Welcome to Journeys and Jottings.
I have always believed that the journey is the destination. Very often we fret ourselves on “getting there” but we forget to appreciate the journey itself. As a traveller, I was always hungrily looking for new experiences and discoveries. As one trip ended, I would be planning for the next, without savouring the memories of the first. And as travel became work, I started multitasking. I would post blogs on the go, write travel stories from airports, go live on Facebook, share constantly on Instagram and Twitter while hopping from one sight to another and posting selfies. However, a few years ago, I eventually made the transition to slow travel. And as mindfulness slowly seeped in, the journey became a form of meditation. In a way travel and mindfulness became synonymous. As someone who practises mindfulness, I believe in living in the moment and immersing myself in the experiences that life has to offer.
In this fortnightly newsletter, I would like to connect with you, share my thoughts on travel and life, introduce interesting people I have met, publish travel stories and experiences. We will talk about sustainability and inspirations, mindfulness and gratitude but mostly it will be about conversations on everyday life and ordinary people living extra.
So why do I love Slow Travel
Perhaps it is a bit like having a glass of wine, taking one sip at a time, feeling it in your palate, letting your mind imbibe its flavour, getting a bit giddy, and slowly feeling high. And that probably is why I love slow travel. It is an attitude that you cultivate. It’s about savouring the destination, rather than jumping from one place to another, on a manic sightseeing spree. Let the romance of the destination linger in your head and not be lost like a one-night stand.
Slow travel is a state of mind. It‘s about choices that you make as a traveller when you visit the destination. There is no sense of FOMO. You discover places on the go or you plan the day based on your interests. Sometimes I walk on the same road several times and find something different each time.
Here are some reasons why I love slow travel
A sense of high
Live like a local
Travel without an agenda
It's about experiences and conversations
Read more on my blog on how to practise mindfulness as a traveller.
If you are interested in knowing more about mindfulness, then you must read the books by revered Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, especially The Miracle of Mindfulness. You can also listen to his podcasts which I usually do, during my morning walks. My favourite quote is “We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.”
People Make Places
I have always been inspired by people and their stories. And I find myself influenced by entrepreneurs and self-made professionals who have carved a niche for themselves. One of them is Deepa Krishnan, the lady who weaves magic for artisans, weavers and travellers. Founder of The Magic Room , she is a travel and social entrepreneur who also takes you on The Magic Tours of India. You can follow her on Instagram at MagicToursofIndia . And here is the synopsis of a quick chat that I had with her.
1. Give us a quick glimpse into your Magic Room
The Magic Room is my new arts and crafts shop, and events venue in Mumbai. I call it a place of beauty and joy, where we can showcase all that is beautiful about India - Kantha hand-embroidered sarees from Santiniketan, beautiful Kutchi shawls, Gadwal silks, Kalahasti Kalamkari... the list goes on! We sell clothing, home decor, art, and craft, and we have a women's livelihood group where we take orders for stitching. We retail these online as well. The Magic Room is also the venue for many interesting talks on temple architecture, textile traditions, poetry, books etc. We also have workshops here, to learn Indian folk art, yoga, dance, etc.
2. Three fascinating trails that you would recommend from your Magic tours
Our textile and craft trails are fabulous. You can try the Gujarat/Rajasthan trail, which starts at Bhuj, and goes via Ahmedabad, into Udaipur and Jaipur. The weaving, embroidery, block-printing and jewellery of this area are a shopper's delight. We have a heritage, crafts and food trail through Tamil Nadu which is one of my favourites; in fact, I am just back from Thanjavur and the temples, handloom weavers, bronze making and “veenai“ making workshops were wonderful to visit. For those who like more offbeat stuff, I suggest a tour with us through Madhya Pradesh. MP is really a treasure waiting to be discovered.
3. People make places - can you share one story from your tours that has inspired you
Many years ago, I went to Dausa near Jaipur, and visited an NGO founded by Rajendra Singh, who they call the Waterman of India. I came back from Dausa and literally for a whole week I kept babbling about the miracle of water in Rajasthan, to everyone I met! I was determined to do this kind of in Maharashtra as well, and soon after that I began working on rainwater harvesting, check dam building, water wheels and other rural projects in Jawhar (which is mainly an advasi belt). Now we take tourists to see these projects both in Dausa as well as in Jawhar. It is inspiring and rewarding to be able to do something with meaning.
