One day I wanna pack my bags and take off - all by myself to a place totally ‘not-known’ to anyone in my ever-evolving network of friends or family. No advice……no map….no compass….no GPS….no asking for directions…..no newsletters from befriended (or not) planets….no screaming promos from travel companies who seem to know exactly when I oughtta take a break from work (even though I don’t) and ask me to leave NOW….no weddings to attend…..no family friends to visit with a ‘sweet-packet’.
It doesn’t matter that a city won’t charm and shock me at the same time. It doesn’t matter that a historic monument won’t stir my soul from within and make me feel nostalgic of an era that I did not witness. It doesn’t matter that a prehistoric artifact won’t fill me with awe and rake up the archaeologist in me. It doesn’t matter that the million flowers in the valleys won’t welcome me with a smile. It doesn’t matter that the salubrious air won’t embrace me with warmth. It doesn’t matter that the trickling brooks won’t tickle my feet. It doesn’t matter that snowflakes won’t land on my nose. It doesn’t matter that I won’t get the thrills of my life hanging upside down by a rope in a deep gorge. It doesn’t matter that I won’t race down a snowy mountain at a 40-degree angle at a maddening speed like a maverick on wheels who has nothing to lose. It doesn’t matter that a gushing river won’t drench me with its ice cold water as it tosses me around merrily. It doesn’t matter that I won’t laze around in a hammock with a book at hand and a German composition in my ear. It doesn’t matter that I won’t be rolling in laps of luxury with hot and smooth black pebbles dotting my spine. It doesn’t matter that I won’t do a ‘world-tour’ of India on a shoe-string budget. It doesn’t matter that I won’t have stunning backdrop photos of mine to share online. And it sure as hell won’t matter that my bank balance remained untouched.
Buuuuuut….what DOES matter is that I do things on my terms, at my pace in my own race. I decide ‘where’ and I decide ‘when’. And right now I feel like surrendering to the bliss of warm oil dripping on my head while a masseuse kneads my feet endlessly. I want to be enveloped in light Indian folk instrumental music and want lush green trees to surround me. I want to inhale moist cool air and I want beams of the sun to shower on me through the mosaic-like thatched roof. And when I’m done with this piece of paradise, I want to lazily walk over and park myself next to either splashing water or gushing water and just watch all of nature’s bounty on the roll. And I wouldn’t mind an occasional visitor or two – an Elephant or a bird that would sit along with me or flutter around me like as if I mean the world to them. No…it ain’t impossible. I heard that in Kerala - in quiet and quaint towns - there exist – what we now call ‘Spas’ which bring my dream to reality. These Spas are a legacy of certain select families. It’s almost as if it’s a trade secret. It must be. Why else do others not succeed in this endeavour of treating people’s lifestyle oriented ailments using this very technique? You may have other successful techniques but this technique behaves like it won’t survive if it switches hands. And who cares? From what I heard, I will walk my way…..all the way…..to Kerala just to be pampered by these Ayurvedic masseurs and practitioners. I’d indulge in Ayurveda from head to toe and ravel in the ‘magical’ balms, oils and lotions of Kerala.
Or……I could also head north to Himachal Pradesh where resorts are resorting to ‘Kerala-Style’ practice of Ayurveda – only…. at an altitude of about 6000 feet. An additional fringed benefit of Ayurveda treatment in Himachal Pradesh is the breathtaking and wondrous panoramic views of the Himalaya Mountains. Just imagining myself in those mountainous regions…sends a chill down my spine. To be soaking in all of nature’s bounty….the lush green meadows dotted with millions of wild flowers; the pleasantly chill weather with cool breeze; the clean air; the sparse civilization with no traffic (much less traffic jams); the open and vacant streets of these small Himalayan towns – all surrounded by the Great Himalayas is an experience by itself. And then to bask in the Himalayan sun with Ayurvedic oils from a different latitude is pure bliss!!
And while I’m up there kissing mountains in Himachal Pradesh, how would it be if I just drifted to 34.05°N 74.38°E? What say? In case you’re looking up these coordinates – don’t bother. They belong to an all-weather resort which sports millions of wild flowers in summers and radically changes to a ferocious snow-sports capital of India in winters. This is where we’ll find India’s highest skiing location; world’s 2nd highest Cable Car; world’s 4th highest golf course; and one of the very few Helicopter-skiing resorts in the whole of Asia. And what I’m really interested in the ‘apres ski’ in this place. I heard it one of the most happening international party places in the world with people from New Zealand, Australia, Europe, China, Russia and India converging after a whole day of ski-indulgence to let their hair down and chill and socialize. With the holistic and Ayurvedic treatments with which I’d feel totally invigorated, I think I’d be all ready for some action then. Now…all I’d need to do is rope-in a friend or two and I’m set for the best action-packed and picturesque vacations of my life. Oh….and 34.05°N 74.38°E belongs to Gulmarg in Kashmir!
