Sasan Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
The silence is deafening. The birds which were creating a racket earlier on have settled to roost. There are few lights ; but alas the sky is cloudy and so the million stars are not in all their glory. There's a chill in the air. The occasional sound that breaks the silence – is it an animal ? Who knows. Nineteen hundred kilometres from home and three days later, I am at Sasan Gir.
Today was all Gujarat
. Up from the south and then crossing west and finally dropping down south again, past the historical town of Junagadh, and then to the last home of the Asiatic Lion. Its nice to be back in Gujarat. Some 30 years since I last was here, save for the occasional day or two, this is really the first time back.
The first shock – Gujju truck drivers actually follow the rules ! They use the fast lane for overtaking and then drop back to the slow lane !!!!!! Nobody showed a finger. Questions on my parentage weren’t hurled. No truck tried to ram me off the road. Can this really happen. Is this a part of India ? I am SHOCKED !
The "wonderful" Gujarat infrastructure was a disappointment. At least the roads. They are as good or as bad as everywhere else. National Highways are good; everything else is bad. Today I saw the axle of an oncoming car break before my eyes as a moon crater claimed another victim – thankfully he was expert enough to stop the car without incident.
I am not a foodie, but still Gujju food is nice to come back to. The sweetish touch to the dhal – well, you know where you are.
Missing The Gujju bens. Highways are strictly an all male preserve – where are the women drivers ??? I still recall the roaming around Law Garden days feasting the eyes, but this time I am not going to any city, leave alone Amdavad.
Only one picture clicked all day – after all what can you click on the road. Tomorrow, I suspect I will have to peer through the lens a lot more.
Today’s highway crib – Indian drivers simply don’t know what to do when there are three lanes to one side of a carriageway. We are used to simply one lane for every traffic. When the Golden Quadrilateral came, we got used to dual carriageways and two lanes to one side. The Indian male (yes, all highway drivers are men) has a very sensitive ego. He cannot go on the left lane lest his manhood is subject to question – even if he is ambling at 20 kmph. So he went on the right and we overtook on the left. Fair enough. Now when three lanes are built , every truck is in the middle lane. Overtaking trucks are on the fast lane. The slow lane is completely empty. So crazy Volvos and SUVs swing from first to third lanes and back overtaking – all at 140 kmph. Whew !! Methinks we need a few lady drivers to inject some sanity. Preferably lissome Gujjubens !
Tomorrow is my date with Sher Khan. Will he show himself ?
Hello Sher Khan
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Sasan Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
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Comments
2025-05-22
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Sandhya Sriram
2014-02-15
we need some more photos Ramesh. walls, bridges, roads are ok, but now you have to move a bit to High TRP stuff. Gujju Bens are good option - Ramesh posing with them, even better - to provide the right balance of visual appeal to both the Ramarathinams and teh Rajalakshmi's that visit your blogs :-)
neeleshshanbhag
2014-02-16
The Map shows you have crossed Water, by Car :)
Agree with Sandhya having more snaps., hoping to see in todays update
Asha
2014-02-16
No gujju bens in the highway dhabas? And a suggestion. Please post some of the highway dhaba specialities if possible the reclpes too;)
Can't wait to hear and see the Gir residents.
indigoite
2014-02-16
@Sandhay - Oh God; how ever do I meet this ask for photos. I am still searchng where the click button is on my phone !!!
Oh no - no self respecting Gujjuben is going to pose for a photo with me :)
@Neelesh - Ha Ha - Travel Pod maps are all awry. Its not even showing Gir where it actually is. TravelPod users are usually international travelers - what chance of a map of remote Gujarat being accurate Gir is actually quite near the Saurashtra coast.
indigoite
2014-02-16
@Asha - Oh thats too much. I rarely even look at what I eat. You want the recipe ?? Wow !!
I'll instead turn you over to a true Gujjuben who can make your mouth water. She's at http://shachi18.blogspot.in/
neeleshshanbhag
2014-02-16
So what is the Blog for Gir, did you meet up with Sher Khan..
Vincy Joseph
2014-02-17
you are so far away from home and would like to see youm and you better post some more pictures - if this sounds like a threat, it is meant to be. :-) :-) :-)
Hoping you will soon meet a pleasant gujju ben soon - BTW, when you see her do not forget to ask, Su nava juni? in a cosmopolitan Ishtyle.
Enjoying the read about what you are enjoying there in Gujarat!
indigoite
2014-02-17
@Neelesh - Yes; posted
@Vincy - Oh ! I'll try it on a lady. Hope I don't get slapped :):)
Asha
2014-02-18
Oh shachi! i know right? I get her updates. she is not an ace with just gujju food but also with bakes,cakes and all those world cuisine. She is a class cook.Thank you.
Vinod
2014-02-18
A tete a tete with a Pride! Wow! looking forward to reading about that. Good luck, safe travels..
indigoite
2014-02-18
Thanks Vinod
Shachi
2014-02-18
Oh jeez....I am missing all the fun. So happy to catch up with these posts. You are making me very nostalgic.
For the roadside dhabas in Saurashtra, the best meal I can recommend is Bajri no rotlo, olo (baigan bhartha gujju style), chaas (buttermilk), ghee and gol (jaggery). SO DELISH!
You are certainly living the "majha ni life"!
indigoite
2014-02-19
@Shachi - You are baaaaaccckkkk. Really missed my wonderful Gujju friend ; especially since this is all your territory !
Yes, had all of that. Didn't realise baingan bhartha is also a Gujju dish - had through it was exclusively Punjabi. Even argued with the guy serving it that he was doing Punjabi stuff. Interesting ! Wish they went easy on the ghee though ....
Harsha
2014-02-19
Rendevouz of the Shers....Sher Khan from Gir and the Sher from Karnataka face to face....looks like you are having fun!