I am a run-of-the-mill kind of person with a flair for thoughtful travel.
Thoughtful travel to me is a genre of travel that goes beyond experience alone and becomes an education unto itself. It is to travel with a purpose and while reveling in the people and places, dispassionately inquiring why they are what they are. To trace back how their geography has shaped their history. A study of rise and fall of civilizations and how societies have formed their culture and heritage; thereby rendering them what they are today.
Travel to me is re-kindling my affair (surprisingly, my wife is supportive and encouraging of this one!) with nature and culture. It is landing at a foreign place with the eyes of a 4 year old and re-learning the art of eating, communicating and crossing the road. It is about embracing experiences out of my comfort zone and realizing that, while we all are different and distinct at the surface, at the very foundations we are fundamentally the same and are driven by common masters – Love and Fear.
When I am not travelling, I am usually reading up & planning my next travels, taking notes, studying the geography, history, culture and cuisine of the next place I will unravel. In fact, the most beautiful phase of my trip ends when I board the flight. I look upon travel as a crucible of self-change and personal growth. It is my quest to travel like a local and cram as much as possible within the day. I generally do not travel for leisure.
My other interests are ancient history, evolution of religion, architecture & singing.
My travel dream is to sample and see all regions (& countries) on our planet. While I am currently smitten by the countries of South East Asia, my long term travel dream is to undertake a (very) long backpacking pilgrimage to Europe.
To trace its evolution through the pagan democracies, the birth of Christianity, the dark ages, the crusades, the humanism of Renaissance, the revolutions and the 20th century wars – both military & trade culminating in the modern day pragmatic capitalist economies with a strong conviviality for social welfare. That and the canals, the alps, the fjords, the lakes, their cuisine and that irrepressible nightlife & freshly brewed beer – Europe is every enlightened travelers backpacking dream.
This blog is a memoir to reminisce my experiences when I can no longer travel. To sit on an arm chair and travel the world all over again.
It is also to share my experiences and the researched and curated itineraries with other thoughtful travelers. During my engineering days, we used to make notes and share them with mates in preparation for the upcoming exams. I envisage my blog doing the same – helping you enjoy your travel and learning from you.
To the joys of thoughtful travel then my friends – Cheers and Bon Voyage!
