Why I Don’t Like to Come Back from Vacations

Why would I? I can bet on anyone to give me just one reason to return to life from a beautiful vacation. If I had unlimited money, I would have never returned home. Many other social obligations push me to return home, but I would never do that if I had a choice. Nonetheless, there is no use living a fictional life and I have to join back regular things as soon as I come back. The worst thing about coming from a fantastic vacation is the fatigue that I cannot bear. However, I have learned techniques to bear the exhaustion over time.

Sleep, sleep, and sleep

I just love sleeping. I can sleep for many days with minimal eating without bothering anyone, but it bothers other people that I sleep so much. My family would keep asking me if I want to eat some food. Initially, it would irritate me that they poke me so much, but now I understand their concern. Over time, they have also understood that I just need to sleep as much as I want after a vacation. Things do become tiring when you are out of the town with or without family. Mom and dad have a habit of sleeping for only an hour extra if they feel tired of traveling too much, but they let me take a long slumber now.

A great siesta works for almost every ailment in my body. If I feel feverish, I sleep. If I feel low on energy, I sleep. If my stomach is upset, I just sleep. Perfect cure for every minor ailment. I always tell my parents that I can cure myself without any money. Just give me a bed and a cozy blanket, and I am good to go. So I just take an extra day from my holidays for travel, return a day before joining office, and just die for the world. No wonder I wake up refreshed the next day, even though it feels frustrating to go to office.

Eat light

Homemade light food is the best when it comes to curing my heavily loaded stomach. Usually when I travel, I eat a lot of junk food, unintentionally most of the times. I cannot help but eat whatever comes my way, of course because I cannot expect too much of healthy food on the go. That is why; when I come home, I prepares soups and lentils for myself and have them for a day or two.

On my last trip, I was there with my friends and we had hired best Self-Drive Cars in Hyderabad for our road trip. We ate as much of junk food as we could while taking stops on the highway for local food. Although I could not find the chicken biryani I was looking for, I did taste a lot of other heavy non-vegetarian foods. And when I came home, all I ate was porridge and khichdi and they rejuvenated me like anything.

Nonetheless, vacations are awesome, but they give a huge setback when it comes to getting back to routine. I still bear the pain bravely! Wink!

How My Solo Trips Evolved Into Group Vacations

I hated people. Yes, I dislike people so much that I sometimes wondered if there was something wrong with me. And in reality, there was something actually not right with my personality. I had become too detached to people. The sad part is that I knew that I needed to improve but I could not initiate the process. It was becoming too much for me to bear and when I could not do anything, I just went out for a solo road trip.

Going alone

When you are alone, you have a distinct advantage of being yourself. I utilized the most of this time since I knew that I could be myself without fearing the scrutinizing eyes of my colleagues and family. I wanted to be on my own for a couple of days so that I could unwind and relieve all the stress that had accumulated in my mind. It was tough, but I had to do it.

The first time I talked to someone was when I had to park my car in the hotel parking lot. It was such a relief to finally have someone who would smile at me nonetheless. I ventured out for many such road trips alone so that I can be comfortable at communicating with strangers. I would feel my heart pounding in my chest during the initial few days, but then it normalized later. It helped a lot to be open to conversation and this change was visible clearly in office.

Going for group vacations

As I had started evolving as a social person, I liked talking to people. I made a few friends and we started hanging out with them. I was on seventh heaven when I got a chance to go for a road trip with my office colleagues. We booked Self-Drive Cars in Hyderabad and we hit the road at night. We shifted the driving duty and had a blast while traveling.

It is difficult to pen down how I felt when I actually connected with people straight from the heart. The superficial talks that I had initiated deliberately in the beginning had started giving fruits. An introvert jerk had started becoming an extrovert dude. I loved being in the company of people, which was the result of just one thing, and that is solo travel.

Traveling alone gave me ample confidence to take decisions whenever it was crucial. I did not have anyone to depend on, which is why, it had become easier for me to take quick decisions. I also learned that I can enjoy my own company and be with people as well. I am no more uncomfortable with people around me. Nonetheless, I need my personal space at times.

I have learned how to define boundaries when it comes to social life and personal space. I have got friends who would back me in tough situations. I am glad that I ventured out for vacations alone; it helped me to become a better person.

