 I am a software engineer by profession and a Royal Enfield enthusiast by passion.
I read the book '  ' authored by you. It’s a wonderful read. I admire your guts ("Hya vayaat"?!!!) and enthu for riding all the way upto the highest motorable road. And penning and capturing that journey into a book.
I hail from Belgaum and have been working in Bangalore for the last 3 years. I bought my Standard 350, three and a half months back. So I am a newbie to the Enfield community and have a long way to go to learn about the bike. I have dreamt about riding upto all the corners of India on it. So your book injected that extra adrenaline into me! The book is actually a gift to me from my elder brother. I would like to come down to Pune someday and meet you.
Just waiting to hit the roads on my Enfield! |
| — Hrishi, Bangalore |
I picked up your book a few months back and loved it. We had just recently completed a road trip (with families) to Lahaul Spiti for 15 days and the book and its descriptions struck an instant chord. I am planning to do the trip to Spiti or Ladakh next year on my Enfield Thunderbird - probably with another friend, or if required solo - and would love to get any tips you may have.
Here's wishing the book all the success at the London Book Fair. |
| — Chetan M, Pune |
5 minutes ago I finished reading your book, and I just wanted to let you know how much I actually enjoyed it. I'm not much of a reader and this is one of the only books I’ve actually finished in the last 1 yr. I'm still struggling half way thru the fountainhead.
But i really enjoyed the way you have written your book and the title is very apt. But mostly I love your descriptions of everything, I felt like I could feel and picture everything you were going through while I read, maybe my imagination added sum little things here and there. But I experienced the great Himalayas through your experience and I thank you for it. Hopefully one day I can be so fortunate as to experience it myself.
Very well done and I look forward to the next one!!
Hope to congratulate you at crossword in Mumbai. |
| — Nafisa Alvares, Mumbai |
I picked up one of the copies of " "Yesterday from the Crossword, Mumbai. It is indeed a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved your writing style and wry humour . You have a great knack for narration and you wait for the right moment in conveying a message. Thank you so much for making this year`s Diwali one ride to remember ! |
| — Sivakumar P. Vancheeswaran , Mumbai |
My wife gave me perfect b'day gift this year; . I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am born again Bullet rider, bought my first one right after my graduation in Chennai, sold it when I went to US for 15 years; came back to Pune bought my second Bullet.
If you ever decide to make another trip to a destination in India it would be my pleasure to join you.
Looking forward to your book on Thimphu ride. |
| — Satish Gune, Aundh |
Your book has led me to be a detective of sorts ...
My life has become a Whoddunit story of sorts ever since I bought that book.
Now attending that meet at your idyllic residence was an awesome experience!
Like most others, I too picked up a copy that evening
and completed reading that un-put-down-able tome in less than 24 hours!
After that, many friends who visited my home saw it on my table shelf
and asked for it - only to get this rather haughty response ...
"Sorry, cannot lend it - you see, it is personally autographed by the author!"
I sent them off to Crossword to get their own copy.
However, when I looked for the book today - it has simply vanished!
Surely it is one of my pals ... but who?
Would love to visit your place again soon.
I faintly recall you mentioned Old Monk that evening - did you? :-)
Cheers! |
| — Sandeep Apte, Pune |
What I love most about your book are the subtle and understated
nuggets of true wisdom that come wrapped in seemingly funny words and
phrases throughout the narrative. The way you sum up even the most
painful situation with a positive attitude and a valuable moral is
highly commendable. There's truly a lot one can learn about life by
traveling. The more physically and emotionally intense the
experiences (as one might expect during a cross-country motorcycle
journey), the more the learning. I hope one day I too can find the
time, resources, courage and hunger to undertake the kind of arduous
journey you did. Bravo! |
| — Sandeep Shete, Pune |
The book is really a great read. It's simple, humorous and extremely enjoyable! And very inspiring for many people to actually take a ride out and discover so many things.
