My First Ever Solo Trip- Some Tips & Tricks

Himachal Solo Trip- October 16

So here goes. My first ever Solo trip. And what an adventure it has been. I will be writing about some of the places which I visited, in Himachal Pradesh, which is in the north part of India. Before I begin writing about my trip, however, I suppose I could share some information for those people who are also looking to go on Solo Trips. For the expert traveler, you can kindly skip the next few paragraphs.

First of all, even though you might be going alone, it is advisable to keep few people, maybe in your family or friends about your location, in case of any emergency. This is even more important if you are staying alone, in hotels or guest houses, and not at a place of a friend or acquaintance. These are some of the things I did, before embarking on my trip.

Packed Light, as I knew I would be doing a lot of walking. Honestly, carrying an insane amount of luggage with you makes no sense whatever. Pack light, travel light. Will save you lots of trouble.

Carry a medicine and/or first aid bag with you. This is essential, you do need to carry basic medicines with you. Plus, I was going on a mountainous region, so I also carried some anti-vomiting tablets. And I make it a habit to carry some basic gel, band-aids and stuff. At a time of need, the pharmacy shop may be far away from you. So be prepared.

Made an itinerary, based on my budget, for roughly a week’s duration. Did all the bookings online, and well in advance. This saves a lot of hassle later on. The two important things are travel and lodging. I even booked buses to travel within Himachal, through redbus.in (a pretty handy site). Some of the other websites used to search for accommodations are-
www.trivago.in
www.cleartrip.in
www.booking.com
www.stayzilla.com

And others. Based on my budget, and the hotel ratings, I booked the hotels in all of the locations where I would be staying. Most of the hotels will not charge anything during the booking. You can pay when you check out. Make sure you read the other traveler reviews of the hotel to avoid any last minute bad experiences. Of course, depending on your preference, you might want to stay at dormitories, couch-surf, or look at guest-houses. I, personally prefer hotels, even though they are expensive, as they are safer, and offer more comfort. It’ s of course a personal choice.

Keep some loose cash with you, preferably in alternate locations (bags, shirt pocket, etc) in case you need it during an emergency. Also, some of the places where I visited did not accept debit/credit cards. So it is essential to keep cash. Do remember that unlike in metro cities, ATM’s are not very frequent. You might have to travel a bit to reach a working ATM.

Make a list of the places which you want to visit. Remember not to over-stuff too much of activities in one day. You might not be able to cover everything. Just because you are on vacation, does not mean you need to stress out. Keep some free time in between. Also, it would pay to have a basic look at Google Maps and get an idea of the location where you are traveling. For example it might take 8 hours to travel from Manali to Dharamshala by road. We need to factor all of this in our vacation.

Keep a photocopy of your tickets and necessary documents ready. You might need it at any time.

Also do not forget, to carry at least one Government Id proof with you. This is mandatory for checking into any hotel.

Rest, use your common sense and bring whatever item you would prefer. Though remember, not to overstuff.

Always remember to be alert. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of your belongings. On a solo trip, you are alone. Do not get too relaxed, and get your stuff stolen in the process. Do not venture off alone in any deserted area, especially at night, if you are unsure about the location. It is also advisable not to carry extremely valuable stuff with you.

At the end of it, have fun. That’s what you are on a vacation for, right. Go discover yourself, learn to know your strengths and weaknesses better, and grow as a person.

Before I start writing about my trip, I would like to thank my good friend, Divya Gonnabathula, for telling me about all the places I should cover in Himachal, and sharing some good information. For those who would like to read about her experiences, this is her blog link:-

http://divyasojourns.blogspot.in/

Stay tuned for the next post on the Himachal Adventure.

Life at 27

The following answer was written by me, originally in Quora. I thought I would share it here as well.

Here's the link to the original answer

Question- How is life at Age 27 in India?

I have read most of the answers in this thread, and I can relate to a lot of them. For me personally, life is a bit confusing. There are good parts and there are not so good parts. Lets try to put it into bullet points(too much of MBA stuff again):

* You realize the value and worth of true friends, especially when you have very few of them by your side

* There are times when you wish to meet up with someone, but you are left all on your own(not necessarily a bad thing)

* More often than not, your job tends to take a toll on you, you have arguments with your boss, with your colleagues, and that leaves a bitter taste even after you go back home. As you rise up the corporate ladder, you do tend to see the ugly side of things

* If you are staying away from your family, you realize that you can never take things for granted. You do learn to manage things independently, but you also realize the importance and value of a family.

