Summer’s here and techies, being the travel bugs they are, have already made plans for the holidays. As it is the mood in Technopark is itself a bit relaxed, now that schools are closed and the elections are over. Also, there’s the extended Vishu-Easter holiday for them to look forward to next week. Many techies, though, say that they are not looking beyond Thiruvananthapuram and its immediate environs to spend their free time, particularly those who do not hail from the city. In fact, there are quite a few of them who say that they enjoy exploring destinations here.

Among the hottest destinations for those who live in and around Technopark are the beaches in the district, particularly Varkala, Kovalam, Shangumugham and the closest of the lot, Kazhakoottam. 'Kazhakoottam beach is peaceful in the evenings because it’s not at all crowded as the other beaches. I often go there with a few hostel mates and colleagues, particularly after pretty stressful days at work. It’s easy to get there from Technopark, although it would be advisable to travel there in your own vehicle,' says Chitra P., a native of Thodupuzha, who works for a start-up.

Mini Mary, who works for an MNC, too is charmed by the city’s beaches. 'I’ve been living in the city for the past seven months now and our idea of chilling out is to head to the beaches in the city. Whenever we get a free day during the week, my friends and I also enjoy a spot of retail therapy. Sometimes we catch a movie too.' The beaches off the popular grid such as Azhimala, Pozhikkara (an estuary near Pachallor, particularly popular with techies who are also birdwatchers), Puthenthope, and so on are also quite popular with techies – all for their relative quietude.

Then there are those travel buffs who always want to do something different. Take Renit, a software tester at an MNC, who hails from Kochi, for example, who enjoys travelling with his buddies.

'We are a group of techies, all motorbike enthusiasts. Every other weekend, we ride our bikes to some destination or the other. We all read a lot of travel articles and enjoy discovering offbeat places, particularly waterfalls such as Mankayam. This year we’ve already been to Thenmala, Ponmudi, Kallar, Poovar, Kanyakumari, and the like. Agastyakoodam is one place we’ve yet to explore,' says Renit. Techie Sujeesh K.M., meanwhile, is a nature enthusiast. 'I enjoy trekking in the forest. I’ve been on almost all the nature trails in the district, including Braemore estate. Thiruvananthapuram is a great destination for a nature lover.'