Being an Army kid, invariably all our holidays were always well anticipated, properly planned and usually included 2-3 people co-ordinating every detail of the trip. Between the welcome dinner, high tea, mess lunch, farewell dinner and formal visits in between, we would visit the unit mandir, the local bazaar, the historical monuments all according to the small white and red manual that was handed to us by the welcome party at the airport/station. It read 'Holiday Itinerary' and Dads name in bold on the cover and we followed every instruction to the T, we even relaxed at 1500 hrs after lunch like it said.
This Pondicherry trip was my first impulsive trip, first experience travelling to a new place where I did not know anyone, not even a friend of a friend of Dads subordinates sister (has happened) . But I did not think it would be a problem, and it wasn't. It had been 3 fantastic days bumping into old friends and meeting a lot new. I was suppose to leave for Chennai the next morning. While walking down the stairs of the guest house I was making a mental note of the the touristy places I had been avoiding and should visit in the day. I passed by the TV room, where the only person sitting on the sofa pulled his gaze away from the newspaper to nod and wish me 'good morning' I wished him back and headed to the dining room seating myself at the head of the table. I was almost done with my breakfast when he walked in and pulled up a chair across the table with a "hello again".
Around 30, married, polite and from a well respected organisation. Normal right? Wrong. There is nothing worse than bad company on a trip, except creepy company.....THAT! trust me is the worst. And when you have a combination of the two it can be both annoying and scary. Rescue calls from my best friend, a call to my brother loudly (but casually) telling him of my whereabouts and in who's company I was in, a pocket knife at arms length (a little extreme, yes! but I got a strong whiff of the creepazoid I was with), manning the thrice latched room door all night and escaping before the sun rose did not make me feel any better. The tail end of this trip had been unexpected in the most horrible way.
Each trip teaches you something, Ive learnt my lesson.
While travelling alone, let your hair down but never let your guard down and donot trust anyone. Anyone.
This Pondicherry trip was my first impulsive trip, first experience travelling to a new place where I did not know anyone, not even a friend of a friend of Dads subordinates sister (has happened) . But I did not think it would be a problem, and it wasn't. It had been 3 fantastic days bumping into old friends and meeting a lot new. I was suppose to leave for Chennai the next morning. While walking down the stairs of the guest house I was making a mental note of the the touristy places I had been avoiding and should visit in the day. I passed by the TV room, where the only person sitting on the sofa pulled his gaze away from the newspaper to nod and wish me 'good morning' I wished him back and headed to the dining room seating myself at the head of the table. I was almost done with my breakfast when he walked in and pulled up a chair across the table with a "hello again".
Around 30, married, polite and from a well respected organisation. Normal right? Wrong. There is nothing worse than bad company on a trip, except creepy company.....THAT! trust me is the worst. And when you have a combination of the two it can be both annoying and scary. Rescue calls from my best friend, a call to my brother loudly (but casually) telling him of my whereabouts and in who's company I was in, a pocket knife at arms length (a little extreme, yes! but I got a strong whiff of the creepazoid I was with), manning the thrice latched room door all night and escaping before the sun rose did not make me feel any better. The tail end of this trip had been unexpected in the most horrible way.
Each trip teaches you something, Ive learnt my lesson.
While travelling alone, let your hair down but never let your guard down and donot trust anyone. Anyone.
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