Yeah. I really feel ashamed. I’ll tell you why.
Last month, I went on a Solo backpacking trip to mountains. Somehow I kept extending it and it got into a 23 days backpacking trip.
I met a lot of travelers, from India and world around. I came across people from Canada, Belarus, Argentina, Israel, Spain, Russia, South Africa, etc, etc…
All traveling and exploring India.
One girl stood out to me. Zara.
She was from Israel.
Zara was just 23. And she was already done traveling in India and was headed to explore Thailand.
And she was traveling solo for 5 months, I guess.
I met another guy (on a different journey) Abraham, another Israeli who too was traveling for past 5 months. 3 months in Thailand & 2 months in India.
And let me tell you, I met both of them, to & fro in one of the remotest and offbeat locations of India which most Indians even don’t know about. (And I wish it be that way. Irony).
Note: Most Israelis serve in the military (IDF) at 18–21. After that → they take a long break (3–12 months)
Anyway, what baffled me is how these people are traveling and actually ‘living’ their life.
I asked Zara, how long she intends to travel? (I mean it’s already 5 months she’s been traveling right?) and listening her answer my jaw dropped. She said, “Until I run out of money.”
And she was nearing the ‘end’ of using all the army money she got. And yet carried on to travel to another country. How many 30-40 yo Indians will even have balls to do something like that?
It stunned me even more when she said that, once her money is over, she’ll work as a labor or something, in Thailand (something like housekeeping job) so that she can ensure her food and accommodation is taken care of. Rather than returning back to her home back in Israel.
And it hit me like a brick.
There, 23-24 olds are traveling the world.
And here when I was at 23, I used to lock myself up in a library and study 18-20 hours every day.
I could only imagine the exposure these young people would be getting from real world. At that age! (I truly positively envy them & feel ashamed of not travelling at that age)!
The stark differences in our cultures & the cracks in our perspectives toward life was truly visible.
In India, it’s a big deal if someone is solo traveling. Let alone travel for a month.
In Israel, they travel for months and months. Solo. Preferably live in Beit Chabads. Build their communities around the world. It’s normal for them.
Traveling truly opens you up.
And I feel ashamed that 23 yo me didn’t get the opportunity to solo travel for months.
I feel ashamed for our youths too. Mugging day and night for those competitive exams.
The standards of living of Indians are pathetically low. Believe me when I say this. Garbage.
When people raise their eyebrows hearing that I was Solo-Backpacking for >20 days and treat as if I’ve made a Gennuis world record, it pisses me off!
I sincerely wish every Indian travels like these Isrealis for months. Get exposure to different cultures, places, people, etc.
It should be the normalcy.
