A perfect getaway is all in the mind

Life can be hectic sometimes. When the daily work gets you down, even a weekly off just doesn't seem to make life easy. It is during these times when you need to take a break and go to a special place that you can call your own - a place where you can be with only your thoughts, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. A getaway is the perfect answer. When you wish to leave all things behind, the best place to start off with is a city from your past that you hold dear. And, this is true for director Onir Ban, who enjoys travelling to Berlin in between films. "I did my filmmaking course in the city, and I have a lot of friends there as well. Berlin is a vibrant and cultural city. There is a lot of underground cinema that is shown there. I also enjoy visiting a lake called Wansse on the outskirts of Berlin. One of my friends has a longhouse over there, and the atmosphere is quiet, green and beautiful. I love to sit there and write my stories." If you're not the kind that seeks solitude, then perhaps you wish to have to do something adventurous. Hear model-actress Diana Hayden, "My favourite place is Las Vegas. I love visiting the surrounding mountains outside the city. There are small islands which are really beautiful. It's a beautiful feeling." Singer Kunal Ganjawalla loves to go trekking whenever he has the time. "I love to visit places like Himachal Pradesh and Shimla. One of my favourite travelling spots is Panchgani. My wife and I love to trek halfway between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar. We have also trekked in Bhutan and visited the Tiger Nest Monastery." Trying something new can be an adventure in itself, and, actress Manjari Fadnis agrees. She loves to fly to places like Mauritius and Phuket when she gets too stressed out from work. "My favourite activity (besides shopping) in Mauritius and Phuket is to try out water-based sports. So far, my favourite activity is jet skiing. I am planning to try scuba diving and parasailing in the future." A quick break for Manjari is visiting Pune and spending time with her family. For actor Jimmy Shergill, the ultimate getaway is a visit to Goa with his family. Jimmy says, "The monsoons are the perfect time. We really enjoy visiting Goa at this time as it is quiet, the surroundings are lush with greenery, and the atmosphere is peaceful and relaxing. I love to spend time with my sons, we make sure we do a number of activities like swimming, playing pool, going to the gym and working out." One can do a lot of things to get away from it all. So, why not try something new or renew an old hobby? Who knows, you might just find the ultimate getaway activity.