When the opportunity knocked, back in April, to sign up for a bloggers retreat scheduled between September 30th and October 2nd in Varanasi, I knew I wanted to be there. By April 6th my seat was confirmed. It was a very long wait. But it finally happened.
Without the husband and kids, I left for Varanasi with my first new friend Neha Sharma who blogs at Growing with Nemit. Apparently, this was her first time travelling without her husband and son. It was my fourth trip on my own.
We landed in Varanasi and even the blast of its hot and sticky air (when we stepped out of the airplane) did not dampen our spirits. By the time we reached the hotel, we were drenched in our own sweat. Still, dripping with perspiration, we had already clicked and shot more than 50 photographs and videos.
On meeting the rest of the bloggers that I have known online for a few years now, and spending three days and two nights with them, I realized that connecting online and living together offline were totally different experiences. Read here for the general benefits of meeting offline.
And this is exactly what we enjoyed the most.
Just being in this city of Uttar Pradesh was amazing but the bloggers retreat #blogchattermeets was the real reason for going there. Many of my close friends were confused about what I was doing in a place like Varanasi – known for its meditative aartis and authentic Banarasi sarees (both of which I have absolutely no connection with). Well, read on!
We met offline and had fun!
To repeat once again, I realised I loved having a room all to myself in Guleria Kothi. And, I hope to have the privilege of enjoying this feeling again, soon. By the way, I feel a little sad to admit that I side-lined Neha for this unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sorry, Neha. Mwah!
I had a nice time taking part in all the workshops and informal activities organized by the team. Informal not illegal. We had a painting workshop with Ruchika Mehrotra where we learnt to incorporate in our paintings the five elements of Varanasi which are Water, Temple, Umbrella, Flag and Boat.
There was another workshop by Scrap Shala where we put together our own potpourri while eating sandwiches and fries on the side.
Blogchatter organized a few other activities at the bloggers retreat where we had discussions, artwork time, boat rides and the book launch of The Blogchatter Book of Thrillers. We also had a storytelling and sing-song session with Umesh Kabir.
Putting a face to their website names was a good feeling. Like stated above, you get to know the person better when you meet them in person rather than online or when you read their blogs. Due to this offline meeting, and midnight chit-chats, I got to know MORE about my blogger friends:
Jayshree Bhagat (who blogs at MakeUp and Beauty Blog) is naturally funny. She loves dressing up and posing. And, I love clicking photographs. We made such a great pair that we got drenched in the rain (while clicking pictures and shooting videos) together. We laughed a lot while running back into the hotel. Later that night, we got to know that we were the only ones who hadn’t watched or read Harry Potter!
Noor Anand Chawla has been my co-host at Blogaberry Dazzle since January 2021. After speaking on the phone for almost 3 years, we were elated that we finally got to meet offline. I admired her flare for public speaking. I have to admit that she was a treat to be around. Oh and she has watched and read the whole Harry Potter series multiple times!
Anshu Bhojnagarwala was a very important soul that we could not just ignore. She was our compass who had the cardinal directions embedded in her brain. Without her, we were sure to get lost in the dark, narrow and wet lanes of Varanasi.
Aesha from Aesha’s Musings is a sweet person filled with ideas. She was the one to suggest that I visit Sarnath because I had six hours between hotel check-out time and flight boarding time. Thanks so much, Aesha, Sarnath was a beauty!
Varsha Bagadia (who blogs at A Vibrant Palette) is a damsel who loved running in a saree. Across the river or down the stairs, you could see her pallu fly high! We also clicked some Gangubai Kathiawadi poses that came out quite well.
Tulika Singh who blogs at Obsessive Mom and Beat About the Book has an awesome vocabulary and was inspiring to listen to. I could learn a new word in almost every sentence. Check out her write-up on our Varanasi trip and you’ll know what I’m raving about. Also, I admire her guts to handle two websites! It’s NOT easy!
Bhavana who made us realize that I was Charlie and Jayshree was Juliet had apparently changed her instagram handle several times. After being inspired by our conversations, you can finally find her at @bhavanathelekhika, hopefully, going to be blogging soon, too.
Aditya Sathe (who blogs at Adi’s Journal) was great company after our retreat was over. I mean I admired that he calmly got through the retreat with 14 women around (him being the only male). But, the trip to Sarnath was when I realized he was great company to go exploring with.
Did you know Sarnath is a place, 10 kms from Varanasi, where Gautama Buddha taught his first sermon after attaining enlightenment? And, it’s well built, too. Except the Chinese, Sri Lankan and Burmese Buddhist Temples, we went into all the other temples to admire their beauty.
