I have always wondered how I became a wanderer. It’s not hereditary for sure, my mom’s least interested in travel, she prefers to travel up to her parents or sister’s place, apart from that travel is tiring for her. Historical monuments are a waste of space and money, according to her all forts and palaces should be converted in to habitats for beggars. I am relieved that she is not tourism minister and can never become one. Dad is not actually averse to travel but he is always short on time. We three siblings chose to differ but there too our style and philosophy is totally different.
As a kid my longest and only journey in a year used to be when I visited my parents during summer vacations. Most of the time Dad was posted in interiors where there was plenty of trees (enough to be called as jungle) and a few lakes (real ones) with clean, fresh water. Apart from that old forts, a few leopards and rumours of tigers and hell lot of snakes. I had a charm for train journey, I used to collect lots of books: Champak, Nandan sort of and enjoyed them in Train, a habit I still carry. Before every sojourn I make it a point to pack a book in my handbag. I can afford to forget my charger but not the book.
People often confuse Yaayawar’s with Tourists. A tourist travels with a purpose and his purpose is to see a particular place. Yaayawar’s are aimless wanderers, they move not because they have to see a particular place but because they want to experience it. For tourist destination matters, for Yaayawar’s journey is fascinating. Wanderers enjoy each and every moment, each and every stop in between; they have a taste for road-side dhaba. For me even my routine journey from home to office is travel. Road is good, no signal, very less traffic and its green all way along. I enjoy driving back more than driving to office (for obvious reasons). It gives one time to ponder, to analyse and to break free from routine. Many people find it strange travelling to unknown, less famous places and that too alone, of course these people are tourists, they’ll find it strange. First thing, exploring the unexplored is fun and second Yaayawar’s are not alone. Clouds, Air and Water too are wanderer. Out of five elementary signs three are Wanderers.
