A night in Winnipeg

I have been told that Winnipeg, Manitoba is too cold. Luckily it’s been nice as it was only -2 C. when I got here, but first step on land made my breath vaporize.
I had to change my bus on the way from Airport to friend’s place, my connecting bus had 15 minutes interval. Sitting road side on a bench without any proper bus stop shelter, remind me that I actually don’t have warm boots and gloves. Dry chill made blood flow slow through my veins, my hands, nose and ears changed to reddish and getting stoned. I hopped on bus and thanked bus driver. It was difficult to hold on, as I was thinking of getting a cab and the bus showed up.


Of course I was expected to give treat to my friend, so we went to buy some booze along with pizza and chicken wings. Very soon he went to bed as he has to leave early for his pharmacist training. This 2 hours time difference between Vancouver and Winnipeg kept me awake and glued to his laptop watching Netflix (my favourite pastime).

It took only 10 minutes at the Autopac (Manitoba’s driver’s licensing centre) to renewing my license. I felt disappointed as one day trip all the way cost me a lot of money for this little but important work, rest of my day I spent eating and watching Netflix all by myself. I decided to go to Airport earlier and spend sometime there instead of sitting at home, so I took bus and arrived hours earlier than my flight.

Canadian Airport are totally hassle free, download your boarding pass, walk through the security check without delay (if you don’t carry junk in hand bag), and board the air bus 10 minutes before it’s scheduled time, so easy. Most of the airport you can kill your waiting time sitting on sofa watching your aircraft being prepared for takeoff. It’s the same flight and crew I came with, they greeted me “ohh hello again, welcome back” I said “ohh thank you” and we chuckled together!


These days I am loving some of the old bands like Foreigner, Eagles, Rodriguez, Beetles etc. Their songs are on repeat on my Spotify. The music they produced in 70’s 80’s now you can not expect from new generation. If you get a chance then listen to songs: “Those Shoes”, “The Sad Cafe” and “I want to know what Love Is”. But the addiction is something hard to go away, I downloaded free episodes of the Netflix Series I am watching these days, before leaving for Airport. Watching that now...
Well, today they announced in flight that we have 45 minutes to leave the aircraft in Edmonton for getting coffee, a snack or just stretch your legs. So this opportunity gave me a chance to have a glance at the Airport. I walked up to gate 55, most of the cafes and other eateries were close at 10pm local time. But Buffalo Wings, Boston Pizza, Hudson News and few bars were still open. I noticed that people who preferred cheap flights (as I was flying with Flair Air) those gates are on the corner and tiny, no bars or good eateries around it. But you can find some affordable coffee shops and Tim Hortons, which were closed.



There was one more option, everyone’s favourite vending machines, chips $1.50 and soft drinks $2.75. Well that is a fare deal. But most people think that in flight service is costly to purchase, but I found it reasonable, in fact its a fantastical to purchase something in the air using credit card. I always love Americano coffee and nachos while reading or watching Netflix🤪.

One thing I don’t understand about airlines is that during online check-in I choose empty row, Half of the plane is empty then why we are 3 people sitting in one row when other rows are entirely empty? also sometimes you ask ground staff for desire seat they won’t give it you and says "this flight is full, try inside to swap".

Anyways... good night.

Thanks!
#HarmanIndianTraveller

YXX to YWG via YEG

It was an unexpected traveling but there are things in life we have to do, hopefully results would be positive.
This morning wasn’t as usual as previous ones. A weird dream of flash back to my hometown woke me early, well perfect for a coffee. Before I hit the shower, my old university friend called, all the way from England, it brought back all the memories and moments we shared 10 years ago. We kept talking for 2 hours, a call after a decades, evaluates the time between friends. Definitely it refreshed lots of sweet and sour memories, worthy friendship. I realized I am getting late for flight when Brenda (my Canadian mom) rolled eyes on me and pointed towards clock.
being late turns you into a programmed robot, on auto mode I made sandwich, filled my water bottle, polished my boots and warmed up a pizza slice from last night, which in car on the way to Airport. It was raining but with pleasant temperature outside. Half an hour drive from home seemed longer, after being out of my house in couple of days. Who will pick me up from Airport in that chilly city of central Canada?

