18

Aug

Anna or no Anna

Posted on August 18th, 2011 by Harsh

Nothing is permanent – Buddha

It was only yesterday that I was intrigued to know ‘Who is Anna?’ May be it had to do with my dad continuously watching TV at full volume for two days without caring to eat a bite (a bit exaggerated) or the protestors that I witnessed on Jail Road near Tihar Jail on my way to office (only a road divides my locality and Tihar Jail), or it could be our good new Facebook which is replete with wall posts unconditionally supporting Anna Hazare.

Anna’s history is interesting. He was inducted into the army at a young age, was a part of the Sino-Chinese war in 1965, volunteered for premature retirement at the age of 39, and returned to his village. He set up a rainwater conservation system in his village to establish a supply of electricity and water and won the trust of the people. May be that was the turning point, and Anna never looked back. He food-fasted his way through the Bal Thackery-BJP government in 1995 and irked the likes of Sharad Pawar. Having gained confidence and unparallel expertise in ‘fast-till-you-can-live’ he moved to Delhi and was instrumental in passing the RTI Bill.
With the Jan Lokpal bill that promises to put an end to corruption, Anna has gained unprecedented mass support and given a few sleepless nights to the UPA, primarily the Gandhis. I still have my concerns how a bill that can be manipulated and rendered ineffective at the convenience of judicial system can really curb corruption. Ok, making a change to the system is the first step, but I would still question the longevity. 

Personally, the support that I see for Anna Hazare especially from the youth is more of a psychological healing for the masses. Having stored tons of frustration, it is an easy outlet. And we always love demeaning any one in power, don’t we? Having said that, I am very neutral and believe it is just a fodder for the media, a well-weaved diversion from other important issues that plague our country, and an impermanent operation that is entertaining millions of us.

I cannot predict how long the protestors would vociferously protest in front of Tihar Jail (I was there last night) but all I can see is an act that makes a bit of sense and lot of non-sense. One thing is for sure, all Saas-Bahu serials and KBCs would record lowest TRPs will the Anna Saga is going on. Good time for brands to shift their loyalties to news channels and make hay whilst the sun shines. And for good times sake, I hope corruption ends too!

273 days ago Short URL 7 Comments

Delhi/India/People/Politics/Views & Opinions

07

Aug

The King Lounge

Posted on August 7th, 2011 by Harsh

Though not a frequent flyer, I happen to be a King Club member of Kingfisher Airlines. Being a King Club member does give me access to a few privileges but nothing to beat the access to Kingfisher lounge on airports. Now that I have been to three Kingfisher lounges at Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, I believe I can review them or share my experience at the lounges.

The most exciting experience happened very recently at Mumbai Lounge, which I guess is the best of the three I have been to. Chic & progressive furniture, well laid-out,  with a fantastic bar and nice interiors, the Mumbai Kingfisher lounge can be your sole reason for arriving early for a flight. When I visited the first time to a Kingfisher lounge in Bangalore I thought that Kingfisher was a bit stingy with the menu and was trying to save some cheap bucks, which was quite astonishing as they’d like to pamper their first class travellers and frequent flyers. That was last year. This time when I visited the Mumbai lounge I was pleasantly surprised with the chicken that they served. It was absolutely finger-lickin’. Also, at about 7 PM they served a three-course dinner that was absolutely sumptuous.

The one is Delhi is not well laid-out. The Kingfisher lounge in Bangalore takes maximum marks for that. The Delhi one is more exposed to the public outside and does little justice to the fact that the one in capital state is the sorry one. The food in the morning was quite okay with undercooked egg and typical continental breakfast. The keen thing about Kingfisher lounge food is that they serve a bit of everything. For example, they will have two fruits, like pineapple and papaya, chopped, and other miniscule options in other cuisines.