* If you have roommates, again it can go both ways. If you connect, then there is nothing like going for group events, watching theatre plays/movies/house parties, etc. But if you start having arguments, things can take an ugly turn

* If you stay alone, you might start questioning a lot of things. About life, relationships, values, work, money, pleasure, spiritualism, etc

* If you are in a relationship, at least you have a support. You can share both your pleasures and your pain with your partner

* You realize the value of money. No matter how much someone might say money doesn’t matter, it does. You should learn to invest and to save. Wasting money on useless activities is a sin(According to me)

* Learn to manage your finances, and invest into health stuff, such as books, physical activities, etc(linked to the previous point)
* Often, you might tend to go into depression. Especially if you have a hectic job, with little time for yourself, or your family/friends. Make sure you do manage a work life balance, as far as possible

* Most corporate jobs suck. Period. No matter how high you go, there will be lot of aspects of your job that you will not like. There will be a lot of colleagues you will not be able to get along with. Learn to accept it. Its part of life.

* Occasionally, you might start questioning the purpose of life. The truth is that life has no meaning. Its entirely what you make out of it. There is no hidden truth. Simple. Learn not to complicate things(saying out of experience)

* Value your relationships and the people around you. Ultimately, it is them who will come to your need, when you are in a crisis.
* You will learn to handle multiple responsibilities, and in a better way.

* You will often encounter people with high egos. Try not to get into a fight with them. Understanding the human mindset is essential for a good living. Arguments and fights rarely help anyone.

* You will often be tempted to eat junk food, and indulge in binge drinking to ward off the stress. Try to avoid this as far as possible.
* Travel as much as you can. It opens the mind to new experiences and culture.

* Do not hesitate to try something new and step out of your comfort zone. It will reward you in the long run. Delaying instant gratification also helps.

* In the end, try not to take life too seriously. At the end of it, we are just a part of an average planet in an average solar system, with an average sized sun, in a remote corner of the Milky way galaxy, which itself is part of billions of galaxies in our vast Universe. Take things with a pinch of salt.

Ultimately, this post turned out to be more of an advice thing, than specifying how life is at 27. Still, am glad I wrote it.

I am still Alive

So what has been going on in my life lately? Nothing much, just the same old grind of corporate life. I have now realised why hardly anybody is happy doing his day to day job, but has to keep going, for many factors, financial, social or the like. Or maybe just because any other option does not suit him or her. It has become more of a daily chore than anything else.

Mumbai weather is getting hot and humid, and definitely not the kind where you look forward to going out or travel long distance. Heck, even going into the plant premises in this heat serves as a deterrent. There are quite a few things that i want to do, but the planning has been lacking. It’s almost as if the entire week, you just wait for the weekends to arrive, and once they do, all you want to do is sit back and relax, and in a flash, you are back to your hotseat(office) again. Am I playing hide and seek with time again?

They say having friends is extremely instrumental in your life. So why do I feel even more lonely than before. Where are the friends when you need them? Or maybe it was the introvert and unsocial nature of myself which led me to the state where i am currently. I do not know. Right now, I am just trying to put my thoughts onto paper (not literally), but i guess all i am doing is exposing the confused state of my affairs.

Why is saving money in Mumbai such a pain. You just go out a few times, and you already feel penniless. Not to add the astronomical rents, and other expenses. Sometimes i wonder how people manage to survive here at all. Nevertheless in spite of being one of the costliest cities in the world, with all its traffic and problems, I still feel that this city has a heart, and i have developed a soft corner for it. Something which never happened with either Kolkata or Delhi. Thats another discussion altogether.

Thankfully, one of my oldest habit of reading continues to this day. Finishing more books, and starting yet some more. I am definitely going to finish all of Murakami’s works. The guy is simply a genius. Anime continues as well. Definitely enjoying the Uchiha Itachi arc in Naruto Shippuden (I think the first time ever that i am enjoying watching a filler series). As far as video games go, not having much time for it, but still MGS 5 is going great. Just completed a long mission, and it thrilled me like it did for MGS 1, nearly a decade ago. There are quite a few games I am yet to catch up on.

I am quite sad to say that the fitness thing is going nowhere, and I have become more fat and overweight than before. It is time to say-Do or die. Reading Quora answers is a great source of motivation and occasional time pass. I have had a stint with some dating apps(including Tinder), which got me a few friends(yes, even if I didn't find anyone to Date), and after a long time in my life, I am spending some time with females. Getting to understand the female gender is a herculean task, but extremely enjoyable.

