{"id":12643,"date":"2021-12-04T01:35:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T20:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savaari.com\/blog\/?p=12643"},"modified":"2024-01-31T14:30:35","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T09:00:35","slug":"travelling-life-lessons-learnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.savaari.com\/blog\/travelling-life-lessons-learnt\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Lessons I Learnt on the Road"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Almost three years ago today, I quit my job in Abu Dhabi, moved to a smaller place and had less than Dh 5,000 in my bank account. One would suggest the next best thing is to take up a new course or find a new job. However, I did neither and decided to take a flight to India and go on a road trip to get in touch with my roots and value the lessons learnt while travelling. I travelled through 12 different states<\/strong>, made dozens of new friendships<\/strong>, met hundreds of fascinating people <\/strong>and experiences<\/strong>, and even picked up a couple of languages<\/strong> along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019m not going to get all misty-eyed and narrate about how I discovered my true calling or claim that I \u201cfound myself\u201d through travelling. Travelling the world, like any life path you choose, has its ups and downs<\/strong>, its highs and lows<\/strong>, its pros and cons.<\/strong> But I will say, picking up and leaving my life behind and spending the next year vagabonding about India was one of the most challenging<\/strong> and rewarding<\/strong> decisions I\u2019ve ever made. And I wouldn\u2019t take it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One learns a lot about people<\/strong>, about the country<\/strong>, about life<\/strong> through travelling. You just don\u2019t always learn what you expect to learn. Sometimes the lessons come at unforeseen times<\/strong> and give you unwanted truths.<\/strong> But regardless, you grow.  Today, after a year of being isolated from the fractured world, travel will reignite hope<\/strong> and optimism<\/strong> of approaching the world with a newfound appreciation<\/strong>. Hence, Travel We Must<\/strong> to fall in love with the world all over again and immerse ourselves in learning about new cultures and languages. Travel We Must<\/strong> to get inspired by the kindness of strangers, empathy, understanding,<\/strong> and unity<\/strong> to strengthen our social connection<\/strong>. Travel We Must<\/strong> to rediscover the thrill of finding new places, tasting unfamiliar foods <\/strong>and most importantly, cherish the lessons learnt while travelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the lessons that I learnt on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Leave your comfort zone:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There has likely been a time where you’ve heard someone say, “I can’t do that. That’s definitely out of my comfort zone.” The act of leaving your comfy bed, abandoning your daily routine, crossing an unfamiliar border<\/strong>, and immersing yourself in a new culture<\/strong> are all part of leaving that restrictive comfort zone<\/strong> that we call home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stepping out of our comfort zones is something we’ve all experienced before, be it on a large or a small scale<\/strong>. With travelling, it’s a lot different as you are thrust into a whole new environment where the locals speak a different language<\/strong> and enjoy a diverse cultur<\/strong>e and way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On my first trip to Delhi<\/strong>, I was completely overwhelmed by the chao<\/strong>s of the city. The traffic, noise and congestion in Old Delhi was an absolute mayhem. Walking down its streets was an experience of sorts as motorbikes and rickshaws<\/strong> constantly blared their horns, insistently offering a ride “for a cheap price..just 50 rupees.!” and cars occasionally travelling against traffic. Meanwhile, shopkeepers were trying to lure me into their stores, trying to get me to visit their carpet store or garment store. Someone squirted cow dung on my shoe without me noticing and I recall being furious over it for a couple of hours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Although Delhi was less drastic than Chennai<\/a>, it was still not uncommon to see large buses, motorcycles, and cows <\/strong>all fighting for the same road. When I was in Chennai, I stopped and got the chance to look around some rural village homes. It shocked me how simply they lived in tiny houses with many members. However, these villagers weren\u2019t hindered by their lack of extravagance but rather welcomed me into their homes with open arms. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was pleased to find this friendly demeanour <\/strong>in almost every city I travelled to. I was warmly welcomed everywhere I went, and eventually, I seamlessly transitioned my way out of the travel comfort zone, thanks to the comfort I received from the kindness of people<\/strong>. This ended up being one of the most crucial lessons learnt while travelling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Also Read: Delhi: India\u2019s Historical City<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Appreciate Diversity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From waking up to the 5:00 am call to prayer from a mosque in Delhi<\/strong>, to feeling the weight of the Goan<\/strong> sun on your shoulders, to reliving the history by walking into a beautiful temple in Lepakshi, or paddling out over the shallow reefs of the Lakshadweep<\/a>, every single experience highlights India\u2019s cultural diversity. The mountains, forests, plains, deserts, rivers<\/strong> and oceans<\/strong> are a testimony to the diversity of the landscape of India. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Holi Celebrations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important lesson I learnt while travelling is appreciating how diversities lie in all of India\u2019s festivals. These festivals are celebrated with equal fervour and frolic<\/strong> across religious <\/strong>and cultural<\/strong> lines. From dancing with a friendly crowd and playing with colours on Holi <\/strong>to spreading the love of Christmas by getting homemade Kuswar<\/strong> (<\/em>Christmas sweets)<\/em>, and getting invited for an Iftar party <\/strong>by your Muslim friends, the spirit of diversity brims in this country. India is a big melting pot of cultures<\/strong> which allowed me to learn about so many different lifestyles, languages and customs and has given me a deep appreciation of diversity<\/strong>. And as you explore the cultural differences, you may also realise that we are all not so different after all, as we are intertwined by love and togetherness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Also Read: Experience Live: Unforgettable Indian Festivals!<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Enjoy experiences over things<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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