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Punita on November 13, 2021 at 12:15 pm

Age no bar to travel and to live life to the fullest !
70 days on the road.. still not missing home !!?
We are on a road trip from 1st September this year. And while on this expedition, have recently turned 63 ( Ashok) & 57 (Punita), A Bangalore couple, ex-telecom honcho husband, and an Interior designer wife. Happy and proud we hike, trek, swim, stop at less explored places like Roghi, Lohardi, Rumsu, Naggar, Naddi, Ghushaini to name a few in Himachal. Enjoyed the large hearted Punjabis and the superb world-class delicacies during the festivities in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amritsar, chandigarh.
This decision to travel for an indefinite period slowly seeped into us over the period, though we have been avid travelers forever. We traveled for leisure but mostly traveled for work, as we were corporate slaves back then, until travel became a habit. Every now and then we used to take a break for 15 days – 2 months.
Today, When our grown up children live abroad, settled in their lives, and no other pressing responsibilities on us, we decided to get out and see India first ( as we already have visited 52 countries) !! As soon, the covid scare lessened a bit, we took off, to travel at a pace suited to us, by road, using homestays.
Without much plans, we started to travel, most importantly, giving up a permanent address.. meaning, we gave out our house on lease, left our household goods at a storage and started on a road trip !!!
Many of the Friends and family raised eyebrows !! some of the friends not only encouraged but gave superb ideas.
Who says one should continue working till you die to be mentally agile or Who says you should retire and rest for the rest of your life.
All these years we worked and and took care of all our loved ones. Made our careers, business etc. Were always bound by duties and responsibilities.
Now was the time to take care of ourself, to take a step and plunge into what one wants to do and start living for oneself. Traveling …not ‘holidaying’ …was on our mind always. After many deliberations we broke free from a very comfortable 5* bubble ?
Yes.. we lived in a beautiful community, a well done up, comfortable house, latest gadgets to make our life more and more comfortable.. so we gave it all up. We feel free, happy … Initially little nervous but once we started .. we are happier than ever !!?
Before we started on this expedition, though we have been fitness enthusiasts always, We trained to become fitter.. yoga, pranayama, running/ walking became our daily routine. Exchanged our car to a more suitable for long drives, sturdy rugged SUV.
While continuing with yoga, walks, treks, hikes and few adventure sports…
It was Euphoria at 8500 ft, when we paraglided from Bir Billing, world’s second heighest spot.
Mesmerized by the beauty of Himalayas when we Zip-lined at Asia’s highest @170 mtrs and longest 1 kms (500 mtrs one way) line at Naggar, HP
Hiked to Raghupur fort from jalori pass had a 360 degrees view of the complete Dhauladhar ranges. Played and swimmed around in ice cold beas and thirthan river and pulag waterfall. Have never felt so overjoyed ! Very thankful to God for this life and this beautiful opportunity! Gratitude ? ?
We share the steering, out of 5800 kms in 70 days, I have driven 3000 kms and Ashok specializes driving on the toughest off-roading in hills, Spiti valley being the most dramatic, where our SUV got stuck while crossing a stream and Kinnaur valley where we crossed while the land was sliding !!
Today we are exploring quaint villages, beautiful towns, meeting very nice innocent people with big smiles and large hearts, one of the benefits of homestays in small places. Life is very simple in these villages, self sufficient, natural and happy. The water is not filtered… or RO treated, simply from the stream, the water is connected to the homes. We inhale pure and fresh air and eat freshly grown veggies. Locals grow their corn, rice, rajma, Dal et all. Vegetables from onion, garlic, tomatoes to all the seasonal and hilly veggies and fruits, they taste heavenly and they are organic. They don’t cost a bomb in the market (we witnessed in Bangalore or other metros, that in the name of organic, vendors were buying from local market and selling every food item at an astronomical cost to the health conscious people). Here it is almost free.
These places have no malls, no theatres, pubs/bars. Wear no make up, no designer dresses or sandles. Only convenient tracks, tees, jackets, trekking shoes, with a heart full of happiness (only in Himachal)
Another most important thing we realised in these small places is the government hospitals being so neat and clean, great doctors who are very experienced as there are hardly any private doctors and There are no private hospitals!!! While we city dwellers boast about ultra modern, multi speciality, 500 bedded, latest technology hospitals in every second street, these small villages and towns boast of good health and happiness.
In the last two months, Very interestingly, We came across several young or middle aged, IIT/IIM graduates/ honchos of MNCs turned small time farmers here, who have taken house on a long-term lease at a very small cost ( as non himachali cannot purchase properties) and farming their vegetables or running homestays. Thanks to WFH/WFM during covid, the standard of homestays have become very good. Very clean rooms with outstanding views of nature, with excellent high-speed fiber connectivity, comfortable double bed, clean washrooms with faucet and showers, toileries, delicious home cooked meals at most of the places. In these villages, power outages are rare, if any, they are very short. All these at a very economical per day/weekly/ monthly cost.
We meet fellow travelers/ tourists as young as 22 and as old as 60+, while on the move, we exchange stories over a lunch or a cuppa. Humbled we understand, how little we know about the world we live in. We have open invitations to visit their homes, villages as and when we pass by ! Blessed we are ??
Living in mountain is heaven.. with a promise to return to the hills, we explored punjab, re-connected with friends in delhi, Gurgaon, overhauled ourselves and the car here and now moving towards the forests of India and later the beaches of india as per our road trip plan ! Hope to travel and explore India and neighbouring countries in the coming year, while we do that, we want to motivate, encourage our age groups to be fit and live life to the fullest !!
Follow us on #nomadroadies in facebook
NomadPunita on Insta

