Laos With My Girls: Hot Air Balloons, Waterfalls, Sarees & Unforgettable Memories
My first international girls' trip took me from cancelled plans and last-minute changes to turquoise waterfalls, saree photoshoots, hot-air balloon rides, and a surprise bachelorette party. Here's the story of our unforgettable week in Laos.
How Our First International Girls' Trip Finally Happened
Back in January, during our Coonoor trip, my girlfriends and I decided it was time to take our friendship international. After all, why limit our collective chaos to domestic destinations when we could create memories in another country? We initially shortlisted Georgia, but somewhere along the way, we changed our minds and decided on the UAE. Flights were booked, accommodation was sorted, and we were already mentally packing our bags. Unfortunately, the crisis in West Asia threw a spanner in our carefully laid plans, and we had to cancel the trip.
Cue the brainstorming sessions, endless discussions, and the inevitable “What about this country?” followed by “No, how about that one?” After considering a few options, we finally zeroed in on Laos. Our original squad consisted of four of us: Kas, Pinks, Vino, and yours truly, Ranjani. Kas and Pinks took charge of most of the planning, including booking flights, arranging accommodation, and handling all the other details that make a trip happen. Every group needs a couple of people who actually get things done while the rest contribute enthusiasm, unsolicited opinions, and occasional confusion. Thankfully, we had our planners!
Then Prats and Vidhu joined the plan. I was especially excited about Vidhu coming along because she is my BFF, and I had missed her during our Coonoor trip. Having her with me this time made the adventure even more special. With flights booked, accommodation arranged, and visas sorted, we were almost ready to go. There was just one tiny detail left: my leave approval. Nothing like waiting for official permission to enjoy a holiday you've already planned to add a little suspense to your life! Thankfully, my leave was finally approved, and I could stop worrying about work and start looking forward to Laos.
Packing for Laos: Three Bags, One Woman and a Million Possibilities
Once my leave was approved, I finally got down to packing. I carried a medium-sized trolley suitcase, a backpack, and a sling bag. Yes, three bags for one person. I believe in being prepared, and apparently, I prepare for every possible version of myself that might emerge during a holiday.
My trolley contained clothes, accessories, toiletries, shoes, and an extra tote bag for all the things I would inevitably collect along the way. My backpack held my electronics, a change of clothes for the airport, a water bottle, medicines, a book, a neck pillow, and a jacket. Airports have a peculiar talent for turning into the Arctic just when you decide to travel without a jacket. My sling bag contained the important things: my wallet, passports, visa, cards, cash, eyeshades, GoPro, and a cap. With everything packed and double-checked, I was ready for the adventure. Well, almost. First, I had to get myself from the Nilgiris to Chennai!
Day 1: From the Nilgiris to Chennai
On 1 October 2026, I woke up at around 3 a.m., got ready, double-checked my bags, and set off for Coimbatore to catch my train to Chennai. Mr. R and Baby R dropped me at the station, and we left home at around 4:30 a.m. Our journey began with an unexpected wildlife encounter. A gaur was standing right in the middle of the road, apparently in no hurry to let us pass. We honked, but the gentleman was unimpressed. Just as we were contemplating how to get around him, an auto approaching from the opposite direction came to our rescue, and its driver managed to shoo the giant away. We continued our journey, reaching Coimbatore at around 7 a.m. After grabbing coffee and breakfast, I boarded my train to Chennai.
I was sad to leave my babies at home, but the excitement of the trip helped soften the goodbye. There is something bittersweet about travelling. You can be thrilled about the adventure ahead and still miss home before you've even left your hometown. The train journey was fairly uneventful, which was probably a good thing after our early-morning encounter with the gaur. I slept, read, listened to music, and even attended a few work calls. I reached Chennai Central at around 4:30 p.m. and took the metro to the airport, arriving at approximately 5:15 p.m.
