What’s It Like to Rent a Self-Drive Car In Bengaluru…?

Bengaluru!! A city we all call as the IT hub of India, is an ideal ceasing point for voyagers like me making a beeline for some amazing spots like Coorg or Ooty. From a quick changing climate to some notable shopping areas, the city has it all for voyagers pouring around from all over India and the remainder of the world. But to have a merry time in Bengaluru isn’t that easy. So here's a story of my experience attempting a self-drive rental in the city.

Arriving in the City…

Welcomed by the sound of substantial traffic and some genuine deluge, escaping the terminal and entering Bengaluru was anything but an extremely upbeat encounter for me. Now here’s a question for you all, what do you expect when you land in a city for the first time? A comfortable cab? Even a comfortable journey to your hotel? Well, it was nothing like it!! Hiring a cab and getting stuck in traffic on my way to hotel for about an hour was a genuine pain indeed. And we’re all quiet aware of the duration charges the cabs charge nowadays right? So don’t even ask about the travel time charges that I had to pay. That was when I got to know a few facts about this beautiful capital of Karnataka.

Over the years, Bengaluru has seen an immense rise in population with an estimated population of 11.4 million people. But what is still a worry is the infrastructural advancements which have failed to keep up the pace with the rising population. Now if there are so many people in Bengaluru, there is bound to be chaos on the roads of this city. So thinking of ways to save money and searching for a feasible service I came across this random self-drive car rental and settled on giving it a go.

Some Experience, it was…

The internet was on a slower side around the hotel area. Tough to think of it in the IT Hub, isn’t it? But that’s how it all went through- so the internet was slow, I went out, booked a car, got it dropped at the hotel just about on time and drove through that relentless traffic of Bengaluru, yep, you heard it right, that relentless traffic!!

Be that as it may, here's a thing, the vehicle was spotless, completely working appropriately and honestly, answer this-what do you anticipate from the vehicle when you drive along on a vacation? Solace? Tidiness? All things considered, I got everything. So driving around a portion of the excellent destinations in the city was an extraordinary encounter and the best part, the customer care was shockingly really responsive and in spite of the fact that I didn't require it, there was this epic service called Free Roadside Assistance, stunning, isn't it?

So here's a last word from me for all the potential guests to Bengaluru and perpetual pioneers there, give these self-drive cars in Bengaluru a go and have a great time going around the city at a lot lesser costs.

DRIVING THROUGH DELHI: A LUTYENS’ CITY

Bordered by Haryana and Gurugram, situated at the heart of North India, Delhi attracts large number of tourists every year from all around the world. Famous for its architectural marvels and gobbling food, travelers love playing around Delhi. But if you’re thinking that achieving this fun is easy in Delhi, well, you’re mistaken. Driving around Delhi can be tough at times, especially in summer months. With the souring temperatures and rising travelling expenses, you are bound to spend some real brace from your pocket.

So if you’re standing at Red Fort under the scorching Delhi heat and thinking that now you should visit the Humayun’s Tomb, what travelling options can you think of in such cases? Getting puzzled about controlling expenses during traveling in and around Delhi can be a huge task. With the cab prices having risen by about 40%-50% in the last two 2 years, the option of renting a self-drive car in Delhi is here to save your money.

Self–Driving a car can be cheap and exhilarating at the same time. Not only you get the freedom of driving around the streets of Delhi at your own terms but you also get that necessary privacy which you expect in your own car. You can stop by at any point of your choice and enjoy those little things that Delhi offers to the travelers. So if you’re really stressing your mind now into pondering about the best self-drive service in Delhi, don’t worry, we got you covered.

Mychoize self-drive service is at your rescue. Mychoize offers the best deals and customer service in the market today with a wide variety of cars to choose from. The best part about Mychoize is the way the cars are delivered and the condition of the cars. Mychoize delivers the cars right at your doorstep in the same condition you expect your own car to be in. The self-drive service from Mychoize is for every traveler who is tempted about the idea of exploring the city.

Not only the prices that Mychoize offers are reasonable, the whole payment machinery is transparent. Hiring their service is unbelievably easy, i.e., three small steps and you’re good to go. The most stunning thing about Mychoize is the costumer support which is rapid and responsive. For the ones who love to travel and explore the beautiful city of Delhi, Mychoize offers unlimited kilometers so you can enjoy driving around the city without worrying about the distance limit.

Nothing is better than renting a self-drive sedan or a car of your choice and driving through the streets of Delhi at your own will, a true explorer’s delight. So if you’re planning to visit to Delhi or to just about any major city in India any time sooner, I recommend to use MYCHOIZE service. It will not only save your money, but would also give you the privilege of travelling on your own terms. Try it and you would not regret it.           

