We, my parents, sisters and I, travelled to various parts of India. He travelled a great deal around the world on business trips. Growing up our vacations took us all over India - Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh..... when we travelled to Delhi to visit with one cousin, we also travelled to Chandigarh to visit another and then on to Shimla, Mathura, Agra, Fathepur Sikri, etc. on the side. Every vacation had a primary location and many small trips on the side. We depended on trains and buses, rickshaws, horse cart, bullock cart, whatever got us to where we wanted to go.. Helped that India has a great network of trains and bus even as early as the 60's when I was a little kid.
We also had good people connections.. A network of family; first, second, third and sometimes fourth cousins and friends. It wasn't one sided, they often visited and stayed with us in Bombay. My parents were great hosts. My mom had awesome people skills,, was a great cook, and loved history, geography and languages, all adding great value to our travels... We all loved to attend family weddings and various social gatherings, both closeby and in far away places.
Almost every Saturday afternoon, we would go to town by bus. Dad would quiz us about the important buildings we passed by, flora fountain, Victoria terminus, prince of wales museum, Jahangir art gallery are some places that come to mind... We visited art exhibitions, book fairs, anything interesting, walked in and out of stores, ate street food and more. We looked foward to our Saturday afternoons. Never knowing where we would go until we got on a bus.. Malabar hills, Crawford market, nariman point....
Travelling on the job, gave me a very different perspective. It took me to various cities across the country and allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds, cultures, nationalities and I learn that people everywhere are the basically the same. I love people.
Once bitten by the travel bug it stays with you forever. Our trips in those days were often on a tight and small budget. The idea was to get out of our busy city lifestyle and connect with each other, we usually travelled by second and third class. I remember playing cards, dumb charades, scrabble, word games, reading books.. Talking and making friends with total strangers... Also, watching the beautiful scenery, mountains, valleys, cities, towns, villages as the train chugged on.. The dust and discomfort a minor inconvenience, it was all part of the vacation and discovering the country, family and more. The places and people mattered a whole lot more than luxuries and vacations to exotic locations.
This is how it started, the next one is about my journey..
Athai it is so nostalgic to read this. I think u all have visited us wherever daddy was posted. I have pictures of some of these visits. I think ur father must have inspired my father too because he also loved to travel.Whereever he was posted he would take us to all the interesting places nearby.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for this new attempt. Latha