Guess what? It’s that time of the year again, and we managed to pull off yet another memorable retreat. You’ve already read about our adventures at MGM Chennai, the misty charm of Yercaud, the grandeur of Udaipur, and the serene backwaters of Alleppey. This year, we set our sights on Goa, and while the planning was as meticulous as ever, the universe had its own surprises waiting for us.
In this blog, you’ll get the full story: the curveballs, the chaos, and all the fun that made this retreat unforgettable.
The Deciding Vote
You all know we have the habit of deciding where to go based on poll votes, and we did the same this year as well. If I recall correctly, the voting happened in August 2025. This year, we polled for the following places: Goa, Darjeeling, and Hyderabad. The team’s eyes were only set on the first two. It was a neck-to-neck vote too. We actually had 8 votes for Darjeeling and 8 for Goa, but at the last minute, our in-house designer, Harkiran, changed her vote from Darjeeling to Goa because she felt the climate wouldn’t be suitable for traveling to Darjeeling during November and December. I was personally gunning for Goa, if you must know, and ever since she changed her vote, she’s become my new favorite person at work. 😉
Hero That Saved the Plan
My other favorite person, or should I say, my hero was Abhigyan, our project manager. Because unlike other times, this time I didn’t have to plan everything on my own. In fact, he did most of the heavy lifting. He took care of the stressful part of planning, while I focused on the fun part. Once we fixed that we’re going to Goa, we started hunting for places to book for the retreat. After weeks of discussion, we finally decided that we will stay at the Foxoso Resort in the Baga Beach, at the North Goa.
Finding the Right Stay
But the most challenging part came once we started hunting for accommodations. Most of the places we looked at were great, but they either did not provide food or had no availability on the dates we planned to visit Goa. It was Abhi who finally found the Foxoso property and made sure the food arrangements were sorted as well. I just helped him with the number of members attending, how many we should be arranging food for, and the ticket arrangements.
The Big Distraction
Once the place was confirmed and the tickets were booked, we kind of forgot about the retreat arrangements because we had to focus on one of the major events yCrash hosted this year. I’d say this was one of the biggest highlights for us, we had invited Scott McNealy and his son, Colt, to do a webinar series with us. Naturally, most of the team was busy working on the event, and the retreat slipped out of our minds completely.
The webinar happened in the first week of November, and only after it ended did we realize that we didn’t have enough time to plan anything. Whatever we wanted to do for the retreat had to be figured out the very next week.
Thankfully, I was able to get some time after the webinar, and I allocated myself a week to plan all the retreat-related activities. As you all know, I love planning games for the retreats, and this time was no different. I planned some good ones too, but I’m not going to tell you what those are here. You can read about the retreat games in a separate section, where I’ll tell you all about what we played and who won.
The Unexpected Surprise
As the retreat date was nearing, everyone was excited about it. Not just because of the location, but because after a whole year, we were finally going to meet each other, and this time, every single one of us was going to be there. And Ram decided to add even more excitement to it.
Turns out, this was a milestone year for yCrash, and he decided to give every member of the team an iPhone. And yes, these iPhones were going to be distributed at the retreat! We got this news just 3–4 days before the trip. Abhi and Kumar joined hands to procure all the Apple products for the team, and they pulled it off. Kudos to both of them for making it happen in such a short amount of time.
Day 1: The Delays
The retreat was planned for four days, from November 28 to December 1, 2025. On the day before the retreat, just like the rest of the team, I was busy with last-minute shopping and getting all my arrangements in place. Toward the end of the day, I received a notification from IndiGo Airlines saying that my flight had been delayed due to operational reasons. I was originally scheduled to arrive in Goa at noon, but the update said I would only be arriving at night.
While I was stressed about this situation, I couldn’t stop wondering if others were affected too. Luckily, it seemed like it was just me, or so I thought. By the time I reached Goa, it was already late at night, and only then did I learn that Kumar had run into an even trickier situation. He had missed the flight and was to fly in a day later.
Night 1: Finally in Goa
By the time I started traveling, almost half the team had already arrived in Goa, and the rest reached later that evening. They had begun exploring Goa and were sharing pictures, which only increased my anticipation to get there and join them. But none of that mattered once I finally reached the resort at night.
The tired faces, the quick check-ins, and the late-night conversations made it clear that the retreat had officially begun. Even after a long day, smiles and laughter found their way in, simply because we were together again.
Day 2: The main event – All hands Meeting
The next day marked the actual retreat. But before the main event was another special session led by our very own health guru, Sainath. We organized a meditation session for the entire team and most of the members participated in it. I’d say that it was a much needed break. It was even more special because it was done at the beach shore. Mind and body, both in sync with each other, under that rising sunlight by the beach. What more would you want to begin the day with?
After the session, everyone got back to the room, refreshed, had breakfast and assembled in the conference room, which is actually a gym, that we repurposed into a conference room with bean bags and chairs for everyone to sit on. As you all know, every year we come together to talk about what we’ve accomplished and what we plan to do next. We followed the same format this year too, but with a few meaningful detours.
This year’s All Hands meeting felt more insightful and motivating than the previous ones. Instead of focusing only on numbers and presentations, we had honest discussions about the real state of the business and our individual roles in it. It felt less formal and far more real, something I personally loved.
