FROM NDA TO KARWAR

It was great meeting CMs after a long spell of time-some after 48 years!

It was sad to know that more than 50 of our CMs had passed away !RIP.There were tears in the eyes of all of us  as photo after photo of  the departed souls were projected by Frankie on the screen at Habibullah Hall. After the slide show was over,there was total silence & you could even hear the sound of a falling       pin !Such is the pain that all human faculties suddenly succumb to realize the realities of life.Well,this feeling can be simply summed up as the 'CAMARADERIE'-the NDA is known for !

It was painful to depart & leave the sprawling NDA Complex.Fifty One  Years reduced to  just two & a half days !Another miracle. As I was driving past the Gole Market towards Pune, I wondered as to how many of us would be back here to celebrate 75 Years of our having joined this illustrious Institution !!

Back in Pune, we went straight to the West & East Street. Old Kwality & Kayani Bakery were very much there.Too much of a rush all over. While Kanta took almost one hour to purchase assorted biscuits & Chura from Waferwala & Budhanis, I simply loafed around remembering as to how we could cycle all  the way through Glider Dome, change in the woods, see a movie, have a meal & return !It just does not seem possible today. I asked Kanta to buy Lakshminarayan Chura & which she did. We then went to a nearby Mall & spent some time out there.

It was a great drive to Sirdi all the way. Sai was so kind to us. For the evening arti, our names were called out first & we were the closest to HIM for full 30 minutes! Easily, this was the best  thing that could have happened to us. The next day, we drove to Shani Shringneshwar Temple & sought Lord Shanis's blessings.We were  back to Pune the next day. It was a long drive alright but we did not feel any tiredness as the purpose was divine. We went out to meet some friends.

We took off from Pune for Dabolim, Goa on 13 Dec. It was just a forty five minutes flight. By 4PM, we were crossing Goa/Karnataka state boundary. I heard the Karnataka policeman asking our driver -'LIQUOR,WINE,ANY THING?'. Our driver said 'NO' & we crossed the barrier. At about 4.40 PM, we entered Kamat Gate of Naval Base Karwar.

What a place folks!You all have to see to believe it. A number of photos are already uploaded in the Facebook & else where but some are shown herewith.

This place is awesome. Project Seabird of the Indian Navy is India's pride. I am sanguine that in the years to come, it shall become the greatest port of the world. It is good that INS Vikramaditya is shortly arriving here. The people of Karwar are simply rejoicing the event. Entire India is rejoicing the event. I feel sad that I won't be here then to see it coming alongside, but having spent a number of days on board INS Viraat during Op Jupiter part of Pawan, I feel satisfied in the fact that I may revisit Karwar to be on board this majestic & best Carrier Class.

I thought Ranikhet affords you long walks till I came here. Daily 10-12 Kms of long walks. Mornings & evenings are super with the sea just 25-30 metres away. Zero pollution !From my room,I  hear the sound of waves' music day in & day out. Ever since we are here, there is no normal water for us. It is Daab all the way!Of course, some glasses of chilled beer fill in the gaps. We have by now visited all Goa Beaches but the Beaches inside are simply out of this world.

Last night, Vasco Da  Gamma (VDG) visited me in  my dreams. Till  then, I did not know that he had stayed twice at Anjadip-an island off the coast of Canacona, now in Karnataka some five hundred plus years ago.

Remnants of a Portuguese  Fort are still there. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Aja Devi & other ruins that go back to history of the days of Tipu Sultan. His name is also etched in history of Mirjan Fort along with Hyder Ali.

Well, folks, more from Ranikhet.

To all of you, here is wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

We shall be cerebrating the Christmas Eve at GOA!!TALLY HO !!