FIRST ROAD TRIP

 

Five individuals, two of whom I had encountered only once in my life, started a journey filled with memories. After a bunch of canceled plans, we ended up with a white Ford EcoSport instead of the black Fortuner we originally wanted. 

In the summer of June 2022, we started our adventure from Delhi at 03:00 am, though we were supposed to leave by 11:00 pm. They picked me up from my sister's PG after I waited for them for a solid four hours.  

The twist? Our destination was still up in the air! We hit the road, not knowing where it would lead. 

As the clock struck 4:00, a cozy sleep took over everyone in the car, except, of course, our trusty driver. When we blinked our eyes open an hour later, we found ourselves on the outskirts of Chandigarh, our driver friend always surprising us with his extraordinary driving skills.

Then, we made a pitstop on the highway for some Aloo Parathas. I mean, who can resist those tasty Parathas when you are in Punjab, right?  

Our trip was full of many breaks for chai. There was this awesome moment when we all leaned out of the car windows, feeling the cool breeze from the mountains in Himachal Pradesh. The air was fresh, the view was stunning, and the fun was non-stop.  

Our first stop in Kullu turned out to be a thrilling adventure, with the excitement going up as we delved into thrilling water rafting. The guide on the raft shared a bunch of instructions, but we being we, decided to go with the flow and do things our way, surprisingly fear didn't creep in; instead, we relished every moment, especially when we all emerged from the raft into the chilly, ice-cold water,  turning it into one of the most unforgettable experiences. 

While exploring around the city, we had a funny moment with a bunch of buffaloes running behind our car. We laughed, feeling a bit threatened, but our confidence in our driver friend kept us cool. At night, we sorted out some long-standing issues among us. So Kullu was full of laughs, thrills, and bonding. 

The next day, we headed to Kasol. Our hotel owner was loud, but also kinda hot, making our stay interesting. We got a hotel right by a river, giving us a cool vibe. Night by the river was a blast, filled with laughter and debate on the river and its tributaries under the stars. 

 But reality hit when our car got a flat tire. While looking for a mechanic, a friend and I stole a pastry, and yes, it was our first-ever stolen one! There was something special about enjoying that ordinary pastry – maybe it was the thrill. We also tried thukpa from a local shop, but it did not live up to the excitement. 

Our adventure rolled into Manali, and the coolest thing was a pool table that became the heart of our meals' bets when we ate till our stomach ached. We laughed a ton, played pool for the first time, and ended up extending our stay from one day to three, all because of that fun pool table..

And yes, Manali had a treat for me – apple cider, my absolute favorite! We also went on a quest for brownies, but it did not turn out as awesome as we hoped. 

Spontaneity was the guide of our trip and out of nowhere, we decided to go on a trek without any plans. When we reached the starting point, it seemed like the trek might be too tough for us. But guess what? While exploring, we stumbled upon the most amazing view ever. It was just us and the quiet mountains. The silence and beauty were so peaceful, making it one of the best moments ever. 

Next stop led us to Shimla, and instead of taking a hotel, we decided to roam the city with our super excited driver friend. We experienced the wildest ride as we tackled crazy 360-degree turn on risky road of Shimla but still I managed to grab some sleep, despite the fear of cliffs. It was an unforgettable mix of thrills and calm.  

Venturing into Chandigarh, the night unfolded with excitement—night drives daringly breaking countless red lights and then taking rest in the car itself. Again, our city exploration started, and we started having unforgettable moments like the McDonald's eating challenge and the last bite that proved hardest to digest. But Chandigarh did not stop there, Picture sitting at Sukhna Lake at the time of sun set, so peaceful. We sat by the water, sharing stories about our favorite life moments. 

Back in Delhi, our adventure was not over. Our driver friend surprised us again, on the Gurgaon highway. The last night at the club was like the grand finale to our journey. The next day, as we went our separate ways and planned our next trip, the memories of this first adventure stayed close to our hearts. The laughter, the good times, and the excitement for more adventures ahead made it special.