Yes, the way we started the trip was suggestive of how we carried on through the whole trip. Vacations are meant for freedom from labour but we were covering 3 different lands in 15 days, so the sole option was to make it laborious. Ramanar's idea to extend the trip to the 15th day turned out to be quite logical. We spent sleepless nights without a concern about the day when we would be returning to the normal life....big deal ?? We can always sleep when we get back to the workplace !!
The extreme lives we encountered in the 2 weeks is funny to look back. From multi-star hotels in KL and Genting to a bunk bed set in a backpackers' hostel in Singapore, each had its own charm. Staying a backpackers hostel, we were expected to save some currency. To the contrary, the expenses stats reveal that, during the 2 days in Little India, the quartet spent more than a lakh and a half Rupees on shopping in Mustafa. The company's shopping policy had no benchmark - Spend one night at Chinatown for some cheap knock-off stuff and the very next morning, go for a royal ride beneath the Petronas twinnies. at Suria KLCC, one of Asia's biggest malls.
The energy we witnessed in the initial night at the Genting highlands probably came along with the whole trip. A mini Las Vegas was tempting Vinod too much but the coolhead of our group, Arun Anna, had a job in his hands to ensure Vinod did not lose any money...and other things. I definitely missed a Sai at the thriller rides at the park, Vinod made sure I did not come back too disappointed. A 6000-meter high mount, with a constellation of 5-starrers courting a huge theme park in its bay, all owned-by one man...I am yet to buy a piece of land in Chennai...The very feeling left us all enthralled.
Stepping into Singapore, we realised KL had little to compete with this city. Beyond the skyscrapers, something abstract was placing Singapore in a league ahead. Common to both the cities, though, was the influence of Tamil. It gave us a feeling that we were not in an alien land. In a way, Ramanar was disappointed because of this as he felt it was not adding value to his money on the visas. But I should say the marathon shopping at Mustafa, a stunning Songs of the Sea show, the Friday walk around Clarke Quay, Merlion and the Suntec City and not-to-forget the foot massager at the airport put out any fire of disappointment and we left the city with content. I was very also happy meeting Sekar and VJ - could not afford missing them - thanks to them accomodating us on that day.
The gear only stepped up when we reached half-way through the trip, the London dons, Shrid and Sai joined us in Thailand and we felt a completeness in the group with their entry. What a decision these guys made to join us. The laughter and fun we shared after this point had just multiplied remarkably. Right after a nervous entry into the country, where an airport official punished Ramanar for a little crime of his, Vinod and I couldn't hide grinning. The days next, Thailand was full of surprises probably because I expected the least out of it.
The adventurous Coral Islands, a chin-dropper called Noong Nooch Village, a Safari with stone-throw close up look at the lions and tigers at their own backyards were very different experiences. Vinod had told me a lot about the tailoring and suits in Thailand, now I feel I mistaked by getting only one of them.
So what was that I had never imagined I would, those best experiences came from the trip so I am convinced that they deserve separate posts, which I have linked below.
We had an uncompromising quest for food. We were told that it would be tough for veggies. But we managed it well, quite lavishly well. So If our budgets went up by 20%, it was for the food. The Sambar Rice at Aarya's, Sukom Vit is still tasting hot.
The Giant Lord Muruga at the Batu Caves near KL offered to add to our spiritual quotient but only Lord Muruga would know if Vinod was really spiritual at this tourist spot which attracted a lot of westerners !! Do I really have to tell the rest of the story.
This trip meant that I would step in 10 different soils this year, something that had no room in the best of my dreams at the same time last year. Whether I liked this more than the Goa-Mumbai trip from last year, the answer would be a firm NO. The way the Goa trip ended summed up our feelings on the whole tour. On my 23rd birthday, we were standing at the Kamaraj terminal with a meaningful silence and unwilling to depart back home. We would have carried on forever. However, this time around, when Air India messed up our flight plans, we felt our baggage was twice as heavy as it was until then. A homesick feeling isn't a good report card for any trip but it was largely due to the last day's events. However, this wont undermine the fun and experiences we had been through. They were top-class, memorable and had in them, a lot to learn from. I am very happy having taken it, was certainly a trip of life, given that I wont be able to invest some much time and money in such a vacation for the next couple of years.
Missed Ram again on a vacation, this time Mani too. Ram might be off to Europe in a while, so getting the big gang together once again might be quite impossible during the near future. Whether we can do a vacation of this magnitude ever at all ? A wise person recently reminded me that Dil Chahta Hai ends with the friends meeting again on a holiay with a promise. Life presents a lot of surprises, as it has to me in the last one year, I am not counting anything down for the future now !!
