24 Things That Happened When We Traveled Around for Music Festivals

24 Things That Happened When We Traveled Around for Music Festivals

If you have been following our adventures on Instagram and Facebook, then you know for sure that our summer was full of music festivals.

We started in Manali, India where we danced with our Japanese family at Dance of Shiva festival. Next on our list was Germany’s Freqs of Nature where it was time to dance on dark psychedelic tunes. After Germany, it was time enjoy old school psychedelic tunes and meet our S.U.N. Festival family in Hungary. Right after this, Modem’s amazing hi tech décor and music blew us away next to the Springs of Mreznica in Croatia.

Somewhere around the full moon, it was time to be ONE with nature (and people) at Boom Festival in Portugal. After Boom, we volunteered at Lost Theory Festival’s kitchen in Spain. Our last festival of the season was Earthquake festival in Germany.

Disclaimer: Just because we attend music festivals, doesn’t mean that we participate in intoxicants. We do it for our love of music and nothing else. Yes, we perhaps the most sober people in a festival with just a beer or two in their system.
 

Seven music festivals, six countries in just one summer – obviously a lot of things were bound to happen. If I start writing in detail, I can easily write enough material to make a book but I don’t want to bore you to death. So here are N things that happened during our summer full of music festivals:

 

01 | We got to travel for REALLY cheap (sometimes FREE)

Summer full of music festivals

Summer full of music festivals

Euro trips are expensive, no? Not so much of you hitchhike. The best thing about traveling from one festival to another was we didn’t even have to make an effort to hitchhike. From one festival to another, it was easy to find people who were happy to take us in their campervan to the next festival. Our best ride to remember was from Portugal to Spain in our friend’s ancient campervan.

 

02 | We lost a lot of things… and found many others

Yes, people lose a lot of things at music festivals – so did we. But each time we lost something; we found a replacement for free. No we’re not talking about finding other people’s lost things, but we got these things from people who were leaving the festival and didn’t want to carry them.

You may also like – How I met my soul mate in a psytrance music festival 

03 | Strange things happened with our hair

I went with 22 dreadlocks and came back with just 10. San went with 4 and came back with 5. Conclusion: dreadlocks require hard work and maintenance.

04 | We realized it is possible to dance for 30 hours straight

Energy on the dance floor at Boom Festival 2016

We danced for 30 hours straight at Boom Festival 2016

Blame it on the lineup or the vibes on the dance floor but at Boom festival, San and I ended up spending two nights and one day on the dance floor without sleeping. How did we do it? We have no idea.

 

05 | We now know how much fun it is to volunteer at a music festival

San and I working inside Lost Theory Festival's kitchen

San and I working inside Lost Theory Festival’s kitchen

For the first time in our lives, San and I volunteered at a music festival. It was the Lost Theory festival in Spain where we worked in the kitchen for four hours every day. In return, our festival entry and food was absolutely free!

 

06 | We fell in love with Acai

Acai or açaí berry is a Brazilian fruit that should be labeled as the perfect party food. We tried it for the first time at Boom Festival in Portugal and ate it almost everyday after. It is very low in sugar but very high in vitamin C and antioxidants. It provided us with a much needed energy boost after dancing for hours.

You may also enjoy – 9 Reasons Why We Love Music Festivals

07 | We realized that every festival has an outdoor make out spot (you just need to find it)

Modem Festival, Croatia 2016

Modem Festival, Croatia 2016

While it may not appear so during the day but things drastically change when it gets dark. Not every area is well lit and if you try hard enough, you can find many spots that you can have to just to yourselves for a long time.

08 | We met our favorite PsyTrance artist – Arjuna

Arjuna at Modem Festival, Photo by Es Web

Arjuna at Modem Festival, Photo by Es Web

After dancing to Arjuna’s music at every festival, we finally got a chance to meet him and hug him. Believe it or not but at every festival we decided are sleep (and tripping) schedule based on when he was playing.

09 | We met the famous Mr. Pink (and also his soul brother)

Mr Pink at Boom Festival, Portugal - 22 Things that happened during our summer full of music festivals
Me with Mr. Pink at Boom festival 2016- 22 Things that happened during our summer full of music festivals
Me hugging Mr Pink at Boom Festival - 22 Things that happened during our summer full of music festivals

If you’re a regular at PsyTrance festivals, then you know of Mr. Pink for sure. Since the last two years, he’s in almost every PsyTrance music festival video where he is colored fully pink. Well, we have been following his adventures everywhere and at the Boom festival, we actually got to hug him. Check it out!