All in all, I feel that Kingfisher lounge is a great place to hang out before the flight and especially for business travellers like me who would have some time in hand before the flight takes off. And they really pamper. I was recently surprised when I received three business class upgrade vouchers on spending a certain amount on my Amex Kingfisher First Card. Also, when I cancelled my tickets earlier in the week, I got a full refund.

So far so good, Kingfisher. Just one grudge: the entertainment facility in the flight did not work both ways when I travelled to Mumbai this week. I wanted to watch TV :( 

284 days ago Short URL Comments

Experiences/Food/India/Travel

18

Jul

Bad Service, Stinking Staff!

Posted on July 18th, 2011 by Harsh

Either I have extreme standards of serving a client or there’s something wrong out there. I’ll start with an example, and that of one of my most favourite places. I was at Subway in DLF Promenade a few days back. It is a small counter if you have seen it; barely 3 people can stand at the counter at one time. The story goes like this: I ordered two chicken tikka subs – toasted, without cheese, wheat bread – and the staff member on the other side of the counter heard me out and put the bread in the oven to toast. In the meanwhile, I turned around to have a word with my friend. When I looked back, the Subway man had already put all the vegetables in the sub. When I asked him why he did not ask me the vegetables I wanted, he replied that I was looking somewhere else, so he ‘assumed’ that I’d like to have all vegetables. On showing my shock and displeasure, I politely told him that that’s the not the way it is supposed to be done and since I am a regular at Sub, I have always been asked specifically about the choice of vegetables. Equally displeased, the Subway man across the counter very conveniently asked me the vegetables I’d like to have and offered to remove the ones that I do not want. Quite anguished with the unapologetic behaviour I looked around for a senior person and could not find any. Also, I noted that the other staff members refused to involve themselves in the issue and gave it a royal cold shoulder. Flabbergasted, I asked the guy the reason for this misbehaviour, upon which he left the counter furiously, handing over the reigns to a fellow staff member. The fellow staff member took over quite sublimely, but my bad day continued as when he packed the subs, he forgot to label them!

Let me quote another small incident at American Diners at India Habitat Center! About a month ago, I went to the place in the evening to have a cup of coffee. Since there was no place inside, I sat on the table outside despite of the hot weather. When I signalled a waitress, she arrived after good 5 minutes. As I was about to place my order, she informed me that that they don’t serve outside. I asked her to put my name on the waiting list, and asked her to serve me a glass of water. To my surprise, she said a blunt NO to that request. I believe Diners doesn’t serve water outside.

I’d have a few more tales to exemplify the degrading service that we are experiencing nowadays and it is not just limited to restaurants. Here’s another very short story to illustrate that: About a fortnight ago, I contacted Automax Honda in Mayapuri as I wanted to buy a new tyre for my car. The executive at the other end asked me to come over any time to get the new tyre. So, the next day, I made my way to Automax. To keep it short, I was made to wait for 20 minutes only to discover that they did not have the tyre in the service centre. I was disgusted but did not want to spoil my monthly Saturday off. From there, I made my way to Volkswagen West Delhi to check out Polo, where the receptionist told me that there was no salesman available. Upon which, I looked at her bemused , expecting her to clarify or tell me a time when I would be able to see one. But, I was experiencing another bad servicing day. She stood poker-faced, probably waiting for me to leave!!! When I requested for a salesman, one arrived after 20 minutes (with many reminders in between). He was quite polite and helpful, but it is another story that there was no car for test drive and as the man had promised, no one ever arrived the next day for a test drive at my home!

I believe all of us have numerous grievances, but in my case, the instances have increased manifold in the recent past. Hope it all falls in place one day. Also, thank god for my calmness (I intend to write more on my calmness quotient in near future) 

304 days ago Short URL Comments

Delhi/Eating Out/Experiences/India/Views & Opinions

20

Jan

The Irony of Philanthropic India

Posted on January 20th, 2011 by Harsh

What amuses me more? That corporate Indian gets together in a gala event where Karan Johar with his gelled-back hair and Indian-Anglo accent (the reverse order is deliberate) addresses some of the richest people in India, and they in their inimitable style articulate in their own sophisticated manner the poverty of India, or that they collectively do a lot of talking than average doing? I guess it’s a mix of both. Though I exhibit pessimism, I also acknowledge that fact that corporate India is now emerging from its shadows of superficial CSR and finally taking on the centerstage, even if it comes with substantial amount of glamour and repeat media coverage.

