Greetings!!!!!

Hello All!!!

Greetings from your very own Nomadic friend... Its been a while eh?? Well have been havin too much fun, so havent really found the time to update the blog.. Well so here goes a gist of what i've been up to... Well to begin with the rip started perfectly well and leaving life wasnt as difficult as i thught it could be.. Infact I opened up to a nomadic existenceas soon as i stepped out from my house. Headed stright for Jaipur, my first stop on the Great Indian Adventure. The Pink City as they call it, isnt as pink as it used to be or should be. Found the city instantly and stuggled to find the pink for a couple of days. Was denied a room in a hotel owing to the fact that my name doesnt sound Indian. WTF. Hated it and so left for Ajmer to see the Salim Chisti Dargah. A sufi dargah known to loads of people a a great Sufi monument. But as always and as expected was asked for money at the gate for leaving my stuff and my shoes etc etc etc. Got annoyed and dint even stay for a moment and walked striaght for Pushkar. Yea! you heard me right walked to Pushkar.Been walkin loads actually. Pushkar was fucking awesome just like everyone said it was. Loved it. Apart from the fact that I got thrown out of a ghat for not paying a stupid priest to make a prayer for me and my family at the Rate of 150/family member. I got quite used to Pushkar and met loads of travellers from many countries. Quite a sociable place this Pushkar.Made some good friends and hung out loads. Had loads of Bhang lassies and walked for hours in the countryside stoned :) Even got locked out of my guest house twice for coming late. Late in Pushkar is anything after 11:00 or 11:30. So slept on the streets. An amazing experience to say the least.Pushkar was great and so spent a few days there... Met up with some people and heard about a place called bundi. Many said it was worth a visit and so headed for Bundi. Wasnt dissapointed even for a moment. Bundi was great. Small, quite, obscure town that had one of the most beautiful countrysides ever. Was travelling with a swiss gal so was happy to share the cost of transport etc. We did two waterfall hunts in bundi. One 16 kms away, called Rameshwaram by bicycle and the other 40 kms aways whic be rode down on a bike. truly sublime... Welli have to go now and will complete and update the rest of this story later.... For the moment im in Jaiselmer.. stuill have to tell you all about Chittorgarh, udaipur, joadhpur, mt.abu and jaiselmer..

Adios Amigos!!!

Hey Everyone!! Soon (31st July) I leave for my greatest adventure yet, backpacking across India for an indefinite period of time. No reservations, no plans, just the open road and my wandering spirit. I have no clue of how long ill be away for or if ill ever return... But I know I'm gonna have an adventure the sorts of which one can only dream.. Just like the way I dreamed for a long long time... Well I have a new dedicated blog which will serve as a complete trip report and travelogue consisting of details of my adventures and travels... I call this my trip my Great Indian Adventure (GIA)

The new Great Indian Adventure blog address is http://www.nomadicinclinations.wordpress.com

PEACE.

NOMADIC INCLINATIONS.

For so long have I dreamed life,
That my realities now seem unclear.
My life, my truths and my existence all seem so blurred.
I am not afraid any more, I have made my choice.
Soon I will walk the earth; soon I walk into the unknown and out of this urban wild.
I may one day be called a martyr or a legend,
Just another statistic or a man forgotten by time.
But I do this for myself, for the very thoughts that crowd my mind.
I do it for the words that have enriched me, the sights that have fulfilled my soul
For the faces that have made me smile for the whole wide waiting world.
No boundaries or barriers, a world without strangers.
No fears, no inhibitions, just a man and the open road.
Just a man and new experiences
Just a man and his nomadic inclinations.

