Mom And Daughter Duo, Travelling, Trekking And Backpacking.. Ready To Pack Your Bags?

I have always been someone who loved adventures. I had been trekking throughout my college life and then life happened.

As it turns out, fell in love and got married to a sailor who is away almost 8 months a year. Travelling together as a family was a rare luxury. Not to mention that I would have to wait all year for his return, for going out and being there.

Finally when my daughter was around 2.5 years old, I decided to just pack my bags and leave. I literally just decided to join this trip to Velas, where little Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings make their way towards the sea. It was the most beautiful experience ever. I noticed how she , accommodated, did not crib during the 12 hour bumpy road trip. No air-conditioning, not even a seat for her. In my arms, finding comfort in simply being.

Since then there has been no stopping us.

We have been documenting our travels on www.instagram.com/the_lil_wanderer

She's five now and we have taken a number of journeys together, yet she continues to surprise me. Sometimes with her stamina, sometimes with her learning, sometimes simply because of her understanding.

Travelling has added so many dimensions to her (and of course my) personality. She has learnt compassion, learnt to try her best to help people out, to share whatever little we have, appreciate the beauty of nature and other beings.

She finds pleasures in simple things of life, playing with sand, soil and stones. Away for the short span from all our material belongings, being just us. Getting bored and un-bored by ourselves, mixing with people from all stages of life, from all kinds of lifestyles.

She has developed a broader, more accepting perspective. She sees how different people pray differently, or some who don’t. That goodness doesn’t necessarily come from being religious or from monetary pleasures. That kind people can sleep on the floors and in comfortable beds and so can she!

We have received so much love. So much kindness everywhere we travelled that I’m certain some of it has embedded itself in her heart as it has in mine and we hope we can pay it forward in some small way.

Our travels have either made her far more accomodating than an average 4 year old or simply brought out that side of her personality and most importantly, they have given me the confidence, that somewhere, somehow in my parenting journey, I’m on the right track.

To all the moms out there itching to travel, I'm not telling you it's easy, I'm telling you it's absolutely worth it!