                    

How it Takes Time to Adjust to Home after a Long Travel Time

It is absurdly strange after a long time of solo travel to be at home, which appears like a foreign land, unlike the foreign cities that I have actually visited earlier. When I was in India for four months, I felt like being at home. I never felt like people hated me there; rather they treated me like I was their own kin who had come home after a long time. When it was time to leave, my friend, Rohan asked me if I would feel okay to go home. I understood what he meant to say, but I replied that I keep returning to the UK once or twice in a year. However, this time, it had already been two years that I had not seen anyone in the family face-to-face.

When I reached home, I really felt like I had arrived in a new country. Kids in the neighborhood seemed more direct about everything, and ruder to the strangers. I didn’t like it that way because I was brought up in a time when everyone was taught to be polite, no matter what. Food choices of people have changed, the clothing has acquired a new fashion sense among men and women, and people seem to be busier than ever before.

Things do acquire a new meaning when you are out of touch for a long time. I had heard it from everyone that travel changes the personality of a traveler. I did notice a few changes in me, but a few subtle vagaries went unnoticed. I never realized that I had become a completely different person than I used to be. Amendments in the personality are very slow when you are on a long, really long road trip. And I always felt like I had been like this only all this while. Being back home made me realize that I had actually become a different person.

Back there in India, I spent a long time in the south admiring the natural beauty of the country. I would hire an Innova for hire for self drive in Chennai and go for a long road trip. When I was in the middle-east, most of my time would be spent in absorbing the shocking culture of the countries. Japan was way more expensive than I had thought. However, all these things never bothered me because I always knew that I was in a foreign country. I was the one who needed to adjust because everyone else was born there, or had already spent a long time there.

Maybe I am just being irrational while thinking of my own country as a strange land. Maybe I am trying to find an excuse to fly to some other place again. I cannot point out what is wrong with my mind, but I don’t like the feeling of being a stranger in my own hometown. I would, perhaps, fly to some other country really soon.

How I Enjoy My Vacation in India and Abroad

After being a traveler for so many years, it is not easy to write down what I like the most about a place. Nonetheless, I do like to travel to various places, most of which are in India, and some of them are abroad. Here is my top list of things that I love to do, no matter where I am.

Enjoy being idle

Whether I am at an airport or a railway station, I just love sitting at a place to watch people busy in their lives. In my usual city life, I barely get a chance to sit with myself. That is why; I enjoy the waiting period at such places and do nothing at all. Even if I feel sleepy, I prefer to stay awake and observe people doing various things. There are parents busy with their cute kids, old people struggling to read the newspaper, people from various backgrounds struggling to find their train or the way to boarding the airplane.

I also love to wait for people at the cafés, restaurants, or public parks unless I have something urgent in my schedule. While I was sitting in the garden city browsing self drive cars in Bangalore, I met a lovely elderly couple who talked about their life history with me. It was intriguing to know how they survived a plane crash in London. I had never met a truly grateful person before that day, and just one session of conversation made me realize the gifts I had in my life. 

Read books

I am not a tech-savvy person at all, which is why I never thought of buying a Kindle to pursue my love for reading books. Even though I am a lazy reader, I am persistent at it. During my airport hours, I make sure to read something if the waiting time is too long. The railway stations in India sell interesting novels at throwaway prices, and I buy them in abundance whenever I get a chance.

Window shopping

There used to be a time when I would shop for literally anything that caught my eye at a tourist destination. However, I have matured as a traveler with time and I am not an impulsive buyer anymore. Nonetheless, it does not mean that I have stopped visiting the local markets completely. Now I prefer to go for window shopping and shop for things that I truly feel will not take any extra space at home. I don’t like to haggle too much with the locals of a tourist place, which is why, I tell the shopkeeper upfront that I am only looking around at stuff and I don’t intend to buy anything. They also understand my thoughts as they encounter several window shoppers in a day. I get out of a shop once I am done satisfying my eyes with the beautiful local stuff.

Travel gives a lot of time to kill, but I love to enjoy it rather than just pass the time.

Why Solo Trips are Not My Cup of Tea

There was a time when I was crazy about solo road trips, and then I got bored of them!

Yes, I got bored of something that drives the entire world mad. On my first road trip to the hills of Himachal Pradesh, I had a lot of fun on my own. It was pleasant living in a hostel for the first time. The dorms of the room appealed me so much that I wanted to live there forever. However, I met two girls in the dorm who were staying in the same room on the same bed for six months. It was too difficult to visualize a life where you have only one bed and a small cupboard that can accommodate only a few clothes. I used to live in a paying guest accommodation at that time, and even a small closet would appear too petite to me. I wonder how these girls were managing without proper arrangement for their clothes and other stuff. I dropped the idea of staying for too long in a hostel! My PG was better than that.

Then again, after a 2-3 more solo trips, I realized that I cannot travel like this forever. It becomes too boring at times to be in a new city and not be able to share my experiences with anyone. Yes, I can make new friends at all times, or that is what I always thought about solo travelers. However, I realized that even after being an extrovert person, I can only make good acquaintances, not friends. I don’t trust people easily and I don’t reveal too much about myself to anyone unless I am too sure about the person. I did meet many people like me who would like to share a meal with me, or talk to me for a few minutes, but the conversation would become too boring to continue after a while. That is when I would start missing my friends with whom I could talk my heart out.

