Country Roads Take Me Home .!!

My house in Clement Town(Dehra Dun) has seen many ups and downs .I remember it in the 60ties as being the hub of affluence and social focus.It belonged to "Doctor Kain",a very prominent and visible man  .Its a beautiful  bungalow but  now past its prime.When Mr Lumsden sold it to us in 1960, it was called “Anchorage”.My father changed its name to “Guro Bhavan”,naming it so in honour of my mother .

At different  times ,it had different  occupants .When my father moved into a government accommodation ,the house  became the office of the ONGC  for its drilling project at Mohand –which is  just about 7 kms down the mountains near the Rajaji Game sanctuary .It also doubled up as a school –Shalini Preparatory School .When my father passed away ,we shifted back into the house –Guro Bhavan.But soon we all left in different directions to eke out  our living and handed it over to Uncle Sumra who looked after it with great care .Unfortunately ,Uncle passed away on Christmas day last year – His widow ,Aunty Sumra lived  there for sometime trying to brave it out ,but could not cope with the loneliness and old age .Subsequently ,Alzheimer consumed her , we shifted her out and sent her to her relatives in Hyderabad .After struggling for nearly two years without Uncle ,she passed away on the 9th of October 2013 .Ironically -it was a day when i left India for Dubai .It was as if she had acknowledged the fact that her duties of looking after me were over .!! The house is now run down ,empty (except a ceiling fan in one of its rooms)and a lonely reminder of the days it once had seen .I still remember,very, very vividly,many many years back ..................

  ……………

 Guro Bhavan  was a stand alone bungalow  on the Subhash Nagar Road .It was the first bungalow as we turned into the post office road from Subhash Nagar .Gen Shabeg and Seth Pannalal built their bungalows much later .Just before Guro Bhavan ,used to be a small pond and next to it a open field .We used to play cricket there and sometimes someone would hit the ball into the pond !!Of course the batsman would be declared out ,but anyone wanting to volunteer  to retrieve the ball would be given an extra innings !!In the duststorm of my memory ,i can still see Timmy Ploma hit the ball into the pond and quickly run to retrieve it .And when Glenn Miller protested as Timmy took guard for his second innings , saying that 2 innings were only for the fielders and not for the batsman irrespective of whether he retrieved the ball or not ,Tim blurted out "You dont know the rules of the game .And you need not know it because you are never going to be a beneficiary -you cant  hit the ball so hard and you have never volunteered to retrieve the ball " Ha Ha !!Dont know where Tim and Glenn are now .Tim went off to Perth and Glenn went off to England .And Glenn did go into the North Sea -not to retrieve cricket balls but oil !!Would love to meet them .!!
 Our house  had a beautiful verandah which ran half way across the front .It had 8 rooms and 6 outhouses .It had a huge lawn on which i learnt to play cricket .It also had a water clock in the front .! There was a gravel road which led the visitors to the front door of the house .All around it were beautiful flowers –my father was particularly fond of sweet peas and hollyhocks .There were about a hundred trees –mostly mangoes ,guava,anjeer ,and a fruit  called “chakotra” in local parlance .In English its called “Pomelo” .It is like  a big lemon almost the size of water melons .I also remember in particular three  trees –the red weeping willow which was near the fence of our house adjoining the main road ,the "jamun" tree which was always very popular because it  bore very sweet and juicy "jamuns", and the Jacaranda tree which was near the front entry to the house .My younger sister and me used to climb the Jacaranda very often . It used to flower  during spring and in autumn it would shed its leaves and purple flowers .Once we saw so many leaves and flowers being shed ,that I remember saying  “See ,its crying”!! Our uninhibited movements became slightly more sedate when she had a fall from one of the branches .The jacaranda had taught me a important lesson –being rash is fun ,but it also brings with it risks.

The house was decked at its best for the marriage of my eldest sister .I still remember it being bathed in lights .And in those days my father spent(wasted) enough money to have a illumination of moving lights which caricatured  a man garlanding a woman –the “jai mal”,as we call it .And as for the crowds!! –it was as if the whole city had congregated to Guro Bhavan .I remember my father playing the perfect host –very debonair ,very charming and very alert .My mother kept by his side .We were too young to take over any responsibility –we were too interested in entertaining our friends and cousins .