10 | We can now use almost every kind of toilet

Compost toilet at Modem festival - the cleanest festival toilet this season

Compost toilet at Modem festival – the cleanest festival toilet this season

Believe it or not, dirty toilets are my biggest fear. A few months back, I would have preferred to jump off a cliff than to use a toilet that’s dirty. However, seven back to back music festivals and 100s of dirty toilets – I had no choice but to face my fear head on. Yes, now I can use every kind of toilet.

11 | We now know that almost everything can be recycled… even poop

A beautiful garden at Boomland which was built using human waste

A beautiful garden at Boomland (Boom Festival 2016, Portugal) which was built using human waste

Do you know how much environmental damage a music festival can cause if not done correctly? Almost all of the festivals that we attended this summer had invested in tonnes of environmental programs to leave no trace on the land. Almost all the waste was recycled, even poop. Most of these festivals also had compost toilets where they recycled human waste to provide for food for building elaborate gardens.

12 | We became camping experts

Our camp at Modem festival 2016, Croatia

Our camp at Modem festival 2016, Croatia

Camping is a very important part of a music festival experience. Pitching a tent is a different matter but making it super comfortable requires a little more work. After spending most of our summer in our tent, we became camping experts and can now make our tent almost as comfortable as our bedroom.

You may also like – The Ultimate Packing List for Music Festivals

 

13 | We met a lot of talented children

Modem baby by GemeosVB Fotografia

Modem baby by GemeosVB Fotografia

Music festivals have areas that are specifically designed for children. We think that parents who bring their children to festivals end up fueling their creativity. Being in a creative zone for 4-5 days continuously is very good to open up their minds’ creative window. We couldn’t help but notice how talented most of these children were.

14 | We now know that hand fans make the perfect festival accessory

My hand fan with a water spray in Portugal
My paper hand fan

Even if the temperature is low, things are bound to get sweaty after dancing for a few hours. A hand fan is the perfect dance accessory because you can fan your face while dancing.

Read: 17 Psychedelic Festivals You Should Attend in 2017

15 | We learnt that tutus aren’t only for girls

Why did I ever think that tutus looked good only on girls? They look amazing on women and men alike!

 

16 | We had to take a “forced vacation” from blogging

A Psytrance Festival in Old Manali (Dance of Shiva)

Dance of Shiva Festival in Old Manali, 2016

You must be thinking – wait, isn’t travel blogging a permanent vacation? Wrong. It’s a lot of work and it requires good Internet connectivity. Of course I was fooling myself when I thought I was going to be able to continue blogging from my phone but in reality, I was too wasted to ever charge my phone.

 

17 | We lost a lot of weight

What else did you imagine would happen after dancing for many hours and eating a lot of Acai?

 

18 | We embraced “Free Body Culture”

Free body culture at Lost Theory festival 2016

Free body culture at Lost Theory festival 2016

Free body culture.. or as Germans call it Freikörperkultur is awesome. There is nothing sexual about it but it’s just an expression of being free and natural. Naked body is not a source of shame but in almost all the civilizations, it is a social taboo. Festival naturism is real. And it’s not just limited to Woodstock.

 

19 | Our skin became better because of natural soap

At most of the festivals, we were given free bars of natural soap so that we could use them to bathe in rivers (Modem), waterfalls (Lost Theory) or lakes (Boom). These soaps that are usually made with olive oil, coconut and honey, are 100% biodegradable because they don’t contain chemical detergents that most of other soaps do. Obviously these are good for the environment they are very good for hair and skin too!

 

20 | We fell in love with life a little more..

Bring Out Your Inner Child at Boom Festival 2016 Portugal

Falling in love with life a little more at Boom Festival 2016 Portugal

At music festivals, people celebrate life and happiness. It is difficult not being happy when the collective energy of everyone’s happiness influences you. It works a little like laughter Yoga that is based on the principle of collective energy. These festivals gave us a massive dose of happiness, hope and love. They changed us for life.

21 | We sold little things to make money

San and I selling earrings and bindi at Lost Theiry festival, Spain

San and I selling earrings and bindi at Lost Theiry festival, Spain

Here’s a picture of our little “pirate shop” where we’re selling small dreamcatcher earrings from Nepal and bindis from India. In all honestly, we opened our shop for just one day and made less than 10 euros so gave up.

22 | Our Wardrobe became “fashionably” torn

Torn clothes but fashionably so

Torn clothes but fashionably so

A little rip in my tights? No worries, I can make them evenly ripped. While I’m at it, why don’t I do the same with my tunic?

23 | We got a little more creative

We spent hours drawing, making new things with our hands and San now makes jewelry!

