We have never been the kind of family where birthdays are a big deal. We’ve always looked at birthdays and anniversaries as excuses to get together and spend time in each other’s company. Akanksha and I sometimes try to do things like bake or order a cake, cook or order food from our favourite restaurants ( Akanksha is more inclined to do the nice, special things – gifts, etc. I’m the more, “I’m here. Let’s open a bottle of beer and chill kind of person. )
Dad’s birthday in Kasauli turned out to be no different. We’re already at a “destination”, no other fanfare necessary. We did go for a walk though. And Akanksha gave both the folks back rubs. Apart from that, I spent breakfast time in bed because of the cold I’m still recovering from – they went to the Mess to eat and got me Uttapams in bed.
Lunch and dinner were also at the Mess – and there was no chicken because it was a Tuesday. We hope to make it up tomorrow when we check out the Mall Road and the Kasauli Market.
We walked down from the rooms to the Mess and walked further down to use the road that winds up to the rooms from the side. 10,000 steps are easy when you have to do this winding walk at least three times a day! There was a downpour in the afternoon and we were lucky the worst of it only started once we were back from our post-lunch walk. The sky cleared up a bit in the evening. A couple of beers and dinner later, I even got to try my hand at some night sky photography. Lightroom’s Dehaze feature is such a life-saver when you’re photographing the night sky, especially in an area notorious for fog. The feature can’t do magic of course and has limits but it’s quite fabulous what it can do!
I’ve passed on the cold virus to Akanksha though and it’s my turn to pamper her a bit while she recovers. I tried to prevent the passing-on but there’s not much you can do when you share the room with someone.
Late afternoon I sat near the garbage dump with my laptop and sent out a couple of invoices and emails. The mobile internet connection was the best there although I was surrounded by monkeys who, luckily, did not feel threatened by my presence. I ignored all the food in the dumpster you see.
I’m only warming up my camera-shutter-trigger-finger and hope to photograph a whole lot more in the coming days as is typical of my photographer-disposition. Depending on how much time I have, I spend a proportionate amount of time warming up. Kasauli is only now defrosting the tips of my fingers. We still haven’t gotten out of the cantonment and that will change tomorrow post-breakfast. Wish us only a drizzle!
