Abode of the Clouds – Blah Is Ord

I love you not for who you are, but who i am by your side

Most of the weddings these days are very predictable, boring and routine in nature. Go to the wedding hall, stand in a queue to wish the couple, handover the gift, pose for a group photograph, exchange pleasantries with a few common friends and relatives and proceed meekly to the food table. If you are lucky – Lord Soma – the top Indian god of liquor joined by Bacchus the Greek god of grape harvest, wine making and wine may descend on earth and open a bar. In which case, all the tipplers involuntarily gravitate towards the bar and partake of some elixir to alleviate the mood.

Our daughter Akhila married Anirban in 2004 and became Blah. Since then the Blahs have become an integral part of our life. Around the same time, Anirban’s sister, Priyanka came from Shillong to do her schooling in Bishop Cottons, Bangalore. She stayed with us for a short while when pursuing her studies. We have seen Priyanka grow from a playful fourteen year old teen to a vivacious, bubbly and talented woman. In later years we have looked forward to her visits and enjoyed her company immensely.

Priyanka navigated the ‘Sea of life’ with aplomb. Like any sea voyage, there were some stormy nights but more often, calm seas and fair winds propelled her. Every ship requires a strong anchor and she found one in Nick – an affable gentleman from Manchester. Nick is popularly known as ‘The Ambassador of Good Times ‘and also the Reserve Brand Ambassador for Diageo’. What I simply adore about Nick, is his guts. In his own words “I remember quitting my sensible job with HSBC bank after graduating with a BA in History and Politics with Philosophy from the University of Leeds, to become a bartender, despite the disappointment in my parent’s eyes and disbelief of my peers. ‘You’re going to work in a pub selling beer… when are you going to get a REAL job?’ Times have changed for the better and my parents are now very proud of my success.”

I have been on the other side of his bar and have delighted in sampling his cocktails. It was indeed an honour to be served such exotic combos from a ‘Master Mixologist’. HSBC’s loss is definitely our gain.

True to her nature, Priyanka insisted on getting married in Shillong, her birthplace. She wanted something unique and special – it may have been her hidden desire to showcase Meghalaya ‘Abode of Clouds’ in general and Shillong, popularly known as the ‘Scotland of the East’ to all the people attending the wedding.

Incredible Meghalaya – on the way to Shillong

So, all the preparations for a ‘Destination Wedding’ (DW) started in right earnest. Rita, Anirban, Akhila,Indranil and Disha joined hands to organize the wedding in Shillong. The in-house wedding planners went to great lengths to ensure a dream wedding and venue – nothing was left to chance. Nick and Priyanka created a website giving all the details of the wedding. 28 October 2016 was selected as the D Day.

There’s a lot to be said for a DW. Only genuine well wishers will travel hundreds of miles to attend the wedding, participate earnestly in all the events and enjoy the bonhomie that is generated.

26 Oct 2016. Meet and Greet. We landed in ‘Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport’ Guwahati at 1030 h. We were greeted by our designated taxi driver and whisked off to Shillong. After a picturesque three hour drive we arrived in Shillong and checked into ‘Hotel Centre Point’.

‘Blah is Ord’ posters, banners, taxi stickers greeted us everywhere. The organization was excellent and executed with military precision.

Vivek and Indranil at the Center Point lobby

Refreshed and rearing to go, we reached the Blahs’ official residence ‘Shailabaz’. The spacious bungalow was lit up beautifully and full of cheerful guests. After some hellos and hugs we settled down to some serious ‘Elbow Bending’ to ward off the cold. The entire Blah clan was there to participate in the wedding. Nicks parents, sister and his close friends from England and Australia added cheer to all the ceremonies. More importantly Priyanka’s young friends brought in the much needed fun and frolic. Friends of Anirban and Indranil had travelled many miles to make the function a success. Ayaan, Samara, Agastya and Aarin the bride’s nephews and niece, running around in gay abandon, completed the scene. The Prabhakars and Bhavsars joined the merriment in all earnest, as the first event ’Meet and Greet’ started to unfold.

Blahs’ official residence ‘Shailabaz’.

Priyanka and Nick with Jai, Lisa, Pappu and June,

Excellent weather, good friends and a cozy bonfire made a very heady combo – we talked, drank, ate and bonded with each other for a long time.

This was an exceptional way to start a wedding.

27 Oct 2016. Mehendi and Sangeet. ’While the girls got ready to attend the ‘Mehendi Ceremony’, early in the morning, I went along with my dear buddy KM Nair to play a round of Golf at the 5/8 Gorkha Training Centre. The course is extremely picturesque but very challenging with all its ups and downs. Tired but contented, we left the GTC after a sumptuous breakfast.

Picturesque Golf Centre at 5/8 Gorkha Training Centre

At the Mehendi

‘Shailabaz’ was a beehive of activity; three Mehendi specialists were busy drawing intricate patterns on the hands of all the ladies. One could not help noticing the look of absorption especially on the faces of Ord ladies. All of them were simply thrilled with the idea of Mehendi on their hands and feet. One male guest even got a mehendied-tattoo on his arm!

The men kept themselves busy with easy banter, well supported by beer and pork. If ever you want to put any Khasi, Jaintia or Garo on line; you simply threaten to turn him into a vegetarian. No meal is complete without pork. My wife, who is a pure vegetarian by choice, was in for a shock when she asked the caterer ‘what is there for breakfast’, prompt came the reply, “for non vegetarians there is pork momos and for vegetarians there is chicken momos’.

In the evening we all gathered at the ‘City Hut’ restaurant for the ‘Sangeet’. In addition to the inner circle, lots of local guests from Shillong joined the merriment. Mr Ankush had been specially flown in from Mumbai to manage the bar. It was amply evident that he made a lot of people happy and cheerful. The bridegroom surprised all of us with a song and dance and many others joined in with foot tapping Bollywood numbers.

Pretty girls of Prabhakar family

Indranil with the Bhavsars

Anirban and Katyal enjoying a drink

Priyankas friends – life of the party

Steve and June – all happiness

Kids engaged in a game

Disha busy with the Blahs

All the Blahs

Friends of Anirban and Indranil

Mr Ankush with the master

Sudhi and Nair our guests from Bangalore with Akki

Vivek Shubs and Resh

Lisa turn to be melodious

The Blah Boys in action

Brides friends

28 Oct 2016. Wedding. Everyone took it easy the next morning. Had Mr Jeeves been present at ‘Centre Point’, he would have been in great demand to prepare his iconic ‘pick me up’ restorative. The success of the ‘Sangeet’ was very evident. By now, all the guests were on first name basis with loud greetings, bear hugs and good humored friendliness. The breakfast hall and the reception had become an annex of the Blah House.

All of us checked out of ‘Centre Point’ and moved the action into the ‘RiKynjai” resort. Located 20 Kms from Shillong the resort overlooks the picturesque ‘Umiam Lake’. RiKynjai translates from Khasi as ‘Serenity by the Lake’. The architecture is inspired and derived from the original Khasi thatched huts. The décor showcases many charming khasi pots and weaves. The rooms are extremely well appointed and spacious. Each suite is built at three different levels – the bathroom, living and study and finally the balcony, which faces east and overlooks the entire expanse of the lake. The view of the lake and the surrounding hills is simply breathtaking. The early morning view is something to be cherished as the sun rises and illuminates the entire area.

