With nothing to do at all. Nothing other than talk and stare at the horizon, we devised very cunning plans on how to make the most of the free snacks and by-pass the costly meals, at the Neemrana fort-palace.

With nothing to do at all. Nothing other than talk and stare at the horizon, we devised very cunning plans on how to make the most of the free snacks and by-pass the costly meals, at the Neemrana fort-palace.

An unplanned stop for an emergency loo-break took us to this roadside dhaba, where we were greeted by this shivering-just-bathed-pup drying himself in the sun. Well, I insisted we hang around and help in his drying process. So, tea was ordered.

An unplanned stop for an emergency loo-break took us to this roadside dhaba, where we were greeted by this shivering-just-bathed-pup drying himself in the sun. Well, I insisted we hang around and help in his drying process. So, tea was ordered.

… and the conversations continue after the trek …

… and the conversations continue after the trek …

After a truly gruelling 8-hour downhill trudge, this tea and this terrace scattered with the season’s harvest, was such pure joy. My walking stick was sent in one direction and the camera bag in another while I rushed to take off my socks and look for the new blisters, in a weirdly happy way.

After a truly gruelling 8-hour downhill trudge, this tea and this terrace scattered with the season’s harvest, was such pure joy. My walking stick was sent in one direction and the camera bag in another while I rushed to take off my socks and look for the new blisters, in a weirdly happy way.

Our window to the cold outside world from our ‘just-a-little’ warmer room.

Our window to the cold outside world from our ‘just-a-little’ warmer room.

Going back to base-hut from our day hike we meet one of our crew members walking towards us with a flask of tea and a casserole of pasta. Well, we are just too overjoyed. Without wasting another breath, we settle on the nearest rock and decide to go through the contents of the flask and keep the pasta for the hut. And what luck, one of my favourite peaks, Trishul, joins us for tea. I love you Trishul :)

Going back to base-hut from our day hike we meet one of our crew members walking towards us with a flask of tea and a casserole of pasta. Well, we are just too overjoyed. Without wasting another breath, we settle on the nearest rock and decide to go through the contents of the flask and keep the pasta for the hut. And what luck, one of my favourite peaks, Trishul, joins us for tea. I love you Trishul :)

The heaven opens up and sends a sackful of soft snow just as we are about to reach our destination. It seemed like our crew expected this and kept ready hot tea, for they knew we were under-dressed and unprepared for this welcome.

The heaven opens up and sends a sackful of soft snow just as we are about to reach our destination. It seemed like our crew expected this and kept ready hot tea, for they knew we were under-dressed and unprepared for this welcome.

The preparations for tonight’s feast is so excitedly underway. We are happy to just observe. But the villagers being such great hosts offer us, the guests, warm glasses of tea. And smile shyly.

The preparations for tonight’s feast is so excitedly underway. We are happy to just observe. But the villagers being such great hosts offer us, the guests, warm glasses of tea. And smile shyly.

45 minutes of inspection of the immediate surroundings led us to this little balcony, where we settled for tea and books.

45 minutes of inspection of the immediate surroundings led us to this little balcony, where we settled for tea and books.

Devi Darshan lodge at Auli, from we left for our trek and returned to. Where we made endless cups of tea and talked endlessly, only to be interrupted by “oye! the clouds are back on nanda devi” or “oye! the clouds are gone”.

Devi Darshan lodge at Auli, from we left for our trek and returned to. Where we made endless cups of tea and talked endlessly, only to be interrupted by “oye! the clouds are back on nanda devi” or “oye! the clouds are gone”.

I usually never bother with the view till we are past the last prayag, but at times, some random things tend to come together to form a pretty picture.

I usually never bother with the view till we are past the last prayag, but at times, some random things tend to come together to form a pretty picture.

This is clearly not tea or coffee. And I don’t even mean to dilute the essence of this collection. But what do I do when this was a tea-equivalent in my travels there? A much cheaper equivalent I should say. Cause my daily budget would surely not allow me to sit down at every other restaurant and order a cup of tea/coffee. Almdudler is a lemonade for them and they mix it in every cocktail/mocktail that needs mixing. It is also quite refreshing and tasty when had on its own. Which is what I did on this really hot day in Vienna.

This is clearly not tea or coffee. And I don’t even mean to dilute the essence of this collection. But what do I do when this was a tea-equivalent in my travels there? A much cheaper equivalent I should say. Cause my daily budget would surely not allow me to sit down at every other restaurant and order a cup of tea/coffee.

Almdudler is a lemonade for them and they mix it in every cocktail/mocktail that needs mixing. It is also quite refreshing and tasty when had on its own. Which is what I did on this really hot day in Vienna.

That is tea in a wine glass. I don’t know why. Noone was thinking. The view was spectacular and we had the most awesome convertible balcony.

That is tea in a wine glass. I don’t know why. Noone was thinking. The view was spectacular and we had the most awesome convertible balcony.

A very discreetly hidden lake, Gosausee. It was a happy 2-hour walk around the lake, almost feeling like we discovered it!

A very discreetly hidden lake, Gosausee. It was a happy 2-hour walk around the lake, almost feeling like we discovered it!

This is the view from the beautiful balcony of our apartment house in wolfgangsee. To the left is the famous lake, to the right are some funny shaped mountains and to the front is the last of the clouds.

This is the view from the beautiful balcony of our apartment house in wolfgangsee. To the left is the famous lake, to the right are some funny shaped mountains and to the front is the last of the clouds.