Travelling Joys

As a child we all must have had this dream of visiting places we have never been to. Most of us called it "the foreign country". As time passes, we get so comfortable in our environment  or rather drowned in work-life balance (rather imbalance) that this dream takes a backseat for most of us. Forget going to a distant place, even a few kilometers walk to market is a TASK. Its a whole 'work-to-live,live-to-work' cycle. As I am now a part of the working population, I can very well understand the amount of scheduling it requires to get that little "me-time". But let me tell you, its worth taking that pain.

Travelling doesnt necessarily mean you pack your bags, book flight tickets and go for a safari. As they say, the journey is what matters not the destination. Your local train ride could give you the experience that probably going to foreign nation would. That's your mini-travel in itself. Even despite owning a car I like to travel by train to work because Mumbai railways offer you that gateway to entire of India (Precaution: Dont try this if you have a weekday 9-5 job and have a gents second class ticket). Different people, different characteristics, different behavior, from a month old child to a 80 year old women...you will find them all. There are people sitting aloof looking out the window, people who wont stop telling their life stories to even strangers, the chatterbox aunties, the first-love couple,the giggling teens, the geeks with their books, the headphone guys, the WHY-DID-YOU-SIT-ON-A-GENTS-SEAT-BEING-A-LADY and then there are people like me talking to a small child and controlling blushing when the kid says bye. You will find people who will pull you into the train when you are running behind it while there may be others who will push you out too. Who said travelling is easy!

About 20 people travelling in a tempo..an experience in itself

One of the NSS camps

Actual travelling is all about meeting people, understanding different cultures, food and gaining that experience that no travelling show on TV can provide you. Frankly speaking, I would get bored of even climbing stairs to reach my 3rd floor apartment. Trekking sounded exciting but I didnt know if I had the capability to even climb half a hill. But the entire experience has been so fulfilling and stimulating, that I would want to try it quite often. I have been to 3 treks in 1 year and am currently waiting anxiously for the next one. Our comfort zone restricts our abilities. You just survive, never grow. Travelling to a new place, with new people around you gives you that opportunity to grow. Also for people like me, food is another incentive. If you are experimental enough and not fussy about the food, you will be surprised by what the world has to offer. At NSS camps we have had the simplest but yet the tastiest of food that the villagers had made for us. At Bangkok, the street food and seafood is much more popular. You just need to have the appetite that the Thai have (They eat quite often but you will still find them in the best of shapes). If your motive is to just get rest then travelling provides  that too (But mind you, you are missing out on other exciting things). Going out solo makes you independent as well as responsible, try it out atleast once but take your safety seriously. Research well, keep your necessary contacts handy and take all the necessary precautions (preferably a first aid box, Swiss knife,pepper spray or chilli powder) before deciding to take that trip alone. Just like train travel, you will find helpful people as well as misguiders.

Lastly, travelling is just like life...take things as they come, one step at a time. Adapt to changes in plan, adapt to people. Dont let your dream of going to that foreign country or sitting in world's best roller coaster stay a dream. Believe me, you will be happy with the entire experience.  Make it a 'work-to-live,live-to-travel,travel-to-learn,learn-to-work' cycle, work-life balance would be easier to maintain. I have a long list of TO-VISIT places but for now my next adventure would be Himalayan trekking, which will happen soon and I am sure I will have loads to write about it :)

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