Airport Antics and Our Flight to Singapore
I found a seat at the airport, settled down with my book, and waited for the girls to arrive. Vidhu was the first to join me. We exchanged greetings and caught up, and the thoughtful girl even bought me dinner because I had arrived early and hadn't eaten properly. Kas arrived next, followed by the rest of the gang. Once everyone had assembled, we headed for check-in, collected our boarding passes, and proceeded through immigration and security.
Immigration turned into a mini geography examination. The officer wanted to know why we were travelling to Laos and where exactly Laos was. They even wanted to take a photograph of our Lao visa, though not before smiling and mentioning that I looked far too beautiful to be put through such an intense interrogation. Perhaps passengers travelling from Chennai to Laos weren't an everyday occurrence! After surviving our unofficial geography lesson, we wandered around the airport shops, grabbed coffee, and prepared to board our Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore, where we had a four-hour layover.
Our flight was spacious and comfortable, and we browsed through the in-flight entertainment catalogue before finally settling on Sex and the City – Season 1. It brought back a little nostalgia, and I couldn't think of a more appropriate show for a group of women heading off on an adventure of their own. We were served dinner and drinks, and Kas and I decided to stretch our legs by walking along the length of the plane and visiting our friends seated farther away. Before we knew it, we had landed in Singapore.
Singapore Layover and Our Arrival in Laos
After landing in Singapore, I freshened up, changed into a new set of clothes, and wandered around the airport. We also bought drinks for the trip because we had somehow convinced ourselves that the drinks served in Laos might be questionable. Our plan was simple: behave ourselves during the journey and enjoy a few drinks back at our accommodation. Whether we followed that plan perfectly is another story!
Some of the girls had breakfast, and soon it was time to board our next flight. Our connecting flight felt like boarding a cute little town bus in the sky. I spent most of the approximately three-hour journey sleeping. I woke up for breakfast, ate, and promptly returned to sleep. Multitasking at its finest.
Before we knew it, we had landed in Laos! We collected our luggage, purchased SIM cards, and exchanged our US dollars for Lao kip. We were also expecting our friend K, who was travelling from Bangalore via Thailand. Her flight landed right on time, so our group was finally complete. A small travel win happened at the Unitel counter. The SIM card guy accidentally gave me a 20 GB data package for the price of 10 GB, something I discovered only later. More data meant more photo editing, more posting, and absolutely no excuse for not uploading stories. The universe was clearly on my side!
Becoming Millionaires in Laos
Kas, Vidhu, and I exchanged our money and received approximately LAK 4,400,000. Four million four hundred thousand kip! For a brief moment, we were millionaires. Financially, perhaps not in the way we'd hoped, but millionaires nevertheless. We then headed to Vientiane Railway Station to board our train to Luang Prabang, our first destination.
We hired a cab driven by a young man named Lucky, who seemed particularly amused by our drinks and gave us a cheeky wink. Once he discovered that we were from India, he thoughtfully played songs from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Sweet, right? I tried explaining that we were from Chennai and listened to Tamil songs, but I can't speak bad English and his limited understanding meant that our cultural exchange didn't get very far. Still, he taught us a few basic phrases in Lao, and we reached the railway station on time.
The Laos-China Railway has strict security procedures, so we completed our checks and waited for the others to arrive. In the meantime, I freshened up and grabbed a sandwich from 7-Eleven. Our friends eventually joined us, including K, who had joined the trip at the eleventh hour. So glad you made it, K! We boarded the train, settled into our seats, and prepared for the journey north.
The train ride was beautiful. The scenery shifted between mountains, tunnels, plains, and dramatic landscapes, making the journey as enjoyable as the destination itself. We ate, chatted, and pulled each other's legs, which is essentially the unofficial group activity on any girls' trip. Eventually, we reached Luang Prabang and hired a van to take us to our accommodation.
