Not all those who wander are lost *

Travelling is an art; a passion and an addiction. However, in the age of social networking, it has become a big show-off as well. Over the years, I’ve met different types of travellers – some I’ve had loads in common with; others I didn’t quite understand. Here are four examples, maybe you can relate to one of them as well:

The Lover: These people travel for the sheer love of it. They would pack their bags and venture into the known and unknown territories with equal zeal. For them, the next zoo is as fascinating as Masai Mara for they find beauty in everything they see. You talk about ‘A’ mosque and they have seen it. And loved it. Me, I find faults as well. Just because I’ve spent hundreds of dollars doesn’t mean I’ll come back and recommend you that place! Listen to this, while checking out from our hotel in Leh, the Manager asked us about our experience. He was shocked to hear that we had complaints as well. Ladakh's air can make you very-very sick. No kidding. 

“Another Paris Landmark is the Arc de Triomphe, a moving monument to many brave women and men who have died trying to visit it.” – Dave Barry

The Tick-marker: These people get on the hop-on hop-off bus and check-in at all the places recommended by Lonely Planet. They would spend 20 hours in the city and take a short nap only to get back on that bus. I, on the other hand, believe in leaving out a few places. Why else would I want to visit the place again? Also, I need to sleep for 14 hours a day!! 

A French hotelier frowned at us for reaching the breakfast table at 10:45 in the morning. According to him, the tourists started their day early. Ofcourse, his remarks didn’t bother us!

“Kilometres are shorter than miles. Save Gas, take your next trip in kilometres.” – George Karlin.

The Planner: These people know the city by heart before landing. I’m one of them. Really, I can be a pain in the neck but I can’t help it. I make notes, click pictures of maps and look for unusual things. I feel lost if there is a loophole in the itinerary. Not that ‘people’ let me do all I set out to do…anyway.

I can sell a city to you. If I like a place, I can draw you a mental picture about everything it has to offer and you’ll be blown. I can tell you which airline is best, the places to see, in-and-around the city and what not. Customization is my forte! A friend once saw my album and mentioned that she had not seen even one place in the same country which she had visited as well. You see, I don’t do touristy stuff… oh I can brag and brag. I think the Planner is also the Irritating One!

“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.” -  Mark Twain

The Show-offs: First things first, I don’t like these people. They go to these places only to brag about it later. Now I’m a social media addict, but I don’t like the bragging part of it. They buy new clothes for all the cities and carry huge suitcases on a holiday. Their camera never stops clicking. These are the people who don’t know how to live in the moment. We all like to look cool in our holiday pictures (why else would we pose as if we were holding the Eiffel Tower??) but buying new clothes for every trip is a tad too much.

We usually carry a back pack and a trolley bag; so that the Boy can carry one and drag the other. Don’t laugh. He loves me.

“When preparing for travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” -  Unknown.

"A tourist is a fellow who drives thousands of miles so he can be photographed standing in front of his car."- Emile Ganest

 These are just four of the many types of travellers. I tend to enjoy conversing with people who relish globe-trotting. The ones who try to impose their taste on me get a red flag. Why this talk about travelling all of a sudden? – Well, it’s time to start the holiday season for us. We have three trips lined up in the next six months including one across the Atlantic and I really cannot wait to hop on! And so, you’ll be reading a lot about my journeys in the next few months! Be Jealous.

I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them". -  Mark Twain

*Travel Quote by J.R.R Tolkien