Why So Serious? - Travel Diaries, The plunge, Day 1 – Part 2

 

Welcome back… Why so Serious? Donno what this this all about? Well spend a couple of minutes reading my earlier blog…you’ll get what I am referring to!

Without further ado, let me take you the second chapter of my travel diaries.

We booked a 8.30 a.m. flight. As you are aware unlike earlier we had to be at the airport 3 hours prior. We woke-up at 4 in the morning and reached the airport at about 5.15 a.m. by the way I was still pinching myself to check if this was really happening. Yes it was…Yayyy! (Image Sources: Google Images)

We checked in!...its only after we passed security did I actually believe this was happening! Since we woke up quite early, we decided to have some breakfast at the airport. Whilst we were having our coffee, my friend looked at a lady and said ‘Dyum here pants are so cool, I never get them, wish we could ask her from where did you get them’. Don’t be amused, girls are girls…you will be surprised what we did later!

After much contemplation, my friend walked to her, complimented her for her style and asked her brand of pants she wore….hope you guys are getting now what this trip is about! Do what you have never done before…just go for it. I am a compulsive buyer at the airport…I did what I had to do..bought a nail polish…heheh

We bought our bottles of water…interestingly the bottle of water at the coffee store was Rs.40 and that at the water dispenser was Rs.10 for a liter of water…what a rip off! I am literally re-living my journey…phew! Ok ill spare the airport details.

After a 2.5 hour flight (of which I was sleeping like a log for the entire journey and that too sitting in the center seat while my girlies were chit chatting) , we landed in Chennai. We were waiting for our cab driver, who was late, to drive down to Pondicherry. Now Mr. Ramesh kept us waiting for some time but when he finally came, we were relieved. Thus, began our 3 hour drive to Puducherry (pondy). Oh the journey was amazing. However it started pouring, little did I know that it was monsoon season in Pondy. It was a damner for me as I don’t really enjoy travel during monsoons…but I made my peace with it. As we drove closer to pondy I was amazed to see the backwaters on one side of the road and the sea on the other. The beauty of nature had just begun to unfold. After a 3 hour drive, we reached our hotel ‘ Villa Du Ocean’

They say when you stay you need to look at - Safety, Cleanliness, proximity and should be economic. Villa du Ocean was a good bet. The place is situated at a stones throw away from the promenade, the cathedral, the best eatries. The roof top restaurant where we had our breakfast everyday was a fabulous way to start the day. We could see the sea, the cathedral, and eat in peace. The staff was very co-operative. The rooms were clean and had a vintage touch to it. I cannot forget the key...it made me feel like I was entering a haveli! Being at the heart of white town...i think it was the best choice we made!

Once we checked in, we decided to freshen up. Step out for lunch come back and rest. We were told that there was this place Villa Krish which was good. It was decided then, Villa Krish it is. You cannot imagine the kind of food we had…it was sea food galore. The menu looked like a tounge twister ROFT. But the food was mind blowing. Fish, Prawns, Pasta, wedges flowed! The pineapple crumble was amazing….although we were in splits the way the host was pronouncing it…phew it took us a while to understand what he wanted to say.  Since it was a roof top eatery we had friendly visitors (crows) who wanted us to share food with them….It didn’t really bother us as we were so focussed on laughing and enjoying our food….enjoying the view!

We left Villa Krish with a happy tummy. We walked a little bit and headed back to the hotel to rest…we needed an hours sleep atlest….The day is not over yet. Learn more about Day 1 in my next blog! Keep reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why So Serious? - Travel Diaries, The plan – Part 1

The current environment we are living in has taken a toll on our mental, physical and emotional health. As 2020 took a toll on me personally – I personally felt ambushed on all fronts work wise, home front and emotional front as well…I was very close to succumb to it. It was then my family and friends came to my rescue. I thought it only befitting to share how amidst all this madness we did take the leap of faith, we did heal and we did get our life back. Atleast, we made an attempt.

Let me begin with the plan.

I was at the eye of the tornedo at the time the planning began. Work wise we were at the last 3 months of the year closing and with revenue pressures mounting, I felt like the walls were closing in. Our weekly calls with my friends and family used to keep my sanity. Suddenly, out of nowhere in one conversation, the birth of the WSS (Why So Serious) group came up. Wait! Before you come to any conclusion let me assure you, its not inspired by the Joker! It was inspired about our life, our wellbeing.

 Image Source : Google Images

2020 forced us to the brink of hopelessness. We started taking every small blink seriously life seemed to be like a burden. The question was ‘Why have be become so serious’ ‘Why can we, for once take the leap of faith and just travel put all our inhibitions about our surroundings to rest. The planning began with one thought – Lets be optimistic, be focussed, give it to the thought that people called madness and give that madness a little push! Thus, took the birth to the ‘only girls’ trip. Part one of the WSS – Travel Series. The trip was planned on one premise – we be ourselves, do what we want, live, speak out, experience what we want to experience and enjoy the moment!

Image Source : Google Images

  Well, there it was, we decided to give ourselves 9-10 days for the endeavor and decided to begin our 2021 with a promise of optimism, happiness and prosperity of health, mind and body.

The first step was to decide, where do we go? South, North, East, West. Phew! Good question..first lets decide the direction we need to go. Well since North and East were newer territories for us, we thought let’s look at West and South. Now the next, do we need touristy destinations or something soulful? Hmm…all unanimously thought soulful seems like it. Now next what are we drawn towards…unanimously again ‘Water’. So, what’s less touristy and has fab beaches…aha…direction was decided – South!

Next where in south? We wanted a place which was partially known but no one had travelled to that place, not too far, had multiple places around to roam about and gave us the liberty to sprinkle a two more places to visit in the given time we had planned for. As I told you’ll right at the beginning, my life was topsy-turvy, it was kind of my two friends to take the lead and focus on the planning. I was a part of the discussion and was amazed by the minute details taken care of my auricles!

After a lot of deliberation, we agreed that we need to get some good sun at the beaches, some fabulous food and yes enough and more eye candies. Thus, on the map of India, one place stood out – Pondicherry! Yes, that was the first place on the agenda. Now we started looking around to check if there were other places we could accommodate. The second place was a quaint place which was less known but had some history to it. Have you guys head of Tranqybar or Tarangambadi? I thought as much. Neither have I. You will see it through my eyes in the following parts…I assure you of that. Now the last leg had to be something which would inspire us. A land of art, history and stories that could take us a few 100 years back – Mahabalipuram it was. The last leg. So, this is what we did:

-          Identified the places

-          Decided the days we wish to stay

-          Decided the places we want to visit within the core destinations

-          Planned the trip such as on returning, we would be closer to the Chennai airport

-          Booked the hotels

-          Booked the air tickets…..and

Walah….all three started to bring our dream to reality!

Honestly, I had never been to any of these places, hence it was a mystery box for me to unwarp! The mystery which I will unravel in my write-ups to come!...Keep reading…