Finally or surprisingly I got a job...all of a sudden! After much hype, the posting is at New Delhi, the capital of India. From the Southern tip of India I'm gonna travel to the Northern part of India...A hectic 3 days travel by train or 9 hours journey by flight (unavailability of direct flight is a point to be noted). Despite of the hour bound journey, I enjoy travelling. My profound gratitude to my father for instilling this interest in me.
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Those school summer vacations, the long gap of 2 months..........Luckily, we have our father who plans a tour prior to our holidays. Evey year before our Annual Examination, Dad will orate us a proforma of tasks to be done during the vacation. A family excursion or tour is mostly a mandatory one. The others included are sending my brother and myself to educational camps, creative classes, things to be done at home, etc. Amma is also included in the process of decision making... A vague idea of the place to be visited will be provided before the examination. As soon as it commences Dad will announce the complete itinerary of the tour programme. I still remember the inquisitiveness we had till that day arrives.....and then the total excitement begins!...We are ready for an expedition together as a family to a new place to explore, seek and learn.
In this manner, we have travelled to umpteen places; at least when compared to my friends who had no much chances during childhood to travel with their family. Dad used to plan everything in advance so that the travel expenses will not exceed our financial budget. Then when we had to keep in mind that our 'Royal CHETAK' scooter's petrol has to be filled full!! So most of the journeys were constricted within the country.
Not only these journeys had given me an opportunity to spend quality time with my family and nurture our bonding with each other, but also understand the culture, language, food habits, values, etc of each State I had visited.
Cities like Bengaluru which taught me how serenity and progression can move side by side..the double decker buses, the peaceful gardens!....Ooty/Kodiakanal for how weather changes according to topography, when back in Kerala there is a different climate...and the mesmerising tea plantations spread over there!........Trichi/Tanjavur where the sun can be too piercing , the enchanting temple architecture to the finger licking sambhar vadas!......Idukki/Munnar, the pride of Kerala, the most sought after tourist destination in South India!....Lakshadweep, my first visit to an island, to understand what a lagoon is and to feel the exhilarating sea breeze!....many such travel destinations to the list!!
By enjoying these journeys together Dad has ingrained in me the interest of travelling and exploring new zones.
"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer." - Anonymous
Just like my father, let me entrench this pleasure in my daughter too!
******
Those school summer vacations, the long gap of 2 months..........Luckily, we have our father who plans a tour prior to our holidays. Evey year before our Annual Examination, Dad will orate us a proforma of tasks to be done during the vacation. A family excursion or tour is mostly a mandatory one. The others included are sending my brother and myself to educational camps, creative classes, things to be done at home, etc. Amma is also included in the process of decision making... A vague idea of the place to be visited will be provided before the examination. As soon as it commences Dad will announce the complete itinerary of the tour programme. I still remember the inquisitiveness we had till that day arrives.....and then the total excitement begins!...We are ready for an expedition together as a family to a new place to explore, seek and learn.
In this manner, we have travelled to umpteen places; at least when compared to my friends who had no much chances during childhood to travel with their family. Dad used to plan everything in advance so that the travel expenses will not exceed our financial budget. Then when we had to keep in mind that our 'Royal CHETAK' scooter's petrol has to be filled full!! So most of the journeys were constricted within the country.
Not only these journeys had given me an opportunity to spend quality time with my family and nurture our bonding with each other, but also understand the culture, language, food habits, values, etc of each State I had visited.
Cities like Bengaluru which taught me how serenity and progression can move side by side..the double decker buses, the peaceful gardens!....Ooty/Kodiakanal for how weather changes according to topography, when back in Kerala there is a different climate...and the mesmerising tea plantations spread over there!........Trichi/Tanjavur where the sun can be too piercing , the enchanting temple architecture to the finger licking sambhar vadas!......Idukki/Munnar, the pride of Kerala, the most sought after tourist destination in South India!....Lakshadweep, my first visit to an island, to understand what a lagoon is and to feel the exhilarating sea breeze!....many such travel destinations to the list!!
By enjoying these journeys together Dad has ingrained in me the interest of travelling and exploring new zones.
"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer." - Anonymous
Just like my father, let me entrench this pleasure in my daughter too!
