Solang, Himachal Pradesh: Mountains and Peach blossoms

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Mumbai and Memories

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I must have been all of ten, when we first came to Mumbai. It was called "Bombay" then, a scintillating city of dreams, with superstars of celluloid, walking the streets as mere humans. Our hosts recommended that we visit the popular hotel "Sun-n-Sand" where we would surely encounter some of these stars. I don't quite remember seeing any such stars at the hotel, but unknowingly some scenes etched into my memories: the famous Juhu beach on which the hotel stood, the sun setting on the the Arabian Ocean where we took our photos, and the tables by the swimming pool where we sipped our cool drinks and enjoyed our ice-creams. Today, as I walked into the hotel, after a good forty years or so, the scenes came flooding back. I ran towards the pool, but it was under repair. Then the beach, almost nothing had changed. Then the sunset, vivid and enduring as ever, reminding me once again of a song: Carpenters "Its Yesterday Once More!" "All my best memories c...
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The rivers Sarayu and Falgu, in India are hidden rivers which flow beneath a layer of sand most times of the year. In the monsoon, following rain in its catchment areas, leads to its sudden flooding. However, soon after the rains, all that is left of the river is a balnket of sand. Mythology has it that both these rivers are cursed, but for any thirsty person, he has to dig jsut a liitle to find the waters flowing! There is this hidden river, where all you see is sand, they say the water runs beneath, which only the thirsty find...... It swells in the monsoon, it comes in flowing floods But in the heat of summer, has been serving a curse of gods. Dry as a bone you can see it, and still the cities thrive, Along its banks you can see, nature bounteous and alive! I have had my moments with you, Falgu Oh river of plight, For despite your apparent barenness, you have given to me delight!  upstream Falgu river  Mid stream dry Falgu river Down stream dry Falgu river...
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The Singalila song

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My friend asked me, what I missed about Darjeeling....I then started thinking of my childhood years there. I thought of the clouds that would roll up from the hills below, the 180 degrees of Himalayan mountain range that one could see form the town. the walk in the mist which would soak my eyelashes, the rain that would appear never to stop in the monsoon, the red rhododendron trees in April, the walks on lonely roads along the hill, friends, family, home... Of the many places I have been to perhaps it is the purest part of me that I carry from Darjeeling . It is my breath of fresh air, it is my bundle of precious memories, of people, wonderful times, enchanting scenes, happy days, precious friends and heartfelt music.  Darjeeling has given me the mountain beauty in my spirit. This song I grew up singing from the bottom of my heart and on the top of my voice kind of sums up my travel from Darjeeling as I joined the cities below.....  "Along th...
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