-- Nomad

Backpacking and India or should i say Indians

As far as my experience goes, backpacking still has a long and I mean very long way to go in India, just like every other new concept in India. Every time I speak to my friends or acquaintances about my trips or show them my pictures all I hear is how they wish they could do what I do and how my life is so different from theirs and blah… blah… blah… bullshit. There isn’t any particular life style one needs to be a backpacker. you just need to take a leap of faith and that’s the only hard part. Everything falls into place after that. It all just works out. Everyone’s interested in backpacking, in letting go and breaking away but no one wants to make choices in urban India I guess. As a suburban middleclass guy, I guess I’m no different from any one else, on the outside and with respect to my social and family conditions. It’s just my thought processes; my belief systems etc. are different... But those didn’t develop over night. It all took time and loads of struggle and patience. I can’t give you any profile for a backpacker. I wouldn’t like to brand some type of individual as being more susceptible to backpacking. But I will say this, anyone can be a backpacker...one just needs to learn to leave things behind and learn to look towards things to come.

BackPacking Vs So called Coventional Travel

As I've always and incessantly said BackPacking isn’t any special or niche form of travel. People have been doing this for ages together. Backpackers are just wanderers or nomads, but with a urban flavor. According to me backpacking is the most conventional way to travel. Let me explain, backpackers usually travel to local places rather than just major tourist destinations. They travel for the experience of traveling and not to just get away or break the monotony of urban existence. A backpacker usually wants to be one with his surroundings, be it urban or rural or wild. So he ends up going about his journey in a place the way the locals of that place would. So this would mean eating at the local places, using the local public transport to get about, hanging out with the locals or other fellow travelers, living in cheap local accommodation and of course seeing the local attractions rather than the touristic ones.
Keeping what I have said above in mind - leisure travel, adventure travel, eco travel and medical travel etc. if viewed from this perspective or should I say a layman’s or locals perspective are in no way close to any form of conventional travel. If convention just means an acceptance of majority then it still doesn’t make sense. Coz conventionally everyone travels to work and back which is closest to the concept of backpacking now isn’t it. So basically my point here is that, there can be a conventional form with respect to a specific type of travel. For example there can be a conventional way to backpack and then you can have variants based on different people’s convenience or you can have a conventional way of adventure tourism and its variants as well. But you can’t have a convention across a larger and much broader spectrum like TRAVEL as a whole. There isn’t any advantage to backpacking as such. In fact backpacking is kinda considered to be one of the most inefficient ways of traveling, because of the so called “inconveniences” involved by many people.

The PACKING in BACKPACKING

Backpacking isn’t amazingly special. It’s not like it’s a special way to travel. Contrary to what most might believe, It’s just another journey, a different place, different people and the same you. So you take whatever you need and whatever you can, based on your ability and definitely shoulders strength. Usually for any trip all you have to pack is the essentials, the rest are just add-ons. Now if essential means a shaving kit, tazer gun, deo’s, jewelry, survival kit, make up, 3 piece suit, inflatable life raft etc. then so be it, each one to his own. But I guess you get the picture, you travel light coz you know you have to travel hard. It’s all about needs, wants and availability of necessities at the place/places you are going to. Backpacking can be to just one major destination and small places in and around or to many major destinations and still small places in and around. It can be for a week, a month, maybe even a year or more. It can also be a day in town if you live in the suburbs like in my case. But something that a backpacker shouldn’t ever forget to pack is an open mind, patience, wandering soul, questioning attitude, love and acceptance for the unknown, humility, hunger and thirst for knowledge, addiction to new experiences, logical thinking and most importantly no need for material comforts. There aren’t any guidelines for packing...no one can teach you to pack coz they don’t know what you can and cannot do without. It’s easy to figure out... it’s like physics… there’s a limited amount of space and a weight threshold… so fill up the space in such a way that you don’t surpass the weight threshold, while still managing to get in all that you might possibly need.

Where It all Began

I now know that I was always a traveler at heart. Born in a staunch catholic, middle class, pseudo-dysfunctional, suburban Bombay family, I realized that all that I was being taught and made to be proficient with was existence and survival. There seemed to be no meaning to my being … the only question I began asking myself relentlessly was "So when do I start LIVING". I was always close to nature, since I live in Borivli, one of the few places in this city that has not yet been detrimentally touched by the growing face of modern, commercial & industrial civilization. Considering we were a family of four and my dad was the only one that financially fended for the family; leisure was never something that I got used to, or needed. Having said the previous line though, I was never made to feel unfortunate in any way. I never did travel much as a child with my family on any kind of trips leisure or otherwise. I learnt quickly that you can only stretch your legs as far as your blanket extends. But, my parents did always manage to send me on each and every possible school picnic/ excursion and scout camp, and for this I will be always thankful to them.