Getting creative at Earthquake festival in Germany (2016)

Getting creative at Earthquake festival in Germany (2016)

24 | We made at least 150 new friends

Some of our festival friends

Some of our festival friends

At the first festival we had just 20 friends. By the time it was our 7th festival, we realized we had made at least 150 new friends from all over the world. Why not, coconut?

Summer of 2016 was the best summer of our lives. We met many amazing people, discovered many new things about ourselves and fell in love with life a little more than before. For us, traveling for music festivals was definitely cheaper than just backpacking around because move from one place to another for free and sleep for free.  These festivals changed us for life and things will never be the same again.

Do you also love music festivals as much as we do? If so, share this post with your friends!

Hey, if you want to see more pictures from our music festival madness, search #PsytranceDrifterPlanet on Instagram. 🙂

 

9 Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing (And Why)

9 Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing (And Why)

9 Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing (And Why)

9 Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing – rants of a travel addict!

Being a travel addict, I often find myself in conversations related to travel. Most of them are lovely but once in a while I come across situations where people say the strangest things about my lifestyle. At those times, I try my best to keep a straight face but I don’t always succeed. Why? Because my facial expressions are too honest to lie! If you’re a travel addict too, I know you go through the same too. Below are the things that I and many other travel addicts are sick of hearing and why:

 

01 | “What? You’re traveling AGAIN?”

“Yes, I’m traveling again. Sorry about that! Please don’t look so mad about it. I travel often. Please live with it.”

Often cute when said with a genuine smile, this statement changes to annoying when it’s combined with an accusatory tone. I absolutely love it when a friend says it out of genuine interest but loathe it when someone says it with a critical look in their eyes.

02 | You have way too much money!

 “Oh yes! I have been winning jackpots every month!”

Not only this statement assumes that it is only rich who travel, but it completely overlooks budget travel possibilities. No I don’t have too much money, but I know how to save. Travel does not have to be expensive if you are ready to sacrifice on a few comforts. Did I ever tell you about a friend who is traveling the world on his bicycle to save money on travel costs? We don’t travel on bicycles but we often camp to save money.

San and I camping to save money

San and I camping to save money

03 | I can’t afford to travel as much as you do.

“Oh, that’s too bad! BTW, I love your new car and your black designer dress that matches with it.”

It’s funny when this statement comes from people who carry expensive phones, wear designer clothes and eat out more than once a week. I have no problem if you like collecting things but don’t whine about not being able to afford traveling.

04 | You need to settle down / have a baby / buy a house.

“Of course! It makes total sense if I live according to what you think is right”

9 Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing

Aargh!! – 9 Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing

Out of all the statements, this is perhaps the worst one. It bothers me because it assumes that there is a particular way of life that everyone needs to follow. Yes, it’s amazing when people settle down, have babies and buy houses, but it’s not everyone’s dream.

05 | Will you get a perfume / iPad (or any other expensive product) for me? I’ll pay you when you come back!

“Sure! I carry a lot of extra cash when I travel to buy things for people. In fact, I have also paid for extra baggage allowance for my flight JUST for this.”

Traveling on a budget means sometimes not having extra cash to buy an expensive product for a friend and taking money upon returning. It also means occasionally trying to fit everything in carry-on bags to avoid baggage fee for budget airlines. Moreover, even if I’m paid in advance, I do not like the responsibility of carrying around expensive products because I may lose or break them.

06 | Can you change your dates a little? I will come with you!

“Why not. Anything for you. If you want, I will cancel my trip.”

This statement scares me! I often end the conversation here because I do not want to get pushed to travel with people that I don’t want to. It’s important for me to pick the right travel buddy, else I prefer to travel solo. Moreover, changing dates usually means incurring additional costs, applying for new leaves and turning the schedule around.

07 | What about your job? You need to work hard and make money.

“Absolutely! I was born to work hard and be a model employee”

Picture this – when you’re on your deathbed and are thinking about your life, would you be happier remembering how hard you worked OR how much you got to experience by traveling? For me, it’s the latter. Which one did you pick? Bronnie Ware, a nurse who counseled patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives, wrote a book called “The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying” where #1 is not having the courage to live a life true to them and not the life others expected. I live my life the way I want to and I hope you do the same.

08 | Will you organize a trip for me and help me book hotels, flights and connections?

“Oh yes, I have a lot of spare time between my job and my frequent travels specifically for this.”

Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing

Grrrr – Things Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing

As much as I love sharing my actual itineraries, I absolutely hate organizing trips for others. Why? Because it’s a lot of work and I know I can screw up. I have done it a few times but it’s stressful because if they hate it, it’s my fault for ruining their vacation. Sorry, but a travel addict is not necessarily a travel agent or a tour guide.