My flight is delayed as the plane hasn’t landed yet. Well, I have to wait but this is good time to kill my anxiety by reading the book, the book I couldn’t finish from a while. I never been that lazy before, life is on change so be it. The security check officer made me drink all of my water or optioned to throw it in the bin. Now I don’t have anymore water, there is no water tap, I do not have dared to use the washroom tap.
I checked in online earlier and reserved a window seat (6f) in front of the plane wing as this spot in the plane, have a clear view outside. Plane is flying forward as the sun seems to be chasing us. If you look up it’s clear sky but if you look down, it’s covered with white clouds ️ as lots of cotton has been scattered. few high mountains still arise above the clouds, covered with snow and shining in sunlight.

We might be high above 30,000 feet with aprox 600 kmph speed but plane seems moving so slow as still.

All of it reminds me my flight from “Chennai to Portblair” (Indian Islands). Captain just announced that we are about to touch down at Edmonton, Alberta in 20 minutes. Looking down at lakes which are frozen, the roads are covered with snow, which I will be driving on in a long haul truck soon.
Now we are flying over some farm fields of the Province of Alberta, it looks like white floor tiles with texture on it. I have been told that in spring season, farmers harvest the wheat seeds then snow covers it up, after spring when snow melt down the wheat crop can be seen fertilized underneath. I belong to a farming state of India, my village farmer will never believe it if I tell them how it works here. It’s difficult to understand how snow covered land provides the necessary heat to the seeds to fertilize.
Next seat is accompanied by a Canadian mature woman, she asked my help to send a text to her daughter from an iPhone. I just recalled how much Brenda hate iPhone and not interested to handle these gadgets and computers. She always needs help to operate them, but she is learning very fast now. She was excited to know new features and what a smartphone is capable of.
My fellow fellow was interested in my book I am reading. When she saw the name of the author she said “ohh Paulo Coelho, I am glad you are reading him”. She liked reading “Alchemist”, she is interested in what I was writing in my cell phone during flight. She told me her daughter also wrote a book for kids. Our conversation started just before landing in Edmonton (half way to Winnipeg), so she quickly wrote down my blog name and gave me her daughter’s book name before she leave the airplane. It was nice meeting some nice Canadians. As she said “who knows, ho we meet again, so good luck until then”. This is what is called life experience, she taught me a wise line to remember in just few minutes short conversation. Isn’t the life is so mysterious? !!!

I thought since we are waiting for other passengers, let’s check out the Edmonton airport. I like visiting airports, it’s not as much charm compared to 15 years back, But still Airports have its own attractions. The flight attendant told me “we have half an hour, which is perfect for buying a hot coffee” (He read my mind of what I possibly must be thinking off) but with a note “don’t leave the security area”. I looked at a long corridor as I stepped out of the air-bridge. One side there were boarding gates and after washrooms and waiting area there were shops and eateries. I glanced long untill my eyes were locked at Tim Hortons. I realized that it would be a nice idea to use my gift cards. (Other day Brenda was looking at her old junk stuff and found 4 Tim Hortons gift cards, which were lying there for years, one of them must be 8 years old. She doesn’t care for Tim Hortons so I will use them) but the line was so long, I waited for 10 minutes but some junkies like to debate with servers while there are 20 people behind in line waiting to catch a quick coffee before their boarding, I didn’t feel it’s worth so I went back to my seat.
The sun has already walked away to arise in other side of the globe, as darkness has covered the last ray of sun on clouds and forced humans to use its invention to light up the land. (Thanks to sir Thomas Edison). Looking down from the window, you can see some lights on earth, middle of nowhere, maybe miles away from another light. This proves human’s existence, they could be farmers, factories or humans tired of City circus. Sometimes I dreamed this kind of life too. Wouldn’t it be nice, living in nature and far away from chaos!!!

Thanks!
#Harman-Indian-Traveller

I was in paradise

So as you know that I am in paradise. Its totally fun here... beach parties, beach volleyball, snorkeling and sea food. Actually all of itI am doing first time in my life. The credit goes to mathilde because of her I am here.

