Consumed by Wanderlust

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

I have come across this quote several times. It is true. Indeed. And as the title of my blog suggests, travelling is my passion. I have been travelling with my family since childhood, mostly in India and even outside the Indian boundaries. I have also traveled quite few a times with my friends. And no, I am not the kind of "typical" tourists who just travel for the sake of travelling to popular destinations. 

 Why do I travel? What is so special about it? To ignite the senses, to see, to hear, to feel, to explore the unknown, to learn, to grow and to foster appreciation for both the outside world and the same old small world where I live. My home. The excitement of travelling lies in these. As the journey ends and you return to your home and lie down on the bed in your room, you attain mental peace and a sense of joy even when you are jaded of the tiring journey. The sense of belonging to your home, to the city and to the people where you live often strengthens. 

 Travelling is like taking a detour from our same old boring lives and the daily routines attached to it. Even a small gateway to a nearby countryside freshens up the mind. It helps me to keep aside all the personal problems. Away from the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan city! Spending few days at a secluded rest house in a forest or a small hilly town, experiencing silence like never before, gazing at the clear sky, listening to the cricket sounds at night instead of the irritable honking of automobiles, breathing in the fresh air! Oh and the greenery which has a soothing effect on your mind.

That is not all. Travelling also helps me to know about a place and its inhabitants. Before making an itinerary, I study about that place and its history, culture flora, fauna and climate. Thanks to the Internet and travel guide books! You get detailed information on just anything that you want to know about a place. One can just go through  the reviews of other travelers and then plan accordingly. But then beauty lies in the eyes of beholder. Until and unless you experience it by yourself, it is not advisory to form preconceived notions about a place. At times, you just need to follow your heart. 

Anyways I have just made a small attempt to jot down some of my travel experiences here. There is a lot more to explore. Stay tuned for more updates.