Some trips are especial because you travel with someone to reach somewhere. Some trips are especial because you travel with yourself to reach nowhere. Yet, life will bring most amazing people and destinations when you would least expect them.
My trip to Dharamshala was of the later category. I have done trips with friends and family, I have done an all girl trip. What I hadn't done was an all ALONE trip. I was home alone for few days and I thought why not make most of it. I was pretty excited for this trip till I started packing, which was just a day before the trip, when along with list of things to pack I also started thinking about the list of things that could go wrong. I realized that solo trips can be more nerve wracking than I had expected it to be.
I have traveled alone earlier but generally people are supposed to join me mid way or at the destination. This was an all and all alone trip. The only people that I would be talking to would be strangers and I was absolutely sure that my week long trip would be a disaster. In addition to safety and security, I was sure at some point I would be absolutely bored and would be dying to get back home. My tickets were booked, the hotel was already booked and paid for and hence there was no way that I could cut short the trip and return early. Amazingly, against all the apprehensions this is one of the best trips that I have taken and has inspired me to go solo more often. It taught me so much about my own country. How much prejudiced we become living in our own cocoon being fed by the daily dose of information that has probably been created based on our own digital footprints?
My feel good about the place started right from the moment that I came outside the airport to book a taxi. I went to pre-paid taxi stand and was allotted the driver at a fixed price which was cheaper than market rate!! I had tried booking the taxi in advance from my home town and all the tours and travel companies had quoted higher price than what the pre-paid taxi charged me.
Right from this moment every person that I met in Dharmashala and Mcleodganj has been absolutely nice and helpful to me. From the driver who was allotted to me at the airport, and who I also booked for rest of my stay, the hotel staff where I stayed, all the places that I visited, my interactions with all of them was such a welcome change. I probably wont be wrong if I say that the people of Dharamshala and Mcleodganj are probably more beautiful than the place itself or probably its the people who make the place so beautiful.
