3rd May, 2015

In Delhi, we stay at a family friend's house. Bonu and her former classmate and best friend, Trisha play with each other and I join them at times. Mostly I just chat with aunty, or keep to myself- a pleasant everyday Delhi situation. The heat is sweltering, though not as much as it will be in June. The entire day is spent lazing around, preparing for the overnight train journey to Katgodam. The train journey is uneventful; I spend it reading, gazing out of the window, and listening to music. The best parts are when we, as a family, watch as the fields of North India passed by. We talk of ancient philosophy and mythology, crack jokes, and laugh till our cheeks hurt. I love it. To be honest, I prefer train journeys to ones by plane. One gets more time to admire one's country and share happy times, making memories with the people one loves.

4th May, 2015

We reached the resort yesterday. As soon as I got off the van that had brought us here from Katgodam, only one word echoed through my mind and heart- WOW. The resort... it is like heaven on Earth! There is a vegetable patch and a garden full of red and yellow flowers that compliment each other so well. There are trees and plants, the greenery and the colours of the flowers so mesmerizing to look at. But that is only the beginning. The real breathtaking beauties are the mountains. We had a crystal clear view of the pure white snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas against an azure blue sky.

The first thing we did after washing up was explore the enthralling beauty of the Khali Resort. There aren't many people here as guests, and the staff look after everyone so well and in such a familiar manner that one forgets that one is away from home. Everyone is so friendly. It is a completely different experience for a city dweller like me. The people are so carefree, as though they don't care what others think, and all that matters is that everyone is happy.

And everyone IS happy. Everything works in perfect harmony. The people care for nature, just as they know, she cares for them. It is such a perfect world, free from the complexities and prejudices of city life. Despite the adverse situations they live in, the hill dwellers are perfectly content with life as they know it.