You know you’ve been consuming a non-human fare for far too long, when you are not really a food person but all you see around you is foodstuff you miss. There we were, in a great BnB by the river in the middle of Innsbruck Altstadt. But instead of appreciating the milieu, I starting seeing things. A…
SUPERWOMEN DON’T MISS TRAINS.
The Alps were waiting for us on the other side of the forsaken hostel in Paris. Merrily we walked to catch that train to Austria. It was no later than 5 am and there was only one gate operational to the first leg of our journey. I put a ticket through the sliding door, it…
LIFE WITH THIRTEEN MEN!
Inspired by the Bollywood movie ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, Parul and I planned a trip to Europe. Of course in the movie a Euro-adventure was part of this guy’s bachelor party, while neither of us was attached at that time. We had booked travel to and stay in four to five countries, promised ourselves some…
QUIRKY CALLS 999! BUT WHERE’S MY SHOE?
There were somethings that Megha and I as paying guests couldn’t do at aunty’s house in London. She was very particular and threatened us to pay up for damages if any, which was usually a flat £3000. She also always had a story that happened to a ‘friend’ and cost that friend thousands of pounds. “Don’t keep…
BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH A SIDE OF ROMEO.
As he stepped in, I tucked in the earphones deeper with Zeppelin blaring and pretended to read an interesting book. Unwieldy and nervous he looked around the bus and although there were plenty unoccupied seats, he chose to sit beside me. Something told me I needn’t be polite or even make eye contact. In any…
CLOSE-CALLS AND HAIR GEL. Part II
Janhavi and I were reeking, not of alcohol or perfume, but of hair products for over two days. I guess that was an uneasy, however small price I paid for not keeping my promise. The promise I had made to myself in Wales never to hitch hike again. The fire en-route Luxembourg was sorted and…
INCIDENTALLY IN BRUSSELS. Part I
You know how they say ‘Shit happens’, to imply sometimes things can go wrong? Well with me seldom did things go right. It was a common joke among close friends and cousins to be wary of my company for inconceivable phenomena will not only become possible but eventually ‘happen’. My cousin’s husband being very practical…
HITCHHIKERS IN TOWN.
I thought there were bugs or perhaps even rodents under my seat. Shrouded by the scaffolding that was the bundled up duvet, the dirty laundry, books, shoes , I wasn’t sure if I should touch it with my bare hands to keep it from falling over or simply take my chances. It was a result of…
LONDON BEACONING
Back in pavillion Liverpool (and reality), after my first and may I add successful, backpacking trip to Europe and Scotland. Now it was about time to get cracking with the dissertation. I figured it will be great to graduate. The following month and half comprised of increased frequency of library visits, sleeplessness, days merging into nights,…
THE PRICE OF A CONDOM
I was young and innocent, not to mention brought up in a traditional South Indian home. Parul was visiting me. She met her cousin in London and then came to Liverpool for a week. I had booked a perfect trip up to the Lake District and Scotland. Advanced trains and b’n’b bookings saved us a…
UNBEKNOWNST TO ME…
Panting, huffing and puffing we reached the bus stop. If only I had paid attention to the booking officers warning, we wouldn’t have to fear missing the last bus to Turin. I had the tickets to Rome in my hands and my heart in my throat. Revati nor I uttered a word, we ran around…
CARE FOR SOME MOO TEA?
We were standing at the ticket counter anxiously hoping we didn’t have to do this everyday in Lyon too. When in Paris we paid our homage every single day to the booking office en route to the tourist spots. This time my plan should work. Here was my rationale; Lyon was in the South of France which…
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