Learning from people who we met while travelling

One of the most valuable things I have experienced during the travel was meeting people who are from all over the world, talking about each others' journey and sharing our life stories. What I have realized is when we get older, it seems to be getting harder to have a chance to meet new people and obtain a close relationship with them. Especially, 9 to 5 lifestyle doesn't really encourage us to put an effort to meet and know someone new. We all seem to be too tired in our daily life but travelling creates a magic. Travel opens our hearts and invites new friendship. Anyone can be friends. It doesn't really matter where they are from, how old they are, what they are doing for living, etc... One common thing is we all like travelling and being open to the new experiences and it helps to connect between people. Many times I have been surprised and emotionally moved by the people's experiences and attitudes towards to their lives. Watching how they approach to people and open their hearts truly impressed me and made me to think about myself. Therefore, I would like to introduce some of the people who we met on the way and who gave us precious tips to drive our life journey more meaningful and worthwhile. 

 1. Monica : We met Monica, a 19 year old Australian girl on the way of climbing the Tround, India. When we stopped for a breath on the way up, she was already heading down from the mountain. She was a delightful aussie girl who we seemed to know for a long time. She is having a gab year after the HSC (High School Certificate) exam and spending the year for travelling and volunteering in India. She is young but wiser and mature than anyone else. She knows what she wants to do and how to achieve her wishes. I loved and also envied her strong mind and independent behaviour. Her open and positive attitude to people and future were so worthy to learn. When I was at her age (very long time ago), I didn't know what I really wanted and how to step closer to achieve my wishes. Being in India was absolutely challenging to us who are two and far older than her but she seemed to manage extremely well. On the top of that she spent her precious time and efforts for helping people who desperately need supports in India. I was very proud of her and wished her the best. Unbelievably we met her again at the Goa airport by chance and spent an hour to chat up. Talking about our journey and sharing experience with her was an absolute pleasure. She was on the way back to Australia then and we promised to catch up when we return. I can't wait to see her and talk about our unforgettable experiences.

2. Linda and Frank: We met Linda and Frank at Delhi airport while waiting for a flight Dharamshala. Their heavy backpacks caught my attention as they looked far over 60. The delayed flight schedule (as very usual) made us to start a casual conversation and accidently we met each other again in McLeod Ganj. It is an absolute surprise to meet people again in a country where 1.2 billion people live. They are from California in America and enjoying their retiree life while travelling overseas. I was very impressed by their tracking experience in Peru. Walking for a week to complete the track wouldn't be easy for even young people. They were far more active and braver than many young ones I know. I loved their attitudes towards to the age. How often we stop ourselves to try new things by excusing our age. I have learned from them that we can achieve more than we think if we don't limit ourselves. I wish them a good luck for their next tracking challenge and hope that I can get older like them. Age is only number and it is depends on how we look after our body and mind. 

3. 3 siblings from Spain : When we experienced the cultural shock in Varanasi, India, it was a absolute relief to meet the 3 siblings from Spain. Walking and talking with them helped us a lot to survive the day in the messiest city we have ever been to. They are late 20's to middle 30's and had been backpacking for a month when we met them. All of them quit their jobs and got together to accomplish their dream trip. As we all know quitting a job and getting away from our daily routine are not an easy decision to make, what they decided to do was fantastic. Especially, the decision of travelling with siblings for 4 months was unbelievable. I have 4 siblings but it is getting more difficult to agree with each other as we are getting older. So I can't think about a long trip with them. Imagining that 3 siblings are experiencing and having unforgettable memories together made me feel warm in my heart. I believe they are still on the way, maybe somewhere in Thailand or Cambodia at this moment and sharing their lifetime experience. I wish them to complete their journey with a good health and safely. 

How many of us wish to achieve what we really want to do but give up with many excuses. It was great fortune to see people who live the dream. I have to admit that I become bit more dramatic and emotional during the travelling so I take anything more seriously, but most certainly meeting people and learning things from them to me are simply priceless. I believe we truly need to open ourselves more to meet and know about people and their life stories. There are plenty of things to learn from others and I believe that will make our life more purposeful and enlightened.

At the top of the Tround

McLeod Ganj City with a cow

Anjuna Beach, Goa

Taj Mahal