Finding our property turned out to be our first challenge of the evening. The driver dropped us off, and we searched high and low, eventually splitting into pairs to cover more ground. After a bit of wandering, we finally found the place farther down the road. It was a self-check-in property, so we picked our beds, unpacked, freshened up, and headed out for our first proper Laotian dinner.
Our First Dinner in Luang Prabang
We found a little eatery called Puck Luck Kitchen, and the food was delicious. After all the travelling, we were more than ready for a proper meal. We ate to our hearts' content, took photographs, and explored the riverside on foot. Some of us eventually returned to rest, while the others continued soaking in the atmosphere.
Back at the accommodation, we changed into comfortable clothes and opened our wine and fruity drinks. We were finally in Laos, all together, with several days of adventure ahead of us. It felt wonderful to be away from our everyday routines and surrounded by my favourite people. Our trip had officially begun, and Luang Prabang was already making a lovely first impression.
Day 2: Kuang Si Waterfalls — Turquoise Waters and Girlfriend Goals
The next morning, we had a long day ahead, so we woke up, got ready, and headed to a quaint little café for breakfast. Naturally, getting to breakfast involved stopping for photographs along the way. Because no matter how hungry you are, a pretty backdrop must be acknowledged! After breakfast, we met our van and set off for Kuang Si Waterfalls. The journey was comfortable, and before we knew it, we had reached the falls. We took a tuk-tuk to the ticket centre, collected our tickets, and began exploring. Kuang Si Waterfalls was absolutely beautiful. The cascading water, limestone formations, and turquoise pools looked almost unreal. Each level offered a different view of this natural wonder, and the scenery was worth every step.
The designated swimming area was at Level 3, so Vidhu, K, Kas, Prats, and I changed into our swimwear and headed towards the natural pool. Pinks and Vino decided to continue trekking to Level 4. Now, here is a fun fact about me: I am scared of water and cannot swim. Yes, I am a water sign. I know. The irony is not lost on me either!
Apparently, my inability to swim was not going to stop me from enjoying one of the most beautiful places in Laos. My wonderful lifeguards, K and Vidhu, patiently put up with my little tantrums and made sure I had as much fun as everyone else. They were absolute darlings, and I cannot thank them enough. There is something special about friends who understand your fears and still find ways to help you enjoy life without making you feel silly about them. I love you girls!
We splashed around, laughed, and made memories that will stay with us long after the holiday is over. Meanwhile, Prats and Kas swam towards the waterfall for their own “Thanga Thamarai Magale” moment. For anyone unfamiliar with the reference, it is a romantic Tamil song from the movie Minsara Kanav, and let's just say the girls were ready for their cinematic close-up! Eventually, they joined us, and we called it a day at the falls. We changed back into our regular clothes and climbed into our shared van, ready for our next destination. Lunch, naturally.
Lunch with Gentle Giants
The drive to lunch felt unusually long. Perhaps it was the journey, or perhaps my stomach had begun filing formal complaints. When we finally arrived at the resort, we were greeted by two gentle giants: a mother elephant and her baby. The property served a buffet with a traditional Laotian spread, and after all the excitement at the waterfalls, I was ready to eat everything in sight.
The food was delicious, and I happily helped myself to a generous meal. We also took photographs around the property and with the elephants. It was a lovely setting, and the combination of good food, beautiful surroundings, and unexpected animal encounters made the stop memorable. Once lunch was done, we headed back towards Luang Prabang, but this time we had a rather special mode of transport waiting for us.
A Mekong River Cruise, Pak Ou Caves and a Whiskey-Making Village
Our river cruise turned out to be one of the highlights of the day. We stopped at two places along the way: Pak Ou Caves and a whiskey-making village. Both offered a glimpse into local culture and life along the Mekong. We explored the caves, learnt more about the region, and visited the village where local whiskey was made.
