Lonesome traveller

I'm totally into spending time with myself. Dont get me wrong, I have a lot of friends who I love to death, but there are times that even when I'm in a group I want to be by myself. No I'm not self obsessed, but I must admit that it's a very beneficial thing if you love your own company. I've been accused of being moody b'coz of this habit by other mortals who unfortunately have not shared this wonderful experience of discovering themselves without being with others. I've gone for movies alone, I've gone out to restaurants alone, I've gone for music concerts by myself and not once have I felt that it was odd or that I wish someone was here with me. A few people have commented on how this behavior is odd and I've heard "man is a social animal" crap from a lot of 'well-wishers' as well! All I can say to them is that I feel sorry for them...sorry b'coz they have not really had the joys of being a part of the journey that is self-discovery.

The one thing I've not done yet is travel alone and I'm sure that it'll be just as good an experience. There can be several joys for travelling alone. So here's my "Travelling Alone 101 class"...well there really aren't 101 reasons to travel alone but I'm sure I can come up with at least 10 good ones.

#1) Freedom: The most important thing when you're travelling alone. Freedom from others who want to sleep in till 11 in the morning (whats the point to sleep in when you're on a holiday...do it when you're in your house). Freedom from elders who want to call it a night at 9. Hello?!?! Why are you on a holiday again?? Freedom from other people's motion sickness..very important you dont have to stop the car so someone can get their dirty business done. Freedom from some obnoxious relatives who happen to spit more than talk when they open their mouth. Do I really need to elaborate more on this point???

#2) Absurb Itinerary: Your itinerary can be as absurb as quantum physics. You can spend five hours at a beach ogling at pretty, proportionate, well tanned bodies and no one will ask you why. Alternately you can decide peddling a boat at 11.30 in the night (pls carry a life jacket if you plan on doing this, even if you know how to swim). You can start driving off to a new location at 3 in the morning if you feel like and no one will stop you.

#3) Meeting more interesting people: Chances of meeting more interesting people increase geometrically if you leave excess human baggage aside. So you can spend the time on the dance floor with some new interesting person you found.

#4) Photographs: You will spend a lot more time in good meaningful photography rather than asking some people to stand in front of some ridiculous statue and pose for you. Your photo album actually may look very Nat-Geo-esque. And believe me there are many more people who will appreciate these pics.

#5) Lie!: You can tell people you went para-sailing or bungee jumping and no one needs to know you pissed in your pants when you saw others do it! Now that's a good enough reason.

#6) Self-discovery: Some of you'll may actually end up on this path of self-discovery etc etc...so long as you'll dont decide to denounce the pleasures of the world and lead a life devoid of sin....

#7) $$$$: You save a hell a lot more than you think you would...all that Lakshmi, Chanda, Dhan, Daulat, Rokda...can then be put to use in buying all those fancy accessories you wanted to buy.

#8) Lie some more: You can be sleeping in your room all day long and telling people what a wonderful travelling experience you are having. On a more serious note if you are actually spending the time in the room you are the KING/QUEEN...the TV remote is all yours :):):)...no more saas-bahu dramas for you...bye bye Ekta Kapoor :):):)

#9) Earn some good karma: You can always call up people and tell them you are missing them and earn some extra brownie points from them :)

Now after all these reasons do you really need a 10th reason?? I sure dont and am lookin fwd to the time when I have enough $$$ to go on a trip somewhere by myself....and yea there are so many places to discover in India itself that maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea starting at home.