I am forgotten

{just some jot downs...not exactly felt...but more of that imagined}

I am forgotten,

Long time gone, I am no more in the mind

I am gone

Lives continue, memories fade

I am forgotten

Just a faded picture, writing whose ink is long gone

I am forgotten I am gone

The least used path leads to me

Silence clings to me

Only my tears hold me close

I am forgotten…I am gone

The express to Shanghai

Finally the outing was decided. A taste of very often seen but never tried restaurant. A bit doubtful, I agreed when my friend decided to go there…we had a short walk from the office, hunger nearly burning holes in our stomach, as we reached in the sultry afternoon sun to the restaurant.
The hunger was now replaced with stomach groaning “khana do pls…” as we gorged on the sweetened cucumber and kimchi (peppered or shall I say chillied cabbage in sugar water) we glanced at the menu and decided for the special soup of the restaurant, along with steamed wontons. Both arrived later. My friend and I thought that we have to order kimchi again when soups and starter arrived. One bit and both felt that we were in heaven. Not ruined by sauces, not too spicy, proper consistency and amazing taste, the soup didn’t need any additions of the sauces mildly flavored with chilly garlic sauce it was having bits of colorful yellow , red and green peppers and thinly sliced mushrooms. The seamed wantons were out of the world. Without over use of soy sauce and salt, their skins just a bit thick, they tasted divine. And since they were not fried, they slipped like spiced cotton candy from our mouths. I was still hungry and so was my friend. But we went full with triple Sichuan rice where we tasted rightly fried rice (not raw at all) in a bed of tomato gravy and fried noodles. Her friend was full in 1.5 servings and I had to finish the remaining rice. But I didn’t mind. I was amazed that I didn’t have to add a single drop of sauce to anything. That perfectly spiced and seasoned every dish was. And coming from a mediocre looking restaurant with real limited seating space, it was truly an asset. Walking back was no issues but we didn’t have dessert and as we reached café coffee day we felt chocolate brownies calling us. We paid heed to its calls and inside enjoyed brownies specked with walnuts.
Truly an amazing experience it was, three cheers to “shanghai express”

weekends out: bleshwar 3

Day two dawned with cold shower...seems they had finished warm water...cold shower in cold envt was grrrrrrrrreat (brrrr)...we had a breakfast of idli vadas and set for part 2 of mahableshwar exploration...to echo point that didnt give echos and watching some non discript stuff by telescope...Amit giving actorisc poses for photos and mercury in temprature and temper rising...we finished by gocating and strawberry farm visit...where we had strawberry shake and bought strawberries...(small colorless tasteless replica of the exotic ones we had earlier day..which got bad the day of leaving...)

a gujrati lunch complete with puranpolis awaited us...we had a small nap and in the evening went to a park and later to a small amusement park, tasting corn pattis and strawberry crush...a mediocre fare...

on our way after confirming the tickets the next day, and finally buying that pair of shoes I had been pining for we went back by the lonely road to our hotel...having a dinner and later packing the bags...

The next day I was up unusually early...and didnt want to go back to sleep...after getting ready and and tucking the stuff in the awaiting cab, I turned back and had a good look at the hotel...
The cab started and later the bus...slowly taking me away from bleshwar...my first moon...
and a thought came to my mind....our next destination would be..............any where as long as the experience would be good and unique..........like bleshwar

Weekends out Bleshwar2

The hotel was good. not the five star kind but one that overlooked a beautiful misty valley. we deposited the luggage and immediately went to break the fast...a scrumptious feast of uttapas, poha and tea/coffee awaited us....after pushing our stomachs to the limit we set out again...

walking by the single road that connects whole of mahableshwar together. we had juiciest strawberries whose taste still lingered on my tongue. while coming we saw a cute monkey with the biggest tail...
We wandered in mahableshwar market and I set my eyes on the orange fresh carrots with leaves still on them...I thought my lunch was made...

but after we went back to hotel I realized that all this thinking was false. lunch was simple gujrati affair...with its farsaans and bhakris and khichdis and kadhis...

The shortest nap was that I had here...as we set to explore bit more of mahableshwar...and pachgani...of mala jam factory and table lands...pandav gufa...(always wondering what made them so special)...
we clicked photos and Amit treated me with one of the best teas which I had in that gufa...seated on the stool cum woodlog...rustic environement...rustic evening indeed

The last stop was venna lake where we had boat riding. seeing half submerged trees (looking downright eerie) and small buildings...a result of last years heavy rains...

The dusk approached slowly...the mist rising slowly again, giving birth to another pleasant cool night