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.

How I began traveling the world on my own after 50

India is a place where women are taught to follow their husband’s footsteps, even when you are a successful working women. I have been in the workforce since the age of 22 years, but I followed the traditionally laid down path of an Indian woman. I got married at 29, had a baby by 31, and had my second baby by 34. It drained out all my energy, physically and mentally, to bring up that family and provide my husband and kids with all that they needed, all of that while being a working woman. It was only when I crossed 45 years of age that I started feeling the itch for spending time with myself. Living for others had already taken a lot of time of my living on the planet.

I discussed traveling at least 5-6 times a year with my husband, but he didn’t have any such plans. He was content at living the regular family life, but the good part is that he encouraged me to explore myself. He didn’t stop me from traveling on my own, and told me to get rid of the stigma of being too old for solo travel. His words were quite a boost to my confidence, and I was back to my original self in just one day.

No one in the world can be a better companion than your spouse, and my husband proved it right. As soon as he knew that I want to be on my own, he started telling my kids not to taunt or discourage me for going out alone. Rishi and Kanika, my adorable babies had grown up so quickly, and they became elated at the thought that it was so cool for their mom to go for a solo trip.

Rishi booked two self-drive cars in Delhi and Dehradun respectively so that I can travel comfortably to the hills, and explore my driving skills at the same time. Even though I told him that I may not be able to drive on the hills after so many years, he reminded me that he had seen me driving on the roads of Shimla when he was 5 years old. Even though Dad was constantly poking his nose while I was driving at that time, he said he remembered how he had scolded dad not to disturb me while driving. And it was only after that moment that my husband had sat quietly and Rishi enjoyed sitting in the front seat with me.

Kanika found the best camps for me in Tosh, and they all gifted me a bottle of wine that I could enjoy when I sat with myself. At that moment, I realized that my little kids had grown really mature and they were truly a family anyone would want. It was just one trip alone to manali and tosh, driving all the way on my own, that I actually began my traveling expedition for many years to come. And now it has been 10 years that I have been traveling solo without worrying about home or office.  

Things I Achieve When I Travel Slow

When I was a tourist, I would often visit new places, stay there for 3-4 days, absorb as much as I could, and then leave for home or the next destination. It was thrilling to live like a tourist for a few years, but then I got tired of it. I had to have something new in my travel routine, and then I decided to explore slow travel.

In the earlier days, people traveled slow and stayed in one destination for several days out of compulsion because quicker modes of travel were not available. Very few people had cars, and most travelers traveled by either public transport or waterways. However, the times have changed and now I see everyone opting for airplanes instead of cars to reach their destinations as soon as possible.

When I used to live in Delhi, I would often think of traveling to different places. And the first thing that came to my mind is that I must book my flight for the required dates so that I can get it cheap. I must save my time and money and travel for a quick weekend getaway.

However, I completely missed the point of travel.

I realized it only after getting tired that traveling to a place does not mean just touching its surface. I must live in a city like the locals do, and I stopped booking hotels for my stay. I started opting for the homestays to save money, and have the warmth of the home. I like to cook my own food, which doesn’t cost much in the first place, and also gives the feeling of being at home.

I have stopped clicking too many photos of the places I visit. I try to talk to the locals about what they do, who they are, and what they like. It is interesting to listen to their opinions of the world. Some of the locals I meet have never stepped out of their city, and they don’t have an open mind. On the contrary, a few people have astonished me with their open-mindedness without even traveling to places. They like to believe in ‘Live and Let Live’ thought process.

I have also met many travelers who are a previous version of me. They stay for a couple of days in my homestays, pretend to indulge with the people around them, and then leave for their next destination. I have seen people booking Self-Drive Cars in Rihsikesh just to do temple hopping in two days along with bungee jumping and rafting. I truly believe that one just cannot travel too much in such a short span of time. You have to say no to many amazing experiences just because you are short of time.

I have traveled quickly to several places in just a few days for several years in a row, but I now realize the futility of it. I love to stay at one place now, absorb it as much as I can, live like I have lived there forever, and then move to the next place.

How I Avoid Having a Severe Jet Lag Post a Long Flight

I firmly believe that I cannot completely avoid jet lag, but I can minimize its effects. I hate long journeys, but I cannot avoid them because of professional and personal commitments. Sometimes, I have to be in the same airplane for more than 48 hours.  Even I get a couple of breaks between the airports, I cannot hate the airports more for how tiring they can be. In the initial days of my air travel, I used to sleep for at least two days in a row after the long haul flight. However, I learned to avoid the symptoms of jet lag with time, and now I exit the airport much fresher in my body and mind than earlier.

Say no to cold foods

Even though I love cold coffee with ice cream, I never consume them over a long flight. Cold foods and drinks are difficult to digest and they make it difficult to fall asleep. That is why, I always ask the air hostesses to provide me with a clear hot soup, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. I do love cappuccino but I don’t take it while flying. Hot foods are easier to digest and hence, do not disturb my sleeping cycle. I can eat anything hot while flying, but nothing cold. And, I never consume alcohol as well because it dehydrates my body.

I love my pillow

I have a little pillow in my home specially reserved for traveling because it fits my backpack really well. I just take out my regular pillow out of my bag once I am seated well in the aircraft and doze off to take a nap. I have never liked the concept of travel pillows because they seem just too flashy to me. They hardly provide any comfort to me and I have to carry it outside my backpack, which defeats its purpose. My regular pillow is compact in size and soft enough to fit my bag and I love it. When I travel with friends or family, I also use it to sleep in my Car Rentals Rishikesh because the road travel after the flight is often too much to reach our destination.

