I am an Addict!

O Yes! I am an addict.. A Travel addict...

Like Ranbir said in Ye jawani hai Deewani- “Main udna chahta hoon, daudna chahta hoon, girna bhi chahta hoon ... bus rukna nahi chahta”

I dunno what it is... But, I keep on reading about travel when I am not travelling... I don’t precisely know what addiction is all about, but, I crave to visit new places.... I love travelling... No matter to which place... for me its new... I love nature; I love different cultures, the food, the sunrise, the sunset, the journey, the air, the water and the feeling of my being in a new place...

It gives me immense happiness when I travel to a new destination, and when I am not travelling (I mean sitting in office or at home) I dream about my next travel, I plan another trip.... I read about destinations, I make a list of what is missing in my travel bag... For me... I never unpack my bag... ;-)

My weekends when I travel are more relaxing than the ones I spend at home... Its weird I know but it’s true....

When I am unable to travel to any new place for a month or so I feel upset and depressed... It’s a same feeling which I get when I skip my espresso... you know that addiction wali feeling...

Travel makes me happy... it gives me enormous pleasure to be able to breathe in a different air.... It’s like my basic need... and nothing else can fulfil it... No coffee no shopping no food nothing...

Whenever I visit a beautiful place I feel I leave a part of my heart there and it remains with me... though... I forget everything in maximum 3 days.... Thanks to my memory... I can’t remember anything.... but the feel stays in me.... A connection with that place... A pull that calls me back....

It’s a passion in me which is only growing stronger day by day... Dunno where I will end up... But... wherever it may be... all I really wish is to travel travel and travel for the rest of my life...

God, please help me.... I promise I’ll try to be a better person, but please help me... Love you.... Bless my people... :)

My best Christmas Ever!

I wanted to write this from the day it happened... It was truly the best Christmas of my life.

I always believed in Santa Claus, from the very first day I learnt about Christmas...

You may say, I was born and brought up in a set-up, where, as a kid.... all we had was a perfect family, not so perfect situations, a small TV,  and ample time to play and weave dreams...

I still remember how eagerly I used to wait for Christmas eve, watch all Christmas cartoons on Doordarshan before Disney took over and wait for Santaclaus with a list... in a hope... I was a born optimist! :P

Santa Claus never came; I never got any gifts near my pillow on any Christmas morning... I used to feel heart-broken... but, I changed that for my brothers, they always had a Santa to gift them whatever they wished for... For initial years... they didn’t know that there was no Santa in real and that was a true feeling of success for me :)

With time, I changed in size and looks but from inside I was always the same girl who wished for a miracle... till today... I believe in miracles and yes, I have witnessed many of them...

One such miracle was my last year’s Christmas!

It was my best Christmas ever... And it gave me an experience of a lifetime which I’ll never forget...

In December 2014, I planned a trip with a group of people who were travelling to south India. I am a travel freak, so, even though I didn’t know all of them I decided to join them.

Since my plan was finalised at the last moment... My flights were different from the rest of the group... 

A day before Christmas, All energized... I was at the airport to catch my flight for Chennai... 

Although I was alone, I felt like I belong to the airport... I was very happy and excited... Much before time, I was standing a queue for security check when I realised... I missed my flight... how... when... and why... were of no use... My flight was gone and I was standing there without luggage for a security check...

I was furious and upset... I complained.. requested.. argued.. shouted.. pleaded and tried everything to convince them to send me to Chennai... but all waste...

I decided to go to Chennai come what may... I was already separated from the group... And since they had to go to Pondicherry from Chennai they proceeded while was stuck at the airport in Delhi...

After 7 hours and all the efforts, they agreed to give me a seat in a connecting flight to Chennai... I was delighted... I left my home at 4 am and I reached Chennai at 8 pm...