Ri Kynjai symbolizes the innate essence of ‘Meghalaya’.

View from the room

The Blahs could not have chosen anything better than this location to solemnize the union of Priyanka and Nick.

The guests sat on the lawns facing a small gazebo, waiting in anticipation, as the bridegroom accompanied by his best man arrived at the altar. Nick absolutely loves ‘Star Wars’ so instead of ‘Here comes the bride’, we heard the strains of the Star Wars theme. Ayaan, Agastya and Aarin marched in front of Priyanka wearing their Star Wars masks and strewing rose petals along the way. Priyanka, looking absolutely stunning, followed, along with her mother Rita and brother Anirban. Indranil started off the simple ceremony, a Sanskrit shloka invoking the blessings of Lord Ganapati was read out by Jayanti and Ayaan read a poem out for Priyanka. The couple exchanged rings and read out their vows. Indranil declared them man and wife. It was all over in a jiffy.

Bride with brother and mother

Straight from Star Wars

Exchanging rings

Man and Wife

All set to throw the bridal bouquet

Akhila all thrilled as Ayaan catches the bouquet

Steve and Nick with friends

The pillars of Blah family

Finally a photo op for me with Jai

After some high tea, all the guests retired to their own rooms to rest and refresh. The wedding reception in the resort’s main hall started with the newly married couple cutting the wedding cake followed by speeches from many near and dear ones. The party gained momentum and at one point of time the dance floor was jam packed with all the guests gyrating to popular melodies.

Cutting the wedding cake

The dance after

29 Oct 2016. Picnic to Mawphlang. Continuing with the revelry the next day, the Blahs had organized a picnic to Mawphlang, a village in the East Khasi Hills district, 50 kilometers from the hotel. The word ‘Maw’ means “stone”, maw phlang means “grassy stone”. Mawphlang is home to the ‘sacred grove’. Stepping into the forest reveals an astonishing network of plants and trees, all connected, some of them, which are believed to be more than 1,000 years old.

Mawphlang, village

In the grove

A visit to the sacred grove is not complete without learning about its history.

The Blahs, formerly known as Langblah, migrated from Jaintia Hills in search of new land which promised better food and security. Finally the clan settled down in Mawphlang. The Blah Clan took a chieftain and everything was under their control. Over time Mawphlang village became famous and many other clans settled under the Chieftain of the Blah clan. At the end of Mawphlang Syiemiong War, the Blahs handed over the control of the village to the Lyngdoh.

Folk lore notes that the sacred grove is protected by the village patron God ‘U Ryngkew U Basa’. No one is allowed to take out anything from the sacred grove; any transgression invites the terrible wrath of the forest deity.

Our day ended with a walk in the sacred grove followed by chow mien, pork curry and rice.

Incidentally do not forget to buy some Shillong noodles from the local market to carry home. Lakadong Turmeric grown in Jaintia Hills is said to be one of the best in India. I have been using this for the last ten years and I certainly vouch for its quality. Lakadong Turmeric is a much sought after variety as it has high curcumin content. It is a location specific variety grown in Meghalaya only.

30 Oct 2016. Drive to Cherrapunjee. We started early in the morning to visit Cherrapunjee and other tourist attractions in the area. The sun was bright and the skies clear with no chance of any rain in the world’s wettest region. Our first halt was at a way side restaurant where many went in to enjoy hot rice and pork curry.

Having a ball in front of the restaurant

We then visited ‘Arwah Cave’ in Sohra close to Cherrapunjee. Opened from October last year and spread over more than 3 km, the Arwah Cave in Sohra has impressive rock formations and fossils of marine life embedded in the rocks. The interior of the cave is well lit in many places and it is really a magnificent place to visit. A steep climb takes us to the cave, overlooking a lush valley. The whole journey in the cave was very interesting – at times narrow, slippery and winding. One has to exercise extreme caution to avoid bumping one’s head against the protruding rocks. The trip was fun.

Akki making he way

Thereafter we visited Nohkalikai Falls which always plays hide and seek with the clouds. If one is lucky you can see the waterfall emerge from a veil of thick cloud and plunging 1,099 ft. The sight is breathtaking.

Nohkalikai Falls s plays hide and seek with the clouds.

For lunch, we went to Kutmadan resort. “Kut madan” means “The End of the Land” in Khasi language. This is where the land just decides to tumble down a steep cliff and meet the plains below.

Panaromic view from Kutmadan

As the hills meet the plains, simultaneously India meets Bangladesh, and Kutmadan just happens to be the best seat in the house to witness this confluence of two nations. The ring side view was worth driving for such a long distance.

Ringside view

The food was even better. The spread included many varieties of pork, country chicken, bamboo shoot delicacies and exotic pickles. Rita and Priyanka had spared no effort to create the best ambiance for the trip.

In the evening ‘Shailabaz’ was once again alive with Diwali celebrations. Children had fun lighting up flower pots, sparklers, bhoomi chakras and other crackers.

As the night progressed and the clouds descended, the guest decided to call it a day. Many were leaving Shillong very early in the morning.

The ‘Destination Wedding’ came to a close after five days of hectic partying, meeting old friends, forging new friendships and enjoying every bit of Priyanka and Nick’s wedding.

I wish to thank the Blah Clan for giving us this wonderful opportunity to enjoy a typical ‘Destination Wedding’. The Blahs have taken this concept many notches up.

We finally wish Priyanka and Nick a very happy and long married life.

*************************

While you are at it, please read some more blogs on marriages in India

http://samundarbaba.blogspot.in/2013/11/nainas-wedding.html

http://samundarbaba.blogspot.in/2012/12/events-and-stray-thoughts-chitras.html

http://samundarbaba.blogspot.in/2012/02/the-big-fat-indian-wedding.html

http://samundarbaba.blogspot.in/2013/12/disha-becomes-blah.html

Sycophancy or Chamchagiri in the Indian Context

Chamchagiri as a tool to win undue favours, has been in existence for a very long time in every society. A sycophant or chamcha is a person who tries to win favor from wealthy or influential people by flattering them. Chamchagiri is not selective and is found to be operating successfully in every type of profession or trade. There are no social restrictions placed on people wanting to become a ‘Chamcha’. Colour, creed, caste, gender, age is no bar. Chamchagiri is a very serious profession involving intelligence and hard work. To do it well, one really needs an aptitude for this kind of thing. All and sundry cannot aspire to become a chamcha – it is an art form, specialized by a very select few.

School for Chamchas

My recollection of Chamchagiri is mostly related to my own profession, which is the navy; however readers will easily find similar instances of sycophancy in their own sphere of activity.

