Wanderlust

Wanderlust is a newly acquired word in my vocabulary. The source of this word obviously being the hash tags used on Instagram.

Life these days has changed from the basic ROTI, KAPDA AUR MAKAAN (food, clothing and shelter) to ZOMATO, FLIPKART, HOUSING and MAKE MY TRIP!!!

Travelling has become an important part of our lives. Travelling teaches us a lot. Be it the sense of maturity we gained after watching Aakash, Sameer and Siddharth take that road-trip to Goa (Dil Chahta Hain) or be it the ‘chase your dreams, achieve every goal you’ve ever aimed for’ mantra inculcated after watching Bunny travel across the globe in Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani (Indian movie), there’s something that we’ve always picked up.

Days have changed and will keep on changing. And along with that the whole funda of travelling has changed…from the local chowpatty to vast mesmerizing beaches. 

Here’s a quick comparison or should I say differentiation between the old and present-day travelling fashions!

A)   THE PLAN & ITINERARY

PREVIOUSLY: 
Is well thought of, almost six months before the date of departure. Few places to visit (Wahan chalke aage ka dekte hain strategy) (We'll reach the spot and decide further strategy)

NOW:
Pops up randomly (just randomly!). We Google about all the ‘best places to visit’ at the destination. Use that ‘TRAVELBLAHBLAH’ app on the smart phone. Plan a complete itinerary specifying the exact dates and time and then set out.

B)    PURPOSE

PREVIOUSLY:
1.To spend the long saved casual leaves and paid leaves.

2. To leave the house for pest control/painting/renovation.

3. To meet distant relatives/attend weddings/pilgrimages (Sathsang at Panjim sort of :-p) 

NOW:
1. To update statuses on Facebook and to provide feed for Instagram followers.

2. To use those Spring Summer ( Autumn Winter whatever season) collection clothes bought during sales.

3. Rarely but importantly to take a break from the regular and pathetically boring Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat cycle.

C)    DESTINATION

PREVIOUSLY:
1. Well heard of, safe and where minimum five relatives have gone before (at least twice each).

2. The place should not be too hot or too cold. (easy to acclimatize)

NOW:
1. Some totally new, random, bizarre place (because Google map attachment to the status is a must).

2. Should be either too hot or too cold (because Facebook par temperature bragging toh banta hain boss!) ( Because bragging about the temperature there on Facebook is important).

D)   ACCOMODATION

PREVIOUSLY:
(If an hotel) The hotel should be budget-friendly and hospital, market, fire-station, police station etc. should all be within a radius of 1 kilometer from the hotel. (typical Monissha style garam paani aata hain ke nahi ya AC chalta hain ke nahi type) (Basic facilities should be present).

NOW:
(Obviously an hotel) Doesn’t matter if the hotel lacks antique paintings or statues or fountains, free WiFi and Jacuzzi are inevitable.

Also double-bed sized extra soft mattress and a large sized LCD TV are not to be missed.

E)    WAYS TO FIND AN ACCOMODATION

PREVIOUSLY:
Cousin’s, best friend’s, distant uncle’s, Dad’s best friend’s (basically some known person’s hotel).

Hotel review received from one or all of the above mentioned people.

NOW:
Some cool Trip advisor type website. Enter destination. Enter budget. Enter number of people travelling. Enter facilities required. Check available hotels. Check room photographs. Read reviews from two or more sites about the desired hotel. Book the hotel! ( remember Trivago's advertisement)

F)    MODES OF TRANSPORT

PREVIOUSLY:
Book train/flight tickets months ago.

NOW:
Random road-trips are way more cooler.

 

Picture courtesy : Abhishek More

G)   WHAT TO DO

PREVIOUSLY:
1. One or two or more rounds of Antakshari and charades are the main events. Indulge only into ‘safe’ sports.

2. Plus one round of Garba around the born-fire toh pakka ramis! (A round of Garba is a must).

NOW:
1. Endless pictures to post on Instagram (#vacation #hotel #freewifi #fun) and minute-to-minute status update on Facebook and Twitter are absolutely essential. 

2. Also adventure sports are to be added ( those where they make you sign the ‘I shall be held responsible for my death’ form).

Picture courtesy : Omkar Joshi

H)   WHAT TO CARRY

PREVIOUSLY:
Sweaters, socks, extra plastic bags to combat vomiting due to motion sickness, pack of cards.

Don’t forget that Snakes and Ladders game!

NOW:
Ray Ban sunglasses, those expensive shoes, stylish jackets (even when not required), Kindle, cell phone, ear phones, iPad.

Don’t forget the charger!!!

I)HOW MANY PEOPLE

     

PREVIOUSLY:
The entire joint family plus neighbours (and their kids).

    

NOW:
Solo trips are the new face of freedom!

Picture courtesy : Sujith Ail

God has blessed us with four limbs and a super smart Brain and that’s not for being stagnant. Travelling gives us new perspectives, helps us meet new people, learn different languages, boost our knowledge, appreciate the glory of nature, bond with family and friends and helps us discover our true personality. So travel and explore the World because no book in the World can teach us everything we need.

The old-school way or the modern route…the choice is yours!

                                                                                

                                                                             

- Nehal Chawan

#seeyouuntilnextime

(Originally written for the annual magazine year 2016 of RCSM GMC Kolhapur)