Musings of a rookie traveller
The heart longs for more..
More faces, more places. More conversations and experiences.
A year ago I cribbed a lot about not having travelled enough, not having enough funds to take off and not having the right company to travel with. I can’t remember when all of this changed, but I have listed down a few epiphanies I had while on the move:
Stop complaining and start living:
Planning and thinking things through is great, but just planning and not acting on these plans is going to leave you right where you are. Don’t think too much. Make a spontaneous trip, even if it is to the next village. The miles don’t count as much as the smiles you’ll earn when you take off!
A star hotel is the last thing you should look for:
It is typical of us to worry about accommodation when we plan our trips. The best hotel rooms with fancy glass walled bathrooms and room service, always catch our fancy. But stay in a youth hostel once and you won’t bother with the Hyatt or the Marriott again! The energy and smiles in these places are contagious. Moreover, it’s the new place and it’s people you should look forward to spending time with, not the room you are going to dump your luggage in.
Active, never passive:
Keep your mouth shut; keep your eyes, ears and heart open. Be the observer; Get someone to start talking and listen to the wonderful stories these people have to share. Be aware of what’s happening around you and you will have experiences that most passive people miss out on. But mainly, be open to these experiences. A judgemental, closed mind is far from seeing anything beautiful.
You are your best companion:
Most people want to travel but don’t know who to travel with. How often have you made plans keeping another’s schedule or availability in mind and at the last minute that person has cancelled out on you, leaving you disappointed once again? Stop waiting! Book your tickets and look forward to the trip, and if someone joins in, that’s just a bonus!
Travellers are Family. Borders and spoken languages are for tourists:
Most travellers I have met, have been on the road for at least 7 months now and they don’t speak much of home or where they are from. They speak of where they have been and where they’d like to go. Not knowing a certain language has not been a restriction but a means to utilise their Dumb charades skills. They often say, the questions they are asked about their nationality and ethnicity leaves them perplexed. They consider every person they meet their brother/sister and their backpack is all they hold onto and their shoes are all they need.
And lastly, leave the Sceptic at home:
If someone offers to click a picture for you, while you are struggling to take a selfie, the first thought that comes to mind is, ‘He’s going to run away with my camera’. An old lady frantically approaches you saying ‘I have lost my debit card please help me look for it.’ and you think ‘She’s going to take me to a corner and stab me’. We are so sceptical about the world and people, we are so scared of each other, that we refuse to see the good in anyone. With a mindset like that, travelling alone is going to be a nightmare! I am not saying believe everything people say and be gullible, but give people a chance. Trust me, there’s still some good left in this world.