Welcome 2008!

Here writing my first post in 2008.

The year 2007 seems to have quitely moved out of my life.
There is nothing much to talk about in terms of professional life.It was dull and stade with a degree of inactivity which i profoundly abhored many a times.
Personal life went off smooth with the two angels of my life Shoma and Pia throwing many fond memories.
I think the highlight in true sense of word was my first foreign trip,first solo trek in Himalayas and Do Dham Yatra.
Resolution for 2008...work towards better control in life and be a good human being in my own eyes.

Hope to write a more detailed trip soon.

Durga Puja and Diwali!

The festive season of Durga Puja and Diwali has come to an end.

This year i guess the main highlight was Pia enjoying all the moments in true sense of word as now she could relate to the many moments of celebrations associated with all such occassions.

The main highlight this year was...

1.Pandal hoppinog was less and thus activities surrounded around the local DLF PH-I puja in Gurgaon
2.Did the Dhunuchi dance and aarti for the first time
3.Saw some great cultural programs which ended with a show by the Bengali Band Chadrabindu on the last day of puja.
4.Pia fired a bit of crackers mainly 'Tarabaaji' but the best part was she was not afraid of sounds.
5.Saw Kali puja and had late night bhog.

Now we all are waiting for the last part of festivities in the year end celebrations.

Back from Bangkok & Pattaya

I came back on 6th October after a weeks official trip to Bangkok and Pattaya.It was an official conference in Pattaya and a days shopping trip to Bangkok.

It was really hectic as i was one of the guys responsible for overall arrangement.The whole show was a big success.

Being my Ist visit to a foreign land i was quite excited and tried to enjoy as much as i can.My visit to the famous Walking Street which is the main attraction in Pattaya was a revelation on it's own.It throws a strange surprise to know people come to this place in search for lust and nothing else and how easily it's available.

The best thing that happened was the fact i bought my dream Camera Canon S5IS from Bangkok.

Overall some great memories to cherish of a land which throws many surprises at all times.

Back from Himalayas!

We are back from our trip...
It was simply awesome.
A brief outline of the trip is given below:

Hardwar-Sultanpur-KedarnathTrek and stay in Kedarnath
Stay in Ukimath
Trek to Deoriyatal
Stay in Chopta
2 days stay in BadrinathDarshan and Charanpaduka trek
Badrinath-Rudraprayag-Hardwar
Overall the trip went on very well and the biggest experience was my daughter enjoyed the whole trip and was comfortable with heights. We did the best we could do with a small kid.

Kedarnath trek was a beautiful experience with the beauty of waterfalls all through the route.We had an excellent darshan and wonderful view of the snowcapped peaks.My daughter was in a kandi,my wife took a pony midway and i trekked.
Next we stayed in Ukimath GMVN and i went for the Deoriyatal trek.I can never forget the first glance of the chakhambi peak and it’s reflection on the tal.It was simply mindblowing.

Next we went to Chopta and stayed in a hut. The beauty of Chopta got to be seen to believe and calling it mini-switzerland is an understatement.Unfortunately the next day as I got ready at 4:30 in the morning for my Tungnath & Chandrashila trek I found the entire valley engulfed under fog with zero visibility.Everybody including the locals suggested against my going for the trek and thus I had to give it a miss.BTW in Chopta I had one of the most delicious dinner of my life in the Rajendra Singh Bhandari’s(the hut owner) dhaba.I think it’s the best place to stay in Chopta and his phone no is 01364-268287/234.

From Chopta we straightaway went to Badrinath..We had an excellent darshan and then I did the Charanpaduka trek.It was again a wonderful trek where you reach very close to Neelkanth.The place has some Sadhus living in gufas.Overall a very pleasant experience.We went to Mana in the evening to do the short walks to Bhimpul.Again heavy rainfall and fog prevented me to go to Vasudhara falls next morning.

Way back we stayed in Rudraprayag GMVN which is virtually on the prayag.
Just to give an idea on Cost front for other’s benefit.
Scorpio for 8 days – Rs 13000 (approx)
Pony in Kedarnath –Rs1000
Pittu-Rs500
Per day boarding ,lodging & food(we tried staying in the best places with the kid)-Rs1300
Shatabdi tickets (Del to Hardwar)-Rs350 per ticket
Some photographs from the trip is given below:
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailsh...1/t_=107285821

One more new plan!!

