Travel, Life, Reset


    As a kid, I was not a big fan of traveling. I used to be all nervous and anxious, especially when I had to go to my grandparents' home from Kathmandu. In retrospect, I was a kid and did not want to leave my home's comfort zone and adjust to a new environment. As I grew up and went to do my higher studies quite far away from my home, I was not too keen on traveling because of the hectic schedule in the University and financial constraints  (I had to ask for money from my parents). I traveled to very few palaces (mainly the eastern part of Nepal). As soon as I came to the USA, my traveling journey began. Thanks to the man I am married to that, travel has become an integral part of my life. We created this routine to go to new places, see new things, and eat fresh food as soon as we had a few days off from work and studies. At first, I was not very happy with this arrangement because I did not want to come out of my comfort zone and, quite honestly, was scared to go out in the world where I would encounter people I had never met and how they would talk and behave. In addition, I have trust issues, and I always had and still have difficulty trusting other people.  

     But I was wrong. Once you conquer the fear of the unknown, you know that traveling is a luxury few people can afford. Most of the time, when you want to travel, either you need more money or more time. By some miracle, if you have both, then you don't have your health. So I consider myself very lucky in that instance. I have been to a few places around the world, and of course, like a normal human being, I love the beautiful and unique landscapes around the world. The oceans, rivers, forests, different wild animals, stunning flowers, and birds captivate you. In addition, cuisine from other parts of the world fascinates me constantly. The aroma and presentation of the food always put a smile on my face. In addition, the history and culture of the places always intrigue me.

    These are all visual things and can be quantified. The most fantastic thing about traveling is the people you meet and how pleasantly they surprise you. We have become so judgmental and cynical that it is hard to believe that most people worldwide are still humble and wonderful human beings. And they are willing to help a stranger on any given day. It may be hard to believe that an Uber driver born and raised in Texas can provide a similar human connection to a Pathau driver in Kathmandu, Nepal. And sometimes you meet funny ones too. Once, we met a cab driver in Iceland who told my husband to look out the window when he asked about the weather. Most of the time, you meet those looking for human connection. While writing this piece in an airport lounge, the bartender came with a bright smile and asked me if I was working. After a few years of traveling, I found that all human beings are similar. We might have different languages, colors or skin, cultures, and values, but ultimately, we are very similar rather than different from each other. 

    So despite all the minor inconveniences of traveling (lack of sleep, higher chances of being sick, spending my savings), I still love to travel because it resets my life and always gives a fresh start, and I look forward to better things in my life. 




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