Year 2023

 

I did not do a good job in writing the blogs on time in last 2 years, so thought of at least writing the year 2023 recap on time. So here is my try, let's see if I can finish it and post before 2024 starts. :)

The year 2023, I would say was quite happening - lots of travel, successful in terms of achieving milestones (personal as well as professional) and full of dance performances & fun.

January 2023 - Rann of Kutch: Gujarat 

We were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary this year. I asked my husband to plan a trip this time (mostly I do it). He did a good job I must say as nothing could be better and more romantic than Rann of Kutch. We booked 3 night 4 days full board itinerary in super premium tents via https://www.rannutsav.net/ which is their official tourism site. They also had SNOW music festival on the same 3 days. I was very excited for the trip. The trip proved to be more and beyond than my imagination. The Dhordo tent city, overall arrangement, food and entertainment was worth single penny we paid for. Sunset and sunrise in the salt dessert which looks like white snow was truly amazing.

February 2023 - Feb was more of parties, dates and having good time with friends and family.

March 2023 - Holi - Holi is the reason why I love march. it is my favourite festivals. This is the only festival where you can official get high and do anything and say "Bura na mano Holi hai"... 😁

April 2023 - Japan :

 Japan is the country which will change something in you for sure. You will be awed with the rich culture, serene beauty, Mount Fuji, advance technology, bullet train, food, cleanliness, silence in public place, shrines, Manga books, Sumo fight, Samurai history, Ninja, heated toilet seats.... I can go on and on but the list will not end. Before you ask, yes I am writing blog about Japan, but I have not been able to finish it yet. I will share/update once I complete it. 

In short we travelled to Tokyo- Fuji(Yamanaka-ko)-Kyoto-Takayama-Tokyo. Even 100 pictures could not do justice to the beauty and culture we experienced in Japan but here are few favourite ones.

 

May 2023 - Kareli, Jabalpur - MP

Since it is summer vacation time for kids, we had good family get together. In the starting of the month, all my husband's side cousin came to Bangalore; during the second half of the month I went to my hometown. We visited Jabalpur over the weekend and visited Dhuadhar waterfall (again), did boating in beautiful marble valleys, gondola ride over dhuadhar.

June-July 2023 - Back to school is neither easy for kids nor for mothers. We survived June and July while adjusting to school and back to work schedule. However, my husband arranged for an amazing Casino theme party for my birthday.

August 2023 - Patna, Sasaram, Bihar

One of less advertised state in terms of tourism but it has huge potential. Our parents built a new house in the village after retirement. We went for house warming. The village is so beautiful, exactly like people show in movies or like an author describes of a village in childhood story. Greenery just outside the house, and small river, one temple at the end of the road. We also visited Sasaram to visit Sher shah Suri's tomb. The city served as the capital of the Sur dynasty during Sher Shah Suri's rule over India in the 16th century.

New house

View from Balcony

September 2023 - Varkala, Kerala 

A short and pleasant trip to Varkala, Kerala for relaxation and family time, but the weather was not in our favour. It was raining all the time and we could not enjoy the sea. Luckily we booked Taj property, at least we enjoyed pool and other amenities.  Since it was raining whole time, we spent day in Thiruvananthapuram Lulu mall on the last day. We played some games and did some shopping. 

Taj, Varkala

Lulu Mall

October 2023 - Norway-Sweden-Netherlands

Norway & Sweden are one of the dream destinations for everyone. I am so fortunate to complete it with my love and lovely friends. We spent 4 days in Sweden, 5 days in Norway and 1 day in Netherlands(Amsterdam). 

The best highlight was the Northern lights and treks in Lofoten islands. Northen lights are such an amazing experience and I think it will stay with me for a long time. I witnessed northen lights AKA Aurora Borealis 3 days in a row, we could not believe our luck. We also enjoyed Oktoberfest during our stay. Visiting Amsterdam's red light area was also in my to do list which I completed in this trip. details in blog - https://nilabhs.blogspot.com/2023/12/scandinavia-tryst-with-northern-lights.html

Stockholm

Reindeers

Northen lights

Reine - Lofoten

Lofoten trek

Oslo

Amsterdam

November 2023 - Delhi 

Weddings have evolved in last few years. During my wedding era there was no concept of wearing green in Mehdi, Yellow in Haldi, western in Sangeet and traditional in reception. Now it is in trend and seems like everyone came prepared for the same. I did not want to feel left out, so I fully prepared for each function. Trust me it felt like that I did not change so much for my own wedding. :D However, it was super fun. Wedding is also the good occasion to meet many distant relatives and cousins.  

Sangeet

Haldi function

Reception

December - Mulki, Karnataka

After Varkala trip where we could not go in the sea, I promised my son that I will take him to the Mulki which is famous only for surfing. So here I am fulfilling my promise. My son opted for 3 day surfing course from Mantra surfing club - https://surfingindia.net/ in Mulki. We truly enjoyed the out stay for these 3 days. The trainers, the staff, the place and surfing everything turn out to perfect. 

Along with surfing session in the morning you can do kayaking in the evening which is complementary if you stay.  One of the days/eveing we went to Mangalore for eating local cuisine and shopping.We also went to Padubidri - the blue flagged beach of Karnataka. A very clean beach with all facilities like Changing room etc. 

My son did very good in surfing and now he wants to do it more and more. 

 

Surfing beach crowd

Our surfing group

The famous Parfait and Gadbad Icecream from Pabbas

Bye bye 2023 💖

If you are still reading this, so just wanted to let you know I completed this on 31st Dec 2023. Yeyy!!!!