Bringing back to life, my interest in solo travel.
2019 promises to be the year for many new things and goals. New job, New hobbies, new habits. It also seems to be the year to bring to life an old part of me, the girl who loves travelling solo. In 2015, after resigning from the beautiful company I began my career with, I took a small break to spend time with myself. I was pretty naive and I was equally thrilled and scared about spending ten days all by myself alone in a state I have never been to before. Here is an Enthu cutlet pic at the Bengaluru international airport.
The first night, I found my way to a homestay deep interior in Munnar somewhere. By 7 p.m. all life was shut down, and there was pretty much nothing to do. No TV, no coverage, no source of entertainment, except my own thoughts. I felt a gush of loneliness and depression take over me that night, as I told myself I was a stupid girl to put myself in this situation willingly. “At least you could have chosen a place with wifi”, I scorned at myself. That night, was terrible. I was sure I am going to regret this trip, and the nights were going to be the most difficult. To add to my woes, the homestay owner was oddly intrusive and kept pushing me to get a portfolio of mine shot by him. Neither did I have the money, not the inclination, moreover, what am I going to do with a portfolio? Make an album of it on Facebook?
There was this one couple from England also staying there, with whom I would become quite close in the next two three days. But the first night, I knew none of these things. I looked out my window and could see nothing in the pitch dark hills of Munnar surrounded by dense trees. Crickets and owls kept me company as I coaxed myself to fall asleep on that first night of my solo trip.
As you can guess, the rest of the nights turned out to be a lot better, even enjoyable as the days progressed and the sceneries changed. I met a lot of interesting people, did a lot of touristy things, made some friends, ate the whole sea, and had a trip of a lifetime.
Fort Kochi and everything Ginger
Probably my most favorite destination in Kerala, Fort Kochi is my kind of place to be traveling solo to. It has a beautiful beach, gorgeous sunsets, the best cafes, excellent seafood, and the most beautiful heritage homestays. I was there on the 1st of April and got super pranked by some random kids on the street. Of course, anyone who knows me knows it is not very difficult to prank me. One thing I will absolutely never forget about Fort Kochi is a restaurant called “Ginger” which had this entire place set up on the theme of ginger. I remember having a huge meal of ginger prawn curry, steamed rice, a fish appetizer I cannot remember and ended it all with a one of a kind ginger ice cream that I have never stopped thinking about. All this overlooking the stunning Arabian sea. Here are some pictures I dug out to drag myself down that memory lane. These were taken with my much cherished and first smartphone iphone 4S. I still have it safe in my closet, and yes it works. 🙂
Fort Kochi calls me again
You know that feeling when you are in the middle of an extraordinary trip and you just want to hold time and make it last. I have been to many such places that have warmed by heart, and I hear a voice in me telling myself “I must visit this place again”, just so I can feel this exact way again. Now we know, this rarely happens, with such little time and money, and so many new places calling out to me.
Kerala, though will always have a special place in my heart, partly for the confidence it gave me when I had just started travelling solo, and partly for its undeniable beauty. Last month, I decided on a whim to go attend the Kochi Muziris Biennale. This year, I am making a conscious choice to delve a little deeper into the artist in me and pamper her as much as possible. A solo trip to an art festival sounded like just the perfect thing to do, and doubly perfect when it is a destination you once told yourself you should go back to visit. It is funny how things kinda fall into place, isn’t it?
I have been acting like a child ever since I booked those tickets four weeks back. I have still not finalized the accommodation because I get so excited and overwhelmed every time I try doing it.
I remember the 25-year-old, all set to take up any challenge life threw at her. I think this trip is happening at the right time when I feel stuck in time not really knowing where I belong. Sometimes going back to a place that felt like home, can help rediscover who you were and if you still want to be that person. Don’t you think?
[…] The last time I was in Kerala , I had an ‘on the road’ version of a Malabar biriyani which I truly detested. But this little shop, with its crowded community tables, away from the posh areas of Fort Kochi, came recommended by a good friend and I am so thankful I made the trip to this place to try it out. […]
[…] The last time I was in Kerala , I had an ‘on the road’ version of a Malabar biriyani which I truly detested. But this little shop, with its crowded community tables, away from the posh areas of Fort Kochi, came recommended by a good friend and I am so thankful I made the trip to this place to try it out. […]
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[…] of friends, and that was a different experience from a different time. This was going to be a very different kind of trip. The allure of traveling after so long gave me such a kick that within an hour of research I was […]