Great Indian Summer Vacations
The thought of a holiday or a vacation is exciting….to say the least!
Summers are round the bend…..and it is vacation time ! ( In India)
Newspaper supplements are full of travel destinations.
The advertising hype is extremely tempting….and difficult to resist….if
you are a travel buff !
There would be a great Indian middle class departure to the hill
resorts like :
Shimla
Mussoorie
Nainital
Manali
Srinagar(Kashmir)
The upper middle class travellers would make travel arrangements
through travel agents and resort cos. But lakhs of not-so-affluent
would ‘simply’ go !
On a typical day in a place like Shimla or Nainital or
Mussoorie…..Thousands of families would be arriving…..and since they
have arrived without a confirmation of a hotel…..next two-three hours
shall be spent …..Hunting for a bargain !
And it is quite likely ….these bargain hunters would be out-smarted by
the wily agents of the dingy hotels…. And the hapless-yet-happy
vacationers would end up in a room-with-a-view-of-a-dirty-back-lane !
Then there would be peak days when …..If you arrive towards the late
afternoon/evening….you would not find a room (even of the type
mentioned above).
You would then have three options:
1. Sleep in your car….or in a nearby village ( people have done it!)
2. Convince a restaurant owner to accommodate you and your
family….and many other similar ‘adventurers’ in the hall for the
night…..and you shall be kicked out at the first stroke of dawn !
3. Go Back ! ( sad)
But instead of experiencing dampened spirits…..these vacationers
would be found next morning….and each morning…..full of
excitement…..and would go about the business of
holidaying…..including ‘exotic’ experiences like:
Pony Rides
Cable Car adventures
Roller Skating/boating/trekking
….and much more ( including eating away to glory ) !!!
It is quite an experience….these Great Indian Summer Vacations!
