I owe my zest for travel to Pops!
“Yay, I’m finally going to America. It’s my first holiday abroad. And wow, almost a month!” I was only 9 years old and it was the summer of 1995. Those days it was a big big deal – taking a trip abroad. But my Pops made it happen for me, and it was truly a dream come true!
Pops, yes that’s what I call my father, my lifeline, my everything. Where should I start from? I’ve known him for 32 years and can write pages about him. His first trip abroad was when he was 32, on a job in Mount Senia Hospital, NYC. He took his first International flight with 7 dollars in his pocket and spent 6 dollars of it to see two movies on his journey. The balance 1 dollar was used at a public telephone booth to call the person who came to receive him at the airport. So it’s Friday evening, this man’s first time in New York City, and he has no money in his pocket. I’m talking about 1976 – the age of withdrawing money only from banks, no ATM machines and most importantly no cell phones. Being a weekend the bank was also closed. So what does my Pop do? He’s goes to Bloomingdales, picks up a very fancy suit and pays a heavy price by cheque. Then goes to the return counter, returns the suit and takes back the price in cash. Smart way to survive his first weekend in New York, Eh?
Pops has always been a super smart traveller. He knew exactly how to get his way around in an unknown place. My fondness and love for travel is something I have inherited from him. Pops is a Doctor by profession and his profession has allowed him to travel a lot. Right from attending conferences in Barcelona to setting up Dialysis units in Mauritius to even giving talks in Sri Lanka – he has done it all.
I will never forget this incident from about 9 years ago that completely changed my impression of travel. Pops was travelling to Srilanka and didn’t want to go alone. It was a flying visit of hardly 2 days & 1 night. Nobody in my family wanted to disrupt their routine and appointments for such a short trip. I being the youngest, Pops literally dragged me along. He wanted me to experience life. To literally see the world and not stay in my cocoon in Mumbai. Hesitatingly I agreed. And believe you me, in that so called little time I did a city tour of Colombo, saw some of the famous hotels, went to Odel and did some shopping, drove to Bentota and spent the night there, got a massage and also visited a beautiful Buddha temple, that had a branch taken from the tree where Buddha attained enlightenment. The cherry on the ice-cream was picking up a Noritake cutlery set and a LOT of Dilmah flavoured teas. That really short trip made me realise that when life gives you the opportunity to travel, take it! Even if it’s just a weekend getaway. The sights, sounds, lessons you learn, exposure to different cultures and opinions is not just refreshing but absolutely life changing. It broadens your horizons and your outlook to life.
Little did Pops realise that after that getaway I became a travel addict. I would join him every time he had to travel. He’s always treated both his children equally. His famous dialogue is – “I have 2 eyes and I’m not a squint”. So when my brother went to Canada for studies, I too was sent to California for higher education. Oh that one year of living in the USA changed my life totally!!! All my lessons came from – Travelling like a local, not a tourist!
Unforgettable Travel Tips from Pops:
1. Always travel very light – whether you are travelling for 5 days or 20 – pack just 2 pairs of jeans and many tops. It not just keeps the weight low but it gives you a chance to shop there as well 😉
2. While returning from a country where the time lapse is a lot, take a flight that reaches your city by 7am. Take a power nap for an hour and immediately head to office. This strategy helps to overcome jetlag.
3. On city tours that span the whole day, eat a heavy breakfast in the morning and a heavy, early dinner. Since lunch is on the go – keep it light.
4. If you are travelling solo or as a couple, use public transport to get from the airport to the hotel. If more than two of you are there, hire a cab.
5. Drink a lot of water and take short walks around the airplane. This helps you overcome jet lag as well as deep vein thrombosis.
6. Carry an umbrella/ windcheater always. In most western countries you get the odd drizzle at any point in time. Don’t let rains ruin you travel plans.
7. Start young. You will have time and energy on your side.
8. Always carry a copy of your important documents with you and also leave a copy back home with someone reliable and someone who can be easily accessible. Also carry a softcopy of these documents on your phone or in your email. Password protect the folder.
9. Alert your bank about your travel plans in advance. You wouldn’t want the bank authorities blocking the card assuming that there is suspicious activity when you go around swiping it in a foreign country.
Today Pops celebrates 7 decades on this planet and I want to say, “My love and passion for travel is because you taught me to travel right, travel smart!” So here’s wishing you a very Happy Birthday. May you keep celebrating and keep travelling!