We came here for new year, we wanted to go to Havelock island but missed our ship from port blair so we have to stay in port blair for last night of the year. There was another German traveller with us Sandra. she was sick so we went out for celebrate new year. In Port Blair we couldn’t find much happening because all the tourists must have left for Havelock but we found our own way, we went to a five star hotel and had some drinks in the bar and then we went to another five star hotel to enjoy the party. A great band from Bangalore was playing live music with dancers. It was great party there.

At around 10 pm we headed to beach by auto and came back to our guest house at midnight and spent my night sleeping in the balcony watching stars in the sky.

Finally we came to Havelock island an haven on earth. Long and clean beaches with big palm trees. Math is trying to teach me swimming. We had snorkeling here. It was first time in my life to see corals and fishes with my eyes in deep water. We went to elephant beach by tracking 30 mins in the jungle. On the way we saw disaster by tsunami.

(I wrote this when I was in Havelock. Key board of my laptop is not working now so will take some time for next post.)

Way to Andaman Nicobar ( Paradise)

                I am in flight now, never thought my wish to see Indian Island will come true that soon, But its happening now. I am very much excited to step on Indian land, away from India. I made math jealous by arriving first.
From the window of my plane, I can see the sea. The height of plane from sea level must be around 34000 feet and running around 600 nautical miles.....
The time is now 5:52 am,  a perfect time for sun rise and make my imagination into beautiful reality. I can see an amazing scene from my window. Its my first time enjoying sun rise from sky. My last most amazing experience of sunrise and sunset was from the last coastal tip of southern globe at Kaneyakumari, but this is beautiful and different in its own way. I am taking pictures of sunrise and the sea with my cell phone. Sea seems at peace but frozen. I don’t know what is the magic in this see, it looks like clouds on the earth or I am flying above the clouds .
I can not decide if I should focus on capture these moments in my camera and write the review or just keep looking at the magical beauty outside of my window, as I heard that Andaman is a paradise it seems promising now, as if this flight is much enjoyable then how will be the land? I guess amazing....
I should say thanks to Sandra for encouraging us and telling stories from her own experience of recent visit. Flying above the land of clouds making me imagine things like fairy tale, as angels could been seen here, riding horse buggies, or some ship or plane will go through soon, that’s why the clouds has been cut and this blank space must be roads. Sky is amazing and wonderful, we can not tell until we experience. I am just thinking how lucky the astronauts are, who go to space, how wonderful view it would be from the orbit of earth.
My flights captain has just announced that now we are flying on 31000 feet above sea level, a clear view of sea can bee enjoyed. Maybe Mathilde will miss all this, as during day sky won't be that beautiful or maybe more beautiful than now. But it would have been wonderful to being with her in same flight. When I see down it seems that as someone has scattered cotton in the sky. I wanted to go out and jump on it. why I can’t go out…! WHY I AM NOT A BIRD…! Why why why…….
It is a human nature that whenever we saw something like this our desires and imagination doesn't make any sense, sometimes we also forget that we don’t have any right to play with the nature…
Again our captain announced that we are very much close to Port Blair. And in few minuets we are about to land.
I am waiting for the moments when I will see Port Blair with my eyes, for what I have been reading since school. How beautiful it would be...

Christmas to Port Blair

Christmas is gone but again new year is big vocation coming ahead. Again I could not say NO to math and I canceled my flight. Because she was feeling alone here. as we are traveling together from a long time. Now again We planned that we will go to hampi and gokarna and then khujraho. But no… as always happens, it didn’t work. There were many peoples who are going to Port Blair for new year and all of them told us that this place is a paradise on earth so we should see this. Because may be after 5-6 years it will gonna to disappear from world map. Sea is increasing day by day.
As much people said more about Andaman, we were forced to think about it once. Next day we went to internet to check out the details to visit there. Flights were so expensive but its now or never. Math was now mad to go there. We spend all the day on internet. at the end we found the flights and decided the dates also. It was not easy for me to go there but for me also its now or never. Math also wanted to celebrate new year with me there. So I got agreed.
Now again there was a big problem to book the ticket. We need to book it fast because prices are increasing very fast and we want to fly on 31 Dec. so in my both accounts I don’t have much money and math’s cards are not working on Indian travel sites. Even we went to the bank also to putt some money in my one account to book the ticket but bank was closed. I called my sweet and dearest friend Abhinandan sood to help me but he was also not carrying his card with him. But finally we bought the tickets for 31dec. but I am flying in the morning and she is flying after meI have a flight at 4:45 morning and she will fly at 10:00 am. . Now we are on the airport of Chennai. We are gonna to spend our night here (on the airport).
One of our friend Sandra is also there. She told us that that place is very nice. And we will may be travel with Sandra also. We don’t have flight back. May be we have to come back by swimming…. Ha ha ha ….but If we will be lucky We will come back by cruise.
I hope Sandra will be right and Andaman will be paradise.