Last week, the Economic Times was replete with pictures from the get-together of the corporate world where philanthropy was the key objective, and one business channel has been repeatedly playing the gala event so many times that it may make an entry into the Guinness Books of World Records (since it’s a timekeeper of all weird records) for the ‘Most repeated show’ on TV. Mind you, the event was a media’s delight with the Ambanis, Birlas, Mahindras and Sibals and Rameshs rubbing their shoulders. Sibal also recited a poem which he reportedly wrote on his flight. The poetry did elaborately depict the command of the English language that our distinguished minister has acquired over the years. His speech was inspiring. His tone was full of conviction. It was a 2-minute salutation to our invisible philanthropic initiatives and poor of India. Corporate czars moved the audience with their emotion-filled speeches tailor-made for the occasion. The entire hall echoed the loud applause and the celebration of poor India continued till late in the night, with abundant single malt and exotic food to accompany.

The fact is that poor India is a brand in itself. It is a pulling brand for the likes world-renowned philanthropist in Bill Gates and Warren Buffet (both of them have donated a very significant part of their wealth and take their philanthropy very seriously) over the past few years. Though richest Indians are trying to replicate them, I will always doubt their sincerity till I see real changes. Two men stand out for me: Azim Premji and Shiv Nadar (of HCL). Shiv Nadar recently made it to the front page of a financial daily when he pledged to donate 10% of his income. Premji has silently (and admirably) done a lot in the past decade or so in education. The likes of Sunil Bharti Mittal, who I absolutely admire as a businessman, has been a disappointment in this area. But I give him the benefit of doubt of being the first-generation businessman, and may be his journey has just begun.

Apart from counting the sins of the ‘most privileged’, I guess I need to be talking a bit to the man in the mirror. The fact is that all of us can make our little contributions towards our country and our collective effort may even eclipse the gigantic donations of the rich. We will not get the limelight of extensive media coverage, but if that is one of the reasons to do it, then it may as well not be done.
Cheers to prosperity of India!

483 days ago Short URL Comments

India/People/Views & Opinions

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07

Mar

Neemrana Fort and Palace – A Trip to the Bygone Era

Posted on March 7th, 2009 by Harsh

Going for office offsite trips is always a memorable experience, especially when you have young and enthusiastic people with you. After weeks of contemplation and cancellations, we eventually decided to make a visit to Neemrana Hotels and Forts, which is a two and a half hour drive from Delhi on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. The roads are good on the NH8 and it was a pleasure driving all the way to Neemrana. We left at around 10 in the morning so we did not encounter heavy traffic. When you are moving on Delhi-Jaipur highway, you see the Neemrana Forts on your right hand side, and the signboards clearly guide you till the Forts entrance. The approach reminds me that of Amber Fort in Jaipur, as you have to go thru the narrow lanes with houses on both the sides. I had a friend from Norway with me and he was surprised to see the kind of kuchcha roads that took us all the way to a luxury property.

Neemrana Fort is built on the sprawling Aravali Hills which are spread throughout the state of Rajasthan. You enter the fort thru a gigantic door that reminds you of the royal Rajasthan. On the entrance was an old-looking cart which I guess must have been purposely kept there to attract tourist attention (there was also an antique Opel parked outside). It worked because we were quite excited to see an antique piece the moment we entered. As women usually do, they got overexcited and got some pics clicked sitting on the cart. The path to the reception is very steep and the oldies may catch their breath (I didn’t, FYI).

