Back to Basanti...

I watched Rang De Basanti few days back. While, it didn't make me go out and join the Indian Army, or, shoot the average Indian Politician -- it did remind me how colourful and vibrant India is. "Behind all its noise, chaos and hustle-bustle, there survives a sense of silence... A silence that many are desperate to hear and feel - but, may never get the chance to
experience..."

Hearing the movie's soundtrack today, I ended up browsing through some of my stills from India -- and I came across a picture-adventure I had setup. Rather, it was an attempt to capture the memory of an adventure.

Me and Asha went visiting a few unique spiritually-themed locations across India -- even though, in India, every street appears to have some form of spiritual significance!
We were headed back to Ajmer after a real long day spent at Merta and some other random village (everyone seemed to have a different name for it!) By the time we touched Pushkar - a site we had already visited and exhausted earlier - we were a bit drained out and fairly hungry...

More than the hunger, I think, it was the impressive signboards of the Pink Floyd Cafe & Hotel that got me a bit tempted. I guess, my heart painted an image of a soft-lit acoustic lounge, with the dark shaded walls -- and that perfect cup of coffee... Of course, my mind knew what a scam this would turn out to be!

We asked the driver to follow the signs and head to the cafe -- however, the luxury of a Maruti Esteem could only take us half-way through the journey, after which, we had to walk.

Walking was good -- a walk is always a much better way to experience the surroundings. Your feet touching the ground - more intact with Mother Earth - better instincts.

So, we walked...
We followed the well-designed signboards, with the stylized fonts. Each signboard leading to another.

We passed a barbershop, where the barber actually ran out of his shop and said, "Sir, good barber here..."
Asha smiled at him, as I calmly waved - "No, thank you"
He hit me back with "No problem, for you, free beard shave!"

It was around then, with Asha's car-ignition-like laughter, that I realized I probably needed to shave. I, obviously, ignored the barber, who, so openly, insulted my prized possession. It was just a 5-day growth -- I couldn't look that horrible!

We continued our Pink-Floyd quest -- each street getting narrower and uglier than its precedent. And then, it appeared. The narrowest street - the signboard no longer used the stylized fonts, just a pink-orange-blue colored board, reading - "Pink Floyd Cafe & Hotel -- Wish You Were Here"

I was there! And, I wasn't interested in going in!
But, me and Asha burst out laughing, while I started taking pictures of the actual location, with three boys walking out, saying - "oye, hamari foto ley riya hai, de board ji?"

Fairly amused, me and Asha walked back to the car.
Right next to where we were parked, we noticed The Moon Dance Garden Restaurant & German Bakery. I never knew there was such a specialized thing as a German Bakery. I, obviously, like most of you, pictured an angry dictator-like baker -- "Siht Dhown! Eatch zee Cgake!" However, we decided to give it a go. How mean and cruel could a guy be, if he promoted his restaurant as "Air Condition, Multy-Cusine" ?

It wasn't a bad choice. We came across a waiter who ended every conversation/transaction with - "chee-ers"...

...

Think it's about time I head back to India...

Sigh!

Chee-ers...