Image from Abhay Mishraw Photography

An unplanned excursion.

Abhay Raj Mishraw
Jul 20, 2017 · 8 min read

Culture Story-1

Written by Abhay Raj Mishra

Summer Vacation, was just about to get over, after nearly sixty days of its hanging around us, hovering over the minds and chasing us all through, apparently provoking, teasing and sometimes even mocking at us. It looked threatening us, to return only next year, unless, we made some good use of it at the last-minute before it departed.

My younger daughter, with a mixed feeling of compassion and empathy, had suddenly started blathering about her still unfinished vacation homework, looking for and arranging all that she would need, in the school which was to reopen in the next four days. Among many other expressions , I observed a few indicating exhilaration to reunite with mates and co- basket ball players in the higher class, she had just promoted to. And from rest others ,which lasted longer, it appeared as if she was reeling under some unfounded fear or anxiety. What could that possibly be? I began guessing. But, it didn’t take much, to realize that the fear was about answering the inevitable and obvious questions related to vacations, from peers in school and facing them. How were your vacations? Where did you go? Etc.

My elder daughter, a little more composed and considerate; because for her coming home was no less than an outing and she always wanted to be home at every given tiniest opportunity. But, still, I could sense feelings appearing and disappearing on her face too, like shadows of passing trees on fast moving biker on the curvy roads of Dhauladar hills. On the one hand, a composed gesture expressing empathy and compassion and on the other, feelings of slight disagreement, and dissatisfaction on non-adherence to an established family norm of an outing during vacations. Amidst all such reflections, she too had started packing and preparing for her return to the hostel, busy buying some new clothes, daily essentials, and her mom busy making some homemade snacks for her to carry.

Charu, being a mom and comparatively more conversant with the kids, naturally had a better sense of their wants and as a working wife herself, bogged down with professional and domestic routine chores, had similar wants too, not much different from that of kids’. She, all this while, often and rightfully so, had reminded me to take a break like always, more essentially so because the kids were here during summer vacations.

Now, I had started developing few questions in my head. Whether vacation outing is necessary or not? If, yes why was it procrastinated to the probable extent of its extinction. If not, why should it be planned in a hurry ? Was it important or urgent? Pondering over these, was not so difficult though, but in the wake of various feelings, emotions, and thoughts, which I have been observing on faces, for days; finding answers was not easy, either. I needed to decode the behavioral and apparent bodily reflections, which I noted very carefully.

Although grudges or complaints are free from any considerations and compassion, I believe it is not necessarily true always. In this case, there was a palpable grudge accompanied by some bit of understanding, as they knew certain obstacles at my end. Amongst reflections of dismay, there were signs of accord too, and I began believing, when a grudge comes with some consideration or compassion, it no longer remains a grudge or complaint, because consideration is an indication of understanding.

In this, case compassion was not a scarce commodity, and I realized grudges came with some amount of concern, hence began to attract my attention and compelled to sense the real need. The social or peer pressure, which apparently the children were reeling under, couldn’t be put aside either and so, was a critical aspect, to be addressed.Peer pressure right or wrong can be argued, and the result would be irrelevant to this context, hence no need to discuss here.

Therefore, I couldn’t decline the great idea. And I never did. Frankly, I too needed the break bitterly, and after all, I just loved traveling without being too fussy about the demography. But somehow, despite all the right intentions, it wasn’t just working out, and we had spent the whole vacation at home only. In fact, we all four, love our homes and being in homes as much as traveling out and exploring places we do. But the much-needed break from the monotonous daily schedules was getting procrastinated and somehow was not being worked out, for various unavoidable reasons.

Only four days to go, the school will be re-opened. And I had to take a call. I just sensed an already delayed urgency, and thought, if not now then of course not in this season. It was 5 O’clock in the evening, and my mind had just finished decoding and perceiving every word heard and expressed here in this story, so far. I made a call home and shared with them my unplanned, plans to drive out of New Delhi. As expected, she had filled my ears with tens of back to back questions. Where are we going? Why now, schools are just about to Open? How many Days? How can we travel without reservations.? etc. I had no answers ready but somehow successfully convinced them on this unplanned outing and just realized that now their almost given up hope for the outing, had just started reviving with certain apprehensions.

