September 3, 2014 -- Last Weekend in Kasauli

Last weekend, we sent to Kasauli with Colonel Randev and his wife.

This was not exactly how the weekend was supposed to go. Rob and I wanted to go to Kasauli--a British Hill Station from 1842 in the foothills of the Himalayas ~ 1800 meters above sea level--to birdwatch (if you hadn’t guessed it already). Colonel Randev is building/renovating a home there, and he goes to oversee the building every weekend, so offered to drive us up. Because he is ex military, and because there is a military cantonment in Kasauli (with officers club) he told us he would arrange accommodation for us at the club. The rest of the “plan” was that he would pick us up again from the club on Sunday to bring us back to Chandigarh.

When “he” arrived to pick us up on Saturday morning, it was “they” – not “he.” So, Mrs. Randev was going to the construction site too. Well, it turned out that they were also going to stay at the officers’ club, and right in the room next door. They made sure that we not lonely, and kept us company the entire time – even walking with us when we tried to bird-watch and at every meal – in the mess, of course. So, it was not exactly the weekend we had been banking on.

The Club

At the officers' club, one room was under renovation.  Instead of sending the furniture out to be reupholstered, the upholsters come to the furniture - with the fabric, and do the job right there.  Sensible.  In a day, most likely.

Upholsterers make house call

Having said all that, we did have a very nice time in their company. Madhu (the wife) was considerate and VERY hospitable. We all walked together to the market, where, with her guidance, I bought a few gifts at a good price, as well as a new, bright-coloured bedcover (with two shams) for our bed here . The one our landlord has supplied is heinous. The Randevs know everyone in Kasauli, as he was Commander at that post for some time, and she taught school there at St. Mary’s Convent School in the 1990s.
  

Room at Kasauli

Sunday, on our walk before breakfast, we spotted several birds of interest. The Himalayan Bulbul, Lesser Yellow-Naped Woodpecker, Common Hoopoe, Great Tit and Grey Bushchat. Plus regulars, and others we could not identify.

Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpecker

Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpecker

Hoopoe

 Along with birds, there were PLENTY of monkeys. Some were the Rhesus Macaques in large numbers - like we have mentioned previously- and there were also the Black-faced Langurs. Nick, we watched that kind cavorting when you were with us. These guys have very long tails, long legs, long fingers. Rob and I are always delighted to see monkeys!

We drove to the site of their renovation, so that the Colonel could oversee developments- thus we had the opportunity to see their future retirement dream home. On the front of the house, on each of three floors, is a very large window facing the valley. The view is spectacular, except when a cloud rolls in – enveloping all scenery in thick fog which lasts only a few minutes before the view is clear again.

Front of Randev House

Sunday afternoon, before we set off for Chandigarh, The Colonel (Randev) decided we HAD TO SEE a property on which Colonel Sandhu (head of WIICS and CIIS for whom Rob works) plans to build – also in Kasauli area.

We drove on broken, dirt road switchbacks through the mountains – looking for this land – road after road – wrong turn after wrong turn- bump after bump – jolt after jolt on road so narrow that two cars could NOT have passed (or turned around, FYI) and on road with no barrier and a straight drop down to death on one side. All the while, Madhu, from the back seat, with a strangle-hold on the seat in front, asking the Colonel to give up the search, slow down, turn back, and calling on God to protect us. Not comforting!

Eventually we could go no farther on that road (Praise Be) so he was forced to turn back. Rob, Madhu and I stood well away from the vehicle while he achieved this (as none of us wanted to watch him careen down the mountain in a failed attempt at a 10-point turn. Madhu’s mantra had by then become “He never listens to me”, “He never listens to me”… ARGHHHH! 

Still ahead was the nail-biting ride back to Chandigarh on roads very like the afore mentioned only paved – but this was the MAIN mountain road, full of weekenders also going down OR UP , along with goods carriers and buses which take up much more than their side of the road. Road with almost no barrier or absolutely no barrier on the mountain side of the road – and us whipping along at great speed, honking and passing then nipping back into line just before meeting a truck or bus head-on aound a curve. This Himalaya stuff is NOT for the faint of heart. 

We got back to civilization, stopped at the huge field market in Phase 7 to get mangoes and apples, then home to serve them tea and bid them farewell.

Hansi and Mrs. Randev

Hansi