In the evening ,the lights of Mussoorie twinkled in front –a  glorious uninterrupted view bcoz there were no buildings high enough to block them .And in the winter months –we could see the Himalayas clothed and draped in white and trying to kiss the blue skies –the snow looked  so white ,and  beautiful and the sky so blue and tempting. My father would take us to the hills where my cousins stayed (they still stay there ,next to Ruskin Bonds cottage –infact Mussoories most influential people ).Lovely birds would  chirp  throughout the day ,and I have never seen so many butterflies and “jugnoos”,in my life as when we used to stay in Guro Bhavan .In short –it was a fairy tale living .

Things changed .Clement Town changed .The beauty of Clement Town caught the eye of the people .It was invaded by outsiders .And the entire character of the place changed . We grew older ,we no longer climbed the Jacaranda tree,the weeping willow grew old and the unrelenting termites ate into her 60 years old trunk,a storm did her in one day .The jamun tree started to grow too big for the new electrical wires and the electricty department cut it down .The twinkling stars of Mussoorie got hidden behind ugly unplanned buildings ,and one could no longer see the snow clad mountains .The trees no longer attracted the birds ,and when humans encroached on the Rajaji Game sanctuary ,the monkeys made their way into our compound .About 4 years back ,a leopard came visiting Clement Town .!!It created panic .The police and the wildlife authorities were informed .I don’t know what happened subsequently.

I visited my house in November last year .I went to meet Uncle .I was told that the once Hammer Thrower for India ,was slowly fading away from life .I entered the gates of  house .It looked very dilapidated .My car came to a halt beneath the Jacaranda tree .I looked up at it .?Where and which one was the branch from where my sister had fallen off?Could not make out .There were some lovely purple coloured flowers on its branches .The tree looked old but beautiful .A squirrel dashed up and down its main trunk,and looked at me as if i was a intruder .There was a breeze that rustled  through it –ah a bit like old times ..I entered Uncles room .

He looked very frail .But he recognized me in a jiffy .!. “Kulu,I have been waiting for you.” He mumbled .And then made a effort to get up .

“Chhotti,bring the whiskey”he said (Chotti is the name by which he used to call Aunty).

“No uncle ,I don’t drink now .And its only 10 in the morning.Maybe next time after sunset !!”,I said .

He looked at me and replied “Boy ,for me the evening may not come”.

I was stunned into silence .Memories of him dancing,of him taking me for patridge  and water duck shoots ,of him and me driving to Delhi and Ludhiana ,and of him ,lifting a steel trunk above his head to load it into a tempo –all came flashing back.Surely ,the curtain was about to fall .I reached out to him.His hands were cold .He whispered “One for the road Kulu”.And then those words –“You have to think of selling Guro Bhavan now .I dont have much time left now .And none of you wants to stay here”.

Uncle was dying ,Clement Town as i knew it, was already dead .I was reminded of a poem of Javed Akhtar

mujhko yaqin hai, sach kehti thee,

jo bhi ammi kehti thin,

Jab mere bachpan ke din thae,

 chand mein pariyan rehti thee

 ik ye din jab sari sadakey roothi roothi lagti hain

ik wo din jab ‘ao khelen’ sari galiyan kehti thee

ik ye din jab jaagi raten deewaron ko takay

ik wo din jab shakhon ke bhi palken bojhal rehti thee

ik ye din jab zahan mein sari ayyari ke baten hain

ik wo din jab dil mein sari bholi baten rehti thee

ik ye ghar jis ghar mein mera saz-o-saman rehta hai

ik wo ghar jisamen meri budhi nani rahati thin

Uncle passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 25^th of December .I could not attend his funeral .I did not want to see his dead body .I lack that kind of courage .But I do remember ,the last time I left Guro Bhavan while he was alive .I had stepped out of his room .I knew my professional commitments would not have allowed me to meet him again .I stood beneath the Jacaranda tree .I looked up .I searched for the moments and the birds .Suddenly a gust of breeze ruffled its leaves and the purple buds .And they rained on me .I did not brush them off my hair or my jacket.It was as if Guro Bhavan was applauding me and showering its blessing .I also remember telling myself –“See Kulu ,its crying”!!. Suddenly a squirrel ran up and down a branch and looked me in the eye.Was it pleading me to stay the night and leave the next day as Mom and Dad would have done ? 

