AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 31 of 61 unscheduled halt as the hotel was located adjacent to hot springs. The water emanating from these hot springs were taken through pipes into separate enclosures for ladies and gents to have their bath. This was only the second in the last nine days (after holy dip of less than a minute in Manasarovar Lake) that all of us were having a bath. Water was very hot but it was a most enjoyable experience and most refreshing. Adjoining the bath area was a 1000 year old Shiva temple where we could offer worship. We were also able to visit a Buddhist temple nearby. The hotel itself had a nice sit out from where, there was view of a river thundering below. I would say this was a halt worth making on return from Mt. Kailash. On the 13th day we returned to Kathmandu from Tota Pani. This time the entourage was split into two groups as the operator could not accommodate all in a single hotel. Mr. Srinivasan from Bangalore with whom I shared a room on my arrival at Kathmandu was my room mate till the end of our journey. This time the arrangements for stay were much better but the group that went to another hotel did not have the same experience. We had already finished lunch en route to Kathmandu. In the evening the tour operator had organized a get together where he felicitated all those who undertook the yatra and presented a memento to each. All of us took our respective flights the next morning back home. With this I come to the end of my travelogue on my yatra to Kailash-Manasarovar - a most exhilarating, spiritual experience. (Concluded) ++++++++++++ LETTERS FROM OUR MEMBERS “The Palm” Officers Institute The Palm Officers’ Institute will be functional on all Saturdays. Those Veteran Officers, who patronise the Madras Gymkhana Club on Saturdays for the game of Tambola, may take part in this venture by the Palm Institute, for a change, and help in supporting a good cause. The success of this Institute depends entirely on the support of us Veteran Officers and our families. Let us give it a positive start. Meanwhile, I have requested the Area HQ to formulate a proper SOP that will be available to all Veteran Officers of Chennai, to learn about other facilities that may be thrown open to the members, like the Gym, Golf, Library etc, so that it becomes a proper Officers Institute in the years to come. Let us meet at the Palm Officers’ Institute, opposite Munro Statue, Island Ground, on Saturdays at 7.30 pm with our families. You need not be a member of the Institute to attend these meetings. You can become a member at the venue itself or later. But please do patronize the Institute. Col TN Raman (Retd)