Diving deep into yourself

Though it's not been so long that I have written a blog, it's been long for this title to see the content. Yes I started this title long back, 5 months before but didn't write. Good or bad, for this post but there were some understanding in these 5 months which might add value to the content of this post.
I thought I should directly dive deep into myself and write the post but already I have been diverted from the topic. Diversion is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Here Good and Bad are opposite to each other but it also complements each other. But when? Sometimes. Both does it in sometimes. So sometimes is a common time where good and bad meets each other together. As you know sometime can be anytime. There cannot be a clearly defined sometime. But we are not here to define sometime or about good or bad. But about something else.

I got diverted while diving. Diving into myself. To understand my personality. Who am I? What kind of personality I'm?  Extrovert or introvert. Thanks to diversion, though it diverted me away from topic initially, it again diverted me back to the topic. It did both good and bad. Let me not get diverted once more.

Coming back to the personality, when I consider myself, what I am if I'm an introvert or an extrovert. Before diving deep into my useless thoughts, what's introvert? What's extrovert?
Though there are hell lot of definitions available, my understanding about introvert and extrovert is, introvert is someone who is calm, talks less with unknown people, feels shy in public, enjoys being alone and has a smaller circle of friends. Extrovert is someone who is talkative, likes to be in limelight always, easily sociable and has a lot of friends. It's been few months since I wrote and so the flow of words is not there. I'm speaking to myself being an introvert, but I'm writing it out to the public because of the extrovert in me. One more step of diving deeper, to understand friends circle which I referred. Though introvert has few friends they maintain a close relationship and the trust level among them will be high. They seek advise from friends when needed and they express their feelings only to their friends. Contrarily extroverts doesn't show their true feelings to their friends and rarely they take advise from them. But every human has both introvert and extrovert in him. It's the situation, the family background, environment he or she is grown that makes him express his personality. Certain people are on the extremes. They exhibit only one personality, whereas some are in between, who are ambiverts. OMG I sound more theoritical. Even i don't like to read these. But you are still reading it. What kind of personality will read all these?  It's my understanding. Your understanding may differ and there is nothing right or wrong. Someone defined those personality and we are following it. Why don't we have our own understanding as our definition!!!

Being an ambivert, has both positive and negative effects. Ambivert is flexible and adjusts according to the situation, but lots of confused thoughts runs behind the mind. Ambivert is more stressed than others. Mood swings are common with ambiverts. When we talk about mood swing, it travels across the extremes in no matter of time. I somewhere learnt that locus of control for introvert is internal and that of extrovert is external then for ambivert will be inside out??? I don't know, you need to find it out.

I am Just thinking if I had a deep dive into myself? Question arises,  What's the depth? if this is the depth I know about myself? It looks shallow. May be i might have dived deep but while coming back I dropped things which I can't share with others and bring only those positives about me to the light. Because I'm an AMBIVERT.

Now it's time for you to dive.
Happy reading!!!

Queen of Island! Visit Thailand

An unplanned trip yet a perfect trip. We were two friends planned to visit Leh Ladakh but ended up visiting Thailand. The unfortunate reason being the Pulwama attack that happened two months before pushed us to Thailand.
The only plan which we have made is the date everything else was unplanned. Yeah we booked the hotels too. It was 7days 6 nights trip. It was a budget trip covering three awesome places of Thailand; Pattaya, Phuket and Krabi which costed us around 45,000 INR including International and Domestic Flight tickets, Hotel reservation, Local transport, sightseeing tickets and food.

Day 0: As usual in any trip, it started with a tragedy. Being happy go easy guys we didn't want to wait in the airport for 3 hrs so we booked a fast track cab from home to Chennai airport so that we reach airport just 2 hrs in advance. But the fast track driver didn't turn up. It was getting late and we were discussing about what if we miss the flight. Any plan B would be possible at that time? Or we cancel the entire trip. To our luck we took an auto who rushed to the airport and dropped us on time. Meanwhile I was worried about my pink eye (conjective eye) if they allow me in immigration.