No, I did not forget Neha. I just kept this one for the end because I was in awe of her strength and determination to carry all her video shooting equipment (tripod, 2 cameras, gopro, selfie stick, extra batteries, etc.) wherever we went. I was happy I had my mobile to click and shoot whatever I wanted. But, she also had the presence of mind to keep shooting and clicking the scene, activity, herself or all of it. Thanks to her, we have videos of some events that we didn’t shoot because we forgot we could do that and were busy clapping or enjoying the event. However, she also was a grasshopper flicker. I wouldn’t dare go near one but she actually went and flicked one because Jayshree was afraid of it. It was around 5 feet away from us. After that, she googled how many legs the grasshopper was supposed to have because some said it was a cricket while some of us confirmed that it was a grasshopper. Seriously! After midnight!
All these fun experiences and more wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts put in by The Blogchatter team. Without pouring all their khoon aur pasina in this offline retreat, #BlogchatterMeets would’ve still been a dream. Therefore, we are all grateful to them for this wonderful opportunity and hope we have plenty more now that the pandemic is behind us… sort of… maybe not… is it still on? But well, I want to get on another plane soon and do fun things with like-minded people just like I did in Varanasi!
What say my fellow bloggers who were present, absent or just plain missing all this due to unavoidable personal commitments? Are you ready for another bloggers retreat?
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.
46 Comments
I’d read this post when you originally wrote it but commenting now… It was indeed such fun hanging out in Varanasi together, especially the midnight chats! And then of course, the somewhat repeat session in Bangalore. Here’s to many more trips together!
It’s fascinating to read about your journey to Varanasi for the bloggers retreat. The anticipation and excitement are palpable in your words. I’m happy that you had the opportunity to connect with wonderful bloggers and capture numerous videos and pictures at the retreat. The prospect of being surrounded by like-minded individuals, all working collaboratively to enhance their craft, adds another layer of appeal. It’s easy to see why you found the experience so enjoyable.
Wow, I just loved your experience at the Blogchatter retreat. I loved all the pictures, and it was great to know about fellow bloggers. How can I be a part of the meetup? Please let me know. Loved the entire session and how engaging it was. Hope you had a great time there.
Wow, Cindy.. Your experience at the Blogchatter Bloggers Retreat 2023 sounds incredible. The anticipation, the journey, and the connection with fellow bloggers must have made it truly worthwhile. I can almost feel the Varanasi heat and the enthusiasm through your words. Meeting online buddies offline is indeed a game-changer. I still remember your reel of the hotel room tour, and really wished I could have been a part of this retreat.
Yeah the hotel room was the highlight for me!
Lovely pictures. I really enjoyed reading about the retreat and all the activities. We could not join this time since my daughter-in-law was here. We will surely try next time.
Hoping to meet you this year, Madhu!
Wow, I missed meeting u all. But Aparently I have developed social anxiety and I am overcoming things one at a time, so may be next year I will be joining u all as well. But it reallt looks fun!
Hoping to meet you this year, Moni.
So much fun to meet online friends in person. Happy for you to have this retreat. I am also looking for it. With hope I will also get a chance of these kinds of retreat. Varanasi is one place I like to visit specially for Sarnath.Love your all detailing and personal touch.
Oh I loved Sarnath more than Varanasi! But hope to see you someday, Neeta!
Hey u poured pasina when you landed there. I truely agree offline meet is better than online, ours is yet to come with the kids along may be school vacation we can plan. It was a good read, truly feel how much u liked it and specified about each person.
Yeah, let’s do something during the holidays, Flavia!
Cindy, I knew the offline event was a gala success but it had all those interesting workshops and a lot of fun. I felt like I was there too. A beautiful way of sharing your delightful experience da.
Thanks, Sivaranjini!
Enjoyed reading your recap of the retreat, Cindy. I missed it but I did enjoy catching up on all the updates. Meeting friends we have known online for years is such a treat.
True, Ritu. Hope to meet you soon!
wowwww!!! so much fun! Enjoyed reading your post Cindy. I can imagine how much u must have liked to be alone in the hotel room… we rarely get that opportunity.
You asked us to guess the 5 things in your artwork… those are the only 5 things in it btw…🤭
All the pics are so happy happy.. I m getting major FOMO.
Join me next time, Kaveri!