4. How can we help entrepreneurs and social communities during this difficult time
The best help you can offer is by travelling, visiting craftspeople, and buying their beautiful products. The handmade sector needs that kind of support through this challenging period. And if you can't travel physically, then let your fingers do the travelling! Check out The Magic Room online . A lot of our stuff is sourced from non-profits, or directly from artisans, and I am sure you will definitely find things that you enjoy.
5. What’s the one mantra that we must all follow to stay focused during this time ?
Have courage, and work hard. Don't give up. Things always get better eventually. The last year has been the most testing time for all of us in travel, but I believe the worst is behind us now.
100 Stories of India
As a traveller and storyteller, my passion lies in exploring the nooks and corners of India. I am always looking for travel experiences that are both offbeat and remote. I have been working on a series called #100storiesofIndia and I would like to share one of them with you for your armchair reading.
As a heritage enthusiast, I had attended a short course on the history of Jainism in Tamil Nadu and I was fascinated to learn that they are an indigenous community. I started exploring sites and my travels took me into the heart of Madurai. And that is how I discovered Samanar Malai, roughly translated as Jain Hills, located about 15 kms away from the city.
It was a steep climb and it’s not for the faint-hearted. But it was not in vain. An open gallery fanned out in front of me. The wall was filled with carvings of Jain Tirthankaras, including the 24th and last of them – Mahaveer. There was another carving of Bahubali standing tall. While this site is called Pechipallam, there is another one behind the hillock called Settipodavu.
Jagged edges on the rockface took me to a dark cave where I saw faded carvings on the wall. The bats were not happy to be disturbed from their siesta but as I walked ahead an intricately carved sculpture of Mahaveera greeted me. The sun’s rays glossed over the carving, lighting it up, giving it a warm glow. I learnt that this carving was one of the best-preserved Jain sculptures, located in the Jain caves Madurai.
The Top 3 !
This is not a countdown but just a simple recommendation from me and perhaps, later from the readers too. I am not really sticking to any particular genre and it could be anything from shows to movies, hobbies to stories.
I have been fascinated by Japanese since I was in college and I even learnt the first level as well. I am currently reading Pico Iyer’s “ A Beginner’s Guide to Japan” and he says “Japan has taught me how deeply the truest things lie beyond the reach of any language .” And yet, some words and phrases have stayed in my mind and have made an indelible impression
Ichi Go Ichi E
I learnt this phrase from my Japanese guide in Kyoto who told me that this is the very essence of Japanese culture. A phrase that has its origins in the Japanese tea ceremony, it simply means that every moment is special, happens just once in your lifetime, and has to be treasured and savoured. There is a beautiful book written on this concept by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia, authors of “Ikigai.”
Wabi Sabi
Celebrating the transcience and imperfection in life is the Japanese way of life. I was once again introduced to the concept of Wabi Sabi when I was lost in the beauty of the Ginkakuji temple in Kyoto, which embodies the very essence of Wabi Sabi. While the temple, known for its silver pavilion is not complete, its beauty still radiates in its simplicity.
Mono no aware
It’s an extremely beautiful word that can only be experienced and not be translated. A bittersweet moment, while appreciating beauty and yet “being aware of the passage of time.” There is a poignant feeling that is laced with this word. For instance, the hanami or the appreciation of the cherry blossom season that occurs every year comes with the melancholic awareness that this beautiful season will last for just a few weeks.
Are there other words or phrases that resonate with you?
Feedback, please!
So that brings us to the end of the first newsletter of Journeys and Jottings. And I would love your feedback. We are going to keep the flow of conversations going and I would like to feature more about you and your life as well. Please share your exciting stories and your travel plans as well. And I would really appreciate it if you will share my newsletter with your friends and family.
See you soon ! You can also read my travel stories on my blog and follow me on my social media
Blog - www.lakshmisharath.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/lakshmisharath
Facebook - www.facebook.com/travelwithlakshmi
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Thank you so much for the Newsletter Lakshmi. Absolutely enjoyed this read after a really packed day at work. Infact i am writing to you from my office desk before logging off and heading home. I like how you aptly compared slow travel to wine tasting. The way you weave stories and preset it like an art work is unmatched. Looking forward for the next one. Have a good evening- Vidya (vidoutboundaries)
It is so good to read your newsletter Lakshni mam. Even I prefer slow travelling. It actually helps to learn more.about the place and stories of
people living there.Moreover you can enjoy some peace of.mind which we perceive in travel places amid mountains or riverside. We can just soak in the nature and feel every bit of our journey. I always get inspired by reading your blogs. Madhya Pradesh has a lot to offer and is next up on my list though.