News Flash!

Alps invaded by Mumbaikars
-Jungfraujoch, May 23, 2007

With the recent appearance of many John Abrahams and Aishwarya Rais
dancing by the streams and valleys of Switzerland (with the
Lamborghini by the side), our fellow Mumbaikars have decided to flock
to the Alps with unparalleled determination. I have seen such energy
and enthusiasm from Indians before only once - At my hostel
valedictory function when the food had run out and the ice-cream was
attacked by the hungry students, but more about that later. There is
Indian Buffet on the highest point in Europe, with our happy Indian
vegetarian people munching their share of paneer on top.

Jungfrau (German for Virgin) is the highest point in Europe accessible
by any form of public transport. And I don't know why they call it
'Top of Europe', as Mont Blanc seems to be the highest mountain in the
Alps. A train runs from the base villages of Lautebrunnen and
Grindenwald, packed with the same distribution of ethnic identities as
a train from VT to Kalyan, with the occasional lost 'foreigner' who
thought he was in Switzerland till he boarded the train. After two
hours you are ready for Indian Buffet. Some comic scenes on top:

1. Indian uncle drops camera. Batteries picked up by old white couple;
handed to UncleJi. A look of surprise on white couple as UncleJi walks
away without a word, pretending the batteries just came back to him.
2. Aunty with scarf, sari and glasses tries to maneuver (with amazing
dexterity) through the one way turn-stile that shouts "Do not Enter"
3. Chinese couple loses their seat on train because opportunistic
UncleJi-2 grabs seat as they get up to enjoy the view.

We are like this only. What to do?