Reminiscences of 2014 - Friday Skywatch

Today my 3.9 yr old daughter was counting my travels. She almost covered all my international trips and certified that you are great  mamma.... he he…

That brought  reminiscence of  my 2014 travels. It’s been a great year in terms of travels. When counted,  I realized that I lived one third of the year away from home. 7 international trips with few local trips and one Himalayan travel. What else I could have asked for ?  Thanks to my man Hari and my little angel Viha for supporting and taking care of themselves in my absence. 

Sky pictures from the places I travelled  for this year’s last skywatch.

Shravanabelagola

2014  started with Just Go to Shravanabelagola just for the heck of getting out of home after a dry travel year of 2013. Shravanabelgola is famous for its monolithic statue of Bahubali.This travel was  impulsive. This  opened up a good chapter of travels

Shravanabelagola hill view

Bhutan

Bhutan has been my favorite travel of this year as it gave me complete freedom being in such a safe country. Land of happiness really filled me with joy. I loved every second I spent in this land being with myself, and connecting with my soul.

Buddha point in Thimpu

Australia - Sydney

Twice I travelled to Sydney. Wandering through the streets of Sydney was awesome. Any day I like to explore any city by walk. Sydney being so pedestrian friendly allowed me to go around by walk and to experience the place more closely as if I am living there from years. I can’t wake up early in the morning  unless I have to catch a flight. In Sydney woke up  early in the morning and witnessed a spectacular sunrise in front of Opera . Pls see Sunrise at Opera

Sunrise near Opera

Banavasi –Karnataka untraveled

Banavasi is a quaint small town in Karnataka nestled in the western ghats . Here nature’s basket  is full of  greenery and natural beauty with sweet locals. This was mom daughter travel with my 3 year old. She enjoyed this travel as much as I was.

Banavasi pond

Spiti Jeep safari

I travel to Himalayas at least once a year. This year it was Kinnaur and Spiti jeep safari. Spiti is a land of blue sky and stark mountains. Every sight of the sky was at its best including night. Sky with studded milky way was a treat to eyes. But I couldn’t capture that in my camera.

Spiti Dhankar

Germany – Berlin

I visited Germany for a very short time. Berlin was enjoying its fall colors when I was there and celebrating 25 years of the fall of the Berlin wall. Berlin is a historical city filled with museums, art history and architecture.

Berlin - historical city

Singapore

Singapore was really a quick one. I always wonder how Singapore attracts people with its man made wonders. It is entertainment, entertainment and entertainment everywhere.

Singapore at night

China – Beijing and Datong
Datong was the highlight of my China travel. Yungang Grottoes are the most ancient heritage site I visited so far. It is the land of Buddha.

Yungang Grottoes

Thailand
 My last trip of the year was to Thailand –Bangkok and Chiang Mai.( I might be wrong when I say last trip. Still 6 days are there to go ). I liked  Chiang Mai for its charm. Its skyline is dominated by  temple structures.

Chiang Mai temple

I hope you enjoyed these pictures. I am praying good god to keep many more travels in store for 2015

For more sky watch picture, click here Friday Skywatch

JUST GO - Friday Skywatch

Last weekend, I got to listen to two adventurous women – Biker Deepti Jacob and Cyclist Namu Kini in a session organized by F5 Escape under their ‘Just Go’ series. F5 escape is a brain child of   travel enthusiast Malini who organizes women only travels. Just Go is their talk series on travel from seasoned travelers from different walks of travels. Every time I listen to those travel stories, I come back inspired with many more travel plans.If you are planning to start traveling with group you can contact F5 Escape for exciting journeys.

This time I was amazed to know about biking women’s world. I don’t know ABC of biking. Not even  about the brands available in the market. Not sure it is my cup of tea. But certainly felt an urge to try it once. Of late I am drawn so much towards cycle that I might own one shortly.

Malini has aptly named it ‘ Just Go’. Travelling is all about leaving behind our comfort zone, fears  and just starting to explore the new exciting world that each one of us crave for.

To me, 2013 was a dry year as for as travel was concerned. I could only manage to travel  couple of times. Leaves and free time at work do not go together. But last year, all three were on my side. Still didn’t travel. Something was wrong with me. I was living as if someone has tied me to Bangalore, as if my itchy feet has been anesthetized, as if am an ardent mother who doesn’t want to travel causing inconvenience to family. But in reality I am not such a good person. I kept on planning for family holiday not getting common dates, I kept on planning for a child friendly holiday, not actually travelling.

Before reaching hilltop

Then it was already December, it was the time for planning and making 2014 resolutions. I decided, it ought to be travel as my first priority for 2014.  But I didn’t travel on 1 Jan holiday. There were no plans in place for  next weekend. I kept on planning. It was already Friday.

On Friday night I slept over thinking about the place to travel next morning. I woke up at 4  which is unusual for me. I was still pondering over the same question. All of a sudden some revelation kind of happened. I knew place doesn’t matter, distance doesn’t count. I knew it has to be  JUST GO to untie myself from the pseudo self imposed restraint.  I called up for a taxi, reached bus stand and hopped on to a bus to Channarayapattana and from there to Shravanabelagola.

Hari and Viha were still on bed when I called them up from Shravanabelagola at 9  in the morning.

Bahubali statue

I climbed the hill, sat on top of the hill for hours together looking at  the bird view of the town and Bahubali, conqueror of anger and jealousy who is an embodiment of spiritual emancipation. Explored the small town walking through its streets, had food in local Jain bhojanalaya. Relaxed quietly in the park watching kids playing. It was still 4.30 pm. In small towns time crawls. In metros it flies at jet speed.

Shravanabelagola skyline - Coconut tress till the horizon

 I untied myself from the self imposed bondage. Shravanabelagola was a good start for 2014.  This year has been kind  with me creating opportunities to travel every month. It’s been packing and unpacking. I am loving it. I will be somewhere in the wrinkes of mountains even while you are reading this. Wish me more travels :-)

Often people ask me ‘ how do you travel so much ?’ I tell them , you need to JUST GO

What was your Just go experience. Pls share