Cold Storage

Monthi Serrao

We were supposed to be out on picnic today, at the Royal Hills resort. But due to Shekhawat’s ill health, the program has had to be dropped. Monthi Serrao, who had spoken to the resort management as well as Shekhawat, confirmed that the “picnic has been postponed, not cancelled”. In other words, we shall be making plans (if at all) only after Shekhawat's recovery.
Today happened to be also the

Zarina Khan(c) celebrates 'advance birthday' 

date for closing of bookings for the trip to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, scheduled for May 16 to 21, 2016 (ref post of February 19). Owing to poor response from members, that too has been put on cold storage. Monthi reaffirmed that the “trip has been postponed, not cancelled” till further notice.
Meanwhile, Mumtaz Jahan announced that she would like to take a group to Kashmir around September 2016 and those interested may confirm their bookings at the earliest.

Mumtaz Jahan announces trip to Kashmir in September

She is leaving for Srinagar right away to line up the hotels, local travel, guides, etc. in time for the trip.
Should this work out, it would be the second trip to Kashmir from the Club in three years. “Apart from the usual touristy places we had visited the last time, there is so much of Jammu & Kashmir left to be explored,” Mumtaz said. “We shall go to all those new spots, stay in three-star hotels and travel around in comfort. The total package, inclusive of to-and-fro airfare, is estimated to be Rs32,000 per person.”
Exciting as this may all sound, a lot would depend upon Shekhawat’s state of health. As the chief organizer of all trips, he enjoys the trust and goodwill of all members – something nobody else in the Club can claim.
In fact, it is his presence that determines not only the feasibility, but also the success of a trip. Such is the general perception. Let us hope and pray that he recovers soon and is back to his sprightly self with renewed vim and verve.
Kiran Prakash:
Announcement of so many trips at the same time is really confusing. It will be better to go to Andaman & Nicobar, a new destination for club members rather than Kashmir which has already been visited. Kashmir and Andaman are in totally two different segments and cannot be compared. I will, any day, recommend Andaman & Nicobar over Kashmir.