Birthday escapades

Tripoto

I have always been excited about celebrating my birthday – it was initially all about deciding what to wear, who to treat, anticipating gifts and inevitably being asked to cut a cake that someone had taken a lot of trouble to order and everyone else (except me) would finish off.

The last party I threw was for my 30th birthday. After that, something inside me flipped and the way I wanted to celebrate birthdays changed. It stopped being an occasion for me to showcase to the world that I had grown a year older and graduated to taking time off, and celebrating with myself. I basically escaped on this day from my routine life in the city and ran away to places near and far.

As I reflect on my birthday today and remember my travel escapades so far, I feel grateful for the experiences.

Photo of Birthday escapades 1/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2021 – A weekend of body massages and spa treatments at a village resort in Palghar, Maharashtra
Photo of Birthday escapades 2/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2020 – Staycation at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai during the first year of the COVID -19 pandemic
Photo of Birthday escapades 3/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2019 – Tent stay amidst tea plantations in Munnar, Kerala
Photo of Birthday escapades 4/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2018 – Day at the spa in a hotel, Mumbai
Photo of Birthday escapades 5/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2017 – Learnt about and mostly sipped away wine at Vallone vineyards in Igatpuri, Maharashtra
Photo of Birthday escapades 6/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2016 – Stayed in a treehouse and attempted to sight a tiger on multiple wildlife safaris at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
Photo of Birthday escapades 7/15 by Steshia Monserrate
Photo of Birthday escapades 8/15 by Steshia Monserrate
Photo of Birthday escapades 9/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2015 – Trekked the Hampta Pass, Himachal Pradesh
Photo of Birthday escapades 10/15 by Steshia Monserrate
Photo of Birthday escapades 11/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2014 – Kayaked at Pavana lake in Pune, Maharashtra
Photo of Birthday escapades 12/15 by Steshia Monserrate
Photo of Birthday escapades 13/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2013 – Experienced a different culture in the north-east of India, Arunachal Pradesh & Nagaland
Photo of Birthday escapades 14/15 by Steshia Monserrate
Photo of Birthday escapades 15/15 by Steshia Monserrate
2012 – Stayed back after a work trip and visited the Grand Canyon, USA

Celebrating birthdays continue to feel exciting.