Holiday Postmortem | Hari Singh
What kind of holidays do you like doing as a family?
Anything outdoors-oriented. Fortunately for me, the kids like such holidays too. I remember, my daughter Azmat was just one when we went on a rafting holiday to Rishikesh. Since then, we have involved them in every kind of activity, from paragliding in Kathmandu to bungee jumping in New Zealand. My wife Simran enjoys these holidays, too, though they are not on the top of her list. Both for her sake and that of the kids’, we like to travel with friends who have children in a similar age group. That way, we adults get some time to ourselves, too.
Setsail: (left to right) Hari, Kewal, Gagan and Kirti on the boat to Ransar island; (below) Azmat and Mivaan with the dogs at Pong. (Photograph by Hari Singh)
Not really. If rallying is an extreme sport, I suppose angling is a calming pastime, just like meditation and yoga. Because angling isn’t just about sitting quietly on the banks of a river or a lake, waiting for a fish to bite. It’s also about visiting out of the way places in the interiors—places off the regular tourist track—bonding with nature, sitting back and unwinding. In the end, it doesn’t matter how many fish we catch, or if we catch any at all. A good lunch, a beer in the afternoon, watching the kids enjoy themselves are as important to me as the actual angling.
Does a break like last October’s call for a lot of planning?
Well, my wife always complains that she has to get everything together in half an hour! But that’s not always the case—if we have to book ahead, get friends together, etc.—a week is usually enough. I like to be as comfortable as can be, so good food and drinks are a must. I carry a portable barbecue with chicken, mutton and pork, all marinated at home.
What about the kids? Does it take a lot of doing, enthusing them about a trip like this?
Not at all—in fact, the kids love camping so much they occasionally sleep in tents on the lawns of our Chandigarh home! We’ve never thought or told them that they are too young to do something so, by now, they are complete naturals in the outdoors. They’re very sure-footed, excellent swimmers and pretty good at fishing, too. Our two Labradors, too, are enthusiastic companions on these trips.
I guess you travelled by road to the Pong dam.