Life in Shillong, known as the Scotland of East, is a beautiful surprise every day. One can't help but fall in love with its lush green hills and cool weather.
But going back home is a different feeling altogether and I was lucky enough to spend my Pooja break relaxing in the warm sun, eating to my heart's content, and learning to fall in love, all over again, with my homeland Kerala.
Drifting through one of her many backwaters in a gorgeous houseboat made the 12-hour rigorous journey from Shillong to Kottayam worth it.
Kerala, which known for its beautiful backwaters and chain of lagoons and lakes, is no stranger to houseboats that make sea blue waters its home. Hailing from the land of letters, the Kumarakom backwater route is my easiest escape into the land of sunsets and palm trees.
Kumarakom, known for its eco-tourism, is a popular destination which had its fair share of celebrities and VIP's including late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Britney Spears, among many others. When it comes to choosing the type of houseboats, travellers are free to chose from houseboats with double decks to luxurious ones with an in-built sun deck.
A popular destination for newly-weds, the guests are welcomed with fresh coconut water and a delicious lunch comprising of sambar, rice, fish fry, vegetarian delicacies, salad, and many more depending on the package.
Since the government doesn't allow boats to cruise after 5:30 pm, the boats anchor at a nearby village where guests get a chance to adventure off into the village or to explore the riverbanks, picking up shells and water lilies on the way. I, being the mischievous one in my family, couldn't say no to the kind looking fisherman's offer on giving his sun coloured fishing net a whirl. Other than the teeny tiny drawback of being the official blood bank of all the mosquitoes in the surroundings, my campus break into the land of lagoons and sunsets was worth it all.