Dear Cindy, Varanasi is a city which is very close to my heart as I spend 2 long years in this city while pursuing my MBA. The city is also very special as its where a wrong call in my senior roommate’s mobile connected me with the love of my life and now husband. My love story started right there in this city and it was a long distance one as he was in Noida that time. I was keen to be a part of this offline meet but the baby is so small that leaving him back as home with his father… my heart never said yes. But no regret as I know someday somewhere I will meet you all and enjoy the essence of being together with fellow and lovely blogger friends like you. I am very much attracted towards art and craft, and here I regret for missing the painting and scrapshala activity. The best part of such offline meets is that you get to know the person personally and bit closer and if luck permits you can also get new ideas for blogging being with them… as learning never stops. Thank you Cindy for taking me on a virtual trip to Varanasi and for introducing the fellow bloggers through your creative narrations. Stay Blessed
You’re welcome, Samata. Hope to see you soon.
This is such a great experience! This somehow made me miss going out with friends. haha..oh highschool era! I also loved how this trip/retreat despite some hesitations especially with you travelling alone, yet you knew you needed it and pursued! This kind of trips are the ones that helps you grow as a individual. Let’s not forget the great participation of your family for allowing you, a hubby who lets you fly your wings and tells you not to worry about your kiddos.
I think the word is ‘helped me take this trip by financing it’ rather than ALLOW me. 🙂
Firstly, so happy for you BUT secondly, I am so jealous 🙂 Am just kidding but I really wished I could have been a part of this retreat. Ho[efully soon will get another chance.
Yes it would be great and you will also feel great, Harjeet!
I was just imagining all your midnight chit chats! New is always exciting Cindy. I find it really admirable that you and Noor have been hosting challenges for years without meeting!
And I would have loved to do that scrapshala. It sounds really useful. Varanasi is an experience for sure, I have been twice but on very fast trips. I would like to do more leisurely trips.
You have to join us next time then, Ambica!
This must have been such an amazing break for you! Lovely pictures and I had no clue such retreats existed. A must deserved retreat for most mum’s i should say
Five elements of Varanasi which are Water, Temple, Umbrella, Flag and Boat, this is a learning and very cute painting.
Thank you, Rose.
I have followed almost all the videos posted by fellow bloggers and the A team of the retreat. What a fun time you guys had! The whole idea of being away from family with friends for a couple of days is refreshing and recharging for both sides. But haan, we soon begin to miss them!! I loved that you added some bits about many bloggers I know offline…that was quite an interesting bit to read.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Janaki.
I am sure you people would have a wonderful time at the retreat. Sometimes meeting people and spending quality time with like-minded ones is the best healer we all deserve to have. Your blog literally took me on a virtual walk to the retreat. I wish to join retreats if everything goes well with my commitments and timelines.
Hoping to meet more of you bloggers soon, Kiran.
Omg you went I wanted to go so bad but was pinched for time
Thank you for sharing this
Reading this I feel I was there with you guys somehow
Enjoyed reading in every lines.. Appreciating your writing style also.. The photos you attached are very lovely.. Thankyou for sharing.. Waiting for more❤
The BlogChatter Retreat 2023 was an enriching experience! It provided valuable insights and connections with fellow bloggers. Truly worthwhile.
Wow!!! This is amazing to read your experience. For once, I also thought the retreat in Varanasi is somewhat related to spiritual trip. Of course, with blogging things. Still it looks awesome. Keep Sharing such moments.
This sounds to be a great opportunity for all the bloggers to meet and learn from each other. This was such a lovely read.
Such a lovely read. The photos in the post are so lively that I feel I should have been there with you guys.
This was a wonderfully organized workshop cum pleasure trip. I am glad that you got to meet some lovely bloggers and got to shoot a lot of videos and pictures during this retreat. This place has such a spiritual and old-world charm that I have myself been looking forward to going there and to top it, there were similar-minded people to help each other create better. I can understand why you enjoyed it so much.
Aw this was just the most heartwarming post Cindy. Thank you for the mention and the generous words of praise – those are the nicest things anyone has said about me in the longest time. It was wonderful to meet you. I love how effortlessly stylish you are and also the candidness with which you admitted that this was the first time you had a room to yourself. Keep being you.
Glad to have met you too, Tulika! And also thank you for those kind words!
Omg.. How beautifully written Charlie😃 Recollected all these days 😀You are a darling ❤️ Hidden talent ❤️
Mwah, my Juliet!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this! Loved meeting you too and looking forward to repeat this in Bangalore soon!
Waiting!