Cost is also an important factor when it comes to enjoying a luxurious trip. When I have to decide the mode of transportation, for example, I have to choose the public transport since I cannot afford to hire a Self-Drive Car on rent Delhi as it would burn a hole in my pocket. I have to be with a group of 3-4 people to share the costs of expensive activities so that we all can share the burden. There is no scope of sharing the expenses with anyone when I am all alone on a road trip.

Getting bored is also something that kills me. Although I have my books with me whenever I travel, I still look forward to talking to someone. Reading cannot provide the inner satisfaction at all times; I do need someone to crack jokes and gossip about people when I am out of the city. Nonetheless, after being to so many solo and group road trips, I would prefer to travel with a group of people.

When a Road Trip Becomes a Nightmare during Winter

I was really being a macho when I thought about going for a winter road trip, and that too at the wrong time, or I should say that I was ill-prepared for it. I must have thought well about it, especially coming from a hot region like Kolkata where snow does not ever fall from the sky. The Bengalis of West Bengal only dream about extreme cold and go to chilly regions only as tourists.

So it was my first trip to the Himalayas and I, being a wanderer, had thought that I would manage on my own just like I had always done, but I was horribly wrong. I should not have underestimated the snow and overestimated my potential. I bought only two layers of warm clothing while leaving from Kolkata, but I was shivering from cold just as I landed in Delhi. I still thought that it was only sudden change in weather that made me shiver and I would be normal in a while, but I was wrong again. I started getting it that I would catch cold if I did not buy warm clothes immediately.

I went for shopping before leaving for Manali and bought another set of clothing to keep myself warm. I had to buy two blankets as well because the search results from Google had already scared me about cold regions. I could not imagine spending a night in the car in case I was stuck, but I had to prepare for plan B just in case I have to manage on my own. The news channels were already stating that many vehicles were stuck in the snow because of landslides.

I left for Manali using a Car Rental that I had booked from Delhi and left for the hills. Even in cold weather, I started feeling dehydrated. It was a new thing for my body to experience because until now I had experienced dehydration only during summer. I had hired Self-Drive Cars in Kolkata several times and been to road trips where beating the heat was my only concern. Beating the cold this time was a unique experience that I had to battle this time. I bought a dozen water bottles so that I do not go out of water until I reach Manali and Spiti.

When I reached the city, someone suggested that I should spend a night in Manali so that I can acclimatize my body to the extreme cold gradually. I thought that it was a good idea, which would not let me die at least.

Keeping the feet dry was a challenge in Spiti when I had to walk for a long time. My feet would start feeling numb and I would take a long time to dry and warm them. All in all, Spiti was indeed a wonderful experience but a challenge indeed for someone like me who had never experienced snow before that. Without feeling scared, I would love to go for that kind of road trip again.

The Experience of Night Life in India

When it comes to living in India, my choice of place falls in Delhi, even though I love traveling to other parts of the country. After visiting so many cities in India, there is barely any city or town that I don’t like. There is something about every city, which fascinates me. When I am in Delhi, I like the nightlife of the city, even though it does not match the level of energy in Mumbai.

The best part about driving at night is that I don’t get much traffic in Delhi, unlike Mumbai where the roads are occupied at all times of the day. I have been to several road trips within Delhi and outside the city as well. I try to wake up around 2 am if I have to travel for more than 500 kilometers for the trip. And when I am in the city, I can drive until 3-4 am with friends, girlfriend, or anyone else.

Whenever I have to go for clubbing, I know that I will be drinking. Therefore, I choose not to drive at all on return. If there is a friend who is not drinking, he or she is the best option to accompany. If I don’t have any friend to drop me home, I prefer to pay for a cab. It is not that the sense of responsibility was always there in me; it is the Delhi police that taught me the right lessons at the right time.

Whenever there is an important occasion like Christmas, Holi, or New Year’s Eve, the number of people going for clubbing increases manifolds and so does the number of police personnel strolling outside the clubs. They check every driver for alcohol and if found guilty, they do not spare without a challan or bribe. For the fear of paying fine, I have learned to avoid paying them illegal money and pay that amount for a cab.

I have had an accident in the past when I was in Kolkata. Since the local traffic laws are not that strict in the city, I had taken an Innova for hire for Self Drive in Chennai and planned for a boisterous birthday party. I met my friends and we all went for a night party in a hotel. We all got heavily drunk and I decided to drive because I was confident that nothing can happen when I am driving. I have been driving for more than ten years, but that day was not a lucky one. Due to sheer carelessness, I banged the car in a tree because I was out of my senses. I could not take control of the car properly and it hit the tree. Thankfully, the speed of the car was not much and none of us got hurt.

That day still haunts me whenever I sit back and recollect my memories because it was the single bad accident that I had. Since that day, I drive responsibly for the sake of my safety and that of others. After having great night outs, there is no use risking the life of others along with mine.