12 Travel Tales

“Once a month, go someplace you’ve never been before.”

Travel has always been very close to my heart, but fulfilling the wanderlust bug within you while pursuing your hectic day job can be demanding. Most of us end up taking the easy route with that one annual long vacation for which we save up and go all out. But there are so many unconventional hidden gems out there waiting to be explored. With some planning and perseverance, I thought why not explore one new place every month.

So at the start of 2017, I resolved to explore 12 new places and share my experiences on the blog. I’ll be honest, I was a bit apprehensive about sticking to this tall claim, given that I am a workaholic. But as I started off, it became easier. As I returned rejuvenated from one place, I was already itching to go to the next one.

From having breakfast under a fig tree in Chikmagalur to living with an artist in the lap of the Nilgiris; from chasing pristine beaches in Sri Lanka to witnessing the wilderness of the Bandipur forest; from patisserie hopping in Paris to gorging on street food in Indore, the last 12 months have been magical- so many memories, learnings and friends made along the way more than made up for the dwindling bank account balance. And guess what? You are way more productive at work, because of these frequent breaks! (in case you were wondering how to convince your boss for those leaves)

It needn’t be an exotic place or some overseas destination; it can be any new place, around your city which is a quick weekend getaway. So travel, explore, take that holiday you’ve been meaning to, and trust me, the moments and stories you return with, will be treasured forever.

Also, as a small good deed to give back to the community, I donated all the personal care items collected over my travels in the past year to a local orphanage. We almost always carry our own grooming products on holidays, so I thought why not donate the toiletries that hotels give you to people who really need them? It’s a small act, but if all of us start doing this, it can perhaps go a long way in ensure good health and sanitation at orphanages and shelters.

I hope my stories inspire you to travel and explore more. Come join me, discover new places, and share your adventures tagging my Instagram/ Facebook/ Twitter handles and using #12TravelTales.

Happy Trotting!

My #12TravelTales journey in 2017

January- Coffee picking in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India