One of the things I love about travelling is discovering how differently people live around the world. You arrive expecting beautiful views and good food, but you leave with little stories, cultural insights, and random facts you will probably bring up at dinner parties for years. The cruise itself was wonderfully relaxing. The river stretched into the distance, the scenery was gorgeous, and the sun began setting over the Mekong.
Watching the sky change colours as we sailed along was magical. It was one of those moments when you put your phone down for a second, look around, and think, “How lucky am I to be here?” Of course, I picked my phone right back up to take more pictures. One can be sentimental and still be a content creator!
Dinner Plans, Group Dynamics and a Café by the Riverside
We eventually returned to Luang Prabang and headed back to our accommodation to freshen up before dinner. Some of the girls wanted to explore the night market, while others preferred to eat first and shop later. A perfectly reasonable disagreement, really. Some people travel for shopping; some travel for food. I am firmly on Team Food.
We decided to eat at a small establishment, but the place tested our patience. What should have been a simple dinner turned into a frustrating experience, and we eventually left without eating. The group split into three. Pinks and Vidhu returned to the accommodation for dinner, Prats and Vino went out, while Kas, K, and I headed to N Degree 95, a cute little riverside café. Thankfully, the food there was excellent, and we finally had a proper meal. We returned to the accommodation afterwards, but I could sense that the evening's events had left a little tension within the group.
Travel has a way of bringing out every personality trait, from the planner to the photographer, the foodie, the sleepyhead. I hoped a good night's sleep would help everyone feel better, so we called it an early night. Tomorrow was another day, and Luang Prabang still had plenty to offer.
Day 3: Sarees, Temples and the Best Massage of My Life
The next morning, we decided to add a little Indian elegance to our Laotian adventure. We draped our sarees and headed out for breakfast. I love wearing a saree when I travel abroad. It is my little way of celebrating our culture, standing out from the crowd. And honestly, a saree makes almost any setting look like a photoshoot location!
We headed to a café for breakfast, stopping for countless pictures along the way. Once we were done eating, we visited a temple and promptly began another round of photography. At this point, we had probably taken enough pictures to document the entire trip from every conceivable angle. The only problem was my footwear. I had decided to wear three-inch stilettos, because apparently, comfort and I had agreed to take separate holidays.
After walking around for a while, my legs were screaming for mercy. Prats, K, and I finally decided that our next activity needed to involve sitting down. More specifically, lying down. We headed to Nana Massage, a small parlour near the riverside, close to our accommodation.
Nana Massage: When Your Body Finally Says Thank You
We changed into the robes provided and settled in for a deep back massage. I don't know what sort of magic those masseuses worked, but somewhere between the first few minutes and the end of the session, I drifted into what could only be described as a state of sleep, trance, or complete surrender to the universe. I was practically transported to another dimension.
Eventually, they woke me up, and we changed before heading downstairs for a foot massage. And oh my goodness. AMAZING! After all the walking, posing, climbing, and pretending that my stilettos were perfectly sensible footwear, my feet were grateful for the attention. If there is one lesson I learnt in Luang Prabang, it is this: never underestimate the healing power of a good massage, especially when you are travelling and have ambitious sightseeing plans. My feet and I were finally on speaking terms again.
After our massage, we returned to the accommodation, changed, and headed out to visit the Royal Palace. Unfortunately, the palace was closed because it was Sunday. So much for our grand cultural outing! Rather than let the disappointment ruin our afternoon, we found a café, enjoyed some food and drinks, and eventually returned to our accommodation. Travel plans do not always go according to schedule. Sometimes you get breathtaking waterfalls; sometimes you get a closed palace and an unexpected café break and a mini photo sesh.
Phousi Hill: Nearly 300 Steps and One Spectacular View
Later that evening, we decided to climb Phousi Hill. There was just one minor complication: it was raining. So, we put on our ponchos, hired a tuk-tuk, and proceeded with the plan. A little rain was not going to defeat us after everything else we had managed that day.
