Brown Motion

 Oh what does a covidised homebody to do?  Esp mua that does not partake in the omnipresent social activity of FB or IG or its ilk. Read or research or watch the telly of course.   In doing the aforementioned research on random things in the whole wide world using what else but the www I stumbled on a documentary produced by the BBC.   That docu series happened to be scratching me where it itches.  A passion of mine - perhaps inculcated in me by my late father who was a train buff and loved timetables - train travel. Thanks to a silicon valley invention called Youtube I can now board a whole bunch of train journeys without leaving my bed. They are broadcast under the larger brand titled ' Great Railway Journeys'  but are localized versions based on which part of the world the protagonist on the show is traveling. I have so far watched a few called -  BBC's Great Canadian Railway Journey Great British Railway Journeys  Great Continen...

Many a trip to me is a pilgrimage of sorts - the religion being curiosity.  Some throw curveballs and are rather exhausting in their execution simply because the destination happens to be rather remote.  But making the most of the journey (to harp on an oft harped cliche) does add flavor to the experience. So here are some more of these exotically intoxicating and 'holier than thou' (you will figure out what I mean) adventures... We start in New Zealand on the north eastern coast of the south island (the country has two main islands - north and south) and travel along the eastern edge hugging the Pacific. Departure from PICTON NZ Through tunnels and down the coast to Christchurch  Few hours north from NZ, crossing the equator and you are in the tiny island country of Singapore.. Neat and tidy this once Victorian trading post and gateway to the riches of Asia is now a well oiled business machine.   Hanging out at the local D...

I ran into several folks with stories to tell during my epic 11,000 kms of travel criss crossing the sub continent this summer. Bravado in face of terror - The first was a steel company executive who happened to be caught up in the 1980s era hijack incident involving an Indian commercial flight by folks who wanted a separate Khalistan.  He narrated this story as we were put on an indefinite hold by Air India in New Delhi waiting for a replacement aircraft on our way to Ranchi. Breathing on the ground as much time as in the AIR - all Air India He along with his fellow occupants of the plane were instrumental in foiling the plans of the attacker and punching his lights out while commandos stormed the plane.  He along with the fellow passengers got a minister level welcome home.  He was grateful to be alive and seemed to be enjoying life to the fullest.  Included boasting about his son in law who had just purchased the latest German sedan in his home in N...

Stars - Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman Inspired by real events circa WW II. Story of a rail enthusiast Brit, Mr. Lomax, who has served in the second war in SE Asia.  He is living with the nightmares of being tortured by the Japanese Imperial Army as a prisoner in their camps in Thailand.  The movie is based on the story of these British soldiers that were humiliated and made to slave to build the railway line from Thailand to Burma (now called Myanmar). Today there are luxury train rides available on this route starting from Singapore in the south going all the way north into Myanmar that cost a pretty pound. Colin Firth plays the role of a signal engineer that has stood up to the brutal interrogations and beatings when his cadre is discovered to be building a secret radio in the camp.  Memories of the treatment at the hands of Japanese soldiers has kept him suffering deep inside for decades until he runs into Nicole Kidman's character on a train journey ...