How I Quit Homeschooling My Toddler

When I started homeschooling my 2.5 year old baby boy, Shaurya, I had never thought that teaching would be such a tough job. Since I was living in the USA at that time after visiting 26 countries with my husband, I thought of settling down there for a few years until Shaurya grows up. Since pre-school is very expensive in the USA, I decided to homeschool my kid until he is ready to enter the kindergarten, which would give me time to enhance my income.

The first few months of teaching him the alphabet were really awesome. I would often spend an hour or two on the internet learning how to teach the alphabet to my toddler. I didn’t mind spending the extra hours on my laptop to learn becoming a teacher myself, but the process became tough as Shaurya grew older. I had to spend more time in learning the teaching process myself, which started becoming frustrating. Moreover, I realized that I am not capable to homeschool him forever. I would have to either enroll him for online classes or send him to a regular school in the years to come.

Since I knew that the USA was not affordable at all in terms of buying a house, paying the school fees, and paying other bills, I decided to move to my home country, India. I have grown up in India and I know that there is a wide range of affordable schools here that I can afford for my kid. Even though I want to visit various countries and cities while bringing up a family, I want to be in a country where I can afford all my expenses.

Since my language interpretation work pays good money, I don’t have to worry about joining a regular office. However, Shaurya needs regular schooling at least for a few years in his early education.

We moved to India two years ago, and I decided to settle down in Delhi near my parents’ home. They are happy to have us here and I am content to know that I have someone when I need them to take care of my baby. I can leave Shaurya with them for a few days as I travel with my husband to different places for work and leisure. The setting makes it easier for Shaurya to not miss his school and we don’t have to miss travel either. We often use a car booking app to drive to and from their home and then go for a weekend trip.

The best part about regular schooling is that the kid gets to interact with other kids of his age, which contributes to his language development and social skills expansion. Since the day he has started going to kindergarten, he has shown tremendous growth in communicating with other kids in the neighborhood, even though the first few weeks were really tough for him.

I know that my travel dreams may remain slightly unfulfilled, but I don’t mind forgoing them for a few years for the sake of a better future of a baby that I have brought to this world. Until Shaurya grows up, we don’t mind becoming the weekend travelers, and we can resume our fulltime traveling when it is the right time.

How I Protect My Camera while Traveling

Whenever I think of traveling, I think of photos and then Instagram and then hashtags. I have clicked at least 5K to 6K finished photos until now, forget the raw ones, I cannot even count them. There was a time when I used to click photos using my smartphone for my blog. However, they were never too good to be uploaded on my website. Still, I had to be content with it because I could not afford a DSLR until college. And when I bought my favorite Nikon camera, I never knew that I would love it like my baby.

Now whenever I go out for a photoshoot, I have to take care of it all the time, but I don’t mind it at all. The first thing that I realized after buying it was that I have to have a good quality padded camera bag. My friend, Rohan, had lost his camera to a thief because his camera bag was too flashy I guess. He became an easy target for the thief and he swore that he would never buy such a bag again. And from that incident, I also learnt that I must buy a bag that doesn’t look like a typical camera bag. I have a sling bag that appears to be carrying books in it, and the look on the acquaintance’s faces is worth seeing when I take out a camera out of it.

The next thing that I do is to keep my camera with me all the time. When I fly, I never send the camera in the checked-in luggage. I don’t trust the airlines guys to handle my fragile things safely. I have seen them throwing even the bags with fragile notice without care. That is why; I keep my camera with me in my hand luggage.

Secondly, if I am driving my Car Rentals in Mumbai, which I often do for my professional photo shoots, I never keep the camera or the lenses inside the car. Yes, I can use the boot space to keep my valuables, but India is not a country to be trusted for the expensive stuff. The thieves here are the most clever breed of humans, and they are too smart to outsmart us. It is only in the emergency circumstances that I keep something valuable in the boot.

I used to love showing off the Nikon logo whenever I went for a shoot. The aspiring photographers especially love to notice their dream equipment with someone. I understand this feeling because I have also felt this for a long time. However, there were instances when the crooks also noticed the camera too.

Thankfully, I have never been robbed, but a few instances like this changed my perspective and I have started hiding the branding on my camera. Every Nikon logo on the camera or the equipment is now hidden under the black duct tape.

I know I might be overprotective for my camera, but I have been able to afford it after a long time of saving money during college. I don’t want to lose it too soon because I have seen veteran photographers taking care of their gear like I do.

Why My Wife is My Best Travel Partner

As they say, everything in the world seems rosy and gorgeous when you have a good life-partner. And the same beautiful things seem worst when the partner is not compatible with you. This article is not about marriage or compatibility, but how and why I like to travel with my wife. I have seen incompatible couples who cannot stop arguing throughout the day, no matter they are out for a vacation or they are at home.

