MANALI TRANCE

Imagining myself gyrating amidst other women and okay, also men, every time I listen to the Manali Trance is one thing; it definitely transports me to a very special period of life.

Back in October 2013, I'd first sowed seeds of my officially first trip outside Lucknow with my friends; leading to one trip a year syndrome that occurred since then. A bunch of 4 totally dissimilar personalities: me;a broad Chested, tall and handsome guy; one lighter version of a very fat girl and an utter thin and small structured man: this is how I would describe the people sitting in our Estillo. Hope they do not read this. ;)  We'd to leave at 0530 hours and only I was the one who didn't shut her eyelids down throughout the previous night in sheer excitement. We drove the wheels straight to Mussoorie first, stopping on and off at 'washroom 'stations (petrol pumps). The night we kick started the bargaining phenomena and reached Mussoorie, just strolled the next two days, snapping at Dhanaulti and finding Kempty not so tempty, leaving for Manali after two days. The on and off phases of sunshine and grey weather that kind of gave bidding Mussoorie a ‘will return again’ bye, a nice "feel" to it. But,Oh yeah! we had our moments of “filmy" paranormality too.

On the way to Shimla, struck a point where the petrol pointer told us, it was well fed and the next few kilometres were smooth; bang on and it showed grave hunger! Picture this: 4 hungry people  in a car on a rocky hillside where almost landslide could've happened, small boulders surprising us on the road, charcoal dark, little oil in the tank, not even a sight of petroleum station for the next many kilometres  and Google navigation voice over artist pitching in our conversations. Filmy?! At least we found it. The navigation ticker ballooned the pump at around 60 kms from where we were and amused as we were about how we actually reached that pump! No food that night though. This began the fun packed move towards Manali. Staying there in a fine hotel, and finally getting some rest that night. Our accomplice every day, were trump cards that we played, every day, with breakfast, after dinner, before going out and on the verge on dozing off.

I’d already allured the rest three about the Old ‘mystical’ Manali,  that was something to watch out for: exquisite cafes, eateries, smoking points, grills, bakeries and hangouts. We hopped to Dylan’s. I’d been there before. Sat among a big group of wild smokers (yes, the local stuff, there) and the Mediterranean coffee feel at Dylan's, it was all something that I can't detail. It seemed silent, delivering something peculiar, adding that 'trance' element to it. It was our buddy’s birthday that gave birth to the trip, basically. Had a quickie lunch at Khyber Restaurant, some shopping and yes, I’d got a lovely dark chocolate cake from a nearby bakery. Indeed it was tasty. That day, also had some bickering bowls of emotions. The next day we went to Johnson Bar and Grill and almost ordered champagne (low on cash, we couldn’t buy it). I got a cosy grey rabbit wool sweater for mum, that she adores the most, till date: it was authentic and reasonably priced!

Calling it trip, outing, endeavour or any first trial with a bunch of people: this period of 8 days was at ease. Celebrating our friend's birthday there, followed by a disastrous movie but still a night show and managing all by ourselves, the expenses, food and every little detail, was the actual trance of Manali: though we never doped, we could still feel it all (the high) by just thinking about the mesmerizing beauty of the place.