Will put some pictures of Andaman soon….. Keep reading……………. With lots of love and hugs.

Mahabalipuram (Mamllapuram)

Mahabalipuram is such a nice and fantastic place. After traveling so fast from one place to another place. Here you can take a breath. When we heard about this place we wanted to visit here and just stay for 1-2 days. But now, we totally fallen in love with this place. Sea is crazy here. When we saw the sea it seems that u can not take bath in this, because of big waves and when you go inside it’s surface is down and up down and up. You can not go more deep waves are also very powerful and big. But it’s an amazing place to enjoy it. This you can feel when you go inside. We were also hitting the waves. First time in my life I had bath in this kind of crazy sea.

One day we saw some young boys were playing volleyball on the beach. We also joined them and it was handsome experience to play volleyball on the beach.
Now it was the time to celebrate the Christmas also. we met a Germen girl Angelica to join her for Christmas party. One of French lady Pascale who is living in Mahabalipuram she invited us in her restaurant. She has a nice guest house also. We met there many peoples who come there just for a get together. It was a nice party as with family members. Here we tasted many good French foods with wine and bear. I was feeling that I am in France not in India. The food was really nice. They believe that Santa gives them gifts at midnight, Pascale also gave gifts to every one. She gave us a one really nice key ring. Me also surprised Math and Angelika, at middle night I go to there rooms and gave presents. Both of the girls were very happy to receive it. Even me also did a lot job to find the gifts and more than that to pack it. But I was happy to make them feel good. Specially to Math because it was her first time she was celebrating her Christmas without her family. Maybe I succeed to give her a small smile on her face. Its true I can’t be her family but still I did what I could.

At this place nothing too much to see but still if you go to caves and old shore temple its amazing to visit. But more than that you can just relax here. I have booked my flight already to Delhi. I will fly on 27th Dec. may be I will celebrate my new year there.
Jassi my friend is the gem. If I am traveling its his effort also. Without his help I could not travel this much. So hats off to my brother.

Leaving Pondicherry

In pondi i can feel that i am on holidays. We are drinking beer, there is not much places to visit except market. Math found a very good bakery also where we are eating. She cant believe that in India she can find a French bakery.

One day we hired a scooter and went to aurovile. Luckily we got the good scooter because the another scooter which Lohi was driving its Tyre was got brusted. we left the scooter on one of the Auto works. and they took a lift and we reached to Aurovile. this place is so nice. you can come here for peace. everything is planned and good. you can stay in aurovile ashram also on very less price. we spend almost 2 hours there and had a very good lunch also.

after that me and math start discovering the new places. we been to small small village and deep into forest also. nature is so amazing here. we saw some foreigners who lives there and working in the farms and they speak Tamil (Local Language of Tamil Nadu). there are many places where you can go for cooking and meditation classes also.

on the way to Aurovile Math was driving now it was my turn to drive. when we reached at Pondi first we got our shoes which we ordered, they made it all so nice. we were happy to get our new shoes. we return the scooter. but other girls just bring the tyre of the scooter and give it to the owner. because the tyre was nothing. i cant believe that how they can give there scooter on rent with this kind of destroyed tyres. Both the girls flighted with owner and they got the money back. ( we were not there but they told us latter all the story)

we spend many days in Pondi it was expensive and no charming so we left that place. because we herd that Mahabalipuram ( Mamllapuram) is nice place for holidays. so we left pondi on 23 DEC. and came to Mahabalipuram to celebrate our Christmas.