Packing completed, Chalk and Cheese bid adieu to Amsterdam, its canal houses , its tulips and head out for Scotland. All through the journey Cheese struggles with a suitcase which has suddenly developed a personality of its own; it simply refuses to walk along her side . Cheese is bending at an odd angle, pulling a reluctant suitcase like an unruly toddler. Chivalrous Chalk is walking much ahead of her, ignorant of her plight, for he is carrying the heavier burdens of the journey ! Lesson learnt , do not ever carry an old suitcase for travel, go ahead and buy a new one.

We reached Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland on a wet and damp day. As we set out of the hotel, rain hits us hard. Against the strong winds and gushing rains, my dainty umbrella turned turtle within minutes. I search for some shelter and luckily find the National Museum of Scotland across the road. Chalk on the other hand, with smug pride for his sturdy umbrella from Decathlon was behaving as though he had plans to cover the city of Edinburgh on foot, come hail or storm. However, we entered the museum ( free entry ) and spent an hour sheltered from rain and cold. To see some more attractions of the city we climbed on a hop-on hop-off bus. But soon realized that hop-off was not the best choice. The heavy rain kept us boarded on the bus. Sitting in the bus, with the rains blurring our vision, we caught glimpses of some impressive buildings belonging to the period of medieval architecture, adding much character to the city.

The next day we went in search of the hiding monster in the Loch Ness lake. The drive to the lake was long, through the scenic highlands of Scotland. The lake was quiet , big and peaceful. There are so many beautiful lakes in my own country, but we are not always capable of keeping it that way for long. We spoil our environment with our own doing. And here I was in a foreign country, sitting by a lake, feeling the silence all around me and thinking where we fail in our responsibilities when it comes to “Mera Bharat Mahan.”

We stayed in picturesque Scotland for four days. We traveled through Scotland by trains and buses. Learning our ways in a new country, finding new rail stations, bus stops, not losing our way through this zig zaw seemed like a mini adventure to Chalk and Cheese. Chalk was the map reader and Cheese was the observer. Journeying on unknown paths ,we were each other’s compass. The winding roads, lakes, green countryside all around, dotted with grazing sheep, the whole scenario felt like a motion picture. A cinema where the camera was rolling without any interval.

Nestling in the lap of stretched out lush green meadows, smokey lakes and undulating hills was a kingdom that I had seen in my imagination all through my childhood. This was a world straight from of the pages of the books we have grown up reading in our school days. Right from the beginning of nursery rhymes to those wonderful illustrations on the thick silky smooth pages of Radiant Readers; the pictures have always stayed back. Then we were introduced to volumes of romantic poets and novelists , pictures were no more a necessity . By then our minds had learnt the art of imagination. Words alone could paint a scenery and fill it with the colours of life.

From the first generation of Romantic poets like Coleridge, William Wordswoth and William Blake to the second generation of romantic poets Lord Byron, PB Shelley, John Keats, they had all lived in these surroundings and had been inspired by these unending landscapes. For me to behold the same intricate canvas of nature felt very surreal. The settings of Scotland brought to life the images of my imagination right in front of my eyes.

We traveled to Windermere from Edinburgh by train with one change at Oxenholme. Windermere has one rail station, connecting it to other parts of Scotland. William Wordswoth had opposed to the making of this rail station fearing it would spoil the beauty of his beloved Lake District. Our hotel in Windermere was perched on a small hill with a breathtakingly beautiful view of the meadows and lake. This hotel gave me the luxury of time, space and beauty. I sat there for hours in a contemplative mood looking out , reflecting on these fairytale days of life.

We were in Scotland on the coronation day of the King Charles lll. Social issues of the two countries Scotland and England can be different but their sovereignty holds them together.Though King Charles is the monarch of the United Kingdom we felt an altered narrative between the two countries. The English people, specially the senior English people had devoted sentiments towards their late queen, Queen Elizabeth , and were happy to see her successor on the throne. Whereas the Scotish people swayed between scorn and indifference about their monarch and his coronation. My summation comes from what I generally heard and saw amongst the everyday regular people of the two countries. It certainly has no political connotations whatsoever.

Since the ceremonial jubilation of London had not crossed the borders, the roads were not blocked, traffic moved unaffected, tourists did not feel it different than any other day. We peacefully moved around Scotland riding on Mountain Goats ! Ofcourse not literally, the bus company we had booked with was called the Mountain Goat. In a country where I saw more sheep in the meadows than people on the streets, this name seemed to fit so perfectly. The green landscape and grazing sheep, miles after miles, a few houses here and there, this world is surely fit to be a kingdom!

Scotland seemed to be whispering in my ears to stay on for a while. I was weaving unforgettable memories that would last me for a lifetime. We were driving through the English Lake District, stopping by to see William Wordswoth’s house in Grasmere village. We had time to stand and stare at the hills where he had seen ” a host of golden daffodils ” We tasted ginger bread from Wordswoth’s favourite bakery which still bakes the same bread. Amidst the fields I could imagine “the solitary reaper” bending at her work, ” to stop here or gently pass” was certainly a thought that will stay with me forever.

What is love I ask myself ? Is it not the pure emotions of joy and pain mingled together that I have nursed in my heart for years. The seed of romanticism, the seed of poetry , the seed of loving nature like a lover, were all planted years ago in my heart. With such happy thoughts and a content heart I move forward from one country to the other. London calling, will be the last chapter of this journey of Chalk and Cheese.

To be continued….