Wanderer's Tales

From all my journeys that I have been on, I ensure I return home wiser, in terms of knowing people or learning from my experiences. Through one of the contests organised by a travel group- Mumbai Travellers, I realized my potential to share my experiences.

Here I share some of my favourite tales or the pebbles of experiences from different topographies I stepped on. A collection of My Travel Stories. 

Letting Go

One thing everyone complains to me is you travel too much and you don't even tell us. First of all there is no such thing as too much travel and secondly if I take the people I know everywhere how will I mingle around with new ones. 

I just decide and leave most of the times, especially when I am irritated by work or personal reasons, when past returns to haunt or present refuses to be nice, I find my solace in taking a trip. 

Traveling has helped me move on from so many things and people, that I have discovered love in my journeys instead (sometimes people I meet there). I find exploring more worthwhile than wasting time on irritants back home. I prefer being on my own than discussing things with my best friends. It makes me so much happier.

To sum up, If you never jump, you'll never fly, if you don't explore, you'll never learn, if you never let go, you'll never move on.

Travel teaches you

At least once in life, set out to explore without a plan in hand. This image is where I began my 2016. I began my year on a high (not just altitude wise) with a self promise that this year will be made worthy by fueling my passion to explore.

Take a trip that doesn’t stick to a schedule, that is supposed to go haywire, but that is supposed to make you learn. From covering destinations we reached Lal Tibba, the highest point in Mussorie and soon forgot about the life back home, making dreamy plans to settle here forever.

A trip that I took where no one knew where I was, what was I up to, except the ones I traveled with and parents of course. Away from the network area but discovering better connections.

Such explorations at times could make you poor in your pocket but they will make you richer in your heart, and isn't that what matters?

Twinkle Stars

One thing I always did whenever I went on night treks was take some time off and stare at the sky above. In this bustling city life to even spot the moon clearly is a great thing. But away from the hustle, breathing clean fresh air, a glance above and you see the stars flirting with the moon! (I get too poetic, I know)

This was captured on one of the best experiences- Star Gazing at Naneghat. In this pitch black darkness of the moonless night, I lay down on the ground, my gaze held by the twinkling shines, even winking ones.

A few moments there and I know the answer to the question they keep asking,

“What’s your favourite place?”

I reply, “Under the blanket of stars!”

Mourning Maata

Yamuna is considered to be one of the holiest rivers in the country but at a quick glimpse around makes you wonder ‘really?’ It has lost its charm to the used religious waste. Used flowers and diyas are floating by this riverside. 

One of the sadhus we met there told us that “Yamuna humari maata jaisi hai” but blissfully ignorant of how much damage they were doing to their own mother by heavily doing the rituals or throwing what’s done with. There was no point in arguing on his way of ritual advising. 

This picture was taken about 4-5 years back at Mathura and by now I cannot even imagine how much dirt this ‘maata’ carries within her. Here I have tried to capture the stills and reflections to highlight whatever beauty scene I could make out of it.

Good Times, Food Times

Travel is not just about the place and its scenery or must-visit monuments. A lot of it is also about the unique experiences you pick up on your journey- the culture, the food, the people. Going to a new place with a common doubt what would be the food like, how will it be priced, will it be too sweet or savory? And if you get good food all along at a much cheaper rate than back home, the travel is memorable. 

Worth noticing here is the cross-culture that we experienced in Hampi. Pasta on a banana leaf? Rice within some cabbage coating? Wow. 

Taste? Yummy! 

Experience? Makes you feel hungry for the next interesting platter, a hunger to explore.

Worth noticing here is the cross-culture that we experienced in Hampi. Pasta on a banana leaf? Rice within some cabbage coating? Wow. 

Taste? Yummy! 

Experience? Makes you feel hungry for the next interesting platter, a hunger to explore.

Meeting, Greeting, Knowing

Like I said in my previous post travel is also about food, people and culture of a place. Getting to people, you can't really predict how they will receive you. While some may be kind enough to guide well, others just make you realise you're an outsider. 

This was at a monastery in Dehradun where just a simple smile was enough to strike a conversation or for her to strike a pose.

Me: Hi! What's your name?

Her: *just smiles* 

Me: Arey aapka naam kya hai?

Her: *just points to my camera*

Clicked! 

Just then her mother came by and when I showed her this picture she was happy to invite us over. We obviously declined but the gesture was heartwarming.

Monsoon by the beach

Taken from yet another off beat tour in an immensely crowded hyped tourist spot of the country, Goa. I need not describe the popularity of the place, it is one destination on everyone's check list which has been ticked off more often. A summer destination.

This was taken at the onset of monsoons when the place was not crowded, the waves were high and Goa was relatively quiet. A reason why this picture has less heads in its silhouette, adding the beauty to my frame. As monsoons make their headway in Mumbai, a throwback to exploring Goa in the rains. Rains, Prawns fry and beer still make a good combo. 

Covering Miles, Gaining Smiles

What makes you happy? Pursuing your passion.

What are you passionate about? Traveling.

What does travel give you? Experiences.

What have your experiences taught you? Get out, explore, meet new people or be on your own.

What are you doing with them? Sharing them through stories. 

What next? Covering miles, gaining smiles.