The husband and I went to our friends' house Friday night for a party, and had a fabulous time. We met new people, had a laughter riot and came back home well fed and watered, at 3:00 am.
The next morning, while nursing a sleep hangover (don't tell me you don't know what that is - - that heavy eyed feeling from getting just 9 hours of sleep) and sipping my tea, perched on our comfortable rocking chair, my mind wandered and I got thinking about how we met these friends.
We (the husband and I) met them when we were doing what we love best-- traveling.
And this is one of the primary reasons why I love traveling. Not only do we get to discover, see and eat at new places, we also get to meet interesting, fun, quirky people along the way.
From a neighbour who I have never seen or met in the complex where we live, but met on a flight to Dubai, and discovered that we work in the same office as well (!), to friends we met at the Acropolis in Greece, while competing to absorb the fascinating history thrown at us by our super intelligent and infectiously enthusiastic guide. The sweet, stoned shopkeeper in Santorini, who wanted to adopt me and our four-legged friends who decided to make our tree house their lounge in Wayanad. The interesting couple we met in Andamans, who I clicked a picture for and who returned the gesture by giving the husband a strong drink of whisky for his cold. Or, the Spanish and Italian couple I stayed with in Valencia, who made me some yummy Spanish dishes and introduced my to fantastic Spanish lounge music... it has all been nothing short of fascinating.
I have a fabulous story to tell, for each of my trips, because we have had such interesting conversations and experiences.
Talking to the effervescent Spanish friend in sign language and exaggerated hand gestures, since she spoke very little English and I knew all of four words in Spanish, but managing to talk about cultures, traditions and practices and about being the only wife to the husband (she very cutely and genuinely thought that Indians are allowed multiple marriages. And the fact that I was traveling and living on my own in they same city where the husband was visiting on work, did not help!). Or, receiving a packet of credit cards when we arrived in our hotel in Santorini (I was so impressed that they were giving this as a part of our package!), only to discover that the fun, witty friends we met in Athens had gone to Santorini before us and had forgotten their cards there, leading to us meet in Mumbai quite regularly since. Or, the lovely lady we met at Andamans, who left her corporate job to follow her passion, to create exotic bath and body lotions and potions (which I have sampled and can't wait to get more of). Each experience, each conversation, has made me fall in love with having gypsy feet, even more.
And, the best part of all this is that we are friends with most of them, even today, in some way or the other.
The aim is not to ever lose touch and to keep adding to this list exponentially.
With that, it is time to make some more new friends now. And to spend the Sunday discussing our next travel plan.
The next morning, while nursing a sleep hangover (don't tell me you don't know what that is - - that heavy eyed feeling from getting just 9 hours of sleep) and sipping my tea, perched on our comfortable rocking chair, my mind wandered and I got thinking about how we met these friends.
We (the husband and I) met them when we were doing what we love best-- traveling.
And this is one of the primary reasons why I love traveling. Not only do we get to discover, see and eat at new places, we also get to meet interesting, fun, quirky people along the way.
From a neighbour who I have never seen or met in the complex where we live, but met on a flight to Dubai, and discovered that we work in the same office as well (!), to friends we met at the Acropolis in Greece, while competing to absorb the fascinating history thrown at us by our super intelligent and infectiously enthusiastic guide. The sweet, stoned shopkeeper in Santorini, who wanted to adopt me and our four-legged friends who decided to make our tree house their lounge in Wayanad. The interesting couple we met in Andamans, who I clicked a picture for and who returned the gesture by giving the husband a strong drink of whisky for his cold. Or, the Spanish and Italian couple I stayed with in Valencia, who made me some yummy Spanish dishes and introduced my to fantastic Spanish lounge music... it has all been nothing short of fascinating.
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| The adorable golden retriever in Wayanad |
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| The boxer who wouldn't leave our side, in Wayanad |
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| Yoli, while teaching me how to make Erbido, in Valencia |
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| Me getting almost adopted in Santorini |
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| During another memorable vacation (near Pune), with the friends we met in Greece |
The aim is not to ever lose touch and to keep adding to this list exponentially.
With that, it is time to make some more new friends now. And to spend the Sunday discussing our next travel plan.
