Excerpts from the Travelogue

Its been four long months since I've blogged and much water has flown under the bridge since then… Here are some musings from my last few months of travel -

• Noida and Greater Noida are NOT the same place. And one can’t help but notice the stark differences between the two places. While Noida is a very well planned city with posh residences, up-market malls and swanky cars, Greater Noida is 30kms from it (and civilization) with its only inhabitants being cows and bulls. You might want to check out what I clicked from my balcony-

• And while we are on the subject of bulls - I have to tell you that these are not the normal/innocent/demure bulls. Though they might look small and harmless in the above picture, these are HUGE bulls that are almost six feet in height and weigh a ton - more like the ones you find on the Harappan seals! And they are omnipresent. So, if you are ever in Noida, watch out for them bulls, as they are particularly fond of lurking in the highways at nights!

• If you are living anywhere near Delhi you are most likely to be on a staple diet of paneer, roti and dal tadka. At the outset, it might sound good if you are a Southie, a Foodie or a lethal combination of both. But 10 days of it, you realize that your stomach wasn’t quite programmed to handle stuff as heavy and start craving for some idli-sambhar.

• And when you decide to eat at a famous vegetarian Dhaba on the Taj-expressway, here’s what they have to offer!

Yeah, you read it right!

• Gifts(read bribes) are the easiest way to wiggle out of any predicament. Especially in UP, where its almost like a way-of-life. From getting a little pointer on the next day’s exam to getting yourself into the hostel after the curfew time - there’s nothing a little ‘rishwat’ can’t handle.

• 'Aiyayo' and 'Yenna Rascala' top the list of the most famous Tamil phrases known up north(Thanks to the Bollywood masterpiece 'Om Shanti Om').
  

• The Taj-Mahal is definitely a must-see, but apart from that I suggest you check out the local market at Agra. They have some beautifully crafted ‘juthis’ and artifacts at very competitive prices. And don’t forget to treat yourself to some yummy ‘pedas’ and ‘pethas’ from the ‘Panchi’ mithai store chain. Also make sure your Agra trip encompasses visits to Mathura and Madhuban.

• Other lesser-known places you should check out include the Bangla-Sahib gurudwara and the Shiva temple close by. A visit to the ‘Paraatha galli’ near Chandni Chowk is a must for all foodies. And you could visit the nearby ‘Giani falooda’ for the dessert.
  

The Golden Dome of Banglasahib-

• The Delhi market is probably one place where you can get everything ranging from antique jewelry to the latest gizmos of every conceivable brand. Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Palika Bazaar - to name a few - are among the busiest market places in the city. You can buy the pair of slim-fit Levis you have always wanted to own for less than 300 bucks! They are so close to the real thing that it sometimes makes you wonder why you had to spend five times as much on the one you brought at the brand-store…

• So like I said, you can shop till you drop in the busy markets of Delhi. But, if your gang of friends happens to have some boys, please don’t bring them along, as they tend to get bored and mostly loiter around at the nearby bookstore or chaat-shop. Whats more? They make sure you don’t get to shop in peace by messaging you every fifth minute about how much you had shopped already.

• A metro-ride is an absolute must. Contrary to the degree of neatness of the city, the Delhi metro railway stations and the super-fast trains are surprisingly well maintained and neat. The metro-experience is definitely one of a kind albeit a little pricey.

So the next time you are bitten by the travel-bug, pack that knapsack, 'cos know where to head:-)