Why I Love Staycation More than Anything

I believe in staycations more because of my long-term plans, not because I am an extremely frugal person, which I am in reality to some extent. I like to spend a good time in my home country, right here in India. I have a hard core belief that India is a beautiful country and I don’t need to go abroad for at least a few years until I save some money.

Last year, one of my friends was in the UK. We used to talk daily about our respective lives in different countries, and not even once, did I feel the urge to go there for an extended vacation, despite her constant urging. I explained it to her that it is difficult for me to take a long break from the job because it would be an unpaid leave. On the other hand, I would have to spend almost all my savings of the years just to buy the tickets to her city in the UK. I knew that I would not have to worry about food, but I would definitely have to spend for the travel tickets to different cities and other activities. I do not regret compromising that vacation because I did not have money. On the other hand, I could focus on my long term goals as I knew that expensive vacations can come later. I could always travel around India at a much lesser cost.

Over time, I have traveled to a lot of cities in India, and I am bored to them to some extent. After traveling on a budget for years, I look for a bit of luxury in days out of the city now. Wherever I choose to go, I prefer to have a few days of exploring new things and have a couple of days just to relax and unwind. I like to think back about things that happen in life, and reflect on random occurrences. I just love that solitary time.

When I was in Kumaoni, I stayed at a local person’s home for a week at a ridiculously cheap price. They treated me with warmth and I wandered around aimlessly for two days after I was done with sightseeing. Even the host family was amazed at my choice of vacation because they had seen people going crazy over vacations, and I was there leaning in the chair as the sun set every day. Camping with reputed hosts is also a great idea and I had done with a company in Bir. They keep you indulged in activities within the proximity of their camps so that no one gets bored.

When I was in Jaipur, I booked a hostel and had a marvelous time with other travelers. I even booked Self drive cars in Jaipur and maneuvered around the city to look for exciting things other than forts. Being alone gives great opportunities to talk to the locals, and blend with them at their own pace without rushing to see places or do things. Staycations- I love them!

Why Driving in India is a Challenge I Like to Take

A few things about India are so delightful that they keep pulling me back. Even though I am an Indian, I feel like a foreigner whenever I travel to some other corner of the country. That is why; every day of the vacation becomes an adventurous one, no matter where I am. However, driving on the Indian roads is something that keeps me on my toes every moment. I cannot afford to blink my eyes even for a second because of the challenges looming forever on the roads. As they say, you must not use a mobile phone while driving as it can be dangerous; it can be fatal in India. If you are not vigilant enough, it will take just a second to lose your life. Thankfully, I have never been involved in any serious injury, but a few minor accidents have taught me the value of keeping a watchful eye each second on the road.

The users of the road

I had always heard that the roads in Singapore speak volumes about cleanliness, and it is true. I have been to Singapore and they have impeccably clean roads. You may invite a huge fine if you break the traffic rules. On the other hand, we have barely any traffic rules; we don’t follow them even if we have. The roads in India are meant for everyone without any specific lanes for heavy and light vehicles.

It is a common sight to find cars, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, manual rickshaws, buses in all sizes, and trucks on just one road. No one is bothered to follow the lanes and hence, we have the great Indian traffic jam. To worsen the situation, we have cattle on the road along with dogs, cats, elephants, and horses. Yes, the generous Indian public never minds the animals on the roads. In fact, we try to save the animals whenever they cross the road even if it means losing a human life. This is not something to be proud of, yet, I cannot help it but manage with the situation.

Driving sense

It is again a sorry fact to admit but Indians have poor traffic sense. It is fun for them to jump the traffic lights, cross the road with oncoming vehicles, cause obstructions by changing lanes without notice, and abuse others if they overtake. In a country where everything can be done with bribe, most people get their licenses made without even giving a driving test. They learn driving just when they come on the road with their car or bike and a family member or a friend to teach them. It implies that people do not prefer to learn from the driving instructors, but from already underqualified drivers. Hence, the outcome is unqualified drivers who would do anything to get their way on the road.

It is a serious task to reach your destination safely, but by the virtue of being an Indian, I have got used to driving in India. In fact, I love the challenge. I like to book Self Driven Car in Mumbai and drive when the roads are relatively empty at night; it is the best time of the day.

