“A fellow of mediocre talent will remain a mediocrity, whether he travels or not; but one of superior talent (which without impiety I cannot deny that I possess) will go to seed if he always remains in the same place.”
~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Last February I went to Chennai for a few days and apart from that, I went to New Bombay a few times and went to Kolhapur on a day’s trip. Apart from the Chennai visit, all the other trips were to visit ailing relatives, and friends and were not exactly very inspiring.
2014 on the other hand has started off with a bang with two very exciting trips. The first one was to Chennai again and as was expected very exciting with Ranjan and Manjiri joining me to meet up with all the family. Manjiree was truly impressed with them and has concluded that she has got the best of a weird lot. So much for our pedigree.
The next was earlier this week for a three day trip close by to Khandala for a reunion with some of my class mates from business school and their wives. I had not met a few of them since we graduated in 1967 and the catching up was an amazing experience. Sadly, many could not come due to various reasons and a reckoning also showed that about a third of our class had passed on too.
We stayed and partied at North Point, an Institute founded by one of our classmates and for me, it was a very exciting if somewhat tiring experience with having to climb a lot of stair cases and indulging in some cross-country hiking to go on a picnic, where we flew kites.
Here are some views from my window.
The main entrance to the Institute which will give you an idea of the climbing up and down that it involved.
Among the less strenuous activities was an evening of ghazals by Hasan Ali a Pune singer of great merit. He got so enthused with our enthusiasm that he allowed some of us to sing too and that was hilarious to say the least.
And most important, I drove up to and from Khandala on my own and on return even brought three passengers with me to Pune.
So, I can safely say that having begun on a couple of good traveling gigs and with plans for some more on the anvil, I can safely say that I am unlikely to go to seed at least this coming year.
Nothing quite like a good reunion. Sounds like this one was grand and the place you stayed looks quite nice. Catching up is always a treat as is seeing how everyone turned out, what they are up to and so on.
Yes, and reestablishing face to face contact instead of through group mails was very revealing for the changes that time had wrought on all of us.
I like the expression “going to seed”. It sounds, well, seedy. Languid. Devil may care. Relaxing.
U
Ursula recently posted..Rollcall
I wouldn’t mind going to seed if that is the definition!
You certainly are the Traveling Man. The pictures are fun. And Manjiree got the best of the weird lot. 😀
That she did BHB, that she did indeed.
WOW!
i doubleclicked on each picture and it became quite large and i almost felt as though i were there!
what gorgeous views you had from your room rummy!
what fun. your new life is just beginning! sow those seeds! LOLOL.
tammyj recently posted..hark!
It is a bit too late to sow my wild oats or seeds Tammy and the opportunity simply does not present itself!
Again, I’m glad you’re having such a great time. I, of course, am happily going to seed here as I enjoy my mediocrity.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..State of the Union
I would exchange my going to seed and enjoyment of my mediocrity for yours any day CM.
The swans did it for me, fabulous, you see flocks of them in Regents park everyday when I walk with Stella.
They were spectacular Barath. The next time you come to Pune, we will drive up to Lonavla/Khandala for a couple of days. Absolutely fantastic panorama.
enjoy your journeys in the coming year, and try to raise the seed to a respectable plant…keep it blooming and don’t let it wither through lack of attention 🙂
Cathy in NZ recently posted..Anniversary Day in Auckland Region
I promise not to Cathy.
Stairs aside, I hope this marks the beginning of a year filled with adventures – big and small.
By the way, do your building codes in India include accessibility rules?
Marianna Paulson recently posted..Writing Lines and Repeating Thoughts
No, but increasing awareness is making at least hospitals provide facilities. It will happen eventually I suppose.