FLO Bangalore Retreat to Baroda

A sea of blue evaded the Bengaluru airport, as 86 women with energy, laughter and enthusiasm brimming over the rim, boarded the flight to Baroda. The members were warmly welcomed at Taj Vadodara with a superb spread of Gujrati-delicacies. A DJ belted out popular Garba songs and the energized women hit the dance floor!

29th Sept.: A super early start to the destination, after a quick breakfast, 3 buses with Flo ladies set off to the Statue of Liberty. The largest statue in the world, a true engineering marvel took our breaths away. The members returned to the hotel for a piping hot delicious lunch and got dressed in their best Indian attire to visit the Laxmi Vilas Palace. The members were given a brief tour of the beautiful palace and then given an enlightening talk on the Gaekwad legacy by the ethereal looking Princess Radhika Raje. This was followed by an exquisite light and sound show and a superb buffet dinner at the palace premises.

30th Sept.: The next destination the UNESCO heritage site, which is the ancient city of Champaner and the adjoining fort – Pavgadh was eagerly looked forward to by the members. The astounding architecture and sculptural marvels from beyond the yore still create that feeling of bliss in your heart. On the way back, an authentic Gujrati thali lunch was organized at the famous Mantap restaurant for the members. The ladies headed back to the hotel to take a quick break before getting ready to join the world’s largest Garba dance festival at United. However, the rain Gods decided to play footsie with the arrangements as the Garba got cancelled since it was an outdoor event!

In a quick turn of events, almost seamlessly, Chairperson Shruti Mittal contacted Past Chairperson Ahmedabad – Roopa Patel and Senior Vice-Chairperson, Taruna Patel, who very graciously created an indoor venue almost instantly for the Bangalore members. Complete with a famous Garba singer and her band, and professional dancers, the ladies were entranced with the music and aura created just for them! The food at the venue was probably the best meal ever during the holiday, complete with authentic Gujrati stalls dishing out every possible delicacy.

That evening was a moment of realization – the power of the unity of women can even move mountains! The happily tired group returned to the hotel at night to board an early morning flight back to Bengaluru.