A small gang of eight people who had no clue about each other and got to know each other at 5.45AM in winters foggy morning at Gurgaon to walk together, sounds crazy... isn't it? but Yes it was a crazy act. If I say we travelled all the way from Mayur Vihar to enjoy walk in unexplored unknown territory of Haryana then for sure we will be called insane. But this is how it exactly happened on one fine Sunday morning.
It was unplanned and I for a moment thought of giving up the plan to get up at 4.00AM (I am the most reluctant person to get up so early morning espacially in winters) and travel this long to walk. But my better half was quiet determined for the fact that this gang of eight was co-headed by his current boss. And to my surprise, we got up at sharp 4.00AM. In next half an hour we got ready, packed some fruits, chocloates, candies and water to sustain us during the walk. We followed the instructions and wore rough jeans and 4 layers of woollens. Not only to our surprise even our parents were surprised to see us waking up so early to walk who keep telling us to get up on time and exercise on weekends. They dissuade us from sleeping for long hours in a sweet diplomatic way but we also sweetly miss this plea message and continue to enjoy our long hours sleep. Getting up early, sorry to correct myself, very early on Sunday morning is as painful as attending office on a festival. You just watch cars neatly parked in society premises, noise free roads, doors closed and even guards on the gates sleeping..... you fume and say "moron who asked you to say yes". Anyways, let me not get in to my pain of getting up early morning.
Not to exaggerate, we hit gurgaon in half a hour.. of course people dont get up at 4.00 to walk, they atleast wait it to be 6. Getting up early also makes you feel hungry. While driving, we were preparing ourselves and remebering all the tips we followed in last year walk where we walked 100kms in 48 hours. We both were hungry but couldnt spot even a single vendor or a shop to pick up some cookies or sandwiches. And to satisty my hunger pang i grabbed one apple from the four which we carried for the walk and ate. It was nice... I never found apple tasting like honey before.
After waiting for about 15 minutes, the boss arrived and we headed towards hongkong Bazar where we had to wait for others. In sometime everyone had arrived and we got introduced to each other for the first time. The Sun had not shown its appreance till now. It was pitch dark, fog and pinching cold. We could feel the cold piercing in and we all were shivering. Just talk of tea was making us feel warm but now there was no escape.
So were eight now - Shankar, Meenakshi, Roma, Gautam, Aneket, Aachal and Me. Started with torch light near a village. We parked our cars at a place where even Delhi Police would have faced challenged and insted would have questioned us on why we have parked our vehicles in an unknown territory.
We walked amidst Aravali hills with our hands fold and head covered. It was windy. Thankfully some parts of the NCR have remained unexplored. We didnt notice any plastic thrown or littered. We climbed the rocks and were getting to know each other. Me and my better half were sharing the goof-ups that we had expereinced during 100kms walk in Bengaluru last year. World is really small and few of realise it as we could find few common linkages and friends. We walked for about 3 and half hours at a stretch and those carrying hot flask of tea were repeatedly pleading to off-load their burden. And we decided to have mercy. With some hot tea, stuffed parathans, cake and poha was served. WOW!!! what a sumptuous breakfast. We all were rejuvenated to walk further but had lost our way.
Thrown which got in to my shoe was hurting and I decided to take it out while others kept walking. Bio breaks are never a problem amidst jungle for any gender. We had to head towards South East direction and all of us were trying to find the mobile connectivity. We even were raising voices to see if there is any habitation nearby. Fresh dungcakes were confirming habitation for sure but we wanted the directions.
We climbed the rocks and hills and reached near a well. Gathered some wood and tried to lit fire. Sun had not shown his appreance yet. We requested the passerbys to help us. Their expertise were helpful but strong wind spoiled the fun. We decided to head towards nearby temple and make tea on a chulah. The temple had few yogis' who gave a warm reception to us. It was an exemplary scenary. A best combination of trees, hills and lands. Sun had slowly shown its face and we all strtched our legs in sunlight. We were watching the beautiful sight carefully. A tree was occupied by parakeets and sparrows. A yellow, black and white color bird, peacocks and koel. The gesture of giving biscuits and snacks to us by yogis as prasad touched us. I felt as if I have found myself. I could hear yself, I could feel myself and I could breathe. Those who generalise all yogis and villagers should try walking unknown destination.
