Vacation in a nutshell

• Delayed flights–hanging out with the crazy bunch for 3+ hours at the airport–listened to music, played cards, caused a lot of noise–ended up on an all-night flight with only 3 out of 23 who slept the entire way (who are the 3 you wonder, OH & my two babies ofcourse!!)
• 6 nights in a box twice my height in length & breadth. It’s a good thing we didn’t spend much time in there with all the company
• Food, food and more food. Haven’t eaten as much ever before. Ate just ‘coz there was food in our face 24 hours. Indian, Italian, pizzas, ice cream, chilled soups, lip smacking desserts – the list is endless
• For the evening relaxation, there were the smuggled bottles of Guestraminer, riesling, chardonnay, margaritas and vodkas
• Primary occupation & exercise - finding friends on the cruiseship. With no walkie talkies and non-functioning cell phones, we were restricted to our own in-built radars that took a few days to fine tune
• Lovely entertainment – stand-up comedies, music from the golden oldies to the present, dance extravaganzas with amazing costumes, rib tickling cracking game shows with fellow passengers as participants and last but not the least hanging out with friends and laughing the night away
• Backdrop – water, water and more water surrounded by glaciers, snow capped mountains, islands, endless daylight (I believe it was only on 2 out of the 6 days that we actually saw the dark sky in spite of staying up till midnight every single night) Whale watching was another activity as we sat for meals each day…
• Activities – hours in the jacuzzi giggling and being obnoxious, swimming laps in the gorgeous pool trying to burn the calories that was accumulating at a rapid rate, eating, playing tennis and table tennis, trying to learn ballroom dancing (and failing miserably!), seminars on weight loss through algae detoxification, watching culinary demonstrations, learning the art of table decor with linen and working out at the fitness center (treadmill, stretch & tone exercise) with the snow-capped mountains as a back-drop.
• Indulgence – massage & facial appointments
• Excursions – panning for gold at the drudge, an exterior tour of the jewel gardens and a lovely hike up the mountains in Skagway, a leisurely trek to the Mendenhall glacier and waterfall in Juneau and last but not the least, a breathtaking float plane trip to the Misty Fjord National Monument in Ketchikan (what the worst turbulence could not pull off, a tiny float plane did – made me airsick )
• Souvenirs – loads of memories, 500+ photos of indelible moments with friends and family and ofcourse 9 sick kids (thanks to their lovely spirit of sharing!!)

A week of zero planning, no agendas, endless fun, relaxation and bumming with friends – PRICELESS

For everything else there’s MASTERCARD