We climbed nearly 320 steps to reach the top. I would love to tell you that I floated effortlessly up the hill, but that would be a work of fiction. The climb was worth it, though. The views from the top were spectacular. We could see the surrounding landscape stretching out beneath us, and despite the rain, the scenery was beautiful. We took photographs and videos, admired the view, and congratulated ourselves on making it to the top. Sometimes the best travel experiences are the ones that require a little effort. And sometimes, they are the ones where you are simply grateful that nobody suggested another flight of stairs.
Luang Prabang Night Market: A Shopper's Paradise, a Non-Shopper's Stroll
As we descended from Phousi Hill, the night market was coming to life. Tents lined both sides of the road, selling clothes, trinkets, food, drinks, toys, souvenirs, and all sorts of little treasures. The market was lively, colourful, and full of things to see.
The group split up again, and I wandered around at my own pace. I am not much of a shopper, but I did pick up a few things for Baby R. I also treated myself to a lovely cup of Lao coffee, which was arguably the most important purchase of the evening.
Eventually, I joined Prats, Vino, and Kas to head back to our accommodation, while Vidhu, Pinks, and K stayed behind to explore the food market. After freshening up, we headed out for dinner at one of the more expensive restaurants of our trip. Let us just say we decided to give our wallets a little adventure too! Later, our friends joined us back at the restaurant. We chatted for a while, settled the bill, and called it a night.
Day 4: Royal Palace, Railway Station Drama and Our Next Adventure
On the morning of 5 October 2026, Kas, Vino, Vidhu, and I got ready and walked to the Royal Palace. The rest of our group had already arrived and begun exploring. We had to leave our cameras and phones in lockers, and some of us bought the wraparound skirts provided to cover our knees before entering the palace grounds.
The area was bustling with tourists, and we slowly made our way through the different rooms, getting a glimpse into the royal lifestyle of Laos. The architecture, interiors, and surroundings were fascinating. I enjoyed walking through the palace and imagining what life must have been like within its walls. Outside the temple, I took what felt like approximately a thousand photographs.
And then, something unexpected happened. A Chinese family asked to take a picture with me and my friends. Celebrity status unlocked! We were clearly international sensations, at least for the duration of that photograph.
After exploring the palace, we walked to the morning market for coffee before heading to BCEL to exchange our remaining US dollars for kip. We took a token and waited. And waited. And waited some more. The numbers on the display were moving at the speed of a particularly sleepy snail. With our departure approaching and the van waiting to take us to the station, we finally abandoned the idea. Sometimes, you have to accept that a little foreign currency is worth less than missing your train.
We returned to our accommodation, checked out, and headed to the railway station. We completed our security checks and proceeded towards the train, but Kas and Prats were detained at the checkpoint. For a few nail-biting moments, we had no idea what was happening. Were they going to miss the train? Were we going to have to split up? Would our carefully planned journey turn into another logistical headache?
I was holding my breath when the officer finally explained that the girls had boarded the train through another carriage. Relief! They made their way through the train and eventually joined us. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see two people walk through a train door. With everyone reunited, we settled down for the relatively short journey from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng. Our next destination awaited!
Vang Vieng: Glamping, Mountains and a Hot Air Balloon Ride
We arrived at the station, collected our luggage, and hired a van to take us to Sabai Glamping. On the way, we stopped for lunch and exchanged some more US dollars before continuing to the property. Our host, Oliver, welcomed us, and we picked our tents and settled in.
But we weren't going to spend much time admiring our accommodation just yet. We had a hot air balloon ride booked! I changed into a dress, got ready, took a few pictures, and waited for the van to pick us up. It drove us to the take-off area, where we got to witness something I had never experienced before. The entire process was surreal. Watching the balloon being inflated with hot air was fascinating. We climbed into the basket, and before I knew it, we were floating above the ground. The balloon gained altitude quickly, and suddenly, the landscape below us began opening up.
