AFTER A LONG VACATION

Clicked by: Purnesh Bhattacharya | May 2019

Technically speaking, I should be tired; I should be extremely tired! Nine days of vacation is a long time. If counted in hours, it would be somewhere closer to or more than 216 hours of vacationing in one of the colder parts of India. After my return, it did seem like – I was gone long, long ago. It took me some time to acclimatize myself with the comfort of my home. 

Being away and being on vacation almost seems like resettlement. And yes, I did resettle or move out for a span of nine days. Cushioned between the hustle bustle of McLeod Ganj and Dharamkot, I found myself a home, which overlooked the town of Dharamshala. Through long rows of Pine and Deodar Cedar trees, the town of Dharamshala looked like a toy world. Absolutely closer to the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) that I stayed for all these days of vacation, I realized how important it is to just leave some things behind and embark on ‘a journey of passion’.

When I say a journey of passion, I mean it. For all these days that I’ve been quietly working on my second book and proclaiming to complete it someday, I never felt that this little hill station of Himachal Pradesh would also end up being the epicenter of my first ever collection of short stories; the title of which is simple but can continue being an unending travel series of places, I plan to visit in the near future.

So, as monkeys kept toggling between branches for their ounce of livelihood; as Buddhist monks walked in and out of monasteries; as footloose hippies gambled over cheap dumplings and secret stuff; as the uncertainty of weather continued to make or break my plans of sightseeing; as the immense trek to Triund left me feeling victorious, I kept making mental notes. Very soon, I will weave all these notes together and create the most special fabric of stories, to be dedicated to my most favorite part of Himachal Pradesh – McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala.

Yet the question remains unanswered - How am I still awake post 1 AM, the beginning of a May Sunday? The answer to which will not be too tough to be shared, once I conclude my most special collection of short stories from my recent vacation to McLeod Ganj.

But some things remain indescribable. I had never imagined to get the opportunity to see His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. At the age of 83, he is both; the Guru and King of Tibetans, who left Tibet amidst heinous atrocities of Chinese government and made India their new home; also known as the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile). Every Tibetan still feels – TIBET WILL BE FREE. Therefore, it was an indescribable experience to not just see His Holiness in person but also hear him and be a part of his teachings. His Holiness conducted three days of intense teaching sessions between May 10th and 12th. I couldn’t resist the opportunity of staying seated in his monastery on the second day and hear him speak in pure Tibetan language. 

Despite all that, the trek to Triund will continue being the major highlight of this vacation. The walk through the partly restored Kangra Fort will remain special. The car ride till Gyuto monastery will punctuate many conversations. The moderate trek to Bhagsunag falls will continue to bring comfort. And yet, after a long vacation… technically speaking – I AM NOT TIRED.

(To be continued with pleasure)

- Virtuous Vociferous | May 19 | May Blog-1 | Never Settle | 2019