The plan to go on a workcation together materialized quite suddenly toward the end of September 2021, as we decided one day that we didn’t want to be limited to working out of our homes in Bangalore, India. The result? We managed to execute a five-week trip encompassing visits to Nainital, Rishikesh, Chandigarh, Manali, and Bir — some very beautiful places in Northern India. The hilly town of Manali stole our hearts with its perfect hot-chocolate-friendly weather and pristine landscapes, and here’s a picture of us there amidst the hills. Needless to say, it was really hard to leave and return home, but we’ll formulate our next travel plan soon enough!

In March this year, I took off on a month-long trip to Dharamshala in north India, with my mother. The plan was to work out of this beautiful place and use every opportunity I got to explore the area. The balcony of the apartment I rented became my workstation. The owners of the apartment were associated with an organization for rural development, and I conducted a session on publishing the outcomes of their projects, given my work background. I went paragliding in Bir—my fifth time! I love coming back here for the surreal experience it offers; flying over the Himalayas at such lofty heights, boundaries cease to exist, and the smallness of vast terrains places things in perspective. During this trip, news of my promotion to Lead, Skill Development, was shared with team members. To celebrate, my mother and I took a happy stroll in Kangra valley. My mother managed to source a cake from a local bakery, and we had a small celebration with friends and family over Zoom at night.