Day 3 – MEA office
19th June 2018: I woke up at about 6 am. I have to pack my things. I started to make a list of required things that I needed to buy. I put all my clothes including sweaters & woolen clothes near my bag. From the Internet, I came to know that we should carry 5 set of clothes and 21 underwear. Frankly speaking, I don’t have such a huge number of set in my home also. I had to take care of the weight of the bag also. I put everything which seemed to be important I put near my bag.
At about 8:30am with my hubby, I started for MEA office. We decided that Amit, my hubby, would leave me near Ashram Chowk. From there I would go on my own. But after reaching Ashram Chowk, he suggested me that he would leave me till MEA office. He searched the location & told me it took only 20 mins to reach there by bike.
We reached in front of MEA office(D-block, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi) at about 9:20am. But the guards were not allowed me to go inside as my name was not on their list. They suggested me to call our LO. I called LO Narayan Kutty & he confirmed that I was on their list.
I took entry to MEA office. I thanked God to give me the option to take entry to this high profile office. There was two separate room for L-pass yatri & Nathula-pass yatri. I entered the room where the briefing was continuing. After the briefing, I had to submit the Indemnity bond, one canceled cheque, and Rs. 30000/ KMVN fees. at first, the told that it must be either draft or cash. Card or net banking was not allowed. I didn’t have cash. The net banking facility only available from their portal kmy.gov.in As I was quite sure that there was no facility for waiting list yatri from their site, as checked their site on that day morning, I argued with them. Then again Mr. Deewan Ram Ji entered to save us especially me. He told local cheque would be accepted. I carried the cheque-book so I submitted the cheque. The canceled cheque was required to transfer Delhi Govt subsidy to all yatri of Rs. 4000/ to their respective account.
After that, regarding money conversion, there was two option. Either yatries can go the Bank Near Ashoka Hotel which is available for 24X7 or some agent would like to come to Gujarati Samaj Sadan(Location: Rajniwas Marg, Civil Lines, New Delhi 110054) & would give us the Chinese Yunan & dollar also.
As per MEA/KMVN instruction, each yatri need $901 & 2500 Yuan. So I decided to go to Gujrati Samaaj. Also, Our journey would start from Gujarati Samaj. So I thought I must have the idea about that place. In the meantime, I made friendship some of the girls like Enakshi(Bengali, came from Kolkata alone, working in IT domain), Soma(Bengali, from Delhi, meteorological department of India ), Shruti (Himachali, came from Gurgaon alone, working in IT domain).
After reaching Gujarati Samaj, their correspondent told us to take lunch. It was an awesome lunch. I was fond of their raita. After taking raita twice, I came to know there was one dish added. Something made from mango. Oh God!!! What a dish!!! It is not possible to describe the taste. I took two glass. But I had a fear that excess mango is not good for health. So I resisted myself to take more. To taste the mango dish once again I am ready to take this yatra again…joking!!! As this yatra helped me to experience such mind-blowing things a lot of times.
After the lunch, I came to know the agent for currency conversation was already reached to room no:107. I reached there & came to know they took only cash. Awww… I didn’t have such huge cash with me. Can you imagine the amount in INR? It was approx 95K. At that point, I had hardly Rs.1000/- in cash. I tried two nearby ATM which was approx 1-1.5 Km away. But no luck. I came back to Gujarati Samaj. I came to know that they agreed to online payments. Thank God!! But the problems had no end. online transfer of more than 50K is not allowed in my card…. I had transferred Rs. 50K/- first. Then searched to find out other option…suddenly one of yatri came to rescue me. He was from Tamilnadu, Named by Shiva Nanda. He told me he would like to transfer the money to the agent & I would transfer him latter. At last, money conversion was done. It was 5:30 pm. The KMVN person told us to collect a large polythene bag & a walking stick(those sticks that usually old person use for walking). I knew this was enough to any trek.
I called my husband & asked whether he would like to come to pick me up or I would go home on my own. He told I should wait for him. There was a yatri who came from the army background, he gave some rope to pack the bag. Amit reached there at about 8:00 pm At that time there was some arrangement for Kirtan. We just visited the area & said bye all of them. The Luggage committee member Ritesh who basically from Delhi told me to submit luggage before 4 am next day.