Even I have my arguments with my wife, Reina, but we both have a mutual understanding to solve the matter as soon as possible. Ideally, it should take us more than a day to solve the serious matters, and the trivial things should not stretch beyond and hour. Thankfully, we both have the brains to quickly calm down when we are angry and the matters do not stretch beyond the line. Nonetheless, here are the other reasons why I love traveling with her:

Traveling style

We have the same expectations from our vacations, which is why it becomes easy to take decisions. Concerning accommodations, for instance, we like to stay in luxury hotels when the city doesn’t have many options to do activities or the places to visit. We like to take a luxurious room in a beautiful resort when we just want to relax for a day or two.

On the other hand, we book a room in the cheapest accommodation available when there are numerous activities to do at our destination. When we were in Bali for our honeymoon, even then we didn’t spend lavishly on the hotel rooms. Still, every resort in Indonesia is gorgeous, no matter the price. Even though we spent all the day roaming around the city, we could be at leisure once we returned to the hotel in the evening.

Food habits

Both of us are non-vegetarians, so we do not hesitate to experiment with foods wherever we are in the world. We have tried eating different types of seafood in India and abroad. I can eat seafood anywhere in the world, but Reina prefers to have it only at the seaside because she likes it fresh without the stink on her platter. When we had hired Car Rentals in Goa, we explored several restaurants in the north and south while exploring the beaches and museums. Even though she is not a hardcore non vegetarian person like me who likes meat every day, it is easy to be with her over the meals. We can order one thing and share it rather than ordering things separately and overdoing our budget.

Photography

I was never a photo-freak person, neither I am now. Still, since the day I have met Reina, she has made me fond of getting clicked. I can be satisfied in just a couple of pictures, she has to get snapped at least a dozen times before saying OK. Yes, it does get irritating at times to snap so many times, but it is fine at the end of the day.

After all, it is the overall compatibility that matters!

How I Stay Fit and Healthy in India on My Holiday

Whenever I go for a long vacation in India, my first concern is to stay healthy throughout my stint. Even though I have got habitual to take precautions, I still have to be mindful about it. The best thing to do when I am in India is to take adequate rest. If I am not properly rested, I have to stress myself to travel around, which must be a delightful activity otherwise. On the other hand, if I am fresh in my mind, everything I do becomes a pleasure to do.

The next thing that I find a must-do for myself is to be wary of the food and water that I consume. I can take more care about the food than water because everything that is served on my plate is cooked from water whose purity is never guaranteed. When I came here for the first time, my immune system was not prepared for everything that I had consumed out of sheer taste and greed. It is easy to overeat in India because the new delicacies that they serve are so delicious that you cannot say no to it. However, you have to take care about the amount you can digest, especially the desserts made at home.

The gulab jamun, for example, is so delectable that I could not refuse it when my friend’s mom served it one after another. I ate six gulab jamuns in one go as they felt light on my stomach, and were so soft that I gobbled down six in a row. Everyone around me laughed at my act, but they cheered as I ate more and more. Hospitality in India is incredible, but it can take you to the hospital!

Thank God, I did not have to visit the hospital that night, but I swear I had to spend the entire night with my hand at my stomach, and frequent visits to the toilet!

I had booked the Car Rentals in Delhi for the next day to travel to Jaipur with my friend, whose mom was the chef the previous night, but we had to postpone our plans for the day. After that day, is swore to myself to never do overeating in India, no matter how much someone cheers for me or forces me. Now whenever I visit someone’s home for a meal, I eat my food deliberately slowly so that no one refills my plate unless I ask for it.

Another favorite thing to do in India is to carry a plastic bowl and a knife with a cover in my bag. I am not a fan of fruit that is cut already for sale on the stalls. But I like to eat fresh fruits, so I buy them from the vendors readily available everywhere in India, wash them thoroughly until I am satisfied, cut them on my own, and eat them fresh. I take watermelon and similar fruits to the hotel, cut them there, refrigerate them, and then eat them.

Maintaining health and boosting immunity in India has now become a habit, which is never going to leave my mind. Therefore, I don’t mind visiting India at all, even it is for a year now.

How I Worked on India Travel Photos

There is a world of difference between where I used to be on the social media and where I am now. While doing travel photography, I always wondered that despite having good photos of great locations, why am I not able to attract audience on Instagram and Facebook? I got the answer during a travelers’ conclave in Delhi where I got an opportunity to meet dozens of travel bloggers, many of whom were doing great in their field. Let me share what I gained from the kind bloggers during that meeting.

Don’t underestimate India

A blogger very rightly said that I must never underestimate India for the photo opportunities. There are millions of places and people whom I can click, edit, and publish. It dawned on me that day that even though I stay in a developing country, I still have a lot to see in my country. I had, by then, traveled to a few foreign countries, and was still not satisfied. One more thing is that it takes a lot of money to travel abroad, while I can suffice with relatively less money in India. I decided to expand my photography in my home country, and the results were awesome. Since then, I have traveled to at least 30+ cities in India, and I still have a long list of places to visit.

The time of the day

I had always been lazy about waking up early in the morning, but my fellow bloggers told me not to be a lazy bum and wake up as soon as possible to explore Delhi. They told me to go to Old Fort, Pragati Maidan, Connaught Place, etc. I must confess that these places were awesome after sunset and before sunrise. Just by waking up early and reaching my photo destination an hour before the perfect time, I could plan my photo shoot. I shot the Char Minar when I was working for shooting Car Rentals in Hyderabad. There is a lot to learn about a place when you shed the laziness.

