My First Outstation Journey With My Classmates - Golden Memories

After our final year exams of Bachelors of Occupational Therapy we were told that the AIOTA Annual National Conference would be at Hyderabad in January 1996. Most of our classmates were geared up to pack their luggages to travel for fun cum academic tour to Hyderabad. Some of my close classmates/friends insisted that I should make up my mind to join them for this conference, as we never knew when we would meet or be together later in life. This was the last opportunity to have fun with graduate friends. (And the first AIOTA Conference for us).
Though my pockets didnt allow me, I convinced my maternal grandmother to sponsor me for this academic tour following which I promised her, will never ask for anything more in life from her and that I will earn and escort her in her old age ! ..........as I always was dependant on her since the age of 10 months and I grew up with her till my masters study.

During this Conference we had a schedule of 12 days of journey to Bangalore, Mysore and Hyderabad and the conference days were 7th to 9th January 1996. Atlas the day arosed and on 1st January 1996 at about 10.00 pm we had a train to be boarded at Kurla station ( the place I saw for the first time; as I hardly travelled to places other than Malad to Goregaon and later Malad to Parel).
On 2nd night we reached Bangalore; where we stayed at New Krishna Bhavan till 5th January. For these 3 days we visited many places in Bangalore such as Tipu Palace; Ulsur Lake; Bull Temple; Tiger and Lion Safari; Zoo and a Museum. One of these days we had one day sight seeing at Mysore where we explored places like Chamundeshwari Temple; Bull Temple at Chamunda Hill; Lalit Mahal Palace and one of the Churhes. As it is well said too many cooks spoil the broth; our journey was a an amalgum of fun and fights/arguments (though all verbal); Mind you I was the most quiet person witnessing the to and fro exchange of words/fire between classmates. There were sensational periods of "cool and hot spots" or would say "waxing and wanning" of emotions. But the end result was always a ceasefire..........!
We also took the pleasure of window shopping at Big Kids Kemp at M. G. Road and later at Commercial Street in the evening on 5th January. On the same day we started off for Hyderabad; where we reached the next day morning i.e. 6th January. Here we had our accomodation at Pradeep Bhavan; which was a typical Gujju environment and topped with Gujju food; reminded me of home and my grandmom/moms recipes..! As it was a free day for us prior to the Conference we all decided to attack (mind you not a terror attack) one of the best theatres in Hyderabad (Maheshwari Theatre) and watch a movie with popcorns (usual scenario in the theatres; though it was one of my naive experience as I rarely stepped in any of the movie theatres). We saw "DDLJ" one of the best movies of Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.
Later; three days we spent some time at the conference venue and for some time we managed to disappear to the trade exhibition outside the venue (not connected to the conference); just for fun and shopping the rare entities/make of India. On 9th & 10th we had Hyderabad Darshan; we visited Salarjan Museum, Shangi Temple, Charminar, Birla Temple, Nehru Park, Golconda Fort etc. A humorous story to add hear is: I do have motion sickness; for which I took perinorm instead of avomin; early morning before we started our bus journey to Salarjan museum. And guess what? I was soooooo drowsy that I couldn't open my eyes to have a visual pleasure of all the wonderful collections of the museum...When everyone was enjoying the beauty of the museum....I use to enter from one door and come out of the other; would sleep and wait on the stair cases till the others finished each rooms of the museum........was a very funny sight. My classmates laughed at me for not being able to wake up inspite of eye wash with water...Finally the last thing I could witness was the huge clock at 12.00 pm.

On 11th afternoon we started off our journey to our own place on earth "Amchi Mumbai" and reached on 12th morning at about 7.00 am at Dadar Station (Great Relief for a mumbai buddy like me; as I am a very home sick person)......But this outstation journey was one of the memorable chapters of my life!
"This is the time when you learn about each others (friends) and learn the importance of your own family members; when you decide that you will never criticize any recipes cooked by your beloved grandmom/mom. I do have food fuss traits in me and so had least experience or exposure to hotel/restaurant food. Was proved when I had to be admitted in a nursing home for 2 days as a case of acute gastroentritis and severe dehydration. Was also under the stress of waiting for final year results............all in all .......illness and stress made me sick again with chicken pox! I remain healthy in Amchi Mumbai where we get a typical tasteless crystal clear water. (Though not true in the present days...........!)

"I didnt have a camera of my own and never had an opportunity to meet up with friends later to preserve these memorable days in photo form. In this busy times we all were lost in different parts of our own earth"........................Isn't this writing too nostalgic?
Am not a great writer but have managed to put my thoughts and pleasant experiences of my past in few little touchy words!