Birthday getaways - the joys of escaping routine
- Steshia Monserrate
- Oct 16, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 21
I've always looked forward to my birthday – initially for purchasing an outfit for the day, deciding whom to treat and where, and the excitement of gifts. Of course, there was also the customary cake-cutting, which someone had taken a lot of trouble to order for me and all (except me) would finish off.
However, my perspective on birthday celebrations shifted after my 30th. It no longer became about showcasing to the world that I had grown a year older but rather an opportunity to escape from my routine city life. I started celebrating by venturing to places near and far, a personal tradition that replaced the conventional parties.
As I reflect on my birthday every year and remember my travel escapades so far, I feel grateful for the experiences.
2025 - Got lost in the relatively undeveloped, peaceful and laid-back atmosphere of Koh Lanta island, Thailand
2024 - Experienced the culture, food and architecture in Chettinadu, Tamil Nadu
2023 – Walked amidst rains and lights at Old Town in HoiAn, Vietnam
2022 – Trekked the Chembra Peak in Wayanad, Kerala, India
2021 – A pensive weekend of relaxation, body massages and spa treatments at a village resort in Palghar, Maharashtra, India
2020 – Staycation at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, India, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 – Tent stay and ayurveda massages amidst tea plantations in Munnar, Kerala, India
2017 – Learnt about but mostly sipped away wine at Vallone vineyards in Igatpuri, Maharashtra, India
2016 – Stayed in a treehouse and attempted to sight a tiger on multiple wildlife safaris at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
2015 – Trekked the Hampta Pass and experienced my first snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, India
2014 – Kayaked at Pavana Lake in Pune, Maharashtra, India
2013 – Experienced a different culture in the north-east of India, Arunachal Pradesh & Nagaland
2012 - Gambled in Las Vegas and visited the Grand Canyon, USA
Note: Edited every year to include latest birthday escapades.
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