Night 2: When the Real Fun Began
After the main event, we all decided to play the games I had planned for the team. With Abhigyan as my co-host, we played some team-building games along with a few other fun activities. Everyone was clearly keen on having a great time. But the fun didn’t end there. In fact, it had only just begun. We all dispersed to get dinner, and that’s when the man of the trip, Kumar, finally arrived at the resort. Yes, Kumar = iPhones. 😄 We were all genuinely excited to see him, more than usual, to be honest. To most of us, he looked like an angel that night.
We gave him a royal welcome and made sure he was checked in and comfortable. After dinner, we were all ready to head back to our rooms when someone announced that the iPhone distribution would happen right after dinner. Despite having had a long and tiring day, everyone decided to hang back. Soon after, we all received our Apple products, and for some team members, it was their very first Apple device.
After the distribution, we clicked a few pictures and headed back to our rooms to unbox our new phones. I must say, it had never felt this exciting. Once the unboxing was done, we played a few card games and ended the night on a truly happy note.
Day 3: The Detours
The next day, we had booked a 35-seater bus for the entire team and set out to explore Goa. After breakfast, we boarded the bus and headed to Aguada Fort. It’s a lighthouse built back in the 17th century, and as the team climbed up, many mentioned how amazed they were by its architecture. From there, we went to Dolphin’s Point for a boat ride.
I clearly remember one of the teammates calling the dolphins “excellent actors”, and honestly, they lived up to it. After that, we headed to a Goan hotel called Field Top for lunch, which was absolutely delicious. By then, almost half the team was tired and wanted to head back to the resort. However, we decided to take a vote, where one group wanted to return to the resort, while the other wanted to visit Vagator Beach, known for its clear water and corals. Some of us stayed back on the bus, while the rest went down to the beach and had some fun. After that, we all headed back to the resort, where most of us continued to relax and enjoy the evening.
Night 3: Slow Evenings & Strong Bonds
After the sightseeing, most of the team headed to the local markets for souvenir shopping and more. Meanwhile, a few of us stayed back at the resort and spent time bonding. With every passing minute, we were getting closer and feeling more relaxed, and at the same time, we were slowly realizing that the retreat was almost coming to an end. Yes, we were all leaving the next day, and that thought weighed a little heavy on our hearts. But that didn’t stop us from enjoying the moment.
Special thanks to the besties of yCrash, Kousika and Prithi, who introduced a game called Killer, or should we say, Serial Killer. I’m not going to reveal much about it here, but if you’re curious (and you should be, if you really want to have fun), I highly recommend reading about it in the other blog, where I’ll be sharing details about all the games we played.
By the end of the night, we felt much closer to each other than before. I can strongly confirm that the team grew closer, both professionally and personally, and that night was a true testament to it.
Day 4: Ending on a High (and a Few Goodbyes)
The next morning, we all headed to the restaurant for breakfast, followed by a team photoshoot at the resort before checking out. What started as a simple photoshoot quickly turned into serious content creation, product videos mixed with a few funny ones as well. Everyone was in high spirits, and unlike other years, we even followed a color code for the retreat, especially for that day. We all wore white shirts, tops, or kurtis for the photoshoot, which made it even more special.
Once the shoot was done, one of our engineering team members, Ankita, and her husband had to leave early for the airport. For the rest of us, a bus had been arranged to take us together. After checking out of our rooms, we waited around the restaurant area, which soon turned into a game room 😅, and played a few more games before lunch. After lunch, we boarded the bus and headed to the airport.
But fate decided to intervene one last time. When we were almost halfway to Dabolim Airport in South Goa, one of the teammates realized that their flight was actually from Manohar Airport in North Goa. Since he and Ram were flying to Hyderabad to meet a couple of clients the very next day, they both had to get down midway and take a cab back to North Goa. Thankfully, they reached the airport on time and boarded their flight without any issues.
Meanwhile, the rest of us reached Dabolim, gathered at the airport, and said our goodbyes — hoping and wishing that we’d meet again at a different venue, ready to create many more memories together.
Why This Retreat Felt Different
This retreat felt different for many reasons. For the first time in the last three retreats I’ve been a part of, we had 100% attendance. Every single one of us was there, no screens, no time zones, just people. That alone made a huge difference. There was a sense of completeness that we hadn’t experienced before.
Another reason was the way we approached the All Hands meeting this year. It wasn’t just about presenting numbers or reviewing what had already happened. The focus shifted towards the future, both for the company and for us as individuals. The conversations felt more real, more honest, and far more motivating.
One moment that stood out to me was when Ram spoke about how the team needs to be hunters, constantly adapting, surviving, and growing to be successful. That perspective stuck with many of us. It wasn’t just a statement; it felt like a mindset shift, and one that continues to motivate us even now.
And of course, there were moments that felt straight out of a dream. For many of us, receiving iPhones at the retreat and being in Goa itself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. At least for me, it truly felt like a dream come true.
This retreat wasn’t just about a destination or a few days away from work. It was about growth, togetherness, and moments that we’ll carry with us long after the trip ended.