For travellers, 2020 has been a wash out. Yet, we don’t want to complain. If there is any one thing that everyone will agree that they are feeling this year, it is gratitude. For having survived this year without much impact.
Like many others, we also made our travel plans for 2020. January and February went as planned. In the first week of January, we returned from Kerala after our annual visit to our families.
The first trip in January was very short – 2 days to be precise, to attend the marriage of a dear friend. We stayed with another dear friend, and at the venue we caught up with many more dear friends. So, for the first time, we attended a wedding in Delhi, during winter, had all the fun, making it a Friendship Day.
The second trip was in February. Also planned in advance. Again for another dear friend’s marriage. This time in Bhubaneswar. This was our first trip to Bhubaneswar, and we planned as soon as our friend announced his marriage. In all probability, we would have booked our flight and hotels, before he even booked the marriage hall.
Though it was a 4-day trip, we planned it well to cover Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri. The Sun Temple experience was memorable. The massive structure, with its intricate stone carvings took our breath away, to say the least. The stay at Lotus Eco Resorts at Konark was cosy and enjoyable. With a half-day trip to Puri, we ticked the boxes. Managed to keep all the touts at arm distance while visiting the temple. An interesting de-tour was to the Raghurajpur heritage village where incredibly talented artisans who created the Pattachitra paintings. We spent some time with one of the artist who demonstrated the craft, leaving us nothing short of being stunned. We left the village after picking up a few pieces of work.
Then third big trip that was planned in March was to Bhutan. All planning and bookings were done as early as in December.
And then. March came. End of story.
Also read – Travel in 2020: The Middle and Travel in 2020: The End
