I stepped in. My parents were searching for me at the bus stop as soon as they realized my absence. The bus passengers noticed a child crying and no one to claim tht child. After moving on just a few meters, the bus driver stopped when the passengers told him about me. I was fortunate enough on that day to be granted with the grace to return to my parents. The newly added feature of walking at that time could have taken me to anywhere. This thought scares me off. But it was funny.. :)
Never mind. I was back in safe hands.
And so continued my wanderings and as the associated mysteries.


On a trip from Chandigarh to Chennai via Delhi, we (group of 5 stupid PEC students) reached the Delhi station 3 hours before the scheduled time of our train to Chennai. The tragedy is very interesting indeed. Being before time, being at the station itself, we missed our train. "How' is a good question here. Well this none of us can explain till date. Haha. We assumed that the train will get late as all other trains were behind their respective schedules. So we didn't bother to inquire the timings of our train.
But by any means we had to reach Chennai. That day for the first time I saw bribery from so close. Had to give some extra money to the station master to get hold of the tickets of next train. When I think of this story now I cant stop laughing. But that day it was amongst the worst feelings I have ever had :P
Late night in a city like Delhi, no where to go, in the chiling winters of January, and when my parents were calling me if he train has started moving or not...
I had to lie to my father tht train is late, this was just to avoid him taking tensions :)
And today he is a proud father n tells this story to people to show i can handle situations independently without bothering my parents.. B)

Another fun-filled (actually stupidity-filled) day was when I was coming back from Noida to Chandigarh with another innocent PEC friend. Took an auto to reach the Delhi bus terminal. And on the way we decided to go to the railway station as train would take us lesser time. On the road dividing into two ways, one to bus stand and the other one to railway station we asked auto vala uncle to stop. Called my papa to check the availability of tickets for Jan Shatabdi on net so that we could finalize our mode of transport.
Auto uncle shouting for the wait. Confusions and tensions rising. Amidst all this somehow by next taking a rickshaw we reached the station. Now a long queue to get the ticket. Both of us got in to separate lines to try our luck. Finally we have the tickets of some local train to chandigarh. Next target was to find the train on 10th platform. Train.. uffff... in such a bad condition.. unexplainable :P
now we realized the meaning of “Local train”. And the worst part was now we realized that we were at OLD DELHI RAILWAY STATION when we assumed we were at NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION. Heights.. :D
Disheartened both of us went to bus stand at the end and wasted the half day leave we took to reach home early.
Not all train trips have sour memories. One to Mumbai was a memorable one, with 5 of my cousins. Playing antakshri at 11 pm. And then an elderly person came to us to stop the nuisance and lectured us how we are supposed to behave while travelling in AC compartments :P
I remember this trip also for the heavy rains we enjoyed in Mumbai.
For steering the vessel in Arabian sea myself at the Mumbai High Port. For the fun at the water-kingdom. For the days we spent in clouds while our stay in Sahara City, Lonavla and Khandala. The pretty scenic views on the way to Nasik and Shirdi. Hmmm.. :)

I have been to India's heaven. Kashmir. Here also, as expected, the arcane followed.
While we were capturing the beauty of Sonmarg, and planning to visit Gulmarg next morning, we got the news of riots burning up in Srinagar. Our one week long tour had to cut down to just 3 days. Immediately left for Srinagar Airport, witnessed fire on the roads, police all around, horrifying experience. Next, on the spot ticket to Chandigarh was not available. We took a flight to Jammu. This was just a 25 mins flight. As it took off, we had a sigh of relief that finally we were safely out of Srinagar. But it was still not all. The landing of flight at jammu airport still had to give us another alarming instinct. Due to bad weather, run way was not much visible. Flight somehow landed and the bumpy and growly landing.. I still remember when I clutched to papa's arms in the fear of assuming it was an end. Haha.


Its like a power that I have to attract problems. Lol.
Where ever I go, it follows. :P
But then i guess... It only adds fun and reasons to remember all my trips.. :)