1 Comment

Punita on November 13, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Age no bar to travel and to live life to the fullest !
70 days on the road.. still not missing home !!?
We are on a road trip from 1st September this year. And while on this expedition, have recently turned 63 ( Ashok) & 57 (Punita), A Bangalore couple, ex-telecom honcho husband, and an Interior designer wife. Happy and proud we hike, trek, swim, stop at less explored places like Roghi, Lohardi, Rumsu, Naggar, Naddi, Ghushaini to name a few in Himachal. Enjoyed the large hearted Punjabis and the superb world-class delicacies during the festivities in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amritsar, chandigarh.
This decision to travel for an indefinite period slowly seeped into us over the period, though we have been avid travelers forever. We traveled for leisure but mostly traveled for work, as we were corporate slaves back then, until travel became a habit. Every now and then we used to take a break for 15 days – 2 months.
Today, When our grown up children live abroad, settled in their lives, and no other pressing responsibilities on us, we decided to get out and see India first ( as we already have visited 52 countries) !! As soon, the covid scare lessened a bit, we took off, to travel at a pace suited to us, by road, using homestays.
Without much plans, we started to travel, most importantly, giving up a permanent address.. meaning, we gave out our house on lease, left our household goods at a storage and started on a road trip !!!
Many of the Friends and family raised eyebrows !! some of the friends not only encouraged but gave superb ideas.
Who says one should continue working till you die to be mentally agile or Who says you should retire and rest for the rest of your life.
All these years we worked and and took care of all our loved ones. Made our careers, business etc. Were always bound by duties and responsibilities.
Now was the time to take care of ourself, to take a step and plunge into what one wants to do and start living for oneself. Traveling …not ‘holidaying’ …was on our mind always. After many deliberations we broke free from a very comfortable 5* bubble ?
Yes.. we lived in a beautiful community, a well done up, comfortable house, latest gadgets to make our life more and more comfortable.. so we gave it all up. We feel free, happy … Initially little nervous but once we started .. we are happier than ever !!?
Before we started on this expedition, though we have been fitness enthusiasts always, We trained to become fitter.. yoga, pranayama, running/ walking became our daily routine. Exchanged our car to a more suitable for long drives, sturdy rugged SUV.
While continuing with yoga, walks, treks, hikes and few adventure sports…
It was Euphoria at 8500 ft, when we paraglided from Bir Billing, world’s second heighest spot.
Mesmerized by the beauty of Himalayas when we Zip-lined at Asia’s highest @170 mtrs and longest 1 kms (500 mtrs one way) line at Naggar, HP
Hiked to Raghupur fort from jalori pass had a 360 degrees view of the complete Dhauladhar ranges. Played and swimmed around in ice cold beas and thirthan river and pulag waterfall. Have never felt so overjoyed ! Very thankful to God for this life and this beautiful opportunity! Gratitude ? ?
We share the steering, out of 5800 kms in 70 days, I have driven 3000 kms and Ashok specializes driving on the toughest off-roading in hills, Spiti valley being the most dramatic, where our SUV got stuck while crossing a stream and Kinnaur valley where we crossed while the land was sliding !!
Today we are exploring quaint villages, beautiful towns, meeting very nice innocent people with big smiles and large hearts, one of the benefits of homestays in small places. Life is very simple in these villages, self sufficient, natural and happy. The water is not filtered… or RO treated, simply from the stream, the water is connected to the homes. We inhale pure and fresh air and eat freshly grown veggies. Locals grow their corn, rice, rajma, Dal et all. Vegetables from onion, garlic, tomatoes to all the seasonal and hilly veggies and fruits, they taste heavenly and they are organic. They don’t cost a bomb in the market (we witnessed in Bangalore or other metros, that in the name of organic, vendors were buying from local market and selling every food item at an astronomical cost to the health conscious people). Here it is almost free.
These places have no malls, no theatres, pubs/bars. Wear no make up, no designer dresses or sandles. Only convenient tracks, tees, jackets, trekking shoes, with a heart full of happiness (only in Himachal)
Another most important thing we realised in these small places is the government hospitals being so neat and clean, great doctors who are very experienced as there are hardly any private doctors and There are no private hospitals!!! While we city dwellers boast about ultra modern, multi speciality, 500 bedded, latest technology hospitals in every second street, these small villages and towns boast of good health and happiness.
In the last two months, Very interestingly, We came across several young or middle aged, IIT/IIM graduates/ honchos of MNCs turned small time farmers here, who have taken house on a long-term lease at a very small cost ( as non himachali cannot purchase properties) and farming their vegetables or running homestays. Thanks to WFH/WFM during covid, the standard of homestays have become very good. Very clean rooms with outstanding views of nature, with excellent high-speed fiber connectivity, comfortable double bed, clean washrooms with faucet and showers, toileries, delicious home cooked meals at most of the places. In these villages, power outages are rare, if any, they are very short. All these at a very economical per day/weekly/ monthly cost.
We meet fellow travelers/ tourists as young as 22 and as old as 60+, while on the move, we exchange stories over a lunch or a cuppa. Humbled we understand, how little we know about the world we live in. We have open invitations to visit their homes, villages as and when we pass by ! Blessed we are ??
Living in mountain is heaven.. with a promise to return to the hills, we explored punjab, re-connected with friends in delhi, Gurgaon, overhauled ourselves and the car here and now moving towards the forests of India and later the beaches of india as per our road trip plan ! Hope to travel and explore India and neighbouring countries in the coming year, while we do that, we want to motivate, encourage our age groups to be fit and live life to the fullest !!
Follow us on #nomadroadies in facebook
NomadPunita on Insta

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