This year is going to be a year of marriages, as lot of my good friends and relatives are getting married. My best friend is going to get married this year as well. Of course I have always been a social recluse, and attending marriages isn't exactly my best idea of having fun. Nevertheless its good to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while. [Note to self- Stepping out in the afternoon heat from your AC room, doesn't really help much besides making you sick].

I am also listening to lot of old hindi songs, mostly the emotional ones. And their remixes. Particularly liked the Sanam Puri version of Mere Mehboob. Listened to it like 10 times in a row. I have been hit by severe depression often, including recent times. I need to develop a positive attitude towards life to deal with it. In spite of knowing the universal fact that there is no real purpose or meaning to your existence. You just survive, and then you die. Thats it. Considering yourself as some special entity or someone with a greater purpose is nothing more than fooling yourself into believing old myths.

Welcome 2016

I shall be turning 27 next week. I cant believe its already been five years since I converted FMS. Time really does slip by ever so fast. People are getting married, having children, and here I am still confused on what is to be done ahead. Although I have realized the basic truth of life- that life does not have any particular truth or meaning. Its just about making the most of the moments while we are alive. That being said there are some activities which I am doing just to keep myself occupied. Listing them in no particular order.

1. Watching Stand up Comedy, especially East India Comedy shows.
2. Reading, reading and more reading. Finally started the epic ‘The Brothers Karamazov’, along with others.
3. Will be attending a few Astronomy seminars soon, hopefully.
4. Cycling.
5. Tindering, just for fun.
6. Walking actively nowadays.
7. Watching movies/TV Series. Eagerly waiting for Batman vs Superman and Xmen Apocalypse for this year.

Rest later. See you soon.

2015 in review

Okay, yet another year gone by. I seem to have become an expert at all these year ending posts. Also, considering that I have hardly been writing anything in the past. Perhaps the zeal of writing is suspended for the time being. Nevertheless I feel like posting some of the Highs and Lows of this year as well. The hits and the misses. The lessons learnt and unlearnt. And with a vivid certainty, that no matter what happens, life continues to move on. Teaching us things on the way. In this way we all learn.

Some of my plus points for this year were:

1. The Europe Trip- My first ever international trip. And it was definitely worth it. A big thanks to my colleague Sovan, for coming along. Overall, it was definitely an enriching experience and an eye opener for me. I would definitely like to come back here soon in future.

2. Change in Work Profile- This was something I was desiring for a while, due to my lack of satisfaction in my previous role. And I am glad that I managed to get a transfer. I complete 2.5 years of work experience, and overall, I am not quite satisfied with the corporate life I have led so far.

3. Resumed the habit of Reading- I admit, in between I had given up my biggest passion- Reading. But I managed to get back to it, and purchased several books in different categories. I have also gone back to reading more of fiction. And I am glad to say that I am reading quite a lot these days. Books never betray.

4. Cycling- Finally, a checklist tick marked. I purchased a new bicycle, Firefox brand. And I do admit, it is definitely fun to cycle around, admiring the scenery around, and trying to be a bit close to nature. It keeps you fit as well. And am glad to say that even though being an amateur, I managed to consistently cycle 20+ kms in one trip. Even though am only getting time for this on weekends.

5. Japanese- I took the JLPT N5 exam, and unfortunately could not clear it. But am looking forward to taking it again. I need to give a bit more effort for this language, as Japan has always been my passion. Am looking forward to planning a Japan trip as well, in 2016.

6. Travelling to some new places such as Lucknow and Hyderabad this year, and looking forward to more next year.

7. Saw a lot of good movies, and played some decent video games, 2 of my major loves. Also saw some decent tv shows. While Avengers 2 might have disappointed a bit, Star Wars Episode 7 made up for it, and Bollywood too gave us some good shows in Badlapur, Talwar, Brothers, etc. Metal Gear Solid 5 was the biggest news in 2015, when it comes to gaming. True Detective season 2 did not live up to the mark, but Narcos was a pretty good discovery. Game of Thrones is going strong as usual. And I finally completed Breaking Bad(which I had started way back in July 2013). Also began with Suits, and am 4 seasons down. I also managed to see some good plays and Stand up comedies. A walk in the woods, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Rajat Kapoor was pretty good, and so was Anupam Kher’s ‘Mera Who matlab nahi tha.’ Saw some good performances of East India Comedy as well.