I was busy attending to a file in a dusty corner of a room in Naval Headquarters in New Delhi, when my PA Mr Trehan walked in to take a dictation. Even though the dictation was over, he continued to sit, which prompted me to ask, ‘Anything else?’ He promptly said, “Nothing in particular sir, but I wanted you to know that you give the best dictation in the entire directorate. In your case, I do not type any draft – it is typed fair for signature. In my twenty years of experience, I have not come across anyone who gives such flawless dictation – no grammatical errors – no repetition”. I was indeed soaked in his admiration and started feeling extraordinarily good. He broke my stupor when he said, “Sir, it’s going to be a cold weekend, can you kindly give me a bottle of rum?”

Once, flights from Hyderabad to Vizag were cancelled and we were forced to travel by train instead. We were a group of six officers and for some unknown reason I was accommodated with the Commander – in – Chief in a coupé. Before boarding a senior officer came to me and said, “Pubs, do you mind if I travel in the coupé?” Seeing the pleading look on his face, I said, “By all means”. The rest did not miss the hidden agenda. A packed dinner for the journey was provided by a very dynamic local liaison officer. Our dinner put to shame any business class airline dinner. After a few hours the train stopped and all of us got down to shake a leg. In the ensuing banter the same gentleman started praising the dinner endlessly and finally told the C in C, ‘Sir, all was well, but the liaison officer forgot to provide a spoon in the dinner box”. My dear friend ‘Chintamatkar’ without batting an eyelid said, “Sir, navy mein chamchas kee koee kamee nahin hai’( there is no shortage of chamchas in the navy).The C in C laughed out loud at hearing this.

This officer would agree with everything the admiral said, right or wrong. Laugh at all his jokes, as if Bob Hope was narrating them. He was not subtle and always ended up embarrassing everyone around. He had a long way to go in fine tuning his Chamchagiri. On one occasion, after completion of a ship’s inspection, all of us gathered in the ward room for a glass of beer. On ships, events are announced through a pipe call or the bugle is sounded (a long forgotten art). We heard the bugle melodiously ordering all the sailors to proceed for lunch. This extremely complicated bugling was known only to the ‘Fleet Bugler” Petty Officer Peter, a man whom the admiral knew well and was very fond of. The topic changed to Peter and our friend Commander Flattery was on the back foot – he did not know the bugler. He asked this very mischievous colleague about Peter. Amongst other things, this colleague informed him that Peter was a very fair, tall and handsome person of Anglo Indian origin with music in his veins. Armed with this crucial information he joined the admiral in praising Peter and at an appropriate time shared this vital intelligence. Probably the admiral was totally exasperated and decided to put an end to all this sycophancy. He sent for Peter, lo and behold a very short man with a deep ebony complexion of Tamil origin made an appearance.

Whilst exercising this art one has to be extremely alert and do his homework well. A friend of mine learnt this the hard way. The admiral had just arrived to take up his new appointment. The luggage had not yet arrived and naturally the kitchen had not been set up. This officer had cajoled his wife to prepare an exotic non vegetarian lunch full of poultry, red meat, and prawns. He intended to surprise the admiral with this gastronomical wonder. He entered the admiral’s house armed with this masterpiece only to find him already feasting on a delicious South Indian vegetarian meal brought by another admirer. He was totally devastated by the sudden turn of events. Pouring hot sambhar on his wound, Commander Golden Spoon said, “How come you didn’t know that the admiral is a pure vegetarian?”

A friend of mine once told me a very outlandish story. Senior army officers coming for work in Jaipur normally take a day off and visit the nearby ‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’. Tiger sighting is not assured, like in any other game reserve. When we went in 1993 we were not lucky and came back very disappointed. Colonel Tiger Singh’s regiment was to be inspected and the team arrived over the weekend. Not to waste an opportunity, Tiger organized a trip to Sariska for the General and his staff. Tiger did not want to leave anything to chance. He was hell bent on ensuring a tiger sighting for the general so that he would be in a good mood for the inspection. The safari proceeded slowly and there was a silence filled only with anticipation and hope. Time elapsed and no tiger was sighted. Then their luck changed and the Subedar shouted, “Sir ‘tiger, tiger over there!” There was a surge of adrenalin. The general took his binoculars and saw a tiger at a distance. He was thrilled beyond words – finally he had sighted one in the wild. All would have ended well, had it not been for the tiger enthusiastically dancing on its hind legs. He was completely flummoxed. Later, it emerged that it was a sepoy who was dressed as a tiger and controlled by the Subedar through a ‘walkie talkie’!

Viewer friendly tiger

While carrying out exercises at sea the admiral used to give a series of orders to one staff officer or the other depending on the nature of the drill. Commander Yasser on being addressed would immediately click his heals, jump to attention, give a smart salute, begin with a loud ‘Yes Saaar’ and end it with another ‘Yes Saaar’. In between there would be as many ‘yes saaaars’ as the number of orders and instructions. He would then immediately turn around and urgently whisper to his colleague ‘Shree, what did the admiral say?’

I remember attending a meeting in the Fleet Office wherein the admiral referred to an important letter he had sent to all the Commanding Officers and hoped all had read it. There were more than twenty officers attending the meeting. Some said yes, few nodded their head in agreement and a very small number remained silent. One officer seized this opportunity and went on to extol the letter, claiming that his ship’s efficiency had improved after he had implemented admiral’s instructions. Standing bravely against the popular tide this lone officer stood up and did the unthinkable. He said, ‘Sorry sir, I have not read the letter’. There was a pin drop silence and the admiral looked at his secretary, who in turn said, ‘I am sorry sir, I have not yet posted the letter’.

Admiral Ruffal Nadal took over as the C-In – C and in no time tennis became the most popular sport in the command. The admiral was very amused at the sudden surge of interest in tennis exhibited by his officers. This down-to-earth man is supposed to have remarked, ‘Imagine the plight of these people if I had taken up wrestling instead’.

There are many more such stories to narrate, may be another time.

Until then, cheers.

Funny part of Getting Old

If you continue to live and not kick the bucket in a hurry, one day you will become old. Old age is inevitable. There are a number of things associated with old age – failing health, falling teeth, loss of hearing, balding, decreased physical fitness, forgetfulness, boredom and so on. These are well known and documented exhaustively. What I find funny are some hidden aspects of old age which no one wants to talk about.

As we grow old, we slowly develop unusual ways to communicate with our friends. This new development afflicts one and all in some fashion or the other.

We tend to become repetitive in our social interactions and sometimes narrate the same incident or anecdote over and over again. There is a friend of mine ‘Repeat Raja ‘who joins me occasionally on my walk. I have heard his narrative on how he repaired a boat engine some thirty years back, at least a dozen times. I know all the details of the repair, the leaky ‘Gearbox Lube Oil’, why Vertex Ratchet is better than ‘Montstar 17 mm Two Way Wheel Spanner” etc. If I should even dare to try and change the subject, he brazenly tells me not to distract him till he completes his narration and the story continues. His repertoire includes many exciting and captivating stories such as – “How he transferred 243 tons of Furnace Fuel Oil in 6 hours flat (1974)”, “Exchanging used oil for prawns in the Indian Ocean (1977)”, “Boiler cleaning and black soot” (1980) and so on.

