Birthday Gift from Sis

An all expense paid 4 days-3 nights trip to Mussoorie: my birthday gift from my sister. Thanks behan.

Highlights from the trip:

• Train journey from Delhi to Dehradun had sis and me surrounded with distinguished people. An author (not sure who) occupied a seat behind us, owner of Book-Café on our right, Vasu, an adorable kid, in the front seat and a little resident mouse in the window on the left. The kid was so cute that half an hour into the journey I had the kid in my lap and was trying to feed biscuits to him. Well, the book shop owner obviously was looking for some peace and two girls in the next seat gushing over the kiddo didn’t go with his plan. He changed his seat. Hehe.. Very soon we were looking for the same peace. But mister author decided to speak non-stop. The six hour journey had us listening to him hold a most boring conversation with a young aspiring author. One of the invaluable pieces had our young man tell the author that when he writes his book he will not use any complicated words. He immediately added that it isn’t that he couldn’t use them, just that he will not. Referring to books which have complex words he said, “to read them you need to refer to another book- the Dictionary” Wow. How profound! Grrrr
• The taxi ride from Dehradun to Mussoorie was in an ancient ambassador car. In the one hour, I managed to move the window glass up a full two inches!!!! I commented that the car was going slow and hence we were saved from feeling queasy on the ride up the hill. Sis said, “He isn’t Schumacher but then she is no Ferrari either!” A sample of my sister’s witty remarks that kept me entertained through the trip
• Walking. Walked about 12 kms daily for two days. Trips to Landour bazaar which is almost on the other end of Mussoorie when compared to our hotel. On the first day it was for silver jewellery from a curio shop we had heard about. Bought a few earrings. The second day was dedicated to a special mission. Sis noticed that the bells that the cows and goats were wearing were different from the usual ones. So we decided to buy one for ourselves. However, there was just one shop that sells these and it was in Landour Bazaar. So we had to walk all the way again asking for directions to Devi Chand Khem Chand’s shop. Eventually found it and bought a cowbell each
• Looking at snow clad peaks and walking through clouds.
• Eating yummy food and enjoying it even more thanks to the maddening hunger after long walks. Ice cream in the sun.
• Reading books while in bed under a warm quilt. I read four books this week: 5 Point Someone, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy –Part one of the Trilogy of Five, Daddy Long Legs and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The last one being the one I liked the most

There were loads of other things but I guess I will talk about them some other day. Now it is back to the grind….but only till next weekend when I am off to another exciting trip. Yay!!