09 | Why are you running away from your life?

“You guessed it. I have the most boring life and running away is the only way to make it exciting.”

There are many different ways to run away from life – drinking, avoiding difficult conversations and more.  Traveling is not running away from life, its facing it head on. It teaches you things about life which you can’t learn in the comfort of your bedroom or your office cubicle. I travel to experience life, not to escape it.

Are you also a travel addict and couldn’t help nodding to these points? Share it on Facebook and let your friends know!

Do you know of a few more things that travel addicts are sick of hearing? Let me know in the comment section.

You might also like:

21 Signs You’ve Been Bitten by The Travel Bug

20 Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Trip

 

9 Things Travel Addicts are sick of hearing

9 Things Travel Addicts are sick of hearing

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A hippie travel writer with flowers in her hair, Sonal Kwatra Paladini should have been born in the 1960s! Bitten by the infamous travel bug, she has an itch to explore resort-free destinations, offbeat islands and small villages. Join her and her husband (Sandro) on their journey as they hop from one music festival to another and explore the beautiful world that they are in love with! Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Sonal Kwatra Paladini

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Why Holi is the most AWESOME Festival EVER

Why Holi is the most AWESOME Festival EVER

Why Holi is the most AWESOME Festival EVER

Holi may be an Indian and Nepalese festival but it is now popular all over the world. Why? Because it’s AWESOME! Some call it the festival of colours and others call it the festival of sharing love – I call it the festival of FUN. In my opinion, it is the most amazing and fun festival ever – let me tell you why:

01 | Perfect Weather

Holi Spring GifHoli is a spring festival and it’s perhaps the best time to be outdoors! It is that time of the year when we say a happy BYE to winters and gear up for the warmth.

02 | Colour here, colour there, colour everywhere!

Holi Colors Gif

If you think India is super colourful, wait till you celebrate Holi here. Everything gets painted in different super bright colours that will make your eyes pop out.

03 | Everyone Turns Into A Kid

Holi games gifWell, who wouldn’t turn into a kid when they get to colour each other? It’s completely OKAY to get super messy and enjoy the messiness for many hours!

Read: Tips for celebrating Holi in India.. from an Indian

04 | Watergun fights!

Holi Watergun Fights

Forget paintball – a watergun fight on Holi is so much more fun! Oh and usually the liquid colour used in these guns takes ages to come off.

05 | Water balloon wars

Holi Water BalloonsWarning: these balloons really hurt. However, nothing beats the fun of dodging them when they are thrown at you. In most cities, kids’ mafia starts these water balloon fights weeks before the actual festival in their revenge against grownups for making them study!

06 | Marijuana Drinks – Bhang Lassi or Bhang Thandai!

holi bhang gif

Oh you thought it couldn’t get better? On Holi, drinks made with marijuana leaves (Bhang) are available almost EVERYWHERE! But be careful, they are POTENT as hell.

07 | So Much Psychedelia!

Holi Color SplashWell, why not? Everyone gets painted in many different colors. It is the MOST psychedelic party in the world where everything and everyone is in technicolour.

Read: 17 Psychedelic Music Festivals You Should Attend in 2017

08 | Everyone is a Friend

It’s because you cannot recognize your real friends because they are painted in colours so it’s completely ok to corner a stranger and pretend they are your friends just to shower them with  some colours.

08 | Parties EVERYWHERE

Holi Street PartyAs soon as you get out of your house, it’s a big fat party on the streets. And if this is not enough, there are MANY parties everywhere on Holi. Some are free and some are not. We love Rang Festival party in New Delhi or Hilltop Party in Goa.

Read: 20 Indian Female Travelers to Follow on Instagram

09 | Everyone Wants to Get Drunk

Because, WHY NOT!! Bring on the beer! Give me that whiskey! Let’s all get drunk!

10 | Gujiya Time!

Holi GujiaDo you like dumplings? Imagine a dumpling with sweet stuffing with a few nuts! Even those who don’t have a sweet tooth relish this dessert on Holi.

 

11 | That Satisfying Long Shower After Playing Holi for Many Hours

Holi Shower

This is perhaps the best shower of the year for many! Honestly, it may not remove all the colours but the feeling is awesome!

 

What are YOUR favorite things about Holi? I would LOVE to know!

Like this post? Share in on Facebook so that your friends can enjoy the awesomeness.

