The thrills of travel!

An acquaintance once told me that he didn't care much for monuments or history, that he found sightseeing to be boring and all he preferred to do whenever and wherever he travelled was shop. I won't deny that I felt quite sorry for him! I mean, what's the point of traveling anywhere if you have no interest about the place, its people, its past, its cultures, its flavors? Because every place in this world is unique and different from every other place. This particular acquaintance was on a stringent diet so trying out local cuisines was also out of the question for him! And worst was that he's one of a lucky few who have to travel regularly and extensively on work, from that moment on, all I could think was, what a waste that he gets to travel so much!
I, on the other hand, like millions of others, suffer an insatiable greed for travel. The excitement bubbles right from the moment travel plans are initiated. Once tickets are bought and flights are booked then the frenzy builds. I score reviews and posts of the experience many gone before me, brushing up on my history of the place I would soon see, charting the must-see spots, listing the cuisines I should try out and basically making sure I fill every moment of my stay with activities that would create the most wonderful memories of the trip ever.
From day one, every minute is an adventure and my imagination kicks into overdrive. While strolling down centuries-old forts or palaces I can see how life must have once been, rich and rustic, all those years ago. Of course one needs a really high sense of imagination when it comes to the forts of India with most in dilapidated states of destruction. Yet the magnificence of a regal past speaks loudly from the ruins. One such fort that took my breath away was the Amber Fort of Jaipur, sitting high and lofty on the hills.
History has always fascinated me. I enjoy the link the past has with the present and it helps me understand why today the world is the way it is. The experiences of a place over the years builds it character, develops its culture and gives it that touch of the unique that makes it different from another place. The customs of a place is unique to it too. For instance, in traditional Kerala, it used to be a custom for people to wash their feet before stepping into a house. Most homes would have vessels of water placed at the front door step for this very purpose!
I enjoy new flavors of foods I know I may never taste again and I relish the experience, though there are occasions when I have deigned to refuse a local delicacy or two, raw beef, however elegantly presented is a big no for me! I especially prefer to try out small eateries that appear popular with the locals, they serve the best fare. Of course, people would argue that you get all kinds of food at your doorstep these days, but watered down versions are incomparable to the original flavors brought on by authentic local ingredients.
However, though I claim to be a great fan of traveling, I unfortunately wouldn't call myself a nomad, for the heart is where home is and eventually I find my thoughts shamelessly wandering back home while the being is on the exotic streets of unknown regions and then I know, it's time to head back home, but only until the call of travel hunger returns.

What your suitcase needs..

I’m definitely no travel expert but having been on the road quite consistently for almost a decade has had me formulate my own modus operandi on preparing, packing and eventually traveling, be it on work or holiday, regrettably mostly work though!

Anyway since it works for me, I figured, just maybe, my formula would work for someone else too! So here goes!

If you’re planning on taking a short trip from a couple of days to a week then it’s always best to leave your packing till just the day before. Sounds weird? Probably, but trust me, it’s the best thing to do. Of course you’ll have to organize everything you’ll need for the trip earlier on so plans should begin a week before the trip, but I would advise you to leave the actual packing till the end. And this is mostly because packing early or over a couple of days inevitably results in missing out many things you’d actually need on the trip or eventually forgetting what you’ve got in your suitcase and what you’ve left out.

Start packing with the basic essentials – inner wear! No matter where you’re headed you can’t do without those! And always try to pack a couple of extras, just in case!

Next are the bathroom necessities. Toothbrushes are a must especially if you’re not too keen on using the standard issue that most hotels offer. Hairbrush comes next. Try to avoid max sized toothpastes, shaving creams, perfumes, moisturizers etc and opt for the mini-sizes, they save space and add a fair bit to scaling down the weight of your luggage. If you’re prone to allergies or are easy prey to colds and headaches, make sure you have sufficient supplies of your choice of medicines just in case a bout hits you. 

Make-up bags are a must for ladies wherever we go, so make sure you pack in accordance to your regular routine, it ensures that nothing’s missed and must include your moisturizer, foundation etc.

Normally carrying three or four different shades of lipsticks ranging from a nude and light pink to a couple of darker shades suited for evening wear should suffice plenty. Mascara of course, eyeliner too if needed and preferably in black which would go with every color or outfit you choose to wear. A light and a dark hued eyeshadow should be adequate and of course add your favorite blusher too. The best thing would be to have a combo palette of blush and eyeshadow, but it may not be easy to get all your favorite shades in a single palette. As for perfumes, try to carry just one perfume and see if you can get a bottle of 25ml or 50ml instead of the bulkier larger bottles. Hair accessories to be minimal and only if necessary. Try and avoid traveling with expensive jewelry and choose costume jewelry instead. If carrying anything valuable, avoid packing it into your suitcase, rather carry them on you in your handbag. 

By the way don’t forget to add that tube of sunscreen, especially if you’re headed for the beach.

Next in line is the most important of them all, the clothes!! Deciding your wardrobe for the trip primarily depends on where you’re headed and secondly on the purpose of the trip.

If you’re headed for anywhere tropical, choose light cottons. If it’s on work, pick light cotton shirts or blouses that go well with lightweight pants or skirts. Luckily cotton is a fabulous fabric that looks good as both casual and formal wear. They do tend to get crushed when packed but most hotels offer irons in the room or provide the same when requested for. Replace the pants with shorts if on a holiday.

The good thing about tropical destinations is that though it may be a tad too warm the temperature would remain more or less constant. Unless you’re headed for someplace during monsoons!

If headed for colder regions, make sure you’re aware of the general climate and temperature and pack accordingly. If it’s rainy or windy or even snowing, make sure you’re well equipped to brave the cold with ample supply of thermal wear, socks, wool scarves, cardigans and of course jackets, ensuring you have enough to last the trip and for a trip of more than 4 days, carry a lighter jacket too, if possible. And always make sure you have something nice added in for an evening out no matter where you’re headed.

Of course, always, always carry a pair of jeans! They go with anything, anywhere!

Next is the footwear. Try to limit yourself to three pairs and always wear your most comfortable pair while actually traveling. For warmer regions strappy sandals with heels works for evening wear and formal wear while flip-flops or wedges are a favorite choice for casual wear. And for the cold, boots would be a good choice. Pumps are fine wherever the destination may be. Remember, while picking the footwear for the trip, try to pick pairs that would match up with more than a couple of the outfits you’ve set aside.

Get yourself a pouch for all those chargers you’ll need for your computer, phone etc, slip your camera in as well and hopefully you’re pretty set for your trip now!