And then  a small flower fell into my eyes .It brought out the tears .After many years ,I was bonding with something that had dared to stay there without any of us –the Jacaranda tree .It was teaching me another lesson

“Cry if you must –but don’t you quit”.
It also taught me another lesson .Dont invest much of your heart in men and women who will pretend they love you .Its better to invest it in animals and trees .They are more loyal, -even if they cant say "I love and i admire you".And they dont desert you even if you leave them .!!

What Is A "Good" School ?!!

I have been in the Education sector throughout my life .Even if I did not want to learn anything from it –it would have been possible to do so .If you spend day in and day out in the corridors ,fields and classrooms (and in hostel rooms as well),then one will have definitive views on education .No matter how many books one reads and how many seminars one attends (though I love them since all of them are in 5 Star Hotels and many times in Dubai,Paris  and London.!!),nothing can replace the learning that takes place at ground zero –the classrooms ,the playing fields and the staff rooms .The best mechanic is the one who gets in front of the car and below the car .Not someone who is dealing with power point presentations and Blackberry phones .!!

I have often been asked “What is a good school”?.Or , “How do you create a good school.”?Both are absolutely relevant questions and someone who has spent a lifetime in schools should  be in a position to give some kind of a answer to it .Without going into too many details ,I will attempt to do so .

I will start by saying that a good school is NOT one that produces good academic results .!!Please don’t mistake  the trees  for the woods.You can be  outstanding student with a very weak and unimaginative personality .To do well in studies does not require creativity or intelligence .It does not require debating skills ,it does not require dissenting attitudes .It does not require a personality .It does not require charm or honesty (though at times it requires back stabbing and secrecy ).Of course you can be a brilliant academic with all those qualities –but you could be one without any of them also .You just need to be a slogger (the Indian educational system makes sure that by learning by heart you can score well ).Ravi Shastri scored many runs –but so did Vivian Richards .Ravi was pedestrian and laborious (please I know he hit 6 sixes in a over,and has terrific looks .Also that he is a brilliant commentator !),but Vivian just took your breath away with his brilliance .He could turn around a match in 30 minutes flat .Good students should be like that –brilliant so that they can turn around human societies and not  become just  cogs in the wheel of sluggish systems which as Arnold Toynbee put it are in a cycle of decay .Some schools are like that .I am not going to name any ,but I worked in one of them and which produced children who came from very humble backgrounds and now are in the forefront of change .Change which will address issues of global warming ,of nuclear proliferation,of drinking water ,of poverty ,of racial and religious intolerance ,of deadly diseases .Good schools are focussing on those areas rather than just bulk  producing children with high percentage and low values .They are celebrities in their fields .So don’t go by the results of a school .Most of them will advertise their results selectively .!!I know one school which had their worst result last year ,and their best result the year before last ,and they had advertised “The best result ever”!!Even if was true –whats the big deal .!!You don’t want brilliant students like Rajat Gupta ,do you ?

I think that one of  the characteristic of a good school has to be its discipline .No,No,No .Please don’t think I am talking of military kind of discipline .Discipline does not mean “don’t do this ,don’t do that”.It means “do this ,do that”,and also “don’t do this –but do that”.Most schools don’t tell children what to do .Most of us have forgotten how we used to struggle to find out what we are expected to do .Most schools have converted school assemblies into extra periods or “zero periods”.I don’t blame many of them .Most schools are responding to the demand of the times –Marks !!They are not bothered about values .Go for a school which emphasizes the importance of values .Go for a school which is headed by a person who has a reputation of being fair ,hardworking and intelligent .And who has a personality ,because he is competing against Saif Ali Khan when he is trying to tell the kids that eating chips is dangerous because one packet contains trans fat and salt that is enough for 2 days !!". Unless the leader walks the talk ,your child is never going to believe what he is being told from the pulpit .

A good school will emphasize the importance of the basics .It will emphasize the importance of coming to school on time ,and coming in uniforms that are prescribed.It will keep a record of the childs absence from school(its not a college -attendence is important ) .And remember –if you can convince your child to come to school on time and in proper uniform ,it means only one thing –the child and the parents are agreeing what you are saying .It shows a healthy respect for rules and regulations .It reflects that the children ,staff and parents are supporting you.It also means your buses are running on time .It means you have structures that are effectively performing their functions  .And it also means that you are ready to provide the necessary leadership to inspire a child to contribute to the world of tomorrow .And that is the game that we as schools are playing .We cant afford to lose it.