You might also like:

Tips for Celebrating Holi in India

The Experience Festival of Koh Tao

Full Moon Party of Koh Phangan

Wonderland Festival of Germany

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Why Holi is the MOST AMAZING festival EVER

A hippie travel writer with flowers in her hair, Sonal Kwatra Paladini should have been born in the 1960s! Bitten by the infamous travel bug, she has an itch to explore resort-free destinations, offbeat islands and small villages. Join her and her husband (Sandro) on their journey as they hop from one music festival to another and explore the beautiful world that they are in love with! Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Sonal Kwatra Paladini

51 Reasons Why Life in India is AWESOME

51 Reasons Why Life in India is AWESOME

To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life in India can be joyous, tough, colorful, stressful, chaotic but never boring. You must have heard numerous times that India is one of those countries that you can love and hate at the same time. While I am an occasional victim of “i-hate-india” syndrome, for most of the days I absolutely LOVE living here (and you will too if you’re planning on moving here). 

Here’s why Life in India is Awesome

01) India is a food lover’s paradise – nothing beats Indian food – curries, pakodas, momos, samosas, dosas, naans, sorpotel, kebabs, paneer and so much more! For a change, the vegetarians will not miss out on the delicious fun. The best part is how the taste of the food changes from one part of the country to another. For instance, street food in Delhi is completely different as compared to Mumbai.

Indian Food - Why I love living in India by DrifterPlanet.com

Indian Food – there’s something for everyone here!

 

02) Unity in Diversity – every city is different, people are different and there are many different subcultures. It is a lot of fun discovering new things about them even after living in India for years.

03) India offers interesting sights everywhere – it is a photographer’s delight!

Elephant Bath in Hampi - Why I love living in India by DrifterPlanet.com

Elephant Bath in Hampi

 

04) It is the land of mother of all the teas – Masala Chai, which is available in every nook and corner.

Masala Chai - Why Life in India is Awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Masala Chai!

05) Holi, Diwali, Onma, Eid, Lohri, Pongal, Christmas and more.. more than 40 festivals in a year that are super colorful and totally psychedelic! Depending on where you live, you will get a chance to experience as many as you want. More festivals = more holidays!

Pongal Celebrations - why life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Pongal Celebrations in Mumbai (Image Source: IBtimes.co.in)

06) You will seldom face a language barrier here, despite the fact we have 22 official languages and 1652 unofficial languages because English unifies all of India.

07) Kaam Wali, Maali, Phool Wala, Driver – the comfort of domestic help will spoil you for life without breaking your bank balance.

Domestic Help is affordable in India - Why Life in India is Awesome

Domestic Help is affordable in India. Image Source

08) Traveling in Indian Railways is awesome – from luxury of a 1st class to affordability of a general class, there is something for everyone.

Indian Railways Ride - Why I love living in India by DrifterPlanet.com

Me enjoying a ride on Indian Railways

09) India is a paradise for shopaholics with endless possibilities for every budget.

Shops in Jaipur - Why I love living in India by DrifterPlanet.com

Shops in Jaipur – India is a paradise for Shopaholics!

10) Mangoes! They are a gift of GOD – taste one in India and you won’t like them anywhere else.

11) Haircuts, manicures, waxing – beauty salons are affordable.

12) Want an AFFORDABLE tailor made suit that fits like a dream? India is the place!

13) India is a sensory overload – your senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching get bombarded with stimulation.

14) Beauty in chaos – India demonstrates that.

Beauty in Chaos - why Life in India is awesome

Beauty in Chaos! Image Source: Telegraph.co.uk

15) Living in India, you will always be around architectural miracles that will make your jaws drop. (Of course I was not gonna leave our beloved Taj Mahal in Agra out of this list). Every city has some history and landmarks that have their own story to tell. By the way, check out this guide about what to do on a day trip in Agra.

 

Taj Mahal - Why Life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Taj Mahal

 

16) Need your dose of mountain magic when you’re in India? There’s nothing like the majestic Himalayas!

The Himalayas - Why I love Living in India

The Himalayas

 

17) Or tropical paradise? The pristine white sand beaches with turquoise blue water of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – and yet not touristy!

Havelock Island - Why I Love Living in India

Havelock Island of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

 

18) Or maybe you want a change of scene? Try the hauntingly beautiful sand dunes of Rajasthan.

Khuri Sand Dunes in Rajasthan - Why I love living in India by DrifterPlanet.com

Khuri Sand Dunes in Rajasthan

 

19) Want to ski? The ski slopes of Gulmarg or Auli are kickass!

20) Or, you may want to see the beauty of living root bridges in Nongriat, Meghalaya. And many, many undiscovered offbeat destinations within India. Seriously, India is a traveler’s delight! There is so much to see that preparing the best itinerary for India is not so easy.

21) Living in India will test your limits in every way and toughen you up. After this, you can live just about anywhere.

22) You can get almost anything delivered to your doorstep for free. Save the cell phone number of your corner store owner to open the world of possibilities.