Day 1: We reached Bangkok airport (DMK- Don Mueang International Airport) at 3 am. We didn't book to Swarnaboomi airport which will usually be costly. We cleared the immigration in counter no 4 (on arrival E-Visa) next to Chinese immigration. Hardly it took 15 mins for us to clear the immigration. We went to the information centre to ask how to reach Pattaya. It was through bus we enquired. We also checked other options to reach Pattaya. By cab too costly costing around 1500 baht(2.2 times INR). But we opted for Bus. To take the bus to Pattaya we need to go to Bangkok bus terminal. From airport we took bus A1 from exit no 6 or12. Ticket from airport to Bangkok bus terminal is 30Baht. Don't get down in morchit bus stop where most of the crowd gets down. It took around 20 mins to reach the bus terminal. Book the ticket to Pattaya in the counter. It was 128baht and will take 2.5 hrs. Since the hotel check in was at 2, but we reached Pattaya at around 9.30 , we went to sanctuary of Truth. We experienced triples in bike. The pick-up bike they charged 50 baht each but took us in the same bike. Sanctuary of Truth had an entry fee of 500 baht per person which was a basic one just to see the monument. The whole monument is crafted by wood. There are various other tickets which include horse ride, elephant ride, long tail boat, speed boat ride which can add up the cost to 2000 baht. But it's better to check in Klook app which had many offers. After exploring, we headed to hotel Gazebo via bike. Though it was an hour prior to the check-in time, they welcomed us with smile and handed over the key without any question. The hotel was booked at a reasonable price through "Myyatra". Thanks to Ms Prathiba and Ms Bhakti for supporting for our bookings and assisting us on the places to visit.
We had tender coconut for refreshment which costed us around 40 60 baht except in airport which was 120 baht. And I must mention about the mart 7-11 which contributed a major part to keep our trip within budget. We visited big Buddha of Pattaya through bike with 70 baht each, then we strolled in the beach from where we headed to the most happening place of Thailand, nothing but The Walking Street. Though the street was full of music, entertainment, bars and clubs, we were attracted by the word "Insomnia". Yes we had insomnia on that day. We didn't thought of sleep. Spent around 3 hrs and headed back to the hotel by which our day 2 started.

Day 2: The day was a planned one day trip for which we have booked the ticket on day 1 which costed us 1000bhat per person. It was a trip to island covering few water sports as well. We didn't opt for any water sports but snorkelling was part of the package. You can opt for parasailing, underwater walking, water bike with few hunderd bhat extra. (Not so worth, because of the rush you won't enjoy here). They drop you in an island called Ko larn. The view will be awesome only if you can withstand the heat (Summer). They provide you chair where you can sit but they also have shacks for which you need to pay 100bhat per hour which is expensive. Lunch was included in the package and we opted for Indian food. With not much of expectations we went for dining. To our surprise the food was delicious. The best part of this day is snorkelling which fulfilled the day. Was able to see the different world which is always active under the sea. Around 2 hours we spent in snorkelling and was back.

Day 3: Travel to Phuket. We took a share auto for 40 rupees each to bus terminal from the hotel. We were little late and missed the bus which we were supposed to take so that we reach little ahead of the flight timing and board hassle free. It was 128 bhat per person from Pattaya to Bangkok and every 45 mins there is a bus. By the time we reached bangkok bus terminal, we were late for the flight so we ran outside the terminal to take a cab. We ended up paying 250 bhat and reached the domestic airport. Somehow we boarded the flight and reached Phuket. In Phuket, Patong is the place where we had our hotel booking. So we took a shared cab to patong such was 180bhat each. Though we didn't had any proper food the whole day, a tender coconut (50bhat) made us alive and active. We stayed in Bel Aire, which was a nice hotel with basic amenities except the swimming pool. Though the hotel have mentioned that they have a swimming pool, it was just a jacuzzi bath tub. The hotel was located in the main Street and easy access to the beach and walking Street of Phuket "Bangala". Though our day was fully occupied with travel, we planned for the next day trip by booking the one day island trip package@ 1300 bhat. Yes it's to the James Bond island. We tried the street foods over there and it was hygienic and yummy. Filling our stomach we went to bed.

