4.

“By the time I was in my final year at university, I was exhausted from running the rat race. I still remember my six-year-old self under pressure to be at the top of the class. And it never stopped. Board exams. Joint Entrance Examinations. University exams. College placements. I wasn’t running away from hard work, but I hated the fact that life was all about grades rather than knowledge and salary rather than job satisfaction. So, I decided not to apply for any job. I knew if I got a job, it would be immensely difficult to quit. I knew I would be swayed away by the baits of promotions, comfort, and predictable income…So I quit my job before I got one. I still don’t have a college degree…”

“I’m traveling full-time and visit home only to meet my family and get visas. I always wanted to travel slowly so traveling isn’t all about ticking off the touristy attractions of a place from an itinerary prepared by travel agents. I immerse myself in its culture and local life when I spend 20–60 days at a place. I rent a room, get a scooter, and make local friends. I feel a part of the community. I feel I’m no longer being seen as an outsider. I feel accepted. I feel connected. This would have never been possible with a regular job. I’m never in a hurry to return home. Living this lifestyle, I feel every place I visit is a home…

I never run out of exciting places to see. As I can choose where I want to spend my time, I pick the ones most appealing and gain a new perspective. People say travel broadens your outlook towards the world and people. And it isn’t easy to know until you see the world from a different perspective. Sometimes you get surprised by the differences in cultures and sometimes you are amazed by the similarities….You are surprised by how some stereotypes of places its people are shattered and how some of them are strengthened.

For me, traveling is always more about the experiences than the destination. Despite being an unmatched brilliance, the Taj Mahal doesn’t evoke any emotion in me. However, I have sentiments attached to diving and exploring the magnificent underwater world of corals and sea creatures, biking through the clouds in the mountains, braving heavy rains, getting high on local drinks, losing my way in the forest, and many other experiences (some of which I won’t mention publicly).

Finally, traveling is all about the people. ‘Happiness is only real when shared.’ A good company can lighten up even a wrong place. I’ve met people from around the world and made many friends. I made a friend in Chiang Mai, and I met her again in Kuala Lumpur. I have friends all over the world.

Ultimately, ‘I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference.'”

—Aman M.