Topic Approved. And this topic reminds me that even my dad is getting ideas of my marriage. That too arranged.

The butterfly pic looks somewhat noisy. PS Edited maybe? But, keep the pics coming man...

This one takes the cake; awesome picture; Keep the pics coming & pls provide a route map. TIA

hehehehe... Samarth, this is ONE LADOO which, if someone has it, repents & repents even if he doesn't have it

Picture would be noisy since I am a very novice at this. I am using Canon Powershot SX 30 IS. I have taken this at high ISO with quick shutter speed to avoid shake. The light was ok & thus had to choose higher ISO.

Thanks a lot Argee... will provide everything.

Nice pics bhai n congrats on completing a year Happy Anniversary!

The 'Bakra Biker', should I be allowed to say? Jokes apart, travel pics are something that have a deep emotional value attached to them. And as for the readers and viewers, they are:
- a great stress buster
- an inspiration of sorts (wanting to tour there, lured by the pics)
- part learning, part knowledge
- connecting with the tourer instantly.

And congrts for completing a FULL year in a wonderful bond!

P.S. SBKA Bhaiyya, did bhabi read the opening lines? If she didn't till now, all the best to you!

Thanks... lot more coming up

Good thoughts there man.

Na mama, ekhono poreni shey (Bengali)

Nice photos. Love especially the third one, really cool, just a bit more saturation could have done wonders!

Keep it coming, Old Dawg!

P.S. Kudos to your better half, for understanding what you are and accompanying you in your ride, not a feat achieved by many. Keep riding! Keep rocking!

Cheers!
VJ

Start of the story

As my anniversary was approaching & the countdown had begun, Mrs. Barua started bugging Mr. Barua for a vacation during the first anniversary. Then the search began with the help of Google baba/mata for a place near, yet, at a altitude must be cooler than Delhi. Wife said a strict no to Shimla & I was also not very interested going there since it's one hell of a crowded place. I have read travelogues of Chail & Kasuli which made an impression of sleepy, yet, beautiful towns of Himachal.
Hence, started planning for routes & dates. Now, as you all may know that P220's pillion seat is not at all comfortable so I was thinking of a plan on how to make this trip comfortable & at the same time, exciting too. Indian Railways came to the rescue. The plan will sound weird to most of you guys but for me, it sounded great (well... it was absurd according to my wife too but "Sher toh Sher hota hain )
So, the plan was that 9th Morning, I will be starting from Delhi towards Kalka & my wife would be taking Kalka Shatabdi. We will meet at Kalka & from thereon, we will ride together to Kasauli. 9th & 10th at Kasauli & 11th & 12th at Chail. 13th, we ride back to Kalka for her to catch the evening train to Delhi & I ride to Delhi. All, set & done. I had to get my pocket emptied to convince the better half except that there was a slight change in plan. We left on 10th as she couldn't get a leave

Anyway, Cramster saddle bag, tank bag (courtesy Titanic4u aka Sandeep) & one laptop bag was made ready for the trip. A pair of army pants was bought to make me look smarter & fitter . Had a pair of Army boots already. Got Daijya Samurai Graphite as my Anniversary gift from my wife (I chose & I went to buy ). Was just eagerly waiting for 10th dawn to come.

And, 10th morning at 5:00 AM, I left from Mandir Marg, New Delhi towards NH1 for Kalka to meet my other beloved who would be travelling on kalka Shatabdi & reaching there at 11:30 AM.

Route Taken for the entire trip is as follows...
1st Anniversary Ride to Kasauli & Chail - Google Maps
Slight change in actual route taken. I took right from Parwanoo towards Dharampur & came back to Kasauli. Kurtrules & others had advised this & locals too confirmed that this is a better route than the usual.

Few pictures from the morning of 10th May when I was on NH1. Took my first very short break near Delhi border. Then I took a petrol break at Karnal, Haryana since price of petrol was cheaper than Punjab & HP. Though I had started with full tank from Delhi but thought of filling the gap.

Help

someone please help.

