Below is my personal experience of planning and executing my first solo trip to Goa. Like most of you doing it for the first time, I had my doubts, fears and anxieties. But as it is said, the first step is the hardest. After that things start falling into place.
This Nationwide in fact Worldwide lock-down allowed me to sit and reminisce the past years of my life. So, I took the opportunity to put up my thoughts into a rather unconventional blog which is more of a conversation.
Day before the decision of Solo Trip
Tuesday, 3rd February 2009; around 4:40 pm. I’m seated on my office chair and stretching my arms and legs after having my evening tea moments back.
[Just for your information I was working in a Mechanical Engineering Firm.]
My recently acquired priced possession, my Sony Ericsson K790i rings. Oh, not again!! Must be boss. He usually arrives in this unit around 4ish everyday and knocks me for day’s report after finishing his evening tea.
I picked up the phone reluctantly but to my pleasant surprise it was Sanjeev, one of best of buddies since college days. Haven’t spoke to him for a while.
Sanjeev: Aur bangali kaisa hai? [How are you Bengali? (That’s what he calls me reason being obvious)] resonates Sanjeev’s voice from the other side.
Me: Mai mast. (I’m doing good). Tu bata Jharkhandi (You tell Jharkhandi) [He is from Ranchi, Jharkhand. So, Tit for Tat].
Sanjeev: Mai Badhiya. (I’m fine). Ajkl Goa me hoon. (Nowadays I’m in Goa)
Me: Kitne din ka trip hai? (How many days trip?)
Sanjeev: Abbe trip nahi job. Astra Zeneca me. (Not trip but job. In Astra Zeneca)
Me: Goa me duniya tafri karne jati hai aur tu naukri karne gaya hai? (World goes to Goa for outing you are there for job?)
Sanjeev: Kya bataun? (What to tell?) M.Sc k baad seedhe placement mil gai to yahin join kar liya. (Got placement after M.Sc. so joined here) [ He is Master of Science in Biotechnology from Goa University under the aegis of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi]
Me: Sahi hai bhai. Kam bhi karo maje bhi karo. (That’s good bro. Work hard party harder).
Sanjeev: Kabhi aa yahan. Pura ghuma dunga. Rehne khane ka to koi panga hi nahi. (Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging).
Me: Plan kar k batata hoon. (I shall plan and tell you).
Sanjeev: Baki sab thik thak? Uncle-aunty, didi-jijaji sab thik? (Everything else is fine? How are your mom-dad, sisters and brother in laws).
Me: Sab thik hain. Tere bare me puchte hain. (Everyone is fine. They ask about your well-being).
Sanjeev: Chal ab rakhta hoon. Ye number save kar le. Fir baat hogi. (I shall hang up now. Save this number. We shall speak again).
Me: Chal thik hai. Kuch plan kar k batata hoon. (OK then. Shall plan something and tell you).
Sanjeev: Bye…
Me: Bye…
Our brief chat concludes there.
BUT
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
That is what kept resonating in my thoughts….
I finished that day in office and left for home. After reaching home I told mom-dad that Sanjeev had called and he is working in Goa. They asked about his well-being and praised him for being self supporting and living and working in another state away from his home and all. Mom also expressed concern about how he must be managing and told me to come over if he comes to Delhi. Rest of it was as usual. We had dinner together. Likewise, after fooling around with my newfound love, my Sony Ericsson K790i, it was time to call it a day. I retired in bed…
BUT
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
It again came back and I couldn’t sleep properly that night.
The Day I Decide to go for Solo Trip
I got up in the morning, got ready for office, had my breakfast, put the lunchbox in my bag and left for office after blessings from mom-dad.
In the pre-lunch session it was hustling and bustling as usual. But as the day progressed, I started feeling restless due to something knocking in my subconscious. It was time for evening tea. And as usual I was anticipating my boss’ call after finishing my tea.
Surprisingly, he didn’t show up. So, I had some spare time with me to finish up some documentation. All of a sudden there was a knock on my cabin door.
Parminder: Sir, may I come in.
Me: Yes please.
Parminder: Sir, I need 2 days leave. I want to go to Vaishno Devi with family.
Me: When do you leave? (You must be thinking how and why did I almost grant his leave even without knowing the details as I just asked him the dates. Well, in whichever companies I have worked till date, if someone wishes to go to a pilgrimage then it is seldom denied if not very unavoidable.)
Parminder: Sir, on Friday, 6th.
Me: OK. Do bring prasad (holy offerings) for everyone.
Parminder: OK Sir. Thank you Sir.
After Parminder had left I went back to work. At least tried to.
BUT
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
“Come over here sometime. I shall show you the whole of it. There is no issue regarding boarding and lodging”
Enough is enough, It was time to attend to my thoughts.
I went out from my cabin and had a stroll in the corridor for 2-3 minutes and came back afresh.
I opened IRCTC website and searched ticket for Goa from New Delhi. Confirmed tickets were available starting Saturday, 14th February 2009. Well, that is favourable. But, before everything else, mom-dad need to be in favour.
Calling Mom…..
Me: Hello! Maa.
Ma: Yes tell me. A bit bewildered! (I seldom call her at this time)
Me: Ma, yesterday when Sanjeev called he invited me to come over to Goa for few days.
Ma: But… No…
Me: Pleaseeeeeeee…..
Ma: Come home. Then we talk.
Me: I need to book tickets otherwise I won’t get confirmed ticket.
Ma: Wait! Let me ask your dad.
In the background:
Ma: are you listening? Your son wants to go to Goa, ALONE!!
Dad: When?
Me: Yessss…
Ma: What when??? Tell him not to…
Dad: Arre let him. He is not a kid anymore.
Ma: FINE!!! WHATEVER!!!
Ma: OK book your tickets. When your dad doesn’t have any problem what can I do?
Me: You need not. Thank you! Bye!!!
Mom-Dad in favour, everything favourable.
I went back to the site but by that time the page had expired. So, I logged in again it was waiting list on 14th and 15th February. But I was not gonna let this opportunity to slip outta my hands. Consequently I booked ticket in Goa Sampark Kranti Express departing from Hazrat Nizamuddin Junction on Monday, 16th February 2009 and arriving Madgaon Junction on Tuesday, 17th February 2009.
Subsequently, I booked the return ticket on Mangala Lakshwadeep Express departing Madgaon Junction on Saturday, 21st February and arriving Hazrat Nizamuddin Junction on Sunday, 22nd February 2009. My first solo trip has started to to turn into a reality.
This post would be too long if I include what all I did in Goa. I have already put up a separate post for the insights of my Goa Trip way back then.
You see although I had my doubts, fears and anxieties, I challenged them and overcame them. I prepared my self for the same.
Had no idea what I was doing. So I spoke to my friends who had been to Goa earlier to get some insights. But my purpose was not met as their driving force was purely about getting drunk, being out of bound and wasted while in Goa. So, instead I tried to google out about the place.
Back then, travel blogs were not that common. Instead people used to rely more on travel magazines. So, I went to a second hand book market and grabbed a copy of Outlook Traveller Magazine. It made the trip seem more real, but it didn’t prepare me for planning a solo trip. I was lost. I figured it out as I went, just hoping I didn’t miss anything.
Trip planning can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? Subsequently what’s step two? Afterwards what’s step three? It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before.
I don’t want to get to my next destination and then realize I forgot something. And neither do you!
Nothing ruins the joy of traveling like forgetting and stressing over something you should have done ahead of time. Simple steps like asking the right questions, reading reviews, and checking the weather are just a few ways to get started for your first solo trip.