23) Sarees! They make every woman look sexy!

Sarees - Why Life in India is AWESOME!

Sarees – they make Indian women look sexy! (Image Source)

24) It is the land of spirituality. You can learn Yoga for free in a local park or a temple. (Only if you can wake up as early as 5:00 am)

Yoga - Why Life in India is AWESOME

Yoga – Image Source

25) That awesome feeling with you hear people say how traveling in India has changed them for life.

26) Bindis on the foreheads, flowers in the hair and henna on palms – it is the land of hippie fashion!

27) The amazing sight of Rangoli artwork outside houses on festivals and special occasions – very Indian and very pretty!

Beautiful Rangoli Artwork - Why Life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Beautiful Rangoli Artwork

28) Sometimes when a yes or a no is not an acceptable answer, there’s a solution for that in India – the famous Indian head wobble.

Indian Head Wobble - Why Life In India is Awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Mr. Bean shows how to do the The Famous Indian Head Wobble

29) Bhaang lassi – where else will you find a super potent marijuana milk shake that’s sold legally?

Bhang Lassi - why life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Government Authorized Bhang Lassi Shop in Jaiselmer

30) Old Monk in winters and kingfisher beer in summers – Zindabaad!

Old Monk in Winters and Kingfisher in Summers - Why life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Old Monk in Winters and Kingfisher in Summers

31) Watching the country’s obsession with cricket and how everyone turns overly patriotic when there’s a match against Pakistan – pure awesomeness. Yes, India has the best cricket team. Period.

32) Jets here, jets there, jets everywhere. In urban India, you will find jets in almost every toilet. In rural India, you will find floor toilets with “lota”.

Typical Toilet with a Jet of Urban India by Drifter Planet

Typical Toilet with a Jet of Urban India

33) The sounds of vegetable sellers on the street, vehicles moving, children playing – these background sounds of life will never make you feel lonely. 34) Indian marriages = week long festivals. All other marriages are too boring in comparison.

A Typical Indian Wedding by Drifter Planet

A Typical Indian Wedding

35) Indian traffic will make you an expert driver. I’m a living proof of that – I can now maneuver my car through ANY narrow or twisted lane that’s full of vehicles of different kinds, animals, people and what not.

36) The traffic and long queues will teach you how to be patient.

Traffic in India by DrifterPlanet.com

Traffic in India (Image Source: Indiatimes.in)

37) Oh and the state of traffic is always a good excuse for being late. No one ever doubts it.

38) Nothing can beat a good old underground psychedelic trance party of Goa. After all, “Goa Trance” originated here.

A party at Hill top (Vagator) Goa

A party at Hill top (Vagator) Goa

39) Random sighting of animals everywhere – cows, monkeys sometimes even peacocks.

Monkey on the street in India - why life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Monkey on the street in India

40) The possibility of a “jugaar” approach if things don’t work out normal way.

Definition of Jugaad by DrifterPlanet.com

Definition of Jugaad

41) Autorichshaws! They are everywhere and make life easy. (commonly knowns as Tuk-tuks outside India)

Autorickshaws - why life in India is awesome

Autorickshaws make life easy! (Image Source: Economictimes)

42) Indian offices are like families – everyone eats lunch together.

43) Witnessing Diwali celebrations that begin a month before the festival – dandiya dance nights, Diwali Melas (fairs), Ram leela performances (play), card parties and beautiful decorations.

Diwali in India by Drifter Planet

Diwali in India by Drifter Planet

44) Watching how the entire country comes together during Ramzam month for iftar to experience delicious treats on the streets. Try Delhi’s Jama Masjid road or Mumbai’s Minara Masjid Lane, and Mohammed Ali Road.

Jama Maszid Lane during Ramzan - Why Life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Jama Maszid Lane during Ramzan

45) Celebrating Holi with powdered colors, water balloons and water guns. You can color just about anyone that you see on the street. It’s a big, fat psychedelic party!

Holi - why life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Holi – it’s a big fat psychedelic party where everyone’s invited (Source: Imgur.com)

46) Being a part of Christmas celebrations and parties with a dose of Indian-ness. Attending midnight mass and watching how the streets light up, especially in Old Goa, Shillong, Kolkata and Pondicherry.

 

47) Eating the langars of Gurudwaras! A full plate of delicious hygienic vegetarian meal can be enjoyed for free by anyone of any religion in these beautiful Sikh temples.

 

48) Are you a dog lover? There’s a lot of free love on Indian streets for dog lovers because killing of stray dogs is illegal in the country as of 2001. Most of these dogs are well fed and given rabies shot by the local residents and NGOs.