The tripod

A good quality tripod was a great investment for my work. I could do the twilight shoots at ease without having to worry about a blurred shot. The landscape shoots on my Instagram page are a hit just because of that tripod that I now carry everywhere. I has helped me to escape the deadly trend of clicking selfies as well. I don’t like to click a picture with my nose protruding into it, and now I just tell someone to stand with me when I set up my phone on the tripod.

Funny scenes

India is full of funny scenes and people doing humorous acts, especially in the small cities and villages. The western audience is particularly fond of seeing that side of India that amuses them. I don’t mean to disgrace my country, so I try to show the beautiful, as well as, the humorous side of it in the photos.

I give all the credit in the enhancement of my work to my fellow bloggers and photographers. I still look forward to upscale my work even more in the years to come.

How My Husband Plays My Best Travel Companion

What comprises a great travel companion? Humor, laughter, practicality, and cooperation-all these are the traits that I feel must be there in someone who gives you great company on a holiday. My husband is one person in the world who has never failed me over a vacation. I brag about this even more because I was highly fond of solo travel before I met him. Now you can say that I travel solo with him! What an ironic statement is that!

I said that because I love traveling only with him, after we have tried going in groups. It is difficult to maintain sanity with everyone’s differences in a group. Everyone wants to go to different places, eat different things, and do different activities. I just cannot cope with that on a vacation where I am supposed to enjoy!

That is why; I prefer going only with my husband who wants to do the same things as me. Even if we want to enjoy different pursuits, I don’t stop him, neither does he.

Enjoyment

A travel companion must be a great buddy, and my husband is the one. He doesn’t need to be told what to do. In fact, he is even better than me at finding humor in random situations. He can make a donkey out of a man in his imagination, and vice versa. Even when I feel gloomy, he is the one to cheer me up.

Safety  

Apart from enjoyment, safety is really important for me as a woman. When I used to travel solo, I tried hard to showcase a confident face, but I was slightly scared all the time in my heart. My husband is really protective for me, and every other woman in is closed circles. I have seen him standing up for his family and sometimes for random women as well, and I appreciate that about him. I know that I am safe when he is around, which gives me a lot of peace of mind.

Comfort

He is the one who has made me realized that comfort must be prioritized over money. When I used to travel solo, I would always book the train tickets to any place in India because I love Indian Railways for their economical price and reachability throughout the country. When I first suggested him train travel for our trip to Chennai, he laughed over it. He convinced me that having Car Rentals in Bangalore is a better option because we will be more comfortable in that. And when we had to go to Manali, he straightaway booked the flight rather than going by road. Now I also feel that it is better to save time, even if we have to spend a little extra money.

I am definitely more adventurous when I am with my husband. He has my back all the time whenever I feel discouraged to go for rock climbing, horse riding, and what not! I can depend on him for almost everything that is on my mind. What else can I ask from a travel companion?

How to travel in your college life

As long as you keep reading the posts of rich travel bloggers, you will always feel that traveling around the world is an expensive affair. But once you open the blogs of budget travelers, you will be amazed to find out how people manage to survive in several countries of the world on a meager budget. You can begin traveling as soon as you begin your study in college, especially when you are studying in India because the study system of the country does not allow you to travel alone before college. However, there is no one stopping you once you enter college because it is then that you explore the real fun of being independent.

Start small

You don’t need to book your first ticket to Dubai when you begin traveling on your own. You can start being a solo traveller just by traveling in your hometown. Every city has its own secrets that you may have never explored because you never thought of traveling in your city. When you are on a strict budget, you have no options but to visit the free areas of your city.

If you live in Mumbai, for example, you may want to go to Dharavi, which is called the slum capital of the world with a staggering number of more than 1,000,000 people living there. You may want to visit the Dhobighat, the only Chinese temple in Mumbai, and unveil the art at Kala Ghoda. You may not be able to afford Car Rentals in Mumbai in the beginning of your expeditions, but you may later earn more money to rent cabs for your fancy travels in India and abroad.

Earn small

Whatever you have learned till date is the treasure of knowledge that you can share with others. You may become a freelance teacher for English, French, mathematics, science, commerce, or anything that you think would be useful to others. This will enable you to earn money, even though it is not much to let you have vacations abroad, and you can use that money to gain more experiences in other cities of India when you plan travel for a few days.

Travel whenever possible

No matter you get one day off or a week off from college, you must travel to any place from your list. Never think that you have to travel for a long time to make your vacation worth the effort. Even a small weekend getaway can give you a heart full of memories. Moreover, you must not wait for the company of your friends to plan a vacation. You can always go solo if travel is your true calling.

The most obvious thing to do is to maximize your savings when you prioritize travel. You must learn to save money, and say no to unnecessary outings with friends, minimize snacking, and say no to smoking. Traveling to your favorite destinations is just a step away; you just need to make it your first priority and give the second place to all your other needs.