However, before you take the road to the reception area, you cannot miss the panoramic view of the Aravalis from the balcony. Saying that it is breathtaking would be an understatement. The well-manicured lawns are just perfect for lazy evenings. Inside the fort palace is an Indian restaurant called Jal Giri where we had our lunch. Close to the swimming cool, Jal Giri is a spacious restaurant with tastefully done interiors and attractive chandeliers. We had booked lunch buffet for all of us. The buffet menu, like my recent experiences, was an amalgamation of continental and Indian food. The tomato soup was average (surprisingly, they did not have chicken soup). Coming to the food, what I found the best was Mushroom Salt and Pepper. Veg Lasagna was excellent too. I did not bother to try Loki Masala. The chicken and mutton were average at best.

Along with the food, we ordered quite a few drinks. The beverage menu was not elaborate by any standards, considering the hotel attracts a slew of international tourists (Kate Winslet, Vikram Seth and Salman Rushdie have stayed here earlier). The service was okay too, as they took ages to serve drinks! What was unbelievable was that we had to ask for ice along with the drinks. The coke was served in glass bottles (I have seen low-end restaurants serving drinks in a better manner). The cutlery was not impressive either. I am tearing the restaurant to shreds, but it was not all that bad. We loved the experience. The drinks were reasonably priced considering it was a luxury property.

The USP of Neemrana Forts is its royal ambience. The quintessential royalty drips thru every pore of the wall, and the property owners have done an excellent job to maintain the old world charm and amalgamating it with modern-day luxuries. Right from the washroom (one was named Loo Mahal) to the rooms, the Fort Palace smells of bygone luxurious living of the maharajas, like many forts and palaces of Rajasthan.

A must one-time visit for everyone!

1167 days ago Short URL 2 Comments

History/India/Places to Stay/Travel

26

Feb

Chak De India!

Posted on February 26th, 2009 by Harsh

India’s tour to New Zealand has always been a bit special. India-NZ are not traditional rivals like India-Pak or Aus-NZ, but there have always been a profound rivalry between the two teams. India undoubtedly has a poor record in New Zealand. The last time India visited NZ they just managed to win 2 out of 7 ODIs and that was also largely due to Sehwag’s histrionics. He was the star of the series in which Indian batsmen just fell to the swinging ball.

Historically, New Zealand has a special place in the history of Indian cricket. It was in the year 1969 that India won its first Test match overseas in New Zealand under the captaincy of Tiget Pataudi – a young and aggressive royalty who batted with just one eye. That was the beginning of an era, and years later, India conquered the Caribbean in the same series in which Sunil Gavaskar made his debut and scoring over 700 runs in 3 Test matches.

Over the years, India has no record to boast of in New Zealand. During the 80s and 90s, they struggled in the chilly, pace-friendly conditions, and unarguably, there was no bowler to exploit the conditions, or any perfectionist batsman to master the moving ball, barring one Sachin Tendulkar who still boasts of a decent average against Black Caps in New Zealand. In between all of that, New Zealand have had a decent record against India in India where they have beaten India comprehensively number of times, but India have by and large dominated them at home.

However, this time, India have better chances of conquering the land of Black Caps than they have ever had. In the past nine years, India have won Test series in West Indies, England and Pakistan, and have squared in Australia. This team is young, confident and aggressive. On the other hand, New Zealand looks raw. Apart from McCullum and Ross Taylor, the batting looks fragile. They lack the all-rounder class of a Chris Cairns and shrewd captaincy of a Stephan Fleming. Also, India has grown by leaps and bounds as a fielding side, and this is one area in which New Zealand was always ahead by a clear margin. What also makes me positive is that Indian team is now better-balanced and believes that they can win in alien conditions.

India may have lost the first T20 match, but they lost by a narrow margin and in parts looked like a team of world-beaters. Dhoni and his boys have a great chance to settle scores in New Zealand, and this time it seems they will!

All the best, Team India!