Stray Dogs in India - Why Life In India is Awesome

Stray Dogs in India

49) Indian street food has toughened up my digestive system. I can now eat street food anywhere in the world without any stress.

 

50) The number of people in your support system of family and friends is massive! It’s big enough to form your own political party if you want. This is kinda obvious considering the population situation of India.

 

51) Sab Kuch Milega! (Everything is possible) It’s true! See what Wandering Earl has to say about this.

Sab Kuch Milega - Why Life in India is awesome by DrifterPlanet.com

Sab Kuch Milega – India’s magical mantra

Need more proof that living in India is awesome? Ask his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists who lives in Dharamshala, India. If you nodded your head to a few or all of the above statements, please share this post with everyone you know! PS: it’s a light hearted post, so please don’t take things seriously!

You might also like:

Delhi Travel Tips – 21 Things to Keep in Mind While Visiting Delhi

Goa – Why I love and keep going back

Why Holi is the Most Amazing Indian Festival

11 Indian Girls That Are Totally Rocking Solo Travel

Havelock Island – White Sand Beach Destination of India

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Life in India IS AWESOME by DrifterPlanet.com

Life in India IS AWESOME by DrifterPlanet.com

20 Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Trip

20 Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Trip

Whether you’re a full time traveler or a weekend tripper – at one point or the other, you are bound to make a travel mistake. We all do! While some mistakes can teach you what not to do, the others can seriously f*uck up your trip.

Here is a list of travel mistakes that you should definitely avoid, so that you don’t end up ruining your trip:

Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Trip

1) Planning Too Many Things

While it’s good to have a general idea about what you want to do but planning your schedule from breakfast to nightcap can end up limiting your experience. Moreover, you risk missing out on places that no one wrote about on the internet.

Xam - Travel Mistakes by Drifter Planet

A packed itinerary can end up restricting you – Photo by Xam Julliarde

 

2) No Proper Research

Are you aware that there are many people that are denied to board their flights or are turned away from immigration because of things like passport expiry date in less than six months or not having booked a return ticket?  

Even if you hold a passport that doesn’t require a visa for your destination country, you NEED to do some basic level research. Reaching the wrong airport terminal or not knowing about the scarcity of ATMs – these are situations that can be avoided if you read a few destination specific travel tips such as these travel tips about Myanmar or these tips about visiting New Delhi.

3) Not Buying Travel Insurance

While on the road, you never know what may happen.  Invest in a good travel insurance plan to guard you against thefts, lost baggage or medical emergencies.

4) Not Taking Vaccinations Seriously

There’s no better way to ruin your trip than getting a bout of flu on the road. Do take your vaccinations seriously to avoid such situations. Do you know that there are a few countries that you can’t enter without getting vaccinated?

5) Not Being Careful About Shampoo Caps

Let’s face it – this has happened to all of us at least once. This little “accident” can mess up your trip if your gadgets are in the same bag as your toiletries! This can be prevented by letting out extra air in the bottle, covering the bottle opening with two plastic bags and putting each product in its own zip lock bag.

Nomadic Boys - Travel Mistakes by Drifter Planet

A shampoo bottle leak can totally destroy your gadgets and your mood. Photo by Nomadic Boys

6) Over packing

I know it’s difficult to not pack all your favorite clothes but think about how much weight you will have to carry around if you don’t do this smartly. Additionally, your heavy luggage will restrict you from doing a few things, like what happened with me in Railay!

7) Not Alerting Your Bank before You Travel

If you try to use an ATM located in a new country without alerting your bank, it may appear to them as suspicious activity and they may just block your card. A few minutes of prework can save you hours of pain if you get stranded without money.

8) Not keeping enough time between connections (Flights / Buses / Trains / Boats, etc.)

Back in December 2014, I barely made it to Don Muang Airport from Suvarnabhumi Airport for my next flight because of a bad traffic situation. As I fidgeted nervously on my shuttle seat on the way, I cursed myself for not keeping enough time between these two flights. I was lucky that I made it on time but I promised myself not to take such risks going forward. It’s uncertain because of immigration delays, traffic jams or arriving at the wrong terminal. Don’t do it.

Keep Enough Time Between Connections - Travel Mistakes by Drifter Planet

Not keeping enough time between connections can sometimes go wrong

9) Keeping all your money in one place

If you keep all your money together, then you’re making things easy for the thieves. Do keep some emergency funds in a few secret spots in your hand luggage.

10) Drinking Tap Water

The fastest way to fall sick is by drinking unsafe water. In many countries, tap water may suit some locals because their stomach is immune to it but not you. Be safe and drink bottled water. Check out this infographic that will guide you where it’s safe to drink tap water.

