Ringing into my dreams

My life’s adventures had begun very early in life and although all of it happened in a hustle when I think of it today, it all feels like a dream. I was 24 and had fled from home and all I knew was that I should be at the farthest place away from home.  I had learnt to enjoy my own company from early childhood and so I guess that is why traveling alone too wasn’t a big deal. Taking your first solo trip can be scary and overwhelming, particularly for any mentally disturbed girl of my background at that time. Totally unplanned, unorganised there I was with a bag of few clothes and limited cash on a train to Delhi at 6.53am in the morning.

Delhi Station and sorroundings was a heavily crowded place, horribly congested traffic and not very pleasing at all. The station building looked very much similar to the Red Fort, a shopowner where I stopped for a bottle of water said it was constructed by the British Indian government in the 1900’s and thus the Victorian look of the building. The taxiwalas, tangewalas and hotel agents thronged me to offer their services. Finally I settled with an open horse-drawn carriage to feel the thrill of it. He offered to get a good hotel on the way and I was very naive to understand his intentions agreed to it.

A slim petite girl traveling alone wasn’t an everyday sight to the locals, that everyone wanted to rub their hands on. I can say at one point I was very close to being molested by the horse drawn tangewala. Disappointed and scared, I decided to move further away from Delhi. Walking towards the Delhi bus station, I was drawn to a marvelously decorated tourist bus and I boarded it. Was quick to make a friend with my co-traveller in the bus. I learnt from him that it will be a 12 hour journey to the destination. And so began our unending conversations on various subjects making me comfortable and secured in his company. Thus, One transport to other and then to other, so very late into the eerie night somewhere in the world there I was with a friend of not more than a day, trusting my instincts for the second time, checked into the same accomodation as he. I could feel my bones freezing due to the chilling weather. Also I could hear the sound of gushing waters, that I assumed would be a river nearby. Exhausted to the core after three days of non-stop traveling from one end to another, all I wanted was a room to myself and so skipping my dinner I digged into the king-size bed snoring away like a 🐻 not knowing that #Adventures of my life had already begun🌐.

It was the best sleep of my life. When the curtains were drawn in the morning what did I see. I saw the most amazing view of my life – An Apple Orchard and Snow Clad Mountains! It was the most beautiful place I even knew existed. I could even hear the noise of the same rumbling waters which I discovered later was the mighty BEAS River.

From Mumbai, I had reached #Manali in Himachal Pradesh. We spent two days in Manali. Ours was a Residential hotel near the Beas River Bank. My new friend knew this place in and out, we crossed an old rope bridge and went into the jungles to explore. This was one amazing experience, standing on the loose hanging rope bridge and watching the river beas flow below in its fullest strength, can’t say it wasn’t scary. And then we walked in the woods thru the tall Deodar trees, ate at Dhabas in the chilling weather. The sorroundings were extremely quiet and serene, except for the sounds of leaves rustling in the wind and the rushing waters. While walking around, he shared a few mythological stories of Manali, that how the Pandavas had invoked the mercy of Mata Gayatri at the Manu Temple, the story behind the Hadimba temple etc etc.

I enjoyed his company as much as I enjoyed the beautiful sights. We talked and talked at lengths, there was someone who was willing to hear me out without judging me. I felt very secured with this stranger, surely his upbringing was visible, he treated me with utmost care and affection and at the same time we would do the silliest things and laugh to no end.

After two days, we proceeded towards DALHOUSIE, which is called Mini Switzerland of India. We visited the Dalhousie Public School too. I was lucky have a glimpse of the famous DPS School. The teacher-nuns, the open green lawns, well-dressed students, overall everything seemed like a scene from an English movie. My Friend was a Dalhousie regular as his nephew studied at the DPS. And so he was an excellent tour guide to me. We visited the very famous St John’s Church, which is the oldest church in Dalhousie and is an embodiment of the Victorian era.. The church had stunning glass paintings of St John the Baptist and St Peter, and also a very large library.

We spent two beautiful days in @Dalhousie exploring the hills, walking through jungles, eating at dhabas in the valley etc. Finally my travel acquaintance and now a friend had to return to his Delhi home. And I was alone to explore my next destination.

The memories of that trip remains very close to my heart. I regret I did not keep in touch with my first travel friend after that. Gone from my life forever, but never gone from my heart ❤️ I realised there was more to life than I visualised from my drawing books and comics..

#dreams #adventures #Delhi #manali #dalhousie

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