It was around 2001.I was just entering my 20s.Joined my office when I was 18 and within 3 years have gone through every stress to the core being a production house.Always target deadlines, quality issues and remanufacturing, issues with suppliers and team coordination problems and then all the paper work apart from hectic field work as computers didnt reach us then.I was too young and had no idea about anything but got lot of eagerness,speed and was ready for any challenge just telling myself this is how job would be.So, worked everyday till 11-12pm and almost all Sundays till 6pm.No social life like hanging out with friends, sports in weekednds or entertainment.Work, work and work all over.
In my first 3 years in the office, I took just only around 2-3 days of leave.I was handling at that time around 15 suppliers where the norm is 5-6 suppliers per supervisor..and things were literally chaos every day..and finally finished one season full of shipments somehow well and realised that next 15-20 days would not have much of work.Thats the first time in that 2-3 years,I saw a free window to have some breather..And I was at too much of stress then after finishing up all those shipments..that day my pocket was heavy as I got my Diwali bonus pay check alongwith salary.While riding in bike home around 9pm with pocket full of cash,decided that I have to take off smwhere.Thought and decision in just a moment.
Apart from road trips with friends and then with family trips here and there, never had any long trip in my life then.Not crossed state borders apart from couple of trips in college time as tour. So,decided to go somewhere new but really had no idea!.Gone home, finished dinner and told parents got some office work and am off for a week or so.Stuffed dresses in a shoulder bag.On the way called Manager from phone booth and said am off for a week.He was like "what?" knowing me never took off.Straight to railway station and asked which is next train and the answer was "Madurai"2 hrs from home town.Got the ticket and boarded on that without a plan..
Madurai when landed, saw a train ready to leave to Kollam (quillon)- Kerala.Have never been to Kerala. So,took a ticket and boarded on that.It was around 3am then.It reached there for breakfast.Finished breakfast and was on auto in search of hotel to stay.And during convo, told auto driver about my unplanned trip.He suggested that, in 30mins there is one boat leaving to Allepey and its about 75kms via water all day trip reaching Allepey by evening and I should explore it.So, gone to boathouse and the boat was welcoming with a sign board "smoking and beer allowed".Immediately bought a ticket and hopped into it.
It was double deck large boat.Seats at lower deck and open terrace at top with canteen having beer and other supplies.Bought a beer and settled there at terrace on a slow sun during rainy season.till date that day travel on that boat was my best trip..completely travelled through back waters of Kerala villages and such a divine it was..Tea and lunch stop in between at villages..One Dutch guy joined me in convo at boat..He was teacher and on vacation..and then one girl from Australia joined us..We three discussed everything about our countries,tradition,custom,festivals,people,life etc..We had some heated argument too about myths and belief and all. Typical atheism,rationalism and belief stuff :)
That trip got much better when sun was settling down and it was such a delight to see those water and farms with somuch of birds returning to nest in sunset..we reached Allepey around 5pm.As I had no plan for staying, this dutch guy took me to his resort and then we shared a room there and that night he took me to some place where lot of other people were gathered for campfire.All night gone with drinks,dance,puzzles and other play..Next day morning left from allepey after a hug from our dutch fellow..He said it was a great company..He was in touch for few years later via mails..
Straight to Trivandrum from there and somehow didnt like the stay at Trivandram.Decided to leave back to home but again a auto driver on a way to railyway station suggested to visit Kovalam beach about 30kms away from Trivandrum.Auto took a U turn and rode it to Kovalam.Clean and calm beach.Stayed there for 2 days then resort guy told me,I should try Varkala beach which was again close by..Gone there next and it was again better than Kovalam beach in ambience.No crowd at all..Beer all day and rolling around there for two days again.Got few friends there too in that stay there..
Then from there Mangalore and took a train to Goa from Mangalore..Bike drivers were welcoming when landed at Madgoan.And chose one guy and told him wants a calm and clean place to stay..He took me to Colva..3 days spent only in South goa.. roaming around with rented bike..then realised my Diwali bonus pay is almost done and time to get back home.
Nothing was planned but turned out as best trip till date.Somuch,I learnt in that trip.For a boy who born and brought up in tier III town and not had much of exposure, that trip opened up many things.Though I had a habit of reading since childhood, that trip pushed me to read a lot.I have interacted with somany nice people and seen the landscape which I never dreamt of in my hectic work schedule at that young age.That pushed me to read about many lives and landscape which is possible to get to know only via books..
Shared many happy moments with many people in that trip which made me more composed and calm atleast for some time and it reflected in my work.Have felt this always after every trip.You can find something new in you after good trips..That trip taught me how life could be lead and what are the things one should seek to remain happy..After that trip,made it as habit to make a trip whenever possible.Travel afterwards became one of the closest thing.Its been 3-4 years now where I had a long trip except some short trips.Will do it soon..
I always tell people to take a break and travel somewhere new to pickup yourself again.If every book is kind of a friend then every travel is kind of mentor in my experience.
Below are images which I have captured few years later when I took my office team for a trip in same kollam-allepy route.
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