Life amidst the hills

Hey blogspot is off limits in India. Could be one reason, I’m not blogging. Naaaaa, it’s a lil bit of touring, a lil tummy upset n loads of work. It’s going to take some amount of understanding to come to terms to a job in fmcg marketing. No amount of theory prepares you for the experience, you start with a clean slate n keep filling it on a daily basis. One thing you learn to do is question. Never assume, ask. Find something complicated, do it yourself. Learn because you are trying to learn within a few months what people take ages to understand. Ask, do and learn that’s the marketing mantra. Marketing separates the men from the boys. Getting here was a small step, the job has just begun.
Anywayz life in Shimla is pretty good considering the awesome weather. Pollution is minimum because of a ban on vehicles on mall road, that’s where were staying. But this also means that a large part of the market is covered on foot. So its climbs uphill, descents downhill which is really good exercise. I’ve taken to it so much that I decided to walk even on the markets where vehicles run. The weathers so awesome that you hardly break a sweat, but the work is not all sight seeing. There’s loads of people skills required. You might be a big shot ITC manager n all but when in the market the retailer is king over his domain.
Initially I had planned a few trips to some tourist attractions, inspired by Prasanna but then I have been touring on Sundays too. And anyway most places here are too beautiful and the markets are all tourist attractions. After my initial trigger happiness, I’ve taken to observing things. Some things are really too beautiful to photograph.
My tour schedule took me back to Solan, the place where I got the initial train pics, then one major journey to be taken was to Una. Travelling in HP is based on a hub and spoke model (hey I majored in ops too :)). You have to travel to Chandigarh and then journey from there. Ramit, the guy who was travelling with me left a day early, so it was upto me to figure out how to travel. I was travelling on a Sunday and I so wanted to experience the romance of the toy train. I reached Solan station to be told that the train ticket cant be given for some reason I couldn’t understand. I really couldn’t comprehend what the gentleman was saying, when this most angelic lady explained the situation. I must admit that I then most unashamedly latched myself to her. The trip was most beautiful and most of the train pics are courtesy the trip. I also met another most interesting lady and her son. The son was all of 55 and yet was much in awe of his sweet mother. She explained that road trips were no longer her forte and any trips to Shimla now required one of her children to escort her. The mother and son duo wanted to know what I was doing there, my job, my pay, everything. It was quite fun with the discussion veering towards property prices in Cgarh which seem to be going through the roof.
Kalka is the last stop of the beautiful train ride. I got down and was guided to Chandigarh by my angelic guide. We chatted a bit on the bus ride where I discovered that she is a fashion designer just out of college and a really nice person. I do wish her the very best in her future pursuits.
I then reached Cgarh bus depot and got onto the bus for Una. Seated next to me was this person who was most certainly ‘Pahari’ (of mountain origin). Pahari men have this hardy look, the ladies are very cute n the kids are just adorable. I’ll try and get some pics, but I really don’t want to take any pangas with their mothers.
What began as a polite enquiry about the time when I would reach Una, turned into a guided tour. I soon had my earphones off and was listening to this person by the name of Ees Indu. He owns a cab in Dharamshala. The few hours in that bus gave me more insight into the life in the hills than any of the books I purchased. He spoke about the clear cold water, the honest people, the healthy constitution, the total lack of dependence on modern allopathy with a pride that was amazing. He has invited me to visit him if I do visit Dharamshala. That’s something I hope to do.
Una was most hot n humid, very much like Chandigarh. I had an egg Biryani for dinner which was made in a very Hyderabadi style. You know verrrrrrry spicy. I really shouldn’t have eaten any of it. But I did while watching Lal Badshah and drinking the local water. I still don’t know whether it was the food or the water which caused the tummy bug, I also have my doubts on Lal Badshah. The 10 hour trip to Una immediately followed the next morning by the trip back was also not too sensible considering the change in climate. Anyway I reached Kalka and immediately decided that something wasn’t right. A trip to the local doctor confirmed a 100 deg temp and a stomach infection. 5 days rest, I was told.
What followed was one day of bad health and loneliness, since Ramit too had to leave. Ramit’s father (a resident of Kalka) was sweet enuff to get me home cooked Khichdi to alleviate my tummy cramps. I’m most happy by myself as long as I have something to muse about, but when your sick suddenly being alone isn’t too cool. Thankfully, the fever was gone by next morning and I decided I really couldn’t afford 5 days of inactivity so back to Shimla it was.
Shimla had gone a little rainy during my little time away. The roads were most magically foggy, though driving in the fog was tricky. What drivers do in such circumstances is turn on their hazard lights and closely follow the vehicle ahead.
Then back to the markets of Shimla where I seem to be meeting new people daily. There have been telecons with all my close friends, more as a result of Swap raggin me abt makin calls only when I need something. In this case tax advice from a friend. It was also fun telling Mayank about the fact that Preity Zinta’s (He’s a major fan, like me) college (St. Bedes) is part of my market and the fact that every third girl looks like her. I could smell the smoke from here :).
Shimla is in fact full of couples, kids and girls. The newly married couples are really cute, with all the hand holding and just the way they blush looking at each other. Then there are the couples with kids. Young mothers in modern attire enjoying the weekends away from Sasumaa, or much married couples showing young Chintu or Mintu the place where they were most likely conceived.
The kids are everywhere, with the n number of schools supplemented by tourist kids. They really are the most cute of the lot, very spunky and sweet and then there are the ladies, bold, independent and friendly. Shimla and Jammu are quite similar in the regard that the women have loads of independence, which is quite refreshing especially after 2 years in conservative Kkode. Infact if not for the view, Shimla is a lot like Mbai especially with all the outlets. Everything is here, except for a StanC ATM of course. I’ve already eaten hot Pizza, warm buns, awesome ice-cream and good lemon tea.
Well it’s almost a month and time to go back to Jammu for a week of HQ activity. Shimla has been a nice place, a must visit for everybody. I really could not visit any specific tourist attractions but did find time to courier home some Tibetan stuff. Mostly colourful stuff (two silk handbags and a couple of earings) more to my sis’s liking, though it just about met maa’s approval and a Tshirt for dad. For Djay my bil I got a Shimla cap.
Life meanwhile has been going on. Parag, one of the victims of the Mbai train blasts and one of my close friends is recovering from the severe back burns. What was initially a news causing some tension has been diffused Mbai style. Parag apparently got a 50K compensation from the government and we friends are already planning a party. Prince the little boy who fell in the long long hole in quite the Alice in Wonderland style is out already being promised a sum of 2 Lacs and life long free education, prompting a friend to mention that he’s already begun searching for a hole. If you were lucky enough to see the media circus around the event, you’ll know what I am talking about. I of course was as relieved as anyone else to see the young kid out, but I do hope it doesn’t begin a trend of kids getting stuck in holes.
Well so much for the short post I was hoping to write, I better get back to work.
Here’s Pranay once again in the midst of paradise,
Thanking god for a nice initiation into marketing

Luv
P.R.