Aahhhh... I can’t explain what a great feeling it was when I first came out of air-plane and inhaled the first gulp of air in that warm weather of Chennai, I was instantly in love... I stepped-in to Chennai airport... It was beautifully decorated for Christmas eve... My fone was dead... So, I first decided to charge my fone... I saw a socket and sat there on the airport floor while my fone was charging... Amazing feel... I dunno why I feel like home everywhere I go... As if I was born to travel.. :))

I charged my fone, called up home to inform I was safe, booked a hotel to stay.. took a cab and enjoyed the drive through the decorated Chennai on the Christmas eve... My hotel was brilliantly highlighted for Christmas... And that was the time... when I realized.. this was my true gift for Christmas which I always waited for... if I wouldn’t have missed my flight I would have been somewhere else, missing this beautiful experience... I thanked Santa and checked in...

I was planning solo travel from a very long time but never got permission from family... this one day in Chennai was my gift for a lifetime... I was all solo and decided to roam around in Chennai all alone... I had one day with me... Christmas day it was...

I got up early, checked the internet and penned down places I wanted to visit... I visited 3 churches on Christmas... blissful... bought homemade cakes... checked out serene beaches of Chennai... talked to strangers, clicked pictures and realised life couldn’t b better...

And again my fone was dead... So, I visited a mall there and bought a power bank for my fone, it was so like a mall in Delhi yet so different, finally... I decided to roam around in T-Nagar market to get the feel of being a local and try some authentic roadside south Indian food... And trust me that was the best part of my day... I loved the food sooooo much... I roamed in the market for around 2 hours... eating everything or rather say overeating everything... :P

Seriously, I felt 1 day was too short, and it was the best trip of my life... next day, I met the group and we proceeded for Coorg but in the entire trip the best was my one day in Chennai...

All my life I waited for Santa and He gave me all the gifts I could have asked for in just one day... Without even asking.. :-)

I love you, God... I know I am your favourite... bless my people and thank you for everything... muaah :))) 

I miss being a Kid!

Though I genuinely believe I am still a kid! :P

Sometimes, I feel... how much we change with time... We grow and learn and turn into somebody so different...

Although, It all happens for some or the other reason... but, at times I miss the kid version of me... The naughtiest & adventurous kid ever :P

I seriously miss how little things used to make me feel on the top of this world....

A packet of Cadbury gems by dad used to make my day, an Amul chocolate used to be a jackpot, a pack of fun flips was a packet of joy.... How excited I used to be for a trip to India gate with family... And then spending the rest of our evening playing with balloons & bubbles.... Wow! :D

Life was so simplified, easy... So stress free & peaceful... Only stress used to be the Home work...

Only I know how badly I miss my Summer Vacations... Chutti Chutti on DD2, playing cricket all day long in sun without worrying about the tanning... followed by cycling in evening with brothers for till the time mom used to call us back... Nostalgia!

I feel I had the best of childhood, I have learnt my sportsman spirit by playing cricket & badminton; I have learnt to be a scientist by experimenting with so many things like fixing lights, opening up the music system with screwdriver and closing it back, by cooking food in self made solar cooker and ‘n’ number of things; learnt cooking by helping my mom in kitchen; tasted adventure by running on the roof fences of buildings while playing hide n seek & climbing on trees to steal mangoes :P; learnt farming by working in my kitchen garden... whoa... I truly enjoyed every bit of my life as a kid....

Even after growing up I always loved my life & believe I am God’s favourite girl... Yes, we do argue but that’s because we love each other :))

There are and there were ups & downs in my life but that’s just a part of living an eventful & most happening life... There is no fun in living a dull life... And yes, I am a Disney princess so my life is supposed to be filmy & dramatic... And the traits I possess are very well suited... :D

Life is great in terms of everything, but, really sometimes I want to go back to the time where there were no mobile phones to keep us busy, there was a life which was social in real sense & happiness which had a REAL meaning attached to it... Far beyond materialistic love & fake happiness... I wish!

Love you God, Take care of my people, Good night... muaaah :))