Travel chips…
I have not traveled much. But I will.
There is nothing more tranquil than when you are looking out of the window wrapped in the music of your choice, alone with your thoughts. Nothing is more beautiful than looking at lush golden fields broken by rows of poplars, women in colorful clothes, men ploughing pulled by anorexic oxen and intermittent dots of children taking a dump! these are, of course, sights from a train bound for Guwahati. Now, if on the road in a bus, taxi, truck ( yes i have!), car through Nagaland its a different story. Unless you are road sick, for the driver has his eye only at the destination and everything in between is in the fourth gear through all the curves and bends, its amazing. Not only do the mountains and all the green lull you into a day dream of another kind but the people tell stories in their gait, clothes or just their smiles.
What catches my attention every time are the ‘travelling voices’. They are everywhere! the travelling voices of people in transition. They float over the rice (yum) dhabas/restruants and tea shops. They linger on the vegetables and fruits that you buy and you can hear them when you get home! These travelling voices are also a chance, a respite from who they are. I love the exaggerated swagger, loud laughter and larger than life stories narrated with a twinge of wishfulness. You will hear a man talk a little too loudly, have a little more panache in his actions and be a ‘close’ relative to some very well known local big shot. He will have ‘the’ inside information about the most recent government scandle or shoot out encounter between the baby under ground fractions, with splashes of views on the Middle East (read Iraq and Osama). Their bags tell the purpose of their travel, how long are they going to be guests (the exterior them). The pitch of excitment in these travelling voices indicate whether thay are comin or going and also the result of their purpose…..uhuh now I sound like somthing that I have read in a cheap magazine. So before I crash and indulge a lil too much…lemme say this, I love to travel! thats it!
I didn’t even mention the ‘chips’ part…
Do you still remember the travel writer proposition? Are u still up for it?
Write some more. Too early to judge.
nooo… when was that??? of course iam up for it any time!!! i will write more. prove to u…i aint shit. lol. i am in the ‘wayne’ mood today
How wonderfully written. The visuals so well captured in words, even those not seen by the eyes.
Naro, keep writing, darling. Let me tell you (if you didn’t know already), you are good.
How wondefully visual this piece. Naro, keep writing, darling. If you didn’t know already, let me tell you you are good.
Take me along! We’ll explore the off -the -beaten tracks, eat at roadside dhabas, but local clothes and trinkets, experience the local flavors… Take meh!
Chitu…. M flattered and humbled beyond words…i would love it even if u tear it to pieces, as long as you are not silent.
kuku – my love, in a heart beat..in a heart beat. 😛 to linda goodman and all those astro predictors who say aries and cancer dnt gel!! we do and this water fire combo can get thngs really really steamy…hahahahahaha
Hi there..
Just chanced upon ur blog ( doubt ‘chance encounters’ in life though :)…in admiration of your ability to bring to life the various sights and scenes as encountered and envisioned from your ‘cursed ship of habit’…..
Reminds me of this beautiful saying by Martin Buber: “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”…
you are unlocking them for us..keep writing..and yes, bon voyage! 🙂
aye mate!
aye aye :)..whens the ‘chips’ part coming btw?..