The thought of a holiday or a vacation is exciting….to say the least!

Summers are round the bend…..and it is vacation time ! ( In India)

Newspaper supplements are full of travel destinations.
The advertising hype is extremely tempting….and difficult to resist….if you are a travel buff !

There would be a great Indian middle class departure to the hill resorts like :

Shimla
Mussoorie
Nainital
Manali
Srinagar(Kashmir)

The upper middle class travellers would make travel arrangements through travel agents and resort cos. But lakhs of not-so-affluent would ‘simply’ go !

On a typical day in a place like Shimla or Nainital or Mussoorie…..Thousands of families would be arriving…..and since they have arrived without a confirmation of a hotel…..next two-three hours shall be spent …..Hunting for a bargain !

And it is quite likely ….these bargain hunters would be out-smarted by the wily agents of the dingy hotels…. And the hapless-yet-happy vacationers would end up in a room-with-a-view-of-a-dirty-back-lane !

Then there would be peak days when …..If you arrive towards the late afternoon/evening….you would not find a room (even of the type mentioned above).

You would then have three options:

1. Sleep in your car….or in a nearby village ( people have done it!)

2. Convince a restaurant owner to accommodate you and your family….and many other similar ‘adventurers’ in the hall for the night…..and you shall be kicked out at the first stroke of dawn !

3. Go Back ! ( sad)

But instead of experiencing dampened spirits…..these vacationers would be found next morning….and each morning…..full of excitement…..and would go about the business of holidaying…..including ‘exotic’ experiences like:

Pony Rides

Cable Car adventures

Roller Skating/boating/trekking

….and much more ( including eating away to glory ) !!!

It is quite an experience….these Great Indian Summer Vacations!