15th August was a much appreciated break from work and the missus and I took the 14th off as well to enjoy two relaxing days in Panchgani. Some of the members of my extended family own a place in this hill station. The peace and quiet of the place make it a frequent haunt for family members, especially Lisa's dad. So come 14th morning, the missus and I drove down with her dad and sister. The holiday was a welcome break for me from my regular chore of driving between home and work. Stopping for breakfast along the way is part of the family tradition of holidaying at Panchgani. Lisa's dad usually picks a nice spot and we stop for sandwiches and coffee. This time he picked a doozy!I don't always like going down to the family home in Panchgani. It's quiet and peaceful...and it gets to me after a while! I'm not the sit back and relax type anyway. (There are only so many books one can read on a vacation!) But what grabs me about the place is the magnificent, breath taking view. The three-room bungalow sits overlooking a deep ravine, with a lake running at the bottom, and small village houses dotting the landscape. Bang opposite the bungalow, in the distance, the mountainous terrain continues. Each of the three rooms has big windows that open out onto this view and every morning the sheer beauty of it hits you full in the face. My favorite moment on every Panchgani trip is sitting on the porch with my first cuppa coffee, watching the mountains in the distance, feeling the breeze blowing through the silver oaks that line the edge of the drop. Imagine if you will the mists coming up towards you from the mountains across, stretching over the wide expanse in between, bit by bit blocking out your view of the lake below until suddenly there is but a white nothingness extending out from 10 ft ahead of you! Heavenly!
