Grateful in 2021

It’s that time of year again…Time to reflect quietly on what we have been grateful for this year. Like many in the tourism industry, it’s been a year of highs and lows — sudden surges of interest in trips, followed by cancellations or postponements. Learning to adjust to this new Covid reality has been a big part of 2021. But there’ve been lots of good things, too…

10) We are grateful to have started the year in Kerala.

In February, Anvesh was invited by Jellyfish Water Sports to participate in the Muziris Paddle Event. It was an eye-opener to this historical area. Beautiful paddling, too! (Pic credits: Jellyfish Water Sports)

9) We are grateful for new members of the river community.

Return clients Saravana, Aarsh and Niki became friends over the course of the year as they improved their skills and spent time in the Kali and Ganga corridors. Renold was there in spirit too! (Pic credit: Praveen Jayakaran)

8) We are grateful for our April Kali Expedition.

Good people, good flows. What more can we say?

7) We are grateful for Manohar.

And just so proud! This summer, our mentee Manohar became a certified NOLS instructor after pursuing this goal since 2014. Congratulations, Manohar!

6) We are grateful to have discovered Dehradun in a new way.

In August we discovered some gems of Dehradun, including the good work of Been There, Doon That? and the welcoming atmosphere of Cafe Laata. Learn more at our blog, “Our Dehradun Favorites”.

5) We are grateful for an invitation to speak about our experience.

In September, Anvesh was invited to be a speaker at the Uttarakhand Adventure Fest 2021. He enjoyed sharing his reflections on the delicate balance between sustainability and tourism, as well as meeting good folks in the industry.

4) We are grateful for our November Kali Expedition.

This group brought together some river legends and enthusiastic newbies, resulting in magical memories.

3) We are grateful for an incredible crew.

Our Kali Expedition was held by an amazingly talented crew who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make everything happen without a hitch. Thank you (from left to right) Jangu, Lali, Narendra, Manish and Nanu. (Pic credit: Adventure Sindbad)

2) We are grateful for mountains and roadtrips.

Our family got to spend a week together exploring Uttarakhand and meeting good friends along the way. Watch for the upcoming blog…

1) We are grateful for YOU.

Each year it’s the same, but it rings true each time. We are grateful to you — our friends, family, colleagues, and community — for your support and love, especially during these challenging times. We hope we get to sit around the campfire with you in 2022! (Pic credit: Adventure Sindbad)