Surat

On Monday, 2nd April, I went to Surat (for the very first time) by Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express, running between Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad. But I boarded in the morning from Borivali station. I had gone there to attend the Indo-Russia Diamond Buyer Seller Meet and was back yesterday i.e. 3rd April. I reached home around 10:45 in the night and right now I am feeling extremely sleepy. That’s why this post – to keep myself awake!

Phew, what a dry and warm weather Surat has. On Monday afternoon, when I went to have my first-ever Gujarati thali at Sasuma restaurant, the temperature was just soaring – as high as 39°C – my skin was getting roasted! But I enjoyed the thali immensely…

Soon after greedily swallowing my thali, I rushed to my comfortable room (with a view of the River Tapti), at the Gateway Hotel. The only thing I enjoyed in Surat was my stay at this five star hotel where I had a sumptuous breakfast. Otherwise, I did no shopping! Only watched TV in my room! I felt exceedingly bored…

To kill my boredom, I did some photography and visited the SVA Spa and Salon at the Taj Gateway Hotel. This was my only respite from the mundane hours spent in Surat – just the look and feel and aroma at the spa renewed and relaxed me; otherwise all the therapies on offer were extremely expensive.

I felt oh-so-happy when I saw my kids last night…they all had come to pick me up from Borivali station but the drive back was slightly offbeat because of the snarling traffic! But what the heck; I was back in my haven – I was back home!!!