I don't remember when I developed a love for travelling but for as long as I can remember now my wish has been to tour the world. And, not the touristy kind of tours that have you rush through more cities and towns than the days of travel itself; handholding at every step and prompting you on what to see, do, and sometimes even eat. Yes, I've done my fair share of these and they are not necessarily bad. Just that they don't let you journey, explore or discover as travel should.
I've dreamed of standing ankle deep in pristine snow, my hands outstretched to catch the soft flakes as they gently caress me and fall noiselessly on the ground. Of admiring towering mountains that proudly look up to the clear blue skies, their peaks fleeced with white clouds some of which cascade with a gentle breeze to kiss the green earth. Of meditating on the banks of glistening blue-green expanse of water that stretches up to the horizon and calls out to the migratory birds to pause and rest.
I dream of travelling to be with the beautiful, bountiful Nature that planet Earth has been abundantly blessed with.
On my own little travel escapades, even if I haven't travelled a lot, I've realised that each little town, city or country has something unique to offer. You need to travel with all your five senses open to receive the experience. Travelling to a new place always sets my heart fluttering in anticipation of what's in store; imagining the mood of the place, wondering about the general disposition of the locals and being excited about getting a sneak peek into a different culture and way of life.
So, what is it that I love about travelling?
The culture of a place never fails to intrigue me. I like to gather insights about its history, the places of worship, traditions and customs. It's meditative to draw parallels between what I learn from other places and what I know of mine. I usually try to fit in places of cultural interest along with usual scenic sights and a couple of lesser-known gems in my travel itinerary. Lesser-known locales always spring in a surprise. They could even backfire in terms of having a pleasant experience. Yet, isn't this the crux of a journey? Accepting the thorns along the way?
Travelling with a kid who's incidentally turning into a wildlife enthusiast has lent a new and exciting dimension to my travel plans. Wildlife safaris usher in a sense of suspense; they cast a spell of ticklish expectation as you move through the thickets wondering what creature might be prowling just behind those bushes and ever hoping to sight that elusive big cat.
Our first brush with
spotting the wild in their natural habitat in Sri Lanka had me lusting for more and it became a sort of addiction with me. The spouse and I invested in a DSLR and we began experimenting more with this fascinating species of the outdoors. Our recent thrilling experience of spotting a whale while on a dolphin sighting trip in the wild sea seems like a sign from the universe that if you wish with your whole heart, it just might come true. Talking of the sea-life, we got initiated into the thrills of
getting up and close with coral reefs and underwater sea creatures by our friends who are scuba-diving enthusiasts. I surely hope that was only a teaser to our grander dreams of joining our friends someday for some snorkelling and scuba-diving.
Travel is incomplete without indulging in the local cuisine. As a child that grew up on Enid Blyton books, I was very fascinated with the images painted by the descriptions of
scones,
marmalades, juicy
tarts, and
macaroons. I pictured myself biting into these luscious treats at those idyllic locations. One can develop so much love and ache to visit a place through the books and cuisines you read about!
Food, I believe, is one of the finest ambassadors of a location. Even if it's within the same country and the fare isn't largely off your usual, the singular characteristics of the town seep into the preparation making the same fare taste so different and unique. Take for instance the spicy-tangy chaat that everyone loves. I'm sure you agree that the pani-puris of Mumbai taste different from the puchkaas of Delhi or the golgappas of Kolkatta.
Being a vegetarian, I do worry about the kind of cuisine that awaits me during travel to a different country. As a rule, I do prefer to have a slice of the local flavour if it's not too off my comfort zone. I like to try the variations that even a vegetarian spread offers.
We did gorge on the simple but delectable string hoppers in SL. They are very similar to our
idiappams but the name has such a lovely ring to it and there they have it along with a
dal variety. The different kinds of rice and noodles in Bali were steeped in the local flavours heightening our experience of the lovely island.
I have so many places to tick off from my travel bucket list. Now, If only travelling didn't cost money, I'd surely have turned a nomad. Sigh! But then, one can always and ought to dream.
I found this beautiful quote from a book I'm reading currently that translates to, "It's sad to have your dreams not come true but it's sadder to not dream at all."
