Travelling
is the quintessential part of the lives of most of us. We crave to snatch that
week long break from work and head towards the hills or the oceans and spend a
few days beyond the drudgeries and monotony of normal life. This makes quite a
large number of us what can be called ‘regular’ travelers or ‘holiday-ers’. I
classify myself as a traveler who lives by the mantra of impetuous exits into the wilderness. Most of my trips are
planned at the last minute wherein I tend to forget most of the things that I
should pack (though not any more as I now have a list of things to carry that I
always refer to). Ideally, under such circumstances, you would like to believe
that my escapades mean I know not about the place that I am travelling to and
it is a mere fantasy trip. Believe me, it is not. An avid traveler that I am, I
spend a considerable amount of time looking up such off-the-road places of
interest, digging their history and knowing all that can be known about that
particular place. So at any given point of time, I have at least a dozen such
research work sitting in my computer. And when I get itchy, I get my backpack
out and I travel to one such destination.
It
is from this experience that I wish to share with you today what are the most
essential and unavoidable things that you should remember if you ever abandon
the idea of popular holiday spots and want to spend time in some nook of India.
1. Never Forget the Essentials
You
will not be travelling to a place that is home to tourists. So expect not
seeing any supermarkets, lavish food bazaars and repair shops. Make your own
arrangements thus. Always carry cash and loose change as it is quite probable
that your credit cards will not see the light of day for as long as you are in
that small town. Also make sure to have essentials like torch and extra set of
batteries (most Indian towns still do not enjoy the luxury of street lights),
water purifier (if you do not want to return with jaundice), mosquito
repellents (they are of such humungous size in India that they can literally
eat you up) and first aid.
2. Be Courteous
Your
manners speak a lot about you, especially if you are in an offbeat locality. Do
not flaunt that big city or ‘I know it all’ attitude. This will definitely not
win you friends but can at times invite the resentment of locals. Try to learn
their ways or at least their conversation styles. Tip the local rickshaw puller
or the waiter at the dhaba if you
want to trade secrets about the place and also to show your gratitude.
I
remember a few years back I was in Rishikesh when a friend of mine addressed
our rafting guide as ustaad. There is
nothing wrong with the word and there was no pun intended. But we managed to
offend our guide who was rude to us during the whole trip. It was only later
that we realized that in that part of the country, the word ustaad is used for bus or cab drivers
and is not taken in good taste.
3. Do not complain about Food
and Lodging
If
you only feel comfortable in a five star lodging, then this kind of travel is
unquestionably not meant for you. I personally have put up in lodges and
dormitories and the only thing that should bother any one of us should be
hygiene. Food in small towns is usually cooked very authentically and tastes
good. Do not expect multi cuisine restaurants and your daily cup of Costa
Coffee. The road side tea or filet coffee and samosas taste much better.
4. Be Ready to Walk
If
you really want to get a taste of the place you are visiting, walking is your
best bet. Such places do not boast of tourist spots which will be thronged by
all. Each and every corner of the town will present something exquisite to you
and will also give you the chance to interact closely with the local people. So
leave that cab, auto or rickshaw behind and take off on foot, capturing the
true essence of the place and walking through narrow lanes has its own charm
which I wish I could describe in words.
5. Be Careful about What You
Wear
It
is quite unfortunate, but in most parts of India women still live their entire
lives behind the veil. One of the rules when travelling is to not stand out as
an outsider but merge with the crowd. This is a very simple thing to do when visiting
a popular destination. But when travelling to interior parts of India, it is
always a good idea to pay extra attention to what you should be wearing so as
to not attract too much attention (it is highly sickening but most men in India
still think lowly of women who dress up revealingly), nor the wrath or uncalled
for stares of the locals.
6. Seek Permission
Admit
it or not, most of us love photography. And an offbeat destination presents
immense scope to experiment and capture interesting subjects.
Again
a small example but learning for all of us. My friends and I were in a small
town in Rajasthan when most of us ventured inside a temple. One of my friends
however, was still outside clicking devotees as they entered the premises. It
was quite impossible to gauge that taking pictures of women devotees could lead
to a problem but it did. Some local men huddled round our friend and started
abusing him verbally. The whole situation could have turned nasty had it not
been for us returning just in time and apologizing fervently. If you are ever
in a small town or village, it is always better to thus seek permission (even
when clicking men and children) and withdraw from any place without arguing
where a situation can turn against you.
7. Careful of Pickpockets
If
you thought, small time thieves and pickpockets only throng in places that
attract a multitude of tourists, you cannot be more wrong. They may not be very
organized but they do exist, especially because you will probably be carrying
things that are not commonly seen or available there. Be careful at all times
and do not leave your belongings unattended. Also trust people sparingly.
8. Homework
I
would like to believe that none of you travel like me. I just pick up my bags
and hit a spot that I wish to go to. Most of your trips are planned. It is
imperative to know about the place you are visiting and more so if there are
lesser number of people who have been there. Trust the internet and Google, but
also get involved in hands down research work. Talk to friends and try to
gather information and travel tips. You never know which one thing that was randomly
mentioned can prove to be most essential when you are actually there. Let your
family know where you are and if you cannot be connected on your personal
mobile phone, immediately provide them with the number of the place you are
putting up at or a shop or restaurant nearby. Inform the owner that you may get
a call on that number and leave your name and details when venturing out.
Explore, but do ask for directions. You want to enjoy the wilderness, not get
lost.
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