Choicy

May 2022: a day or so after Sidhu Moosewala was assassinated, I like many was perturbed with abrupt end to the life of a rising artist. Am sure what added fuel to the fire was instant distribution of photos and videos from site of incident, to many of the phones through WhatsApp - that made it real and one experienced the gore of incidence realtime, not through a distant news line. The prominent feeling was FUCK IT - life is too short and you just don't know what lies around the corner; with this in mind, I took my wife to the Jeep showroom with the thought of purchasing my long beloved Wrangler.

Perhaps it was the last day of that particular sales guy, or he just had a solid dressing down by his boss, or he just didnt care - that man was THE anti sales guy that I have seen. We took a test ride of Wrangler, and he only fueled a few of negatives that I could notice in the vehicle - such as non insulated top and it not being a family vehicle and so on. He further added that it was not for daily use and that we might consider a Mercedes for our needs. That was it and we walked out with impressions that Jeep was not what we thought it was and firmly wiped that option from head - alas, not from the heart.

Cut to March 2025; almost three years later and I am in Leh alone for a work trip. The day I landed, I had to meet the prospective client and next day visit his site in Nubra Valley which was a one way 4 hour hop from Leh. Stan (the client) - after the meeting, proposed that he himself shall drive with me next day to the site and we can take it from there. Next morning, as I came down to the parking of Abduz Hotel expecting to meet Stan I saw a white Rubicon in ready to go posture. It must have been a short while as I stood there admiring the beast, that Stan emerged with a coffee mug in one hand and gesturing me to the Rubicon with another. We did the to and fro Nubra trip on white Rubicon of Stan.

Sub conscious got activated, unbeknown to me.

Cut to 16th May 2025: two weeks after the Leh trip, in the evening I probably had a drink too many, and chatting with one of my friends I told I would buy the Rubicon and his response was only encouraging. Next day (17th), Sonia and I had to go Chandigarh for some work and after we dropped Mehtab at his Dadi’s, I turned towards the Jeep showroom, ditching the so called work. This time the salesman (Sameer) was like a charm - he answered every query and he passed all riddles that I threw at him. Conversation with him kept on getting serious to the point where I decided I am buying a Rubicon and he had one in stock. It was a four month wait for the special Willys 1941 edition - but a Rubicon is a Rubicon. Sonia knowing me and seeing the way things were going, advised me to sleep over and give sometime rather than jumping into it - but she too liked what she saw.

Sleeping over only helped sorting the financial jumble and next day (18th) I booked it with a promise of delivery by 20th May 2025. The day 20th, of month May, of year 2025 marked 4 months since birth of our son Mehtab Singh Gill, and we commemorated it by bringing CHOICY home.

choicy

Three weeks into ownership, with 3000 kms on odometer, Choicy already is a veteran of several passes having returned from Nubra Valley and Leh this past week. For the same project for which I got a ride on Stan’s Rubicon, I went on Choicy to implement its execution work; needless to say Stan was mighty happy to see me on the new Jeep.

A frame of Choicy with Nubra Valley in the background now adorns my study walls, as am happy with my decision seeing it perform in Leh terrain. I now have my trusted mountain partner.

A big CHEERS to CHOICY for future travels.

Evolution maybe

Mehtab is dovetailing his way into our lives.

There is really not much to say but to experience it and soak it all in - this feeling has been ever prevailing post our son’s birth. All this while, I would keep doing wasteful things or rather would continue in state of non-awareness, but his face, the very thought of him growing up fast, really makes me stop and spend time with him. Not that I am giving my best as yet, but I can definitely say I am improving since the months of his birth.

My life has changed, I have changed - and for the lack of better word it's a rollercoaster for sure and given an option, I would not have it any other way. I am trying to give expression to my softer side for my son, I am trying not to hold it back, I am opening myself up again. The balance is what I look for, between the world outside and home, for the rules are different for both. I am trying.

No idea where all this will lead to, no particular aim as such - but yes I want to soak it all in, for I realise the truth in wisdom of others, that kids grow fast and time would fly past unbeknown to me. By the time, he grows up we would be in the dusk of our lives and peak would be long past us - so yes it is all here now, in this moment and I am trying to scoop up every bit of it.

In these past months, I have gone through a myriad of emotions and learnt to keep my mouth shut on subjects of which I have no experience of. Never thought I would have pics of kid in my phone (thought of it as weak), never thought I would laugh and giggle with a newborn, never thought I had the ability to feel what I am feeling now. For a while I did try to hold on to my brute self, which has fostered in me over the years of getting kicked around - but now I switch; I try to move quick and try not to hold on too long. I am not willing to get swayed by either side of mine, but I have to acknowledge and accept presence of both.

So yea…. evolution maybe

Life Lately

From last post of Manali to here - life has transpired.

My wife gave birth to our son Mehtab on January 20th 2025. A whirlwind journey from the impending checkups, building up to the D-Day combined with the anxiety of when and how it will happen - to it finally happening. When things did finally roll, everything just lined up one after the other and the process was as smooth as it possibly could be, for both mother and son.