Anyhow, when you decide to walk..after a couple of kms you walk with yourself. You are in a group but you help yourself, you are you that time, you test your endurance and get to know yourself better. After staying for about 20 minutes we started our walk again and the walk further was tiresome. It was a complete jungle. We had lost our way. Some woodcutters spotted us and got concerned. "Areee aap log yahan rasta bhatak gaye.... sham ho jayegi apko yahan ghoomte ghoomte.... Sirf lakadhare ate hai yahan". He gave us directions and after sometime we found that we all were walking silently (heading towards South-East)... following the path to an unknown destination. A glimpse of kingfisher sprouted energy in us and we all stood their to absorb the beauty of nature. We had never seen Delhi NCR so natural, raw and pretty where there is no spec of concrete.
Walking, climbing, combating thorns and balancing uneven path.. we reached at the back of Dumduma lake. We halted there and calculated the time. We had walked over 19Kms in 6 hours. It was surely an endurance test. Waking up so early never gave so much of joy to me. It was fulfilling..... we had big smile on our face..... after long time we felt that we have spent time with ourselves in the lap of nature. You tend to find yourself in desparation of reaching unknown destination! The unknown destination was not unknown anymore. I had visited this place once in my schooltime. So here the Sunday afternoon ended with warm sunlight, pakoras and hot tea. We chew sugarcane and hired a cab (Ford ICON) which was driven at the speed of 120KM per hour in the narrow lanes of Haryana village. We were holding on to our seats...."please bhaiya dheere chalaiye hume koi jaldi nahi hai"... we told the driver after which he took 45 minutes to cross the distance of 20 minutes. It was awesome day and experience..... a fun-filled and tiring day.
It was unplanned and I for a moment thought of giving up the plan to get up at 4.00AM (I am the most reluctant person to get up so early morning espacially in winters) and travel this long to walk. But my better half was quiet determined for the fact that this gang of eight was co-headed by his current boss. And to my surprise, we got up at sharp 4.00AM. In next half an hour we got ready, packed some fruits, chocloates, candies and water to sustain us during the walk. We followed the instructions and wore rough jeans and 4 layers of woollens. Not only to our surprise even our parents were surprised to see us waking up so early to walk who keep telling us to get up on time and exercise on weekends. They dissuade us from sleeping for long hours in a sweet diplomatic way but we also sweetly miss this plea message and continue to enjoy our long hours sleep. Getting up early, sorry to correct myself, very early on Sunday morning is as painful as attending office on a festival. You just watch cars neatly parked in society premises, noise free roads, doors closed and even guards on the gates sleeping..... you fume and say "moron who asked you to say yes". Anyways, let me not get in to my pain of getting up early morning.
Not to exaggerate, we hit gurgaon in half a hour.. of course people dont get up at 4.00 to walk, they atleast wait it to be 6. Getting up early also makes you feel hungry. While driving, we were preparing ourselves and remebering all the tips we followed in last year walk where we walked 100kms in 48 hours. We both were hungry but couldnt spot even a single vendor or a shop to pick up some cookies or sandwiches. And to satisty my hunger pang i grabbed one apple from the four which we carried for the walk and ate. It was nice... I never found apple tasting like honey before.
After waiting for about 15 minutes, the boss arrived and we headed towards hongkong Bazar where we had to wait for others. In sometime everyone had arrived and we got introduced to each other for the first time. The Sun had not shown its appreance till now. It was pitch dark, fog and pinching cold. We could feel the cold piercing in and we all were shivering. Just talk of tea was making us feel warm but now there was no escape.
