Seshadri's Musings

Travelling in Delhi always brings in memories of people hanging out from DTC and other private buses, when I used to live in Delhi some 19 years ago!!   And in every red light, the hanging crowd will get down from the bus, do some finger exercises to get the blood flow through them again and then re-board the bus just before the light turned green 😊 . I myself have made countless trips hanging out from the bus with just a quarter of my right/left foot on the footboard!!   Of course, you have to ensure that you have got a hold on to the bus by hanging on to the window pane or the door handle 😊 . Also, you have to ensure that when you re-board, you have taken up more space for your foot than what you had earlier 😊. During my current trip, I couldn’t see a single bus where people hung out!! Later only, when someone remarked it, I came to know that all the DTC buses have automatic doors that the driver closed as soon he starts the vehicle from the bus-stop!!   Now Delhi has A/c b

National War Memorial – this is the latest attraction in New Delhi.   This was inaugurated this February.   The entrance is through India Gate and the attraction is well-intentioned!!   This is just behind the canopy of India Gate. The place is well spaced out and is in the open.   You have the names of all the Indian armed forces personnel who have been martyred in various wars, mentioned here.   Their rank and their regiment names are also mentioned.   So, for the armed forces personnel who genuinely felt that their sacrifices are not being recognized, this memorial is a genuine tribute.   Their names are etched forever here.   There is also an Amar Jyoti that burns throughout, like in India Gate.   And you have an armed force personnel guarding the main circle at all times.   There are also some murals being depicted here and each mural also has a small write-up on the background and the outcome of the war for which the mural is being depicted. A definite must-

It has been more than 19 years since I shifted to Hyderabad from Delhi.   Even though I have been visiting Delhi over the past years, for a day or two, at the most; this time my stay is in Delhi for some 17 days!! And this blog is being written from Delhi!! It all started with my daughter opting for a course to be taken in Delhi.   After looking at places to stay, I finally decided to stay at my father’ brother’s place which was very near to my old flat in Delhi.   The flat is kept locked as they are not living there.   However, their neighbor had kept the flat in livable condition.   Except a TV and fridge, the house had everything.   Before coming to Delhi, I had searched on internet and had shortlisted some 14 items from the “list of 50 places to eat when you are in Delhi”!!   Even though I am yet to sample even 1 place in the last week, I have been able to indulge in some of my own childhood food treats!!   These include, till now, Gol Gappas and not Paani Puris as it is

This blog is for the things that you can do when you are young!!   A kind of a bucket list for people who want something extra in their life.   There is a kind of adrenaline-rush in doing these things and is not recommended for everyone.   For a long time, I had been wishing to do these things and whenever I got an opportunity, ensured that I did these things.   The things are as follows: - a)        Paragliding – There are three variables to this, as far as I know and have seen/experienced.   One is you start in a plain surface and your parachute is tied to a Jeep or any vehicle.   As soon as the vehicle speeds up, the parachute opens up and you start flying in the air!!   I did not do this, but ensured that my son did this when he was 6 years old!   Second one is where your parachute is tied to a speed boat and you start flying when the speed boat takes off.   I was able to do this in Pattaya in Thailand when I had gone for a vacation there.   My wife also did this stunt o

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of watching the Beating Retreat Ceremony at the Attari Border. Wagah comes in Pakistan and hence our side of the ceremony takes place in Attari Border!! I had gone on a trip to Amritsar (wait for another blog on these trips 😊), and thought that since we were going to be so near the border, why not include this too in the trip!!   The trip was planned three months in advance but it had not been decided how we were going to watch the ceremony.   My family had gone with my school friend’s family. He suggested that why not we try our school friend in the Coast Guard to see if we can get some VIP passes!!   Since my cousin is also a Colonel in the Indian Army, I called him also and asked if we could get the passes.   He immediately swung into action and ensured that by the time we reached the Attari border, the passes were waiting for us!! Later we came to know that the ceremony can be watched free.   With the VIP passes however, we can sit