In today’s digital age, many of our problems have been effortlessly solved. Even those impulsive mood swings can be handled with a few taps, turning spontaneous ideas into reality without second thoughts.
It was a chilly evening in February 2020, over chai at our usual tapri, outside the Samsung Gallery in Andheri (our official college hangout adda). Three friends, including yours truly, were deep in a random discussion. Out of nowhere, I suggested a trip, and the first destination that popped into our heads was Manali. The majority ruled, (Me & Darshan) 2 against 1, and we somehow convinced the third friend (Saif) to join. To ensure the plan didn’t evaporate like most do, we immediately booked our tickets—thanks to the wonders of digitalization and a little help from our credit cards. No plans, no route, no clue how we were going to pull it off.
Train tickets were secured right there at our adda. The next day, we hopped on the train and booked a bus from Delhi to Manali. During the bus ride, we found a hotel room online for our stay in Manali. Totally unplanned, but everything fell into place. With YouTube and Instagram as our guidebooks, we pieced together our itinerary on the fly. The trip turned out to be nothing short of spectacular. Technology made everything smoother—we checked reviews, avoided scams, paid via Google Pay, and didn’t have to worry about carrying loads of cash in an unfamiliar place.
We tracked our expenses using the Splitwise app, which helped us budget better. By the end of it, we were doing so well that we splurged on a nice expensive hotel, ‘Snow Valley Resorts’ for the last three days. The moment Saif said, “Maalik, itna kharcha ho gaya, toh chips bhi le lete.” That’s when we started swiping our credit cards like Tanjiro Kamado wielding his sword.
We made video calls to our families, giving them a virtual tour of Manali. They loved it!
The wonders of digitalization, right?
I even managed my office work from Manali. I would log in during the evenings to handle urgent tasks, once even sitting on a huge rock near a river flow with my laptop. (dedicated employee of the year, Yaah).
But honestly, Manali was so breathtakingly beautiful that it made us forget everything. The majestic white mountains and stunning views gave the perfect break from our chaotic lives filled with endless responsibilities. It was worth every moment. Couldn’t make it to Tosh, but the greenery in Manali had its own charm, took us to another dimension for a while 🌿😛.
We got back to Mumbai on March 2nd, 2020, and by March 22nd, the lockdown was declared. We were grateful for making the trip just in time before COVID put a halt to travel for nearly two years.
I can’t wrap this up without mentioning the positive energy we felt at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, our final stop. It was incredibly beautiful, truly amazing, and it gave us the complete vibe of ‘Kun Faya Kun.’ If you haven’t been, put it on your bucket list.
That’s all for this amazing trip.