EUROPE  CALLING 

“It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancholies du voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about travelling.” 

― Gustave Flaubert, 

“See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

“The journey is the destination.” 
― Dan Eldon

                        IMSC was a Fun destination on 07 Jul 2019, for the Mumbai enthusiasts proceeding to Italy, Switzerland and France. The second edition of this tri-nation tour is also the brainchild of Cdr Vijay Vadhera, Secy NFMC after the successful 40 Naval veterans trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand last year. This was a maiden meet with the primary Aim of a detailed tour briefing by the organizers Mr Veer Vikram and his better half Mrs Rupali. The additional  take away of the meet  has been  the team formation, albeit some had met at the Visa Office last month for the documentation, but meeting again in person in a buoyant  mood, today has ensured greater bonding, catalysed by the leading Pillars of our group LtCdr MS Grewal (Jt SOPA), Mrs Kanta Mukherjee(NFMC Committee member) and Cdr Vadhera, the Team Leader. We were  delighted to welcome our outstation members, Cdr & Mrs TN Reddy from Hyderabad and Cdr & Mrs Vinay Rai from Pune.

                The programme commenced at 1100 hrs with solemn Rituals being performed by the Temple Pandit Mishraji amidst mantra chanting for the Tour’s success. This was followed by members introducing themselves for greater Bonhomie, as Meena snapped each one (Photos below). Veer and Rupali then explained for about an hour the entire 11 days tour programme starting with the flight on 03rd Aug from Mumbai until landing back on 14/15 Aug, clearing doubts of all members. There were, of course, humorous moments too and the mood of everyone present remained buoyant. Cdr Vadhera then requested Mrs Kanta Mukherjee to present Veer and Rupali with an NFMC Memento. Cdr Vadhera distributed Veterans Caps to all the Members. This was followed by PLD and Lunch amidst the Karaoke singing session organised by Cdr Vadhera on the Karaoke Set that he recently has bought…The Lunch comprised delicious Chicken and Veg Biryani complemented with sweet Gulab Jamuns …..A Funtastic Day that we relished, in the countdown to the ‘D’ Day-Sat 03 August…What an August Day to commence the Tour abroad !! We albeit did miss our outstation members.

  Now that all formalities for the tour members are over in terms of Visas and Tickets, here's for you all,

Zindagi ki asli udan abhi baki hai,
zindagi ke kayi arman abhi baki hain
Abhi toh napi hai ek muthi zameen Apne,
Aage saara Aasman baki hai...
Aage saara Samadar baki hai....
Aage saara Europe baki hai. 

       We wish each other Super wishes till we meet again at Mumbai Airport on the midnight 02/03 Aug for departure to the second edition of  Tri-nation Tour abroad to Far West….Until then Shano Varuna…Jai Hind.

    For itinerary refer my previous Blog by clicking on link below;

http://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/2019/05/nfmcs-europe-tour-come-02-aug-2019-each.html  

P.S. - There are numerous DSLR photos of each one below, that you could easily zoom for better viewing  

  

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About the Author: 

     Commander Rajinder Dutta (Retd 2014) has been a Naval Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor with about 3000 hrs of flying on various fixed wing Aircraft of Indian Navy, viz HT-2, HPT-32, Kirans, Islander, Super-Connie, Fokker F-27 and IL-38. 

He is a   trainer for SSB aspirants, Master of Ceremonies and a Blogger.

http://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/