This is not an automobile review blog. And we are not automobile experts to review a car. As travel lovers, the recent drive on Grande MK II came as a pleasant surprise. It’s a pleasant surprise because whenever we book a vehicle for travel, we make our non-preference of Sumo clear to the travel agent.
First thing that strikes us about the new Grande MK II is its majestic size. Park it near an Innova and see what we mean by majestic. Ok! Comparison with Innova might have a few eyebrows raising. All we want to convey is an image of standing with its head proudly held up high.
Maybe, the size is deceptive. We have been driving the small Tata Indica for long and were apprehensive about handling the big brother. Grande is as easy to drive in the city as it is on the highway. We drive through the chaotic by-lanes of Mumbai for an hour or so before hitting the highway. Nimble, agile, and easily maneuverable on city roads, Grande is perfectly stable on the highway and the ghats. Even at 120–130 kmph, handling is smooth and easy.
The powerful AC and the spaciousness—both have become characteristics of Tata vehicles. A six-footer, I found myself comfortably seated on the third row. The claim of ‘best in class third-row seating’ is absolutely valid. Fold the third-row seat, and there is enough space to dump everything required for a week or more of camping outside. Maybe, even a bicycle. We dump a few potted plants and some garden furniture. Voila! It’s as good as a balcony (by Mumbai standards).
Being quintessential travellers, we use various modes of transport. On long weekends, we travel in the range of 300–500 km from Mumbai and with a group of friends. Many a time, our non-touristy destinations are accessible only by unpaved, rugged roads. Grande MK II now seems to be the perfect fit for such travels as we don’t have to compromise on luxury during the drive or the uniqueness of our destinations.
As the advertisement claims, it is ‘More than meets the eye’ indeed.
This sounds very pessimistic. Yes, we lost our optimism after a trip to Mahabaleshwar recently. We were there in the last week of September. Being off-season, it wasn’t crowded at all.
But the amount of plastic waste strewn around was shockingly beyond our imagination. Plastic bottles, cups, wafer packages, pan packets, beer bottles … Every tourist spot, main streets – virtually every nook and corner. Even the back-of-beyond places were not spared. While tourists were there at the common sight-seeing points even during off-season, most seemed to give a miss to Connaught Peak point. As per our usual practice of looking for places less-explored, we climbed up to this point through the forest trail. The pathways and the peak remained thick with vegetation. However, the beauty of the landscape was marred by plastic cups and beer bottles. There were even broken pieces of plastic speed-breakers.
One evening, we went for a walk to the Polo ground, which was closer to the MTDC resort. Just outside the ground were a narrow stream and a culvert. Tied to one of the branches of a tree near the stream was a big plastic carry bag, full of disposable plates and left-over lunch. A similar one was left on the ground. Will someone come and dispose it off properly?
It started nine years ago from an Internet café in Chennai. Not too many net cafes. Even fewer internet connections at homes. And hardly any one had heard about matrimonial websites. While searching for jobs in www.naukri.com, the girl clicked on the banner ad of www.jeevansathi.com out of curiosity. Little did she know of the life-altering events that were about to happen with that one click. She registered her profile (was free at that time) with no expectation of anyone even giving a second glance as her demands – no dowry, simple marriage and such – were not conventional. But that was a time when online matrimonial ads were also not conventional. Within 24 hours she got a response. It looked like this guy was waiting for her profile. And for her, it was the man of her dreams!
Dot com boomed. Love bloomed. Fibre and copper cables lay silent as they exchanged feelings at speeds ranging from 32kbps to 48kbps. (Broadband policy was not announced then).
Then they met, talked and had tea. Gave some time to think it over. Again they met, walked and talked. And decided to walk the long road ahead together.
A simple marriage ceremony followed, attended only by close family and friends. And they lived happily ever after.
Today, 5th of September, it’s been nine years since thecouple started their journey together. We thank everyone, who we’ve met so far and who we will meet in future, for this wonderful journey.
Wishing ourselves a happy anniversary…
(Thanks Nimesh, for capturing this moment during a recent trek)
Next time when you turn your lens to that early morning golden rays of the sun or the mist drop at the tip of the leaf or the mystical eyes of the kid staring at you through the window, remember that you might be in the throes of making history. Yes. Making History.
Make History Foundation (technically De Metri Foundation), a non-profit initiative along with Lee launched a Photography contest last year in Europe. After some stunning photographs which found its way to Lee’s fashion book and storefronts across Europe, it is now in India. The contest is now in Asia Pacific region, which includes India. And the prize money – it will fulfill all your wishes to buy perhaps the best of cameras, the prime lenses, the zooms, teleconverters, filters, tripods, macros & micros and might even cover a photo shoot tour to the best of destinations in the world….. a whopping $40,000 – close to Rs. 20 lakhs.
And you don’t necessarily have to be a professional photographer. But then, you should be able to tell a few words. Together they make a story. Because history is not only important events and important people. It is recorded with songs and painted on canvas. It is told in stories. It lives in snapshots.
(An interesting photo titled 'What Love can do' from the collection)
I have set my eyes on all that photographic gizmos I can buy with 20 lakhs. And I have now started turning my lens more purposefully. And trying to see meaning beyond what my lens see. .. I want to Make History..
Only in the world of blogs, editors and authors enjoy a non-conflicting, symbiotic relationship. Painstakingly written material never finds its way to the basket underneath the editors table.
So now when our first article moved from bits and bytes to ink, we did feel some narcissistic pleasure.
We have now started writing occasional travel pieces for Mumbai Touchdown, the magazine of Mumbai Airport
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