Journeys And Destinations...
Growing up my father often look us for budget trips that
sometimes lasted a weekend at other times a month! I was envied by a lot of
kids at school for going on such long vacations. I however hated most of them
as I didn’t approve the budget part of the trip and hence loathed the travel
part. Once I actually reached the destination I would start to enjoy myself but
dreaded the journey back home especially if it involved sitting in a bus for
what then seemed to be an eternity.
So much has changed; I have often enjoyed the travel far
more than the destination it led to in the past couple of months. Like my bus
ride from Phnom Penh to Ho Chin Minh city, since I had left Cambodia on a
rather dramatic note I was a bit weary of entering another country in that
sombre mood. I didn’t. Vietnam didn’t let me. Merely half hour after crossing
the border, I received a welcome shower and the view from my window looked
spectacular, mood lifted spirits started soaring high, like real high. An hour
into the country and I was inspired enough to pick up all the things I had been
yearning to do back home, as soon as I returned. The monumental change in my
inspiration this time was that I knew I would actually see them through.
I now couldn’t wait to see what else this country had in
store for me. Ho Chin Minh was my break before my next working holiday in
Hanoi, I obviously intended to go all out. I landed up staying in all the time
though! The viral came visiting and lets just say got rather comfortable in my
system, I can be very hospitable like that you see! I did however drag myself
to the war remnants museum, came back to my hotel and collapsed convinced that
we are the worst race ever and that America is actually the step father who
molests you while you sleep disguised as the big daddy!
After admiring the city from my hotel window for five days I
managed to board my flight to Hanoi rather disappointed that I didn’t
experience any more of the magic I was now quite accustomed to! Exhausted and weak from the ride to the
airport I tried to catch a nap, only to open my eyes with a start as a new
thought hit me and charged me like a bolt of lightening. 30,000 feet above sea
level I realised that a long cherished dream was actually so with in my reach
right now. Like all life changing decisions it had more than its fair share of
social, emotional and financial repercussions, did I dare reach out and grab
it? I did. Have embraced the thought with an unbreakable resolution of seeing
it through, will set the wheels rolling the minute I land in India.
I have so far had multiple eureka moments most of them while
on the journey before reaching the intended destination, I guess because at the
destination there is so much to look around at and engage yourself in? At times
there is more to admire while on the road but this is the time I get to also
look within. I for the first time have truly grasped the meaning of the quote ‘it is the journey that matters not the
destination’
Being rather superstitious I don’t want talk about this vision
fearing the magic will be lost, the circle will be broken and my dream could be
crushed before I have the chance to see it come alive.
But I do know that this was what I was looking for without even
knowing I was looking. I now realise that the purpose of this whole journey was
for me to reach this decision, this was my intended destination!
I traveled this far to meet myself, got startled at what I saw,
got amazed at my potential, was curious and vary about the source of my
courage, surprised at my resilience, at times was awkward and embarassed to be this
person, and the circus continued till I finally accepted myself.
Have been living happily ever after since! The smile doesn’t
leave the face, the spring stays in the step as does the relentless song in the
heart.
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