Ever since a friend sent me a brochure about lakeside apartments close to Nainital, the remote work concept has appealed to me. Many of us are still working from home (WFH), realising just how much of our work can be done remotely, which doesn’t really require us to subject ourselves to a gruelling daily commute. If we take the WFH concept to the next logical step, we can actually work from anywhere, including a scenic spot somewhere far from the hurly-burly of the city. Here are some ideas:
It’s WFH, except it isn't home. You can be in a homestay somewhere in the mountains, in a budget shack on the beach somewhere, or some other remote place you’ve been meaning to visit. It can be anywhere so long as you have a reliable net connection and device to work from. It’s a holiday you can take while working. Work for some hours of the day; explore and relax for the rest – what some are calling ‘workation’ – like a staycation.
So this is what set the ball rolling for me: a friend sent me pictures of a lakefront apartment close to Nainital. The e-brochure promises a functional kitchenette, rooms with lake views and very importantly, good internet connectivity, catering precisely to remote working needs. Imagine working from here – on the deck overlooking the lake and then maybe driving into Nainital in the evening for a stroll and a meal!
With pools shut and beach holidays only a distant memory in the past couple of years, this is something that my heart truly longs for. You can hire a room or an entire apartment if travelling with family. You can choose one close to the beach; opt for something in the livelier northern parts or in the quieter parts of southern Goa. Work during work timings, enjoy Goa’s evening life for the rest of the day and relax by the beach on the weekend.
Some of us may prefer to be in a city while working remotely. If so pick a city that you have yet to explore; something like Jaipur that has some truly marvellous sightseeing options. Not only are there palaces and forts to explore, there are unique monuments such as the Hawa Mahal and the Jantar Mantar. I believe that one can only truly claim to have ‘visited’ a city when one has stayed there a while, gotten to know a few of the locals, tasted local cuisine and customs. Remote working is a good way to get to know a city.
It can be a great idea to get together with a few like-minded friends or maybe even professional colleagues and hire a place like this in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. Hiring the whole cottage can make sense if there are several couples or families since there are multiple bedrooms to accommodate everyone. This way, the costs are shared and one has company even if one has chosen to be in a remote location.
When I say ruins far from everywhere, I am speaking of Hampi specifically, something that has been on my travel list for a long time now. This place is far from most big cities and therefore a little difficult to get to. However, it has some of the most incredible ruins dating back to the 1600s Vijaynagar Empire to explore. I believe internet connectivity can be an issue here but homestays and hotels do offer solutions on a per-day plan basis. Me, I would be happy to remote work from here for weeks – and explore these incredible ruins; a UNESCO world heritage site for the rest of the time.
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