Samit Sharma
Published May 27, 2016
I’m here!
Technically, I’m in front of those snow capped mountains. And a few kilometers away. That’s the view I wake up to in Manali, a hill station with only one vice, that being idiot tourists.
I’m on day five of my vacation during my vacation, it’s cold here and I love it. The temperature is between 4 and 20 degrees, with some spells of rain and winds strong enough to ruin flight operations. My flight to Chandigarh was the most turbulent I’ve ever been on. The flight spent an extra hour flying in circles till the weather was nice enough to land.
I’ve been to three cities in this week itself; Chandigarh, Shimla and Manali. Okay the last one isn’t a city, but has traffic like any other. It’s the ‘season’ for these places, people throng to Shimla and Manali during summers for the cool weather. They’re tourists, my mortal enemies. Idiots with selfie sticks.
I, being the noble traveler that I am find better places that are free of a annoying tourists. Like the Viceregal Palace or Curzon house in Shimla.
Lord Curzon, of ‘Let’s split Bengal,lol’ fame had a swanky pad. After 1948, the Indian government made it into the Indian Institute of Advanced studies. With a huge library. The most beautiful library I’ve ever seen. It’s a shame they don’t allow photography inside.
The third leg of my trip in Manali has been cool. Literally and figuratively. I visited Manali back when I was little, so I couldn’t do a lot of adventure stuff. I did that this time around. I rafted down an angry white river Beas for 9 rough kilometers. And paraglided (paraglid?) from a Manali hill to a cricket ground 7 kilometers away for a solid 20 minutes which were probably the 20 most amazing minutes of my life.
Tomorrow morning I leave for Dharmsala, the fourth leg of my trip. Home of the Dalai Lama and beautiful Dhauladhar Himalayas. Hopefully I survive the 18 kilometer hike I have there day after tomorrow at 5 am in the frikkin’ morning. I guess the traveler in me isn’t lazy at all.
Tis, mate was the Weekly Email Blast, email 62. Happy holidays !!!
All Things Sam 