TRAVEL: WITH MONEY (CVII)

Disclaimer: Read the full article to arrive at any conclusion.

"Do I love my job? 

No.

But does it afford me the ability to go on lavish vacations and buy anything I want?

Also no. "

I pondered a lot thinking about the title of this article and I could not think of any appropriate one. I am a pro traveller and I can't imagine my life without travelling. But recently I came across many articles usually emphasising on travelling by quitting one's job, by stating that you do not need money to travel. I would say, that it is a very optimistic approach to encourage travelling but in my opinion it is quite impractical. Yes! There are people who travel without any money, but what they do in turn is hitch hike, ask locals to give them a place to stay and cook them a food. Humanity exists and that is why they exist. I do not see any problem in that also till the time they get the help and they are happy about it. But what bothers me is when they ask for money with a promise to return it, which they never do and then claim that they travel without any money and their life is totally sorted. I have many traveller friends who have made travelling their jobs and they are quite happy about it. In the end one needs to work to survive- mentally and physically. 

During my solo travels I have come across many travellers and have found many travellers on social media also. It is always good to talk to travellers as they have lot of hidden stories with them. But amongst them few asked money from me stating one or the other very emotional and genuine reason- example: one needed money for his sister who is travelling abroad and his net banking is blocked. To few I had to say no (it was very difficult and uncomfortable for me and that ultimately ruined the friendship) and to others I fell for their "genuine" reasons, owing to my gullible nature at that time. That somehow saved the friendship for that period but ultimately it was ruined as that money was never returned. I felt a sense of being used, I felt foolish. For me money was never the issue, what bothered me was the broken trust. 

As rightly said by Robert Kiyosaki- "Money is not the goal. Money has no value. The value comes from the dreams money helps achieve."

I realised value of money when I was admitted in hospital.

"The importance of money flows from it being a link between the present and the future."

It is true that money is not everything. What is important is to be productive which ultimately leads to making money. And more money is also not a solution as there is no definition of "more". What is important is to have a content life. 

Some pictures from my solo trips:

Narkanda, Himachal - May 2015

Tosh, Himachal - December 2016

Jibhi, Himachal - June 2017

Arambol, Goa - December 2015

Kasol, Himachal- November 2015

JIBHI- AN UNSPOILED PLACE IN HIMACHAL (CVI)

23rd June -27th June 2017

Reaching home from office at 8.30 pm, convincing Dad, booking tickets at 9.30, packing by 10.00 and in bus by 11.00. I love sudden plans and that sudden plan made me find Jibhi- an unspoiled place in Himachal. 

With every new journey I evolve a little, with every new journey I find a little new me. And I know that travelling solves everything for me. It was a long weekend when  half of Delhi was going to Himachal but I was lucky enough to find one seat for me in a Volvo bus. Tired from the hectic day in office, I immediately slept in bus and with such an unplanned trip and no place to stay I started googling for places to stay in Jibhi. After 6-7 unsuccessful attempts I came across Mr Sandeep who runs Jibhi Camps & Cottages. Denying any vacant space initially, when I told him that I was travelling solo he ensured to arrange a place for me in his cottages. I had a sigh of relief.

View from my room- Jibhi Camps & Cottages

HOW TO REACH

Delhi- Aut (Bus)

Aut to Banjar (Cab or Bus)

Banjar- Jibhi (Cab or Bus)

THE JOURNEY AND THE EXPERIENCES

I meet so many helpful people during my solo journeys. But then there are certain people who could not do anything for you but are always ready to give free advises. So as I proposed my idea of going to Jibhi solo, a "friend" of mine messaged me on 'social media' that I should be careful as this is "India". Probably he does not know that India is unsafe because of negativity the guys like him possess. It was not an advise, it was an attempt to create fear in mind. However, I continued my journey and like all other journeys I met beautiful people on this journey as well- Sonali, Sandeep and Rahul.

SONALI

A 22 year old solo traveller, I met Sonali in bus from Delhi to Aut. It started with a simple 'Hi' and ended with hugs and goodbyes. With Sonali, this solo trip turned into a duo trip where we both were together but still we had our own space. Seeing Sonali I thought that I started travelling very late, but then present is the right time to start anything and I am happy that at least I am doing it.

Me and Sonali- Jibhi Waterfall

SANDEEP

Well I have less words to describe Sandeep. He is the owner of Jibhi Camps & Cottages and he came as a rescue for me when I had no place to stay in Jibhi. The long chats over beer and tea, listening his stories, discussing economy and philosophy, the jokes and his morning teas, he clearly considers that 'The guest is equivalent to God'.  The one line which Sandeep said very casually but I could not forget it is that, " It is easy to earn money. But it is difficult to digest it. And that is why money is the cause of all diseases in the society."

RAHUL

Before Jibhi Rahul was my facebook acquaintance whom I used to follow to get to know about different travelling places. So it was Rahul's facebook post which made me decide to travel to Jibhi. But I had no clue that I would get a chance to meet him on this trip. So all this happened because of long weekend traffic jam in Manali, when Rahul decided to find a peaceful place and ended up in Jibhi. We got in touch on messenger and he was staying just beside Jibhi Camps. We had endless chats but still there is so much left to talk about. I hope I will be meeting him soon again to talk more about places and our journeys. Indeed it is a small world. 

PLACES TO SEE

SEROLSAR LAKE TREK

From Jibhi to Jalori Pass via Sojha village- in Cab or bus (I took a cab and shared it with three more people who were staying in the camp)

A 6-7 kms trek from Jalori Pass to Sarehul Lake

The trek to Serolsar Lake

The trek to Serolsar Lake

It was beautiful 6 kms trek, very serene and calm. While I was walking there were so many thoughts running through my mind. But there were times when my mind was totally free. There were no thoughts. That was the time when I found myself totally elated. That was the time when there was complete silence and I could hear myself in that silence.

It was moderate but a long trek. I took a maggie and tea break in between. It was picturesque. 

Way to Serolsar Lake

Way to Serolsar Lake

Way to Serolsar Lake

I finally reached Serolsar Lake. I sat on a stone, closed my eyes and in that silence the cooing of Himalyan crows touched my ears. Meanwhile the lake was playing hide and seek amidst the clouds

Serolsar Lake

Serolsar Lake

While returning back I wondered that any new trek creates an excitement, anxiousness and curiosity in beginning. But the same trek while coming back creates totally different feelings- feeling of tiredness and a feeling of 'known' which makes it little boring. Probably all known people and known things become boring after sometime and that's why we humans keeps running after 'change'.

JIBHI WATERFALL

The regular showers became too boring for me and Jibhi Waterfall became my daily shower on this trip. My day used to start and end with Jibhi Waterfall. 

In the end I could realise, "That this is my journey and I have to fight it, enjoy it and complete it on my own."