I often go to schools and watch children playing during recess time .Its a time when he/she(child ) is not under supervision .I can pick up the quality of the school by just observing them .Are they using abusive language .?Is there a element of bullying ?Are children making fun of a child with a a disability?.Is there concern if a child is hurt ?Is there a child sitting under a tree watching birds on it ?What food are they bringing in their tiffin?

I also go and visit the toilets of the school .!!Ah –perhaps the real indicator of what kind of children (and indirectly staff and parents they are exposed to) study in the school .Which again reflects the priorities of the school .I know of a school which produces excellent results .But visit their toilets .!!See how they stink not only in real terms ,but also in terms of the graffiti written on the walls .A good school will never have those kind of things .Go for a school which shows concern for cleanliness .Dont admit your child to a school which has 17 windowpanes broken and which has layers of dust on the window sills .It can never be good !!

And finally ,I always go to a school and  see the way the assembly is conducted .Sometimes I am asked to address assemblies in school. On such occassions ,i very cleverly push in the question

“How many of you want to be school teachers”?

Its the most important question and must be asked without giving any prior hint.!!Otherwise the response will be doctored !!If only a sprinkling of hands go up – it means that the staff is not good enough ,because our first heroes and heroines are /should be our teachers .I always wanted to be a teacher because Mr G.C.Gupta ,Mr and Mrs D’Souza ,Mr Chettri ,Bro Donovvan and many more were like icons for us .Their personality ,their glamour ,their knowledge ,their skills ,their following –was  amazing .They were like film stars in a school.!!We all wanted to be like them .And when I go to schools and find even primary children crinkle up their noses when being asked as to why they don’t want to be teacher –I know the answer .!!And read this one –I went to a school which had a outstanding Principal who was obviously gifted with looks ,composure,communication skills, and achievements to his name .It also had a very ordinary  staff .When I asked in the assembly as to how many wanted to be school teachers ,there were just a few hands that went up .And when I asked how many of them wanted to become a Principal –nearly all hands went up !!.I looked at them and said

“Become teachers ,because only then can you become a Principal”.I paused ,smiled and added

“like your Principal”!!!And again asked asked them ,as to how many of them wanted to become teachers so that they became Principals like their Principal .Nearly all hands went up !!!.

Go for a school that has charismatic and good teachers .And of course –a   school that has a good Principal .Because at the end of the day –marks only get you that far and no further .Its the impact of incidental and accidental learning that is more important .Computers don’t provide that .Human beings do .Ultimately all good schools are built by  human beings –and good ones at that .And ultimately good schools build good governments and nations .As Abraham Lincolm wrote .

“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.”

Victoria ,Nanaimo and Sakshi -Canada at Its Best .!!

It was evening time when we boarded the ferry for Vancouver Island (as distinct from Vancouver ).Vancouver Island is separarted from Vancouver by the Georgia Straight ,a largish expanse of water which takes 2 hrs to cross .The Delta Ferry service runs ferries –but please don’t think they are ordinary ferries .They (the ferries ),take about 300 cars in the lower deck ,and above them are 2 decks and a terrace (upper deck ).The 2 decks house beautiful plush sitting rooms ,and shopping arcades with a number of restaurants and bars .And the entire area is like the shopping arcade of a international airport .!!I hung around the shopping area ,picked up tit bits (including roasted Californian almonds !!),went up to the deck and was hit by a blast of cold and icy wind .All of a sudden ,I found our ferry in the middle of dark ,silent waters .I could not even see the twinkling lights of Victoria for which we were headed .I remember bbm ing my son “surrounded by a mass of water .!!and you know how that must be feeling”.Prompt came the reply “Enjoy Dad”.!!

We reached Victoria and after a wonderful meal of fish with chips ,and a large mug of Coke !!,we reached the Marriott Hotel .I am glad that the hotel was super luxurious ,because I was awake for the last 25 hrs and the last thing I wanted was, to struggle with anything connected with sleeping .The beds were top class and after a quick bath and a update for Sangeeta on her facebook ,I sunk into my bed .I don’t know what happened afterwards –I was woken up by the hotel alarm because we were to leave at 7 am .I looked out of my window –it was pitch dark .By the time we checked out of the hotel (we were staying overnight in the city of Nanaimo to the North of Victoria ),at 7 ,it was still pitch dark .By the time we had finished our breakfast at 8 ,the street lights were still on .We were in Cananda .!!

