Any corporate team must achieve goals and deadlines but it also needs a break. At Akaike, we were all charged up and excited when the idea of a two-day trip surfaced. Like everyone, our team shares the desire to explore the world and visit a natural setting that will allow us to reconnect with our souls, get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and recharge from the inside out.
Corporate outing with teammates helps in team building and bonding where you get a chance to understand, develop, and freedom to communicate among members. After a long run from the pandemic, the virtual meetings, conferences, and work, our office decided to hit the road. With so many new, amiable faces adhering together, this trip was momentous for all of us as we associated and bonded well with each other.
So, let’s walk you through an unforgettable office trip that was loaded with entertainment, thrill, and fun.
The Plan
Planning a trip, especially a corporate one can be daunting work! Deciding on the destination, dates, stay, travel, etc.; from scheduling to execution, takes all the nuts and bolts.
In July 2022, the HR team of Akaike planned for a trip, that moment when we decided to embark on new adventures. Picking up a destination is immensely important, as it will give a definite goal. We bounced on several random destination ideas before setting our sights on one. Together we packed our bags and headed over to Wayanad. We planned to encounter the serene views of mountains, go for hikes, enjoy the misty outdoors, and stroll this place.
Travelling and the stay
Travelling has an appeal of its own. It is the excitement of travelling to new places, learning about diverse cultures, and enjoying the freedom of the open road. We rented a bus and headed to the mountains. The journey becomes more fruitful while we are travelling with our best mates. The enchanting journey on the bus through the alluring magnificence of nature has always driven everyone close to it. The whole journey was indelible, and we enjoyed seeing the beautiful scenery.
To seek an exotic place with all the modern amenities is quite tough at times. With the proximity to many of the aforementioned experiences and impeccable services, Wayanad Fort Resort makes one of the best stays in Wayanad. The Fort is an eco-friendly vacation destination that is supremely special and distinctively constructed. Aside from food and drink, the accommodations were terrific. The rooms were spacious overlooking either the mountains or towns. It was an exclusive hideaway with all the superb facilities which assured a combination of accessibility, and privacy to spend quality time together.
The Visit
Complete with misty mountains, splendid forests, pristine rivers, and cascading waterfalls, Wayanad is ‘the’ hill station of choice in South India. Ancient temples enclosed by mountains and forests bring reverence and mysticism to the region. Trek to mountain-top lakes and caves, bamboo raft through rivers, and cycle around the winding roads to make the most of this spectacular North Kerala region.
Edakkal caves give a unique experience, and it is one of the must-visit places. When we went, it was raining pitchforks the entire time. A trek up to the Ambukuthi hills is the only way to reach this cave. The cave gave out all the explorations about humans, and how humans lived long ago to many historians. One shouldn’t miss out on this cave while visiting Wayanad.
Fringed by the lush greenery and gorgeous hills, Karapuzha dam was our next landing place where we enjoyed nature trails. Unitedly we enjoyed the beautiful garden, nature, birds, and the beauty of the flowers on the green turf. Traversing through the stone-paved pathway gives a feeling that one is ambling along a passage that has a regal bearing.
With hopes in our hearts and curious eyes, we entered the dense and lush green forest of Bandipur National Park. Going inside the wildwood in itself is an experience. Gradually venturing into the denser parts of the forest, as soon as we entered we saw a herd of deer staring at us. An elephant family was also encountered in the forest interiors, shying away from us as they made their way through the forest. The day spent at Bandipur National Park was simply fantastic.
“It was great to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend some time in nature. Wayanad was the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. The scenery was beautiful and the people were friendly. I enjoyed hiking, bird watching, and just spending time in the great misty outdoors. It was a great opportunity to get to know my peers better and I’m looking forward to our next adventure together.”
—Karthik M Prakash
The Food: We don’t count the calories during a trip
Food and travel are so interlinked that it’s practically impossible to experience one and not the other. Trying some mouth-watering food delicacies, because no matter if you are travelling for work or taking a leisure trip filling the tummy with good food, is a necessity. The culinary delights we experienced during the trip were one of its highlights. Wayanad fort resort provided delicious food throughout the stay. We tried a lot of lip-smacking cuisines, which were very fulfilling.
The Night Life
After dinner, there would typically be card games, a bonfire, and some random conservations. Late-night talk walks, parties, and getting to know each other more in person were the most exciting things about the night as the Wayanad Fort resort has its most spectacular night because of the views, the place, the vibe, and everything in between. Moreover, we had a birthday blast, where everybody came together and celebrated. We treasured the entire night with our buddies, cracked jokes, danced, sang, played, and a lot more. Late-night conversations and celebrations are always the most engaging. Apart from work, these chats could be about anything and everything, and they frequently delve deeply into our feelings.
Forging The Everlasting Bond
With the return of employees to the workplace, workplace engagement and employee relationships have outgrown. The pandemic curbs, social distancing, and balancing of the right equation are a code to crack as the shutting down of offices and subsequent long periods of isolation have affected everyone socially and emotionally. When the roads finally started to open, all we wanted was to go back on them and experience the sensation of freedom we had been missing for such a long time.
Spending time with each other and interacting socially was part of this trip in addition to satiating our wanderlust since all of us came together after a long halt in in-person interactions. The harmony in everything and among everyone was so strong that a family forever was found. It was truly enjoyable and a terrific experience overall —
“Even though it was raining everyone was out and went trekking; an amazing experience. The team invited a new sport to play in the pool; a mix of football and Waterpolo. It was a great experience to see the beautiful place and everyone in the section, getting along really well with each other. Due to the pandemic and work-from-home culture, some of the remote hires had not had the chance to meet the team and interact. This trip acted like an ice-breaker for us and brought us close to each other.” — Rahul Thota
Sharing the experiences of everyone and looking forward to the next team adventure.
Here’s what other Akaike team members have to say about their trip experience:
- “I had an amazing time on my office trip to Wayanad with my colleagues. The scenery was beautiful and we enjoyed exploring the area. We especially enjoyed hiking and visiting the Edakkal Caves. We even got to take an embark safari and see some of the local wildlife up close. The office trip to Wayanad was a worthwhile team-building experience. It was an unforgettable experience and I’m already looking forward to our next office trip!”
— Gaurav Jain
- “The place was awesome but any trip becomes the best trip if you have friends to tag along with you. With the Akaike team, I didn’t feel that I was on an official trip. We enjoyed our resort, trekking, and good food. Together, we visited a lot of sites and had a great time. It will always be a special experience, and we can’t wait to go again.”
— Kanchan Rani
- “The whole trip had a great experience and fun, apart from the fun, one thing that I really enjoyed was the “leadership program” that helped everybody to understand and share their views on it. The session was very helpful in incorporating it into our career. It was an interactive two-way session more on an informal base.”
— Sridevi Aras
- “It was my first trip with the folks in the company and coincidentally right on my joining date. The leaders and the fellow mates were very welcoming even before joining the company, which made this trip even more delightful. Overall, It was a great experience meeting complete strangers at the start of the trip and making them close colleagues by the end of the trip.”
— Vishnu Raveendran
- “Wayanad offsite was one of the best and most memorable trips of my life will cherish it forever. The resort is exactly the same as shown in the images. Absolutely clean, hygienic, and very well-maintained property. Polite staff and good food. The room had a stunning view and we loved every moment. Thanks to Akaike for organizing such a wonderful offsite.”
— Sakshi Chaudhary