Why Traveling Makes You More Appreciative

Travel makes you more indebted to whatever you have got in your life; at least I have experienced it for sure. Until I was in school, I had never thought that I have got a lot of things in life, which are way more than what people have in half of the world. I never knew that just a roof on my head makes me a wealthier person than millions of others. When I started traveling on my own, I discovered what it meant to possess things in this materialistic world.

The home cooked food

No doubt travel is a humbling experience and I love each moment of it. However, there have been times when I have literally craved for the basic homemade meal. I hail from Hyderabad; I start missing my staple food even when I am just a few hundred kilometers away from home. It does not mean that I want to return home as soon as possible, but it makes me realize the importance of a healthy meal. If I try to eat the authentic local foods in foreign countries, I am on the verge of killing my budget. And it becomes too difficult to survive on McDonalds for weeks, even though it is the most economical food available anywhere in the world.

I miss the bed

Over the years, I have made my room such that I can find out everything in dark without even opening my eyes. I know my room inside out, each wall of it, and every single thing that lies on the floor. I love to keep it messy and I even tell my mom to never clean it. I find peace in the things that I own. However, when I am away from home for a few weeks or months, I start hating the hotel beds. Even the hostel dorms do not appeal me anymore, and I just want to go home as soon as possible. And when I reach back into my room, I feel like hugging everything even though I can’t. Nevertheless, I can hug my pillows and have a sound sleep.

I miss my family

I hate to confess this, but I had started neglecting my family after years of staying with them. I should have appreciated their efforts in bringing me up, but I was doing the exact opposite. However, when I started being out of the home for studies in a different city, I learned their value. I would crave to hug my mom and they would obviously miss me too. Then, on their anniversary, I looked for the best Self-Drive Cars in Hyderabad and sent them on a romantic drive.

They still remember that day and praise me for what I did for them, but I refuse to take the credit. After all, it was just a small token of love for everything that they had done for me. Is it wrong to say that staying out of home made me more appreciative of everything I have in life? I don’t think so.

Things I Have to Deal with While Traveling in India

I, being a local Indian traveler, just love this country. I have always believed that India has much more natural and artificial beauty than any other country. I have never thought of traveling abroad just for the sake of it, or just because many other Indians are doing so. Yes, I have been to a couple of exotic countries abroad, but my faith in my country has never been less. Having said all that, there are a few things about local travel that I simply hate. I cannot come to terms with these few aspects of roaming around in India, despite the fact that I have been an independent traveler for more than five years. And the verity that I am a backpacker, these irritable things just amplify.

Filthy toilets

Given that there is already a scarcity of public toilets in India, I have to use any washroom that is available on my journey. If I travel by bus, I barely have a choice. And it is rare that I travel by car because that is very expensive mode of transportation for a single person. When I went to Coorg with family last year, we had taken Innova Car for Self Drive in Bangalore, which proved cheaper and more convenient for six members plus the driver. Coming back to the point of dirty toilets, they stink so badly that I try to hold my breath for as long as I can. I have to cover my mouth with a heavy cloth so as to breathe clean air, just in case I take more than fifteen seconds in there. It is my best attempt to come out of the lavatory in less than 30 seconds.

Dealing with touts and auto-rickshaw drivers

As soon as I get down a bus, come out of a metro station or an airport, the drivers of auto-rickshaws, manual rickshaws, or taxis jump on me like I am the only passenger left in this world who will pay their bills. Even though I don’t look like I am a foreigner, they attack me so mercilessly. I wonder the plight of poor foreigners who don’t even understand the local language. I cannot blame the drivers or touts entirely for their behavior, but they should understand that this is not the way to approach any tourist. The travelers take back a reputation of any place in their mind when they return, which is determined by the behavior of the locals. They need to learn the civic sense to deal with their neighbors and tourists because the traveler would always spread the bad word about such occurrences, whether it happens in India or abroad.

I love to travel in India, but I cannot ignore the fact that these disturbing these are present in my own country. If I cannot sustain dirty toilets and ill-mannered locals, the foreigners who talk ill about India are not to blame. Indians, please understand the value of tourism and the tourists.