1176 days ago Short URL Comments

Cricket/India

19

Feb

Richie Rich India

Posted on February 19th, 2009 by Harsh

When I was a kid I used to read Richie Rich and his life of a rich kid who had no dearth of money. He is the richest kid in the world, wears a waistcoat and has a faithful and round-the-clock butler in Cadbury at his service all the time. The hero was fascinating, and every kid of my age wanted to be like him – rich, pampered and famous! I am partially kidding!

Last week, I had someone from the US visiting my neighborhood. We went out for dinner with a few other friends and general comparison between India and US (and a few other European countries) began. Whilst the American was talking highly about the US, the fun they have there and what not, he was pretty much amazed by the ostentatious living of the rich here. He was quite startled to learn that one Mr Mukesh Ambani is building a USD 2 billion home for himself. His reaction was: “That’s the size of a big company in the US.” Also, he was equally startled to learn that the BCCI is the richest sports body in the world, and that Yuvraj Singh was gifted a Porsche 911 when he hit 6 sixes. I further acquainted him with the flamboyance of Mr Vijay Mallaya and the lives of other Indians. To say the least, he was shocked! Not that people are not rich in the US, but that India is largely perceived as a land of poor people.

The CEOs of India earn huge chunks of money, even if they show less than what they have. Mukesh Ambani, the highest paid CEO, draws an annual income of Rs. 44 Crores. Mr Maran, CEO of Sun TV, rests at no. 2 with annual income of Rs. 32 Crores. Ambani Jr earns Rs 30 Crore per year. Needless to day, both the Ambani Brothers own a fleet of aircraft and have tons of money to splurge. There are more millionaires in Indian than China and Japan together. Ambani Jr also has also funded Steven Spielberg now, so the rich Indians are getting global. LNM is our international icon.

However, what I have realized is that we will have to get rid of poverty completely to ensure that India Inc is positioned as a rich and developed country. Mathew Hayden, a month back, had labeled India as a third world country only because the groundsman had taken time adjusting the sightscreen! Later, Wasim Akram countered the comment by saying that Australia is a country of villages!

All in all, I am not ashamed about poverty (I am sad), and I am not too proud either of the over the top display of the wealth of the richest Indians.

1183 days ago Short URL Comments

India

14

Jan

The Poolside ‘Pehli Lohri’

Posted on January 14th, 2009 by Harsh

If you are a Punjabi, or even have a remote Punjabi connection, you know what I am talking about. Lohri is a festival where all Punjabis every year on Jan 13 gather around a bonfire and throw popcorn, groundnuts and what not into it. Once the fire has doused, we pick all the edible stuff and gorge on them like there is no tomorrow!

What was traditionally celebrated by the farmers in Punjab before they could harvest their crop has now turned into a get-together of many families where they dance, booze and devour exotic preparations!

First, I’d like to make it clear that I am not criticizing the celebrations and get-togethers. I love them. I see Lohri as a very insignificant festival first of all, but then I find all festivals quite frivolous for that matter. Globally, Oktoberfest may just qualify to be only tempting one, even though I am not a voracious beer guzzler.

Ok, coming back to our very own Lohri. The most common prefix for Lohri is “Pehli”. Doesn’t matter if you are a 30-year-old newly wed, and have celebrated 3 decades of winter bonfires, you still celebrate your “first one” post-marriage. A new kid is born and he/she fundamentally celebrates his Pehli Lohri. Poor kid! He either cries annoyingly in a mad gathering or goes off to sleep, wondering why the hell I am out of the comfort of my bed, on a chilly night!

For guests? Men first. They get to booze officially in their wives presence. They can get officially talli and dance like monkeys on the loose. A few perverted ones would not even let any opportunity of flirting with the other man’s wife go waste.