Recently, my friend and I drove long distance by car to attend our common friend’s 70^thbirthday party. This one loves to hold forth on some obscure topic and talk endlessly in a monotonous tone. There is no escape from this onslaught. Unlike the repetitive kind, ‘Boring Babu’ embarks on a fresh topic each time he pontificates. This time, I had to endure him for more than an hour, while he educated me on ‘Sewage Treatment Plants’ and ‘Composting’. Fortunately for me, the host served lots of chilled Tuborg beer and loads of meat for lunch. The return journey was extremely calm and peaceful as we snored our way home.

Another kind is the one who offers unsolicited advice on almost every subject. Some of us sit in the garden in our colony after the end of our evening sabbatical and exchange pleasantries and indulge in some harmless banter. I happened to mention that I was to attend a function the next day in a nearby locality and was travelling by ‘Uber’. This was sufficient to trigger an unsolicited response from my friend ‘Helpful Hari’. He then went on to dole out advice (unsolicited, of course) on why I should not use ‘Uber’ and instead take my own car. Unfortunately the conversation did not end there. He went on to explain the entire 12Km route in great detail, with all the turns, road names, land marks, one way streets etc.

The next morning I went by ‘Uber’.

Then there is the harmless variety. This one gets easily distracted and mid way through the narration he forgets what he was saying and slips into silence. I am still in a state of suspense regarding the final outcome of his dog biting his mother in law. He is yet to narrate the ending of the fateful night when he returned home past midnight full of spirit from the local club. ‘Forgetful Frankie’ is yet to complete any narration in a single attempt.

The next is the ‘Hop Skip and Jump’ variety. He will start in right earnest, “Pubs you must hear this funny incident, I was returning from the airport and … talking about airport taxis, we took a Toyota Etios… Roads are in such pathetic state …GPS is not for India…I must say this new phone 1 Plus 3 is damn good… see the hospital on the right, this is where my grandson was born … and he continues to HSJ through the entire conversation.

The worst one is ‘Hypochondriac Haridevan’. He starts “Hey, not met you for a long time, how are you?” Then you make a tame but conventional comeback, “I am fine, what about you?”This one statement is sufficient to trigger a massive response. “I am not well, in fact the doctors have told me to stay indoors as I am just recovering from ‘allergic bronchitis’, added to this I have ‘Gout’ and not forgetting sleep ‘apnea’ at night. Just about the time you have recovered from this medical impact, he starts again,” be careful of this strange skin rash my neighbor has got – OMG, it’s all over him, to top it all it’s contagious, I too may have contacted this”. That when I do an Usain Bolt on him.

I do not know what diet they eat at home but it makes them go daggers at all things they see and hear. ‘Angry Arun’ is let out of the cage every day from 5PM to 8PM. He occupies a vantage point in the park and methodically stalks his prey. Once in his deadly grasp there is no escape, you have to hear all his cribs and complaints till some other unsuspecting prey happens to fall into the trap. Hopcoms vegetables are rubbish, Nandini milk is adulterated, security staff is useless, dhobi requires a kick, my neighbor stinks and so on ad nauseam.

And finally it’s ‘Silent Satya’ who takes the pride of place. He joins us regularly on the bench in the park and does not utter a single word. He has no news to relate, gossip to narrate or information to share with others. His stony silence is extremely exasperating to say the least. Yet he sits through the entire evening – physically at least.

I am very sure I belong to some group or the other for believe me, there is no escape from this syndrome unless we try really hard. Even then, we may just come up with a new category at best…which someone else will probably write about.

It’s up to you to see where you belong.

Till then, cheers and happy reading!

Musings – A ride with Raju the Driver Philosopher. His take on Marriages, Worship and God

Last Thursday we were invited to a wedding reception by friends of ours, whom we had not met for thirty long years. Their daughter was getting married. Thursday also happened to be the last day of ‘St. Mary’s Feast’. Our Vahan Chalak, Suresh had taken a day off to attend the feast. During my morning walk I was contemplating on how to reach the marriage hall in the evening. I was considering Ubering, self drive or hiring a driver for the evening.

Just then I heard a voice wishing me ‘Good Morning Sir, how are you?’ – It was Raju.

I first met Raju when he was fifteen and working in Jalavayu Vihar as an errand boy. He was extremely hardworking with a very pleasant disposition. I used to call him home to undertake vacuuming, taking out items from the attic, polishing brass items and so on. I always sensed a bit of harmless restlessness in him and he exhibited a strong desire to improve his position in society. One might say ‘climb up the ladder’. One day he told my wife he wanted to learn English. He probably felt that learning English was very essential in climbing the ladder. We gave him some books to help him pursue his ambition. Then on he would always insist on speaking to us in English. Regardless of his limited vocabulary and lack of grammar he used to communicate with us only in English. Sometimes it was all gibberish and unintelligible, but he bashed on regardless. Overtime he improved his spoken English.

On the work front, he graduated from an errand boy to a gardener and in no time at all, had become a car cleaner. He started cleaning my Maruti Omni in right earnest. During this tenure he also learnt how to start a car, take it forward, reverse and probably go around the colony. We encouraged him to appear for a driving test, which he promptly did and got a valid driving license. In quick time he became a qualified driver and got himself a good job. He continued to work hard and in tandem continued to improve his English. Today he speaks simple but grammatically correct English. He started sending SMSs to wish us on festivals and important occasions. One day I received a friends request on FB which I promptly accepted. Thereafter, I keep getting some messages and forwards from him. He is now on ‘What’s App’.He even has a ‘Twitter’ account.I am yet to graduate to Twitter.

Along the way he financed his sister’s education and encouraged her to complete her B.Ed. and also got her married. Two years ago he got married and now is a proud father of a lovely eight month old girl.

After exchanging pleasantries I enquired whether he would be free to drive us to the wedding reception and back. He came home at 1900 h and willingly drove us to the wedding hall some 14 KMs away. On the way back, I noticed he was visibly upset. He expressed his disapproval at the way people splurge money on marriages. He said “Sir, each wedding must be costing 1cr rupees, what a waste, instead these people should put their money to educate poor people from the villages. Nobody will remember the wedding after a month but if one educates a person, he will remember the gesture throughout his life”. I totally agreed with him.

His observations of life did not end there. He said, “Only two things which matter in life are ‘good health’ and ‘peace of mind’, rest all are less important.” On the way we saw a large herd of goats being sold for Bakrid. I said ‘It’s odd that we have three major festivals to celebrate within a span of 7 days – Ganapati followed by St Mary’s Feast and Bakrid. Our driver philosopher said, “There is only one God, because we do not understand this phenomenon fully, we debate endlessly, propagate our own perspective and confuse the public”.

He then fired his final and deadly philosophical assertion, “God is there and shows himself to everyone on two occasions only, one at the time of birth and other at the time of death”. Moments after the birth, he appears and welcomes the child to be a part of his creation. The child is engulfed in this ultimate experience for a moment and totally forgets the episode thereafter. A moment short of death God appears again, creating an envelope of divine happiness thereby making the ultimate passage one of bliss and not pain. Dead man cannot speak. The mystery that surrounds God continues.

I do not know if this profound philosophical claim exists in some religious text or it’s a ‘Raju original’.

Either way, it’s very interesting and thought provoking.

