The Beauty of a Traveler’s Adaptability
People who never complain about bitter gourd being too bitter
Traveling isn’t all fun and easing up. It was never meant to be. There’s a reason why people don’t call it a vacation. It has nothing to do with escaping daily life.
Whenever I pack my backpack, the only fear is landing with a bunch of tourists looking for comfort, giggles, and Instagram shots.
People would prefer having meals from their hometown restaurants to local cuisines even thousands of miles away.
People with comfort boundaries sky-high.
I came across a Punjabi family in Vietnam who wouldn’t stop asking for Indian restaurants in the area. We didn’t know. Nor would we ever look for them.
Isn’t that the whole beauty of traveling? Today’s social media boasts influencers’ colorful traveling exuberancy. People love scrolling their feeds and algorithms tend happily.
Sadly, all the pompous leaves out the real bargain of traveling — experience.
Experience. People mistake it for many things today. But the word is simply no more than its verb meaning, to experience.
Be it simply experiencing the daily lives of local fishermen in offbeat Indonesia, trekking a couple of weeks without a network, or even surfing — they’re all experiences.
Travelers who plan less and go with the flow know this. Folks who aren’t bound by the comfort zones of taxis, who worry less about safety.
Building Boundaries
Sure, we need boundaries. I can’t live without brushing my teeth every night. Who doesn’t?
Some travelers are vegetarians. You can be vegan too, and that’s alright. But are you willing to try everything that falls under it?
You can have a fixed yoga routine at 6 a.m every morning. But are you willing enough to amend a little for an evening stroll through the sparkling streets of unknown territories?
Staying healthy is vital. So is looking after the budget. But more important is where you spend that money.
If you had a hundred-dollar bill to spend on a cozy cafe with continental cuisine or bungee jumping off a fair valley — what would you pick?
Unless I’ve had too much of it (or have a medical condition), bungee jumping any day.
Hell, I held a python on my shoulder for a picture and I frickin’ hate snakes!
Tailpiece to a scattered message
Months ago, I went on a little trip to Dandeli — an overnight bus from Bangalore (where I live). A girl among us insisted on starting the afternoon with water activities.
FYI Dandeli is known for water sports and we only had a 2-day itinerary. The rest argued it was ‘too sunny’.
“If we’re all the way here, then what else did we come for?” she stood firm.
I know. I should have asked her out.
Wrapping this up, there’s uncertainty as to whether I could deliver a message with this article.
It was a mere thought I’ve had the past few months of my continuous voyage through parts of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Forgive me for the message being scattered, but I hope it creates food for thought :)
Until next time!