Am back again with yet another plan (Pls don't kill me )

Our Parents and friends kept suggesting for a visit to Kedarnath as we are already touching the route and somehow it was always an aim for us to do the Chardhams.

Now here's the all new plan....

14th Sept (Fri)-Leaving for Hardwar via Jan Shatabdi (O/N Hardwar)
15th Sept (Sat)-Hardwar to Guptakashi (O/N Guptakashi)
16th Sept (Sun)-Trek to Kedarnath (O/N Kedarnath)
17th Sept(Mon)-Back to Guptakashi/Ukimath(O/N Guptakashi or Ukimath)
18th Sept(Tues)-Trek to Tungnath (O/N Ukimath)
19th Sept(Wed)- Trek to Deoriyatal (O/N Ukimath)
20th Sept(Thurs)-Ukimath to Badrinath (O/N Badrinath)
21st Sept (Fri)-Trek to Mana/Vasudhara (O/N Badrinath)
22nd Sept (Sat)-Badrinath to Rudraprayag (O/N Rudraprayag )
23rd Sept (Sun)- Rudraprayag to Hardwar (O/N Hardwar)
24th Sept (Mon)-Train to Delhi

Pls pls give all your inputs

Thanks for bearing us!!!

Pia's birthday and our new travel plan

Pia became two year old on 5th Sept.....but on her birthday she suddenly had severe cough and cold which made all our plans go haywire. Never before saw her in such a bad state.
The day was primarily spend trying to keep her excited with a new gift every hour over the entire day. A yummy cake was cut.

We had to postpone our entire travel plan looking into her present health.(We should have been in Auli today).

The alternate plan drawn is appended below:

14th Sept (Fri)-Leaving for Hardwar via Jan Shatabdi (O/N Hardwar)
15th Sept Sat)-Hardwar to Rudraprayag (O/N Rudraprayag)
16th Sept (Sun)-Rudraprayag to Auli (O/N Auli)
17th Sept(Mon)-Treks around Auli(Garson Bugiyal)(O/N Auli)
18th Sept(Tues)-Auli to Badrinath-temple visit (O/N Badrinath)
19th Sept(Wed)- Trek to Mana & Vasudhara (O/N Badrinath)
20th Sept(Thurs)-Badrinath to Chopta (O/N Chopta)
21st Sept (Fri)-Trek to Tungnath (O/N Chopta)
22nd Sept (Sat)-Deoriyatal trek and back (O/N Chopta)
23rd Sept (Sun)- Chopta to Hardwar (O/N Hardwar)
24th Sept (Mon)-Train to Delhi

Our Plan for Valley of flowers

Now i'm all set to start in next five days.
Can't wait to see VOF anymore
My final plan chalked out ex Delhi
7th Sept (Fri)-Leaving for Hardwar via Jan Shatabdi (O/N Hardwar)
8th Sept (Sat)-Hardwar to Joshimath (O/N Joshimath)
9th Sept (Sun)- Roam around in Auli (O/N Joshimath)
10th Sept(Mon)-Joshimath -Govindghat- Ghangaria(O/N Ghangaria)
11th Sept(Tues)-Ghangaria-VOF-Ghangaria (O/N Ghangaria)
12th Sept(Wed)-Ghangaria-HS-Ghangaria(O/N Ghangaria)
13th Sept(Thurs)-Ghangaria-Govindghat-Badrinath (O/N Badrinath)
14th Sept (Fri)-Badrinath Darshan and Vasudhara Trek (O/N Badrinath)
15th Sept (Sat)-Badrinath to Rudraprayag (O/N Rudraprayag)
16th Sept (Sun)-Rudraprayad to Hardwar and board train

There are 5 of us now-Me,Wife,Kid,father-in-law and maid

Key logistics worked out
:-We are hiring a Scorpio from Hardwar for the entire trip (Cost-Rs6500 for first 3 days and then Rs 1200 for each day)
-Consulted child specialist for kid and are taking along all necessary medicines for us and kid-Booking done for Hardwar and Joshimath
Suggestions needed:
-Hope the vehicle chosen and the cost is ok-How is the weather now (If anybody is aware)
-How to get a booking done in Ghangaria and Badrinath(Is it necessary)
-Is the overall plan ok...any thing i missed out on