10 Things Travel Taught Me

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary A Radmacher

I have been a traveler all this while that I have existed on the face of the earth. It all started with the same signs every three years thanks to daddy dearest serving in the army. From being asked to pack my things in steel boxes freshly painted in the shiniest of black to settling in a “new” old-world house, from changing schools to making a new best friend, from loving the village, town or city you were in to already itching to move to dad’s next posting. Like I said, travelling was second nature from the day I was born. But honestly, I realized it only very recently. And now, I say unabashedly that I have been taken by travel. Not in ‘being taken by an alien’ kind of way but as something that adds more value to my life. I even realized that things travel taught me can be applied to everyday life too. Here are my 10 cents.

#1 Leave your fears behind

Do you dream of going to Tokyo but are not able to muster courage enough because of all the stories you have heard of the language troubles and food woes? Don’t let the apprehension of the unknown hold you back. Ever wondered how a little child is more fearless than a man of forty. Well, that is because of experience you would say. I say, there is an even bigger factor at play – curiosity. Letting go of one’s inquisitiveness would never get you anywhere. Ask a certain Christopher Columbus and you will know!

 #2 Travel light

One thing folks both modern and traditional are really good at is accumulating objects. Whether you need them or not, one tends to mindlessly buy and collect them. Reasons may be different but that’s not important. What’s important is realizing the difference between what you really need and what you think you need? Try skipping packing that extra party dress when going on a trekking reunion or those leather boots for a beach trip. And then do similar sifting of your tensions and worries. Of course, that’s not an easy one to crack but once you do, the avoidable burden straining your shoulders will be poof…gone!

 #3 Not everything can be planned

Stop being such a control freak! I say that humbly to bring attention to the fact that despite having spent big moolah on the luxuries and various conveniences, there will be instances more than one when things will not go as planned. You are tired after an uncomfortable all night flight in to Hong Kong and are dying to bury your head in that soft pillow in your hotel room. But as luck would have it, you cannot check-in until the next 4 hours because the room is not available. Take a deep breath and see how else you can utilize the time. Take a walk, grab a lunch or maybe explore the nearest sightseeing spot. Solutions, even to life problems, come easy to a calm head.

#4 All good things don’t always come with a price tag

Sometimes the most memorable experiences are the simplest ones. Learn to let go of the social and peer pressures in your immediate environment. Amidst all the noisy amusement parks, fancy restaurants and sojourns to the exotic, a case has to be made for simplicity. An impromptu picnic in the park under the winter sun with no one for company but a rather worn out copy of George Orwell’s Animal Farm can bring you a bigger joy than say dining in the exclusive lounge at Burj Khalifa. True story.

#5 Keep expectations in check

It is good to research and know your destination before treading the path towards it. However, the real key here is to not allow that knowledge to lead you. To put it in simple words, don’t go about with preconceived expectations. If you do, you may either get disappointed or have your aspirations met. In both cases, you will forgo any chances of being blown away. Disneyland is the ‘happiest place in the world’. But enter the vibrant gates thinking that its every step will rock, chances are it won’t. Now imagine how the experience would be if you just walked in with a clear head waiting to see what Walt Disney would throw your way!

#6 Learn to appreciate others

Living in our iceberg modes and glued to the digital extensions of our beings, we often forget to give human companionship and intelligence its due credit. While on a mission to cover an entire city in 24 hours, if you are forced to take a coffee break at the behest of your ma-in-law, only to realize that it was a decision well called – admit it. Even better – acknowledge it. See what wonders it does to your relationship with the lady in question in addition to you feeling good about being a nice guy. The ‘resting’ part comes as the fringe benefit.

#7 It’s OK to ask for help

This tip comes more for the typical guy who simply refuses to accept that someone could know the solution better than him. Same applies to the liberated woman who thinks it is bowing in front of patriarchy if she were to ask for help. Don’t shy away. Don’t overthink. You only have to say, “I need help” or “Please help me”, and help shall be given. Especially comes in handy when you are lost. If a kind stranger comes to lend you some local currency so that you can use the local payphone, don’t use your pepper spray just yet. The world is made of nice people too.

#8 Find your own path

Don’t aspire to go places only because your neighbor has. Have the confidence to be unique and chart your own territory. So next time someone laughs at your picking Gokarna over the ever popular Goa, don’t let your spirit be deterred. The enchanting beauty of Om Beach in Goa with only about 5 people in a kilometer’s radius can far surpass the buzz of the most popular and populous beaches. Figure out what you seek and then head in its direction. It’s that simple.

#9 Know yourself

Travel is described best as a discovery of the world. I’d say that that it is also a discovery of the self. Gustave Flaubert said, “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” You get to see how you react and respond to the new surroundings, unfamiliar faces and the general fact of being away from your comfort zone. No wonder, the new-age parents rely on travel as the best mode of educating their children. Discipline, value of time and money, appreciating natural beauty, respect for culture, leaning towards history and a voracious appetite for delicious world flavours are a few to begin with.

#10 Move on

One of the follies of human nature is to seek stability in life. “Are you settled?” people often ask. I say, “Why should I or anyone be?” At any given point, we should be able to go on. So what if a certain thing did not turn out the way you would have liked it to, just move on. Don’t let one (or more) low pull you down. You can always shake the strappings and bounce back feeling stronger than before. Robert Frost summed it up as, “Life goes on”. You should too. That’s travel for me. A perspective-changing experience that let me open my heart and mind, and realize that it’s a beautiful world out there! So, what has travel taught you?