We were to visit the two Universities in Victoria Island –the Victoria University at Victoria ,and the Victoria Island University at Nanaimo –about 2 hours north of Victoria .

As we drove towards Victoria University ,I was struck by the first visuals of the trees changing colours during fall .Dawn had broken and it was as if we were cutting through a huge canvas of paintings by Monet .Absolutely stunning landscapes .There were trees that were dark green ,interspersed with trees that were light yellow ,and dark yellow .Then there would be trees that were pink and nearly dark red .Rows upon rows of trees .And they stood proudly on fields which would make the cricket ground at Lords look unkept and uncared for .It was truly a amazing site .To add colour to this whole spectrum of natures amazing gift to mankind ,was the fact that these tress shed their colourful leaves .Hence below near the main trunk there would be a large circle of coloured fallen leaves .!!Thus at regular intervals ,on the ground below these beautiful trees ,would be circles of yellow,pink ,red ,purple.!And for miles .!!Some thing that’s absolutely impossible to describe .May all of you who are reading this blog ,have the opportunity to witness this marvel of wonder at least once during your lifetime .!!

What do I write about the Universities ?One has to see them to believe what they look like .The campuses are huge and the lawns and trees are so well kept .The libraries ,the cafetarias ,the computer labs ,the dormitories ,the lecture rooms –are something we in India cant even dream of possessing .I have seen Oxford and Cambdrige Universities –but I must say that for sheer elegance and surroundings ,one cant beat the ones in Canada .I am told  though that the Harvard University is supposedly  very pretty –I missed out on it this time .

We were taken around  the University by children .We went and saw most of the faculties –especially the Business ,Law ,and Engineering Department s .We met many Indian students –most of them from Gujarat ,Punjab and Delhi .We even met 3 kids who had passed out from DPS RK Puram ,Vasant Kunj and Saket !!Can you imagine what and how we and they felt .

At Victoria University ,we were hosted for lunch at the University Club House –a beautiful wooden structure in the middle of the forest .!!The quality of fish (Canada is the Salmon capital of the world ),is amazing .I am a fish lover and ate fish twice a day ,everyday, while in Canada (hot dogs and burgers took over in New York !!).We walked the campus ,took photographs ,exchanged hundreds of visiting cards and got into our vehicle to make our way to another University town –at Nanaimo .We were to attend a award giving ceremony for International students ,and we were informed that 6 of these were from India .There were the Mishra twins from Mumbai who knew DPS Ahmedabad well enough to know it was at Bopal .!!It was a great pleasure to meet them .

.While talking to them ,I heard one of the members of our group talking to a girl student and asking her where she was from .

“I am from Punjab”,she cooed .I looked around and faced her .

“From where in Punjab are you from”,I asked her .

“Sir ,I am from Ferozepure.Have you heard about the place”.?

“Of course I have .My brother was the District Commissioner there in the late 70s .Infact I know the entire area so well”,I said .

“Whats your name”,I asked .

‘’Sakshi Sir .Sakshi Lakhra”,she replied .

I looked at her .She was one of the most attractive girls I have met in a long time .Not just the looks –but her warmth ,her friendliness ,her confidence ,her energy –were all so exceptional .

“We are country cousins .”,I told her as I hugged her .

All of us clapped when the 6 Indians names got announced ,and they went one by one to get their scholarships .

India lives beyond its geographical domain .Indian presence is felt everywhere .We are respected for our ability to work hard and take pressure .

I always come back feeling more proud than what I feel when I am in India .

And that I think is very important .
With that thought in mind ,and with a stomach full on red wine and roasted salmon with salad and chips ,i sunk into my luxurious bed in the Coast Bastion Hotel ,which had a fantastic view of the harbour .I watched  television for sometime ,and rang up Sangeeta .
"How is it going"? she asked .
"I feel i am in heaven",i answered .
And i promise you -i was not telling a lie .!!

Over the Atlantic ,Arctic ,and Pacific Oceans .!!