The essential oils

If there is something that can make me sleep is my favorite lavender oil. The aromatherapy never fails to make me fall asleep whenever I am uncomfortable in my seat. I have to make sure that I sprinkle a few drops on my pillow whenever a fellow passenger is disturbing me too much.

I don’t know why but air travel is never a pleasant experience for me. That is why; I have to make sure that I take proper rest on the flight itself so that I don’t have to waste my precious vacation time at my destination city. I used to get frustrated in the beginning of my travel days because I would get so tired that I didn’t want to do anything. However, I have learned to avoid jet lag the hard way, but I have done it finally.

Kindness Never Gets Out Of Fashion

People who never leave their comfort zone are the ones who give the advice to others to do the same. I have met countless people who tell me to stop going for so many road trips and stay in my city so that I can be safe. I have tried convincing them that the world is a safer place than they show in the TV, but I have stopped telling them so now because people don’t want to listen what I tell them. They are only interested in the scary stories that they see in the news.

I understand how tough it is for people who want to go for solo trips to trust their instincts and not the news, but I would still say that people around the world have many things similar in their hearts. They have same aspirations, dreams, needs, and necessities. There are numerous people around the globe who would go out of their way to help me and many more travelers.

Last year, we made an instant plan to travel to the Chandratal Lake in Himachal Pradesh, which was a huge mistake, for sure. We could not procure the permit online to cross Rohtang Pass, so we thought we would try our luck at the permit office directly. The entire journey was going against the plan, but we were still adamant to reach our destination. We had already begun our journey quite late, and there was no way we would reach in time in one day. After it was dark, we got at least two families telling us to take a halt and resume the journey the next day.

Again, we were in trouble because we could not find an accommodation. We even thought of sleeping in the car, but we were six people and we did not have enough blankets to survive the chilly cold nights of the region. We might have died of cold had an old man not helped us to stay at his hut. It was a low-roof hut where we could barely stand, but we slept well at least for a few hours. The kind old man helped us to find fuel the next morning. The best part is that he did not take advantage of our situation by charging excessive money. We coerced him to accept money, which he had not asked for, thanked him from the bottom of our hearts, and resumed our journey. However, we pledged that we would never make instant plans for such risky destinations.

Once again, when I was in Goa trying my luck at parasailing, even though I am scared of water, as well as, heights, I found a kind lady soothe me. My family had hired Self-Drive Cars in Bangalore and we had driven to Goa. They all wanted to go for water sports, but I did not. No amount of compelling convinced me to agree, but a kind lady did just by her empathetic words.

There are many other instances where I found several people compassionate and benevolent, especially when they know that someone is in trouble. We just need to give the world a chance; we live on a beautiful earth indeed.

Experiencing New Year in Jaipur, The City of Hiatuses from Life

Arranged in Rajasthan, a place where there is the vibrant Indian Culture, Jaipur effectively beats the rundown for voyagers who are engaged with exploring the way of life and one of a kind move and society expressions that Rajasthan offers. The way of life, however the common magnificence of the land, particularly in the edges of the city draws a colossal number of sightseers consistently. Jaipur, for me, is where you are acquainted with the respectable food, the crude regular excellence of the open country and the excellent architecture which is sufficient to make Jaipur probably the best place for sightseers coming from all around the globe.

Facing and Understanding the transportation problems of Jaipur…

Although, there is a decent transportation system in the city which you can use to get around some popular spots, the challenge nears when you wish to visit some famous spots like Nahargarh fort, Amber fort and Rajasthan countryside in general. In spite of a good transportation system, the cost of travelling is higher than normal. Similarly, what choices do you have when you are standing at the corner of a Jaipur road bearing the scorching Rajasthan heat but yearning to visit these places?

That’s the kind of problem I faced during the course of my visit to this beautiful city. Getting around Jaipur is not only challenging but costly as well, and if you’re planning to visit to Jaipur any time sooner, what transportation choices do you have apart from hiring a tourist vehicle with a driver to kill your privacy?

Getting to know the solution…

The answer lies in my personal experience in this case. Struggling to find a perfect transport around the city, I was introduced to self-drive cars in Jaipur which strikingly turned out to be a better option to get around the city. So if you’re travelling to Jaipur and wondering how you can travel and enjoy without spending too much money around the city, well MyChoize self-drive service has you covered. I highly recommend it to every traveller who is tempted about the idea of exploring the city. Travelling in a group of five, this service came as a blessing for me and my group. Not only the prices that the company offers are reasonable, the whole payment machinery is transparent. Hiring their service is unbelievably easy, i.e., three small steps and you’re good to go. The most stunning thing about MyChoize is the costumer support which is rapid and responsive. For the ones who love to travel and explore the city, the rental offers unlimited kilometers so you can enjoy driving around the city without worrying about the distance limit.

Trying it…

We got the car delivered to our hotel and surprisingly the delivery was quick. The best part? They offered us free road side assistance along with their usual pickup and drop service. If you’re wondering about the condition and the type of cars, then you need not worry since the condition of the cars are excellent and you get a wide range of cars to choose from. Self-driving a sedan around the city of Jaipur has been once in a lifetime experience for me, a true explorer’s delight.

So if you’re planning to visit to Jaipur or to just about any major city in India, I recommend to use MyChoize service. It will not only save your money, but would also give you the privilege of travelling on your own terms. Try it and you would not regret it.