Hey folks, I know it's been a long since I posted something or even logged in. One reason was I was out of the station for a week. I did something I never thought I would do. I went on a solo trip to the mountains. I will be very specific; I went on a solo trip to Manali to celebrate my birthday. So one of the three major goals of 2021 happened a year late after two others happened in the estimated year itself. 

A trip to the mountains has been in my mind ever since I was stuck in the lockdown because I wanted a break and everything around felt messed up. And I wanted it to happen at that year-end. But then, it was postponed to a year later and I have been saving since then hoping to go in December 2021. I also began contacting travel agencies regarding the same about the mode of travel and the package they provided. Not everyone had the option of a single person and I wanted to include my friend who happened to be busy. The Manali plan for December didn't happen eventually because I haven't saved up enough and then I went home instead of when I thought I would be having a break in the mountains. 

It was then in the beginning of 2022 that I decided to go in the month of June, to celebrate my birthday as I was very certain of not celebrating my birthday in Kochi. I saved up accordingly and also contacted a homestay in Manali, the same place my best friend had gone, and he too suggested it was the most calm and peaceful place compared to the city and I was overtly excited about the same. 

When the time came, I was freaking out, especially while booking the tickets. My best friend was there and he asked me if I was sure and I didn't have an answer then, but then we can't afford to waste time and went ahead with the booking. I booked the tickets in June and post that was the most hectic schedule of all and during that time, I realised that I needed a break and that was the right time. And I was gone for a week and had the best time of all, even my relatives and friends were surprised. My father proudly told his family that I had gone to Manali to celebrate my birthday, and the trip was one thing I was hesitating to tell him and when I told him, he said he would have been happy if I told him earlier. But otherwise, it was all fine and I had a really good time. 

More about the trip and the experience later, I thought of writing a comeback blog since it's been long. Stay tuned for the next blog.