I was away… in Kufri, Himachal Pradesh with Blogger Friends
My trip to Kufri Himachal Pradesh is one of the most memorable trips I have made with blogger friends. Before I elaborate on that here is a bit about my blogging life: My journey in blogging started in 2007. Initially it was just a trickle of visitors, and a desperate wait for comments, but within 6 months I got the hang of how to blog and get visitors and comments.
In 2008 after the Mumbai terror attack several bloggers came together to voice their opinion. During this phase I made many new blogger friends. Though all of us blogged on different themes, this incident of terrorist attack united us. Friendship went to a new level!
Our virtual friendship continued for years. Though there would be discussions and comments about meet up it never materialized.
Then, Dhiren one of the most active bloggers among us took the initiative of arranging a meet. When he shot out a mail in January 2013 I grabbed it. The meet was still six months away, yet I was quite excited at the thought of meeting the virtual friends and confirmed my presence for the meet.
It started with a mailing list of 20 bloggers, gradually as the date of travel approached due to unexpected problems some of our blogger friends had to drop out. Finally we were just 10 and it turned out I didn’t know some of them. Yet that didn’t deter me from going.
Ten bloggers from different parts of India decided to converge at Himalayas to give a new meaning to our association in virtual world. The prospect of making new blogger friends kept me thrilled, excited and dreaming about the event. The venue of meet was Kufri in Himachal Pradesh. It was summers but the chilling temperature forecast of the hills made us look forward to the meet.
So, finally on 10th May two of us, Aathira and me, started from Bangalore. It was Bangalore Delhi Chandigarh flight. All of us had planned to meet in Chandigarh and hire a mini van from Chandigarh to Kufri via Simla. Bloggers were coming for the meet from different parts of India, some via train, and some via road on bikes. By evening all of us were there.
All of us assembled at Chandigarh on Friday (10th May 2013).
As soon as the final batch arrived we all met up and it was such a happy moment. Though we didn’t know each other personally yet the effect of virtual interaction was such that we seemed to know each other for long. Away from virtual world, in the real world making virtual friends in to real friends – what a meet it was! Three bloggers got their kids too and I am sure they must have wondered what these adults are so excited about. Temporarily they lost the attention of their parents as the parents were busy making new friends.
After a night’s halt at Chandigarh the next morning, on 11th morning left for Kufri by road. This was the best part of the trip. Thirteen of us in the mini van and two bikers following us, sometimes leading us, we were on a six hour drive to Kufri. Lot of singing, munching, halting, clicking, sipping tea and eating maggi noodles along the way… life seemed perfect! Kufri was our world for the weekend!
Kufri, Himachal Pradesh with Blogger Friends
Kufri was our world for the weekend! There was lot of voting and discussions before we decided to meet in Kufri, Himachal Pradesh.One particular halt due to rains is here: Unexpected joy watching rains in Solan.
Kufri Himachal Pradesh
I had not met any of the bloggers before this meet. We blog on different themes; me a travel blogger, there was a food blogger, yet another who blogged on feminist issues more… The entire thing was planned through mails and chats. Thanks to Hitchy for taking the initiative and coordinating the entire meet. Hope we will have more such meets!
Brrrrr…. It was cold in Kufri.The sky was cloudy, wind chilly and there was slight drizzle, we had these ingredients to keep us indoors. Some of us had layers of clothing on; some were gulping down hot tea, glass after glass. The other best thing we could do then was chat. We were busy chatting, having a small session of ‘getting to know each other’.
Meanwhile, one of the waiters there was struggling to keep the cast iron cylindrical stove burning. He had inserted quite a few pieces of wood in to the stove and was stoking it continuously from the opening below, but the desired result wasn’t there.
Kufri Resort
After sometime he opened the cover from the top, usually this top of the fireplace is used for cooking food or heating water. I guess the waiter wanted to stoke the mellowed burning wood pieces for more fire, when all of a sudden huge blast of fire came out of the top. There was silence for split second; the waiter shut it up immediately; all of us got back to chatting again!
