Saturday, September 29, 2012

Hills With Frndz.


Engine no 46608 rolled into rain soaked New Mal station, with no much shelter to dither we headed towards the cab stand.. after little bit of healthy bickering with the cabbie a lad of just 20 something, the Maruti van sprinted and we had to think that there was no tomorrow.  

Thought Rakesh deeply wanted to dive into the vastness of serenity, leaving the eatery joint at Chaalsa Bazar we ferried through some of the unparallel long stints of ever juvenile freshness. Mid September happens to be the best time just after monsoon for Dooars gateway. Lonely chirping over abandoned roads, heavy bushy trees almost falling over. The Queen of Dooars is guarded by two impregnable natural fortresses, (Chapramari and Garumara) the long standing trees by the majestic national highway reiterates that you are far off from the ubiquitous buzz and with receding phone connectivity you are nowhere to be found.
 
 
Dhar out of many snaps the one with smoke billowing out is just fav; after few rapid pics again we packed ourselves in the van and this time there was no stopping till Jhaldhaka. Jhallong River Camp, we   hopped out from the van and saw somebody waving at us from the camp, yelling with directions………….. We were standing right across the camp and had Jhaldhaka sweeping everything contemptuously.
 


Mangal the camp caretaker explained how the make shift bridge which used to be a perfect picturesque element for the camp went missing on a scandalous night. The gaudy red carpet with pristine white bed sheet, attached with an English Loo, and the natural squander palpable from inside but guarded by the camp veil would surely raise cosmic shuttle of thoughts. Had never seen such natural lavishes with so much of leisure where you can only indulge and indulge….the misty aerial trees still pampering overnight slumber. Jhaldhaka River all across was nothing less than a non- scarlet battle strip, water pouring out as if some eternal force up there has decided not to stop weeping and the rock studded agile path mustering in all possible challenges to stop it somewhere down.

 We decided to witness the battle closely, choose one big rock must have been sitting there for some quality years; all 4 of us climbed it, and now it was time for a budget toast, but we left the water bottle back in the camp and now somebody will have to trace back and get it, nobody was ready but can the Toast wait??? unified NO from all 4. So……Dhar as usual jacked up a superb nonchalance way. Why are we waiting for just a bottle when it’s flowing all over. So on the rocks like never before.



After few rapid shots now we wanted to taste the chill and Bhaskar straight away accepted his appointment as the lens man; Dhar,Rakesh and myself  was now hanging in between the voracious flow, holding each other tight and some real balance from Dhar while making those high Chinese potions. Some jaw dropping but awful stripping; we were struck by high voltage; even tried lifting some of the rocks as if they were pebbles. Mangal caretaker came for the 3rd time asking us to climb up for lunch and it was also time for the high tide, means that eternal power will sob like anything. Rakesh bhai yes we left the empty 1 liter bottle down there. Cheers!!!!....




Figure out a scene where the hero of the movie is chased by the cops and its late evening into the forest, and he spots a faint light and a small hut downhill, I am pretty sure Jhallong River Camp would evoke similar look and feel from some uphill. With zero connectivity we were just plugged off from mainstream nature of life.

Next morning was damp, sogginess everywhere.  After checking all possible and could be possible places we decided; said yes to Darj.  Jhallong had every little bit in store but Darj can be planned.

Oodlabari: Since some donkey years I was never told but perhaps my Dadu’s stint with Jessop Company in Oodlabari and his only visit to Burma now Myanmar, always made me wonder and how connected they are, also tried angling Maa as Mongolian several times which she never accepted. Now I was crossing Oodlabari o yes very much part of Dooars……… was elated as if I have grounded in some Phoren exotic destination, hypothetically I strongly feel adulteration is the word which would never find its way to this place. Peerless personification of quintessential touch over Oodlabari.



Planters Club, Remember those hawkers on the way up hill to Mall…..precisely opposite Bata, Weekenders and all, selling larger than life umbrellas, warm clothes, dedicated souvenirs….. now they are off the road, Planters would convert the space into car parking.

Got a room at Bellevue with a small ante – chamber, looping right on Chowraasta facing Kalimpong Emporium.  After a quick round of the mall, seeing off the ponies for the day, peeping into Oxford book store, Nathmulls stands as graceful as ever, Hawa Ghar the cultural point of Darj got a fresh look……….

We had a filling thali lunch at Hasty Tasty…..and it needs no special description as well. Time for flavor filled evening tea in tamed brass pot. I got my cup ready but surely not without some puffs and pies. The articulate dimness with neo – classical décor, the red English telephone booth makes it a café of penchant. (Glenarys). Dhar, Rakesh….Bhaskar …u mind changing party…will u guys stop laughing on the tea ever….. it was on me    ha ha ha ha……..


 In between Rakesh bought his first D&G jacket……from Weekender…the girl in the store just could not stop blushing …… she even tried her charm with luscious Bangla to top – up the bill a bit further…….. but lady that was more than enough… We strolled down till Rink Mall…. Who can guess this??? …… Joey’s looked better…….fresh coat of paint and some remodeling of interiors............. Met Joey’s father behind the bar with his cowboy sideburns, he has not been keeping well of late. An ardent rock guy of his time… with no power the pub was gleaming with candles placed on empty soda bottles…….a English flag pinned up making the pub a perfect collage of some dingy motel in Wolverhampton…..
 
Last Day: After a much needed long intoxicated night with my 3 AM friends it was time for an authentic English breakfast facing the rich but de- glam clock tower. Kev - serving for more than 100 years now, Santhi  ( working with Kev for more than 40 yrs). Crispy toast anointed with butter, golden brown sausages, some heavy meat loafs, baked omelets and some more toasts. The open terrace area basking under the intermitting rays offers wide view of the mountain range from the left and Planters on the right; you can overlook the whole of Neheru Road. A complete English breakfast is like a brunch which means you need to skip luncheon.  
 
Every nook and corner of Darj was smelling Baarrrrrffffiiiiiiii……….every scene was cheered by the audience. It was just couple of days after the release and Baarrrrffiiiiiiii had become a small town rage which was spreading fast all across. The skewed twist and turns of Pankhabari Road was like free falling to plane from where we would again start afresh …….and we also start counting from here for the next……..
Dhar, Rakesh, Bhaskar……. Lets Bookmark this new chapter. We will come back Darj.........