It feels like we returned from the Yercaud trip just last week, and it’s hard to believe that a whole year has already passed. We had our successful yCrash retreat take place in Udaipur this year. We made a lot of good memories together and this article is to share those experiences with you.
Day 1 memories
The official trip commenced on December 17th. But there were a couple of the team members who had reached Udaipur even before that. The whole team was supposed to assemble at the hotel at 2 PM but due to flight delay and other reasons, the plan got interrupted. The whole team only came together around 3 PM and the team had a late lunch. Initially we had planned to start the program by 4 PM with a surprise party for Mahesh, followed by walkthrough 2023. But plans changed and we had to re-strategize. We started with the all hands walkthrough session at 6 pm.
Goal of the retreat
Every year we come together to discuss what we accomplished this year and what we are planning to attain next year. This year while the tradition remained the same, only the setting changed from being “under the same room” to “under the same room”. The walkthrough meeting started with Ram’s welcome speech, or should we say inspiring speech, which then followed by the presentation of Geetha (Sales team), Umayal, Kousika (Customer Support), Alagappan (Release), Annya (Trials), Mahesh (Engineering).
Interesting part of the evening
Since we had changed plans, this part of the evening had to start at 8 PM, right before dinner. Our esteemed colleague Mahesh is getting married next month and we had planned to throw him a surprise party. Though there were more challenges, we did pull it off and he was completely in awe. You can read all about it and relive the moments with us through the dedicated article we have written. After the surprise party we swiggied the dinner and called it a night. Everyone was tired but went to bed excited about the next day’s trip.
Day 2 memories
Day 2 was all about sightseeing and exploring Udaipur. But how can a day begin without a healthy breakfast. We all assembled at the beautiful restaurant for a scrumptious breakfast buffet. The spread offered a delightful fusion of Indian and Western cuisines, leaving us confused about picking one. Ultimately, our curiosity led us to sample everything on the table, savoring the diverse flavors. And the kids absolutely loved their pancakes and pastries. It was a delicious start to the day.
Significance of the ‘y’ in yCrash
In the past two retreats, we received t-shirts featuring the yCrash logo. However, this year, the management decided to surprise us with stylish yCrash caps, and it brought a refreshing change. Excitedly, we donned our new caps and began capturing moments. One particular picture stood out and added more enthusiasm to the team.
If you look closely at the ‘y’ in our logo and the picture we took, you’ll notice a unique connection.
Now, let’s talk about the story behind the significance of the ‘y’ in our logo. Our CEO shared a story about what inspired the design. Basically, it all started during a cricket match he was watching, where one of his favorite cricketers scored a century. The cricketer, in a moment of victory, removed his helmet and held it above his head with both hands – one hand holding the helmet and the other the bat. This created a perfect ‘y’ shape, and the roar of the crowd made it clear that this posture signified victory. That moment clicked with our CEO, and the next day he decided that the ‘y’ in the yCrash logo would be designed to reflect that victorious spirit.
Sight-seeing Udaipur
After breakfast, we all got ready to explore Udaipur. Outside the restaurant awaited our first adventure, 3 auto rickshaws to take us for sightseeing. People in the south, we’ve seen rickshaws that can only handle 3-4 members, but this rickshaw could at least handle 10 members at a time. So the entire team we split into 3 teams and took one rickshaw each and started our journey. Our first destination was to a 4-in-1 show – Wax museum, Horror house, Mirror palace & 9D movie.
4-in-1 Show
Wax Museum
We took some time to decide who attends what and since our team had 21 members, they offered us a special ticket to all three shows. We started with the Wax museum. There were several wax sculptures of celebrities, starting from Gandhi to Modi, the Chota Beem team, Hulk, Spiderman, and also a sculpture of the King. Everyone started to pose with the sculptures and created memories. Once that was done, we moved on to the next event – The Horror house.
Horror House
I personally avoided the event because I was not quite ready to brave the scares. Along with my child and a few others, we waited outside while the rest of the team entered the house. The screams echoing from the waiting area were spine-chilling, that it created an ambiance in a way that made us feel part of the haunted experience without physically entering.