Like I had mentioned during the last read -meet, wherein you had read some bits, you've got a great eye for detail and the fact that you can take something from an ordinary day and make it into an enjoyable memory for others too is simply amazing. And you read so well that you had all of us on the trip with you.
I'd love to come for the Pune book read... especially if you are reading... :)
Cheers and all the very best! |
| — Darpana, Pune |
Since I bought your book, it has changed 9 hands, just through
animated reviews from its last reader!
Your book made me forget me (short lived though). was a wonderful experience.
Thank you.
Count me in for the book read in Pune/Mumbai.
Cheers! |
| — Savita Patwardhan, Pune |
I just finished ' '. I can’t tell you how interesting it was. Actually I was planning to buy an Enfield. and for this i was surfing net and reading loads of trip stories. Somewhere I found a portion of your book. i so liked it that i immediately bought it from S B road Crossword. Now i am a proud owner of an Enfield Electra, I would love to go for a similar trip. Don’t know when. Thanks for this amazing book... |
| — Ashish Shivam,
Pune |
| Read 70 pages non-stop last night and again just now for half hour and have
reached the road beyond Kasol - fucking book reads very well and moves fast and
don't know why there seems to be this element of suspense running through it.
Great writing. |
| — K. P. |
I loved reading your book. The best thing is that :-
a. I got down to reading a book after a long time
b. The book awakes the desire to go forth and do the thing you always wanted to do but you cannot because of the pace of work, family life etc,.
c. The Ticket Checker ending could have been more "spiced up" ( forgive the word ) but i guess you wanted to tell it as it happened and so i wont hold anything against that.
You know.. if you see the movie "Rock On".. the character Joe, is going to the airport to join as a steward on a ship and he hears his band playing on the radio. He looks at his wife and this engages his hand from hers and goes to the stadium where the band is playing (his true calling). That’s what i meant in point b.
It is a very touching scene for somebody like me who wants to ride but has decided not to.. for now.. at least till i experience the strength of the call to ride and ride on..
Lovely effort Ajit.. Look forward to more such creative works..
Take care and good luck..
Inshallah.. your book will be a success and will inspire many more guys / gals to do what they always want to do but do not. |
| — Mahesh P, Mumbai |
I finished reading your book late last night and wanted to congratulate you on your fantastic journey to the Himalayas as well as to thank you for making your book as interesting. There are very few moments when I wish I was a man and reading your book and enjoying the journey through it was one such moment.
Also I am sceptic where books are concerned, The White Tiger for example was a disappointment but your book bought along with Arvind Adiga's almost on a spur was a readers' as well as a travellers' delight. |
| — Julia M, Mumbai |
Just finished your book on the trip you made to Leh. Great read . Thank you.
I was there a couple of years back with wife and kids. Flew in , though. Spent 10 days there. Was lucky not to get hit by altitude issues. Managed to have my rum noon and night.
The road to Khardung La is still in my blood. We were being driven in a Quallis, early , possibly one of the first vehicles up. You could still see the thin film of ice on the road. A Gypsy overtook us and our driver got a bit too ambitious. He hit his brakes at a curve , a few 1000 meters high. The story should have ended then. Fortunately, an ice pile at the curb stopped our spinning vehicle. It took the next 10 minutes to stop the driver from shaking. I had to take over the wheel. Great experience, in retrospect , but would not like to be in that spin again. Terrible vehicle to drive on the hills.
The drive from Manali to Leh is on my agenda , but like most good things , it always gets pushed . I intend doing it in a 4 by 4. Picking up the vehicle in Delhi and then driving out. Rather have metal around and 4 wheels. I have done most of the southern roads, during the last couple of decades.
Would presume that the Kalyan you have mentioned is Mithu Paul - ex-BITS. We were in the same batch . Met him a couple of years back along with Anita in Pondy , at another Bitsian's place.
Happy driving. |
| — Vasu, Mumbai |
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