My Perfect Vacation
I never take vacations. I m not the traveling type of a person (This is where we differ S :) ). Anyways so couple weeks back while I was happily sleeping Ms. P barges into my room and start rambling about this concert in Naukuchiatal. I DON’T like being disturbed when I m in my happy place. So, just to shut her up I said okie fine whatever you say. Little did I know then that this would be one of those things I would never forget in my life. I never planned a trip in such short notice ( okie I dint plan this one that credit goes solely to P). Anyways within two days we had our hotel bookings, train tickets and our trip was all set. It was just two days but I was excited because for once in my life I was going out with people I actually want to hang out with. ( To be honest the last two “major” trips were a disaster, so I was kinda nervous that something bad will happen, well actually it did happen more than once but its all worth it :) )
So, it was Friday night and our train was at 12 15. After many trials, I had my final road trip wardrobe in place and all set. We reached the station around 11.
We got into the train around 12 30 only to find out that we had booked the tickets for the wrong day! I was like $$#$%$# lets get out I m not traveling without a ticket. But madame P had her mind set, thanks to her puppy dog face in front of the TC we did get tickets and we finally on board albeit they cost 3 times the normal price but who cares, we were going to the hills :)
The next morning around 9ish we reached Haldwani which was such a pleasant town, reminded me of Roorkee while we crossed it in our taxi en route to Naukuchiatal. I forgot how much I loved Uttaranchal, the hills, the people, the whole atmosphere screams at you to lay back and enjoy the ride. I was so happy that I started singing only to be stopped by two hormone raging women :(. We had chai pakoda in this quaint village shop. The surroundings make you forget all the worries and just lets you be.
That was where all three of us decided that we will buy a holiday home somewhere in this beautiful place. We will do the sharing thing and meet once a year with our pets :D. The hills are in one way very romantic but I couldn’t stop feeling a sense of deep melancholy. I know I am getting into this goth culture way too much but it seems that there is a sort of gloominess attached to the place. I knew that this would the place I would want to live. The surroundings are so surreal with fog playing tricks with our eyes. Everything seemed like something out of an Opeth video ( Okie I know that’s kinda weird but I couldn’t get Opeth out my head for like two days)
We reached the lake resort by lunch time. The place is so stunning; it looks more like a painting. We got ourselves a nice cottage overseeing the lake. Cold breeze blowing with the mountain air whispering around, I dint want that moment to end. We had a nice lunch and decided to walk along the lake. Three very determined people with three cameras. For the next half hour or so we were clicking away every nook and corner. We dint want to forget the charming location.
Next in line was the boat ride. They had shikaras like the ones in Dal lake. With ducks flapping around and the fog playing with the water, it was such an enchanting ride where we discussed about cameras and shutters. Nice conversation huh :) Pooja pulled out her phone and started playing Damien Rice. The music just fits. I almost cried listening to the songs , looking at my surroundings wishing the most unreasonable things (S you know what, I know totally stupid but well I m the blonde bimbo according to you :D )
After the long and arduous hike, we went back to our cottage to get ready for the concert, you know the main reason that we were here :). That’s when it started raining and I almost gave up but finally around 8 it cleared and we were walking along the road for Music in the Hills. I wish all the concerts I go to are like this one. They were about 50 people happily lounging around the stage which was built right infront of the lake. Everyone sitting with their family/friends sipping wine, enjoying a quiet evening: Don’t you think that’s just right.
We found a nice cozy place for ourselves and the host came up to us and asked whether we got our own booze. Now obviously we were not that intelligent to thing that it was a BYOB thingie. He was so nice, he gave us a bottle of Vodka and was like it’s on the house have fun :) How cool is that! So, finally we got our food, drinks and we were all set to be wooed by the bands. Ohh the drinks were awesome, I can make a mean Vodka lime Cordial now :)
The first band was Sajid and the lost boys. It was a fusion band and I actually am not into these kind, but boy was I wrong the lead singer was a cross between Eddie Vedder and Lain Gallagher of Oasis. And the lyrics were actually pretty good. Then came Soulmate. Listening to them made me realize what I was missing. I never tried Indian Rock, which was a huge mistake. The lead singer Tippi, this chic is awesome. Her range is mind blowing I mean she could sing from Billie Holiday to Janis to Jefferson Airplane. She is my new favorite female vocalist. Ohh I totally forgot the best part, when they introduced the band they went “Three girls came all the way from Lucknow just to listen to these guys” How cool is that! The night was perfect. We were singing we were dancing, everything was just plain perfect. It was almost 2 when we went back to our room. 2500 bucks so totally worth it :)
The next day we checked out of the hotel after a really nice breakfast and got ourselves a taxi for the next round. We stopped at Garudtal which is by far the best lake in the whole region. Its very small but the catch is its totally deserted. We were in the middle of the jungle and not a soul in sight. It was eerie but then the green lake and the birds chirping and such nice weather, I was not actually that afraid. Then we went to Sattal which was kinda bigger than the previous one but just as pretty maybe a little more prettier. I wish I could just stay in one of those holiday homes with a nice book and a cup of coffee. That would be my goal for now. Buy a nice little cottage and just read.
