La Poderosa diaries

I am thankful generally that a lot of reading has been happening lately. Even though I was caught off guard by the new schedule and my en-office-route reading did take a back seat, I found my mojo. I think happens with stuff you really want to do in life.


So I have been wanting to write about a lot of books and what thoughts they triggered and generally having/wanting to finish every book which came my way. Digression. I recently read an NYT article which said its totally ok to read a book to a particular point and find oneself fulfilled by the writing/story and not come back to it after that. I know sounds strange. But happened with me during Pratispardhi (cuckold by Kiran Nagarkar). I was already in love. (actually thanks to Upasna's blog, I gifted aai this book with the selfish motive of getting to read it!) I reached a point in the book with all the histories of India merging, babur trying to invade delhi, Maharaja Kumar, trying to emulate his far flung enemy, in the course of warfare. It was awesome. But then I just stopped reading the book. At such a point in a book, when it was evident that I would finish it and go gaga about it, I did not come back to it. To me it seemed like a case of cold feet when nearing the end of a great book. Eventually I did finish it over one weekend. And I don't even know why I digressed so much. Anywho.

So Ernesto Che Guevera's motorcycle diaries was fascinating. Not because of the history of Che himself. But as a wanderer. If I were any younger and sans any education loan (I like to sound responsible and grown up once in a while), the book would have felt more like 'I totally want to do this' rather than 'wish I could do this now'. All the sighs and day dreams of getting to fly away from the real world apart, the book is in no way a travelogue. It's more of an awakening, which travelling normally does to one. I was wondering what was the life altering travel experience I have had till date. And I remember being stranded at a village bus stop near Nasik, on way back to Nasik from Shirdi. It felt adventurous then, being with a friend at a very badly lit bus stop post 7 pm, which was not even an official one (it was just a roadside stop, which village people used to hitch rides). Everyone was trying to help us and give their set of directions which was pretty cool and confusing at the same time. That incident somehow instilled in me the sense to be able to travel well, alone. So yes life altering.


   -> the soundtrack of the movie has been my ring tone for years now.


Anywho, I do believe that travelling changes one as a person. Just seeing so many alike people, landscapes, getting to know nature, oneself leaves you with a newer version of you. I am not much aware of Che's revolutionary fights. And I don't think I need to. Because the doctor boy who traveled across Latin America on a bike, boats, trucks, wanting to discover the world, himself, speaks volumes about him. And yes if you get the girly side of me, looking at his younger pics you would fall in love with Che. (question: aregntine guys are hot? ;-)) Also its full of really rich never before heard (at least for me) Inca history.


Rebel or no rebel, this is one book which satisfied the wanderlust in me. Specially with this migraine and squinting at laptop screen.


~nightflier


* La Poderosa - name of the bike on which Che and Alberto traveled.