TRAVELOGUE KUMARAKOM-2 (03 JAN-04 JAN 13)

               The mornings at Kumarakom are an absolute pleasure. The nature takes over the mankind and the bliss is eternal. We followed the mil regimen and got up early to make the best use of the early morning and sighted some beautiful birds along the Club Mahindra channel side. A few rounds of jog around the pool was felt essential to keep the flab of back-to-back holidays under control.

                  We decided to take a walk towards the main road which is about 700 meters from the Club. We came across a tender coconut stall and what a delight it turned out to be. After enjoying the sumptuous coconut water, we located a Fish Stall and bang opposite the fish stall was a small Dhaba. The owner of the Dhaba (located at Chakrampady Bus Stand) turned out to be a retired EME guy, Naik Satyan. Satyan was cordial and happy to meet another soldier. We ordered Malabar Parathas and Egg Curryfor packing. The breakfast at the Club was also well spread and we clubbed it with the Malabar parathas and egg curry.

                  In the afternoon, we decided to teach the children some angling. A fishing rod was crafted out of the wooden stick and a safety pin acted as the hook. The resort boasts of many a varieties of fish in and around the water bodies inside its campus. The children had a great time as the fish came very near and the hook never caught them!!! It was a good learning exercise.

                 In the evening we darted back to Satyan's Dhaba and handed him over the fish for making Karimeen. Satyam did a great job and also made a Duck delicacy for us. Well done Satyan, proud of you. The Karimeen with Fuel Vodka added with lime and Sprite added on to the evening's fun. Our neighbors in the Club also joined the party and it was time for Karaoke singing. CHAL CHALEN APNE GHAR HAMSAFAR by JAMES was the last number for the night of 03 Jan.

                 On 04th early morning, we set course for Kochi and linked up with AMIT SINHA/FOX/100 at his well decorated residence. Minal and Amit are a lovely couple and heading towards a foreign Staff Course in Mar 13. Hartiest congrats Amit and Minal and thanks for a great afternoon. Picking up some great Kerela Silk Sarees from PARTHA's, we made our way to Kochi International Airport for our late night AI047. The flight to Delhi was full and cramped as the sector is being serviced with Airbus A-320 in spite of being an almost 3+ hours flight. Hence, there is no in-flight entertainment and passengers become restless. The landing at Delhi was delayed and finally we touched down at 2330 hrs. The temperatures outside were in the range of 5 degrees and it was a cold and chilly welcome back to base.

              Attached below the photo link to the enitre trip:-

  https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5828857439207757505?authkey=CJCF_JSuwa6faA

TRAVELOGUE KUMARAKOM-1 (31DEC 12-02 JAN 13)

"JHALLA KI LABDA PHIRE" is the latest from the throat nerves of RABBI SHERGILL , a good singer from up north. JHALLA can mean a MEANINGLESS WANDERER; KI means WHAT; LABDA means TO SEEK and PHIRE means TO ROAM. Something similar has been happening in my life too. The idea of back to back travels from New Delhi to Jaiselmer; back to New Delhi and then onwards to Kumarakom has been truly a part of the JHALLA mind-set. But believe you me dear Foxies, its worth it, at times, to just let your GPS take a tango and cruise to the hilts. Sometimes, I really wonder what the backpackers must be achieving in their lives and what we cannot even imagine. Chill....

        Catching one of the first Air India flights out of T-3 can be a good experience especially when the ground crew is groggy and the passengers who have woken up in the wee hours are groggier along with their infants and young ones. These scenes make you wonder what a tough nut you are with all those Bathroom Clearances trg at Fox Sqn. Many thanks Ajay Kaushik Sir/Fox/79 (My brilliant over-study) for teaching me right!!!. AI 467 to Kochi took off on time at 0600 Hrs and cruised to its designated altitude. As the morning started clearing the darkness, the sights of the early morning sun to our Port  (Left) Side was amazing. We landed at Kochi right on time and the first Fox to meet us at Airport was LT GIRISH PILLAI/FOX/112 whose Fox Memorabilia followed us in Indigo's flt from New Delhi. Girish you got to do the honors and explain as to how this magic happened.

         We checked into the Southern Naval Command Mess courtesy a senior Fox and promptly knocked off to catch our sleep. The plan was to ring in the New Year at Naval Offr Institute. The news came in from Girish Pillai/Fox/112 that the celebrations have been called off. However, the indomitable Foxies (and Kochi is famous for youngsters) met at the NOI in eve and we all had a heady and great time. A youngster on the adjacent table commanded," WHEN I SAY CHUCK, THE GLASSES SHOULD BE EMPTY". I loved it and surely the Fauj is still in right hands....

       The New Year 2013 was welcomed in the confines of VIP-22 Cabin at SNCO Mess and also it was yet another milestone of 20 Years of Commissioned Service for me. Wow...Am I on the path to liberation, I asked myself as we sped towards Kumarakom on the 01 Jan 13. The pleasant drive through the winding and narrow roads is great and away from biting cold of Delhi, the heat and humidity was welcome. The Toyota Etios has a good AC and it kept us chilled.

       We were dropped at Club Mahindra, Kumarakom at 1230 hrs and were received by the pleasant staff. A good head massage relieved me and I was young as ever. Wow...I surely envied all those who have been raised in this part of the country. The SHELLABALA oil is very refreshing as it goes deep inside the skull and rejuvenates the mind and soul. A head bath and jump into the blue pool followed.

      On 02 Jan 13, we set out on a SHIKARA ride into the back waters and into the lagoon. The photographs enclosed would give you a fair idea of the beauty of this part of our country. May I take this opportunity to request Foxies from this lat-long to kindly organize a FOX GTG at Kumarakom where some Foxies and their Vixens can make it and we all can have good Toddy and fried fish and just ease our tensions away as the house boat sails away. Nostalgia can run amok and wild on those 03 days. Can we have a Fox Holiday here in Dec 13 Sirs???

      Enclosed below is the photo link to this wonderful trip:-

   https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5828857439207757505?authkey=CJCF_JSuwa6faA  

Best regards all the way from God's Own Country            

TRAVELOGUE JAISELMER

          The fantastic visit to Jaiselmer came to an end on 27 Dec 12 and we checked out of Club Mahindra at 1000 Hrs. The bonds and friendships developed with the young crew at Club was great and we had a great sign off. 

            Train 14660 to Delhi left Jaiselmer sharp at 1720 hrs and our Man Friday (Guide) ANAND BASU was at the Station to bid us farewell. Hats off to Rajasthan. The journey of this train is slightly painful as there is no pantry car, however, we were adequately loaded. The food that we carried from Jaiselmer was also shared with our co-passengers who incidentally were also with us at the Club.

            The journey was made comfortable as I slipped into my bunk and read the SHADES OF OLIVE GREEN by BPS MANDER/FOX/34. The book captivated me completely as I slipped inside its fantastic canvass and the story line kept me engaged till I finished it late into the night. If you read this book , then we can surely bet that there is at least one Fox inside one of the 3 ex-NDA Army Offrs around whom the story revolves. A must read...

            New Delhi welcomed us with the cold bite and with a generous help from  PRASHANT BIST/FOX/96 who gave us lift from Delhi Cantt Stn where autos/ taxis are hard to find for Delhi Cantt. Many thanks Prashant for making our travel a comfortable experience.