Photo Diary 2016


Since 2017 began, I have been reading a lot of “2016 in Review” and “Top Instagram posts of 2016” posts but never got around to writing any similar post myself. But 2016 for me was too eventful to not reminisce and not trace my footprints. 2016 was the year when I traveled back in time, not only to India’s glorious past but also my childhood. 2016 was that year when I finally decided to give up my stable job, wait – Not to Travel – but to study. I left my country and my home for the first time ever and started living in an alien land with people I had never met! Big change, yes; but travel still remained a constant. 2016 also taught me how to be a tourist in your own city and explore it as much as you can! So here it is – My 2016 in pictures (more like Instagram Diary), a bit late but well, it is still January 2017.



January and February
While I spent January 2016 studying, interviewing and working, my travel diaries kicked off in February when I got a chance to explore the Nawabi town of Hyderabad. I had visited Hyderabad for just a weekend for an official sports tournament but I sure managed some hours off court to soak in the glory of Golconda and Hyderabadi Cuisine.


March
March took me to another historical state of India – Madhya Pradesh. To see the dying grandeur of Holkars and the silent ruins of Malwa was a magical experience even under the scorching 40 deg. Celsius sun.




April and May
April was the most sluggish month of the year I think, mostly because my skirmishes with sun got worse with advent of summer. Oh yes I hate the sun! But the sun couldn’t hold me back for long and in May I decided to explore Mumbai despite the heat.


June
Exploring Mumbai made me think of all the places I had ever lived in and how I had not explored much of my ‘hometowns’ and so I set off on a journey to discover my homeland – Odisha! June was all about going back to roots for me and it was a bitter sweet month because the fact that I was going to leave my country soon was finally dawning on me.



July
Mumbai is the prettiest and most inviting during monsoons and I knew it, but never got the reason why. So July was all about exploring Mumbai like never before – and that is exactly what I did. I was finally a tourist in the city where I had spent half of my life and still the place managed to amaze me in so many ways!



August
August came and I fell in love with Mumbai even more. Does it surprise you how much we underestimate the places we actually live in and how much we miss out because of that? I spent three months last year exploring so many corners of Mumbai – Historical structures, cultural places, local gems, restaurants, beaches and what not and I still feel like I haven’t seen half the city. Anyhow, guess Mumbai has its own plan to make me come back to it soon enough.



September
September was about visiting the past, reminiscing a phase and setting out on a new journey for me. I spent ten years of my life in Gujarat and before leaving India I decided to go on a family trip to Ahmedabad. A state, a city, a historical place that never ceased to amaze me gave some quality time to finally accept what was to come next.



October
New place, new city in a new country in a new continent and a future so different waited for me here in Seattle – my new home for at least two years now. I was back in school, but grad life felt so different and exciting at the same time!
I did miss home terribly during my first ever Durga Puja away from home (October was tough) but soon I started exploring this beautiful city and Nature made sure I fell in love with the place.



November
November was more about Seattle, more about being a tourist in my new home, more about exploring the famous touristy places of the city. But I was determined to end the year with a bang and so I did!



December
Epic road trip, Canyons, Snow and Sun and of course ticking off some states of the US. Some of my amazing friend made sure I got some green ticks on my wish list and gave a fitting end to a crazy but amazing 2016! Read about it HERE.


Comments

  1. Your November was fabulous in my view . Great pictures Vaisakhi

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  2. Wishing you many many more travels and more wonderful pictures this year.Go for it girl

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  3. Wow.. what an eventful 2016!! Wish you have a great 2017 as well..

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    1. Hope 2017 turns out to be good too. Thanks :)

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  4. Loved reading your month by month travel journal Vaisakhi, accompanied by beautiful pictures.. We wish you more travelling and an adventurous year in 2017! :)

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  5. Lovely pictures and such a great idea too!

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  6. Amazing shots from your varied travel destinations.

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  7. This is so effin lit! Love the clicks and amazing phtography.

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  8. A lovely travel diary indeed. For me it seemed to be the best I could get crisp in a capsule. Hoping to see a more full travel diary of yours in 2017.

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    1. Thanks. Glad you liked the post :D hope 2017 gives me a chance to document something similar.

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  9. WOW! loved the pictorial journey Vish! fabulous! :) Wish you many more in 2017!

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    1. Thanks Divsi!!! Hope your 2017 also turns out to be 'travel'ful! :D

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  10. It's such a fabulous post, Vaisakhi! I loved the way you decorated this post with such wonderful pictures. So good to see that you had a great and eventful 2016. Hope you travel more beautiful places in 2017. :)

    And what all you visited in MP? Since you mentioned Holkars, so the place must be Indore, I guess.

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    1. Thanks Saumy :D i visited Mandu Maheshwar Indore and Omkareshwar this time in MP.

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  11. India is a big and incredibly beautiful country offering many amazing places to explore ! I wish one day to visit your homeland!

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    1. Milijana I hope you get to visit India someday. I am sure you will love it! :)

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  12. Brilliant collage. I'm so keen on seeing Adalaj. Gujarat architecture is so gorgeous. Maybe soon!

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    1. Thanks Punita. Adalaj is beautiful and very well maintained now! And why just Gujarat, I feel India is like an ancient architectural gold mine!! Hope you get to go to Gujarat soon though :)

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  13. Wow, looks like you really went to some awesome places in 2016!! Loved all of your pictures and can't wait to see what you have in store for 2017!

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    1. Thanks Tarah. Hope I get to travel more in 2017, start of the year has been rather sluggish.

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  14. Wow what an eventful year. I felt the same way, thats why I had to write about my 2016 because it was just too jam packed to NOT write about it! I love how you set up this post though, super easy to read and the pictures look amazing!

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    1. Glad you liked the post! Hope your 2017 is also super jam packed and eventful in a good way :D

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  15. What a fun year - I love seeing all the different places you have been the photos are beautiful !

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  16. Those are great photos! It was fun seeing places as diverse as Mumbai and Seattle. I've actually never been to either Mumbai or Seattle and I would love to try the delicious food in both places! Hope 2017 brings just as much adventure!

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    1. Thanks! Btw for a foodie like you Mumbai is a must visit and nothing can beat the coffee and pastries at cafes in Seattle :D

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  17. Wow, what a great adventure! I wish your 2017 is as good or even better :)

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  18. Loved your 2016 travel photo diary. You've been to amazing places. Wish you an epic 2017 for your traveling tales and adventures!

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  19. I really love the moody vibe to your pictures! I am travelling to Seattle in a few months and this post gave me such photo-inspiration!

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    1. Woah! Stephanie if you are coming to Seattle look out for my posts in March - you will find more inspiration to explore Seattle :)

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  20. Whoa! What an eventful, travel-filled 2016!!! Incredible indeed!!! I'm yet to visit Madhya Pradesh. Hope future has it in plans for me.

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