My Travel Diaries

  7th March 2025 Drove out of Haridwar was simple. On NH334 to Delhi within 5 minutes, though maps tried to confuse me. Ignored it. Guys here are mad. Be careful of tractors. Traffic was not bad at all. Choked a bit around Meerut. Tried to fish out the number of a college mate in Palwal when I saw the name come up. Couldn't get it. Then came the expressway. First the Eastern with a speed limit of 100 kmph. Then the Delhi Mumbai expressway with a limit of 120 kmph. Life was simple. Cruise worked beautifully. Got to Vrindavan by 1030. Checked into Hotel Krishna Orchid. Good room. Great food. Tomorrow is my guided tour. 08th March 2025 Got a call late last evening from my contact for the day. Wanted to know what time I would be good to start. Stupid question to me. Said 0600. He said 0630. At 0550 got a call from the taxi driver saying he was on his way. He came on time. Left hotel. Got another call. From one more driver. Same travel company. This guys wanted to come at 0730. Anyways,...

  2nd March 2025 Departed Pilibhit after the morning safari that had me seeing a swimming Tigress. Got back to the room by 1015. Was on the road by 1045 with a packed breakfast. These guys make an omelette sandwich by frying the bread on top of the egg. Gets a one side cooked bread, and one side over fried egg. Anyways, it was consumed in the first 15 minutes. The drive was uneventful. Traffic was not too bad. Till I reached Haldwani. Traffic kicked up. There were civilian traffic volunteers. While stuck at one crossing asked one of the volunteers. Was told it was an annual Sat Sangh of some Baba whose name I did not catch. Traffic stayed bad for then next hour, then cleared up. Went past the safari gates for the Corbett National Park by 1400. Took another hour to reach Sterling Resorts. Excellent location, as usual. Asked about a bar while checking in. Was directed to take a one kilometer walk to the village, which boasted of a English Wine Shop. Did just that around 1630. Got a d...