Neemrana

A rather ideal weekend getaway from Delhi, Neemrana is known for its fifteenth century charm. Approximately a two-and-a-half hour drive from Delhi, on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, it doesn't seem as though it's two states away! Delhi bid us goodbye with a pleasant shower after days of scorching heat, and the only eventful occurrence on the road was my first sight of a line of orange-clad people carrying glittery puja stuff on the pilgrimage to Haridwar. KFC burgers took care of any hunger pangs, and I barely had time to settle in and do something productive during the drive before it was over.

The Neemrana Palace Hotel/ Neemrana Fort Palace is the major attraction of the place. As the name suggests, it's a fort from 1464 AD that has been converted into a heritage hotel. The Neemrana Group (Neemrana "non hotel" Hotels is what they call themselves) has, in fact, taken on several such projects across the country and have several successes to their name, from the glass structure near the Ganga to villas in Kerala.

After a bumpy drive up a dilapidated lane leading to the fort-palace (which we missed the first time) came a very steep climb uphill to the reception area, where we stopped to catch our breath. Our rooms were called Kailash and Ambar Burj, very quaint in a tower-like structure with a verandah, narrow staircases and a "terrace"! Me and bro took a fancy to the top room (we have a thing for stairs) and he couldn't stop talking about how this was such a "feel place". Ha. I kind of expected that, having done my research as with every trip :) And the view from the terraces was glorious. In the evenings, the whole place is lit up with tiny lights that make me think of Diwali, and there's a cultural Rajasthani folk performance for the guests at the Hawa Mahal. A more special one on Saturday evenings. Before beginning, they poured rose petals on our heads. Strange, but not disagreeable! The performance was quite engrossing though I freaked out when he started grabbing audience members to dance with.


The palace has much to explore, and is being re-done in many parts with new rooms and things being constructed. I'm not sure how I feel about that - kind of takes away from the historicity, but I guess they know what they're doing. The decor is quite nice overall with antique furniture and paintings, but of course many parts have the converging of the ancient and the modern, what with a swimming pool, loungers, jacuzzi, a spa, conference rooms, a gym, and so on. There's also a beautiful amphitheater, and endless passages, staircases, and surprises. We got lost before breakfast, and they thought it'd be fun to change the dining area with every meal, every day. So kind of a treasure hunt every time you want to eat. Not fun. The food at the end of it was good, though. Especially the non veg dishes and desserts. I sampled pasta, salads, baked veggies, potato gratin, cheese rolls, mutton do piaza, omelettes, chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, three kinds of ice cream, cherry gratin, almond pie, khara, chocolate pie and I forget what else. This is over six meals, of course. I love buffets.


As far as entertainment goes, exploring is the major activity around here. I finally had a chance to use my rusting camera, after days of un-inspiration. (Please don't steal the photos in this post. I will sue you.) There is also a step-well or "baori" nearby which we couldn't find. Trekking is another option. You can also borrow books and movies from the reception, and there's an LCD in the TV lounge (Nazara Mahal). Till a few years ago, hot air balloon rides would've been an option. Boo. There's also zipping with Flying Fox, for Rs 1600 per person (on the spot booking) - five zip trails - an aerial tour.


As for us, we just watched movies, talked, read, explored and set aside leisure time to roll around in the springy beds. Much needed.

Another Note

Nothing, nothing seems to be able to prevent this blog from lapsing into a comatose state. Well, other than the utter lack of interest and travel, of course. Today I found an article - well, a page from an article - torn from Cosmopolitan which I've had for years. It's the story of a woman who sold all of her possessions barring the basics, and set off on a globetrotting extravaganza starting with a one-way ticket to Frankfurt. My dad said I would never get a Visa if I decided to purchase a one-way ticket to any place. Ideas?

In any case, I believe this was the very article that first gave me the travel itch. Or at least made it a lot stronger. Now that I'm finally taking the awaited year-long break, travel was supposed to be on the agenda. Nothing fancy, of course...money makes the world go round. But hopefully I'll get around a bit somehow. Until then, maybe blog posts on a few other places - student and university towns, perhaps - wouldn't be a bad idea.

Have a look at this article by Paulo Coelho - I believe it's from Like a Flowing River - and I particularly find the first point interesting. Definitely not something I would have thought of.

A Note

I realise that "Lose Yourself in Lansdowne Part II" never happened. But I did write a compact account here, so do check it out. More soon, photos if nothing else, as soon as the current workload decreases. :|

Ciao!

Italian Fantasies : Part 2

Continued from here

After witnessing the amazingly beautiful Piazzale Michelangelo, we had dinner at the International Ashoka Restaurant and retired for the night at Hotel Nuovo Londra in Montecatini Terme E Tettuccio. We reached the hotel at around 10:15 PM, and were almost immediately tucked into our beds after the tiring but equally wonderful day.

The next morning, we got up early at 5:00 AM, and after a delightful and refreshing one hour walk, we got ready, had breakfast and left for Rome. En route, we stopped over for a bite at AutoGrill. My mouth waters even now when I think of the undescribable pasta. Somehow we managed to convince ourselves to not devour the complete joint and moved on.