I have uploaded all the pics in Google (Picasa) & made the album Public but still the pic posted in the above post is not visible!
Why??

I think you posted the link directly from the address bar. Right click on the pic and select copy image url. It should come like this
[https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N...7_resized.jpg]. Put it in the [IM G] format here.

SEXY BHAINS KI AANKH!!! I didn't do that way. I used the option of "Link to this photo" in picasa but still got problem. Your idea is much better & it worked!!
Thanks a lot bro!!

I reached Kalka station at 10:15 AM & waited for my wife to arrive. Her train arrived at 11:40 AM. Exchanged greetings & hugs & we started our journey towards Kasauli. The entire route to these hilly areas are very scenic. There was steep incline at one section & there I couldn't go beyond 3rd gear. My bike performed exceptionally well considering that it was carrying quite a lot of load. Took few breaks en-route to Kasauli.

Wife getting lost in the beauty of the surroundings




Beautiful roads


My bike & my wife


Awesome flowers... this tree was found almost on the entire stretch




Posing time for the Biker

We reached Kasauli at 2:30 ish. Located our place of stay which was a Northern railway guest house (courtesy my FiL). Kasauli is a cantonment town & quite peaceful. The place where we stayed was quite good. It had few schools nearby & 2 churches. In the afternoon, I noticed kids returning to their respective homes happily.

few pictures from the place of stay

View from Balcony




This tree was right next to the guest house & had some pretty flowers in it




The convent school bell


Kids after school hours







We then took a rest for couple of hours & then went to the nearby mall road of Kasauli. It isn't as big & crowded as Shimla & thus, quite enjoyable.



Ladies have to visit shops wherever they go


Some unique garden hangings...






Cute bird looking out for some food to grab



Sparrow perched on a wire




It was quite cool out there. So, what's better than to have a cup of tea with some pakoras! Wife was pretty relaxed out there...



Birdie watch


We finished off the awesome tea & pakoras & headed for walk as the wife complained "tum toh photography hi kartey raho... baat kab karoge?" (you keep on doing photography... when will you chat with me) I thought of saying that we were married now, we are always with each other, what can we talk about? but wisely, I held my thoughts within

We reached other side of the market & boy, what a beautiful sunset we could see



It felt like god is painting these colours onto the vast canvas of sky...





Photography resumed but wife wasn't complaining either







What a maintained LML scooter

promised my wife that will do some shopping... "Sacchi??" (really?)


.... and thus begun shopping for table mats & other stuff




The market looks quite good in the night too


As the time went by, we started feeling the hunger pangs.... so headed off to a restaurant in the market & ordered food. Apparently, Kasauli doesn't have many food joints & market is the only place where you can expect some decent food.



Disregard the T Shirt please


...and disregard the flat tummy too




Went back to the guest house & had our food (got it packed). Even at 8:00PM, Kasauli gets very quite as if there are no human settlement. It;s one of the most peaceful places I have been too. There are monkeys but far lesser than the nos. in Shimla.

Nobody is interested...

Well, let me complete the log & be shut up then.

Day 2: We left Kasauli for Chail. Chail is about 40-50 kms from Kasauli.

Day break photo


new Mango leaves....


Deodhar leaves from a distance





beautiful flowers..


I had a very bad shoulder ache since I left Delhi but it got aggravated in Kasauli. Had to visit local medical centre for some help. Around the medical centre....




At a distance...


People waiting at the medical centre. Notice that it was established by quite some time back...



back to the kasauli market for one last time






Now... pics enroute to Chail. Few of them but mountains/hills have always fascinated me..



Miyan & Biwi...

















waiting at a Railway Fatak...



here comes the TOY rain






Now, I have been to Sadhupul, Kandaghat 3 years ago with my friend. He was riding his bullet. I wanted to remember those days again, we had camped one night on the River Bed (well, river has translated into stream now)

Pic of me crossing the stream to explore the other side where I had been few years ago


























This place is famous for people doing picnic on the stream. Said good bye to the place & moved on