There was a long traffic jam which is very common in Delhi, specially ISBT-Chandni Chowk area. Still, I had no arrangement for dry fruits. Every Yatri talked regarding their food packing. It contains a lot of stuff…Also whenever I came across any blog regarding this yatra, everyone specifies a lot of things regarding food. But at that moment I had nothing…yes… n—o—t—h—i—n—g ….. I did not have a packet of biscuit even….And if I wasn’t able to manage it, there would be no option to get it….I was not panicked as I knew I can sustain with minimum food also. But precaution is better than cure. It was 9:00 pm already. Old Delhi is the best place for dry fruits, but at that time may be all the shops were closed or if we didn’t get it there, we would miss the local shops near our house also.
We hurriedly came Badarpur, where I believed you can get everything which is required for a normal life. Instead of going to any brand shops like Bigbazar or something, we visited the local shop. Thank God!!! We got everything that we need.
We reached home at about 11:00 pm. I called my mom n brother. They were too much anxious but I assured them that I would go with govt organized tour where I would get the best service either food, lodging or security. If anything happened whether it would be good or bad, you would get the news first just switch on your TV News channel. Any political issue (as we need to visit Tibet which is under the Chinese Govt) would be handled so carefully that you could not imagine. We would be a precious guest from India. I have also messaged my mentor Abhishek & the KMVN person Girdhar Ji.
Here is my packing list:
At about 8:30am with my hubby, I started for MEA office. We decided that Amit, my hubby, would leave me near Ashram Chowk. From there I would go on my own. But after reaching Ashram Chowk, he suggested me that he would leave me till MEA office. He searched the location & told me it took only 20 mins to reach there by bike.
We reached in front of MEA office(D-block, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi) at about 9:20am. But the guards were not allowed me to go inside as my name was not on their list. They suggested me to call our LO. I called LO Narayan Kutty & he confirmed that I was on their list.
I took entry to MEA office. I thanked God to give me the option to take entry to this high profile office. There was two separate room for L-pass yatri & Nathula-pass yatri. I entered the room where the briefing was continuing. After the briefing, I had to submit the Indemnity bond, one canceled cheque, and Rs. 30000/ KMVN fees. at first, the told that it must be either draft or cash. Card or net banking was not allowed. I didn’t have cash. The net banking facility only available from their portal kmy.gov.in As I was quite sure that there was no facility for waiting list yatri from their site, as checked their site on that day morning, I argued with them. Then again Mr. Deewan Ram Ji entered to save us especially me. He told local cheque would be accepted. I carried the cheque-book so I submitted the cheque. The canceled cheque was required to transfer Delhi Govt subsidy to all yatri of Rs. 4000/ to their respective account.
After that, regarding money conversion, there was two option. Either yatries can go the Bank Near Ashoka Hotel which is available for 24X7 or some agent would like to come to Gujarati Samaj Sadan(Location: Rajniwas Marg, Civil Lines, New Delhi 110054) & would give us the Chinese Yunan & dollar also.
As per MEA/KMVN instruction, each yatri need $901 & 2500 Yuan. So I decided to go to Gujrati Samaaj. Also, Our journey would start from Gujarati Samaj. So I thought I must have the idea about that place. In the meantime, I made friendship some of the girls like Enakshi(Bengali, came from Kolkata alone, working in IT domain), Soma(Bengali, from Delhi, meteorological department of India ), Shruti (Himachali, came from Gurgaon alone, working in IT domain).
After reaching Gujarati Samaj, their correspondent told us to take lunch. It was an awesome lunch. I was fond of their raita. After taking raita twice, I came to know there was one dish added. Something made from mango. Oh God!!! What a dish!!! It is not possible to describe the taste. I took two glass. But I had a fear that excess mango is not good for health. So I resisted myself to take more. To taste the mango dish once again I am ready to take this yatra again…joking!!! As this yatra helped me to experience such mind-blowing things a lot of times.