My mother and I, saw him the first time and the boy was fully alert and active - upholding his arms in air, blinking eyes and twitching toe fingers. Thereafter, was a flurry of calls and visits from near and dear ones - quite a happy environment needless to say that the event turned out to be quite a sieve, filtering out the actual near and dear ones from the presumed ones. Regardless, it was a happy time.

After immediate supportive care by my mother, we reached home on Feb 8th thereby starting the process of life getting back to its routine with a new member imbibed in.

Home

Sleepless nights, learning patience and Mehtab growing on all of us has been the prominent order of life lately and I am happy it is so. While my mind is unable to imagine any futuristic scenarios when it comes to Mehtab, I am just taking it by the day. His sisters - Reshman and Noreen have been a terrific support and as I said earlier, the brother is growing on his sisters as well. Quite a journey it is to see him develop as he completes his two months this day - thankful for the opportunity to live it.

As I compose my thoughts on this early morning in Leh, I am thankful for this life. Work has been supportive during this phase of time and there is a renewed sense of happiness, unlike anything I have experience before. Here in Leh since day before, went to Nubra Valley for work yesterday and it was a trip across the famed Khardung-La Pass after 17 long years. My first bike ride with Col. Raina and party in the year 2008 was when I first traversed these roads and needless to say, there is a sea change between then and now. Nubra Valley was not even 5% of what it is today as human habitation has spread far and wide. The administration now allows civilians to go upto the Siachen War Memorial based at Siachen base camp - a solid one way 5 hour hop from Leh. 

It's on my to do list and Inshallah you shall read a post about it soon, until then - Allah Hafiz

Khardung-La Pass 2025

Nanak

Like so many other books - I do not recall how I ended up knowing about this one and subsequently having it, thanks to extreme ease of Amazon. Not much to say, as each reader shall have to derive their own meaning from the book - for me, to say the least it was a refresher course in Sikhism. And may I say that, we have come far far from the original message of Baba Nanak.

Written in plain and simple prose, the journey which Haroon Khalid takes us on is pleasant and eye opening, for it clears many a meanings. Glad to have come across this piece of writing, and would recommend a read to those interested. 

Not more to say. 

Thank You Haroon Khalid.

Getaway

Our trip was due; though I have been on the move every now and then this year, but we together had not done any travels in 2024.

It boiled down to first week of October - and per my experience it's an ideal time to visit Manali. Looking at places to stay, we both have been suckers for old Manali properties and as Johnson’s had been done one too many times, it was time to try different. Year 2011 was when I had stayed at Baikunth Manali, and ever since then I have carried its impressions. Great place, cozy and wholesome green, excellent garden breakfast and expensive on wallet - had to do it with Sonia. Thirteen years later, I was back at Baikunth.

2011 post →  http://simranjeetgill.blogspot.com/2011/09/manali-2011.html

It was our first journey on the newly opened highway to Manali and man have the views changed. Altogether different route post Kiratpur all the way till Sundernagar, then Mandi bypass and post that you can relate to some old views of the Manali highway which will also not be visible for long, once a few pending tunnels are opened. The whole perception of reaching Manali and the time it takes - has changed. With Q7 it was fun negotiating the twists and the turns and the ups and the downs - to the extent that one of the cameras clicked a nice picture of famed QUATTRO in action, alongwith with a footnote demand of 1500 rupees for having fun. Repressive times.

with love from Auhar Bilaspur

The assessment so far to the rush scene in Manali, was spot on and we had no trouble reaching our stay negotiating the narrow stretch of Circuit House road. Quite a road has been damaged on the way to Manali, but one can see the real aftermaths of 2023 flood fury on Manali - Solang stretch. Entire sections of road have been wiped clean and one can recognize presence of earlier road only from remnants of one or two odd guard rail sections that stood the fury. Beas river bed is scattered with huge boulders which were not present earlier and now are at their new resting places.

beyond Sissu

One day we went across tunnel to Sissu and beyond, which has become more of a ritual as I would want to get a feel across Rohtang yet not having to negotiate Rohtang - more like cheating. For someone who has been browbeaten by mighty Rohtang one too many times, this feeling is epic. Night rituals would include shifting between Johnson’s or Lazydog, and walk or take auto on the way back depending upon sobriety levels. Hadimba Temple is always a soothing experience as is the walk through the nature park.

Baikunth breakfast lay

Baikunth treated us well. Besides us there was probably one more room occupancy which rotated throughout our stay of three nights. Since we were the constant guests, I believe we were treated well. The property though located in the middle of the town belies its location with complete green cover from all sides, with one side skirting the nature park. Thanks to less tourist traffic; the old manali road (which is usually abuzz with sounds of autos making there rounds up and down the road) was way silent, giving us the just right getaway. 

