For the love of travel!

I always feel like a changed person after coming back from a vacation. At least for a couple of days. The thing is, that the humdrum of daily existence makes me forget to look at the world as if I were seeing everything for the first time. In exotic new lands, I relearn that art and am so much happier for it. The first few days back home make me look at the everyday things in life with the same curiosity. The ever-changing leaves on the trees, a flower bush in the middle of nowhere, an adorable puppy on the sidewalk - I notice it all. Then the magic goes away, and I move around with my nose in my phone, the world lying forgotten to one side.

Anyhow, coming back to travel. I love the way everyone transforms when they're away from home. It's like you no longer have to be the person you and others around you are used to. You are free to be a more liberated version of yourself. You become one with the strangers around you who are all marveling at the same sight. You are one with nature that seems to overwhelm you by her beauty, now that you've gotten around to actually look at her wonders. You are one with your highest and happiest self after a long time. How can that not be beautiful and fulfilling!

Now if only I could learn to be that way everyday, and learn to treat life like the miracle it is, I'll be all set and nirvana-d out :D. Here's to creating your own happiness!

Hello 2016!

So I'm writing my first post of the year 15 days into the new year. No it's not a reflection of my continued laziness. In fact, I've had the busiest start to the year ever!

The new year saw me frantically clean up my messy closets. Mostly because I couldn't find a single thing despite having last cleaned up during Diwali. Office was super busy too as a mid-week vacation beckoned. So after cleaning up the room, finishing various office assignments (I was emailing minutes of the meeting from the airport!), and packing up for an international trip, we left for a heavenly island called Mauritius, where it was all play and no work for 5 straight days!

The fact that I was nearly all packed up well in advance and did not exceed the baggage restrictions at any airport already tells me that I am a changed person this year :D.

Mauritius was gorgeous, to say the least. It was all mountains on one side and the majestic ocean on the other. Green hills, petite and colorful homes (With mandirs! An indication of the Hindu majority there), blue green waters and white sand beaches. A hotel room that looked out into the sea. Friends that were a pleasure to hang out with. And finally, a husband who was more than ready to explore a brand new country with me. What more could a person possibly ask for?! Every single day in Mauritius was an adventure. The icing on the cake? We walked among lions and actually petted one of them! It was surreal!

That wasn't all. We returned a day before Uttarayan. So yesterday was spent on various roof tops among colourful kites, ringing shouts of "Lappppaeeeet" and at night, amid a sky full of gorgeous lanterns!

Today's the first day back at work, and it was so overwhelming that after going through 120 odd emails, I have ended up writing my first blog post for the year! Sometimes creativity needs optimal conditions.

Here's to several more blog posts, a finished book (Komal dreamt I'd got my book published!), a slimmer and healthier me and a year full of adventures! Yay 2016!