Day4: The day started in the morning around 7.30. A Van came to pick up us  from the hotel. We were served with coffee and cookies before we board the boat. It was slightly drizzling and so we bought a pouch for our mobile at 100 bhat. The speed boats were parked at around 500 mts inside the sea and there was a bridge from the shore towards it for which they were plying shuttle service which cost 25bhat and is a mandatory one to get in there. The speed boat is really a speed one. The organizer was very friendly and funny. This one day trip is worth spending time and money. At first we went to a limestone cave inside the sea, then went for kayaking for about an hour which was behind the James bond rock 2. Then we were dropped in the James bond island (named because a James bond movie 'man with iron hand' was filmed here). Then we were taken for lunch to a floating market. The entire village was built inside the sea. Though this village is inbetween the sea it's protected by mountains in all the sides and so it's never affected by Tsunami. Then we went to a crystal clear beach where we spent around 2 hours swimming peacefully in the sea. No wonder the sea or the beach is so neat, it by the individuals responsibility. No one thrown even a small piece of paper or waste in the sea. Even after serving us snacks, fruits and juice throughout the day in the boat, it was maintained clean. The one day island trip was worth its cost. Though we were tired, we explored few shops nearby the beach and planned for the next day. We booked a half day city tour in patong which costed us 300bhat per person. Then we just spent some time in the beach before we doze off.

Day5: Though it was a short day we had time to take rest in the morning since we booked the city tour in the noon. After having brunch we boarded the cab around 1 pm. We went to a small hill top where we fed a small baby elephant with fruits, then to the big Buddha temple. The Buddha statue was too tall, taller than a a four storied building, which is at the top of the hill. Then we went to honey bee farm, cashew shopping followed by Gems, a precious stone jewel manufacturing company. The one day city tour ended with the sunset view point at Karon but before that few minutes in the breathtaking Promthep Cape view point was a fabulous time. Promthep Cape is a cliff which extends inside the sea and from there you can see only the sea. I just loved that view. We were dropped back in the hotel around 7 pm and then we went for few shopping and also to book the transport from Phuket to Krabi. We had two options to commute, one is by waterways and the other is by road.The price were more or less the same. We booked the mini-bus for 370 bhat each. Had few street foods as our dinner near by our hotel, especially the noodles and the fried rice was really yummy. It was around 10'Oclock we went to the walking Street of Phuket, The Bangala Road. Though this walking Street was not as big as that one in the Pattaya, we had an amazing time over there. One of the world's top 100 club "The illusion". I have never seen such a combination of lights, sound and screen. The ambiance was perfectly designed. We were illusionized for 4hrs and came back to hotel. Will not forget, they had a frisking before we enter into illusion. Still wondering why they asked me to put the water bottle in the trash though after the frisking, they asked us to deposit our bag in the locker. Except that it was an awesome experience.