We reached Vatican City at 4:00 PM and saw the St.Peter's Basilica, boasting of the biggest dome of the world and home to Pope (then John Paul II). The dome was also designed by Michelangelo. Funnily enough, even our bus driver was named John Paul, so we ended up calling him Pope. The tour of the Basilica was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had, yet. You simply couldn't ignore anything, especially St. Peter's 'Mummy', a Bronze statue whose feet are touched to wash away one's sins, the Holy Door, which only opened for great celebrations, and Pietà, Michelangelo's famous sculpture showing Virgin Mary sitting peacefully with Christ's dead body in her lap.

The Bronze Statue

Amusing was the uniform of the Swiss Guards. You just couldn't resist smiling at the fresh and colorful dresses that they wore. Exitting the Vatican, we had a panoromic tour of the city of Rome - went around Victoria Memorial, Mussolini's Palace, the Colosseum, the Opera, Constantine's Arch and Trevi Fountain, where we finally halted, to admire it's beauty, and of course, to toss a coin and make a wish :D. From there, we had a walking tour of the Spanish-square-steps, and later went on to the Fashion Street.

Trevi Fountain

Swiss Guards

Finally, after having dinner, we drove to Hotel Ibis Accor (Roma Tor Vergata) and checked in by 11:00 PM. From the balcony of our room, we witnessed an amazing group dance event in a nearby ground where, youngsters and oldies alike, danced with absolute coordination, as a local band played. We tried, but in vain, to keep pace with the troupe in our balcony itself. A little later, we were already asleep.

Dabbas, Alibaug and Blogposts

My friend Sporadicblogger has very benevolently taken pity on the comatose state of this blog and permitted me to borrow this post. The original post is from here.

***

I just came back from a trip to Alibag (the ‘u’ was just for style) and I’m struggling to stop the words. From a drought to a flood (in my head, atleast…) and I’m lovin’ it :)

Last Saturday, some of us from class sat around in the basketball court, well fed from a nearly canteen, talking about work. And obviously the topic strayed to things un-work and we came up with the bright idea of making a class trip of Alibag. Actually, it went like this: “I’ve heard Alibag is a nice place-” “We should go there some time-” “How about next saturday?” (Yep. With the dashes.)

So fifteen of us made the journey-but only six came back.

*Dramatic pause*

Tee hee. The rest pushed off early because they wanted to take the 4.15 ferry back to Mumbai. We, on the other hand, decided to chance the MSRTC.

Ah, the MSRTC. It is THE way to travel. The very act of entering one exposes you to potential damage, in multiple ways, multiple times. They are the triple D- dirty, dangerous dabbas-and I love them.

Indian buses come personalised. Every journeyman* considers it a bounden duty to leave behind a mark to commemorate the journey. And comes suitably equipped with multi-coloured sketch pens. Creative.

I have always had bad luck with crank calls. Neither have I ever been able to make a successful one, nor have I ever had the opportunity of giving any interesting replies. Some people, on the other hand, hit the jackpot. Imagine having an STD crank caller ask you where you are…and being able to say- in the middle of the sea, on a tonga. I mean, if I were the crank caller, I would hang up my boots. You can’t better that. Especially when it is the truth.

The sea, once, very famously parted for Moses. So what, right? The sea parts twice, daily, for all visitors to the Colaba Fort. (Obviously I’m taking some poetic liberties here. But hey, so were they.)

The Fort houses a small community of pujaris who maintain a temple on the the premises-the only structure still left standing-or made to remain standing-and the journey is unforgettable. When you’re on the horse drawn cart (which almost seems to double as a ferry!) and can see the sea ahead of you and behind you, it can be-quite unique. It is one of those things that ought to fill the pages of Things-To-Do-Before-One-Dies kind of books. Unless ofcourse I’m completely unaware of other such structures around. Ooh, quite close to the Colaba fort lie the-ruins?- of another fort which has a temple dedicated to Betaal- the king of ghosts, if I’m not mistaken. Now THAT I want to visit!!:D:D

Anyway, simply put, or rather, simbly put-the day was marrvellouz.

Random, uninformed wandering in the galis of a strange town.

Drinking a cola (after ages, and as an exception. I’m still off those things) and watching lawyers at a nearby courthouse. Dressed in black suits in the scorching heat, while I was in shorts. (Poor things. Can’t they rebel against the ridiculous and asinine dress code??)

Splicing open various parts of my feet and hand on underwater rocks (Ok, I just wanted to use the word. But yeah, those underwater rocks can be mean! I have a few nasty-ish cuts on the sole of my foot and on a finger.) in a bid to see a crab (which scuttled away and remained unseen).
Getting a real glimpse of underwater life for the first time. Tiny shells…with creatures in them. Tiny holes, and pretty patterns on the beach. Made presumably by baby crabs?

Watching a moth explode out of the head of the person sitting in front of me. (Allow me the dramatic inaccuracies.) And feeling like a King because I pretended that the man had a thought which the moth caught and flew away with(it sounds better in hindi). I haven’t had an idiotic thought like that in quite a while now- so I know I haven’t completely lost It.

Feeling the beginnings of a blogpost(I can stretch the term a little…) in my head and getting all pukey because of typing it out on the cell, on a moving MSRTC DDD.

Reaching home, tired and dirty, tentatively hoping to have turned a corner. In life, and otherwise.

I love Alibaug.

*used gender-neutrally