At Pattaya.

We had got up at 6, gone through the chores and were ready well in time. Radha had made a superb breakfast and I'd eaten myself silly. Her Thai friend, Sucheta, had come by to meet us, bringing along her mini pick up truck to ferry our substantial amount of luggage, to the airport. Damn sweet of her. She's a model and a close friend of Radha.

Sucheta even complimented me by saying that I could easily pass off for a Thai with my looks! Pradip Katti had also come by and thus, we were driven to the airport in an interesting and longish convoy. The flight was on time and we were back at Bangkok within an hour!

Mr. Chung was our sa'arthi to Pattaya as our journey was by road. We'd lunch enroute and fetched up at our hotel, the Grand Bella by 1600 hrs. After a quick wash, we had gone on a fairly long walk to the beach and through the famous 'Walking Street'. It was during this time that we had our foot and shoulder massages done. After having gone through it though it was nice, I would place our ayurvedic massages at a higher level from the therapeutic point of view.

We'd a lovely supper of Thai cuisine and walked the long way back. Did I overdo it for Lekha? The poor thing went though it sportingly and had a liberal use of the 'Moov' ointment after returning to the hotel.

We'd turned in for the night, comparatively early, around midnight.


Tailpiece.

Shall remember this day for the long walk that I'd put Lekha through. My fault!

At Nakhon Phanom.

Our day began at a half past 3, when we had got up to the alarm and got ready. By a half past 5, we'd signed out from the hotel and proceeded to the airport. After having a portion of the breakfast of sandwiches provided by the hotel, we'd gone through the check in procedure and the security checks to reach the gate for Nakhon Phanom.

The air conditioning was harsh and it had to be endured till our flight was called out at a half past 8. After about an hour's flight we reached Nakhon Phanom, where our friends, Anil and Radha were there to receive us. The drive to their house was short and we were subjected to the most fantastic hospitality.

After a lot of yakkitiyak, it was an exquisite coffee with snacks followed by a scrumptious lunch. After an hour's siesta, much against our wishes - didn't want to sleep and lose out on valuable time with our friends, you see - Anil had taken us for a drive during which a great amount of shopping for tidbits, along with a small luggage trolley, was accomplished.

We were also shown around the Ho Chi Minh museum, the friendship bridge towards Laos and the preparations for the week long boat festival on the bank of the River Mekong. It was around this time that we had the privilege of meeting up with our course mate, Air Cmde Pradip Kumar Katti. It was wonderful to catch up with him.

We returned home by about a half past 8, to take corrective action on the washed clothes that were wet in the sudden rain. It was another session of light hearted banter, good food and a sing song session, subsequent to that which went beyond midnight!


Tailpiece.

It was a day of great bonding with Anil and Radha who'd gone out of their way to look after us and make our short stay, memorable. Thanks, both of you, we shall remain greatful to you.

A day of temple tours.

We had got up at our usual time of 6 but I was groggy thanks to the late night binge. We went through our chores and were ready well in time to be the first from our lot to be at the breakfast table.

Our driver for the tour was Sampa, a boorish guy lacking in basic manners and did not understand a sausage of English! The first was the 'Golden Temple' that had imposing figures of Budha in various positions. The long and steep flight of stairs to negotiate through the temple must have disheartened Lekha but had egged her on, encouraged her so as to not miss out on the sights....and she, sportingly plodded on.

The next on the itinerary was the Grand Palace which looked quaintly old, richly architectural and extremely elegant. It was crowded thanks to the commencement of the weekend. Our next visit was to the 'Marble Temple' and after the visit, we'd tender coconuts to beat the heat. Incidentally, we'd seen all these landmarks during the river cruise on our first evening at Bangkok.

The day's itinerary being over, we'd asked Sampa to drop us at the MBK Mall. He'd asked to be paid extra money which we refused because the tour operator had told us so. Consequently, he was extremely rude when I'd told him to be more friendly with the guests. Meanwhile, I'd kept two plastic bottles for disposing them into the nearest dumping bin but the scavenging lady, at hand, shouted and said that all Indians did this. Even after telling her my intentions, she wasn't mollified. I didn't want to shout at her as I controlled my anger.

Over the next two hours, we had our lunch of the local Thai fair that was available. Lekha, had, picked up the stuff for giving away to the people back home. And by a half past 4, we were back in our hotel. Went with the others to pick up a few stuff from the department store nearby.

It was a shorter version of the last night's binge with 'Pad Thai' dinner. It was sleeping time by about a half past 10.


Tailpiece.

Messaged Anil about our programme at Nakhom Phanom tomorrow and the day after. Shopping is almost over.

A passionate professional!

Had got up, on the dot at 6, thanks to the alarm. Had called up Lekha, soon after and we went through our chores and fetched up at the mezzanine lounge for breakfast, 15' late. We'd got up with our friends and were ready to board our vehicle, promptly by a half past 8.

Samjhai - a very shy guy - was our driver for the day. He'd driven through a few kilometres, when Poppe and three other guests had joined us; the former as our guide and the guests were fellow tourists from Coimbatore.

Poppe had a feminine streak in him and spoke with an extended musical twang and had brought about an electric vibrancy about the proceedings. The safari, through the next four hours, went off like a song.

The dolphin show, the orangutan show, the elephant show and the cowboy show were interesting themes but the highlight of the day was the drive through the wild life sanctuary. It was a treat to watch the animals at very close quarters without them being disturbed, by our presence or by the sound of our vehicle and mind you, there were many, passing by at a noiseless regime. Poppe, meanwhile, regaled us with his ready wit and easy humour.

