Traveling With a Sense of Adventure

chillibreeze writer — Puja Audhya

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Remember when traveling meant packing our bags with expensive clothes, buying tickets to a popular tourist location and once there, just rushing through the 'must-see' list? Things have changed now with people becoming more aware and curious about the places they go to. So, it's no longer about just 'visiting' a place but also to learn and understand how life goes on there. Nowadays, most of us think of travelling as stepping into another life, leaving the baggage of existing one behind. When we do that, it becomes easier to appreciate how different and interesting this change is.

Let's say you are all set to travel. What is your itinerary? Have you got the little handbook that contains list of popular landmarks, hotels, restaurants? Or do you like to be spontaneous, and if I might take liberty, reckless? Do you carry the map or do you find it more convenient to rely on travel agent’s instructions? How do you start? Ever thought of giving travelling a whole new meaning? Ever tried to be a little more observant of what lies beyond those beautiful landmarks that the place might be known for? I have a small list which I consciously (or sub-consciously) follow whenever we are out there to visit a place. It gives me enough food for thought after I am done with the trip and back to the cozy comfort of my home. The list is small and yet covers almost every aspect of what one would like to see in any city or country he/she is visiting.

1. Each city has a history which defines its character. Do a little research and try to find the old monuments which might not be popular enough to find a place in travel books or journals and yet are fascinating enough. For example, when you are visiting Hyderabad, do not skip Taramati Baradari, Quli Qutub shah tombs and Chowmahalla palace. Usually people concentrate on Golconda fort, Charminar, Falaknuma palace (now a heritage hotel) etc and miss the rich, historical treasures that are not as well known.

2. Depending on the duration you are planning to spend there, search local restaurants (or dhabas) which are not so jazzy and serve only the local cuisine. One of the best foods I have ever had was in a road side dhaba, on our way back from Giripul to Solan. It served Rajma and chapati which is more of a staple food in that area. The food was simple, the dhaba was clean and hygienic, and the taste was heavenly. Costing Rs.200 ($4) for five of us, the food was much more than we could have ever asked for!

3. I don't undermine the significance of religion in shaping up a city's personality. Visit the most revered places of worship and you would know what I am talking about. You might be a non-believer, yet it is fascinating to see people moved by faith, going all out to offer themselves to God. The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is one such example. Don't visit only for its amazing architecture. Get to know more about the Bahai sect which is simplistic, peaceful and non-ritualistic. One can always pick up such traits without compromising on their own religious beliefs.

4. Shopping is an essential part of any trip. Do it wisely and you would be left with enough money to plan another trip soon (unless budget is not a constraint for you)! Refrain from going to shopping malls (aren’t they all the same?) Instead, explore and find out the places where locals go to shop. Such places turn out to be more interesting in terms of variety of things on offer and the price tags attached. And if you get a chance, there always are weekend markets, or whatever name they call them as this is where you get great stuff from at bargain prices! Also check out the local handicrafts and artifacts.

5. If you are a nature lover, you would love to see how the people and the place treat its animals and green cover. And so almost all the places I have been to, we make it a point to visit local zoos and parks. It gives the kids a breather too (in case they are travelling with you) from all the serious sight-seeing you might be doing! If you are a plant lover and have provisions to keep them at home then depending on the feasibility, get some local varieties from nursery and try re-planting them back home. It's a great way to enrich your garden and also preserving beautiful memories.

6. Check out for lakes/rivers/other water bodies that the town/city might be proud of. They usually are great spots for picnics and break from the usual tourist activities. Here also, I do pay a visit to the 'famous' ones but spend more time on relatively lesser known places. In Bangalore, Ulsoor Lake is a major attraction, though I recommend Varthur Lake. It is away from the city buzz and offers great opportunity to indulge in bird-photography.

7. Check out if the place houses museums - science, arts, railways, aviation, toys, dolls. There even are unconventional museums like - food, ice, etc. It's a great way to learn and appreciate the local flavors.

8. Try to take and enjoy the ways locals commute instead of travelling tourist-style in cabs. They add on to your experience and actually help in saving time!

9. If any local festival coincides with your schedule, go for it! There is nothing like submerging yourself in the small pleasures of life which we sometimes overlook in our regular 'lives'.

10. Check out local therapies like spas or Ayurveda treatments. Each place has its own expertise. Allow yourself to shrug off the stress of city life by indulging in one of such treatments.

Travelling is not a chore. It is an enriching experience. Preserve it through souvenirs, pictures and memories. Bon voyage!

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in June, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Puja has a B.Tech in Computer Science and works as an Oracle DBA with a renowned company. She loves to write on issues that affect her and the world around. Currently based in Bangalore, she enjoys travelling, blogging and photography.

Traveling With a Sense of Adventure

chillibreeze writer — Puja Audhya

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