My Solo Trip

Have you ever had the opportunity to go on a solo trip?

The first time I was introduced to this idea I was rather baffled than excited. You ask why? Because for as long as I can remember my time on this planet I have considered trips as a chance of people spending time together amidst beautiful locations where one can find an escape from the daily mundane life. I don’t understand how one can do that all alone. Well, now I do!

A Solo Trip was one of my goals for this year. I wanted to experience vacationing alone. The opportunity presented itself in a rather disappointing manner. But hey! Silver lining, one item down the bucket list. Yay!!

My plans for my solo trip started way back in March this year after a heartbreaking reality struck me right in the face. Turns out the universe prefers my eyes behind spectacles and thus I was denied LASIK on the grounds of high risk. Rejections hurt and this one didn’t have a scope of a second chance. So yeah, right in the face, quite literally.

So when my disappointed self found a ray of hope she jumped right at it. She enrolled herself for a week’s treatment in School for Perfect Eyesight, Puducherry. Yes, my solo trip was actually a week away for treatment. And I made the most of it.

I took a bus to Puducherry from Chennai which was no different than my usual travels. The vacation spirit hadn’t kicked in yet. It was only after I reached the Guest House and entered my room that I felt different. I was here, all by myself, not for work, not because it was necessary, though for an eye treatment yet for a week to relax and unwind so close to the beach. How often do you get to do that?

The later part of my evening was spent researching and making plans of what I would do on my solo trip. I listed down places, cafes and must do things in Puducherry. I spread them across seven days, ready to make it the best trip ever. The next day sealed my plans in a box and threw them in the farthest corner of the earth.

After registering myself in the School for Perfect Eyesight, I received my treatment plan and guidelines to be followed during the treatment. I had to visit the School twice a day for my sessions, one in the morning and other during the early hours of the evening.

Do not use your mobile phone.

Do not read a book.

Do not play video games.

Do not work on your laptop.

Do not strain your eyes.

And the most important one, do not use your spectacles.

All this while undergoing the treatment which is a bunch of exercises taught to you to give your eyes a great workout as well as a cool down twice a day.

This caused a lot of strike outs on my list. The books I carried were now lying in the bottom of the suitcase. My phone now lasted more than 24 hours on a single charging cycle. Instagram and WhatsApp notifications were now disabled. Doesn’t sound like an ideal solo trip now does it? What’s a trip without sharing it on Instagram? A peaceful, relaxing and explorative trip.

After my morning session I would walk to the Promenade Beach to bask under the morning sun while listening closely to the sound of the waves hitting the rocks. I would sit there and try to look beyond the horizon. For a change I literally had nothing to do. The past few months had been so busy, it felt like there was no time to breathe. It had a thrill of its own. And now I had earned the peace I was enjoying.

After my evening session I would again walk to the Promenade Beach, each time exploring a different street. They all opened up at the beach. I had never enjoyed walking so much before. The vibrant colours on the street, the small cafes, shops, each added beauty to the picture perfect scenery. I had never experienced this side of Puducherry before. It was always the places, the gardens, the different beaches that caught my attention. But now I was able to appreciate the details, the architecture, the variety on the streets. White Town is best explored on foot, in my opinion.

One evening I was happily walking without a care in the world when I saw two girls frantically waving in my direction. I looked back to check if it was for someone else. Apparently they were waving at me. Ignoring them I continued to walk. Honestly, it was late in the evening, I wasn’t wearing my spectacles and I couldn’t imagine anyone recognising me here. Yet interestingly, when I got closer, I recognised them. They were my friends back from college! It was like a reunion in the middle of the road. Lucky for us the road was blocked for vehicles during that hour.

I even explored food a little bit. Each day I would try to eat at a different place. Eventually I ended up visiting this one particular restaurant very close to the Guest House. On the last few days I would just walk up to this restaurant and not even need the menu to order.

At times I would feel lonely back in my room in the guest house. Then sleep would come to my rescue and take me to another world of calm and peace.

While returning to Chennai I was a happy, well-rested soul with a smile on my face and a great experience in heart, ready to face the busy world again starting from that very day when I got completely drenched during the auto ride back home. If only the autowala was kind enough to drop me inside. Well, welcome back to the real life.