The limestone karsts, mountains, paddy fields, and vast stretches of greenery looked absolutely magical. It was the sort of scenery that makes you forget about your inbox, your to-do list, and all the other little things that occupy your mind back home. We were lucky enough to witness the sunset from the air. The sky, the mountains, and the changing colours made the entire experience unforgettable.
We took photographs and videos, trying to capture as much of the moment as we could. There was just one thing I hadn't anticipated: the heat from the burner. Standing anywhere near the pilot while the fire was roaring was HOT. Very hot. Floating peacefully above the mountains is romantic in theory. Standing next to a giant flame while trying to look effortlessly glamorous is a different experience altogether!
Nevertheless, it was one of the most incredible things I have ever done. When we landed, the pilot handed us our flight certificates, and we posed for pictures before returning to Sabai Glamping.
A Surprise Bachelorette Party Under the Stars
As luck would have it, there were no other guests at the glamping site that evening, which meant we had the entire place to ourselves. And we had a little secret to execute. We had planned a surprise bachelorette party for Pinks, our lovely bride-to-be, and she had absolutely no clue!
We sent her off to her tent while we decorated the party area, connected the Bluetooth speaker, arranged the cakes, and got everything ready. Once the setup was complete, we went to fetch her. Our cover story was, to put it mildly, not our finest work. We blabbered a few things, blindfolded her, and guided her towards the party area while trying not to make her trip,.
When we finally revealed the surprise, she was delighted. There was cake-cutting, posing for pictures, music, drinks, and plenty of laughter. After the first round of celebrations, we changed into our swimwear and moved the party to the pool. K was an absolute darling and stayed with me in the pool the whole time. We floated around, looked up at the stars, and enjoyed the quiet beauty of the night. Away from the city lights, surrounded by mountains, with my girls beside me, I found myself feeling genuinely grateful. It was one of those little moments that stay with you long after the photographs have been forgotten.
I took a quick shower, changed into a dress, and joined the girls for dinner and drinks. Pinks even cut another cake! We played Chinese whispers and made up poems about one another. As you can imagine, the results were hilarious, and we laughed until nearly 1 a.m.
It was the perfect celebration for our bride-to-be: a little ridiculous and full of love. Eventually, we said our goodnights and headed to our tents. After a day that began with a hot air balloon ride and ended with a pool party beneath the stars, I don't think any of us needed much help falling asleep.
Day 5: Blue Lagoon and a French Breakfast
The next morning, we woke up early, got dressed, and headed out to visit the Blue Lagoon. Our tuk-tuk driver arrived at around 7 a.m., and we made our way to the lagoon, hoping to enjoy it before the crowds arrived. We were among the first visitors of the day, so we bought our tickets and walked in.
The lagoon was beautiful, with its striking blue water and peaceful surroundings. It was a lovely change of pace after the previous day's excitement. However, the water was quite deep, at around five metres in the area we visited, so none of us decided to dive in. Even I, the resident non-swimmer, could appreciate that this was not the place to test my aquatic abilities!
We walked around, admired the scenery, took photographs, and I treated myself to an ice cream before we returned to Sabai Glamping for breakfast. Oliver, our French host, treated us to a scrumptious French breakfast. Honestly, a holiday that takes you from Laotian food to French breakfast, with hot air balloons in between, is doing something right.
After breakfast, we returned to our tents to pack and rest. I spent some time editing my photographs, because apparently, even a holiday requires a small administrative department. We organised our belongings and prepared for our flight out of Laos the following day. Soon, it was time to say goodbye to Vang Vieng.
Vientiane: Our Last Stop in Laos
After packing, bathing, and checking out, we headed to the railway station. This time, we arrived well in advance. The previous station drama in Luang Prabang had clearly taught us a lesson. No unnecessary adventures at railway security, thank you very much!
