Autobiography of my first train journey

It was in the fourth week of my summer vacation when my father came home early in the
afternoon. He happily announced,” We are going to Goa this summer. I have managed to
secure AC berths for all of us.” We were all very excited as this was going to be our first
train journey.

We got busy with shopping for new clothes and snacks that we would require for the
journey and our holidays. Vacations were always fun when it was with family but this was
special for we were going to travel together for the first time by train. The icing on the cake
was that I had my cousins for company.

At last the day arrived when we left for our vacation. We hired a cab that took us to the CST
train station. We arrived a little early so that we could board the train easily and settle
down. We managed to find our berths easily and settled down. A little while later, the train
started to move slowly and then gradually picked speed. Me and my cousins occupied a
window seat so that we could enjoy the journey. The earlier part was little boring as the
train kept on stopping at some stations in Mumbai. But the fun began as it left the city and
now the lush green fields and the mountains were now visible. We passed through long
tunnels, salt pans and rivers. I was enjoying the cool breeze away from the hot sultry
Mumbai weather. The weather had changed and it started to rain making the atmostphere
more pleasant. My mom then called all of us for a snack. We then had the ladoos and chivda
which my mom had packed for the journey but my mind was yearning for something else –
something spicy and piping hot. My prayers were answered when the train reached Karjat
and the vendors came in carrying the hot vadas. My cousins and I asked my Dad and uncles
to buy us some vadas. After some reluctance, they relented and gave us our treat. The
rains, the petrichor and piping hot vadas – what more could you ask for. We then played
cards and ludo for a while. As the day dawned and it was night, the lights of the train went
dim and everyone was asleep. But we children didn’t want to sleep. We sat together on the
window seats watching the scenery and gossiping. We didn’t know when we fell asleep. I
woke up early at day break. The train stopped at a station and there were vendors who
came in selling tea and refreshments. I had some tea and was feeling refreshed. The next
station Margoa was our destination. We packed our bags and got down. It was the end of a
wonderful journey which gave me lot of memories to cherish.

*************************************************************************

Autobiography of my visit to the Wagah border

Vacations were always fun, but this one was going to be special. My family had decided we
would be visiting the Wagah border during our short Christmas vacation. The Wagah border
is the gate between India and Pakistan. We packed our bags and caught the flight to the
city of Amritsar. A trip to Amritsar is always incomplete without a visit to the holy ‘Golden
Temple’. After completing a visit to the sacred shrine, we had a quick lunch and hired a cab
to reach the venue and watch the closing ceremony. We had to leave our cab after a certain
point and walk till the venue. We managed to secure good seats for a better view. It was a
carnival atmosphere with cars and buses loaded with people were arriving on a cold
December evening. Patriotic Bollywood songs were being played through blaring
loudspeakers. We saw a huge photograph of Mahatma Gandhi near our gate and a similar-
sized one of Mohommed Ali Jinnah on the Pakistan side. There were hawkers selling posters
and CD’s of the tricolor and the ceremony and asking us to get our faces painted. I was also
amazed to see the Pakistan side – a country which was a part of India once. The
atmosphere was electrifying and everyone was in a patriotic mood. A little while later, our
soldier from the BSF shouted ‘Bharat Mata ki’ and the thousands of us Indians echoed ‘Jai’.
Some soldiers invited us children to run till the gate carrying the flag. It was indeed a proud
moment for me; something that I shall never forget. Indian and Pakistani soldiers marched
to the gate, acknowledged each other with a unique salute by lifting their legs very high and
stomping their feet. Later the flags of both the countries were hoisted and pulled down at
sunset. Once the grand ritual was over, we dispersed along with the crowd but not before
we had clicked some pictures with the BSF men. It was a truly wonderful experience that I
will cherish for a lifetime.

****************************************************************

Diary entry of a day spent at a farm

Dear Diary,

You already know that Sanika, Mishti, Indrani and I have been waiting for this day when we
had decided to visit my uncle’s farm in Karjat. Today we drove very early in the morning. I
couldn’t enjoy the journey as I slept during the whole ride and had to be woken up upon
arrival. After a quick bath and breakfast, my uncle drove us to the fields. The ranch is very
huge where we saw the laborers ploughing the fields. At some areas, bullocks were being
used whereas huge fields were ploughed using a tractor. We got a chance to sit on the
tractor. The ride was slow, noisy and bumpy, but thoroughly enjoyable. After a while, we
were tired. City children – we were never used to such hard work. We then went to the
nearby lake for a swim. The water was clear and fresh. The swim was refreshing as the
water helped us to cool down in the sultry hot weather. We were now hungry. After a piping
hot lunch of Jowar roti, vegetables and fresh yogurt, we went to the cow shed. Uncle’s pet
German Shepherd Rocky also accompanied us. He is very fond of me and extremely
intelligent. We had a nice time playing with the new-born calf and chasing the hens. The
rest of the afternoon is spent lazily by plucking fruits from the trees – something which we
could never get to do in the city. My father then calls us as it is time for us to leave. We bid
adieu to my uncle and his family and of course to my favorite – Rocky and returned home.
It was such a long but wonderful day and I enjoyed it very much. I am now feeling sleepy.
See you tomorrow.

Bye Bye Diary

***********************************************************************

Diary entry of a day spent when stuck in the rains

Dear Diary,

Today was a really eventful day. Or should I call it a nightmare. Being a holiday, I had
accompanied by Mom to visit my aunt at Girgaum. It was bright and sunny in the morning
and we didn’t have the faintest idea of how the events in the day were about to unfold. We
reached at around 10 AM & had lunch at 12 PM. As we were preparing to leave, there was
blanket of thick black clouds and it began to rain. However, being a Mumbai citizen, we
were aware of such occurrences. We caught the train to Borivali and the rain was now very
heavy. The trees were swaying and the traffic had come to a standstill. The train was now
moving at a snail’s pace. It took us two hours to reach Dadar after which the trains came to
a halt. The news flashed on my mom’s cell phone that the government had declared an
emergency. We were left stranded at Dadar station. The water was gushing on the streets
people had to abandon their vehicles and started to walk. Some good Samaritans were
offering food and water to the people who were stranded. No taxis or vehicles were willing
to ply owing to the danger of getting stuck. The entire city was brought to a standstill. We
were left clueless on how we could reach home. We then decided to walk for a while. We
walked and walked for about 20 kms all the way to Bandra. By the time, we reached Bandra
my legs were aching as it was difficult to walk in the gushing waters. Diary, you were lucky
to stay home else you would have been drenched in the rains. The rains had now receded a
bit. It was now around 9 PM and we were very tired. Luckily, we managed to hire a cab who
took us home. My dad was very much worried and relieved on seeing us safe and sound. By
the time, we reached home, we were exhausted and hungry. But there was a satisfaction of
reaching the best place on the earth – our home. I am now feeling better after a hot meal
but would now like to go to bed.

Bye Bye Diary

https://ohmy.disney.com/insider/2014/06/11/my-first-trip-to-disneyland/