How could I miss out on the sole motive of this solo trip while telling about the entire trip? Well, maybe I wanted to save it for the last and have a blog post just for that day alone. So here it goes. And this is the final part of the solo trip. 

The solo trip series wasn't written chronologically so don't get confused with the timeline. The main motive of the trip happened in between the days of the trip i.e., the day hike and the rains when camping was canceled. That was the day I completed a quarter-century of my existence. I woke up earlier than I thought I would as I hoped to sleep more during the cold and snuggle under the blankets. 

I responded to the birthday messages and posts after getting up and noticed missed calls from my family at midnight. My plan was to go to Manali City that day and Bhai had asked me to be ready by 10 as he would drop me there and I could be there till evening. I had hinted to him about my birthday when I mentioned camping and he said will buy a cake and make chicken that day. I thought he forgot but he messaged me ‘Happy Birthday.’ 

After breakfast, we went straight to Manali City which was an hour ride from the top of the mountain to the city and we also had to drop off a guest who was waiting for a cab down there. Bhai dropped me at mall road and I saw a lot of people walking past, clicking pictures, checking out the shops, and going for adventures like dipping their feet in the river and something else, I forgot. 

I just walked around like all others, passing by shops, checking out on the tourists, mostly foreign, mostly in groups, and very rarely do you see a person walking alone. I didn't mind that because I enjoy solitude and this wasn't the first time I am going around alone. 

I happened to read somewhere that, ‘If you have the power to eat alone at a restaurant or watch a movie alone, then you can do anything in life.’ I have done those two long back and still do it, so I can do anything I like it. For instance, this solo trip. 

Moving on, I continued walking and stopped at a coffee shop where they said it was the best coffee but there were a lot of people and three staff and it took an hour to get a coffee. The sky was clouded and there was every possibility of rain. I had an umbrella but I was trying not to use it and rush to a shade as soon as possible. And while under the shade, I was looking for a restaurant to eat at and also checking the price and the rating, it was quite a task. 

I was insistent on having pizza, the most mandatory thing on my birthday and that was been there for three years (except for 2020). Because there were a lot of options and it was raining and I had to make a decision, I was taking a lot of time and I decided to check out on my own rather than google maps as it can be deceiving at times, because it might show open in the maps and when you go to that spot, there is no such place and that have been closed months ago. 

I continued walking around Old Manali and passed by a café and looked at the top for its name. There was a dude at the top and he asked me to come up. I went to the top and him being very warm and friendly took my pizza order; the thing that I wanted on my birthday even though it was costly. The café was still in construction but still, it was vibrant enough with the music and the flags. 

The dude was so cordial he even gave me a free dessert after knowing it was my birthday. After a slightly heavy lunch of delicious pizza and fries and lime soda, I waited outside again for a long time before deciding where to go next and making sure if I would go there. The time was slowly running and I rushed to Mall Road as that is where Bhai would come and pick me. He had some errands running in the city which is why he agreed to drop me. 

I walked around the busy and crowded Mall Road and ended that day with a delicious cappuccino at a posh restaurant with live music after a small café refused to attend to me. That was also when my best friend called me and we spoke till Bhai came to pick me. 

We were going back to Sethan and bought two cakes and chicken on the way. Bhai bought some grocery items for the households and the guests. We went to the campsite, the original homestay of Bhai with two other guests with one cake and other food items to chill for the night. I knew there were would be drinking and smoking and I bought a mountain dew to fit in, I didn't have to put it in the fridge to cool it. It is so cold that you don't really need a fridge to cool your drinks if you wanted. 

Bhai made me coffee and we talked for a long time. The cake was cut two hours before the day ended and we left after dinner. It was all a pleasant experience, and I had the best time ever; the best birthday ever. There would have been certain obstacles during the trip but that was never a reason to not enjoy the much-needed break. 

That's for all my solo trip series folks. Thank you so much for reading. I will see you at the next one. Till then, take care. And keep reading. 

Good Night!