Travel Like a Way for Life

Rome, Paris, Italy, Germany, Agra. This are some of the things that instantly pop in our mind when we talk about travel. And this is because of the obvious reason that these places hold historical monuments, places of entertainment and much more. To most of us this is clichéd.

So what is travel? Is it just a six letter word that most people do just for the sake of it or is there something more to it. I think the real meaning and value of travel has been lost, however. Being a traveler does not mean expensive attire and EDM concerts at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. People often tend to take sacks of cash, dine in 5 star hotels, click about a million pictures and post it on social media just for fame. Real travel is not just about seeing new things, but also about seeing things with a new and refreshed perspective. It’s important to take a step back and simply enjoy the moments you spend visiting another country or place. Meditation and awareness can make a voyage incredibly fulfilling.

Let me quote an example. Let's take Taj Mahal. What a person would generally think about is, ' Mumtaz, Shah Jahan, an unending love, a tragic death, luxurious burial.' Sounds lame, but that's what most people think. But what people miss out is those intricate details which could tell you a lot more about the place. Four minarets representing the four cardinal directions, the Quran which is sculpted around the monument, a building time of about 20 years employing about 20,000 workers, the architectural symmetry, an immense mausoleum of white marble. Startled, Aren't you? This is just a glimpse of what you could learn just by looking at a monument.

Now, now. Let's not stray off. Travel is being integrated into a culture that values diverting from the beaten path, talking to locals and exploring an area as one of a kind. Traveling means attempting to blend in and wanting to leave as an altered and more educated person. Traveling means staying in hostels and befriending other travelers, as well as locals. It’s drinking at neighborhood bars and dives rather than rounding the tourist club circuit. It’s straying from tourist traps and sites and instead, searching for the more elusive history of a country and its people.

If you want to really travel, you must eat, drink and live as a local. Walk, bike and take public transportation. If there is a language barrier, learn key phrases and attempt to start and finish conversations in the native dialect. It may seem silly or arduous, but you’ll be appreciated for trying. It’s also true that a genuine traveler will make as much of an impact on the place he or she is visiting as that place will make on him or her. Receiving a compliment from a native is something you should be proud of.

There are millions of reasons to travel - really travel, not just vacation - and the thrill of integration is truly worth it. Traveling is more active than it is passive and it’s a great way to recharge to return as a new you. At the end of the day, it's all about becoming a new person from what you have experienced. I'm not forcing you to develop wanderlust, but just a shot at travelling could make you a more knowledgeable person. In other words you can define travelling as a catalyst for happiness. So go on, get some stamps on your passport and create your own life-changing experiences that will lead you to find happiness.