Tuesday 27 June 2017

A Year Longer than Twelve Months

It has been 12 months since I quit my job as a research engineer and started travelling.
Why I started travelling is expressed here

When I decided to take a break so that I could realize my full potential as a human being, I thought a year will be enough. But that is not the case, as I have extended my travel plans by at least six more months.

What it feels like?


In one word – it is WEIRD. Remember the video log of Jake Sully in Avatar where he says “Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world, and in here is the dream.” I feel exactly the same when I am writing here about my time in Himalayas or some remote island in Indonesia or a village school with kids.

I no longer believe in the fact that I am born to sit in a cubicle inside a concrete building and work with a laptop. We are connected to nature by birth. The more we surround ourselves by the concrete jungle, the more we strain that connection. To make the bonds stronger, at one point, we need to let go of the bad habits of metros and embrace nature in its true sense (not the fake gardens of resorts or a comfortable pre-booked luxury trip). 

In other words, we need to go beyond the boundaries of civilization. Thankfully, my treks in 
Himalayas gave me exactly that.  I feel more alive, more confident now.

What have I gotten so far?


Nothing I can put on my table, but a lot of things in my memories. Many negative memories of the past are already flushed out and replaced by mountain vistas, green waves of ocean and happy faces.   It does not feel like 365 days. It feels like ages. My memories are full with moments that take ones breath away.

When people ask me why did I quit my well-paid job and started doing things I was not supposed to do, I usually give very odd answers. Because an honest answer may get misinterpreted. You have to be there with me to understand the difference. A fellow traveler once pointed out that I have higher capacity of battery, it got drained and it will take me years to charge it compared to 1-2 week holidays of others :-) 

Thirties in life are supposed to be the time when you buy a house, start a family, upgrade your car and work hard for a promotion in your office. But I never thought of that in recent times. I always dreamed of mountains, oceans and new unexplored corners in this beautiful world. Probably that is why I am living my dream. My investment to myself can only yield a happier and more confident self. That goal seems perfectly fine to me as long as my positive energy brings positive energy to the world and people around me.  

It is true my journey is to find out what I am born to do rather than what I am trained to do. But this journey has taught me many more things than that. It made me more confident, stronger in decision making, courageous about future plans. It is also guiding me every day against the attachment to money and other materialistic things.

What is stopping me to settle down a bit?


I am a very odd traveler/backpacker. Someone who never smoke (cigarettes or weed), never drank and will never be a party person. I am that someone who needs space even in the most crowded city. I travel through a city where almost nobody speaks my language and make it my own. I can be silent for weeks and observe people & scenery around.  I can adjust to any kind of food (for a month till the Bengali in me kicks in). I travel on budget but never let the budget be the showstopper for new outdoor experiences. I can  easily communicate with children from all around the world through my smiles, patience and respect. 

All these signs say I will never settle down because I am addicted to watching a life-long cinema that casts many characters and the characters as well as the backdrop need to change over time. (Of course, some of them will be permanent in my movie)

Any thoughts of future?


Yes. You get a lot of time to think about your future during travels. You give more stress to what you like and what you dislike. So I am thinking clear what I really want to do in life. The batter is almost ready. Just need to turn on the heat and make the Dosa J

The best things that happened to me during Travel


Asha Visits – I have visited more than 40 schools across India (through Asha for Education) and taught in 3-4 different setups in last 10 months. I learned a lot from the kids in remote villages, the teachers and the people who run these organizations. It was also a nice break from regular travels and treks. 


Himalayas – I fell in love with the beauty of Himalayan princess from day 1 (14th June 2015 to be exact). I always see a better reflection of myself in the crystal clear lakes hidden in the valleys. I find a better footing in the slippery snow slopes. I find a new motivation to bring positive changes to the society looking at the grandeur of snow clad peaks.  Himalayas have driven me crazy but made me humble. It gave me a new purpose to look beyond the visible. I ended up spending more than 5 months in high altitudes of Himalayas in this travel spree. I used to be someone who is scared of heights, now I have done 10 high altitude treks in last one year.  I keep going back every 1-2 months, if it is not love, what is? 



 My precious............

If you have time,  snapshot of my journey so far:


July 2016 – Started the journey in Kashmir. A 5-day trek in Gangabal Lake during curfew, headed to Ladakh, Tso Moriri Lake, Markha Valley trek

August 2016 – Revisiting other places in Ladakh (Nubra valley), 10-12Km runs in Ladakh, Visiting Zanskar and Suru Valley, Adventures and home-stays in Spiti Valley, Himachal

September 2016 – Short treks in Parvati Valley, Hampta pass in Himachal revisited with Chandrataal, Visits to schools and projects of Asha in Varanasi area

October 2016 – More Asha visits + family time in Patna and Kolkata, Traveled to Pelling and finished Goechala trek in Kanchanjunga national park,

November 2016 – Visits to Gurudungmar, Lachen, Lachung in Sikkim; Surviving demonetization while visiting Asha projects in Assam (near Bhutan border), Brahmaputra of Tezpur; Arunachal experience in Tawang and neighboring lakes, interesting tiger sighting experience in Kaziranga, Attending a wedding in Silchar, Visiting Meghalaya (cherapunji, Dawki, Shilong, Mawlynlong etc)

December 2016 – More Asha visits and teaching experience in Sundarbans, Kuari pass in NandaDevi Biosphere

January 2017 – Kedarkantha trek, Bungy jumping and rafting in Rishikesh, Rajashthan experience (Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Joshpur, Jaisalmer, Desert National park camping and Udaipur), more Asha visits in Gujarat & Rajasthan, Chilling in IIM Ahmedabad, back to Himachal with friends (Dalhousi, Bir paragliding, Mcleodganj, Dharmashala, Triund trek) 
<Travel in India is bliss - less planning , more Jugaad!! >

February 2017 – Brahmatal Lake trek from Lohajung, trails of Asha visits through UK and UP, Patna again

March 2017 – Chilling at home and then spend a week in Singapore at friends place

April 2017 – Thailand - Krabi to Phuket to Bangkok/Pattaya to Ayuthaya. First time kayaking in ocean; Cambodia – Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (cycling through Angkor Wat); Indonesia – Bali island and Gili islands; First time surfing.

May 2017 – Traveled from East to West Jawa covering multiple volcano treks and historic sites in Banyuwangi, Mt Bromo, Jogjakarta, Bandung and Jakarta.  At home for two weeks and few Asha visits.

June 2017 – 3 weeks in Himachal covering Bhrigu lake trek, Buran ghati trek and peaceful time in Bir.

The list goes on.................................A simple video to show some snapshots!!