Gone are the days when we used to leave our offices early to board the HRTC bus. Now, travel only exist in the dictionary or the depressing news stories about migrant workers. I have even started envying the locusts, who are just travelling freely across the country. It's been more than 2 months since the lockdown came into existence, and we are missing the good travel times.
Let's look at these 9 elements that I am missing the most about travelling:
1. The cold mountain breeze
Remember deboarding the bus early morning and a cold breeze sweeping right past you making you excited about your trip. Instagram story was our platform to show the excitement during the small dinner breaks at midnight.
2. Exploring the unexplored
Getting excited about going to a place you haven't been before, Googling about the quaint and beautiful destinations was an integral part of the journey. Visiting there and realising it's even more exquisite than how Tripoto or Google explained. Maybe the beauty wasn't meant to be described in words.
3. Sunset and sunrise amidst the hills and beaches
I always had trouble waking up early but I love sunrise of the hills, something really contradictory thing to say. Well, you can witness them with an all-nighter. Sunsets and sunrises are just really magnificent to witness, the multiple hues of orange in the sky with a hint of violet is the best painting nature draws.
4. Sweet and cozy cafes
How can I forget these? A cafe tucked away in a quaint street with open windows is all I needed to chill for the entire trip. A blend of good music and above-average food with mountain or beach views was the best therapy for me. Realising how physically tired you are, the amount of pain in the calves and the dizziness, definitely missing this the most.
5. Forgetting about our office work
'Not all who wander are lost.' But we want to get lost, in the peace amidst nature, forgetting about our work schedule. Ignoring the life we are used to live and finding solidarity and peace in the mountains. No mandatory 9-6 or the never-ending morning commute anymore.
6. Meeting fellow travellers and getting to know their stories
If you are a budget traveller who prefers hostels over hotels or AirBnBs then you must have come across some people with fascinating backgrounds stories. An evening in the hostel's common area with people connecting from around the globe, sharing travel tales and sipping in the hot chai or coffee became the best part of the day.
'Log saath aate gaye aur karwaan banta gaya' - MAJROOH SULTANPURI
7. Chai with a hill view
Not being an intense chai lover, I still could never say no to the hot steaming cup of tea in the hills. Just sipping the chai with mountains in the background, always asked for an Instagram story.
8. Mighty sky and the milky way
Being away from the million city lights and the pollution gave a wholesome view of the mighty night sky with countless twinkling stars. Like we were looking at the textbook image of the night sky from childhood.
9. The journey
'Journey is important than the destination', rightly so. Be it a long car ride or a bus journey, it is a significant part of the travel and we are missing those journeys.
Hope the conditions get better and the travel resumes soon. Till then, keep defining your itineraries.
Comment and let me know what else you're missing about travelling.
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