Daily writing prompt

Describe your most memorable vacation.

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My Most Memorable Vacation

Sometimes, when we reflect on the moments we’ve spent in life, we find some memories that we wish to share with friends.

This story takes place seven years ago. I was about to retire from my bank job and had the opportunity to take my last LFC (Leave Fare Concession) trip funded by the bank.

It was the last chance to travel domestically or internationally using the funds provided by the bank. My children insisted on an international trip, but I was hesitant. The main reason was that I still don’t enjoy air travel.

Whenever I take short flights, like the one from Delhi to Mumbai, I become extremely anxious until the plane lands. The idea of taking an international flight, which meant spending at least six hours in the air, made me very nervous.

After much persistence from my children, I eventually gave in my consent. I reassured myself that many people travel by plane daily, so why should I be the only one afraid? With this mindset, I applied for the LFC, and it was promptly approved.

I received a 14-day tour package that included visits to Malaysia and Singapore, as well as Mumbai and Bhuj (Gujarat) in India.

My family, especially my youngest son, was thrilled about the upcoming international trip. Since it was June, we didn’t need to pack too many clothes due to the warm weather. After completing our preparations, we borrowed a car from a friend to drive to Kolkata Airport.

The Cat Crossed the Road

Just two kilometers into our journey, a cat crossed our path, causing the driver to slam on the brakes. Although the car stopped suddenly, it had already crossed the line where the cat had passed, leaving me feeling uneasy.

I was initially hesitant about the trip and suggested a domestic destination instead. However, my children were insistent on experiencing an international trip, especially with the bank covering the expenses.

With a pounding heart, I arrived at Kolkata Airport, tipped the driver, and we entered through Gate 4. It was 7 PM, but our flight was scheduled for 11 PM on June 25, 2017.

We waited at the airport, and at 10 PM, an announcement was made for us to proceed for security checks and board the flight.

Suddenly The Plane experienced severe turbulence

Throughout the flight, I couldn’t stop thinking about the cat that crossed our path. Everyone else was asleep, but I was wide awake. Suddenly, the plane began to experience severe turbulence, and my heart almost stopped. I thought the plane was going to crash.

The flight attendants made an announcement instructing us to fasten our seatbelts due to bad weather. I tried looking out the window, but it was pitch dark outside. It was the middle of the night, and we were likely flying through clouds. Eventually, the turbulence subsided, and after seven hours, we safely landed in Singapore.

It was 4:30 AM according to our watches, but there was already a hint of morning light outside, which was expected as Singapore was 2.5 hours ahead of our time. After disembarking, we moved to the waiting lounge, anticipating our car to the hotel as scheduled.

No Tour Guide was available there

However, half an hour passed with no sign of our car or tour guide. We attempted to contact the tour operator, but due to the lack of international calling access, we couldn’t reach them.

We sent a message and waited for a response. Finally, we received a reply stating that the driver had been looking for us for an hour.

To our surprise, a man named Rajesh Kumar approached us and asked if I was Vijay Verma. I confirmed. He explained that he had been sent with the driver under the name Rajesh Kumar, which led to the confusion.

We laughed and boarded the minibus. Rajesh told us he was from Ranchi and that we were part of a shared tour package. The misunderstanding was due to the driver being given the wrong name.

(Continued…)

Categories: infotainment

Tags: #Travel, asia, aviation, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1990, flights, singapore