While summer is setting in, in the plains of India, winter in its beautiful hill stations has still not completely receded and its scenic landscapes are still frosty. However, this does not take away from their charm but enhances it.
My fingers are slightly frosty as I type away a happy memory for you. After a fortnight of cloudy weather, the sun was out and ah, sunshine really does make everything seem happier, doesn’t it? What better way to indulge in the last of the winter than to head to my absolute favourite place, Bir, in Himachal Pradesh? Exploring quiet trails, ticking off bucket list adventures, relishing authentic cuisine and talking to fellow travellers was on the agenda. Yet what I was looking forward to the most was time with my cherished plus one, my brand new Tecno Camon 19.
What was the plan? Nothing and everything. Let me explain. I was with some of my closest friends of all time in a place that I know like the back of my hand, excited to show them some amazing spots as well as show off just how uber cool my new travel companion is thanks to its first generation RGBW camera sensor with a 64 MP triple rear camera to capture the true splendour of Bir, its 128GB internal storage that’ll ensure I can keep going without having to worry about backing up and its impressive Helio G85 gaming processor for those fun games on long drives to wonderful spots. So, whether it was a homemade meal by the stream or a visit to Bir’s famous landing site, the day would give FOMO to anyone checking out my Instagram stories because my companion was busy making my photos look a tad too nice!
Starting my day with a tryst with nature!
The day started with a visit to a secret stream. Cocooned between some untamed fields, the trees and rocks parted to reveal a pool of water gushing away melodiously. I sat, hesitantly dipped my feet in the icy water and of course, shrieked, both with the cold sensation and the rush accompanying it! No matter how old we get, one always finds their way back to their childhood self amidst nature and luckily for me, I was travelling with someone who could help me capture the moment with a click. So, when I wanted to recreate moments from back when I was 5 years old, my companion was all set with its 3D colour enhancement front camera to make the entire frame look like a scenery.
Devouring an authentic Himachali thali by a stream!
Meanwhile, my friend Harshita, who is quite the home chef, was busy capturing everything we ate. Be it the Himachali dham, a thaali with different vegetables and curries prepared in a distinct Himachali style of cooking or even the French toast we made at home to carry for our picnic. She didn’t hesitate to pry the Tecno Camon 19 out of my hand because she knew that the intelligent focus and HDR of the rear camera would only make the meals look that much more appetising. We spent a few leisurely hours soaking in the tinkling of the stream, the swish of the trees around and the calls of the myriad variety of birds around before we moved on to the next activity.
Soaring like a bird in the sky over green valleys and mountains!
After the stream, we made our way to the landing site. You cannot be in Bir and not go paragliding, right? The thrill of running off a mountain, the smooth ride over the green valley and the sight of the Dhauladhar range staring right at you is an experience that one never ever forgets. The one landing first was entrusted with the task of capturing everyone else’s glorious moment. Since that happened to be yours truly, I felt there could be no better opportunity to test out my phone’s AI scene detection and 10X zoom. As I captured the look of exhilaration on my friend’s face, I only beamed further at my Camon 19 for making it happen!
A pottery class where you can let your creativity run free!
Next on the list was a pottery lesson. While Andretta has come to be known in recent times for pottery, Bir itself is home to the Yellow Soul Pottery Studio run by Rashi. An intricate activity, pottery requires your full attention in order to get good results. Now this was something that I was trying out for the first time, so, I really wanted to be able to preserve the activity in my camera roll to show my loved ones back home. But with clay in my hands along with carving tools, how would this even be possible? Phew, my travel partner turned up with its 2K time lapse! I spent hours playing with the clay and moulding it to my fancy, to share a few chuckles at our masterpieces. By the end of the session, I had created a small tortoise friend and a little cup that now sit comfortably on my bedside table!
Stargazing under the clear night skies of Bir by a bonfire
The evening came and with it came the quintessential joy of a bonfire. Huddling up around flames, talking and sometimes simply enjoying the quiet, where the wind of the night whistles over the music filling the valley from a tiny speaker, is a feeling that always stays comforting. Conversations, music and apple cider seemed to spill through the night, while I for one was busy watching the flames dance with each other. The moment was nearly complete. It was fulfilled when my Tecno Camon 19 could preserve the beauty of this entire scene thanks to its special super night feature.
Bir has always held a special place in my heart but what made this day stand out was the fact that my one-of-a-kind travel companion made it possible to click all the little things that made this day so memorable. To make sure your beautiful memories don’t fade away, make sure you pick the perfect companion for a glorious trip to Bir. Get yours here!
All images were taken with the Tecno Camon 19.
In association with Tecno.
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