Next day early morning,we put the bags, and travel gears into the car boot, tank fueled up, tire pressure checked, chips, cookies, drinks, etc. stocked up and soon we were on city roads. Myself on wheels facing the biggest challenge of deciding the rightmost highway to take and develop a, not so easy consensus too, as we were out unplanned and open minded. Concurrently, dealing with my guilt and fighting against all internal infighting, and making a self-promise to be more pre-planned from next time, the steering wheel kept swaying center to the left and the right, then again to center and so on wherever my subconscious mind permitted it to sway. After some time, we were almost out of city limits, and I just heard, almost a scream from the rear; Are we going to Shimla? Or Kasauli? Or Nahan? No. Even Dalhousie was a big no. “No, not again,” whined Charu. In fact, I inadvertently and without any pre-conceived thought, had hit that National Highway, which goes to Chandigarh and interconnects Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal, States of Union of India.

People, who often drive in and out would appreciate and understand that getting beyond the city limits when moving out or crossing over the city roads while returning home, is a mammoth’s task and a nightmare, almost invariably. And the same had already been successfully coped with by now, which was no less than an achievement. Thankfully, everybody in the car understood it too, and finally, one broader direction was clear in the minds, and the exact destination was a matter to be decided and agreed upon, on the way.

The Roads are travel partners.

During the excursions by roads, I believe, the road itself and everything alongside including humans, animals, farms, trees, buildings, drive thru or distant sights, constitute and become an inseparable part of the overall journey. If one feels otherwise, then I would suggest, it must be well included in travel itinerary as one might have to spend a considerable time on the road driving or only sitting and the same must be enjoyed and utilized with passion. Ours was a short trip, and the onus was for me to make it as memorable as possible, for me and everyone. And I very well knew the role, that those long, smooth, black beautiful roads with white stripes on sides, unpredictably meeting the horizon at times, are going to play in this unplanned excursion.

Soon, we switched on the GPS device, as by now we had unanimously zeroed down on McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala as our destinations. We were cruising at 110–130 KMPH, sometimes touching 140 KMPH also, as against the prescribed speed limit of 90kmph (an offense though, hopefully not to be repeated; nor meant to be recommended).

All the possible entertainment gadgets like I pods, Phones, drives were out to be in sockets, as the kids carried these along, under their meticulous travel planning during vacations. Speed, scintillating surround of music, sounds of casual munching from rear and jubilant moods, soon conquered over all the guilt, infighting, disagreements, resentment and we were thoroughly rejoicing and enjoying each passing moment. We took few halts to eat and freshen up and surprisingly realized that those once flourishing roadside DHABAS, where eating was always fun, had almost diminished, perhaps due to the rampant construction of flyovers on highways. Anyway, nothing to impair the happiness.

Happiness is created and can’t be found on shelves.”, Said, someone. AND I completely vouched

Abhay Mishraw Photography

We were soon going to hit Himachal, at the foothills of the Kangra valley, which is situated in the Western Himalayas. Spectacular Dhauladhar hill range can be seen better in the day time, as you start climbing uphill from the Kangra valley to Dharamshala. In the north east of Kangra, 20 km away, is Dharamshala city. Cedar forests surrounded it, on the edge of the Himalayas. This hillside city is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile. Macleod Ganj, our unplanned destination is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra district. It is known as “Little Lhasa” or “Dhasa” because of its large population of Tibetans. The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj.

It was 7 PM, we were in McLeod Ganj, our unplanned destination and soon we managed to check into a hotel.

More Stories on Tibetan Culture, people, and places shall be continued.

Million Cultures

Preservation of culture is not just a matter of moralistic conscience but it caters to various aspects linked i.e. livelihoods of people, socio-economic conditions,human rights & environment.Thus the MILLION CULTURES;Lets talk about World Cultures &Arts.Lets help preserve it.

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Abhay Raj Mishraw

Written by

Million Cultures

Preservation of culture is not just a matter of moralistic conscience but it caters to various aspects linked i.e. livelihoods of people, socio-economic conditions,human rights & environment.Thus the MILLION CULTURES;Lets talk about World Cultures &Arts.Lets help preserve it.

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