What was just a wild thought, turned out to be an amazing trip abroad, My first, and as I have nothing to compare with, I will say a very satisfying journey where I not only enjoyed the different tourist spot but learnt lot about myself. But I am here jumping way ahead... So let me roll back things to the days which followed up... Exactly what was the point where my friend (chinmay, will be referred as chinu and many other terms) and I decided that we need break from our usual life.
***
"Arpit, don't we play every weekend XBOX. We should take some break man...As in, go for some long trip", were the first words I can recall which trigger the trip.
"Hmmm... Yaar, I have thought of it a number of times, but never ever it has materialized." not convince whether I will be up for a trip, with office and me being so lazy on weekends.
***
So we had a small conversation and it didn't fire immediately. What followed was a hidden search and finally a cry to convince me. Chins, did the research the day next and called me up monday morning (2 weeks before).
***
"Abe, Singapore looks good, the 1st of May weekend gives us 3 days and I am sure it will be within our budget? Please please, agree man!", pleaded chins.
"Hmm...I guess you got a good Bonus this year around? Planning to jump to abroad, I thought may be Goa or at max mountains in northern part of the country.", I said, still not being convinced.
"See, I didn't get any bonus. It was charity. Okay. And I am sure you would love to have an abroad trip, especially with your current luck in traveling on company budget." said ass with a grin on his face (or I assume on the other side of the phone)
"Okay. But do you have a plan. And pls don't remind me yaar of my luck. I know it very well." I accepted tentively, thinking still how it will be planned.
"I have done all the research. I will send you all the details I have gathered. I will also be away for a week; some family stuff. You finalize the stuff." smart-ass finally getting the plan going.
***
Now, as chin/ass/dumb-ass was somewhere traveling in train, I was burdered finalizing the plan. Eventually we did manage to fix it completly.
Moving on... There is a special feeling I thought should be part of this tour diary. It was a special mail which came right on the day of travel (30th April midnight we took-off). It was from Mani D. My life crave for a personal sister who looks after me every single moment has been fulfilled by her. By personal I mean, one whom I can boss over, yet be a kid all the time. I tell her everything and learn lot from her; One I can be possessive about and so is she.
As I am lazy, I always pack at the 11th hour and she was having goosebumps and getting worried I will miss stuff to pack. She scolded me atleast 1 week in advance for not making a list and not packing stuff. It is amazing how women (mother, sisters, wife, daughters) mould us - 'men' - so we live a much healthy life. Finally after not packing till the last day, the mail showed her concern and her impeccable love for me. She noted down every single stuff necessary for travel (be it winter or summer). I might have looked into the list, but a printout of that list still is part of the novel I read on the trip, acting as a bookmark & showing how much she was truly missed. This goes in BOLD for sure now - "DIDI I LOVE YOU LOADS".
***
M.K.Retail is the shop where I purchased all the eatables, batteries, shampoo, sunscream etc needed for travel.
Left office around 4 (even though flights at midnight) because I couldn't sit still due to the excitement.
Packed 10 pairs of dresses for the trip, as now on hindsight I see it was far more than what I needed in the end
Forgot to say bye-bye to most of my friends. Sachit - I am sorry; Bhuvan - I am sorry, Gagan - I am sorry.
***
Chinmay booked the cab, but because I was home early, he changed the plans and I reached his house (and had to wait outside as dumb-ass wasn't back from office by the time I reached).
Cab guy fixed at rate 12 bucks/km was a regular cab-driver. Why I said regular - he was as usual the pathetic bangalorean driver who will honk, change lane and run over any moving creature if it tries to come in his way. And yeah he jumped 3 traffic signals giving me little heart stopping moments.
Another of scary moment was a small jam, which made me realize that I am such a jumpy-kid. Yup, I wil fidget so much in the car that a comfortable van seat can also pinch me. By the way, my attire for the night was a cool jeans (black) and a white full-sleves t-shirt. Chins was the usual shabby (aka not worth mentioning it).
And so, at 9pm we were at the airport, exactly 3 hrs before take off. Cab fare - 512 + 10% tip, Chins and I shook hands and wished eached other bon voyage...