For women? #1 Lohri, though, celebrated, well past sunset, begins around 3 PM with rounds of salon, ironing sarees, mascara make up, matching sandals/shoes and all that inexplicable stuff #2 They would be anxious right from the morning about leaving on time in the evening. When it is time to leave, they would still keep the menfolk waiting long enuf to catch their last cup of tea (they stop complaining after the first few years) #3 In the party, they would seek compliments and would even give one in return (all fake!) #4 When on the dance floor, they would make great efforts to be elegant, but with the music beats, they become themselves, and lose all air of sophistication. The list is endless…

All said and done, the tradition of “Pehli Lohri” is here to stay. From the street bonfires, we have moved to poolside bonfires (I attended one last night). We are on the verge of having “Urban Lohris” being celebrated in pubs and clubs, and marinated with opulence. But isn’t that again so so “Punjabi”?

1219 days ago Short URL 10 Comments

India/Views & Opinions

02

Jan

The Young Man and the State

Posted on January 2nd, 2009 by Harsh

I remember mentioning in one of my earlier posts that how Indian politics is still being ruled by septuagenarians and octogenarians. When Narendra Modi was asked a few days back to comment on the ageing prime ministerial candidate in LK Advani, the Guajarat Chief Minister, quite confidently and with awkward smile, answered that a complex country like India needs a national leader who has administrative experience and in-depth understanding of the diverse nation. Well said, Mr Modi, but I can’t help myself from arguing with you on this point. I am still in awe of a six-pack President that America has just chosen for itself. Whilst tight abs may not be a criterion for qualifying for the nation’s top post, it certainly marks a new beginning in the world’s oldest democracy.

Most of the world would agree with me that we need younger leaders now. Even in the corporate sector, you often come across CEOs who are in their mid-forties. They are dynamic, energetic, visionary and quick decision-makers. With no offence to the oldies, the time has changed. The youth is all set to lead the aged now, and the oldies must allows the younger ones to be the harbinger of change (which is a clichéd word now, thanks to one Mr Obama).

Whilst India still continues to be ruled by those born in the primitive pre-independence era, I can sense small change now, and that comes in the form of Mr Omar Abdullah, the to-be-sworn-in chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir, perhaps the most troubled state of India. After the Prime Minister, being the CM of J&K is arguably is one of the toughest positions to hold, with the pressure of the government, separatists and across the border forces always on your head. Not to mention, the perpetual assassination threats that the position gifts you.

But let us not take the sheen away from 38-year-old Omar Abdullah, who I see as one of the most promising leaders in the country. I have a feeling that he is our Obama, belonging to the minority, charismatic and brimming with youthful ideas. The credit must also go to his father and seasoned politician Dr Farookh Abdullah for asking his son to step up and take the top position in the state. No one knows J&K better than the Abdullahs. It was reported that Dr Farookh Abdullah was all set to take the position as the CM, until he asked his son Omar, to his surprise, at the dinner table to become the chief ministerial candidate. Omar was first surprised and hesitant, but the dynamic leader was soon convinced. It gives me goosebumps to see a young leader take the center stage when we have lost faith in the nepotistic government ruling at the center.

The NC-Congress coalition in J&K has given India its youngest chief minister in its 60 year history of democracy. Omar Abdullah, when formally chosen as the CM after his talks at 10 Janpath, told reporters that “I am a Muslim and I am an Indian, and there is no difference between the two.” I can also not neglect the similarities he shares with Obama. Both are young. Both belong to the minority. Both have inherent charisma. Both are excellent orators and evoke sentiments in the people. Both have parents of different origins (Omar’s mother is a British who left Kashmir with her three daughters after the increase in militancy in J&K. She once threatened Omar that he would have to step over her dead body to join politics.). Both have O as the first letters of their names.

This makes me question myself. Can we see Omar become Prime Minister of India one day? We can, why not? We need to trust our politicians, and sadly with very few choices, I reckon Omar Abdullah will cement his place in the fateful history of India!

All the best Mr Omar Abdullah, and we can’t help but hope!