Backpacking as a term came to my attention only in college and boy, was it love at first sight. The thought of traveling to places far and wide on a shoe string budget was an instant hit in my mind. That was about the same time I realized that I had always been different from all the others. Didn't like buying new clothes for Christmas or Easter, never asked for expensive games, toys, unwanted embellishments or even pocket money for that matter. I looked for answers that kept crowding my head with respect to existence, meaning, purpose, choice and the likes. I looked for those answers in religion as well but as it turns out nobody listens and nobody gives a F@#k. So the hollow pretenses and conformist teachings of religion (not just Catholicism) stopped making sense and I began disassociating myself from it and completely renounced it 3-4 years ago. Best choice I ever made, have never felt happier, stronger, more spiritual and connected to life as I do, now that Religion is out of the concoction. Did a few small excursions here and there, while still studying to complete my degree in BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies). After graduation, in fact the very next day that my board exams were done, me and 2 other fellow college mates decided very randomly and on the spur of the moment to go to Goa. So I borrowed money from my dad withe the assurance of paying him back when i start working and off to Goa I went. I had been to Goa before, but not like this. The whole journey was basically an array of complete randomness headed by one of the boys who was by then a veteran on the drug scene and had been to many raves and had traveled to loads of places like Goa, Manali etc. many times. I had always been interested in experimenting with altered states of perception and so welcomed the thought of being led by a more experienced and “clued in” person. I still remember being crushed like a sardine in a can, in the general compartment of an outstation train, the tickets for which had been booked by us only half an hour earlier and the journey through which was supposed to last for 12 hours. I also vividly remember feeling like I was going to spill out of the train and in a moment of desperation followed one of my friends and a random stranger to the top of the train at the next halt. An experience I can never forget, being scared, mortified to a certain extent and feeling extremely excited and adventurous at the same time. I will never forget that trip; full of all kinds of indulgence, mostly minuscule and sometimes lavish living, random but amazing conversations with people from various parts of the world. My friends seemed to be happy and content with the with whatever experience a pop, a puff, a snort or a lick could offer, but I kept longing for more, much more. The drugs just couldn’t satiate my hunger for whatever it was that I was then and still am hungry for. That trip changed a lot, haven’t been the same ever since. The constant search for meaning, knowledge and a new way of life has consumed me. I don't know what the future holds but my present know will be what make it.

In Love With Nethra

I am in Love; once again with a fascinating entity. I could write about her all day and still not be able to sum her up in all my words. But I know I can make a valiant effort in trying to at least talk about her in brief. Well to begin with, she is definitely one of the most beautiful creations that I have ever personally been in contact with. Her sheer beauty and elegance is only overshadowed by her intense intelligence and sophistication. A work of art, she is nothing short of pure excellence. All I keep asking myself these days is: Where was she all this while? If only I would have met her earlier I know I would be in a very different place right now. It’s just been a day since Nethra entered my life and I can already see and feel the effect she has on me. I know for a fact that her hypnotic charm has mesmerized many before me. What I like most about Nethra is that she’s not like those others out there. She’s not High Maintainence neither does she crib and whine like the others. All she needs is some tender loving care and she will reciprocate with all that she can do to make you happy. Nethra’s all about confidence and complete freedom. Her perception of life is absolutely unbiased. She sees things as they are and exactly as they appear. No pre conceived notions or hidden agendas here. She isn’t judgemental even in the slightest of ways and has absolutely no hidden motives. When I look at the world thru her eyes everything just seems so much more beautiful than it already is. I can only hope that one day I can have the sight that she possesses.