Some of the not so positive points are as follows:

1. Inconsistency with gymming/exercising:
I admit, I failed miserably when it came to go to the gym consistently, or sticking to a fitness regime. As a result, I have become grossly overweight, with a big protruding belly which everyone seems to enjoy making fun off, and gorging on junk. This HAS to change.

2. Failure with the Keyboard:
I tried to take some lessons, enrolled in Keyboard classes, but lost interest after a month, and it didn’t quite work out. The keyboard has been gathering dust ever since. The same goes for my telescope, incidentally. Though I have managed to see Jupiter and Saturn through it.

3. Yet to do some voluntary work, with an NGO or otherwise, as had planned earlier. Need to execute this in action soon.

4. Yet to learn a proper sport, such as tennis or squash. This has also been procrastinated due to one reason or another.

5. Again faced a heartbreak this year, and honestly am fed up of the same by now. Sometimes I wonder if it is even worth to fall in love with someone, knowing full well it wont get reciprocated. The feeling really sucks, to say the least.

6. Kind of lack planning when it comes to career goals. I admit I am extremely confused, and I overthink without any consequence or result.

7. Lack of social life, and inability to make new friends- I guess I have hardly made any new friends in the lasts few years, and at max, I just hang out with few of my colleagues, that too rarely. I guess my introvert nature, and apprehension at mixing up with strangers, has proved to be too costly. There are times when I feel extremely lonely, and yet have nobody to go to or speak to. That really makes me feel bad.

Anyways, with all the highs and the lows, I am hoping life is shaping out for the better. The future is uncertain, and as uncertain as it can be. I have no idea what is going to happen, good or bad. But what I have learnt is that we should appreciate all the small things in life, as ultimately, that’s what life is all about. There is no ultimate truth or discovery which we might believe we are pursuing. I guess we all have to learn to remain satisfied in that.

P.S.- I have heard about the new anime on Uchiha Itachi to be released in 2016. Really looking forward to that.

The Edge of Reason

Well, i think i will have to postpone my post on Europe for a while, till i figure out a structure for the same. However, one point for all travellers is to be on the alert throughout. Do not forget that tourists are always an easy target for thieves in any corner of the world. Do not get so immersed in your surroundings that you lose track of your valuables, especially your passport, wallet, insurance papers, etc. My friend had 500 euros stolen, that too in Switzerland, which is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world. And planning things properly in advance can save you lot of money and effort later on. Also remember that taxis are expensive throughout Europe and should be preferably used as a last resort, unless of course you have more than enough money to spare.

So, what is going on with my life lately. Of course, majority of my time is spent on work. There are some changes to be expected soon, and I am looking forward to it. Of course, by now I have realised the truth of corporate life as well. There is scarcely a job which anyone likes to do, but is usually forced to do. Till the time he or she finds something better to do. But there are few things i have begun to do. Concentrating on fitness for instance. I recently purchased a cycle, and go for drives on weekends. I admit, it is quite thrilling and fun. I guess i will try swimming next. It definitely isn't easy to try to be disciplined by waking up at 6 even on weekends but then it will reap dividends in the long run.

I perhaps need to do more on the social life front. And maybe do some acts of volunteering. That is next on the agenda. Oh, and yes, have resumed making anime sketches. Will post them on Facebook soon.

Till the next time, see you all. Have a happy Dushera and Diwali ahead.

Euro Trip Part 1

So finally I purchased an Apple product with my Macbook Air. I have to admit, I am impressed with the look and feel of this laptop. Of course, my preference was having a light and thin laptop with decent portability.

Anyways on to my Euro trip. This was the first time that i had ever gone out of India, so it was an exciting trip all the same. I had of course, no idea that the immigration queue is so long, both at the Mumbai and Heathrow airport(London). I had to wait for over 1.5 hours in the queue in the London airport. Nevertheless everything was smooth, and I did not face any inconvenience in travel. Lufthansa was the airline, and everything went by without any hassles.

London is definitely a good city to move around. The first thing that i noticed, however, was that everyone practically rode a Superbike out here. And the car license plates had a different format for the numbers. As part of the tour, we visited the Lords stadium, Buckingham Palace, the Big Ben, and finally Madame Tussads. From there we were supposed to catch a Ferry to Holland.