After the lunch, I came to know the agent for currency conversation was already reached to room no:107. I reached there & came to know they took only cash. Awww… I didn’t have such huge cash with me. Can you imagine the amount in INR? It was approx 95K. At that point, I had hardly Rs.1000/- in cash. I tried two nearby ATM which was approx 1-1.5 Km away. But no luck. I came back to Gujarati Samaj. I came to know that they agreed to online payments. Thank God!! But the problems had no end. online transfer of more than 50K is not allowed in my card…. I had transferred Rs. 50K/- first. Then searched to find out other option…suddenly one of yatri came to rescue me. He was from Tamilnadu, Named by Shiva Nanda. He told me he would like to transfer the money to the agent & I would transfer him latter. At last, money conversion was done. It was 5:30 pm. The KMVN person told us to collect a large polythene bag & a walking stick(those sticks that usually old person use for walking). I knew this was enough to any trek.
I called my husband & asked whether he would like to come to pick me up or I would go home on my own. He told I should wait for him. There was a yatri who came from the army background, he gave some rope to pack the bag. Amit reached there at about 8:00 pm At that time there was some arrangement for Kirtan. We just visited the area & said bye all of them. The Luggage committee member Ritesh who basically from Delhi told me to submit luggage before 4 am next day.
There was a long traffic jam which is very common in Delhi, specially ISBT-Chandni Chowk area. Still, I had no arrangement for dry fruits. Every Yatri talked regarding their food packing. It contains a lot of stuff…Also whenever I came across any blog regarding this yatra, everyone specifies a lot of things regarding food. But at that moment I had nothing…yes… n—o—t—h—i—n—g ….. I did not have a packet of biscuit even….And if I wasn’t able to manage it, there would be no option to get it….I was not panicked as I knew I can sustain with minimum food also. But precaution is better than cure. It was 9:00 pm already. Old Delhi is the best place for dry fruits, but at that time may be all the shops were closed or if we didn’t get it there, we would miss the local shops near our house also.
We hurriedly came Badarpur, where I believed you can get everything which is required for a normal life. Instead of going to any brand shops like Bigbazar or something, we visited the local shop. Thank God!!! We got everything that we need.
We reached home at about 11:00 pm. I called my mom n brother. They were too much anxious but I assured them that I would go with govt organized tour where I would get the best service either food, lodging or security. If anything happened whether it would be good or bad, you would get the news first just switch on your TV News channel. Any political issue (as we need to visit Tibet which is under the Chinese Govt) would be handled so carefully that you could not imagine. We would be a precious guest from India. I have also messaged my mentor Abhishek & the KMVN person Girdhar Ji.
Here is my packing list:
- 5 T-shirts
- 1 jeans(I wore it till Pithoragarh)
- 1 sweat-shirts*
- 3 sweaters (1 is very light)
- 1 windcheaters*
- 1 rain coat*
- 1 thermal (upper & lower)
- 5 sets of underwear
- 2 tracksuit
- 2 pair of gloves(1 woolen & another leather)
- 1 mouth mask (winter mouth mask specifically used by army person)
- 1 chest mask (winter mouth mask specifically used by army person)
- lots of tissue paper
- Sanitary napkins
- Almonds (1/2 Kg)
- Raisins (250gm)
- Cashew (250gm)
- Namkin Packets (3 packets of 250gm each)
- 3 Packets of Biscuits (I prefer Salty, but sweet type suggested as it gives instant energy)
- Makhanas or fox nuts (250gm)
- Petha
-
Date palm (1/2Kg)
- Lots of energy bar, toffy & chocolate.
- Bathe Soap
- Liquid soap
- Nail cutter
- Transparent poly bag 7-8
- camphor
- mustard oil (provided by some NGO in a kit)
- Medicine that you need in your daily life Plus the medicine suggested by MEA/KMVN in their booklet.
As per my husband's suggestion, I divided my money into 4 parts & put them inside my backpack, small bag that I made to carry in trekking, waist pouch & also in jean’s pocket. You need to carry hard cash as ATM facility will be very less after Almora more specifically after leaving Delhi (after Delhi your next stop is Almora, Kathgodom for lunch break). I always feel if a person has money (obviously handy) he/she can do anything. As this was my first solo journey, though with a group where no one is known, so my husband, as well as me, did not want to take any risk.
We went to bed at about 1 am( 20th June) with the alarm of 3:00 am.
We went to bed at about 1 am( 20th June) with the alarm of 3:00 am.
| Day 2 - ITBP Hospital | Home | Day 4 - Almora |
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