Mirror Palace
The third event was the mirror house. It was an unexpectedly enchanting and mysterious experience. The way the room was designed left us in awe, creating a short but mesmerizing journey. Even after stepping out, we found ourselves still surrounded by the magical atmosphere.
9D movie
The finale event was the 9D movie, an adrenaline-pumping experience featuring a spider that kept us on the edge of our seats. With moving seats and subtle drizzles of water, the extra effects added another layer to the excitement. There were moments when some of us found ourselves literally hanging by the edge of our seats. Overall, it was a cool and thrilling experience, marking a terrific start to our day.
Goldland
The next stop was to a park, where it is said that in the olden days, people in Udaipur could get Gold from the land. It was later converted into a park and we climbed a fleet of steps to click some pictures at the man-made waterfalls. While most of the team captured the beauty from the top, my colleague Geetha and I decided to immerse ourselves fully in the Rajasthani spirit. A couple of men at the site offered traditional Rajasthani costumes, and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to complete our experience. With a touch of spontaneity, we enrolled ourselves, transforming into Rajasthani girls and capturing moments that added a delightful cultural flair to our journey.
Memories near the Lake
From the park, we all took a small trip towards the lake to make more memories. To add touch to the local charm of Udaipur, we came across a couple of horses and camels. The kids were so excited to see them. There was also boating on the lake. To sweeten the day, we started taking some more photographs and also bought some cotton candies.
Traditional Lunch
Our next destination was a nearby temple. Arriving around mid-day, exhaustion from the morning’s adventures and the collective energy expended from the screams in the horror house, the weight of the Rajasthani outfits, and the lake activities, most of us started feeling hungry. To satisfy our appetites, we decided to explore a nearby hotel offering Thali meals for lunch. This hotel stood out because they offered 34 items in one plate, which triggered our anticipation. I must say, we had a delightful and authentic North-Indian lunch.
City Palace of Udaipur
After we had a full course meal, we all departed into the city to see the palace. This was a historical place that no one should miss. The entrance was just as majestic as the palace, and we also saw a school nearby, showing how important education is. Inside the palace, everything was so tall and impressive. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. We all bought tickets to go inside and checked out cool stuff like old weapons and the inside of the palace. It was a great experience, and we made some nice memories there. Then we all returned to the entrance to check out the nearby marketplace and a famous temple nearby. We saw many local artifacts and handmade purses and other objects. But we were advised not to purchase anything from there as they were expensive.
Shopping time
One-third of the team opted for some leisurely shopping, while the rest headed back to the hotel rooms. Count me among those who chose shopping. We explored a local market and agreed to meet at the drop point once we were done. Personally, I was drawn to jewelry, so I started searching for shops with accessories. Meanwhile, others in the group were on the lookout for Udaipur mementos, including handmade purses, bags, woolen clothes, and other items that captured the essence of Udaipur.
Dinner & Goodnight
After everyone returned from shopping, we all realized that it was our last night in Udaipur. We decided to make the most of it with a delightful dinner. This time we opted for some Chinese food through Swiggy, and I must confess, it was scrumptious. Following dinner, we engaged in a heartfelt chat, acknowledging that it would be at least 360 days before we could all come together again. With a little bit of sadness, we bid each other goodnight, but a few of us gathered in a room to continue the yCrash tradition of playing the card game ‘Ace.’ After completing at least 10 rounds, we all retired to our respective rooms to get a good night’s sleep, preparing to bid adieu in the morning.
Day 3 memories
Day 3, the last day of the retreat – we all woke up remembering to say our byes. We had to start at the airport in the morning and a couple of other members had flight later that day. There was another group that planned on staying back and exploring Udaipur further. So we all had one last breakfast together. After the breakfast, while my daughter and myself headed down to the airport, Mahesh, Sainath, Bhupathi, Geetha and her family headed to the Kumbhalgarh fort, another historical place.
Here’s a compilation of the good memories we made in Udaipur:
Conclusion
I hope this article will transport you to Udaipur. These days were full of fun, laughter, and new experiences, and I am sure that you will agree too. Thank you team for making this trip more memorable. Until we meet again, let’s cherish the memories we made here. Goodbye, team! See you soon!