Manali and Mainakoli...(contd.)

Where was I yesterday? yeah, give credit to my failing memory yet again. yeah !after your primary preparations, check your money and cards without which your status would be reduced to a wanderer in a desert thirsting for water in a mirage. The only difference would be that mountains would replace the desert. Nonetheless, the consequences are adamant to remain intact. This was a bit of free advice on my part. Now comes what Mainakoli did to reach her destination straight from the horse's mouth-
After a lot of running around from Paharganj entry of NDRS( new delhi railway station) to Ajmeri gate to Shiela cinema hall where I finally bumped into the person I was supposed to, I heaved a sigh of relief. Thanks to my phone which was acting real weird at the wrong time! Neway, some misunderstanding happened even before boarding the pre-booked Volvo but my ready wit of declaring myself a member of JNU Student's Union Body solved the problem immediately.( btw, it is a white lie ;)) The one day old brand new deptt. T-shirt beaming proudly of being a JNUite did the needful.I can't exactly recall when we bought packets of chips to munch on and when I am on this thought, I would like to make an observation.

• The things which beat liquor and dope-the new age necessity of gen-X or call it a status symbol?? very closely has to be chips ( Lays or other labels) and Coke/Pepsi.

I have no idea when I dozed off in the cozy seat listening to melodious nos. by our own Papon Da only to be woken up at around 10/10:30 to have food in some roadside eatery. God! were they prices for those commonplace food! But the most important duty was to empty my bowels off its excess water to pave the way for another round of sound sleep till the crows cawed heralding the start of yet another day. I almost crawled back to my seat after the duty was done to have an affair with beauty sleep to the disappointment of my friend who felt utterly ditched and deprived from a waking company to chit-chat. The next time I took the pain of opening my eyes was at the next stop to have morning tea. The special tea or (was it coffee??) made of special yak milk tasted not-so-special in the mouth. I have uploaded a picture of the same. The sexy and edgy curves of the mountain route and the fresh looking Sutlej water kept me awake for a while. The abundant marijuana leaves which grew like grass excited Gnxu to the hilt. He kept on
filling the memory space of his Samsung star which such pictures. WEll, seeing is believing. So, I am uploading a picture of a patch of those leaves which along with Bob Marley & red/yellow/green symbol drives youngsters crazy beyond imagination. Its LSD for them.
Neway, after another round of on and off dozing off and marvelling at the petite and cute houses adorned with flowers, we finally reached Manali located in the distt of Kullu.(to be contd.)

Manali and Mainakoli...(inspiration- Gnxu)

Three jackets, a pair of warmers, two pair of jeans, t-shirts, mufflers, a pair of converse, several pair of socks- these are the essential stuffs a friend of mine recommended as 'must-haves' in my kit arranged for a trip to the mountains. I stuffed my kohl-without which i look like a dead fish, adidas deo, moisturizer,tissue,toothpaste and brush,hair brush, shampoo and face wash into the kit without fail. A lady of my age feels almost handicapped without her toiletries and hence special care was given to it lest my forgetful mind would skip any of these! Gloves, gum boots, winter cap would be taken care of on reaching destination Manali and sub-destination Rohtang Pass( trust me when I say Its Paradise on this wretched Earth- the wretched aspect dwindles to an extent due to Its existence). Oh yes! never to forget your medicines- avomin, norfloxcin(i'm sure i have misspelt it; feeling lazy to let go off my sitting posture to cross-check it), disprin and I can't recall what you call it-the one for curing gastric trouble. My memory is failing me with advancing age. sigh!