These days when we go on a holiday, we plan in advance, months in advance because we want to have good deals. Vacations are expensive! Besides, if you are flying or taking trains, you have no choice but to book in advance or blow a huge hole in your pocket. For me, vacation is a time when I get away from my 24X7 schedule. Even though, I don’t work weekends, there is plenty of cooking, cleaning and catching up on household chores that one has to do. So getting away means no scheduled chores which in itself is a lovely break for me. Yet, I desire minimum amenities like my internet connection, newspapers and some television (especially for kids). If you don’t have them then the kids are on your head all the time asking you to play a board game or something else. It is very difficult for them to fathom that mom or dad would just want to sit on a chair quietly and watch the silent rain turn the greenery glossy. That doing nothing is an activity in itself. Or that they just wants to spend hours on end reading a book sitting by the stream or day dreaming, savoring the utter peace and quiet. It is so difficult to find that silence in our cities. Best part about these places is that one gets really good sleep.
Vacations have changed a lot for me over the years. Now, it is more about getting away and not following a set path that tourists take. Living in the plains, we love to take off to the hills or the beaches. And just like to laze around, go for treks, read and sleep off. It is refreshing for the soul. Somehow, I am off the touristy urge to fill too many things on my plate while vacationing. I see tourists making mindless rounds to hyped places and coming back exhausted and disappointed too sometimes that the place did not live up to the expectations. Somehow, our itineraries are being dictated by what the travel magazines or travel portals tell us to see and do rather than what we want to do with a vacation. No wonder then that a vacation sometimes feels even more hectic than normal working days. And you’d need some de-stressing after getting back :).
Not only holidays but it helps to get away from the noisy festivals that we are subjected to every few days in India. The noise is getting bigger and the oppression on our ear drums acute with each passing year. As much as I enjoy seeing the festivity and joy in the air, I hate the commercialization and excessive noise that is a part and parcel of any festival in India. These days the heart yearns to get away from it all.
For us, one major pain point of going on a vacation is leaving Coco at a dog kennel. Invariably, the poor guy catches ticks. And it is a problematic process to get them off him, not to mention that we hate being away from the sweet fellow. The most beautiful part of coming back is the way he greets us!
Remember those of you with kids, don’t get lured by “the back to nature trips” or be ready to play referee to persistently bickering kids who find it hard to stay occupied unless a parent plays with them. Keep it reasonably natural in a resort with enough games or stuff to occupy them.
The best part about any trip is in meeting interesting folks. You always find solo travelers, kids or families that engage you and enrich your vacation experience.
What kind of holidays do you enjoy?
All pictures courtesy: Freedigitalphotos.net
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