Just having returned from another one of those girly extravaganzas and having tried all kinds of permutations of group travel (more than 1 person) I can safely bet my money on girl trips when it comes to the question of best travel companions from my gender’s perspective. I can make out from your skeptical expressions that you don’t quite believe me. Fine, if a reason is what you want I will give you plenty.
The idea of a break essentially is to let go of the mundane daily routine for a few day and putting everything on a snooze mode so that you can rejuvenate yourself for the garrulous city life again. But I also consider it to be an education. As you are on your own in a new place, with probably a new language, unaware of the routes, doubtful of the places to visit, hoping to put a tick against every item in the “has to be done at any cost” list in the guidebook, you are on your toes all the times. If not a travel pack purchased off a website, you are trying your best to make well-balanced decisions to make sure you get the maximum from your much needed and well deserved holiday. With only women onboard it becomes an even bigger responsibility as you also have to take care of your safety. Of course, if you are in Goa you ain’t gonna sit pretty on your ass wishing you had some lass with you to be your guiding light. You hire a car, put on some jazzy music, use the GPS services and go zapping across town. With no overbearing gentleman around, you discover the fun of being the boss.
As you are with only your girl pals your blow-dryer, the little iron, the 3 different shades of nail paint, 5 pair of shoes, 3 change of night clothes, nail filer, the body butter box, enough sunblock to last the entire year, different bags for different events & dresses, will not be scrutinized until you prostrate on the ground scraping the floor with your fingernails in repentance. Hmph! She will understand. But even if she doesn’t, she won’t complain half as much as that lad you know. Another benefit of being only with females is sufficient time for absorbing the art and culture, for visiting that old cathedral church in South Goa, for sitting by the ocean for hours blathering away to glory, for visiting one museum after another to be able to appreciate the artifacts and architecture, for attending that yoga class in Rishikesh. It is also of pivotal importance that a souvenir or two are brought back home which makes shopping indispensable. The ladies are just as much of enthu cutlets as you are with an inordinate amount of energy and vigor. So, there is no feeling of guilt eating you up in case you decide the 3 days of vacation in Singapore are best spent by attempting a countrywide scouting of bargains and best buys across the flea markets and the humungous shopping malls.
If the idea is to de-stress and detox, a holiday with your best girlfriends is what I strongly prescribe. Of course, if you are a woman and ever been a part of this kind of affair you would know the shenanigans that I am talking about. So many evenings of uninterrupted laughter, anecdotes narrated, love lives dissected, scandalous gossip whispered, hearts opened and sorrow shared. It gives you the chance to know your friend/friends better as you spend the holidays closely together. In the absence of any member of the opposite sex the tongues are looser than ever and every spoken word pardoned. You can officially be your best wayward self and not be judged for the same. You can also make sure that you manage to get clicked in every nook and corner of the celebrated vacation spot with no painful jibes from the nasty boys.
Adventurous travelling with my choice of travel companion is also smooth. In my experience at the suggestion of conquering great depths, tall waves and formidable heights, while the guys have turned their backs and meowed like a small puss in denial, my iron ladies have always responded in affirmation. If not for them I won’t have been able to add all those accolades to my kitty.
Chances are if you are out with a guy friend or a group comprising of both the sexes, that cute hottie at the next table would never approach you. I know you are single but hey! Nobody wants trouble. But! But if you are with the members of only your sex, there is a good chance he too is in mood for some vacation romance. Also, girl groups feature on the radar of the romantics much faster than a mixed group. Sometimes he would come by offering a drink, at another he might be willing to change his travelling plans to drop the hitch hiker you to your destination instead, and yet another he might act like a complete swine and tell you that entranced by you he would like to abandon his country and move with you to yours. Flattering but of course when the identities are hidden and romance so short lived, people can choose to be whoever they want to, never mind who they really are. But in case you find yourself unable to admire your admirer, it might still serve as a funny story to be shared later on. Ooooh… So many come to mind but that’s for another time my darling reader.
With only ladies in tow, you don’t have to worry about entry to that club. You can walk right in (at a couple of places atleast) by attempting some smooth talking. People you meet on the way are also a little more kind and helping at times seeing it’s a bunch of intrepid women travelling together. It is easier to be accepted in groups as well which reminds me of a rundown (but vibrant) café called Mark’s place in Langkawi where the night my girlfriend and I walked in, they happened to be celebrating Mark’s (owner) 55th birthday and fascinated at seeing just 2 Indian girls walk in at the café for the first time they immediately welcomed us and made us a part of their small and cosy party group. Needless to mention, everything was on the house. Additionally, there is also a sense of achievement you feel for having been able to surmount the place safely without any help from the gentlemen. It gives you the feeling of being an almost equal person in this twisted society. Although the question “ohh…how come it’s just you 2 girls travelling together?” Irks you to the core but you bite your lip in frustration and remind them politely that 2 girls travelling together has not yet been declared illegal.
Ah well, I guess I am having an irrepressible craving for another vacation already. So, excuse me while I plan my next escape with my gorgeous ladies. 😉
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