Next stop: Nainital; Mission: Shopping, shopping and more shopping. Till this point in our trip we were nicely enjoying the ride and playing all touristy but once we hit Nainital, the shopaholic was back in action. We went to the Tibetan market and kept buying baubles for almost two hours non-stop. It was a fitting end I suppose. We finally had an early dinner in Hard Rock Café ( not the real one) and then found ourselves another taxi to go back.
This trip was just what we needed. We made a promise we will come back to this place every year for the concert. Hope the plan works out.
That’s all for now, Cheers!
So, it was Friday night and our train was at 12 15. After many trials, I had my final road trip wardrobe in place and all set. We reached the station around 11.
We got into the train around 12 30 only to find out that we had booked the tickets for the wrong day! I was like $$#$%$# lets get out I m not traveling without a ticket. But madame P had her mind set, thanks to her puppy dog face in front of the TC we did get tickets and we finally on board albeit they cost 3 times the normal price but who cares, we were going to the hills :)
The next morning around 9ish we reached Haldwani which was such a pleasant town, reminded me of Roorkee while we crossed it in our taxi en route to Naukuchiatal. I forgot how much I loved Uttaranchal, the hills, the people, the whole atmosphere screams at you to lay back and enjoy the ride. I was so happy that I started singing only to be stopped by two hormone raging women :(. We had chai pakoda in this quaint village shop. The surroundings make you forget all the worries and just lets you be.
We reached the lake resort by lunch time. The place is so stunning; it looks more like a painting. We got ourselves a nice cottage overseeing the lake. Cold breeze blowing with the mountain air whispering around, I dint want that moment to end. We had a nice lunch and decided to walk along the lake. Three very determined people with three cameras. For the next half hour or so we were clicking away every nook and corner. We dint want to forget the charming location.
Next in line was the boat ride. They had shikaras like the ones in Dal lake. With ducks flapping around and the fog playing with the water, it was such an enchanting ride where we discussed about cameras and shutters. Nice conversation huh :) Pooja pulled out her phone and started playing Damien Rice. The music just fits. I almost cried listening to the songs , looking at my surroundings wishing the most unreasonable things (S you know what, I know totally stupid but well I m the blonde bimbo according to you :D )
And then Miss P decided that we should go hiking up the hill. I for the life of me cannot hike/trek, after the Roorkee experience I swore I will never do that ever again. But then there I was in my flip flops hiking up the most treacherous hill. Okie it was not that bad. It was totally worth it. Guess what we found on top of the hill. Fields of gold ( I mean grass :) ). It was everywhere. We couldn’t stop grinning. We ditched our local guide and were too busy taking pictures. Okie, I know juvenile but where else would you find a field of marijuana.
After the long and arduous hike, we went back to our cottage to get ready for the concert, you know the main reason that we were here :). That’s when it started raining and I almost gave up but finally around 8 it cleared and we were walking along the road for Music in the Hills. I wish all the concerts I go to are like this one. They were about 50 people happily lounging around the stage which was built right infront of the lake. Everyone sitting with their family/friends sipping wine, enjoying a quiet evening: Don’t you think that’s just right.
We found a nice cozy place for ourselves and the host came up to us and asked whether we got our own booze. Now obviously we were not that intelligent to thing that it was a BYOB thingie. He was so nice, he gave us a bottle of Vodka and was like it’s on the house have fun :) How cool is that! So, finally we got our food, drinks and we were all set to be wooed by the bands. Ohh the drinks were awesome, I can make a mean Vodka lime Cordial now :)
The first band was Sajid and the lost boys. It was a fusion band and I actually am not into these kind, but boy was I wrong the lead singer was a cross between Eddie Vedder and Lain Gallagher of Oasis. And the lyrics were actually pretty good. Then came Soulmate. Listening to them made me realize what I was missing. I never tried Indian Rock, which was a huge mistake. The lead singer Tippi, this chic is awesome. Her range is mind blowing I mean she could sing from Billie Holiday to Janis to Jefferson Airplane. She is my new favorite female vocalist. Ohh I totally forgot the best part, when they introduced the band they went “Three girls came all the way from Lucknow just to listen to these guys” How cool is that! The night was perfect. We were singing we were dancing, everything was just plain perfect. It was almost 2 when we went back to our room. 2500 bucks so totally worth it :)
The next day we checked out of the hotel after a really nice breakfast and got ourselves a taxi for the next round. We stopped at Garudtal which is by far the best lake in the whole region. Its very small but the catch is its totally deserted. We were in the middle of the jungle and not a soul in sight. It was eerie but then the green lake and the birds chirping and such nice weather, I was not actually that afraid. Then we went to Sattal which was kinda bigger than the previous one but just as pretty maybe a little more prettier. I wish I could just stay in one of those holiday homes with a nice book and a cup of coffee. That would be my goal for now. Buy a nice little cottage and just read.
Next stop: Nainital; Mission: Shopping, shopping and more shopping. Till this point in our trip we were nicely enjoying the ride and playing all touristy but once we hit Nainital, the shopaholic was back in action. We went to the Tibetan market and kept buying baubles for almost two hours non-stop. It was a fitting end I suppose. We finally had an early dinner in Hard Rock Café ( not the real one) and then found ourselves another taxi to go back.
This trip was just what we needed. We made a promise we will come back to this place every year for the concert. Hope the plan works out.
That’s all for now, Cheers!
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