Back on rails!

I opened my travel account this year with a trip to my hometown in India. It was the first significant travel I undertook after last year's adventures and memorable experience. However, this time I was confident that the journey would be better having completed all my vaccinations and restrictions on travel were eased. Indeed it felt like bliss, albeit the long queues, delayed flights, baggage delays due to the shortage of staff and rising costs caught me off guard like most. It looks like these challenges will continue until the world settles in and we are close to normal sooner.

Nevertheless, there is always a bright side to traveling. I was amazed to see the growth in infrastructure, healthcare and even education in a few of the areas of my state. The improved roads and transport reduced the travel time to a large extent. I was dazzled to see my small city spiraling in all directions with newer infrastructure, never before imagined. I found many old systems replaced with Digital systems giving access to more sections of the population.

Trips to India are always exciting as you meet your dear ones and taste the delicious food that follows from everyone's kitchen. The love and care you receive are soul soaking for months, making you feel humbled and blessed. The hearty laughs and the long and short chats with anyone you bump into makes the whole trip, sure enough, a reason to take up the long journey.

I love the long train journeys on Indian railways as they never fail to make my trip memorable. Most of the journeys across the country are typical if you have traveled enough and can find the similarities. You come to the station platform before time and eye scan the passengers and everyone around. You figure out generally who will be your co-passengers if it's a long journey. Once you settle in your seat, mostly everyone is calm and quiet, only exchanging glances or casual hellos and smiles. The conversation then breaks if someone wants to adjust or exchange seats. Next follows the discussion on train timing, who will get down where, who might join us in the empty seats etc. It is so typical that the regular travelers on that route will be eager to give friendly advice to any newbie. Next follows the improvements in the railways this year, the station extensions and the topic slips into India's growth story. Everyone contributes to the conversation based on their interest and knowledge. Occasionally, few of them enjoy the listeners' role.

I cherish these small talks as they open a new world of fascinating stories. The strangers on the railway platform a few minutes back turn into your friendly co-passengers exchanging food and stories even before you realize it. This time around, on one of my journeys, I shared my compartment with a family who was wildlife enthusiasts and was returning from a beachside trip. They shared humorous and adventurous incidents of their past trips on various safaris around the state. They narrated an incident many years back, how the head of the family encountered a tiger in a jungle. And how he spent the entire night on the tree top to save his life. It was thrilling to know how he survived the ordeal to find himself in front of a Tiger and use his wits at the right time to escape.

In the same compartment, we also had an elderly gentleman who narrated his traveling experiences across the country. We shared the differences and similarities of the people far and wide. Yet again, reminding us how we are all unique in our ways yet together. It was interesting to learn that he works in the same organization as my father. He talked fondly about his interactions with my dad and how much he learned from him. I felt humbled and blessed that my father was remembered, for his enthusiasm, never give up attitude and jolly nature. And it feels great to know how his values and principles are a role model for many who have ever met him. I wonder if ever people will recall us in this Digital Age.

The digital adoption across the country in a short span post-pandemic took me by surprise. I could hardly find anyone without a mobile and her eyes glued to the screen. Although, we are far from mobile etiquette - to keep the devices on silent mode when not in use or use headphones while listening to songs or news. The way many balance their two-wheelers while talking on the phone and navigating the tricky traffic is beyond comprehension. I wish we have driverless cars soon, so people can be free to use mobiles and the roads are safe for everyone. But am confident that our intelligent population will learn and adopt things faster than most. There is never a dull travel thankfully.