Saturday, July 7, 2007

The Players

(From L2R: Shiroor Uncle, Chauhan Uncle, Anushree, Moi, Anjaneya, Karan, Arjun, Ameeta Aunty, Rao Uncle, Meenakshi Aunty)

Delhi was common ground where we met. We were a group of 10, which included 5 young ones and 5 "not as young"(relatively speaking) ones. The young ones don't need any introduction, but just in case...we are...

Anjaneya Shiroor; coming from Singapore, via Vizag
Anushree Shiroor...you guessed right, Aanj's sister; from Delhi
Karan Chauhan; coming from Manipal, via Vizag
Arjun Chauhan...you guessed wrong...they are cousins; coming from Bangaluru, again via Vizag
...and lastly Arasu Venkatesh....your's truly ;); from Chennai

The "not as young" ones on this trip are...

Mr. Shiroor and Mrs. Shiroor...yup, parents of Aanj and Manjeet
Mr. Rao and Mrs. Rao
Mr. Chauhan...Karoo's dad...

Please note, if it wasn't for the age of Chauhan uncle, we would have had six "young ones" on this trip, instead of five. Don't let his physique or his age fool you. He marched ahead of us on all our climbs.

When in Delhi, I had no clue as to what was in store...hell I didn't even know the itinerary!!! I only came to know as we went along...and believe me, that is the best way to travel!!! In fact, it ought to be the only way to travel.

Next stop...Srinagar!

Inspiration


Two of the many wallpapers that kept us on the brink of insanity(you have noooo idea how impatient we were)!

Surprisingly we kept our cool...and put up a show of patience that would make a monk proud!

Opening Credits

A trip through Kashmir and Ladakh!

Now, who in their right mind would ever pass up such an opportunity?!? This was a dream-come-true for four guys(and a girl). The very idea of such a trip was put up by Aanj...no doubt inspired by the movie "Lakshya"(of course it "is" true that traffic at Leh has increased since the film's release). I mean who wouldn't want to experience Kashmir and Ladakh after just seeing the opening credits of the movie?!? Those winding roads looping around the mountains are enough to send a guy gunning for his bike/jeep and a road!

Floated by Aanj at Yarda beach in Vizag, he found like minded people in Karoo, Arjun, and Charas. It was after all, a trip that had the potential to top all trips(both figuratively and literally!!!). It was all we could talk about, and for the next six months that's what we did. This went to the extent that we had to keep off the topic to prevent a burn-out before we even booked tickets!

I was waiting for the call. The call that would confirm that we were actually going on this trip...and when it did come, I faced the difficult task of convincing my dad to let me go. His argument being that it just wasn't safe! A war in silence ensued from which your's truly emerged victorious...as well as relieved!

...Now I just have to wait it out till 9th June!