We took off from Frankfurt in the afternoon at about 3.30 pm and after a flight of more than 10 hrs reached Vancouver at about 6 pm .!!After travelling for nearly 24 hrs starting on the 28^th in India ,I was in Canada on the 27^th evening .Such is the difference in longitudes between India and Canada .!!

We flew over the Norwegian Sea and then over the North Atlantic Ocean .It is so overwhelming to see so much of water .We kept on flying and we could not spot a piece of land .!!I was  thinking all the time that in schools we teach children about the scarcity of drinking water .!!And here was so much water that it occupied nearly 2/3 rds of the earth .We did not fly over America to get to Vancouver .We flew north ,over Greenland ,Iceland ,Victoria Islands ,Queen Elizabeth Islands ,Baffin Islands and the Arctic Ocean .There was nothing else one could see except white.Greenland is a huge mass of snow .There was  snow all over  .More Snow .The Arctic Ocean a sheet of ice which has a average thickness of 6 to 7 feet !!Punctured in between by small appeareances of water .And dotted by snow mountains .I could never imagine anyone ever staying there .But yet there were people who had gone there and conquered it .Edward Peary had done so in 1909.And the great Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong had been there (Infact Edmund Hillary had also been to the Antartica and Mount Everest ,thus making him the only human being to have been to the North Pole ,the South Pole ,and the Everest .What a man !!).

The foreboding ice of the Arctic Region.!!

  Canada is also close to the North Pole ,which is the northern most point of the earth .Unlike the South Pole which is situated on a mass of land ,the North Pole is situated in the centre of the Arctic Ocean (90 degrees North) . The North Pole is significantly warmer than the South Pole because it lies at sea level in the middle of the Arctic Ocean (albeit mostly frozen), where as the South Pole is significantly elevated on the frozen continent of Antarctic. In the summer months at the pole the sun is permanently above the horizon; during winter the sun never rises.I clicked many photographs ,though we were a fair distance away from it .

Our flight detoured south towards Canada and as we ate up miles after miles ,we started to see the green patches of the earth .Suddenly ,we saw trees and settlements .Ahoy –we were back on track .!!

Canada is a beautiful country –and it is reflected even from a height of 30,000 ft .Lovely colors of trees ,and beautiful small rivulets and mountains .Large lakes .We were lucky that we descended over it in bright sunlight.

The descent into Vancouver Airport .

We were served our final meal ,just about a hour before we were to land (the monitor on the screen keeps showing time left to destination,kms left to destination ,and the places over which one is flying .And of course the landscape on the monitor .So one is aware all the time as to where one is and how far one is from his destination).I hurriedly had my pasta ,and fruit salad and settled down to capture some shots as we descended over the Vancouver Airport .The Airport juts into  a large mass of water ,and is surrounded by mountains .We cut into it from the side of the Pacific Ocean ,and after hovering around and over the water for a couple of minutes ,we touched down .We were finally at the destination we had set out for .We were in Canada.!!I had researched it a lot ,read about it a lot ,seen a lot of videos of it ,and seen a number of images of it .But I could never imagine it would be so beautiful .As we stepped out of the lovely airport (it has a aquarium of jelly fish as we leave it !!),and out into the street ,I could feel why Kusum had insisted that I carry a lot of woolens with me .The air was divinely fresh –but it was also very cold .I picked up a hot cup of coffee just outside the airport ,and prepared to take a 5 star ferry that would take me to the Provincial Capital –Victoria .It would take me 2 hours more to reach the hotel where I was going to stay .But the ferry was out of the world .It was like a 5 star hotel on the move .I have been on ferries before –including in Scotland ,Hong Kong , Singapore,and Turkey –but nothing compared to theone I was on .

More of that on my next blog .

 

A Frankfurter At Frankfurt Airport .!!

I reached the IGI Airport at 11 pm .Delhi was getting a bit nippy ,and I had a jacket over the T shirt that I wore .When I reached  ,I was informed that the flight was delayed by 2 hours ,which meant that I would be leaving Delhi at 4.30 am instead of the scheduled time of 2.25 .I checked in ,got my boarding pass ,and strolled through the duty free shops at the airport (I must confess that the international airport in Delhi is very very well stocked and impressive ).I also had a cup of coffee for which I paid 210 rupees .I dabbled with my ipad ,wrote few messages ,exchanged bbms with my son ,and slept off with both the alarms of my cell phones on for 3.30 am ..At the airport ,you have these big curvy seats on which you can lie down with points for your internet connectivity .I did exactly that .

