In the recent years we see travel is picking up in a big way in
India, especially the foreign destinations. I suppose this a result of
the general affluence one sees among the upper middle class or young
corporates. Travel is a great way for the family to spend time together
especially since today’s work life hardly leaves any spare time for the
family to spend together.
An ardent traveler myself, but I have been averse to travels planned
by the so called travel agents. I find it suffocating to follow a fixed
itinerary. My holiday is my time and I decide what I want to do and
see. Travel magazine has always been an attraction for
me and in these days online magazines and travel sites are a great
source for travel information. I love reading about places off the
beaten tracks. Online magazines and
other travel sites help us get a glimpse of these lesser known tourist
spots. Mostly they are also a get source of travel tips. Sites like
TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet provide some very reliable and brilliant
travel tips. Their reviews of tourist spots, hotels restaurants are
pretty reliable and I have truly benefitted by many of their reviews.
The usual travel destinations like London, Paris, Rome, New York,
Disneyland I understand is high on a tourist’s list especially when
they are going abroad for the first few times, but that should never
be the only thing. Even if these and other similar cities are your
destination try to move away from the cities, explore the surrounding
areas, countryside, smaller towns. Get to know the locals, local food
local habits, local music and culture. Try not to be a tourist, sit in a
roadside café and watch the locals going about their daily business.
Yes it is important to see the famed tourist sites, take pictures and
share with friends and family Back Home. But it doesn’t matter if you
miss out on a site instead take travel tips from local inhabitants travel magazines,
websites and make your trip an experience. Get lost and find your way.
Bring back stories to share, recipes and flavours to try out, unusual
souvenirs and work of a local artisan. Try to understand the country’s
lifestyle, talk to locals, hang around in a local eatery, trysomething
new.
Travels should be enriching and not simply to satisfy your ego and to
show off to friends and family you too have beento a particular
destination. Try to develop these tastes and habits in your children,
they will gain immensely if they learn to seek new things, take part in
adventures and appreciate other cultures and society.