#NAINAxRanikhet Day 05

Our fifth day at Ranikhet involved a much-anticipated visit to the Kumaon Regimental Center’s Community Center where various locally-made products are sold. Shawls, edibles, crcokery, jackets. etc. The original idea behind the KRC Community Center was to provide gainful employment to War Widows but the concept has evolved into providing “shopping” to tourists – mostly “fauji” tourists as most civilians are unaware of this facility even though it is open for all.

The quality of the wool used and the weaving work has diminished over the years but it is still beautiful. My favourite shawl is called the “Dharchuli” but I also like the “Bulbul” weave and the “Ranikhet” shawls. We wanted to pick up crockery with the Kumaon Regimental insignia but the KRC Center only had quarter plates – no tea cups or any other forms.

We left the KRC Center and headed to the CSD to try our luck with the crockery. A photo of the now-derelict Globe Theater where more than three decades ago, my parents watched Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and the entire crowd sobbed through the ending.

I found myself a slide where little kids were having fun in the shade and the recently-acquired Go Pro Hero 4 Silver could possibly be put to use. So I got on the slide with the kids and had some fun in the afternoon while the parents slummed it looking for crockery I have a shady video I shot gripping the Go Pro between my chin and sternum but I’m going to have to see whether it’s worth publishing on the blog. Or anywhere else for that matter.

After that it was back to the room to deposit our wares and head out to meet Dad’s friend for lunch. We ended up at Parijat Retreat! ( Aditya had driven our car to the workshop for repairs the day before! ) The food was shady but the location and the views were spectacular. Day five was busy and we had expended enough energy to help us sleep well. I skipped dinner again, which turned out to be a great decision.

#NAINAxRanikhet