Many holidaymakers have been bitten by the camping bug after lockdown but things don’t always go as planned
In Ambala, 48-year-old Zareena’s camping plans didn’t progress very far last year.
“On Saturday night, my husband and I, who are seasoned long haul travellers, made a rather impulsive decision to spend the best part of 20,000 on everything our little family would need to camp,” she said. “We’re both police offficers, so we did loads of research. We spent hours on looking for a best place on internet, and even prepared a spreadsheet for a list of places to go.
“Debit card at the ready, we made a reservation at the selected campsite and were very excited that we got our tent booked in time”
We also searched for a transport provider to reach the campsite, however we received an email very soon that the state borders have been closed for increasing cases of Coronavirus.
“It was totally frustrating, but really funny,” she said. “Everywhere else is done, I think due to the coronavirus. We’ve already booked the campsite but still and we cannot go. With a heavy heart I had to cancel the booking for the campsite.
The family had never camped before, but had planned to go to some festivals over the summer so had already made a reservation. They booked a campsite for two nights.
“We hadn’t had much time to prepare because work had been so busy,” Sushila said. “Once we packed all the stuff, I thought, this is never ever going to fit, we need more bags. We got a puppy just before lockdown, so he was on my knee. We already had three bags packed up.”
Sushilaadmitted she had been “dreading” the himachal trip, as rain was forecast and she was hesitant about having to spemd the night in a tent. However, the family had an “amazing” time.
“Seeing the kids having the time of their lives was amazing, they had so much freedom, and we had time to read books, catch up on exploring the nature, and chill out.”
The family have already booked two further trips. “I can’t see me giving up the villa just yet, but I can see us going camping for shorter breaks to get some time out,” Sushila said. “It forces you to unwind, and that’s really great.”
Two weeks ago, Kurian, 27, and a group of school friends set for a camping trip to enjoy a ‘Covid safe’ holiday together.
“I was very apprehensive at first, but this is the only way I could see them,” he said. “This seemed like the safest way to maintain a distance but still share in the warmth of each other’s company.”
Kurian, who lives in South Delhi, had slept in tents during musical festivals, but had never been on a camping trip before, and was in for a rude awakening.
“We went on a hike up a nearby hill, and the path was steep and treacherous. I’ve been on walks before, and I’m not out of shape, but this was a different beast. Part way up, the conditions got fairly bad, and we had the choice to keep going or go back down the horrible path. We carried on and didn’t get an awful lot better,” Kurian said.
“Apparently it wasn’t even a very big hill, one of the smallest in the locality,” he added.
When they returned, Kurianslipped during crossing a small river area and all his clothes were just wet.
“My friend saw me and started crying with laughter. I was drenched and miserable. My girlfriend was carrying my bag and she gave me my boxers. I had to return to the campsite in boxers,” he said.
Despite this, Kurian said he would go camping again.
“It’s not the sort of fun we’re used to in our normal lives, but it is good fun,” he said. “It’s cheaper than a usual holiday, and the Campsite was gorgeous, so really it’s not so bad.”
Kanika, 23, who works as an administrator at a care home recently went on her first camping trip with her boyfriend, and said the pair have “fallen in love” with camping.
“We decided to take the plunge and go, as the idea of a foreign holiday was out of the picture and having spent most of lockdown apart we wanted to have a weekend away together,” she said.
For a couple who “love country adventure and a bit of luxury,” they have found an unlikely passion, and already rebooked for two weeks’ time.
“We decided a three-night trip would be a good starting point,” she said. “We also managed to pick the hottest weekend of the year, which apart from it being a bit sweaty in the tent was amazing. We kind of felt like we had all the gear and no idea but off we went. By the end we felt like pros.”
“We have absolutely fallen in love with camping, so much so we have decided to go again and are both so excited,” she added.
Sohaib recently took his first camping trip with his pregnant wife and young child in November, but said it was quite enchanting than he had thought.
“It was one of best things we just decided. We were just attracted by the view of the snow mountains and the serene green landscape, the view of the fields, and the ambiance” he said. “In theory it’s cheaper than a luxury hotel, however the ambiance like this in hotels is almost impossible.”
During his trip he and his family experienced a very good family time together, during ongoing battles to encourage their four-year-old to following physical distancing.
“The hospitality, and the smiling faces of the staff was so impressive. The promptness in service was a great impression. It rained heavily in the evening and we couldnot get out of the tent dur to heavy rain. The service staff resued us from being hungry, managed to bring everything to the tent to feed us. It did feel like impressive.”
Sohaib is determined to visit again very soon with his friends.
“it’s because we enjoyed it, but Iam going to try again at the end of the month with my friends,” he said.
Visit website here:- Adventure Trip to Himachal Pradesh
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