Day6: Started around 7 in the morning through mini-bus to Krabi without having any food. We reached Aonang, a place in Krabi around 12pm. We booked our room in Ao Bang Baan suan resort which is around 2kms away from main road. We were worried how to commute back to the beach. The moment we went to the resort, we were happy to see the free shuttle service that runs between resort and the beach. In no time we got ready and took the shuttle to beach because we were too hungry. We picked some pizza and moved to the Ao Nang beach. I was mesmerized with the view of the beach. I have seen such beach only in the wall papers. Excited to go inside, we also enquired about the Railey beach which can only be accessed through boat. The boat to Railey beach was run by government and it costed 200bhat each. It was by a long tail motor boat carrying 7 people, we moved to the Railey beach. No words can explain the beauty of the beach. Cameras can only capture the view but not the feel. "Krabi" a must visit destination. In the Railey beach, we found people doing Kayaking. We have experienced kayaking but not did on our own. We were just sitting and relaxing in the kayaking boat during the James Bond island tour. But here people were on their own with these small kayaking boat sailing in the sea. Without hesitation we approached the shop which was renting kayaking boat. To our surprise, it was only 200 bhat for 2 hrs. We hired a boat went into the sea with no second thought keeping our mobiles and luggage inside the leather bag which can be locked with the boat. The best part of the entire trip was those 2 hours. With no man's support we explored the sea, went to nearby cave temple "Phra Nang Cave Shrine". We also tried to sail through a cave but the waves didn't allow us to do that. After two hrs of kayaking we took few snaps and went back to the Aonang beach by the last long tail boat. Had dinner and booked the share van to Krabi airport for the next day. Then we called the shuttle to drop us in the hotel.

Day7: We started around 10am from the hotel, took the share van which we booked and reached Krabi airport from where we had the flight to Don Mueang International Airport. Since we had around 2 hrs we went to the nearby local market "Chatchuk". And spending 2hrs inside the airport, we took the flight to Chennai and reached at 9.30 pm. It was a travel day.  The whole trip was awesome with no plans in place, we enjoyed the way it went. The sync between you and your travel partner is more important and that makes the trip successful. (I measure success in terms of happiness).

Few tips in short for budget trip:
1. Check for the cheapest flight by altering the nearby airport( Don Mueang International Airport instead of Swarnaboomi airport, 20 mins away)
2. Never use Grab app (like uber/ola) Go with pick-up bike or Auto. U can find them in every corner.
3. For long distance, take government run buses
4. Bargain as much as possible. Start with atleast 50% of what they quote. In bike ride or cab booking or day trips. Most of the time it works.
5. Don't miss to visit Krabi.
6. Look for hotels near the beach
7. Check the price in Klook app. Pay in Indian Rupee. (Cheaper than paying there directly).
8. In airport, choose 7/11 stores for food.

*Terms & Conditions applied.
Enjoy your trip.

Happy Reading :)

A short trip to foreign within India

We were a group of 7 who wanted to explore the real taste of westernised India. To give a brief about the 7, I will name them as ABCXYZ and me. X is a friend of mine. CXYZ are colleagues. A is a relative of C. A and B are close friends. C is the care taker of A and B, since they both are kids. Z is also a kid who has given the number of XY to contact in case of any emergency.
Bulb1:
The trip started with 4 of us, me XYZ, because at 12am C informed X that ABC are out of the trip. We tried seriously with heart and soul to cancel the hotel booking at 3 am in the morning in the airport. No wonder no one picked up the call.

Bulb 2:
With serious discussion on table about the accommodation we had a costly coffee of 400 rupees which made us forget that we were late to board the flight. By the time we realised, we heard the final call. Before we reached the gate the boarding was already closed. Z approached the crew but she denied the proposal. XY somehow convinced the crew and boarded the flight. To our surprise ABC were in the flight. No more confusions through alphabets because we all met in the Goa arrival and till we reach back to Chennai we were together in all ups and downs..

Bulb 3:
We were not aware that a shock was eagerly waiting for us in Goa. We booked prepaid airport taxi for 1100 and reached the accommodation which was supposed to be 3 mins walk from the breath-taking beach but we found that the information given by the agent was not even nearer to the reality. It's 7 kms from the beach. OMG. Still we checked in the same hotel with the hope that we will save atleast the initial payment. But they treated us like unwelcomed guest. We walked away from the hotel in search of accommodation near the beach. We used technology to book the hotel through OYO. But still we had a doubt what if that hotel is also not good. So we decided to go there directly and make the payment. To go there, but how!!!