Border disputes at home

Recently at a family gathering the topic of conversation turned to border disputes. Being the only military person present in the gathering, I was asked to give my considered opinion and educate the rest. I took a deep breath before attempting to answer this most complex subject. I thought to myself, how I can ever pontificate on a country’s border disputes when I have not been able to resolve one at home.

The border dispute at home started some 40 years ago when I started sharing my bed with my newly married wife. At the very beginning, bereft of any experience and being totally new to the game, I made a number of concessions. The border treaty tilting heavily in favor of the better half was signed. An accommodative spirit, the overwhelming love and affection and large-heartedness that floods the early years of marriage ensured peace on the border.

Decades later, much like the Indo – China or Indo – Pak border – fissures started to appear. One night I was very rudely woken up and tersely told that I had forcibly occupied her territory and she had no space and was unable to sleep properly. I was ordered to vacate the occupied territory and withdraw deep into my own. Adding to my woes, there was no scope for arbitration or seeking the intervention of UN. Her decision was final. In the middle of the night I was forcibly pushed into a cramped corner while the privileged partner slept without a worry in the newly acquired area. WAR had been declared.

Mention of the previous night’s border incursion popped up on the breakfast table. Lady of the House (LOH) was not prepared to concede an inch of her territory, stating I was the aggressor and known for my land grabbing tendencies.

Since then, I have tried many subtle tactics to regain my part of terra firma such as occupying a favorable place well before LOH retires to bed. I have also tried employing the ‘Salami Tactics’ of the ‘Cold War’ era; wherein an aggressor takes in a landscape, piece by piece and the opposition is eliminated “slice by slice” until one realizes too late that it is gone in its entirety. Unlike other border disputes this battle is fought every night. New strategies have to be put in place or one is likely to get ousted from the disputed area altogether.

There are a number of other collateral issues connected with this border dispute.

The sharing of a blanket is akin to the sharing of river waters. Invariably the blanket gets pulled off and I am left with next to nothing. Any talk of separate blankets is frowned upon. Ladies are known to ruthlessly employ all kinds of emotional blackmail with utmost skill to force their will.

Keeping the reading light ‘on’ well beyond ‘pipe down’ timings is yet another ingenious way to make the man mellow and submissive. Any request made to switch off the light is met with a stern statement – turn the other way.

My preference for sleeping on the right side of the bed is also an issue. Fortunately for us this has been resolved once and for all. I have been ordered to sleep on whichever side is nearest to the bedroom door. The reason being – in case a robber comes into the room, I will be the first one to be attacked.

The ignominious alarm is yet another contentious issue. I am yet to come to terms with the LOH’s alarm which started blaring the song ‘Bum Bum Bole’ from the movie –‘ Taare Zameen Par’. The song is so loud and jarring, it is impossible to sleep for the next three days and you quiver like a guitar string. To help you understand what I mean, here is the song-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ1NIIdHhXs

If the alarm goes off just once, it’s ok, but the final alarm at 6.15 AM is preceded by two other equally annoying ones at 6.00 AM and 6.05 AM.I don’t even want to talk about the generous use of the snooze button!

Snoring, elbowing, possession of pillows etc further complicate the dispute.

To this day, this border dispute remains unresolved.

Unlike other border disputes the warring partners continue to share the bed in whichever fashion it is divided each night in love and harmony.

Cheers and good night! And if you are anything like us, have a good border dispute tonight!

The last leg of New Zealand – Milford Sound and Glenorchy, 03 – 05 May

We took a package deal from Queenstown to Milford Sound via Lake Te Anau, an overnight cruise in the Sound on a luxury yacht and return. The drive and the stay was the highlight of our trip to New Zealand. A 300 Km – 4 hr drive in an extremely well appointed tourist bus with very large windows and an extremely knowledgeable driver cum guide made the trip even very interesting and memorable. The drive to Milford Sound itself passes through unspoiled mountain landscapes before entering the 1.2 km Homer tunnel which emerges into rain-forest-carpeted canyons that descend to the sound.

Heaven on Earth lake Te Anau

The drive to the Sound is via the famous Lake Te Anau. The lake covers an area of344 Kmsq, making it the second largest by surface area in New Zealand after lake Taupo. Unlike our understanding of lakes, these are created from volcanic processes. The main body of the lake runs North-South, and is 65 km in length. The surface of the lake is at an altitude of 210 m. It has a maximum depth of 417 m, so much of its bed lies below sea level, with the deepest part of the lake being 226 meters below sea level.

Never ending Te Anau meaning Cave of swirling waters

The vastness is unbelievable

Houses with the mountain backdrop

Residential area of Te Anau

Stop for lunch

In our 23 days trip to NZ we were able to visit 7 of the top10 lakes of NZ. A good record indeed.

On the way we stopped to see a ‘Mirror Lake’, where the water was so still and clear that it mirrored the hills around and one could also see the weeds all the way through to its fairly shallow bottom. It was as a ’World Heritage Area’.

The iconic Remarkables mountain range, one of only two mountain ranges in the world that run directly North to South

An amazing valley

Mirror lake

See the notice board – Mirror lake

Great images

A number of rivulets on the way

We got to know a lot of tidbits from our guide along the way.

Tidbits.Rugby is a way of life and religion in NZ.

The Maoris when they arrived in NZ had no script and their communication was all spoken using songs and stories. Tattoos too, play a large part in the identity of each Maori. Lake Wakatipu means a ‘Giant Hollow’ which comes with a long story of a beautiful girl, a jilted lover and a giant who falls, thus making the hollow in which the lake lies.

Possums were introduced to New Zealand in 1837 to establish a fur trade; the possum has become one of the greatest threats to their natural environment. The possum has a thick, bushy tail, a pointed snout and long, fox-like tapering ears. Adult possums are typically between 65 and 95 cm in length, and can weigh anywhere between 1.4 and 6.4 kg. In its native land, the possum is up against dingoes, bush fires and less palatable vegetation. In New Zealand there are no predators and lots of very palatable vegetation. As a result, possums have a huge impact on New Zealand ecosystems. It is estimated that there are 30 million Possums in NZ.18 Possums yield 1Kg of fur and 105 kg yields 5000 NZD. Today, many consider possums Public Enemy #1.In addition large populations of rabbits, rats, weasels, cats, stoats, goats, deer and hedgehogs also pose serious problems.

Oh deer! Between 1861 and 1919, more than 250 red deer were released in New Zealand for sport. They spread rapidly because they had no predators, there was plenty of food, and at first they were protected from hunting. By the start of the 20th century, deer had spread throughout the forests. Herds of wild deer damaged pasture, young exotic trees in plantations, and native forests, by eating the plants. As this did not help contain their population, hunting deer was encouraged, starting 1920; deer farming started in the late 60’s.Today, New Zealand has 1.1 million hinds and 500,000 stags – about 50% of the world’s estimated farmed deer. Today the farming generates 255 million NZD.