We were travelling from Vang Vieng to Vientiane. Since we had arrived early, we grabbed lunch before boarding the train. The journey was fairly uneventful. Kas and I spent our time roaming around and chatting, while the others rested. We eventually reached Vientiane and took a cab to our accommodation, Riverside Hotel.
We had booked the entire penthouse, which came with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a common living area, a balcony, and a rooftop terrace with seating. It was spacious and comfortable, and we had plenty of room to settle in. We picked our rooms, unpacked, sorted through our remaining kip, and headed out to explore the night market.
Vientiane Night Market and Our Final Night Out
The night market was pleasant enough, but I wouldn't say it was particularly memorable for someone who isn't much of a shopper. There were shops here, shops there, people selling this, people selling that. You get the picture! Vino, K, and I split from the group to explore at our own pace, and Kas eventually joined us.
The food, however, was a different story. I tasted what I can confidently call the best grilled eggplant of my life. The girls also tried grilled shrimp, and we sampled fruit juices along the way. Food is one of my favourite ways to experience a new place, and our little food adventures in Laos certainly did not disappoint.
We later had dinner at a Thai restaurant, determined to spend our remaining kip before leaving the country. Financial planning, but make it holiday-themed! After dinner, K, Kas, and I wandered around the streets of Vientiane. The capital felt livelier to me than the other places we had visited, with more movement and activity around us.
Eventually, we took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel. And then came the conversations. We sat together, chatting away until around 3 a.m. There is something about travelling with friends that makes even the most ordinary conversations feel special. One minute you're discussing the day's adventures, and the next you're laughing about something that happened years ago.
Of course, the next morning was going to arrive whether we had slept or not. Our group was splitting up the following day. Vino, Pinks, and Prats were continuing their adventure to Cambodia, while Kas, Vidhu, K, and I would be heading back to India. It was bittersweet knowing that our trip together was coming to an end, even though some of the girls still had more adventures ahead.
Day 6: Goodbye, Laos!
The next morning, I woke up, packed my bags, freshened up, and said goodbye to the girls who were heading to Cambodia. It was time to return home. Vidhu, Kas, and I had breakfast at the hotel, enjoyed our last meal together in Laos, and checked out. And guess who arrived to take us to the airport? Lucky! The same cab driver who had driven us to the railway station on our first day in Luang Prabang was there to pick us up. It felt like a lovely little full-circle moment.
We said our goodbyes to him, checked in, and completed immigration and security formalities in less than 30 minutes. Our Scoot flight was delayed by an hour, but thankfully, we had a four-hour layover in Singapore, so there was no need to panic. We boarded the flight, had lunch, and arrived in Singapore. Kas and Vidhu did a little airport shopping while I wandered around and enjoyed the last few hours of our journey. Soon, it was time to board our Boeing flight to Chennai. The journey was comfortable, the food was good, and I watched The Love Hypothesis before we finally touched down in Chennai at around 10 p.m.
My international adventure was officially over.
The Journey Home: From Chennai to the Nilgiris
I crashed at a friend's place that night and caught a bus to Coimbatore the following morning. From Coimbatore, I took another bus to Mettupalayam, where my family picked me up. We drove up the hills and finally reached home at around 10 p.m.
And just like that, I was back where I belonged. I had missed my family terribly, and I had missed the Nilgiris, too. The cool air, the familiar hills, the winding roads, and the comfort of home felt especially wonderful after a week of airports, trains, hotels, tuk-tuks, and new experiences.
Travelling is beautiful because it allows you to experience the world beyond your everyday life. But coming home reminds you why you love the life you have built. As much as I loved Laos, I made a mental note to myself: no place can quite beat the Nilgiris.
Until the Next Adventure, Laos! ❤️
I’ve added a few of my friends’ favourite pictures here, which they so sweetly shared with me for the blog. We all have our own little memories from this trip, and I wanted to make room for theirs, too. Years from now, I know we’ll look at these pictures, laugh, and relive our little Laos adventure all over again.
Pinks ❤️
Vino ❤️
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