list: travel memories

Spectacular view of the mountains around Mussoorie in the morning.

Some of my oldest memories go back to travel and trips and they are the ones I cherish with all of my heart. Travel has always evoked happiness in my life, whether the travel was short day trips or picnics or longer and more adventurous trips. Some are of places that I traveled to just once, but have stayed with me, others are of well-loved places that are re-visited often.

In our list feature this month, Lakshmi at Celebrations of Life, Kanchan at Elan and I decided to feature the 5 places that we love, that we cherish, the 5 places that are entwined in our travel memories.

1) Kulu Valley: We used to live part of the year here or rather spend the season there in the summer when we were kids. I clearly remember how pristine and beautiful the landscape was, how few people there were, how there was just one Punjab Roadways bus that used to drive by each day, how there were so few tourists, no litter, barely any graffiti and most of all, the feeling that everyday was an adventure. We used to go for picnics regularly, to Fagu, to Koti, to Tillasharni, to a forest across the river, which we crossed on a little rickety wooden bridge, with the Beas roaring below us.

Looking down from our room towards Camel's Back Road in Mussoorie.

2) Mussoorie: A short trip last year in September, which was a wonderful time to be there, after the main monsoon was over and before the puja holidays started. The town was quiet and calm, which is what we wanted. We walked everywhere, a new route everyday, taking in the fresh mountain air, the stillness, the perfection and the feeling of wonderment at nature's bounty.

3) Dagshai: This quiet little cantonment town in Himachal is always overlooked by tourists, and rightly so, there is nothing to do here. And that's exactly why I love it so much. We spent several weekend trips from boarding school here and had a wonderful routine of walking around the town. As with most old cantonment towns, there are two roads that circle the hilltop, one going over the top and one circling lower down, so one always had a choice on what type of walk one wanted. Being able to see the lights of Chandigarh so clearly from the front bedroom was a beautiful sight.

Traditional planters chair outside our room at the Birds Lagoon Village Resort, near the Thattekadu Bird Sanctuary.

4) Kerala: A family vacation, with 11 of us plus driver and attendant, driving from Bangalore to Kochi via Wayanad and Thrissur. From there to the Thattekadu Bird Sanctuary, then Thekkady and finally to the houseboats at Kumarakom. A hectic trip, but a fantastic one. We stayed at small resorts and one home stay, which we all preferred to hotels, since the atmosphere is much nicer and more appropriate for family travel. We wanted to spend time together, rather than just meeting up for meals in the restaurant.

Outside Old Courtyard Hotel in Fort Kochi, where we ate a sumptuous lunch on Boxing Day.

Gathering for morning tea at all the places was one of my favorite memories from the trip, and they all happened impromptu, with all of us exploring the resorts, walking around and ultimately heading for tea at a common area.

St Michael's Manor bed and breakfast in Scotland, Maryland. I took this shot from the hammock where I lazed in the afternoon :-)

5) Maryland to Maine: Another family trip in the summer of 2006, when we decided to drive from the DC area up along the east coast, exploring the area, visiting old family, friends and old haunts. We drove from DC to Long Island, from where we visited NYC on the Jitney, took the ferry across Long Island Sound to Connecticut, stayed in Providence, RI for a while, visiting our old haunts in Bristol and Newport. We then drove further north to Boston, exploring nearby states of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. On our way back south, we stopped in New Jersey and then headed to a little town called Scotland, in rural Maryland, where we stayed at a charming bed and breakfast called St Michael's Manor. All in all a great trip, with lots of fun, great food and fantastic memories.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Wow!! All your holidays sounds like lots of fun.. You'll have to help me decide on a destination from Delhi.. with the kids for July.. Please!! Hopefully a week!!!

Also - I love holidays with family or friends... There is just so much of chaos... but soooo much of fun at the end!! And a lot of little things to laugh about..
Shalini said…
Thanks Patricia....the topic was Lakshmi's idea, and how could I resist one on travel ;-)

Hey, you've inspired me to do another post....weekend trips from Delhi!

Yes, something so special about spending time with family on vacation.
pink dogwood said…
Wow -love your pictures. I went to Mussoorie as a little girl (maybe 7) - so don't remember much. Haven't seen any of the other places.

I live in Maryland - much check out Scotland - have never been to that tip of the Maryland - it is about 100 miles from where I live.
Shails said…
Nice post.Makes me want to leave everything and GO...
Suma said…
You describe your travel memories so beautifully, that I want to visit them all :))
Anonymous said…
I yearn and live for these holidays... hoping to retire fast and start giving myself these holidays where i keep travelling... i want to settle somewhere in himachall... !! some day i will have a house there...

amen !
Shalini said…
pink dogwood, yes you must visit Scotland and the surrounding areas....lots of great food and such a beautiful place.

Shails, lol, sometimes one needs to do exactly that!

shuma, thanks :-)

hw, lol...I'd love to do that too!
Hi Shalini,

I loved reading this piece of yours. Beautiful description of uncommon and lesser known tourist spots !!!
Keep it up !
pRiyA said…
beautiful! this fort kochi really seems to be the place to go to after seeing it on arch's blog then yours...
Shalini said…
Sanghamitra, thanks! This is part of a list feature that Kanchan (Elan) and Lakshmi (Celebrations of Life) and I do every month. We pick a new topic of list to make...and this was an especially fun one!

Priya, oh yes, Fort Kochi is a great place to go to, lots to explore there and it's got a lovely laidback feel.
JD said…
nice description and pics r beautiful like always..
i got back from kashmir, will put up pics soon..
Shalini said…
JD, thanks....looking forward to your pics! Nothing like travel photos!
Arya Kamath said…
Thank you for visiting my blog, Shalini. I enjoyed reading your mini travelogues. I have never taken any of those trips myself but your description makes me want to!
Katja said…
You have traveled so much! I do love travel memories and photos, I like to go back to them years later. I'm having the travel bug, I'd love to go on a holiday somewhere but it's not possible right now. Maybe next year! Until then I'll enjoy your travel photos :)

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