Delightful Readings: A Travelers tale

My last month had been a happening one. I went around places from Mumbai – Delhi –Bareilly – Rudhpur –Haridwar – Rishikesh – Haldwani –Sarjah – Abu Dhabi.

I had begun with a kind of rush from Mumbai to Delhi to attend sister – in –law marriage.

I had earlier received a call for work in Gulf; the money offered was good so my week in Delhi passed in compiling the visa formalities.

Travel to Bareilly happened when Anand called up for a car trip to home. It was a rush hour to pack up at 3 and leave Delhi before 4 PM when the traffic picks up on the road.

We reached Bareilly at 11 PM. The road now is comparatively smoother.

However, the same cannot be stated for the road to Haridwar. The road is narrow & the traffic not only rash but also involved the cyclists & the cattle.

Twice we had a car puncture. We met our relatives on the way in Rudhrapur – An upcoming industrial township.

We reached the Har ki Paudi as the aarti was going on at 930 PM.

After offering pooja Anad took us past Rishikesh to Tapovan. We finally found some good food in a restaurant at 11 P.M.

The hotel room was settled for a bargained rate from 800 Rs to 450Rs for non-AC room and 800 Rs for an AC room. There being only on AC room available I found Nights in the foothill of Himalayas to be very hot.

Morning while everyone was still dozing, I went for a walk around the Laxman jhoola and was happy with the pictures I clicked on my SLR.

It’s a narrow hanging bridge for pedestrians or one two-wheeler at a time.

There’s a big temple on the other end but parents wished to reach Haridwar early and Bareilly by night.

The food was delectable in AC (Air Cooler) restaurants near bus stop in Rishikesh.

At Haridwar father found the pundit (Record keeper) of our village.

We took a dip in the holy Ganges. The water was not clean yet refreshing cold.

The pundit performed the pooja there and asked for a thousand rupees dakshina & seemed happy to settle for seven fifty-one.

We went to Har ki Paudi for a holi dip in the Ganges. It was very invigorating cold water.

Finally, we left Haridwar at 3PM after having our lunch at Bikaner (no good food).

Bareilly being a long way we decided to have a halt at Haldwani. Meeting Laxman is always cheering. Also met chacha and his family.

It was two and a half hours drive to Bareilly.

Next morning at 330 AM we left for Delhi as Anand had an assignment in the afternoon. He had been on the driver’s seat for last four days.

At Noida we halted at McDonalds for breakfast. Only Aayushi gets happy with MacDonalds.

A day after I had an early morning 440 AM flight to Sarjah. The Meru cab drivers act stupid to take the longer route.

The three and a half hours flight passed sleeping. I realised how many workers from India worked in Gulf.

At 7 AM the flight landed at Sarjah airport. (The clock here runs one & a half hour after India STD). The morning was calm and fresh.

There were quite a few Arabs in clean white gowns checking security at the airport. Apart from the few white gowns with rugged looks the place is populated by foreigners and many of them are from India working as shopkeepers, labourers, cooks, accountants, software engineers and as of now one more survey engineer.

The drivers here are predominantly Pakistanis who live in harmony with Indians. Bengalis (Bangladesi) however are a different lot. Philippinoes are the cheapest work staff followed by Egyptians, Indians and New Zealanders in my new company.

Indians it seems are rated high in efficiency.

Workshop (as everywhere) sucks. That keeps people contended being offshore.

I had a two day stay in Hotel Rotana (4 star) but could hardly get time to relish the luxuries as the office cab picks up at 620 AM and drops at 740PM and there are no holidays.

The only hotel luxury I enjoyed was the bath tub (who made us think gulf lacks water...!) 1 ltrs. Bottled water costs 1.5 dirams (20 IRS [Indian Rupees]) as much as a Kingfisher can.

My trip to Abu Dhabi was wonderful. The best roads I have experienced are here. The Highway maximum driving speed is 140kmph and all fancy cars are in sight. Petrol costs Rs 10 a litre.

The roadside view is lush green, than any highway in India.

Infrastructure and city planning here looks excellent except for the sewage.

Last year during two days of rain all the cities of UAE (the prominent are Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sarjah [under different sultans; but one nationality]) were flooded as the planners never thought of a drainage system.

My offshore experience was a stimulating one.

Fortunately, among the eleven-survey crew four are Indians (one however is hindi illah (no hindi) malyalee). Others are new Zealanders, Chinese (resettled in New Zealand), Malasian and Roman.

The sea here is calm unlike Indian offshore, but most of the near shore area is clustered with fish traps making survey a thorny task.

The day temperature rises up to 50 degrees but the mornings are pleasant.

The fridge and store are stuffed with cold drink cans, juices, bottled water, chocolates and fruits. Lately I have started resenting all the cans and chocolates.