Heartbreaking Travel Experience in India: Annual Family Trip Overseas

@patjules83 · 2025-10-09 08:21 · TravelFeed
"Life is uncertain, face your fears and just travel" This has been my mantra even back during COVID times, when so many restrictions were taken for travelling overseas. Fast forward to the present day, I could say that the universe has been pouring out abundance to me and to my family, so that we could grow and explore the world, living outside our comfort zone in Seychelles. I made it my goal and am truly grateful that God gave me this opportunity to travel 2-3 times a year, during my term break as a state school teacher.

Serene and Relaxing Stay at Pushp Vatika Resort and Lawn (Panvel

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We arrived early on the 11th of August at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. We were not so familiar with the place, and a 1 and half drive might be a challenging journey, so we waited until 7 am to book a taxi from the airport. There were plenty of taxi services available. You can freely choose whom you think you can make a good bargain with; however, for me personally, haggling in a fair way was always better. For example, if the charge was 2000rs, I would gladly give an extra tip of 300rs to the driver. This has been true until we left India, and I must say that the universe is really ABUNDANT.
Our check-in was after lunch, and quite early enough; we waited for an hour at the reception desk for the statement on the room we booked to be available by that time. We stayed on the lawn side, where I could feel the nature of the resort. I was totally amazed that the Panvel area (New Panvel) was still surrounded by greenery, and the resort lived up to its description that it's indeed a relaxation area to start with. Mostly locals are staying at the resort. We were so impressed that within the week of our stay, it was also India's 15th Independence Day celebration. The resort was jampacked with people, local music was being played, while we were listening to the live performance, one of the staff approached me to ask if there was a particular Indian song I wanted to play, and what came to my mind was "Jai Ho", a long-time movie about a guy who won millions, entitled "Slumdog Millionaire"
  • We were going out every day, and booking a cab/rickshaw was more convenient, so getting a local SIM was necessary. So we went to Orion Mall, yet to my surprise, they don't have any telecommunication office that sell SIMs inside, not even banks. We had to go out and look for an Airtel service centre outside.

Haggle in a fair way!

42278fd57a209044d10d0c120be51dd7.webp The tuk-tuk driver reminded me so much of what my late father told me: "It's pure joy for drivers to receive extra tips despite the regular fare!"

At once when I was waiting for my sim activation, my brain told me, "500rs would be fair to give him!" i knew it might be a bit too much somehow but as he's driving us back to the resort where we stayed, considering the situation that making an income for a day would always be a challenging one, we asked him if he could dropped us straight to the reception area as it was also raining and giving him 1000rs instead was pure joy and bliss!

Money is behavioural, and the universe loves to give us more abundance when we ourselves are ready to give. I felt like the amount was kind enough to share with him. I asked if I could take a photo with him, and he gladly permitted.

I thank God for giving me the opportunity to give extra!

We stayed for a week at Pusph Vatika resort. Not only did Sage enjoy the pool, but I felt so drawn into the atmosphere of giving more. Every time we went out, either with a cab or a tuk-tuk, I was always ready with my change of 50, 100, 200 Rs! If not to double but triple the tips!

"I felt it in my veins, telling the universe that I TRUST your abundance, that I wanted to share it with those who won't be able to give me back! It felt good without any doubt!

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It was our second time in India, but it never occurred to me that a woman would drive a tuk-tuk. Personally, driving it for a living was truly masculine, but Jothi (she eventually became a friend that day) didn't mind at all

How we met her was truly a blessing. It was raining hard while we were shopping for some items. Due to the weather, tuk-tuk drivers were just a bit challenging to drive us back to the resort. While my husband was looking for a tuk-tuk, I saw her next to the eye clinic waiting for passengers. We had eye contact, and I knew we had to ask her to drive us back to where we stayed. She said 200rs! I said, "Let's go!"

While on the road, we talked a bit, and she's apprehensive about how the road was. I told her it was fun somehow! The distance from where she took us was around 5-8km! As soon as we arrived at the resort, we asked to wait for 5 minutes as we needed to put all our items in the room, and she had to bring us back where she took us, which means another 200 rs and then from there, another 5km or shorter, she has to bring us to Orion Mall to get my MacBook done! From those trips, 700 RS was fair enough!

The next day, we decided to go to Seawoods Grand Central for my luxurious full-body massage, and walked in at Myo Thai Spa! I have to emphasise the word "luxurious" due to the fee of 4896Rs!

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I remembered Vishen Lakhiani from his talk on the Power of Expectancy, that regardless of how much we earn, we need to set aside at least 10% for our OWN Kind of luxury, by which having a spa/massage was always my go-to when travelling overseas.

I booked through the OLA app, and our Ola Cab driver, on a 21.7 km distance fare, was only 459 rupees. My brain told me it's not fair, hence my heart gave 800rs! We asked him to pick us up where he dropped us instead of taking another Ola Cab, so for the whole duration of the trip, we paid 1600 Rs instead of 459x2!

What's my simple point?

9e56d4c7cb51faf3d672f6122c188d2d.png Money is behavioural, and it has to flow. I was so touched by the Power of Expectancy (Mindvalley) when Vishen talked about it. The same message I wanted to tell the universe through that travel overseas, I AM READY, no matter what. My brain and heart coherence spoke ONENESS in the language of gratitude that it is with great privilege and happiness in giving, sharing extra to anybody with whom we were in connection whenever we travelled.

I never and will never bargain with locals because I feel their financial burden,and bargaining at a low price is never my thing.

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