I do write occasionally and my articles have found their way into newspapers, magazines and tabloids. My friends and family members tell me that I write very well and that I should do so more often. Recently I met an old friend who casually asked me if I still write. I was quite surprised to hear him say that, because I didn't know that he was even aware that I ever wrote. It also set me thinking and I thought to myself  that I really ought to write more frequently.

The very next day I started writing something I had planned to write for a long time, about our misadventures in Paris with the female brigands. I sent it to the Hindu, and to my pleasant surprise, they published it within a week. To open the article, please click on the following link:

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-openpage/a-parisian-experience-recalled/article9151601.ece

Delhi, Kalakhand and Corbett National Park

On our way from Delhi

In mid-November 2015, we had yet another get-together of the old college gang, first in Delhi and then in a wild, wonderful forest abode of a close friend of Shamsher's. This was practically right in the middle of the Corbett National Park and we spent 5 amazing days there, up on a small plateau overlooking the Ramganga river. The house itself reminded me of a ranch in the old wild west , except that it was in the middle of a semi-tropical forest, instead of the American plains.

Shamsher's friend runs an enormous establishment there, replete with horses, cattle, fowls, and a staff of some 35 men. The house has its own source of electricity and water and grows its own vegetables and cereals. It is almost inaccessible by motor transport and to reach it, one has to disembark at the roadhead about 2 km away in the forest, ride downhill on awaiting horses, ford the Ramganga, or get across on a tractor with an attached trailer. The surrounding jungle is teeming with wild animals of all kinds,including elephants and tigers and every morning, when we awoke, we could see tell-tale signs of elephants around the house, in the form of their droppings!

We went bathing in the river (with a faithful Samarpal Singh, our host's trusted aide, keeping a wary eye for crocodiles on the prowl), rode horses almost every morning, and also went on night safaris in the jeep.(The jeep, I must add, was assembled piece by piece on this side of the river) . The rest of the time was spent enjoying ourselves, eating, drinking (the house has a remarkably well-stocked bar!) and generally relaxing. It was with genuine regret that we finally left the place.

By jeep through the forest

Mounting the horses

Off we go

The return journey, with Chunnu