Pounamu refers to several types of hard, durable and highly valued Nephrite Jade stone found in southern NZ. Pounamu is the Maori name. These rocks are also generically known as “Greenstone”. As it is extremely hard, Maoris used this stone extensively as weapons and for cutting wood, rope etc

Milford Sound or Fjord? What’s the difference between a Sound and a Fjord? Technically Milford Sound isn’t a Sound at all, it’s a Fjord. A Sound is created by a river; a Fjord is created by a Glacier. When Milford Sound was discovered it was mistakenly named a Sound because it was thought it had been created by a river. Also the word ‘Fjord’ was yet to be coined. However it was really created by huge Glaciers, which carved through the rocks to create the dramatic rock formations of the mountains there. As our guide explained, at Milford there is a huge bathtub – glacier at one end and the ocean at the other end with a narrow opening. Milford Sound runs 15 kilometers inland from the Tasman Sea. Sea water rests at the bottom and lighter glacier fresh water covers the entire sound up to depth of 80 meters. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs on either side of the sound, while seals, penguins, and dolphinsfrequent the waters. Milford attracts up to 1 million visitors per year.

The stay on the boat was very relaxing and interesting. At one point, we went really close to a waterfall and everyone rushed inside the boat to escape being completely drenched. On the way back from Milford Sound, it rained heavily and we saw hundreds of tiny waterfalls along the way.

Prior to embarkation

Sutherland fall. When it rains the number of waterfalls reaches 100

Closer view

A view of the sound

Our guide on the boat

Late in the evening

Our abode for the night

Back to Lake Te Anau

A beauty

Photo Op

Glenorchy and Lord of the Rings. On the last day – 05 May in Queenstown we headed to Glenorchy prior to embarking a local flight to Auckland and thereafter to India on 06 May. The 45 minute journey from QT to Glenorchy is one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever experience. The road follows the edge of Lake Wakatipu, providing spectacular views of the surrounding mountains which rise abruptly from the lake’s shores. Glenorchy is a very small sleepy and wet town where we had a sumptuous breakfast.

Smallest of towns have a War Memorial

An extraordinarily artistic cup of chocolate coffee

Town of Glenorchy

Just up the road from Glenorchy is Paradise. Some say this place was named for its stunning scenery; others argue that it’s all to do with the paradise ducks that live in the area. Either way, Paradise deserves your attention – especially if you’re an avid Lord of the Rings or Narnia fan. Mount Aspiring National Park is also located in this area. At its heart is a massive area of wilderness – glaciers, snowfields, mountains, valleys and wildlife habitats that require days of hiking to reach. To the west of the divide, where rainfall is plentiful, the beech forest comes with a sound track of birdsong and waterfalls. This place is very popular for extreme adventure sports.

Simply captivating

Drier face of the range

Short of Paradise

Crystal clear skies

Glacier water flow

Never ending valleys

The only exception a cattle farm

Add caption

The entire landscape is so prehistoric, one tends to get carried back by 35 million years when the main land mass ‘Gondwana’ split and NZ was formed. The land is lush with thick vegetation covering entire stretches of mountains and valleys. The entire area is bereft of humans and mammals and at times eerie and almost alien.

Last look at the lakes

A drive to remember

We thereafter flew to Auckland and India – ending our 24 days of union with nature and its wonders. In the overall context New Zealand provided us with an excellent opportunity to bond with some of the few untouched and unspoiled areas left on mother earth.

Fascinating Queenstown, Arrowtown, Jetboat Ride and Lake Wanaka – 30 Apr to 02 May

We drove at a very leisurely pace from Twizel to QT – a distance of 262 Km and checked into Colonial Village Motel. As expected the Southern Island is extremely pretty especially during the autumn months. The entire stretch is soaked in multitude of autumn colors – yellow, red, orange, brown and green. The entire drive was devoted to watching and appreciating nature. I am yet to come across something so pretty and wonderful. God has certainly chosen Queenstown to display his unlimited artistic talent. The view from our motel bedroom stood testimony to the beauty of QT.

View from the room

The evening was spent sitting outside the motel and soaking in QT. Lake Wakatipu is located just outside the motel. One can endlessly gaze at the beautiful landscape and spend quality time with friends. The weather was very chilly and we had to continuously fortify ourselves with some stiff portions of elixir.

Lake Wakatipu

QT is built around Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains. Queenstown has an urban population of 13,150. There are no traffic signals in QT and everyone observes the rules to the T. The traffic flows smoothly and a pleasure to drive.

Along the drive

Fascinating view

Riot of colors

Outskirts of QT

Surrounded by lakes

A typical QT house

Arrowtown – 30 Apr. After checking in we took a drive to Arrowtown, a historic gold mining town located on the banks of the Arrow River at a distance of 20Km from Queenstown. This charming town has maintained its rich heritage and historic buildings and is now a vibrant town with world class food and beverage, shopping and attractions. Arrowtown provided some famous locations in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. After relishing some creamy ice-cream we headed to QT city centre for lunch.
Once again the CBD is extremely well laid out and it was a pleasure to sit in a roadside restaurant having some beer and lunch.

Gold Town

Typical miners family

Lot of effort to maintain the facade

Photo op

Totally at home

Colonial Village Motel

Jetboat Ride – 01 May. Shotover River is just a 20 min drive from QT, famous for its fast flow through canyons, ridges and rock faces. It flows to a distance of 74 Km. This is where the inventor of Jetboats Sir William Hamilton developed a waterjet in 1954 for operation in the fast-flowing and shallow rivers of NZ, specifically to overcome the problem of propellers striking rocks in such waters.

View of Shotover River

Waiting for their turn for the ride

All dressed to ride

Waiting

The actual ride

This is how we looked

A jetboat is propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft. Unlike a power boat or motorboat that uses an external propeller in the water below or behind the boat, a jetboat draws the water from under the boat through an intake and into a pump jet inside the boat, before expelling it through a nozzle at the stern. The Jetboats can make headway in just 8” of water depth and can reach an incredible speed of 90KMPH. The boat has excellent maneuverability and can execute 360 deg turns with utmost ease.

We joined the Shotover Jetboat ride along with another 14 adventure seeking tourist. After a detailed safety briefing the captain of the boat took us around the river for a breathtaking 30 min experience of a life time. The incredible speed and the intentional close encounters with the protruding rocks made the sport even more fascinating. Number of times the pilot executes a 360 deg turn, a very frightening but thrilling experience. The passengers are so preoccupied with the boat movement as it winds its way through gorges and canyons, nobody seems to realize how quickly the time passes. Finally the adrenaline rush ends and we come out of the boat all flushed and happy. It is indeed a very unique experience.

Queenstown CBD

Gondola and Ride on the Luge. Just a short ride from the centre is the ‘Gondola’. The ride in the Gondola takes you to the top of Bob’s Peak. The best view of the city is obtained from the peak sitting half a mile high. In addition one can see all encompassing view of The Remarkables, Coronet Park, and of course Lake Wakatipu.
From the peak we took a ride in 2 – man chair lift to Luge station. Luge is a simple one man sled on wheels with a hand pulled break. The sled rolls down the slope and picks up speed and momentum down the natural slope. The course has a number of sharp turns and bends making the journey down exciting. We were allowed two runs on the ticket. The child in you comes out loud and clear.