July 19, 2017 @ 4:28 am
Excellent post Karishma! Love the way you wrote and narrated the stories of US & SL. Super smart traveller your dad is! And the checklist is quite cool — I do some of those things myself now. Just can never get around to travel light though. 😛
I wish I could travel more as well. I agree with you that one should travel even at the slightest opportunity — that’s how we met as well, right?
Keep writing, keep travelling!
Wish your dad a very happy birthday!
— Rahul
July 23, 2017 @ 5:44 pm
Thanks for the wishes Rahul… and yes we did meet over travel. I’m so happy to have met u and Sakshi. Definitely gonna meet again in Delhi.
Cheers 🙂
July 19, 2017 @ 5:18 am
Fantastic piece Karishma . Travelling opens up our mind in way that we couldn’t have ever imagined . I am not surprised on your dad being a super smart traveller , his zest for life even at this age is remarkable and so is his warmth for helping and guiding everyone .
You have taken on the mantle on travelling from him very well . Wishing you many many years of amazing travels and fun filled tales ahead .
God Bless
– Inderjeet
July 23, 2017 @ 5:45 pm
Thanks for the wishes Inder. Yes I’m so glad, taken the travel bug from him. We need to do it together:)
July 19, 2017 @ 10:24 am
Nice post, I really loved the Travel Tips which you have listed, very helpful
July 23, 2017 @ 5:45 pm
Thanks so much 🙂
July 19, 2017 @ 10:34 am
It’s nice that you have travel as common ground with your father, I have the same with mine. I think his travel tips are also very practical and helpful. I for one always take a small backpack to force myself to pack less, and end up doing washing every single week!
July 23, 2017 @ 5:46 pm
Nice to hear that kate… and always great to travel light !
July 19, 2017 @ 11:27 am
your dad seems to be a lot of fun ! and a very wise traveler ! very touching post to pay tribute to your daddy 🙂
July 23, 2017 @ 5:46 pm
Thanks so much marine 🙂
July 19, 2017 @ 11:27 am
Great Post Karishma 🙂 I loved the way you have narrated your Srilanka story.
The travel checklist is very helpful but I’m bad at packing my stuff & keeping it minimal 🙁
I always carry my clothes in abundance 😛
July 23, 2017 @ 5:48 pm
Thanks Kirti… glad u liked it. Even me travels heavy. But m soooo trying ?
July 19, 2017 @ 12:14 pm
Your father sounds like a great man. Traveling is awesome and something I wish I did more of when I was younger. Your travel tips are great. My favorite is to pack light to leave room for shopping;)
July 23, 2017 @ 5:49 pm
Thanks Lisa… and yes it’s always great to pack light and leave room fr shopping
July 19, 2017 @ 12:23 pm
Your dad sounds like a lived man! How awesome he’s managed to see so much of the world all the while helping others. Thanks for sharing
July 23, 2017 @ 5:53 pm
Thanks Tanhee 🙂
July 19, 2017 @ 12:52 pm
Dad’s like these are MUST haves 🙂 Good post, nice tips and a great dedication
August 5, 2017 @ 8:17 pm
Thanks Abhinav, my pops is a surely a must have fr me… thank god everyday tht I have him. He’s my favourite 🙂
July 19, 2017 @ 1:16 pm
Your father sounds like a great person! You are lucky!! His tips are on point and most of them I follow myself! Also… what a coincidence, I was looking at Sri Lanka yesterday and I’m planning to get there sometime in 2018! You got to experience it way before me!! Lucky you! How was it?
August 5, 2017 @ 8:19 pm
Thanks Niki… Sri Lanka ?? is awesome… I’ve been there 5 times , since it’s close to home… I do like extended weekend 3 day trips. Whenever u want tips I can definitely help.
July 19, 2017 @ 2:55 pm
Oh how awesome for you to get to travel with you dad. In my case my mom has been a frequent travel companion. I’ve traveled with her to many Caribbean destinations. I helps that we tent to like the same things like the beach and boat trips and get along pretty well. Happy travels.
August 5, 2017 @ 8:19 pm
Thanks Kasia… parents are awesome to travel
With 🙂
July 19, 2017 @ 5:29 pm
This is so cute! Me and my dad have the same relationship and it’s amazing how much fathers can shape your life!
August 5, 2017 @ 8:20 pm
Thanks Chikumo… my pops is a complete inspiration fr me… I’m so glad u share tht to with ur dad 🙂
July 19, 2017 @ 7:00 pm
You have an awesome Dad. by the way Happy birthday and Many happy returns of the day. Greetings all the way from Tunisia.
