My Odeyssey My Journey Last Updated: June 15, 2024

I am an avid traveller. It runs in my blood. Credit goes to my father who also was a wanderer. So much so that with a few friends in suburb of Khar he established what they called ‘Wanderer’s Club’.

I remember his showing me a Letter head of their club with their motto printed in Sanskrit. It roughly translates as follows

– Better to stand than walk around

– Better to sit than stand

– Better to lie down than sit

My Wanderlust

Paul Thoreau – Heard about him as a travel writer. Collected a few of his books but never got around to read them seriously.

Today I read his book – ‘ To the ends of the Earth ’.

I have also enjoyed wandering anywhere and everywhere around the world. In those days I used to say I have roller skates on my feet.

Two Gujarati poems well describe my urge to travel “

1. “ Pela, pela pankhine joi mane thai, mane thai, bus udya karoo.”    
Translated into English it means
“ When I see a bird flying in the sky,I feel like flying all the time “  

2. This poem I learned in my secondary school  and it describes the amount of freedom I wanted in my travels.
“ Bhomiya vina mare bhamavata Doongara
Jungle ni kunj kunj jovi hati
Jovi hati kotaro ne jovi hati kandara
Rota jharanani ankh jovi hati ”

English translation –

Without a guide I wanted to wander

Wander in jungles and mountains.

Travel through valleys and flowing rivers.

I am ready for another journey as soon as I am back from one. I am always making plans for travel.

There is a saying in Japanese – If you love your son give him an opportunity to travel. I fully endorse the same.

Many a places I visited, I learned more about its importance after visiting there. It aroused my curiosity about things I had not known. I learned a lot after going to these unusual destinations – esp. visit to see Cranes and Swans in Japan, Brown Bears and Salmon. It also improved my understanding of formation of our Earth like – separations of continents by movement of plates. Formation of mountain chains like our Himalayas and chain of Andes in South America. Volcanoes in Hawaii and formations of places like Rift valley and Death Valley. It teaches you Geography, History, Culture all combined.

Travelling is a celebration of life. This world is amazing with diverse Geography and cultures. Motivation and curiosity allows understanding our universe. We should get to know the places we visit by, understanding, learning and experiencing their culture, so we can take away an experience we won’t forget. As for me both motivation and curiosity are still there but now my energy is sapping. So I have decided to become an armchair traveller. I enjoy reading about other’s journeys and reminisce about my travel. This is perfectly described by the song –

I certainly don’t want to be saying

I didn’t find Meera in MEVAD

I didn’t find Radha in Vrindavan as

I never have left Mumbai

Featured image