So were eight now - Shankar, Meenakshi, Roma, Gautam, Aneket, Aachal and Me. Started with torch light near a village. We parked our cars at a place where even Delhi Police would have faced challenged and insted would have questioned us on why we have parked our vehicles in an unknown territory.
We walked amidst Aravali hills with our hands fold and head covered. It was windy. Thankfully some parts of the NCR have remained unexplored. We didnt notice any plastic thrown or littered. We climbed the rocks and were getting to know each other. Me and my better half were sharing the goof-ups that we had expereinced during 100kms walk in Bengaluru last year. World is really small and few of realise it as we could find few common linkages and friends. We walked for about 3 and half hours at a stretch and those carrying hot flask of tea were repeatedly pleading to off-load their burden. And we decided to have mercy. With some hot tea, stuffed parathans, cake and poha was served. WOW!!! what a sumptuous breakfast. We all were rejuvenated to walk further but had lost our way.
Thrown which got in to my shoe was hurting and I decided to take it out while others kept walking. Bio breaks are never a problem amidst jungle for any gender. We had to head towards South East direction and all of us were trying to find the mobile connectivity. We even were raising voices to see if there is any habitation nearby. Fresh dungcakes were confirming habitation for sure but we wanted the directions.
We climbed the rocks and hills and reached near a well. Gathered some wood and tried to lit fire. Sun had not shown his appreance yet. We requested the passerbys to help us. Their expertise were helpful but strong wind spoiled the fun. We decided to head towards nearby temple and make tea on a chulah. The temple had few yogis' who gave a warm reception to us. It was an exemplary scenary. A best combination of trees, hills and lands. Sun had slowly shown its face and we all strtched our legs in sunlight. We were watching the beautiful sight carefully. A tree was occupied by parakeets and sparrows. A yellow, black and white color bird, peacocks and koel. The gesture of giving biscuits and snacks to us by yogis as prasad touched us. I felt as if I have found myself. I could hear yself, I could feel myself and I could breathe. Those who generalise all yogis and villagers should try walking unknown destination.
Anyhow, when you decide to walk..after a couple of kms you walk with yourself. You are in a group but you help yourself, you are you that time, you test your endurance and get to know yourself better. After staying for about 20 minutes we started our walk again and the walk further was tiresome. It was a complete jungle. We had lost our way. Some woodcutters spotted us and got concerned. "Areee aap log yahan rasta bhatak gaye.... sham ho jayegi apko yahan ghoomte ghoomte.... Sirf lakadhare ate hai yahan". He gave us directions and after sometime we found that we all were walking silently (heading towards South-East)... following the path to an unknown destination. A glimpse of kingfisher sprouted energy in us and we all stood their to absorb the beauty of nature. We had never seen Delhi NCR so natural, raw and pretty where there is no spec of concrete.
Walking, climbing, combating thorns and balancing uneven path.. we reached at the back of Dumduma lake. We halted there and calculated the time. We had walked over 19Kms in 6 hours. It was surely an endurance test. Waking up so early never gave so much of joy to me. It was fulfilling..... we had big smile on our face..... after long time we felt that we have spent time with ourselves in the lap of nature. You tend to find yourself in desparation of reaching unknown destination! The unknown destination was not unknown anymore. I had visited this place once in my schooltime. So here the Sunday afternoon ended with warm sunlight, pakoras and hot tea. We chew sugarcane and hired a cab (Ford ICON) which was driven at the speed of 120KM per hour in the narrow lanes of Haryana village. We were holding on to our seats...."please bhaiya dheere chalaiye hume koi jaldi nahi hai"... we told the driver after which he took 45 minutes to cross the distance of 20 minutes. It was awesome day and experience..... a fun-filled and tiring day.
Good one Priyanka..
ReplyDeleteThe joy of walking .....a good blog to read after a long time..
keep it up
Bests
Bhanu
Good one Priyanka. Thoroughly enjoyed and experienced the journey through your writing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great read!!!!!!!!!!!!! the joy of being unknown at some place is unmatched. we feel like kids while exploring new world. what so.........
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