In the Gondola

View from the top

Jai soaking in QT

Kats and Naveen preparing to jump off the 2 – man chair. A very tricky maneuver for the old

Jai on the Luge

Another lovely view

A very satisfying outing

Lake Wanaka – 02 May

Early in the morning we decided to visit Lake Wanaka which is around 67 Kms from QT. Lake Wanaka is located in the Otago region of New Zealand, at an altitude of 300 meters. Covering an area of 192 km², it is New Zealand’s fourth largest lake, and estimated to be more than 300 m deep. The drive once again is simply fascinating and the country side comes alive with beautiful valleys. Wanaka lies in a U shaped valley formed by glacial erosion during the last ice age, more than 10,000 years ago. The township is situated in a glacier carved basin on the shores of the lake. Then weather god was not very favorable and Wanaka turned out to be a damp squib.

Wanaka Township

Lake Wanaka

Bradrona. On the way back we were suddenly attracted to a long fence with hundreds of assorted bras hanging on them. We examined the scene more closely to find the bras have been put there to bring awareness of ‘Breast Cancer’ and seeking donations. The location has been named ‘BRADRONA”. There is a small Ski town by the name of CARDRONA close by.


A novel sign post

Totally Unique form of expression

After a very tiring day

So is Kats

We visited the mountains – Star gazing at Mt John – Helicopter ride at Mt Cook – 28 and 29 May 2016

In addition to their Information Centers, every shop, kiosk, airport, bus stand, restaurant and hotel is full of tourist booklets, pamphlets and pullouts.NZ has taken an integrated view of tourism. One thing good about NZ is the way the tourist experience seamless travel. All activities, be it hiring a car, renting accommodation, visits to various tourists’ spots, adventure activity, eating out has been woven neatly into the overall picture, making a visit to NZ special and truly memorable.

A memorable event

We stayed at the foot of Mount Cook in a small one horse town called ‘Twizel’. After a four hour drive we checked into ‘Aspen Court Motel’. Twizel is a very young town built from scratch in 1968 to provide a base for the construction of ‘Upper Waitaki Hydroelectric’ project. After a good lunch in the local restaurant and a bit of rest, we drove to Tekapo to join the star gazers.

Aspen Court Motel

Riot of colours – Autumn in Twizel


Twizel sky line from the motel

Country side Twizel

Another fascinating view

We joined the ‘Earth and Sky Stargazing Tour’ to Mt John. The observatory is located on Mt John for three reasons – the area is dry, high elevation and the sky is clear most of the nights. As we reached the gate of observatory the bus had to switch of the head lights. In fact there is no artificial light allowed on the whole of the mount. Having lived in a city one forgets to look up into the sky to gaze at God’s creation – also the earth lights and pollution makes it extremely difficult to star gaze. Gazing at the sky from Mt John was pure thrill.

We were able to watch Jupiter and two of its moons very clearly through the huge telescope. In the Southern hemisphere the objects appear opposite of what we are used to seeing in the Northern hemisphere. We watched the Southern Cross, Clouds of Magellan, Jewel Box and Omega Centauri clearly through naked eye. Orion, the Southern Star and the Milky Way are also clearly visible.

On the whole it was a unique experience gazing at the stars.

The next morning we drove down to Mt Cook and took a 40 min helicopter ride. The aerial view of the Southern Alps mountain range is really amazing. Mt Cook is the highest peak in the range at 3,754 meters. The most exciting part of the trip is the helicopter flight through the valley and the landing on the glacier. After a ten minute halt on the glacier we returned to base totally satisfied with what we had done.

Coffee before the helo ride

Waiting for the helo

At the heliport

Kolourful Kats

Photo op

All smiles

Finally

Mt Cook at a distance

On the glacier

The Southern Alps

A different view

Naveen all thrilled

Flight to cherish

With the pilot

Sun on Mt cook

Flow of glacier water

Closer view

From a distance

Prior to landing

We then visited the Sir Edmund Hillary museum at the Hermitage before returning to Twizel. A day well spent.

With the great man

Sir Edmund Hillary in Bronze – a magnificent statue at Alpine range where he practiced mountaineering prior to conquering Mt Everest

Road back to Twizel

Another interesting feature in this area is the omnipresence of Lake Tekapo which is the Tenth-largest lake of NZ. It covers an area of 83 square kilometres, and is at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. The drive around the lake is simply breath taking. Sharing this wonderful space is Lake Pukaki the seventh largest. Between the two of them they offer nature’s best to the tourist. Lake Pukaki covers an area of 178.7 km², and the surface elevation of the lake normally ranges from 518.2 to 532 meters above sea level.

Lake Tepako

Lake Pukaki

We did Hot Air Ballooning in Methven NZ, 27 – 28 Apr.

When we visited Cappadocia, Turkey on 29 Apr 2015, ‘Hot Air Ballooning’ was on top of the agenda. Unfortunately we were unable to do it due to bad weather and over booking. We returned very disappointed. Since then HAB has been on top of our ‘Must Do Before You xxx’ list. So during our NZ trip we had explored all possible locations – Auckland, Methven and Queenstown. Bad weather prevented us from going up in Auckland and we did not want to miss the opportunity in Methven. So when we rang up the ‘Aoraki Ballooning Safari’ a HAB Company, they said the weather was fine and booked us for an early morning flight on 28 Apr.

French paper manufacturers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier were the first documented persons to inflate and send a balloon up in flight from their home town of Annonay in the south of France. On the 25th April 1783 they decided to test their theory. Since then it’s come a long way as a very thrilling adventure sport.

Leaving Kaikoura and the whales behind, we travelled west and reached Methven after 4 hours of driving through 270 Km of outstanding country side. South Island is a visual treat and offers much more to the tourist. Surprisingly we did not see a single policeman in NZ, which speaks volumes about their discipline and law abiding citizens. We came across one police vehicle which was rushing towards an accident site. There are no animals on the road.

On the way

We checked into Ski Time Hotel very close to the town.

Sky Time Hotel

Jai returning after a short walk

Methven is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island. Crouched at the base of the Southern Alps, Methven is a welcoming town for visitors looking for adventure. In winter, it’s a base for snow sport enthusiasts who come to conquer the slopes of nearby Mount Hutt. At other times of the year, activities such as jet boating, hot air ballooning and mountain biking are popular.
1326 is the population of Methven.

After a bit of Zzzzzz we went out to explore the one horse town and eventually settled in Blue Pub. After a very satisfying meal we retired for the night. The weather was very nippy and we had to use electric blankets to keep warm.

Beer chips pasta and salad

Well earned beer

Dinosaur in a park

We got up at 5 AM and went for HAB. Captain Martyn EX RAF was our pilot for the flight. The exercise starts with the pilot letting go a survey balloon to assess the wind speed and direction etc. Thereafter we proceeded to an empty farm field for the launch. 8 of us passengers helped the pilot and his assistant cum chauffer cum steward in unpacking the HAB and spreading it on the ground. A blower then pumps air through a flame thrower and in the process the balloon is filled with hot air, helping it rise from the ground and become vertical. The immense size of the balloon becomes evident only when it’s fully filled. It is really very very huge.

