Travel seems to be the in-thing these days, travel blogging too! Things like quitting your job, finding yourself through travel, tourist vs. traveler, immersive travel, slow travel, digital nomad, nomad etc are in vogue!
I wonder why most of it doesn’t resonate with me? Why is my conversation so mundane? Here is how I talk and think about travel.
Don’t Bicker With Me About Your Parents, I am Probably Your Mom’s Age!
I often end up traveling with young people in their 20s. I was once told by a young girl (nicely) not to put on my ‘mom’ mode again! As they say in Hindi-मम्मियाओ मत! I often hear the young ones cribbing after their parents, who want minute by minute updates! I am sure they have a point.
But I turn back ask them, “imagine if your mom was a blogger?” Because that is who I am, probably their mom’s age and a mom too! And yet I can jump off from cliffs!
I did not Quit my Job to Travel
I really did not quit my job to travel more, I was already traveling a lot. I quit my job because I was fed up with it. The options were to look for another job or to take a year off. In the end, I opted for taking a year off, which is now turning into two years! That is how I quit my job. Travel happened because at the time of quitting my job my blog was already 10 years old!
I do not entirely rule out going back to work in academia. I am not applying for jobs actively but then I did not plan to quit my job either. I just leave it hanging in balance, who knows what is in store for me, crystal grazing has never been my strong point!
But then none of this makes for a great story, it sounds like a complete mess!
From ‘Who Reads Your Blog’ to ‘Do You Get Paid’?
When I started blogging in 2005 the most frequently asked question was, “Who reads your blog?” Social Media and blogging have come a long way since then.
However it has been replaced with a new frequently asked (and equally irritating) question, “do you get paid?” But I have a gut feeling that this too shall pass, like who reads your blog bit!
Travel is not a ‘Lost and Found’ Business for Me
I do not travel to find myself, because I never really felt lost. I am sure opposite is true for many people. But it somehow just doesn’t work for me that way. I love to come back home after a trip. I feel like a dead fish after missing a whole night’s sleep on a flight! I get miserable when I am sitting wet inside a bus with the hotel an hour away! And yet there is something about travel that fascinates me to no end.
Why do You Travel?
So why do I travel? I never found a satisfactory answer, however much I raked my brains. George Mallory the legendary mountaineer, when asked why he wanted to climb Everest famously replied, “because it is there.” That is the best answer for traveling too, if you ask me. Why do I love to travel, because it there!
See I told you, none of it is the usual travel talk, most of it is messy. But then, so it be. That is how I think of travel. There is a Part II to this, you can read it here.
You have brought your own perspectives to travel. I identify myself with quite a few of them.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!
🙂 haha … Gyan the professor way… but so true… 🙂
There are days Prasad … when I get into this mode 😀
Once again a learning thing from “The Travel Blogger of India” … Like I said “This might end a row of keywords”… Its going like Gita Updesh mam, with every word coming true for everg blogger like me who is still asked “Who reads your blog?” And yes one “When you will start writing again? ??
Great read mam….
Thank you so much Tarun, I do hope you will blog regularly! Even otherwise have fun, enjoy!
Loved reading your quotes. And beautiful pictures.
Thank you Purba!
Your this post made me laugh loudly (I think the word is LOL). BTW if you are at mom age, I am at grandpa age. I understand what you are implying here. It seems like Photography, Traveling and being a Foodie is fashionable these days. Anyone with an expensive DSLR becomes a photographer. People use heavy words like passion, self-discovery – photography is my passion, traveling is my life, etc.
I travel because there is so much beauty (and finger-licking delicious food) out there that I don’t get to see inside my office building. I take photos (hundreds of them) so that I can show those beautiful places to people who, for unavoidable reasons, cannot leave their office buildings.
I think traveling is as simple as daal-bhaat with few drops of desi-ghee and home made achaar. Let’s not glamorize it.
Exactly Atul I can identify with beauty and good food though as a vegetarian I sometimes get stuck. But I do get bored with the heavy duty stuff after a while 😀
Its always good to know the thoughts of a blogger like you and have specialization in her/his field.
Very nice read.
Thank you Jyotirmoy!
“none of it is the usual”- That is why it is a fun and insightful read!
Thank you Rajeev!
Ha ha ha ha ha Kya baat hain. You can take a person out of GKP, but yo can’t take GKP out of a person.
Absolutely 😀
This expression of your thoughts and your interpretation of your being fond of travel is simply fantastic. I can relate to it though I cannot afford to leave my job despite being fed up of it. You are lucky Mridula Ji. And I want to be.
Jitendra thank your for your kind words. I hope you will find a better job which is not taxing.
yes, yes, yes finally somebody is come up with Crystal Clear facts on the Coolest thing which is in 🙂 Travel ! No-one else could have explained it the way it is put up here.
Pooja 😀 some days I want to do plain talk!
I agree with your points, I don’t know why people flaunt their style of travel in fact why they bifurcate travel in any category. I never ditched up my job for travel, I’m not that brave but for responsibilities of my kid and would like to gave a chance that way. Even till date I’m not settled enough to make decision for full time travel but then its perfect to me.
Same here, I do not do long term travel as my daughter is small! Different things work for different folks!
Interesting read.. Best wishes for 2017
Thank you Shrinidhi, may you find more tender coconuts and cheaper flight tickets for 2018 and 2019 in 2017!
A travel blog or for that matter any blog, if you swathe it in truth people will flock for your write
Thank you Easwar! 😀
Clarity in what you think and feel is reflected in your words as well. For the first time, I feel inspired to follow someone.
Thank you so much Nandini for your kind words.
Ha Ha I can so empathize with you.! 🙂
Some of these quotes are my favourite too. You must have heard me saying about “I did not quit my job to travel, I was travelling even before I quit. “. 🙂
So true Nisha! I too was traveling before I quit my job!
I love all the quotes … and yes I can completely relate ro – I want to quit because I am fed up with my job one 🙂
Swati and you will miss your salary if you quit, at least initially!
Your post certainly makes me laugh. something brutally honest..:).
Thank you Ankit!
I really enjoyed reading “Not Your Usual Travel Quotes”! Your collection of unconventional and thought-provoking travel quotes is a refreshing change from the typical ones we often see. Each quote adds a unique perspective on travel, reminding us that the journey is not just about the destinations but also about the personal growth and unexpected moments along the way. I’ve often found that the most memorable parts of my travels are the surprises and the people I meet, much like the essence of the quotes you’ve shared. Thanks for compiling such an inspiring list—it’s truly motivating and relatable for every traveler!
Thank you so much for your kind words!