It had finished all too soon and I'd - in fact, all of us - felt a tinge of sadness as he bid us farewell after dropping us at the Intra market, for shopping. Did he reciprocate our feelings? Sure, he did!

Lekha quietly went about picking up things for everyone back home but by the end of the day, our shopping was far from over and will stretch into the remaining days that we're gonna be here!

Dinner was bought and we'd our get together in our room, back at the hotel. It was a fairly long and interesting evening.


Tailpiece.

Poppe, you're the star and a thorough professional who converted a dull event into an extraordinary one. Thanks, on behalf of all of us and may God bless.

At Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur.

We'd boarded the Air Malindo flight by a quarter past midnight from Thiruvananthapuram and reached Kuala Lumpur by a quarter to 7, local time. We'd quickly gone on to the boarding gate for Bangkok but not before downing a cup of cappuccino.

There was more than a half an hour's delay for take off as there was a massive pile up of air traffic - dunno why - at Kuala Lumpur. We reached Don Mueang Bangkok International airport by a half past 12 but thanks to a mess up on the tour operator's part, we reached our place of stay - the Solitaire hotel - by a half past 2. Had Penang pizzas, along with coffee, for lunch.

After an hour's snooze in our room, it was a quick wash and change to go for the cruise on the Chao Phraya river in a big boat where dinner was served with a band in attendance. It turned out to be a nice evening.

They've replicated the Singaporean river cruise and succeeded to a considerable extent. The roads were clogged with traffic but hats off to the patient Thais, they never used the vehicular horns! We, Indians, need to take a lesson or two from them.


Tailpiece.

All pending work seems to have been put in place, back home. Didn't want to miss out on anything.

Vaishnava jana tho.......

Today's the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It's the time to reflect on the great man and the lofty ideals that he stood for. His favourite hymn, 'Vashnava jana tho....' is an all time favourite of mine. Given below is its English translation:-

 "Call those people Vaishnavas who
 Feel the pain of others,
 Help those who are in misery,
 But never let self-conceit enter their mind.

 They respect the entire world,
 Do not disparage anyone,
 Keep their words, actions and thoughts pure,
 The mother of such a soul is blessed.

 They see all equally, renounce craving,
 Respect other women as their own mother,
 Their tongue never utters false words,
 Their hands never touch the wealth of others.

 They do not succumb to worldly attachments,
 They are firmly detached from the mundane,
 They are enticed by the name of Rama,
 All places of pilgrimage are embodied in them.

 They have foresaken greed and deceit,
 They stay afar from lust and anger,
 Narsi says: I'd be grateful to meet such a soul,
 Whose virtue liberates their entire lineage.

 They stay afar from lust and anger,
 Narsi says: I'd be grateful  to meet such a soul,
 Whose virtue liberates their entire lineage".


Tailpiece.

It was a quiet day to begin with and the conversation flowed freely. A laid back breakfast, an interesting combo lunch and a nice dinner. By 2100 hrs, we were off to the airport for the checking in and customs clearance for our midnight Air Malindo flight to Kuala Lumpur from where we get our connecting flight to Bangkok. Suresh Laxman-Sindhu, BR Vijayakumar-Anitha and self-Lekha form the entourage. Missing Mohanachandran and Manju, who were with us in our last jaunt!  

The Sivok - Rangpo rail project.

The new Sivok - Rangpo rail project of the Indian Railways is gonna be a game changer. Travel from West Bengal to Sikkim will be undertaken in just two hours.

It's set to transform the heart of the Northeast like never before. The upcoming project promises an unimaginably breathtaking train journey, through the picturesque mountain terrains and forest reserves. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone along with IRCON International Limited, has proposed to construct the 44.98 km long Sivok - Rangpo railway line, which will enable travelling between Sivok in West Bengal to Rangpo in Sikkim in just two hours.

The salient features of the route are:-

   (a) The rail line spans across a total length of 44.98 kms crossing as many as 19 bridges and 14
        tunnels.
   (b) The tunnels on the route cover a total length of 38.55 kms, with the longest tunnel covering
         5,270 metres and the smallest tunnel covers 538 metres.
   (c) Interestingly, these tunnels cover almost 85% of the total journey.
   (d) The journey will cover Sivok, Reang, Teesta Bazaar, Melli and Rangpo stations on its route.

The rail line will cut through mountains and valleys to connect Sikkim to the main Indian Railway network for the first time.


Tailpiece.

The day had begun on a bright, sunny note. I was pretty sure that Liju George and his team would come by to finish off the remaining work before we left for Thiruvananthapuram. But it was not to be. It stared pouring and soon it was a wet day. We wound up Raj Nivas, the caretaker helped me tuck the baggage into the boot and by about a few minutes past 12, we were off on our journey. Had pulled out money from the ATM to hand over Rs.3,500/- to apply manure for the rubber trees, now that the weeds have been removed.

Lunch was at Letha's house and we set of for Thiruvananthapuram by about a half past 1. The journey was fine, thankfully, with no pesky or irritating motorists and we reached my friend, Suresh Laxman's house at Jagathy by a half past 3. I could drop the ICICI cheque at the Sasthamangalam branch soon after.

Had spent quality time with Madhavan Nair sir - Sindhu's father - during which he reminisced about his professional life and there were a lot of interesting nuggets of information.

The six of us viz. Suresh-Sindhu, Vijayakumar-Anitha and Lekha and I met at Vijay's place to discuss about our journey, collect tickets and the foreign exchange, worked out for the journey. It was a nice and laid back evening.