The ballooning truck

The ballooners

The passenger basket

Flame lit

Martyn the pilot now tilts the cradle on its side

Jai feeling extra cold – protected by the pilots jacket

Balloon fully stretched length wise

Now on all sides

Balloon being filled with air

Now with hot air

Ready for boarding

Take off

After a brief introduction to the HAB, safety procedures, emergency drill, dos and don’ts we all climbed into the basket. The lift off is very gradual and smooth. Thereafter the wind takes charge of the balloon. The pilot controls the altitude by regulating the flow of hot air.

With the rising sun in the back drop the balloon makes its way up, as cows on the meadow look up in wonderment at this huge floating monster. As we started to move with the air current the farm land below appeared to shrink, the roads become small lines and houses just tiny dots on the surface. The wind was not much but it did not take away the fun and adventure behind ballooning.

Farm land below

Cows in amazement

A lovely shadow of the balloon

Roads below

Kats and Naveen in the basket

Time passes quickly as you travel further from the launch position. Adrenalin jumps as the pilot lowers the balloon to tree height. The cows below muddle together watching the balloon and run helter skelter as it approaches them. The shadow of the balloon on the ground is a nice sight. After an hour in the air Martyn made a smooth landing.

Master of ceremonies with Champagne

Jai relishing early morning Champagne

Naveen turn for the bubbly

Photo op

We helped the pilot to secure the kit and load it on to the truck. As per the traditions of HAB we were given a certificate by the pilot and thereafter treated to a glass of champagne and breakfast.

Martyn told us that in the early days local farmers were understandably frightened and skeptical about balloons and often mistook them for otherworldly beings. Many a time balloonists were met with hostilities in the form of pitchforks when they landed. This is where the tradition of offering the landowner a bottle of champagne evolved from – it not only gave the farmers thanks for letting them land on their property, it also proved the balloon was in fact French.

I think HAB is addictive and all four of wished to do it again.

Ferry Transfer from North to South Island – Whales of Kaikoura -25 Apr 2016

It was end of our travel in North Island. Early morning we drove to the ferry terminal to transport the car and ourselves from Wellington to Picton. The transfers of car in a ship ‘Interislander’ was a first time experience and all of us were looking forward to it. The entire process was smooth and efficient, except for Kats doing a Houdini act when he went to get coffee for all of us. Thank the Lord, both of us had local SIM cards and were able to communicate. One must always buy a local SIM card. The ship was huge with 8 levels.

A very large transporter

After a sumptuous breakfast, we settled down in a well appointed lounge with huge glass windows. The sea was fairly calm with occasional white horses.

Lovely Marlborough Bay

After three and a half hours of smooth sailing in the scenic Marlborough Sounds we landed in Picton at 11.30 AM. After a further two hour smooth and interesting car journey we reached Kaikoura and checked into the ‘Sea View Motel’.

City of Picton

Picton Airport

Never ending meadows

Huge Vineyards


Nat King Cole -The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of red and gold I see your lips, the summer kisses The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Excellent roadways

Continuing

The motel offered an excellent sea view. It is better to stay in Motels as they are very informal and provide a home like atmosphere. They generally provide good cooking and laundry facilities. We used to invariably end up buying heat and eat food from their stores. Most days we retired early and cooked a very basic meal in the motel.

Real deal undoubtedly

Our Toyota parked outside the motel

From the motel

Along the drive

Sun set in front of motel

Throughout our stay the weather was manageable; as we travelled South it got colder. In some places we had to use electric blankets or room heaters.

After a lovely lunch and a bit of rest, we drove around the small but very picturesque town. We ended up relishing a huge ‘Cray Fish’ at dinner time and retired early. A medium sized Cray Fish costs 70 to 80 NZD, pretty steep though.

Kats with a very vivacious Mexican student bar tender

All of us agreed

The picturesque coastal town of Kaikoura is the perfect place for marine life encounters, coastal walks, and tucking into a plate of crayfish. In the Maori language ‘kai’ means food, ‘koura’ means crayfish. It has a population of 3,552 inhabitants.

Next morning we went on a ‘Whale Watching’ tour. The main focus of the tour is to spot the ‘Giant Sperm Whale’. Once they dive they remain in water from 40 – 60 minutes, which makes it possible to sight them at least twice during our 2.30h trip. The whales grow to a length of 15 – 20 meters and weigh 40 – 60 tons. That is pretty big. They live for over 70 years. The trip also involves sighting of ‘Dusky and Hector Dolphins’ and Royal Albatross.

After a long wait

Another gigantic mamal

Racing with us

After the whale watch

Not to be left behind

Low water

We were very lucky to sight 2 whales and a large number of dolphins along with a few Albatross. Watching whales pop up from nowhere and majestically dive displaying their huge tail is a memorable sight.

The company refunds the trip cost up to 80% if whales are not sighted. That is fair game.

After a very satisfying lunch in an Indian Restaurant we drove 25 Km from the city to watch baby seals. Ohau Point seal colony is a unique spot where baby seal pups can be seen under a waterfall and swimming in the stream. Baby seals come from the sea and waddle across to the waterfall to play and bond, whilst their mothers are busy at sea hunting food. The babies can be seen visiting the waterfall from end April to August. The waterfall is part of the Ohau Point Fur Seal Sanctuary and is home to an estimated 3000 seals. The seals are quite noisy in a group.

From the sea towards the waterfall

Lazing around

Pretty chilly and windy

Naveen all pleased

Baby seal crossing the creek

Ohau point waterfall

For us sighting whales, dolphins and seals was a unique experience.

The Kaikoura trip was worth every penny.

An Aside

A Sea voyage is always relaxing and therapeutic. The sea breeze and the gentle sway of a cruise ship help one to retrospect. Looking back on our 10 days stay in North Island, what struck me most was the scenic beauty of New Zealand. They inherited this piece of beauty, but no kudos for that. What merits a mention is the way they have maintained and preserved nature’s bounty in a pristine fashion.

I am really amazed at how these small countries with hardly any population maintain their natural assets, highways, toilets, tourism support and other infrastructure in prime condition. This great attribute is most evident in NZ and East European countries such as Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic etc.

How do these countries achieve this very high level of upkeep and maintenance when we struggle to provide bare, minimum facilities?

I have drawn a comparison between NZ which is a country and my own state Karnataka, India. I have taken roads to highlight my point.

NZ is slightly bigger than Karnataka and has three times the road length than us. There are fewer people in NZ to maintain roads. In fact Karnataka is 13 times more populous than NZ. Even with this massive population we generate lesser revenue. Anybody who has driven in NZ will agree their roads are outstanding in every way.

How come New Zealand gets the act right and we fail miserably?

Details	NZ	Karnataka	Observation
Size	268,021 km²	191,791 km²	NZ – slightly larger area to look after
Current population	4.5 million	64 million	NZ – has extremely limited work force
Total Revenue	US$ 51 billion	US$38 billion	Karnataka generates extremely less revenue in spite of 15 times more population than NZ
Total length of highways	83,000km	28,311 km.	3 times more roads to be maintained in NZ

Source – Internet