Travel means different things to different people. Some see it as a window to explore a whole new world, some consider it a learning experience while some treat it as an escape from mundane life. It makes us humble enough to realise that the universe is too vast to discover within a lifetime. Luckily, been born to parents who insisted on taking off for at least a week every year, I’ve travelled a lot and have quite a few picture-perfect moments with curious anecdotes attached to them.

My husband is a piggyback traveller, meaning he’ll enjoy the place, cuisine and sightseeing once we arrive. However, the laborious and dreary part of making an itinerary, bookings and packing is entirely my lookout. Dad is the exact opposite and an old-fashioned road-trip lover. While travelling with both of them is super fun, their different personality traits make me want to try solo travel at times. Just kidding! 😉

A couple of years ago, we planned a trip to Shrivardhan in Konkan around Holi. Dad doesn’t trust Google Maps and still carries a map book with him. Both of us sat down and planned our entire trip on it with acute precision. While we were getting a travel kick from all this, an indifferent A was zealously bursting candies on his phone. The energetic kids on the other hand narrowly escaped an earful after suggesting Google for the nth time. Trust our family to make an occasion of everything. Picture-perfect hysteria, if you may. 😀

Anyway, once we reached the quaint beach town, everyone was swept off with its natural beauty, old architecture, and most of all, the beautiful and clean beach. We hadn’t made prior reservations (bad idea) and missed living in authentic homestays. Our hotel wasn’t bad though and served good food. After lunch, we decided to head to Diveagar, another lovely beach a few kms away. With only a few people around, we had an amazing time playing in the water, especially the kids. 🙂

I’m obsessed with sunset pictures and was keen on getting one at the gorgeous Shrivardhan beach. Alas, the golden moments had long gone by the time we reached there. I was visibly upset and was close to shedding tears. A said I was being childish but Dad, my darling Dad, got restless. “If not the sunset, I will see the sunrise!” I declared fiercely. Dad nodded and said nothing.

The next morning, he was up at 6 am and ready with the car keys to take me to the beach. “Are we really going?” I asked dazedly. “Of course, hurry up before the sun is out!” he said. I shook A, but he groggily (and irritatedly) turned the other way and went back to sleep. After me brushing and changing (Dad helped select my dress!) swiftly, Dad and I were out in less than 10 minutes. The sun, mercifully, took its own sweet time to come out and gave us many picture-perfect sunrise shots! 🙂

After Mom left us, the equation between Dad and me has evolved a lot. He’s friendly, openly appreciative, extra caring, social media savvy and liberally exploits his phone camera. That morning, I requested him for one picture of me in the water. He took at least 15, prompting me to pose differently from various angles. To top it all, we had a piping hot cup of morning tea, together. I don’t know what’s more special, that picture-perfect sunrise or those moments with Dad. Whatever it is, I’m full of love and gratitude for it. The father-daughter bond is something else, isn’t it?

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon

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