Bulb 4:
We were 7 so we needed a 7 seater. Ertiga or Innova or a Jeep would do. We went during off season so price should be little lesser than the usual. But seeing our face, they quoted us 1000 rupees more than the usual. We told we are only 5 of us, meanwhile we asked those two kids to walk a few metres away from us. We negotiated for swift instead of Jeep to our affordable reasonable price, but then he made another check that we can hire only if it's for a min of 2 days. Again renegotiated for a day with little high price than initially agreed charge. We moved towards Calangute where we booked the Oyo hotel.

Bulb 5:
Again there was a shock. The hotel which we blocked through OYO didn't have a parking. Tried to park nearby but it took more than half an hour for me to understand that it's impossible to park over there. Without informing others few of us went in search of other accommodation. We ended up landing in a hotel named Sea Breeze Inn. 

You may be wondering, if we enjoyed the trip or we finished our trip with all these shocks. All these difficulties happened within a short span.. precisely half day. All these flips brought us together. Though we didn't know each other well, we all supported each other's decision and stood by it. The real fun started from there.

Casino Royale:
Our actual trip started in the evening when we rushed towards the ship "Casino Pride". Convinced the Urrr faced receptionist for offer, but we didn't have original id proof. Though she initially didn't accept the scanned copy of the ID proof, taking a photo of the image in the camera sorted the issue. She never knew that solving  problems are cake walk for us!!! Entered the casino but to do what? When everyone was busy gambling, we went to the top of the casino pride ship to do what we were good at. Of course! It's the buffet dinner. Filling the stomach, we went back to the gambling hall to check what's happening around. Though we don't know to play we wanted to test our luck. I'm sure no team would have a hat-trick win in that game. But we did. The way we charmed ourselves, made the entire floor to turn towards us. It was 12 am we reached the hotel. The day ended but we didn't want to end our day so we all walked towards the beach. Gazing at the waves, we forgot ourselves. And decided to move back to the room to welcome day 2. Forgot to mention the chat we had while strolling towards the beach. Finally we had to "leave the moment".

Beach & Fort:
Second day started with lunch @ a cafe which was just 5kms away. But we travelled for 2 hrs. It was just 15mins but felt like 2hrs, because we were sitting inside the hot box "Ertiga". I focused on making it cool but managed to bring down few degrees. Went to Chapora fort and had special Goan style noodles, "Maggie without water" sold by a marketing lady. Uak. With Hot water, sorry sweet hot water sold as Tea!!! We didn't have music system in the car but we didn't miss hearing songs sung by a male koel. Still there was a complaint about the husky voice.

Titto's Lane:
Refreshed and dressed up for party, we went towards titto's lane. But ended up in the beach for dinner. Through Raju, we had some discount for foods and drinks but the fun part is each one sharing about others. Expressions & the comments. After a good laugh we reached room for the second innings of laughter therapy. It went on till 4am in the morning since there was no one to tell story and make someone sleep.lol

Water Games:
Plan is to go for scuba, and do all the water sports. But the day as usual started at 12 in the noon. Went to a local market for purchase from there we headed to Arambol, one of the best beachs in Goa but we landed in Morjim. With all confusions in mind either to be in Morjim or move to vagator beach we spent around 5 hrs in Morjim. Ordered one pasta and 5 hands in one plate. It was with the help of one of our friend in Goa, two of us were able to do the water sports. Watching the sunset in vagator beach, we moved to Calangute for shopping and tattoos. It was at 12 we reached back room from shopping and no one slept except me for the next day's early morning flight.

Final bulb:
Even after the trip, the bulb didn't stop. It was waiting where it started. Yes in Chennai airport. It arrived in the baggage. 
Baggage!!! Yes, it's really not important to know what was inside the baggage, but our hearts were filled with joy and sweet memories.

Happy reading!!!
Disclaimer: you (except ABCXYZ) may not understand completely because it may be intended for some other reason/incident happened at Goa.