@pupupuchi28

1 year ago

My quick tips (assuming a solo traveler without a vehicle): - Travel light, but how. a) Carry small quantity of utilities. b) Carry one good quality shoe and a chappal. c) Clothes for not more than a week, without washing. Wash & repeat. Layer clothes during winter instead of carrying a heavy jacket. d) Get a light weight backpack (<=1 kg). Usually costs a bomb but worth every penny when you consider that you have to carry backpack for most part of your day. The point is unless you are in some secluded part of Arunachal, Spity, Nepal or Ladakh...you get everything everywhere so why lug around. - Buy quick dry clothes. Often expensive, but worth it. Wash it and leave it to dry (inside your room) before sleep to find them dry by next morning. Additionally quick dry clothes are usually one third the weight of regular cotton based clothes. They are also better wind resistant than cotton counterparts. - Always carry a cap with a hood, a poncho and few plastic packets. - Don't carry water everywhere. 250ml bottle filled up is more than enough. Earth has still not dried up. - Always carry energy/proteins bars where food can be a challenge. Two bars is equal to one complete meal for most of us. Top it up with a packet of chips to get carbs and a bit of salty taste. - If the distance is going to take more than 7-8 hrs, take a overnight train (where possible). Saves hotel cost, you get a good sleep. - If you have to get a hotel, do note hotels want occupancy more than a higher fare. Concept of breakeven. Bargaining tricks may not work at morning but by evening bargaining will work. - Your bucket list will eventually get over, but are you carrying moments to cherish lifelong. That should be the motive of a traveler. Travel like a local. Have long conversations with locals. Stay with them if possible. Eat their food. All these keeping in mind that they are different than where you come from. You will be surprised to know that you don't know India, yet. If you are a traveler, then that's what you are doing for most part of your life. That's your lifestyle. If you are not living a certain standard of life at home, then don't try to replicate more than those standards while you are travelling. Both from a cost point of view as well as from a sustainability point of view. You may not get comfortable/clean beds in Anbu Khairani (Manokamana Mandir, Nepal) or a three course meal in Munsiyari (Uttarakhand). Most importantly, always know that you will end up in a an uncomfortable situation. Not right now but eventually. May not be frequently but at least once. Stay calm and work it out. How you deal with the situation is the 'game'. The World is not that bad and you are not going to die. Seek help where necessary, not everyone is a thug or a rapist. By A fellow traveler who travels to understand India (& does not vlog on YouTube).

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