Here’s to “Connecting Routes” ~ a space to spotlight a common theme in my travels that offers snapshots from one place to another, like the tantalizing tease of a tasting menu or a shortlist of your next dream vacation!
Top Three Places To Feel Fleeting Moments
There are certain moments that become etched in our lives in ways that send our emotions, events and experiences into other realms. Like the stamps we put on envelopes to direct them to their destination, some celebrations could be defined like today(!), while others can crystalize right before our eyes. Indeed, these happen in daily life too, yet somehow, I wonder if we become more porous when we travel. As I encountered a slew of logistical challenges on this recent trip, I realized that though the resulting roads only remotely resembled the intended itinerary, there were opportunities galore for fleeting feelings to float in.
Sometimes, sliding doors in life can significantly shift our schedules, and senses. There are certain countries in which the pivots are (highly) probable: think Tajikistan, Mali and Paraguay as examples. Often, flexibility of mentality is required even before we set foot away from familiar living. While I enjoy the streamline sequences of travel that is well prepared to execute as expected, I’ve also noticed that the payout from redesigned roadmaps are often robust. Missed connections, more time needed, mistakes on entry requirements and others have left us all in a muck, but if we’ve made the most of it, maybe magic has mobilized too.
I love those moments that catch us off guard. Not in a trumpet-sounding-their-arrival kind of way, but in a gentle shoulder tap that enables us to mindfully imbibe that current sensation … in its totality. Like the perfect pastry where you enjoy every last crumb, no matter what crevice it might be stuck in. Have you had those times where the positive vibe just washes over you? My favourites are the ones where I feel the butterflies in the belly, that gravitational whoosh akin to an elevator dropping and the sound of a packet of peace that showers me head to toe. It’s an invitation to be when you can feel the seconds tick by a bit slower on the clock, and where the ether exists as an essential part of the exhale. These can be rare for some or, readily available for others. Being in new places with beautiful people brings out the bounty, but today, tomorrow, now-now, these fleeting moments exist as well. When I travel, I slurp them up. Whether those times have been executed exactly or not, I’m attune to the palpable pleasures therein. Perhaps as we go about our photocopied plans, when these types of moments bubble up, they too deserve our full attention. After all, the present pays no attention to the ‘you-are-here’ pin.
Mauritania: We’d debated on whether or not to do the desert drive. It was getting late and arriving in the capital was like capturing the carrot that couldn’t be caught (for days). Transferring into the 4x4 that looked like it was going to leave some of its own body parts behind as it navigated the dunes, I too followed suit. The sun suddenly seemed perfectly set in the sky for a spectacular show. Atop the apex of sandstone cliffs, the water lapped up on the beach below, urging us to pause and sit still to sense the majesty of what would unfold. I focused on the hues of the horizon as little bits of cliff near our feet crumbled off, tumbling into oblivion beneath us. With that, Nature reminded me of the finiteness of feelings that would soon finish. Back in the pickup truck, we raced away from the setting sun as the moon started to rise. It was as if both had decided to synchronize arrival and departure times. The view was unobstructed, the wind was warm and wove in as part of the wordless conversation I was wrapped in. Though the simultaneous sightings of sunset and moon-rise in the desert is done, the force I felt won’t be easy to forget.
India: The bustle of Mumbai may be second to none. Every moment here can be a reminder of the necessities of life from economics, history, art, spirituality and more. This is the quintessential place for street food, though consuming with caution would be wise. At one point, antibiotics had become my best friend - Cipro had curtailed the consequences of reckless indulging - however fleeting, those feelings too were equally eventful! From brain curry, fresh juices, the classics of pani puri, paratha and out of the skillet gulab jamu, there’s a lot of culinary moments to savour. This land is also the birth place of many monumental movements. From classical Kathak dancing and Bollywood blockbusters to the ancient impacts of Ayurveda, a traditional medicine system, and architectural anchors such as the Taj Mahal and Humayan’s Tomb, there are never dull moments here. If you happen to find one, try something mundane-ish, like crossing a road. Between the bikes, trains, humans and cows, a honk or two might make things more memorable.
Bulgaria: Veliko Târnovo, the former capital is home to a grand variety of quaint and quirky buildings. The road that slithers by the fortress atop a hill speaks to strategies of bygone eras. The river running through it stands as a spectator of the stories, struggles and seconds that shaped this place. Perhaps in our current cosmopolitan concentration, our past, particularly that which is remote, easily evaporates from regular remembrance. Snaking through the Shipka Pass was as if we had binoculars to look at life ‘back then’. Small villages like Koprivshititsa and Etra preserved traditional ways of living. The latter offered a lazy walk down memory lane where artists continue to spin their craft with waterwheels, hammers, looms and ovens. Seeing how some preserve ways to bake, weave and shape not only art, but also their lives poses poignant questions. I wonder if we consciously consider how the moments of days gone by can influence how we choose to move through work, creativity and flow for our future.
May we celebrate the moments of today with full force (while it’s still in our grasp) Félicitations, Congrats, Mubarak!
I am so grateful that you are out seeing this big world .. we need these perspectives and the wisdom they bring… Thank you