Vacanza? Dove? Con chi?

I find myself on the eve of a Diwali vacation..3 whole days off! And if I can fineagle Eid into this equation, I get a whole week off! A whole week!! Or in my previous job in Ammrikka terms, 70% of my *yearly* vacation time. Add to that the measly 5 days or so Ammrikka allows for festival holidays and I was saving vacation time for 2-3 years to be able to make just one trip back to des (humming "Ghar aaja pardesi, tera des bulaye re" on the Lufthansa flight back). This time I find myself with the luxury of 3 days off for Diwali, 1 day off for Eid and then the weekend.

And I'm tormented. What do I do with this time off?

I tried calling up friends to find out if they wanted to go somewhere with me. Alas, I seem to have realized it's vacanza time too late. Everyone seems to have plans; ranging from time with family outta town to seminars in Delhi (blecch! You'd pick a boring seminar over me, Kate/Bob?). Prospective interests in the dating sphere begged off claiming work (!!) or the fact that they're already going somewhere with someone who was a little less chicken to ask them out. My parents don't wanna hang out with me either (my last resort? And that's gone too!). So I have a bunch of options I'm thinking. Blog readers may comment in the next 3 days and help me figure out what to do with my time.

1. Stick around in Bombay:
Pros? Don't have to bother with packing, travelling. Will be able to get table at Coffee Day at Carter's a little more easily. Can spend mucho dinero shopping on Diwali gifts for myself. Can go to Mohd. Ali Road for iftar and finally eat some haleem.
Cons? It's hot. Crackers with the noise and the smoke? Asthma central! And sans amis? Mais non!

2. Go to Ganpatipule:
Pros? Quiet, tranquil beach. Can catch up on my writing (I'd say reading, but I do too much of it already). Can relax and unwind. Lovely Ganpati temple there as well.
Cons? I'll be alone at one of the most romantic places in India. Sleeping alone in my nice AC MTDC room, wading through the surf without playfully ducking someone into the water. It's boring.

3. Go to Pune:
Pros? Big city fun at small town prices. Can catch up with the Pune guy who seemed interested in me the last time I went there. Can watch the cricket match there on the 3rd.
Cons? Pune? Come on! How is this even a vacation?

4. Go hiking in the Sahyadris:
Pros? Beautiful. The weather will be awesome as well. I love hiking and the mountains and I can get some very awesome photos this time.
Cons? Can't decide which peak to climb or which trek to do. Perhaps an Ashtavinayak? Trekking alone freaks me out ever since a couple of hikers had their throats slit about a week after I was hiking in the same area at Shenandoah in Virginia.

5. Go to Agra:
Pros? History! I'll be in seventh heaven comparing the architechtural styles of Shahjahan and Aurangzeb. The Taj!
Cons? The Taj! Will sit on the marble bench forlorn and missing M. Can't let that happen on a vacation!

6. Work:
Pros? Well, I *do* have a lot to do.
Cons? Well, I *do* have a lot to do.

Everyone got their Diwalii lights up yet? I'm putting up my *kandil* (Lantern) tonight and stringing out all the lights (which my mum calls Christmas lights...weird that this Hindu family only uses Christmas lights for Diwali). The kandil is this cloth thing (vagely Rajasthani looking ) that M. bought for me when we were holidaying in Goa. More memories..why won't they stop??

Current Music:
Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac

Learning this song so I can sing it this Sunday night at Not Just Jazz at Karaoke night. I'll be the drunk guy also singing Abba's "Fernando" and Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet". With actions. Oh yes. Definitely with actions.