Cooking, gardening in the midst of greens

With most workplaces adopting a five-day week routine, families now have the option of switching off from the city’s chaos for a weekend getaway. So while the city’s concrete jungle may offer no respite for the senses, destinations like Pune, Alibaug, Lonavla, Karjat and Nashik have become popular among Mumbaikars to spend a relaxed weekend.

Rahul Manjal, a corporate presenter and RJ, is lucky to have a second house in Deolali, a hill station in Nashik. “I prefer spending weekends with my family peacefully. We have often made spontaneous plans of going to Deolali, where we enjoy our weekend to the fullest.”

So unlike several Mumbaikars in the city, on a Sunday, the Manjals don’t have to queue up outside their favourite restaurant or at the billing counter of a retail outlet. “Our weekends are generally laid-back and chilled out. Between catching up on the week’s happenings and cooking a delicious meal (there are also times when men take over the kitchen), we also watch classic Hindi comedies and end up rolling on the floor with laughter.”

The natural environs also offer a refreshing change for citizens to warm up to the opportunity of enjoying the outdoors, by opting for early morning treks and exploration of new areas in the countryside.

The long weekend also offers the only opportunity for Mumbai-based working professionals to catch up with their families back home. Some take the effort to travel almost six to eight hours to spend time with their family. Arun Dasan, a public relations professional makes a short visit to Pune to enjoy the pleasures of the “nice home cooked meal” with his parents.

“On Saturdays, I hang out with my friends. Post that, I travel for four hours to reach Pune. I spend the entire Sunday with my family. We have a late brunch, followed by a movie with my family. Sometimes we even go for an evening stroll and then have a quiet sit-down dinner, cooked at home.” It also helps Dasan to catch up on reading.

Truly, optimum utilisation of time is best learnt from Mumbaikars.