A picture of yours truly. The place is Phewa Lake in Pokhra, Nepal. And I was heading to the island temple of Barahi. What made me pick this picture from the travel albums? This was the trip that rowed me towards accepting the fact that I was bitten by the travel bug.
It was my first trip out of the country. It was my first trip without friends and family. I was on a familiarization trip organised by NTB* for the Bangalore Media. I was travelling with four other journalists who went from being complete strangers to people I shared my Nepal-experience with.
Our getting-to-know of what was then the Himalayan Kingdom started at Kathmandu. We also visited Nagarkot, Pokhra and Jomsom. Each of these stations in our itinerary showed us different sides of Nepal. Kathmandu showed us the country’s cultural best: temples and historical sites. Nagarkot gave us a taste of Nepal’s hill stations while Pokhra let us take it easy and play tourists. And Jomsom transported us to a place like no other. I’ll need a whole post to tell that story.
The images from that trip are still fresh. Have you heard the quote that goes: Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends but it is played out over and over again in the quietest chamber. The mind can never break off from the journey**?
I guess that was what I meant when I concluded my travelogue saying: even after take off from Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu, my tryst with the Himalayan Country did not come to an end. My mind still makes quick trips to Jomsom, Pokhara and Nagarkot, to the gusty road-to-Marpha, to the boating on serene Phewa Lake and to a string of other memories I carried with me from the beautiful Himalayan nation.
This post is my entry for the ‘One Picture From My Photo Album Contest conducted by My Yatra Diary and CupoNation. The idea was to pick out a picture from the non-digital age and write about it.
Now I pass the baton on to:
Anu of My Footprints Around the World
Kusum of Scrapbook – A Travel Blog
Anil of Etch A Sketch
Very nice post. Reminds me of when i traveled to Pokhra from Kathmandu.Best of luck! 🙂
Thank you Madhu. I read your post for One-picture-from-my-photo and simply loved it. All the best to you too. 🙂
Lovely! And good luck with the contest! I read the other travelogue too and it is really a good read. Thanks for nominating me but, right now I may have to pass it 🙁
No issues Kusum. 🙂
Thank you so much. Nice to know you read the travelogue too. I'm not surprised. You really are passionate about travel.
You have a great weekend. 🙂
wow…what a journey! Beautifully penned…as always!! All the best, Divya :))
Long time Panchali di. Thank you so much. It was a trip of a lifetime. 🙂
Nicely worded and took me to Nepal, when I use to go there every month. I use to be the only guy in Suite and tie, when the plane was full of trekkers. ( I use to go for our official trip to our office there ;).
Haha! I can imagine that, Prasad. It's still so cool that you got to do business travel to Nepal. What a gorgeous place, right?
Thank you. 🙂
nice post
Thank you.
Beautiful travelogue.
Thank you, Sir.
I have a few friends from Nepal. Hope they invite me sometime for a visit. It sure sounds like a lovely place.
Hey Ramakant,
If you get a chance, don't think twice. Just go. I'm certain you'll love the trip. I wish your friends will invite you soon. 😉
Lovely nostalgic picture, Divya and that quote is so apt, the mind never breaks off from the journey even though we leave the place. Travel is one experience that, rather than fading away, becomes sweeter and sweeter to be savored and cherished with each passing day. All the best 🙂
That's a quote we travel bloggers can relate to, right? I swear — Pat Conroy spoke for all of us when he came up with that quote.
Thank you so much Arti for the making me dig out those old picture and re-live that trip. That was an experience by itself. Btw, you also made me want to do another post on a part of that trip. Thank you so much, once again. You have a fab weekend. 🙂
I can understand how close to heart the memories of this trip must be. It was an initiation of sorts, first spreading of your wings and that ecstatic dart in the sky. You have surely never looked back since. Thank you for sharing.
You're so right, USP. I've always been interested in travelling. But this really was a prominent milestone.
Thank YOU. 🙂
Great shot of you rowing.
🙂
It's from the non-digital days; 'before I had my own digicam,' would be the right way to put it.
WOW, you went with journos at such a tender age. Amazing, no wonder it sowed the seeds of travelogue in your mind. Good luck Dee 🙂
I was one of them. :)Even before that I'd done quite a bit of travel but this time told me how serious I was about it. 🙂
Thanks Saru.
It is always exciting to travel to unknown locations with unknown people.
http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in/2013/05/haziness.html
You know only too well, Niranjan. 🙂
Great way to begin your travel saga!
Best wishes for the contest
It was new beginning. 🙂
Thank you Deepak.
Ah, the travel bug – once bitten there is no know cure!
Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne
You're so right. 🙂
Nice to see you here. 🙂
Hi D its awesome to read about one of your early voyages. I suppose these where the days the D I know was born. That is me going on a hunch. he he
😀
It made want to be more serious about travel. You know what I mean. 🙂
That was such a refreshing travelogue and your picture was just beautiful in the serene setting of Phewa Lake 🙂
Thank you Mr. Bhatia for your continuing support. 🙂
Beautiful DN! Hmm, Nepal has been on the cards for quite sometime, fingers crossed!
Maliny, five words:
Just go. You won't regret it. 🙂