Kufri Resort fireplace
Wild daisies were in plenty in Kufri. The oxeye daisies were thriving so well by the roadside, in the bushes, totally uncared. As I crossed them on the paths, I was confused whether they annoyed me or delighted me.
I wondered why they act so pricy in my pots here in Bangalore, never showing a bud or a bloom. So small and dainty, I walked carefully so as to not stamp on them accidentally or brush my feet against the petals. Let them be!
Oxeye daisies
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This sounds like soo much fun… when is the next one…I hope i am back in india by then
This must have been great fun! Life is so beautiful with such meets.
Oh great…loved to see the co ordination among bloggers for a common goal that too from different field of interests…!!!
A group photo would have been icing on the cake-post 🙂
Hey that awesome Indrani! Please let me know the next time you plan such a trip!
Have been glued to my comp ever since you all started sharing your kufri pics on FB, they are all so gorgeous and breathtaking Indrani! The pics quite evidently show that you all had a blast of a time 🙂
I hope so too that more such blogger meets are planned in future so I can join in too :). Hitchy, you listening,ya? 😀
We missed you but now am envious, the place looks beautiful and the company sounds amazing. have fun Indrani and keep us posted.
Wow this must hv been awesome fun!!
Hi
Good for all of you who met and bonded in this way. Indrani, we look forward to a more detailed blog post about how it was. Was it nice or awkward?
You know what, this could become a regular feature may be even a part of a common blogging platform like Indiblogger. What say? I am saying all this because I also want to do something like this. 🙂
That s a great idea. A very innovative thought. Thank you for sharing one more way of fashioning your happiness.
Wonderful!!!!!!! and I am so jealous 🙂
Hope you had nice time. Such a break is a must just recharge our spirit.
A great time for a blogger to meet like minded people!!
Nice click btw!!
I am sure your experience must have been as wonderful as the beautiful picture ! So you'd an amalgamation of virtuality and reality till everything was the real experience ….. and just don't overlook the fact this real world is itself very unreal – an illusion !
Meeting fellow bloggers always a fascination for me.How lucky you are!
Beautiful shot and great to gather with other bloggers.
Wow! so exciting. U must had a great time 🙂
Wow!! :)guess you all had a lovely time. Beautiful picture.
Welcome Indrani!
Such a meeting is something fantastic.
You know I love your blog. Often, I find a lot of interesting things.
I host with you.
Regards:)
Lucia
Cool!! And you chose a very beautiful place too 🙂
From the pics I can see that you guys had a lot of fun!
That's great hearing about you fun time with co-bloggers! Sure it was memorable and cool – being on hill tops
tht sounds fab!!
Indrani, sounds like a wonderful place and a great time meeting your blogger friends. Lovely photo.
Amazing pics, Nice post.
wow, guess you guys had a grt time… amazing pic…
We surely will have more such meets now 🙂 It is a must you see 😛
Great! next time, count me in too!
Now that's fun. I've had the pleasure of meeting a few bloggers so I'm certain you'd have had a wonderful time.
How wonderful that you were able to meet with so many different bloggers. It's always a thrill to meet a blogging friend in person.
it must be an amazing experience to meet virtual friends in reality
Stunning image!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Hey hope you had a good time, welcome back
what a neat thing to do. wonderful the chance meetings that internet access gives.
what fun for you!
Oh, I'm so glad all of you got to meet!! I've been able to spend time with a number of bloggers who've been in Seattle over the years and it's always such fun!! Good to see you back! Thanks for sharing, Indrani!!
Sounds so interesting to meet other bloggers. And what a lovely shot!
Indrani! This is absolutely great! I often wish to meet several bloggers who visited my blog, because I have the feeling that I know them already a bit. I met Dina from Israel, and Kay from Canada even twice. I also met Mara, who is Dutch but works now in Norway.It is realy wonderful to meet virtual friends in the real world! Very nice to read your post! Thanks for sharing.
Hope you had a lovely time.