Over the years, I have realised that being a travel blogger means travelling and answering some truly insane questions along the way.

I started Life on Weekends back in 2015. It has been 10 years. Anyone who thinks I am a hopper should probably look at the consistency I have maintained with this blog. 🙂

Also read: My journey as a travel blogger

I have been writing since I was a child. Mostly stream-of-consciousness writing, long before Mrs. Maisel or Netflix were even a thing. I even attempted a stand-up bit in college. That, and most of my extempore speaking, followed this very style.

In the last decade of travel blogging, I have met some incredible souls. People with a genuine knack for travelling, writing, and sharing stories. Fellow trekkers and discovery enthusiasts who can tell you ten facts about a specific kind of coffee grown in South India, or ask thoughtful follow-up questions when you mention the glorious caves India has.

And then, once in a while, you meet them.

A gal or a guy who mostly lives between their office, home, or a bar (nothing wrong with that, everyone has their thing), has not travelled much beyond Goa or Manali, but reaches out proactively. They strike up a conversation because hey, travel bloggers are polite. And then begins a strange scoring game.

They ask absurd questions and act as if your “no” or “not yet” earns them a point in some parallel universe. Points they will probably encash for land on Mars, in that exclusive human colony only they seem to have an invite to.

Have you met such people?

No?

Let me give you a preview.

Q: Why are you travelling so much? Are you trying to escape from your home?

Well, yes. I am trying to escape the likes of you. People who can bring down the vibe score of any place in seconds.

And if travelling is an escape, so be it. I would much rather escape to a mountain, a beach, or a cave and spend my precious life listening to stories of fellow travellers who were probably branded escapists by the same weird office colleague.

For me, travelling has been educative and expansive. I was once a shallow person, always guarding my possessions and my gifts. Travelling fricking opened my mind to the abundance of this universe. It introduced me to the multiplicity of life. How two people can contradict each other and still be right because they come from different perspectives and stories. And yet, we can coexist and be happy in our own worlds.

Also read: how I manage to travel so much

Q: I do not understand this weird need to go to a mountain for happiness. How can a mountain give you happiness? Happiness is a state of mind. Something is clearly wrong with you if you need to travel for it.

Woah. Stay right there, lady. You are jumping a lot of mountains. 🤣

And if you do not understand, great for us. We do not need more people on our mountains. We like our privacy. You stay happy in your cubicle. I will gladly take a mountain. Any mountain. Any day.

In our mythology, so many stories begin and end with mountains. Gods reside on them. Adiyogi. Mystic Kailash. Mountains.

Why?

Because mountains are magical. Therapeutic. Healing.

After all, the OG superhero, Lord Hanuman, brought Sanjeevani from a mountain to revive Lakshmana. And when he could not find the herb, he lifted the entire mountain.

So yes, adventure may be everywhere, but magic happens in the mountains.

Also read: why mountains feel like home to me

Q: Saree while travelling? Kurti? Dress in India? Bikini in Goa? Are you a fashion blogger?

On behalf of travel bloggers and women everywhere, I would like to tell fellow Homo sapiens just one thing, “Grow up”.

Education is not reflected in your degrees but in the words you choose. And growth is not a title, it is how open-minded and flexible you are.

Q: Have you seen this other travel blogger? You know, the one with more followers.

This is usually followed by an eye roll, a monologue on followers, countries, cities, numbers, algorithms, and comparisons. And then, almost ceremoniously, they end with, “Have you seen them?”

Yes. I have.

What are you trying to say?

How about you actually look at their work, take inspiration, and get a hobby. Any hobby.

How about silence? Try that as a hobby. Remain silent for a few hours every day and see what happens.

Q: Dude, why are you so local? Why only India?

Dude, why are you so dumb?

How about learning some geography. History.

Do you know how many UNESCO sites India has? The wildlife richness, biodiversity, architectural wonders, temples, stone paintings, rivers, waterfalls, high-altitude monasteries, valleys, hill towns, mountains. Oh, the mountains.

If you still ask this question, ‘Geography’ would like a word.

Also read: why India is endlessly travel-worthy?

Q: Okay okay, so you have travelled! But have you travelled to that godforsaken place in the eastern town of South Pole?! No? You know nothing, Jon Snow!

Well…

…

…

“Dracarys”

Q: Show me pictures of your travels. Eh! This looks nothing compared to the view from my terrace. This river does not have enough water. Look at the swimming pool in my society; that is better. This mountain is not even as tall as my building.

Genius. You should ticket your building and use the money to get yourself tested. Truly.

Q: So where are you travelling this weekend? Oh, you are not travelling? You are at home? What a waste.

Blocked permanently

Q: Do you not have a family to go back to? Why are you always on the road?

I do have a family. And shockingly, they have lives of their own too.

We do not need to stick together to feel important. We hold ourselves just fine. 😀

Q: If you are travelling solo, does it mean something is wrong with you? That no one wants to travel with you?

*Facepalm.* 🤦‍♀️

Yes, there is something wrong with me. I was born too soon. Some people still need to evolve.

Q: Still writing in the age of video blogging? Ha ha.

Still confusing format with substance. Adorable.

Q: How can you go to the same place again and again? What is the fun?

Yeah. Why do you watch your favourite movie again and again? Or return to your hometown without getting bored?

Also read: places that feel like home

Q: A forest reserve again? Are you trying to count all the tigers in the world?

Not really. But at this rate, I might just have a count of fools

Forest reserves have a way of slowing you down and recalibrating you in ways cities never can like they did for me in Shining again: Panna Tiger Reserve

And just when you are tired of answering these questions, you meet your tribe.

People reading in remote cafes. People reaching out because your energy did the talking. People exchanging stories and offering warmth with no expectations.

And suddenly, it all makes sense again.

Some people collect destinations. Others collect opinions. I will stick to travelling!