AN EXCITING INCIDENT IN MY LIFE - revolving around travelling.

I'm going to tell you about an incident which was one of the most exciting chapters which could be read out of the book of my life. It wasn't more like an 'incident' because it was planned much ahead of time and I was in all anticipation of the best moments of my life to come.

Nature is my first love, travelling my second. :)

Yes it was a trip to some of my favourite cities in the North of India i.e; Agra, Delhi and Nainital. And being a total Nature-lover, I love to travel by train or by bus to discover and appreciate the natural surroundings around me.

So with these ideas lying at the bottom of my heart, I started my trip to Agra in the early September of a rather cool phase of winter that had just begun in this part of the country.

My exams had just got over and preparations for this trip were going on in full swing. So much so that even during my examination there used to be moments when I would be transferred to one of the mystical forts, Palaces or bazaars of Agra or Delhi or the beautiful snow-capped Himalayan peaks beckoned me while I tried to bury myself in my books. Anyway, so that arrived when I got into the train and waited to reach Agra to explore it.

We reached at four in the morning. We were taken to see the 'Taj Mahal'. I couldn't believe that I was going to see the Taj Mahal. I had heard so much about it's beauty. I used to sit for hours and gaze at one of the portraits of it my room and try to understand what allures people from all over the world to this architecture that symbolizes true love. It took me less than a minute to realize. The sheer radiance of 'Taj Mahal' in all it's magnificence didn't allow me to take my eyes off from it.

I sat at one of the benches facing the 'Taj' gazing at this human marvel and in an instant all the true stories of love flooded into my mind.

I am a romantic person and believe in love for eternity, now sitting in front of the 'Taj Mahal' once in my lifetime has removed even the tiniest ray of doubt I have ever had. I never felt like leaving that place. But the sun beating down on me in a scorching way took off all my energy and we made our way back home.

I still remember the 'Tonga ride' that I had way back home. It is etched in my memory forever associated with magical experiences of my lifetime. Taking these memories with me forever, I moved on to the next phase of my trip- Nainital.

I never feel more at peace with myself than being in the midst of nature. In Nainital I really felt as if I've been nestled in warm, caring bosom of Nature. I felt as if I really belonged to this place. It took great efforts on the part of my friends to mentally take me out of the place! It would just require someone to give me a chance and I will grab with both my hands to leave and stay close to nature.

The Naini lake - still remember it's tranquility. The mountains surrounding the Naini lake were just so beautiful. On the opposite, was a Temple 'Birla Mandir'. The balcony of this temple stood adjacent to the receding line of this lake. From across the lake, I imagined how it would feel like standing in that balcony and viewing the lake and the mountains from there. It would surely feel like Paradise! I've never felt so happy, and at peace and so totally gratified then during this trip.

Even as I write this now, I feel as if I've been transferred to this 'abode of Nature' where peace with oneself and tranquility of mind reigns supreme.

(I have written this essay way back in 2006 when in college and as part of a General English C.A. paper which tested our descriptive writing skills and so I was asked to write about an exciting Incident in my Life. My teacher Ms Lilian Jasper later felt that she actually experienced the excitement herself when she read my essay.) Through this write-up here, I wish to show my gratefulness to her.