My rules for a relaxed vacation!

Lol! I remember my family vacations with trepidation. These used to be elaborately planned pilgrimage tours that spanned over a week or so and covered an entire geography or state in the subcontinent. The whole bunch of aunties, uncles, cousins and other assorted relatives would cram into a Swaraj Mazda or a Ford Traveller mini-van and scourge the countryside for temples and shrines to visit. When we hit the road, the Gods had no place to run and no place to hide.

We kids used to suffer the most. We were trapped amongst a bunch of edgy adults, who ran the vacation on a military regime. We were forced to wake up at some ungodly hour, get ready and hit the road. Finish so many temples in so much time. Uh, uh...you can't keep staring at that stone wall for so long, how do you expect to cover the rest on the same day. During the day everyone would get so tense and harried that what should have been an idyllic vacation often turned out to be a melodramatic, high-tension episode of "Who dares wins".

Looking back at those days, they were not as bad as I make them sound. But, the point I'm trying to drive home is that vacations ought to be easy paced and stress free. For me at least vacations are meant to rejuvinate the body and soul. Nerve-wracking family soap operas do not fit the bill.

Ahem...if you are still with me...after all that hamming, I'll finally get to the point. I've been travelling a fair bit off late. I've been on one vacation beyond Indian shores, the rest have been short trips to holiday destinations within the country. Through my travels, I've developed a few rules to ensure that my vacation remains a pleasurable one:

1. The objective is to relax. So, relax.
Corollary 1: The objective is not to cover maximum destinations in minimum time. It is not a history exam, where the more you write, the more you score. Instead, begin by taking it for granted that you won't be able cover all the spots in the tourist location. That'll help you to decided which places are must-see and which places are to be reserved for spare time, if any. When faced with the dilemma of visiting another place versus heading back to the hotel, take a step back and ask yourself whether it is going to stress you out. If the answer is yes, then head back to the hotel for a relaxed hot meal and a comfortable bed.....there is no end to stone relics and broken bridges...in most cases, a relaxed hot meal is a wiser decision than seeing the extra neighbourhood ruin.
Corollary 2: Don't keep a packed and punishing schedule. Instead leave a lot of buffer time for a relaxed drink or a snack. Avoid waking up and sleeping at unearthly hours. But then don't get too slothful, you don't want sleep away your vacation, you could've done that at home. Keep a reasonable schedule and try to stick by it.

2. Do your research before heading out for the place. Read up on the internet, buy travel books, speak to people who have visited the place. These inputs will ensure that you don't have nasty surprises in store when you reach the location. Also, a lot of time and effort can be saved if you know how to go about things in advance.

3. While travelling in a group, try to accomodate the group's interests, but if it gets too stiffling, break out in a smaller group and do your own thing. As a group leader or member, you should not see this as an act of treachery. There are some things that are fun when done together, but close proximity can take its toll over a period of time. Tensions and poliitics of democracy can cause unnecessary unpleasantness. Having breakfast together, splitting into smaller teams and then catching up in the night for a drink sounds like a good programme when you are in a large group.

4. Eat and drink regularly. While you are on the road you don't know when you'll get your next good meal, so, eat well. Nibble on something everytime you get a chance to, however don't stuff yourself to the extent of feeling heavy and sluggish.

5. Pack light. Carry the essentials - a complete toilet kit, a few extra pairs of undergarments. Be wary of carrying too many clothes. If you do fall short of clothes, you can always pick-up a t-shirt at a local store, it'll serve as a good memento later.

6. Carry loads of cash. Carry at least twice the amount budgeted. Carry a debit card and a credit card, because there is nothing more frustrating than being forced to cut corners while you are on a vacation. Be ready to spend a little extra for a little extra comfort. Take a cab or an auto instead of sanding in line for a bus. You are here on a break, remember. Try to avoid the struggle as much as possible.

7. Don't compromise on the hotel. Get a good place to sleep, even if it costs a little extra. A bad night will put to ruin all the fun you had during the day.

8. Carry a good book. But not more than one. I often get tempted to stuff my bag with all the books that are pending to be read and it turns out to be a big mistake everytime.

9. Be friendly with the locals. Some are out to cheat you. Some are genuinely nice. Learn to judge the good from the bad. Be wary of fraudsters. Be prepared to be charged slightly more than the locals, it is their show. Tip your cab driver generously, it's usually worth it.

I'll stop here...this has got too lengthy and preachy...

Sweet potato!

I sampled the sweet potato chaat served by the street vendor at HUDA market, the other day. Quite splendid I must say. I've always had a weakness for boiled sweet potato, but the way this chaat was presented raised my approval ratings for this humble tuber to near fanaticism. Try this recipe at home.....boiled sweet potato choped into large cubes + chaat masala + squirted liberally with fresh lemon juice + garnished with slices of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola, more commonly referred to as Karambola Apple, Chinese Gooseberry)