Monthly Archives: February 2017

13 reasons, travelers give you to ditch the Valentine’s Day this year…

Feet on the map

japanThe world is always your Valentine! (Picture source: Google Images)

It’s that time of the year again, when the couples are busy expressing their love for each other with strikingly packaged, over-priced red roses, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, tucking gooey Valentine notes in their better half’s lockers or deciding what sized teddy bear would make their better half happy! And the second half of the world, comprising of singles are either cribbing or scowling over “how useless and annoying these couples are!” while secretly walling away in their beds over romantic mushy comedies.

For me, personally it is an awkward day, because I am not single, but I don’t buy the Valentine hype either. As an introvert, it makes me cringe and I wonder if it is too sentimental or just a big fat scam for the commercial world to profit from! While I have nothing against the couples…

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Traversing the Mountains!

One of the most enchanting things in today’s age is the ability to seek unto a divine freedom of the soul!

Many men and women, dream of the clarity that they pursue time after time, especially because they don’t get it in their daily lives. While others, mostly travelers find this aspect of life to be an endless journey. One that is full of clairvoyance, meaning and clarity that others can only imagine.

And what better than the traversing of the mountains, wandering across the horizon to find serenity in nature and introspect, take a peak in your pondering mind. Traveling across the mountains without a clue, without a reason and without connectivity, especially to the rat race that we all take part in on a daily basis. That’s a true reason why I always enjoy hiking, especially in the Himalayas, but even if I’m not in the Himalayas, walking across any mountain range gives me immense pleasure.

One that you can only find when you surrender yourself to the unknown trails, paths, like your destiny that lead you to a mesmerising sunrise, or an enchanting sunset! Traveling across the beauty of organic and natural surroundings without any worldly worries. That’s something that I yearn for, especially when I want to detox, unwind and just completely disappear into the wilderness.

Sometimes I even feel there is a dire need for me to go back into complete dissonance of technology. One that’ll help me attain a nirvana of sorts. I wonder how beautiful every single day would be, with just the nature, a few books, okay maybe a Radio at best to give me company. Imagine the joy of visualising your dreams, settling down and farming on a hilltop, viewing and experiencing the pleasure of sunrise and sunset without having to run for a meeting and or thinking about deadlines!

Someday, that day will arrive soon! Until then, I keep meandering across the world finding the sweet spot, the balance of life between my travels and my work. And it is these mountains that always help me rejuvenate and revive my spirit within, to get back to the grind that will eventually help me get to that ‘Someday’ I’m looking for.

Rural & Real – Rajasthan at it’s best

Sometimes life has a way of letting you explore some of the best paths in a funniest way possible.

You tend to explore some beautiful rustic paths when you hadn’t even imagined you’d end up doing so. Meandering across the paths of life, some taking you far, some taking you close. Close to your destiny.

I always imagine someday, something’s going to give and I’d be happily dreaming in the mountains, farms and a beautiful life full of enchantments that a traveler, a semi-hippie like me would love to die for!

That’s exactly what my experience with Rural Odyssey was a couple of weeks ago. Some traversing through the wildlife, some experiencing local food, climbing hilltops, and of course a little bit of magic of the forts of Rajasthan! Beauty at it’s best I must say…

We had a really amazing cultural experience in a small village a little away from Jodhpur. A Marwari home, some really down to earth people and boy, should I say some really amazing food! Not to mention an evening musical delight of Rajasthani folk songs, sung by a maestro, a local but internationally acclaimed musician, a certain Sagun Ram!

Add to that was a short visit to Bishnoi village to know an interesting community that laid their lives to protect trees and what principles Bishnoi follow. And of course what better way to experience the wildlife than to get a glimpse of the rich wildlife hidden in desert where we saw a black buck!

Was certainly a good unwind for a long weekend, and most importantly a great start to the new year, with many more trips to come soon hopefully!

Some glimpses of our experience in a short photo essay below!

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Smoking Pure Tobacco like a Bishnoi in a Chillum (Smoking Pipe)

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Camels grazing on cacti in the wild

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The infamous Black Buck, in the wild forests of Bishnoi

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City Dwellers experiencing folk music, dressed like locals! Not the old guy 😉

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Shadows of Music!

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Beauty of Sunset on a hilltop nearby!

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Squirrels Inside Fort Mehrangarh – Goddess Temple

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Fort Mehrangarh as seen from the Fateh Pol view