Impressions. And, Images.: ...and we begin.

With the booking of the tickets, the skeleton formed. [---Jan 7 Jaipur express (reaches Jan 9, 6am), Jan 10 night train to Bikaner, Jan 11 night bus to Jaisalmer, Jan 12 night train to Jodhpur and Jan 14 train back to Bangalore (The Idea was to spend each night on a train, that way we didn’t have to stay locally, also not waste daytime travelling; saving both time and money) ---] And, it slowly gained flesh and perception with all the internet reading and trivia exchanging. Soon enough, Draped in vibrant hues; Pink (Jaipur), Gold (Jaisalmer) and Blue (Jodhpur); it was a sight to behold!

This growth, and Jan 7 were eventfully interposed with my Bday (Thanks to Vinay and Sindhu, I had a great time!), interesting school reunion, not so-interesting ‘3-Idiots’, abysmal Linear Integrated Circuits paper and random domestic running around.

Meanwhile, The White Notebook grew to gather all the required information – what to carry, how much to carry, places to visit in each city, orientation and distances from the railway stations, RTDC information, checklist of sweets and other food items to try in each place, Phone numbers, etc. Later, it also assumed the role of an accountant. Clearly, one cannot exaggerate its importance.

(Nikil at CANT with all the luggage)

Thus equipped, Jan 7 arrived. By 12:30, it saw Nikil and me in Cantonment station, and the rest in Majestic. I couldn’t have hoped for a quicker and more entertaining two-day train journey. It was the typical bunch of excited college guys travelling stuff – Cards, Politics (USA and conspiracy theories being the highlight), Sports, Random games, more talking, Dumb charades (It couldn’t be clearly established which I was worse at : Being dumb or interpreting the dumb) , Movies, paneer pakodas, tea, bad train meals, Tin-Tin, Aditya sleeping – and Nitin, the very institution of entertainment..

And, thus we arrived; Fervent, Eager and Animated to a cold Jaipur.