2018 was the year of
mini breaks: trips lasting one to three days. Low on budget and time, I found
myself having to choose between no trips and micro trips. For somebody who
finds 2-week trips short, I surprisingly enjoyed these bite-sized escapades. Throw
in the fact that all these trips were very last minute, and improvised on the
go, and it rings true that travel does teach you a lot about yourself; I never
imagined travelling in a “chaotic” manner, and yet I did.
2019 is luring me
with a lot of promises. I’m ready to move on from my brief romance with brief
trips, but nonetheless, happy at having learnt about new ways to keep my travel
spark burning.
Kabini
This old favourite never disappoints, easily leaving
me refreshed in just a few hours. I didn’t even have to wait until I reached
Kabini for the excitement to set in…just packing my jungle clothes for the trip
melted those blues like nothing else. Add in some safaris with knowledgeable
naturalists, the tranquillity of the forest, and a quick digital detox, and I
returned ready to dive back into routine.
Tranquebar
On my wish-list for over a decade. Finally, plans
fall into place. A cyclone threat looms large. My car breaks down. I almost
return home. Decide to go ahead without my car. The cyclone passes, but not
before giving Tranquebar a good wash. I traipse around town with my umbrella,
in the rain. Enough said.
It’s hard to believe that I had a great time in
spite of all this, but that’s the charm of Tranquebar.
Mumbai
Visiting home in December—the season that’s as cold
as Mumbai can ever get—I capitalised on the good weather to go on rambles and
guided walks in South Bombay, or “town”, as we call it. Of course, taking the hubby
to discover more Irani Cafes was on the menu, as was the hunt for the best
Undhiyu, a Gujarati winter speciality that’s my favourite. We ended up
deviating for some butter chicken along the way, but the fragrance of Undhiyu
finally led us to culinary heaven.
Chennai
A reluctant visit to attend a family function turned
into the perfect way to sign off 2018. I am slowly discovering fun and exciting
facets of Chennai, and a guided walk around traditional Mylapore kick-started
my first staycation. Shocking relatives by checking into a hotel instead of
staying with them was just the beginning of an exciting weekend. After a room
upgrade in a heritage hotel, some truly fabulous food, attentive and
personalised service, and lots of ‘nothing time’, I understood why staycations
have been gaining popularity.
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