Well anyways without further ADIEU I give you the Gorgeous and completely Ravishing NETHRA.

Yes, Nethra is my absolutely brand new Nikon D40. The D40 is by far one of the most inexpensive, easy to use, feature packed entry level Digital SLR’s out there. It’s also one of the smallest and most light weight Digital SLR’s around. I have casually used giants like Cannons Rebel and D40’s successors in the past but none can match the grace and utility of the D40. The D40 is an absolute bliss to use if you’re a serious photographer but don’t want to be a professional. The stock AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm lens that the D40 comes with is one of the best of its kind. The D40 provides its proud owner all the functionalities and advanced technology that is synonymous with Digital SLR’s but what sets it apart from the rest is its price tag. Unlike other digital SLR’s like the Cannon Rebel or the D80, D200 etc. buying the D40 doesn’t leave you with a massive hole in the pocket. In fact priced between INR 20,000 to 23,000 the D40 is absolutely ideal for anyone who is just starting to understand true photography. Anyone from casual Hobbyists to professionals can own a D40 and fall in love with it instantaneously.

I usually like to go backpacking all by myself. I just can’t seem to well come across people who see the world the way I do and even people that just like traveling and exploration. Except of course a few of my close friends who have many others things to do except travel every time I’m bitten by the NOMADIC BUG. Well even though I love embarking upon backpacking journeys all by myself most of the times I finally have a NO Hassle, accommodating, independent and perfect travel companion who I’m sure I’m going to have a blast with.


So here’s to Nethra and our beautiful life ahead. Cheers!!!

What Is Backpacking???

BACKPACKING - This is a term that Historically refers to a form of low-cost, independent DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL travel. Quite a few terms like Budget/Economy Travel and/or independent/free travel are commonly used to denote Backpacking as well. BackPacking is also refered to as tramping or trekking or bushwalking in some countries. As per this definition BackPacking combines hiking and camping in a single trip. A backpacker hikes into the backcountry to spend one or more nights there, and carries supplies and equipment to satisfy sleeping and eating needs.

A few of the important factors that distinguish or rather differentiate Backpacking from other forms of Generic Tourism/Adventure tourism include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Use of public transport as a means of travel

2. Preference of inexpensive youth hostels to traditional hotels and Hotel/Inn
acommodation

3. Duration of the trip vs. conventional vacations/Outings/City Breaks

4. Use of a Backpack/rucksack (Although Nowadays many backpackers also carry Duffle Bags, suitcases, general luggage etc.)

5. An interest in meeting the locals as well as seeing the sights and also learning more about different cultures and ethnicities.

Over the years Backpackers have been classified into various categories, ranging from "Intrepid travelers who interact with locals" to "A class of people who merely want to go out there and do their own thing". For some backpackers, that can simply mean sitting on a beach somewhere like Arambol in Goa, India to Koh Phangan in Thailand. In general, Backpackers constitute a heterogeneous group with respect to the diversity of rationales and meanings attached to their travel experiences. They also display a common commitment to a non-institutionalized/generic form of travel, which is and always will be central to their self-identification as backpackers.

BackPacking isn't actually a sport in the true sense of the term, although many people do perceive it that way. There are no winners or loosers at the culmination of a BackPacking trip.

BackPacking for me is nothing but a way to look at the world and live life for all it is worth. One cannot provide a concrete definition for BackPacking but whatever the definition might be BackPacking is an absolutely amazing, liberating and enriching experience and even though I may not be a very experienced BackPacker, I hope this site will truly attain its true GOAL and that is to UNITE all my fellow BackPackers from India and to share my knowledge and experiences with them and learn from their escapades as well.

Genesis

Well This Blog is for anyone who knows what freedom is in its essence. For all those who wish to see the world in all its splendor and beauty. For anyone that feels that traveling is what makes life worth the effort. From BackPackers To Adventure Tourists, anyone with and innate desire to explore their surroundings and those who wish to give meaning to their existence, to push their own limits and travel to places where few have trod.......