How many of you agree that there is something more important
than finalizing the destination, managing leaves, getting bookings done – It is
who you want to travel with.
I have one or two friends with whom I am comfortable doing
local city tours and another one from a different has always been perfect for short trips (We did Goa,
Madikere and Kerala together). However I have many more trips in mind for which
these do not quite fit the bill – because I want to stay in a place for 2/3
weeks exploring a social cause or absorbing local culture and not just covering
saturated tourist spots. To be able to do that, none of my previous travel
partners can commit as they have jobs, family and other priorities to cater to
So on 23rd November 2019, when there was a travel
group meeting happening, I joined with some anticipation to find like minded travelers who might be keen to do local-culture feel trips. I was also keen to see the venue Mohur Kunj, just opposite Rabindra Sadan
A local train to Sealdah (INR 10) and then a bus (INR 7) to a friend's office in Park Street for a quick chat and then I boarded a bus to the travel meet menu (INR 7) . Their agenda was to fix future tours based on everyone's interest, leave availability, budget and will. I had my own agenda - find like minded travelers and connect post travel meet.
Within the first five minutes I could figure, I cannot possibly travel with anyone there because their inclination was mostly to plan tours based on how many days leave, one can manage.
I am a budget traveler, environmentalist, love to blog, write travel stories, capture moments not just as images but in words - I did not hear anyone mention any of these even once. The number of photographs that were clicked in the travel meet itself in a dozen cameras, hugely hinted at what I am supposed to expect in trips - A sharp streak of self obsession.
I am inclined towards responsible tourism, not travel by car in the night to save accommodation costs - That is seriously not my kind of travel.
I like to explore places like a local person, leisurely, peacefully, simply without any urgency - make my travel notes (including costs, timings, anecdote, trivia of the place), find a story, capture an image that adds value to that story, weave moments - minute by minute. I have no tendency to cover every tourist spot. Why do I need to behave as if there is no tomorrow? We can always revisit. The anxiety of making the most of one visit is truly tiring.
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| Mohur Kunj, Opposite Rabindra Sadan |
Fortunately, there was an exhibition in progress organized by Jungle Bhavan and after some time there was a full fledged cultural program. I explore the stalls, picked a neck piece from a Terrakota shop and only after that joined the travel meet.
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| Handmade Jewelry |
Now, why did I pick the accessory? That is how we appreciate craft, hand made jewelry, support one's livelihood, a home and create a moment for yourself, worth remembering wherever you go - My travels are mostly purpose driven.
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| Organized by Jungle Bhaban |
Our team manages a travel page in Face Book and a twitter handle called Chalte Chalte India. The thought is basically to promote the idea of traveling responsibly in India, particularly Kolkata as if you belong here and want to see this city grow.
