Manali -1

Daler Singh was a bit annoying. None of us were comfortable. On the previous days, we were enjoying his company. He took us to the Hadimba temple, Jogini waterfalls, snow point and so many other places of interest. We enjoyed every bit if it. Daler took personal interest to arrange the much liked paragliding by my kid. He took us to good restaurants to have lunch. He insisted us to wake up early in the morning us get ready for the go around. He emphasised if you want to sleep longer in the morning, then why came to this place spending so much of money? Pertinent question indeed. With great difficult, almost cursing Daler, everyone dared the morning chillness, got bath and was out of the hotel rooms to go with him.
 

Like in the previous days, he was present at the hotel lobby sharp at seven. It was too cold outside. In a hill station, naturally the mornings are cold. I do not like to wake up early in the morning while going on a pleasure trip. Still, some times it is like that. Today the destination was Visisht hot water spring and then back to the bus stand to return to Delhi. We traveled from Delhi to Manali by bus. There are a number of buses running between these two places. These private luxury buses are more or less highly unprofessional and customer unfriendly. The best example was the stopover at the restaurant for dinner on our way. The toilet was so dirty that, the appetite was killed. These bus operators do not care how their customers put up with such discomforts. Especially for the ladies, using the public toilets are a nightmare. The bill at the end of the mediocre dinner was something like 700 rupees. Exorbitant but the passengers had no other option.
 

Daler was the owner of that car. It was a new Eeco car he purchased very recently to take around the tourists. The hotel receptionist arranged the vehicle. We did not arrange any vehicle in advance. There was no necessity to do that because, in every tourist centre, there are so many local tour operators. It is very easy to find one of our choice. Eeco ran like a air plane at times. He was a bit rash at the wheel. On the way, Daler suddenly mooted the idea of going for a river rafting. We were not interested. None of us wanted to take that risk. The Beas River, looking from a distance itself gives a frightening view. Water flows so violently through a rocky course. We resisted with all the force in our command, but he was unrelenting. He said the fee for a person was just 700 rupees. At last he told us if we do not spend that money, he would spend it from his pocket. He was unwilling to go further without going for the rafting. It virtually angered everyone. But finally, he prevailed upon us
 

Hesitatingly, all of us got down from the Eeco. He then took us to the guys who operate the raft. There are so many all along the road that runs by the banks of the Beas River. Daler bargained and got it at a lesser price that was Rs 700 per head. We got the safety gears and readied ourselves for the adventure. The rowers of the raft guided us to sit appropriately and advised us to hold the rope tightly. The raft got into the water...The first turbulence followed immediately, drenching all of us. The water was ice cold. It almost stopped my breath for a few seconds. All others like me gasped for breath for a while. From then, the adventure started. The raft travelled through the turbulence, immersing us in water several times. Every time when we emerged from water, I threw a very anxious look to my son who was sitting behind me. With a great relief, I saw him enjoying the action. We all enjoyed every moment of it. The raft moved a little distance steadily and then fell into a turbulence and then again moved on calmly. That was really thrilling. That thrill gave way to the initial fear and we all enjoyed the journey till the end. In fact, all of us felt sad when we reached the other point.

 

 

Perhaps this river rafting was the high light of our Manali visit. We felt sorry for thinking bad about Daler. If we missed this journey, that would have remained like a lost chance to embark on an exciting adventure of  a life time...just like that missed opportunity to travel on board a ship to Havelock from Port Blair.....