I am often labelled as a petite, sensitive girl, who is ‘too delicate’ to handle the seasonal variations of the North. My recent visit to Langkawi, Malaysia, proved everyone, including me, right.
Our trip to this lesser explored island got materialised after years of dilly-dallying. Just a fortnight before we were to leave, me and my husband were down with viral fever. At that time, general flu had widely spread in the NCR and inhabitants were mulling escaping the city to detox the lungs. We were lucky enough to have a getaway awaiting us.
Much to our delight, fresh air, lush green surroundings and smooth moving traffic greeted us in Langkawi. The immaculate streets shining in the sunlight created an irresistible urge in me to drive, a feeling I had long lost in the chaotic rush of Delhi. Water streams and mountains running in parallel to the thin cobble patches transformed the usual scared co-passenger in me into a carefree traveller.
I had always fancied walking on the glass surface of The Langkawi Skybridge and when I took my first step there, it felt as if I had landed on the epidermal layer of an onion, too transparent and fragile in appearance, but structurally resilient.
I did not have to worry about my sensitive nose even once, as the AQI in Langkawi never rose above 75. As I watched the sunset while cruising amid the turquoise water, for a minute I dreamt of settling there and owning a ‘Pikachu boat’. It was then that I realised that I am really not made for extreme temperature fluctuations. A constant tropical climate is what makes my brain function in the most optimal way.
Rashi Mathur, Noida
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