Hello, I am Swati Kejriwal. I have been traveling the world for 10 years now and I don’t plan to stop ever. I started with my husband, Ashish and now we are a travel family of 3. Swaish, our son is our biggest inspiration to keep traveling.
WHAT IS TRAVELLING TO ME?
Traveling is my calm. And I need to remain calm to manage myself, my household, and a six-year-old. Well, it wasn’t in my childhood that I was fascinated with the idea of travel. Summer vacations used to be fun at home, as I grew up in a joint family. It was not until my teenage years that I was exposed to travel. That too only a couple or so times. My real passion for traveling started during post-graduation and continued after I was married. Both I and my spouse loved the adventure, the thrill, and the solace that came with exploring a new place. I have been wandering for more than 10 years now. And not once had it happened that I didn’t get a kick merely thinking about my next destination. I am not even done with my present trip that the seed for the next starts blooming. And it becomes really difficult to not water it. I have covered more than 15 countries to date excluding my own and each one gives me a new perspective to live life.
Initially, it was just the two of us, a couple of travelers. But then came our son, and now it is more like family travels. But not in the least sense unadventurous. In fact, now we visit more places than we did in the past. Because we as parents believe in the concept of practical learning. And what better way to learn and remember it for eternity, than experiencing it firsthand? Slowly, it’s dawning on us that Swaish is growing up to be an avid traveler much more than us. I like to keep traveling non-stop and that is the way I design my itineraries beforehand. We literally are out of our home most of the months except the rainy season, because there are no school holidays. Basically except for July, August & September, we are traveling most of the months. And that is the only thing that keeps me sane during the non-traveling period. I use that time to plan itineraries and chalk out the budgets for the entire year. Given I am a reader, books are my only best friend. I derive many of my travel ideas through reading. Places unheard of, sights unseen by tourists, views that can mesmerize the gods, I get it all from those books. Words cannot do justice to a few places. But I definitely don’t give up trying to put it verbally in my posts. Travel has made me a better person each time. I come back feeling fulfilled and invigorated for being more adept another time. Here in my blog, I will give you cues that you can use for your travels and maybe come back with positivity and feedback for me.
FINANCING MY TRAVELS
Well, I am a full-time homemaker when not traveling. My husband is the sole earner here. So we partake in detailed planning and budgeting at home. And it makes the traveling decisions a wise one without derailing any other expenses of our daily lives. The day we decided to become globetrotters, it was an unsaid decision to cut the shopping expenses. We frequently repeat clothes and avoid buying unnecessary ones. We always make it our top priority to travel light with minimal baggage preferably cabin only. This gives us satisfaction when we go out and spend that extra money on luxury hotels and restaurants. Because a branded item can never match half of the satisfaction a good experience gives.
As far as the bookings and planning goes regarding travel. I am the caretaker of that part and do it expectantly. Most of the bookings are handled by me and a few are outsourced to a local travel partner if they give me a better deal. This rarely happens but I always do a cross-check. Because a penny saved is a penny earned. For the sightseeing ticketing, I prefer buying it on the spot. If I am at a place for more than a couple of days, I make it a point to plan my days in advance and this facilitates me to buy the tickets beforehand, at the counter. And then I just go and redeem it on the respective day. This way I don’t have to queue up and I end up getting a better price most of the time. In gist, it’s nicer to do it as the locals do.
WHY TRAVEL BLOGGING?
I have tried a lot many things in the past. But nothing fancied me even near to what travel writing does. I was married right out of college so never got an opportunity to go for a job. Therefore I do not possess any work experience in any field whatsoever. I have been a homemaker for 8 plus years now and I am just getting better at it. My second favorite thing would be to become a writer, maybe someday it will come true. Until then, I decided to focus only on my first favorite thing. Thus, this blog. The competition is tough. But I am not the one looking back. With all the virtues of positivity and possibilities, I am going to go ahead with my words and let you readers decide my calling.
I like to do extensive research before heading out to a location. I spend endless hours on my phone and laptop before zeroing in on a place or sight. I read and re-read reviews from other travel bloggers and travelers from around the globe for a clearer view of the place. I take the place one day at a time before moving on. If I am going to a particular country, I intend to spend at least two weeks hanging around and getting to know it in its entirety. I don’t indulge in highlight travels and am more of a slow bird. If there’s a visitor center I definitely give them a visit despite my homework and add to my list anything important that I might have missed. I purposely prefer a paper map of that particular place, over and above the digital version, to have an all-encompassing read of the location in general and that area in particular. The maps are easily available at hotel front desks or the visitor’s centers. I try and make the most of my travels without compromising on the fun and relaxation part.
Travel is my therapy. But coming back home is just as peaceful as can be. A base keeps me going. It also gives us time to understand the next step and work it out accordingly. Furthermore, our children’s education is always at the top of our heads. We make sure he’s always on a learning spree. We keep teaching him while commuting to places or while relaxing on the beaches. His aptitude is never undermined. We make sure Swaish has a say in everything we decide to do and see. His learning is manifold. And this gives him an edge to grasp faster because we made sure to expose him to travel life early on. I always advise parents to travel with kids whenever possible to enhance overall development. My travel plans keep me all tied and hooked. Someday I want to learn a new skill or pursue a new qualification but I cannot because I have to plan a new trip or prepare my son for his forthcoming examination. Despite all the odds, travel has been and always will be my first choice, above any new skill, hobby, or agenda.
OUR TRAVEL LIFESTYLE
It all sounds too enticing and glam. But trust me it’s far from it. Moreover traveling with a kid is no easy job. We are always on our toes to see if he’s eating healthy and staying fit. Above it all, we both need to be as fit as him to travel else who’s gonna take care of whom, will happen? To avoid it all, I generally carry some homemade food for my adolescent. Many countries have restrictions on bringing in food grains and sorts from other countries and that needs to be taken care of as well. Generally, the items that are branded and sealed are allowed in most countries without any restrictions. So my preferences are divided accordingly. Now that we tend to go for longer durations, we try and book apartments a few times. This facilitates me to cook basic meals and replenish my child’s lost appetite. It might sound boring but it is usually fun and interesting to make optimum utilization of the means at hand. It gives me a sense of pride and freedom whilst doing so.
Travel means eating outside most of the time and this may take a toll on health and fitness. So I always keep that in mind before consuming anything. We are vegetarians and sometimes get struck by the choice of food. But never has it been a huge problem as most countries now have easy access to Indian gourmet food that is nicely cooked and served. I am a big fan of trying different cuisines and my husband is a sucker for Indian food only. There is a clash of interest but each one of us have our ways. This creates a perfect balance when we are eating while traveling. Make sure to check the guidelines regarding food before traveling to a particular country. Read reviews from other travelers and gather insights. Respect the regulations and you will be good to go.
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE
Decades, Years, Months, and days will go by but the memories and experiences will last a lifetime. Do not procrastinate any opportunity to gather those moments. In the end, it is the only thing that will matter and count.