The stay was nice, as was weather, as was traffic, as was drive, as was companionship. Thank you for the opportunity and experience.

Manali - Oct 2024

Malik Sir

It's hard for me to come down to it and write - I've been trying for sometime now but somehow have been evading it. Don't know where to start and where to end but I guess the best way is to just go about it.

I met Mr. Sanjiv Malik (Malik sir) in year 2007 regarding his requirement of air-conditioners in his upcoming house in Sector 27 Chandigarh. For a twenty six year old me, Malik sir was true as a senior and in course of time we became friends.

A pass out from IIT Delhi and Stanford University, Malik sir was extremely well read and upto date on happenings around - for me he was a sea of knowledge and wisdom from which he never hesitated to share. I needed a guide, a mentor in my life and life gifted me Malik sir. Seventeen years of life we shared among ourselves and it's hard to comprehend the journey it has been - from where I was when I met him and where I am today. There is not one close associate of mine who has not heard of his name from my mouth - for invariably some topic would come, where the fundamental of it all I would have discussed with him. His doors were always open for me - I’ll just call and go with no defined timeline of length of meet.

I cannot believe that I would be writing what I am writing - he’s gone. A man who left indelible print on my personality - a man who guided me just right - a man who taught me what intelligence is - a man who was my quasi father.

Excited like a youngster he would get on hearing my travel tales and would keenly inquire on route details and the know how. He travelled Leh/Spiti in bus when people did not even have a notion of these places as ones to visit. Then his gypsy travels through the region and his vivid memory of the taste of mutton cooked for hours in that guest house - oh that smile on his face. Always encouraging me to be me and not give two hoots to the noise, I could share and I could learn from him.

Seventeen years is just too long and I don't think I can do justice with words. Despite your raging battle with cancer for 5 years, I never saw you down and defeated - I saw Chardi Kla right there sitting in front of me. You would say you would go down fighting (and you remained true to your word), live everyday to the full and end it by saying BAAKI DEKHI JAEGI..

Thank you for sharing time with me Malik sir - fare well, for I know you are in a happy place.

Kolkata

Work sojourn - 2 nights - Kolkata - I was in.

Best part of the whole affair is that the flight is direct; you fly from home and you land at home. My grandfather has worked in Kokata (erstwhile Calcutta), my father has worked in Kolkata as have a few of my cousins. Since my early days, whenever there used to be some news or some sighting on TV of English Royal family, my father would refer to queen as my TAAI. For a while, I lived scantily believing that we had some rishtedaari with royal family of England.

So there is the connect - however never thought of or felt motivated to visit the West Bengal capital. The impressions that I have had is that Bengalis are an intelligent lot, good with art and music; that industry is scarce in WB due to communist ideology and relatable face for me was Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet. That my cousins wife is from WB and my friend Tejas is from WB. Distorted it might be - but thats all I had about Kolkata in my head as we landed.

Victoria Monument

New Town is a clean and green place - many a times the impression was of it not being India but some South East Asian country. The buildings adorned different kinds of art and were not dull looking concrete blocks, walls filled with graffiti - very colourful. Visited the famous Victoria monument and was blown by its grandeur and enormity of construction, that too a century before not to mention made possible by the contribution of THE PRINCES AND PEOPLES OF INDIA. What power and money can make people do - one wonders ! One wonders what the thought process of principal promoter of monument would be, who would tax people to build a stone collection for a lady gone by, whom all I had known about thus far was from the movie - Victoria & Abdul. While splendid construction it is, the English did have the best of this sone ki chidiya.

Mr. Kohli’s spot

Onwards it was to the famous Howrah, wherein we jostled with locals in heat and sweat as my companion was hell bent on ferry ride across the Hoogly River. Six rupees up and six rupees down, the ride was done and dusted. Hunger and Beer pangs happened soon thereafter, and we asked our cab driver to take us to a decent spot - which to his best of intellect was HINDUSTHAN RESTAURANT & BAR at Lindsay Street. Interiors belied the outlook of the joint and we were soon munching and gulping. The service guys reckoned we were Punjabis, so implored their owner who was also in the premises to meet us. Mr. Kohli had come to Calcutta 50 years ago; hailing from Sialkot in Pakistan, he worked hard to own several of such places alongwith a flourishing catering business. Taking his leave, Mr. Kohli very graciously invited us as his guests in evening when the place would peak in pomp and show. Having said a few times, we thanked him for the offer fully aware that we wont be able to make it.

Breakfast

I can say I have been a few places and stayed at a few properties, yet Fairfield by Marriott stood a mile out in their breakfast lay compared to all others. Never ever have I seen a dutch oven filled with veg Maggi and hot Gulab Jamuns in breakfast outlay - both being my highly rated, I gave chefs a run for the money. Quite a sight it was with people lining up for fruits and so called healthy options and here I was with a plateful of Maggi and Gulab Jamuns and an apathetic glee I cannot describe.

Thank You Kolkata - when I shall think of you I will feel positive; I had a good trip.