Thursday, August 6, 2009

RAINAs' Travel Tales


OUR TRAVEL TALES



(pic courtesy Prem)


CZIA (pronounced Zia; pet name Czee), Deepika (ma) and Ajay (pa) - form a family with the surname as RAINA . Czia has been a traveller since a tender age of 40 days. In fact, her first trip to Sangla was executed when she was just 42 days old. We distinctly remember her sleeping in her baby seat-cum-cradle tucked between front seats of our SUV. Whenever awake, she would simply keep watching Tree canopies. Through this blog, we intend sharing a few of our travel experiences with you people. And before we brag about ourselves, a special mention of three of the loveliest creatures who complete our family - Googlie (has been to all nooks and corners of this country), his son Adolfie and Bubblie (from left to right):-


We, as a family, have travelled nooks and corners of our great land and a bit abroad. Having covered more than 250000 km on road, a kind of boredom had started to set in. We simply realised that travelling in cars and SUVs, that we had been using till now, is like travelling inside a bubble. after all, with airconditioner on, how could one smell the air and the fragrance of the countryside? So, in 2007,we decided to sell our SUV and restart our life. We actually restared our lives as we approached our 40 mark. Though not on royals, we have travelled extensively in the states of J&K, HP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharasthra, Goa, Karnatka, Tamilnadu, Andhra, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhyapradesh, Uttarpradesh, Uttarakhand (with Googlie in tow), while we have also touched parts of West Bengal and Assom.

We are looking forward to network with like minded people who travel for fun. flexible programme rather than rigid travel plans would be preferred. We are also available for any advice should you need on road travel in any part of this beautiful country unless we have not been there ourselves.



(Please note that we are working on the travel tales related to motorcycle rides/road travel only. There are far too many stories of the past. Though this is not all that we want to share with you yet we would be constrained to write about each and every trip, many of which we may not remember well. But we will keep adding to the blog as the time passes)


CHANGTHANG 2008

This was the first bike trip we ever undertook in the months of August-September 2008. The route covered during the trip passed through Chandigarh, Simla,
Narkanda, Rampur, Rekong Peo, Pooh, Nallagali, Mandi, Kullu, Manali, Leh, Nubra, Changthang to include Pangong Tso, Marsimek La, Chushul, Nyoma, Chumathang, Tso Moriri and Tso Kar. For full story, click here......


for a free VCD of the ride, pl write to thefirstthambi@gmail.com ( for a teaser, pl click here)

BHARMOUR 2009

Czia had missed out on Changthang ride (she was only one year old at that time) but seeing her passion for our bike, Bhageera (Bull 5S), it appeared unfair to

leave her out of the upcoming Zanskar ride. But a test run wasin order. Thus, in the month of May 2009, a month before Zanskar kick off, we went on to Bharmour in Chamba District. In addition to Czia, another budding rider, Parth was also to be tested . For full story, click here......


CZIA - THE YOUNGEST RIDER

This is a tale of a record breaking effort by a two years old girle. Sandwiched between her parents, Czia travelled all the way through Kashmir, Zanskar,
Khardung La, Manali and Jammu on a 350cc Bullet that she fondly refers to as Bhageera. Immune to usual stuff like AMS and cold, she learnt how to appreciate the nature and how to switch off and take a nap when hard disk got full. An experience that she may not remember in the years to come but the pride she brought to her parents would remain forever. For full story, please click here......

ZANSKAR 2009

This is an account of our group's ride to Zanskar in June-July 2009. The preceding tale of Czia is part of this bigger story. It was our second syndicated
ride as a group and we grew in experience as we drove through some of the most beautiful terrains in the world. For full story, please
click here......


KERALA 2010

An account of a bike trip through Central and Southern Kerala and that too without anyother biker to give company. We felt, if not found in person, the presence of GOD during more than one moments. For full story, please click here...

MOTORBIKING IN HIMALAYAS


There is always a first time. For a first timer, there are bound to be some apprehensions if not worries. Himalayas, after all, are unforgiving. An attempt
has been made to provide a stimulus for thinking. The list is very vast but not exhaustive. Users would be advised to use their discretion to pick up the useful stuff. Aim here is to make one think about many things and then let one select or discard as per requirements.
click here......

VIDEOS

Some moments in camera. Pl click here.......


LEH DIARY (2009-11)
We, as a family, are spending two years, starting October 2009 in Leh. We intend keeping a diary, especially, of weather, events and such things. We wd also include own experiences. For more, pl click here...


                                  HEMIS 2011


Just a photolog........Pl Click HERE


                                DEMCHOK-CHUMUR 2011

Pl click HERE

IRON BUTTS ITCHY SOLES
All you need is a gathering of like-minded people to have a meaningful association that would stand test of the time. Our riding group, IBIS, has been an outcome of one such thought process. Our motto, RIDE HARD OR STAY HOME very clearly highlights the kink that we have. Come, join us if you are as kinky. click here......

LADAKH SIMPLIFIED - A BOOK

This is our first book on LADAKH (Buddhist part of it). Pl see HERE for details


AMBALA - 06 MONTHS (11-12)

Please Click HERE

LAKES AROUND JAMMU

Kindly click .....HERE

KODAIKANAL 2012

Kindly click .....HERE


DALHOUSIE YET AGAIN 2012



Kindly click .....HERE

POKHRAN 2012

Kindly click .....HERE

JAISALMER AND SUM DUNES 2012

Kindly click .....HERE


AJMER & PUSHKAR 2013

Kindly click .... HERE

MAHA KUMBH AND TAJ MAHAL 2013

Kindly click ....HERE


RAFTING ON GANGES 2013

Kindly click ...(under process)

Mathura - Vrindavan 2013

Kindly Click.... HERE

                   Shirdi- Somnath- Dwarka 2013
Kindly click .... HERE


Nahan - Paonta Sahab 2013
Kindly Click ...... HERE

Jaisalmer Jan 2016

Kindly Click ......HERE 


LEH..... Apr 2016

Kindly click ........HERE


Barot in Himachal Pradesh 2016

Kindly click .......HERE

 Goa 2017


Andamans 2017
Kindly click HERE

SPITI 2017

Please click HERE




FOR OTHER BLOGS (NOT REALLY RELATED TO TRAVEL PER SE, please click HERE...http://www.blogger.com/home

RIDE SAFE; RESPECT INDEPENDENCE; TAKE CARE !!

RAINAs