August 5, 2017 @ 8:20 pm
Thanks Najla… I really see Tunisia ??
July 19, 2017 @ 9:20 pm
So cool to get so many great tips like those. Love it!
August 5, 2017 @ 8:21 pm
Thanks a Anna 🙂
July 20, 2017 @ 12:28 am
This is such a beautiful post, you’re lucky to have had a father like this <3 and I agree with his advice to start young! I'm knocking all the mountains out now before I have knee problems haha. Happy birthday to him!
August 5, 2017 @ 8:21 pm
Thanks Jen… yes mountains should be young
July 20, 2017 @ 2:45 am
Wow lovely write up lovely way to start .y day. So simple and close to heart it is. I had plans to write travelogue of my moms first trek yest for her B-Day but missed it reading ur post makes me guilty. Love ur dads spirit. God bless him and happy B-Day. Keep the travel spirit going.
August 5, 2017 @ 8:16 pm
Thanks so much Sowmiya… and do write that trek trip with ur mom… writing bout parents is the best 🙂
July 20, 2017 @ 2:49 am
I hope you had a great day Gulabjamun’s Popsy 🙂
August 5, 2017 @ 8:15 pm
He surely did Vipul 🙂
July 20, 2017 @ 2:52 am
A very happy birthday to your Dad!! Hope you all enjoy your US visit? His 7 dollar story and how he inspired you to travel is surely an inspiring story
August 5, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
Thanks so much Bhavna 🙂
July 20, 2017 @ 3:52 am
Great post and wonderful tribute to your dad! Those are practical tips for travelling. Thanks for sharing!
August 5, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
Thanks a ton Hun 🙂
July 21, 2017 @ 2:44 am
I love my dad. He is always there for me and has always been care of me. I would love to do a daddy daughter trip with him
August 5, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
U really should do a daddy daughter trip Kristal… it’s tht most fun
July 21, 2017 @ 8:34 am
I think these kinds of travel posts are the best kind: a personal story that means something, something your kids or grandkids would love to know someday. You could have just written a list of “top travel tips,” but this is so much better! Go, Pops!
August 5, 2017 @ 8:13 pm
Thanks a ton Tanya… I too think, there needs to be a story. Else it’s bland
July 21, 2017 @ 12:20 pm
Sharing travel moments with a loved one will always be memorable! Yours is one of a kind with your pop! Beautiful story and sharing…
God bless!
JM Kayne | #InMyHeart♥
August 5, 2017 @ 8:12 pm
Thanks a ton JM Kayne
July 21, 2017 @ 1:36 pm
Very good tips! I love traveling and I have a tendency to over pack haha.. It’s cool that your dad taught you all these 🙂
August 5, 2017 @ 8:12 pm
Hahaha… my pops did teach me… but girls will be girls and always over pack
July 21, 2017 @ 2:47 pm
Great tips pop’s! you got such a cool dad hahaha.
August 5, 2017 @ 8:11 pm
Thanks Balt… indeed my pops is too cool ?
July 22, 2017 @ 2:33 am
Great, travel tips. I’ll take this note for my future travel. Thanks
August 5, 2017 @ 8:10 pm
Thanks so much 🙂
July 22, 2017 @ 9:22 am
I loved reading this post, such a personal story that had me engaged right until the end 🙂 Keep writing stories like that! x
August 5, 2017 @ 8:10 pm
Thanks Liberty… indeed this story is too close to my heart 🙂
July 28, 2017 @ 9:13 am
Very good tips. Great post. Loved it till the end. ??
August 5, 2017 @ 8:09 pm
Thank you so much Fatima 🙂
July 29, 2017 @ 3:08 am
Great post!
August 5, 2017 @ 8:09 pm
Thanks
August 5, 2017 @ 2:50 pm
Such a sweet post! Maybe wanderlust is genetic after all? May you keep travelling!
August 5, 2017 @ 8:08 pm
Thank you so much Anna… yes Godwilling I keep traveling 🙂
August 21, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
The last photo is the best 🙂
August 23, 2017 @ 9:25 pm
Looks like your father left an awesome legacy! 🙂
November 14, 2017 @ 3:24 am
That’s great that your dad inspires you! My dad gave me his love for music – if I had more time and money, I would travel all over the world as well!
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