Globetrotters Writer Spotlight — Vidya Sury
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it is on my list!”
I am sure Susan Sontag’s quote will resonate with anyone who enjoys travel!
Hi Globetrotters. My name is…
Vidya Sury.
I come from…
India. But I am pretty sure I have a little bit of every place I ever visited in me. 💜
I work as a…
Freelance writer, manuscript editor, and blogger. As a blogger, I have had the opportunity to participate in influencer campaigns that involved a lot of travel, yay!
I love to travel because…
I enjoy visiting new places and collecting memories with my camera, both through solo travel and trips with friends and family. I love the perspective and education that travel brings. It is a wonderful feeling to share stories with others, and show them a part of the world, that they may never otherwise see.
I love learning new things, new languages (I speak 9), and making new friends. I’ve discovered the joy of getting lost and finding myself in places I probably couldn’t have visited if I had planned it.
I love the feeling of oneness with the world.
It is fascinating to discover the unique traditions and habits of a region and meet its people. One thing I am always thrilled about is the hospitality I receive, wherever I go. Truly, travel broadens the mind, and keeps you healthy! One day I hope to compile all my travel tales into a book. Oh wait, I did contribute a few stories to a travel coffee table book!
The best place I’ve been is…
Three countries and countless cities later, tough question but I’ll go with Himachal Pradesh, India. There is something absolutely magical about the state and I want to see every city and town in it, in this lifetime. It is as if time stands still in the beauty of nature. Nothing seems to matter except to just “be”, enjoying oneself, drowning in the sounds of birds, the breeze, the quiet. The peace of the monasteries speaks to my soul.
So far I’ve visited Kasauli, Solan, Chail, Shimla, Kufri, Dharamsala, McLeodGanj, and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. I love that we can stay in one city and have plenty to explore around it.
We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next to find ourselves — Pico Iyer
Everything about Himachal Pradesh is gorgeous — the weather, the charming and simple people, the food, the landscape, and most of all, peace in my heart. It feels like coming home. 🥰
In my spare time, I like to…
Dream. Make lists of things I’d like to do. Housework (so therapeutic)! I enjoy walking around my area. I read, cook, write, and spend time with friends and family. Make travel wishlists. Work hard at what I do so I can have enough money to support underprivileged children and fund my travel. Read travelogues, get to know places and people. And always look forward to the next trip.
My top travel tip is…
Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before — Dalai Lama
Don’t spend too much time deciding — just GO! Life is too short to put off feeling happy.
Enjoy every moment of the journey. “Take only memories, leave only footprints ” — Chief Seattle. I say go on foot — it is the best way to immerse yourself in a place, truly explore it and feel at one with the people. So I say walk walk walk.
Take photos. Take notes. Travel light. Enjoy yourself.
If I could live somewhere else, I’d live in…
I have lived in six cities so far and I really don’t think it matters, so long as I can travel, but yeah, I would be happy to spend a couple of months in all the places I visit, if that were practical. After reading backpacker travel stories, I dream of backpacking across the world. And while I am not sure if that will happen, I am glad to think that there’s plenty more travel ahead and am happy to dream of it! And oh, I’d love to spend time staying at a monastery. It is on my bucket list.
My favorite way to travel is…
Solo. Yes, I love my family and friends and have enjoyed fabulous trips together, but I do love to travel solo. The freedom that we enjoy from this is an education in itself.
Light. That’s a big lesson I’ve learned over the decades. I used to be the sort that packed heavy and then struggled — and then felt sheepish when I returned home to find I had hardly used most of the things I had lugged around.
Walk. The best way to enjoy a place.
I enjoy bus, train, jeep and air travel equally, although for long distances air travel is convenient. But I am not finicky about how I get there as long as I get there. I have traveled by goods trains, bullock carts, and on motorbikes with strangers, besides luxurious air travel and BMWs all the way. I focus on enjoying the journey.
Three lessons I’ve learned from traveling are…
My biggest lesson is that life is short. Too many places to see and too little time. So every chance I get, I take off. (And yes, I always have a bag packed and ready!)
Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world — Gustave Flaubert
- Travel puts life in perspective and teaches you patience. I feel as though I am part of something much bigger than myself.
People don’t take trips — trips take people— John Steinbeck
- Travel clears the mind. It takes the focus away from ourselves and gives us an education about the places we visit, people we meet, and experiences we enjoy.
- Travel has taught me that experiences matter far more than things. I stopped buying mementos a long time ago and prefer to take home memories and my own photography.
Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show— Unknown
- Travel helped me get out of my comfort zone and develop more self-confidence.. (Yes I know it is three lessons, but I just had to add this one!)
Besides the above — I’d say carry emergency medication, enough cash, and identification. 🙂
When I travel, I make it a point not to carry my laptop. Of course, I carry my phone, thanks to its excellent camera and for communication. I also pack a notebook and pencils/pens to write in.
My number one travel activity is…
Making memories through photography, writing about my trips, and reminiscing about them. I enjoy planning trips, whether or not I actually follow the plan.
I love hanging out with the locals and talking to them. I enjoy taking the path less traveled, because, besides the advertised what-to-see-in-(fill in the blank), the locals can often lead you to far more wonderful spots known only to them. And for that I am grateful.
❤
Thank you, Warren Patterson for this wonderful publication. Here’s Warren’s post inviting you to write about yourself:
Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles ❤ Did you smile today?
Help me support underprivileged children via Ko-Fi. Thank you so much! Subscribe to my daily motivational tip posts on Substack.
Have you written your ten things post? Tag me in it! Here’s mine.