1231 days ago Short URL 3 Comments

History/India/People/Politics/Views & Opinions

31

Dec

Corbett Calling

Posted on December 31st, 2008 by Harsh

Corbett can be one of the most exciting weekend getaways for you if you are a Delhiite. With woods around you, chilly breeze, sprawling forests, luxury resorts, and vacation-like atmosphere, Corbett qualifies to be a perfect haven for travelers and non-travelers alike. I made my first trip to Corbett last weekend, after being sick and tired of making umpteen trips to Jaipur for short vacations. I ruled out going northwards because of the chill in the hills. That’s left for the summers!

As I discovered, the best way to reach Corbett from Delhi is to drive down, if you are comfortable doing intercity driving. The roads are not in the best condition, and traffic jams are normal unless you leave early in the morning, ie around 4. Leaving early morning in the winters is not a good idea as there are chances of having dense fog. I left for Corbett at around 8 from Delhi with friends, and we encountered fog for about 60-odd kms after crossing Hapur. The drive was fun once the fog cleared, and as the day progressed it got warmer also.

If you are going in the peak season, it is wise get your bookings done. We stayed in Woodcastle Resort & Spa which is a pretty good resort with excellent architecture, swimming pool, and located on the riverside. The only downside was the food, which we found very spicy and oily at most times, except the breakfast. Apart from the food, everything was just perfect, including the service and accommodation. Woodcastle comes across as more of a resort tailormade for families, and we were the only all-male group there, but did not feel alienated. Woodcastle is located amongst a horde of resort that queue in Garjia (some 10 kms from Rampur and 8 kms short of Corbett Museum).

Woodcastle Resort

Two days are enough to visit and enjoy Corbett. We left at 8 Sat morning and reached there by 3:30. It took us an hour extra because of bad traffic and fog. Reaching Corbett, we went for a small nature walk and enjoyed our evening at the resort with live music and drinks in a well-manicured and vast lawn. With mercury dipping and bonfire beside us, and drinks and snacks handy, it was a good evening. The live music was good but the singer chose to sing all the melancholic songs from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. The songs were well-sung but it was an overdose of sentiments!

The best part of the trip always is when you have one full day to spend at the place. Our day to do the same was Sunday. With a jungle safari lined up for the afternoon, we spent the first half of the day visiting the Corbett Museum, which can be given a miss unless you are a history/wildlife freak. Then we went fishing at Infinity Resorts. Anybody who loves to fish or would like to must visit Infinity and I am sure you will end up catching a fish. We did after more than an hour of ordeal. It cost us Rs 600/-. It was a patient exercise to catch a fish because the fish would more often than not end up eating the bait and not get hooked. Finally, my friends did manage to get hold of a fish, whilst I dozed off on a bench on the riverside.

With the bust of Late Mr Corbett

Coming to the safari, it was fun in a way that we sat in an open Maruti Gypsy that went thru the jungles. We were told by the driver that there exist some 135 tigers and 35,000 deer in the forest, but we could only manage to spot three spotted deer, and missed tiger by 10 minutes. Otherwise, there was nothing very special about the safari than the fact that you got panoramic view of the hills and forests, and the sun going down in the evening. If you are doing safari in an open jeep in the winters, don’t forget to carry an extra pullover and a cap as the chilly breeze numbs your ears if they remain unprotected. Also, do not go to the forests with a lot of hope because you may return disappointed. You’d be exceptionally lucky if you get to view a tiger.

We rounded the trip off with another musical night at the resort, and another round of tear-jerking songs that would make the most newly married cry in the memory of their ex-flames! As it happens with friends, most sad songs only turned out be a source of humor for all of us!

On our way to the Forest…

All in all, Jim Corbett is a place worth visiting once. For people like me, it acts an unwinding activity away from the noise of city, and also educates a bit on wildlife even if it is nowhere to be seen!

1233 days ago Short URL Comments

Experiences/History/India/Travel