Working in Cloud with Cloud: A startup connecting to the virtual sphere in Vagamon
MapUp’s experience with working on the cloud while being in the cloud
When you think of working “in the cloud,” your mind might immediately jump to services like AWS, GCP, or Azure. But what if we added another dimension to it? What if the cloud were not just a digital landscape but also a physical experience? This was exactly what our team at MapUp set out to explore. Our destination? Vagamon — a hill station in Kerala, India, where the elevation is such that during the monsoon season, the cloud layer was literally below the resort where we stayed.
The Heavenly Abode: Vagamon
Amid the monsoons, Vagamon transforms into a canvas of nature’s most stunning brushstrokes. As rain-filled clouds rose from the Arabian Sea, they made their way to our resort before journeying further east and north. The mix of these rain-drenched clouds and the cool climate turns Vagamon into something akin to a paradise.
Cloud Computing: The Digital Parallel
Away from the noise and chaos of city life, we immersed ourselves in work with the help of AWS, GCP, and Azure. But it wasn’t just about logging hours or pushing code. Surrounded by the beauty of Vagamon, we found our thoughts clearing up, much like the sky after a refreshing monsoon shower. We experienced creativity and collaboration in ways we never had before. The tranquil surroundings and absence of urban distractions nurtured a work culture that is as fluid and organic as the cloud formations around us. The natural beauty of Vagamon became a part of our work, encouraging us to seek harmony in what we create and maintain.
The Symbiosis: Nature Meets Technology
Both types of clouds, the natural and the digital, represent more than what meets the eye. They’re not just floating masses or data centers but intricate systems that support life and innovation. In a way, they are a poetic juxtaposition: one brings life-giving rain while the other brings life-changing technology.
The Takeaway: More Than Just a Work Retreat
This experience was an epiphany of sorts. It wasn’t just a 5-week retreat for our fully remote team; it was a full-blown testament to how surroundings impact work quality and mental well-being. We learned that sometimes, to reach for the sky (or the cloud), you have to get your feet wet (quite literally). Often true innovation comes from stepping outside the confines of the familiar, be it an office or a mindset.
Balancing Work and Play: Clouds in the Sky, Clouds on Screen
As we harnessed the power of AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure to fuel our startup’s aspirations, we discovered that our time in Vagamon was more than just code and deadlines. Amidst coding marathons and project discussions, we enjoyed breaks that transcended our virtual realm. With the hills as our backdrop, we found ourselves engaging in spirited volleyball matches and soccer games — moments of unbridled joy that recharged our spirits and fortified our team dynamics.
Night Hikes and Bonding Under the Stars
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the monsoon clouds painted the sky in hues of twilight, our team embarked on night hikes through the mystique of Vagamon’s hills. Guided by nothing but our flashlights and the shimmering stars above, we explored the natural wonders that surrounded us. The spirit of camaraderie that blossomed during these hikes was a whole new experience for our completely remote team.
Next Steps
This unique journey showed us that the clouds we often look up to for digital solutions can sometimes be found touching the earth beneath our feet. We learned that it’s possible to draw inspiration from both the physical world around us and the digital worlds we create.
Looking to find your own cloud-to-cloud inspiration? Sometimes, all you have to do is look up — and log in.
Want to learn more about our cloud-to-cloud journey? We hope this tale of cloud-meets-cloud inspires you to seek out your own unconventional muses and rethink the bounds of what’s possible, both in life and in work.
