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Kashi 3.0

Memory is unpredictable . One never really knows what we will remember and what we will forget. Which is why nostalgia arrives in unpredictable waves, highlighting something and skimming over others. Recently, I have found myself thinking of how memory works, as I was assailed by nostalgia over a trip to Varanasi, a city I prefer to think of, as Kashi. The nostalgia hit right as we landed at Varanasi airport. The last time I was here, it was 1988, I was 13 years old, the airport was brand new… regular flights hadn’t started yet (I think) … flights landed about once a week, and for the rest of the time, everything was open to those of us who lived in the airport quarters nearby. There were fields everywhere, vast expanses of green… I have vague memories of corn and sugarcane… and being overwhelmed by the vastness of the fields (this was the first time I was in such close proximity to them), and the warm hospitality of complete strangers who lived and worked amidst these fields. I h...
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I have always enjoyed travelling. When I was young, we always had to travel on a tight budget , so we always took the trains and buses, and stayed at simple lodgings where ever we went. In fact, we always tried to look for a relative or friend at whose house we could put up. it never seemed like an inconvenience to anyone, as that was what almost everyone did! As a result, my mother has a huge list of friends/relatives/acquaintances at various places, all of whom she actually knows quite well!
we usually went to temples, or my uncles' or aunts' places, but as there were so many of them, we went out for every single school vacation, and spent quite some time at each place.
today things are a lot different. with affluence has come more travel, that too with more comforts. Since my marriage i have been travelling almost 4 to 5 months in a year. many of my journeys are still spiritual, as we usually travel along with my in-laws, but once a year, my husband takes time out for a more tourist-like destination. we don't hesitate to take a vehicle where ever we go, but now time has become a major factor. where earlier we had all the time in the world, now we are running after our schedules everywhere. trips to any place, be it places or worship, or historical places, the urge is to see as many places as possible, so one usually compromises on the time we spend in one place.
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  1. GreentrekkumarSeptember 18, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Wondering whether this is your very first blog or not.!!!!

    You have started this little piece of writing with the lines "I have always enjoyed travelling" ..... and now after marriage, motherhood, miles n miles of bumpy roads and hundreds n hundreds of blogs later YOU HAVE GRADUATED TO EBOOKS (Kashi Yatra) for the benefit of other wanderlust souls.!!!!
    Congratulations.!!! You have been a great inspiration for me to write.!!

    Thanks.
    Greentrek Kumar

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anu ShankarSeptember 18, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    Thanks so much! I have come a long way since I wrote that first post more than 4 years ago. Since then, I have travelled quite a bit, though it has actually reduced in frequency thanks to my son's school schedule. However, more than anything, what has changed is the way I write... and that is thanks to readers like you who read and comment, and tell me what they like (or dont like!) thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GreentrekkumarSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Most welcome. The fact is I need to thank you since u have put the fire in me to write.!!!! Thanks a lot.!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anu ShankarSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    It feels so wonderful to hear that!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 12, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    Great post

    http://www.surjivan.com/

    ReplyDelete

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