Many of us dream to travel the world
when we grow up. To see what life looks like beyond the figments of our
imagination. To see a new place, explore and experience.
Practically speaking, it is impossible
to go around the world in a lifetime. For most of us, this dream remains only a
dream because as we grow older, we also find that our priorities change. The little
of the world we have seen beyond our homes remain only the few places we have ventured
out to, for studies, work, or health care and hardly leisure.
Afterwards, travelling becomes a luxury
that only rich people with time can afford. We could be fond of travelling, but
even that becomes a not-good-enough-reason to pick a suitcase and go somewhere
just like that. We are battling against time and money, priorities and
families- the process which is likely to go on till we age and are no longer
eager to see that new place anymore.
This, however, does not necessarily mean
that we cannot travel anymore in the positions we are placed. After all, it’s
all in the mind. As Henry Ford has said, “If you think you can do a thing or
think you can't do a thing, you're right.”
It may be impossible for all of us catch
an international flight and go abroad, or for that matter, even visit a city
outside the state for leisure. But who says only those places are worth
travelling to? I have always observed with wonder children and teenagers who
come to towns like Kohima for the first time from far flung rural areas. It is
magical to see in their eyes, the sheer wonder of spotting magnificient
buildings in the town, even as they try to count the cars passing by.
It leaves me with a nice feeling. I think
it is joy that they express in their faces. The joy of travelling. Because
there is always an element of surprise in a new place, and I think they feel
and experience that. It maybe no big deal for town dwellers, but it is for them,
who can even count the number of vehicles visiting their villages in a year,
and suddenly, they see hundreds of them swarming the road.
We must travel to learn and widen our
thoughts. Especially young people must travel as much as they can, whenever
they can. Because one can only have that youthful zest when we are young. We are
also open to more ideas, and willing to learn when we are young. And also
because, youth is fleeting and it is only once that we get to be young.
Travel. Not necessarily to big cities in
the country. Actually, how fortunate we are that a state like ours is so
diverse! That, every single village has a unique trait to it. How fortunate
that we can learn and enjoy each other’s culture in our own state, provided, we
step out of our comfort zones; meet new people, learn new things, simply
experience the joy of travelling.
As a matter of fact, I always think that
if we are to truly promote tourism in the state, we must first start with ourselves.
We must know our place, our state, diverse in its culture, tribe, language. We must
travel because unless we do, we never know how blessed we are! That people in
some remote corner of Nagaland have it much worse than us- in terms of
facilities, development, and just about everything.
We never know the random kindness of
those people we call our own unless we venture out to feel and experience it. But
above all, travel because there are some insights that only
travelling can teach us.
Comments
There are so many places for tourism to flourish and even we ourselves to cherish. Hey! that rhymed. :)