5 Reasons to Travel

There are umpteen reasons you could find to not to travel. From budget, weather and maybe a really comfy house. But let's face it, packing your bag and getting out of the house is one of the best things you can gift yourself.

You end up discovering a lot about yourself -  This is probably the most important aspect of travel. As human beings, we learn about ourselves by how we react/interact with our environment. And the first step in making our-self better is self-realization. Once we realize that we have a certain characteristic, we can actually have a chance at changing it or letting it be. Traveling gives  you a chance to come to terms with aspects of your personality that you never even knew existed. Whats more, the exploration of the self  as you journey through life  is quoted by many eastern philosophies as the primary basis for existence.

Welcome workout for your mind – When you are stuck in routines, you engage the autopilot within your mind. Wake up, commute, work, commute, watch tv, sleep. Traveling forces you to break out of this monotony. Suddenly you are faced with new surroundings, new people, new language which you will need to tackle, new paths to navigate and make spontaneous decisions about food and accommodation.  All of this leads to awakening the dormant part of your mind that was sidelined by the auto-piloting part of your mind.

The changing scenery can be hypnotic – There is a strange, hypnotic feeling to watching the changing scenery and feeling the wind across your face. It is like a glowing ember within you that slowly melts away all your anxieties, fears and worries.

Change in perspective – A brilliant quote that captures this perfectly is "Nobody comes back from a journey the way they started it." -- Unknown . Exposing yourself to new cultures will invariably cause a shift in how you view the world. Once you have seen the interaction and division of social classes, it will bring a new found appreciation for what you have. Many people in the world live under the gloom of war, poverty and diseases. A horrible day at work won't look so bad once you have met people toiling under the scorching sun for pittance.

Gorge on exotic food - This one is for the foodies out there. Traveling to a new place comes with the chance to gorge on some exotic food and savor exciting new flavors. And since food  contributes immensely to the culture of a place, this is a great way to understand it better.

If there is one things you would want to take with you on your travel, it should be an open mind.
Don't have any expectation, just take each moment as they come.  Also, if you are planning for a international trip, make sure you browse for international air ticket in multiple website before you book. This will give you the cheapest international air tickets, thereby cutting down considerably on your travel budget.  A good spot to search for cheap international air ticket is any of the aggregator sites like Kayak.com since they collate prices from numerous online portals.

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Top 5 travel Movies that showcased India

Last week when my friend told me that they are planning a family trip to kashmir I was quite happy. Coz it is an alarm that indicates Puja is coming. Durga Puja, one of the biggest festival in Bengal. Lots of people generally take long vacation and go for a trip this time. When should I go to enjoy in my way with my friends? It was the biggest question that comes into my mind. So I took some DVD to find out travel locations in India. I saw almost 10 - 12 movies in last three days but there are only 5 that i loved most.

The Beach - In a Bangkok hotel, Richard receives a map from his neighbor, who commits suicide soon after.  He decides to pursue the location in an effort to locate a mysterious beach, purported to be a hidden tropical paradise. He manages to find the location along with a couple and is accepted into the community that has taken up shelter in the island. The movie traces the lives of the three protagonists as they go about their daily lives in the island. The movie was shot in the island of Ko Phi Phi Islands and is one of the very few Hollywood productions to explore the beautiful beaches in Thailand.

Darjeeling Limited - Darjeeling Unlimited is a quirky movie about three brothers as they travel through India after their father's funeral. The journey takes them  trips through numerous Indian provinces, encountering funny situations like having their loafers stolen by a shoe-shine boy, buying a cobra, which later escapes from its transport container and finally getting thrown off the train. Director Wes Anderson revealed that he was inspired by The River by Jean Renoir and the films of Satyajit Ray. He had dedicated the movie to Satyajit Ray. The movie shot largely in parts of Rajasthan, including Jodhpur and Udaipur.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - The movie follows a group of Britishers as they arrive in a hotel in Jaipur. Each member of the family have their share of emotional baggage and movie showcases how they interact with the Indian culture and less luxurious surroundings. Though sugary the plot tugs at your heartstrings for its pure warmth and the shots of Jaipur and Udaipur alone makes the movie worth a watch

Into the Wild - Based on a true story, it is easily one of the best movies that showcases travel, adventure and life in general.  Christopher Mccandless is fresh out of college and rather than look out for job like the rest of his peers, he gives away all his savings and hitchhike to Alaska. During the journey Chris encounters numerous characters and experiences that shape his perspective about life.  The movie is a brilliant showcase of the good and bad instances a traveler experiences and to tops it off with a profound quote in the end.

One Week - Jackson is diagnosed with  cancer but rather than opt for a treatment, he decides to go on a bike ride across Canada. The movie captures Jackson's raw emotions in dealing with his diagnosis, girlfriend and family. Jackson sees the trip as a quest to find "Grumps", a mythical character introduced to him by his father when he was a kid.  Along his journey, Jackson meets a cancer survivor during a stay in the hotel, and a backpacker who breathes new perspectives into his life.

Finally I'm also planning for a trip with some of my college friends. If you have the same plan in Puja I request for your inputs in comment box below about Cheap Hotels in India. 

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