The dream vacation that went missing from our dreams

It seems that the letter “V” has suddenly become so important in our life. While we all are looking forward to getting vaccinated, one thing we are desperately missing is the dream vacation in our life. For the office-goer, the dream vacation was a big stress buster. For the ever-busy corporate professional, it meant spending quality time with the close ones. On the other hand, for the family, a dream vacation was a big bonding exercise.

Goa is my favourite vacation destination — **I just love Goa and its beaches**

The pandemic has played a spoilsport taking away all the fun of the dream vacation. Vacations have always been exciting as it brings so much positive energy around the house. The fun of every dream vacation starts not on the day of vacation but the day it is planned. Every family member gets a chance to express his favourite destination. While kids love a beach destination, parents are still old school showing a preference for a hill station.

Planning a dream vacation at Shimla — **Ok! I have decided. We will go to Shimla this time**

A lot of factors come into play while planning a vacation that is not only memorable but also stays in our dreams forever. Dad is entrusted with the task of managing finances and logistics like hotel and travel bookings. Mom has to ensure the dates that are clear from any family commitments like a wedding in the family or who will take care of grandparents in their absence. On the other hand, kids have to see that they are free from the burden of class tests and school exams.

The dream vacation at Shimla

The serpentine tracks to Shimla — **Huffing and Puffing! The Toy train to Shimla**

For most of the Indians staying in the northern part of the country, a visit to Shimla is as important as a visit to Mata Vaishno Devi (one of the most popular religious shrines). Shimla is also known as the Queen of Hills was once the summer capital of the British Raj in Colonial India. Shimla is connected both by road as well as the Shimla Toy train, a UNESCO world heritage that takes you through more than 100 tunnels and thousands of bending curves amongst the beautiful sun-lit mountains.

The moment dad has finalised the venue and the hotel, a broad smile is visible on every family member’s face. A visit to Shimla in March is pretty exciting. Kids get busy finalising the spots they would like to visit. A trek to Kufri, the golf course amongst the lush greens valleys of Naldehra, and exploring the mall in Shimla is all on the Wishlist. The son still remembers the aloo paratha breakfast on the Shere-e-Punjab restaurant. Situated on the Mall road, Shere-e-Punjab is a must-visit for all tourists.

Operation Shimla starts

Daughter getting ready for a trip to Shimla — **Mom! I am ready for Shimla**

Though the dream vacation is still a week away the daughter has already started packing the bags. Mom has given her strict instructions not to carry any sleeveless dresses as Shimla will be cold. She needs to keep full sleeve jackets and some woolen sweaters. Son is more bothered about if he can carry his i-pad and whether the hotel will have free wifi as he doesn’t want to miss his gaming sessions.

Driving down to Shimla on vacation — **Here we come Shimla!**

The departure day finally arrives. It’s one day when kids have to break the tradition and get up early in the morning. Dad has to drive and he wants to leave early to avoid the office rush. It’s a challenge for both son and daughter to take a bath at 5.30 am. Never in their life, they have touched the water before 8 am. Dad has promised a breakfast of aloo-gobhi paranthas topped with dollops of white butter at the famous Murthal Dhaba. The dream vacation to Shimla starts with an auspicious fight over the music. The road journey is interspersed with halts – some for tea at the roadside dhabas and some for washroom breaks.

Sunbathing on Goa beaches

Getting ready for water sports in Goa — **Go Goa Gone! We were missing you for so long**

Goa happens to be a favourite destination for everybody in the family. Dad is the happiest of the entire lot. Chilled beer in the afternoon with Rava prawns followed by Scotch in the evening. What more one can ask for? The daughter is happy as she can click selfies in innumerable backgrounds – one on the beach, one while swimming in the pool, and so on. Also, the Goan attire of shorts and t-shirts is her favourite. Son is happy with his unlimited supply of shakes and a non-disturbing environment to play his online games. Mom is happy as she is free from the shackles of cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The destination is decided and air tickets have been booked. Air travel after a year is not only exciting but also adventurous. Exciting as one has forgotten how the airport and aircraft look like. Adventurous as the aircraft with passengers in covid gear looks more like a plane full of zombies.

Seeing aircraft take-off gives the feeling of life getting back to normal

A dream vacation starts with flying — **Flying never felt so exciting!**

The uber drive from home to the airport, standing at the check-in counters to drop the baggage and queuing up to clear the security check was a ritual that completely went missing for a year. Landing in Goa and watching the sea from the aircraft window increases your palpitations. Picking the baggage from the belt and looking for the complimentary pick-up from the hotel outside the terminal makes you realise that you are in the land of Goan fish curry and Cashew feni.

The sea breeze blowing on your face at the hotel reception makes the dream vacation comes true.

A dream vacation to our hometown Varanasi on a train

An AC 2 tier coach in a train — **Getting ready for that overnight train journey**

The AC-2tier tickets have been booked by dad a month ago. The overnight journey on a train with a coupe of 4 reserved for the family makes the train journey even more exciting. Mom has already packed Poori and aloo ki sabzi with aam ka achar. Dad has pushed the luggage bags underneath the berths. A vendor selling wafers and biscuits enters the compartment trying to sell the goodies with a loud noise.

The train journey when dad was in school

Travelling in a train — **Dad narrating his train journey’s with Grandpa**

Dad narrates the train journeys of his childhood days along with grandpa. Travelling in AC compartments was not that common and people were happy travelling in sleeper class. The train used to stop at even the smallest of the railway stations and grandpa had this habit of getting down at every station leaving kids worried. Looking out of the windows and counting the number of coaches behind the steam engine at every curve was a favourite pastime. The chook-chook steam engines were powered by coal and by the time you reached the destination the hair was full of coal soot and the face turned black. The kulhad (earthen pot) chai was enjoyed with hot samosas wrapped in a torn magazine page. Buying magazines and novels and reading on the berth was a part of the package

Listening to dad’s unending stories the kids start feeling sleepy. The daughter climbs on the upper berth and starts reading her book. 11 pm is still early for her to go to bed. Mom is busy laying the bedding on her son’s berth.

Dad is lost in his thoughts — **Dad in a pensive mood during a train journey**

Dad is looking outside the window at the passing electric poles and wondering how one year has passed with not even a single dream vacation. He is thankful that life seems to be returning to normal.

You can enjoy reading more such stories on my blog. Click on the following links:

Dining out with family and friends: An expensive affair

Air travel is always exciting though airlines are killing it

To enjoy that great vacation with family click on following links:

http://www.makemytrip.com

http://www.cleartrip.com