If my life wasn’t hectic before, it certainly has become so ever since I joined back work post-maternity leave. Everything that needs to be done to seamlessly integrate my life as a mother, a working woman, a freelance writer has got me shortchanged on time. Perhaps even some rest. That is probably the reason why I really need a short getaway, maybe a long weekend somewhere closer to home. I need a vacation. I need to travel out of the mundane and come back refreshed.

Though we have already planned a trip to Goa in November around our daughter’s birthday, I can’t wait that long. With a few impending long weekends in the calendar, all I can think of is driving with the family to someplace close by, Ooty probably.

I’ll tell you why Ooty. While I was pregnant last year, exhausted and craving a vacation, the husband had shortlisted a couple of hotels in Ooty and I had fallen completely in love with one from the list. It was the Taj Savoy. Of course, we couldn’t go at that point in time due to various reasons. But now, I really want to and I think I will.

I have been to Ooty before. I have done everything that a traveller ought to do there. I have visited all the touristy spots, lovers point, suicide point, Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, tea estates, taken the train from Coonoor to Ooty, sampled chocolates and more. But this time, I want to be the quintessential offbeat traveller who doesn’t adhere to any schedule.

This time, I want to do things differently and truly experience Ooty while relaxing as much as I can with an infant in tow. Possible? I hope so. A short trip often works miracles and is also much needed between the longer ones.

I remember we had once taken a similar trip at the spur of the moment. We were actually in Pune for a few days and decided to venture out of the city one day. The first place that came to mind was Mahabaleshwar, naturally. It was a day trip with no stay involved. Let’s just say relieving stress was the main aim. Travel serves so many purposes, stress is one of many.

Since we didn’t have to stay overnight, we didn’t even have to spend time finding hotels in Mahabaleshwar and that helped in keeping that impromptu trip well and truly impromptu. I want something refreshing like that now. In fact, I need something refreshing like that now. But this time one that stretches for at least 3 to 4 days.