NBH Hike III: The Cuisine, The Planes and Johny's Garden

"That's not a plane, that's a school bus", quipped Johny as we were witnessing the landing of a plane on Brussels runway from a plataeu. "Don't worry...in a while we'll go further close to get a better view of them and the lens need not be zoomed", and boy!!! He was dead right. "I don't like these small ones. I am a big fan of those big booming machines!" Johny was unstoppable during the NBH Hike-III as he was directing the group as if airport was his garden in the backyard of his home. "Is he a pilot flying in and out of Brussels every day and night?" I wondered. But we all know big Johny as a big aircrafts lover and when I was talking to him about F16s and F18s he summarized, "They are very interesting birds you know. They makes some mysterious acts." and then followed name of some of his favorite aircrafts whose names sounded like alien birds to me.

Amidst uncertainty because of the weather forecast, Tomas decided to go on with the "Full Moon Hike" as we would have missed the full "Full Moon View" if the hike would have been postponed by a week or so. Luck favors the brave and the weather was at its best, quite warm and sunny as we boarded the bus next to IMEC. After hiking till the runway, I was interested in food as much as in planes. After all, this hike was the hike with the difference and we could feast on the international cuisine at our disposal.

The Cuisine and Daniele's Kitchen
The menu was obviously very rich. Actually it's difficult to remember all the items but let me try my best. We had Japanese: sushi; Chinese: spring roles, Manchu Belgian: meat balls*, cookies, tart, Waffles, chocolates; Indian: coconut rice, and kande pohe; Swiss: sparking milk called Rivolli,Ricolla or something. Italian: Salami* (from Italy and hence Italian).

Daniele sitting with the folded legs cutting salami on the plate placed in front of him reminded me of a plenty of people concentrating on their food during Indian ceremonies. Here though he was serving salami to all including himself with a similar concentration.

Nandan and me attempted "kande pohe" at my place. At times you want to give all your best and somehow things get screwed up in the process. The same thing happened to us. Kande pohe became very spicy even for an Indian's taste. All those who tasted had the same response.: "It's spicy.....pause....pause....pause....blink....blink.....blink.....but it's nice." The impact was so huge that even during the next week Tomas said to me,"Guru, the yellow rice was tooo spicy man..." Watch out next time guys. 'll make up for this mishap.

On crossroads

As we finished food and embarked upon the return journey after the sunset, weather did what it usually does the best in Belgium. The warmth and sunshine had turned into lightening and thunder. The Sun had eloped with no sign of moon. The clouds were turning dark and were fast approaching us. We started setting up the pace but were intercepted by rain and all of us were a bit wet. Without bothering about the weather we kept on walking and came to railway station on the way. Familiar tunnel provided an amiable shelter. We were on the crossroads as there was the BIG question. Should we call the hike off and take the train back to Leuven? Should we wait a while and then start walking? or Should we just continue walking? I must state here I would have been terribly disappointed if we had taken the train back to Leuven. It would have been like going to a big match as a team, taking the allowance (read food) and come back without fight. The pause at the station might have lured some of us to get into the cozy train as soon as it arrives in the station. The best decision was to keep walking and in retrospect I am glad that we did just that and it proved to be the best decision, isn't it? The raindrops turned thinner and thinner and vanished after a while. It was not that cold either and we could enjoy the deja vu feeling as we witnessed some of the familiar spots and memorable incidences during earlier hikes.

There is the Moon :)))

It's a very good test as an individual, as a group to be on the crossroads. It shows up your character a bit. Those who take brave decisions in such circumstances often come out thriving. In the event of loss there is nothing to repent as we all are aware that it was a risky decision as we take the ownership of it. After taking a gutsy decision at the station, it must have been our destiny to witness a full "Full moon" as we approached the tunnel in the IMEC woods. It was indeed satisfying to catch the glimpses of the moon as we were set out for a "Full Moon NBH Hike-III" and although for a brief period towards the end the Moon did show up to make a happy ending...

Next day was set up as a Kayak trip in Dinant for me. Another painful decision but as Tomas says "No Pain, No Gain". But that's another story...
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* I must admit these are the times when it's difficult to stay veggie.