I was carrying a lot of woolens with me .Infact they had been thrust upon me by my sister Kusum who is a old New York hand .She goes in and out of that city and its like her second home .I had resisted her attempts to push a overcoat,a fluffy wind cheater ,a pair of gloves ,a warm cap ,and a pair of boots which had woolen inner linings on them .

“Kullu ,you fool ,you don’t know what you are in for .The winds are icy ,and you might even get snow .You will need them .”

“But Kusum ,I have checked the temperatures at around this time of the year .Does not look all that bad”.I had said .  “Its going to add to my baggage weight “.

“Leave them behind with Shruti in New York .I am going there on the 18^th of December .”,she had reasoned .”You will remember me ,I promise”, she had said as she packed  the stuff into my bag .!!

I left Delhi by a Lufthansa Airline double decker flight .It was roomy ,and it was wonderfully comfortable .The German Air hostesses  were pretty ,and vivacious .I settled down on my window seat ,from where I would take pictures of the places I flew over .It was dark when we took off –we flew over the Punjab,over Afghanistan and as the dawn broke we flew over the Caspian sea We flew over Drozny  which had been so much in the news during the nineties and early 21^st century because of its fight for independence  from Russia .The mountains around it were covered with snow –proving the fact why it was so difficult for the Russians to subjugate the area into submission.We flew over the Caucasian Mountains which were snow clad .We even flew over Mt Elbrus ,the highest mountain peak  in Europe (no –it is not Mt Blanc !).We flew over the Czech Republic which appeared to be covered in snow (see the photos),we flew over Karlovy Vary which is a very pretty town of  which Sangeeta ,Pratique and me have fond memories , having visited it about 5 years back .Infact Karlovy Vary is also famous for a Internationational Film Festival ,which may not be as “branded”  as the Cannes Film Festival –but certainly in the top bracket .

Karlovy Vary From The Air .

And then we flew over Frankfurt .All of a sudden ,there was a  splash of colour –the fields from the air were as if they were patterns of “Rangoli”.It was a fabulous sight ,as  clicked away furiously .The river Main cuts Frankfurt into two halves(the city is called Frankfurt am Main-Frankfurt on Main river .!!) and the buildings and the trees started to get bigger and bigger as we descended over the pretty German town .The Aircraft touched down  softly and as we made our exit ,the aircrew were there to bid us goodbye –with a Toblerone chocolate as a parting gift .!!It was a wonderful gesture and I stood for 5 seconds and told them how nice and hospitable they had been .The food was fabulous ,the drinks were on demand and the warm lavender scented  towels freshened me up whenever I felt a bit drowsy .Infact ,I kept asking them many times for the towels ,which I would swab over my face and eyes  and then apply a bit of Brut Cream .!!It made me feel as if I was going for a party .!

Frankfurt from The Air !!

I made my way through the vestibule , into the Airport .Its a beautiful Airport .I remember a staff member of mine who used to travel to Italy,  ringing me up from the Frankfurt Airport once .She sounded so exicited as she had said “Sir ,the airport is so beautiful ,I cant tell you .Its close to Christmas time and its all decked up –like a bride .Its really nice.And Sir ,I have just had a Frankfurter .Bye Sir”. I remembered her .!!I made my way through the long and sparkling corridors to the place where I could get a Frankfurter .I was full with the sumptuous meal they had served onboard  –but its criminal not to have a Frankfurter in Frankfurt no?The slightly overweight German asked me what I wanted –“A small  beer and a Frankfurter –medium”.The bill was displayed on the monitor .I swiped my travel  card ,signed on the the screen with the electronic stylus and settled down to eat .I was to learn that everywhere ,you swipe  your bill on your own –even in the cabs in New York .!!

I freshened up ,settled my hand baggage ,wrote mails  on my ipad ,and waited .My connecting flight was still 5 hrs away .And it would take me 10.30 hours on non stop flying over the Atlantic  and the Arctic Ocean to reach Vancouver  at the other end of the world  .The journey  had just started .

But more of that in my next blog .!!