What a difference ONE letter makes. You can only take a vacation once in a while, but a vocation is something you need to indulge in for a few decades, if you are not from the gentrified class. Not a bad thing, the vocation, but sometimes it can get on your nerves. Then, you start pining for a vacation.
Vacations come in all sizes, shapes and types. From a road trip into nowhere (or somewhere), to an Alaskan cruise, it also has options of the means by which you travel. Most of our childhood vacations were by train. And the coveted seat was that at the window, even though coal dust from the steam engine frequently flew into your eyes. But the sights were mesmerising, including a view of the train rounding a curve. I also remember a more exotic European train trip or two, when we passed great scenery, which the film DDLJ later reminded me of.
One really hot train trip was to Kolkata from Hyderabad, which we undertook in April or May, and stayed at the Police Mess, courtesy a friend. Apart from the heat, it was a fun trip, and we enjoyed taking the bus, the tram, and the boat on river Hooghly, including a view of the Howrah Bridge, for moving around the city.
Ladakh was another vacation that was memorable for its scenery- very different from anything we had seen till then. I think the Ha Long bay Cruise comes next in memorable trips. Greece too, but its memories are fading. The Jaisalmer road trip a few years ago was also very good. And Sri Lanka, for a destination wedding.