Tap Water Travel Mistakes by Drifter Planet

Not all countries can guarantee clean, safe tap water.

11) Picking a Wrong Travel Companion

Traveling with someone who has a habit of cribbing, whining and being judgmental can turn your experience into hell. I recommend you check out this post about picking the right travel buddy, or just travel solo.

12) Not Carrying Comfortable Shoes

Your feet will hate you if you don’t carry at least ONE pair of comfortable shoes. Make them happy, because they have to take you everywhere! Even if you’re going for a bachelorette trip to a resort, you need comfortable shoes. I usually carry only one pair of flip flops and one pair of super comfortable flat sandals. I add on a pair of trekking shoes / ninja boots depending on the destination.

13) Being Clueless About the Local Laws

Yes, you may be from a country where it’s walk around with a can of beer in public and drink it, but in several other countries, you can get arrested for this! Do you want to spend a night (or more) behind the bars for this lack of knowledge about the local laws?

Travel Mistakes by Drifter Planet

Being clueless about the local laws can sometimes lead you into trouble. Photo – Santosh Kumar

14) Getting into a Fight with the Locals

This is common sense but I see it happening very often, especially when people get drunk. Do not ever get into a fight with a local wherever you are. You don’t want that local to bring a group of his friends to gang up against you.

15) Indulging in Unprotected Sex

This will cause you a lot of stress afterwards that will ruin your mood. You don’t want unwanted sexually transmitted infections or a pregnancy. Carry protection! You never know when you need it.

16) Getting Extremely Drunk and Overdosing on “YOLO”

Who doesn’t like a good party? I definitely do! I like drinking too! However, too much of anything is never good. I have seen many travelers that seriously injure themselves or do something stupid after getting drunk in a new country. Remember my post about the Full Moon Party of Koh Phangan where I wrote about people getting drunk and injuring themselves doing fire tricks? You don’t want to be that person.

Travel Mistakes Fire Dance when drunk

Playing with fire when you’re drunk is a bad idea !

17) Being Glued to Your Smartphone Most of the Time

Not only do I see many people who see the beauty of their surrounding mostly through the lenses of their smart phones, but also people that spend a lot of time checking their social media accounts while their partner enjoys their meal or the view alone. Your Instagram or Facebook will still be there when you’re home but this view won’t be. Do click some good photos for memories but try not to be an obsessive photographer.

18) Not Backing Up Your Photos

How many times have you heard of incidents where people lose all their travel photos ? Well, carry a pen drive to back them up. Or better, save them on cloud! Nowadays, most of the gadgets have this option. Unless you have an unlimited 3G plan, I recommend you select the option of auto backup only when there’s a WiFi connection.

 19) Not Setting a Realistic Travel Budget

Traveling costs money. You may run out of money in the middle of your holiday if you don’t set a correct budget for your trip. Airfare, buses and hostels are obvious, but you must consider smaller expenses such as ATM surcharges, camp ground fee, etc., to set an accurate travel budget. Set a correct budget so that you know how much to spend per day on an average.

20) Traveling With a Bad Attitude

Even if you’re not making any of the above mentioned mistakes, you WILL end up ruining your trip if you travel with a bad attitude. Don’t let little things bother you. Travel with the right attitude, enjoy the local culture, different food and even long queues on a day with bad weather. You’re lucky if you’re traveling. Smile!

20 Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Trip by Drifter Planet

20 Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Trip

Have you ever made a travel mistake? Let us know in the comments section.

21 Signs You Have Been Bitten by the Travel Bug

21 Signs You Have Been Bitten by the Travel Bug

21 Signs You Have Been Bitten by the Travel Bug

There is a wicked bug that has a tendency of biting curious minds. A single bite is strong enough to transform the victim’s mind and life forever. Yes, I’m talking about the (in)famous “travel bug” which causes the victim to feel an obsessive need to travel the world! This fever is known as “Wanderlust”.

travel bug by DrifterPlanet.com

I have been bitten by the travel bug. Here are the signs that can tell you if you’ve been bitten by this bug too!

1) You refrain from taking a leave from work even when you’re sick. Your hard earned leaves are for traveling, not for being sick!

2) You calculate things basis trips. Should you buy those boots? No wait, you can book your next tickets for that price!

3) Your Facebook friend list is full of people from different countries that you met while traveling. You have friends in almost every timezone!

4) You firmly believe travel is the BEST test for any relationship.

Travel is the ultimate relationship test

5) Forget movies – in your spare time, you enjoy reading travel blogs or making rough itineraries. 

6) You can’t ever imagine yourself settling down with anyone who doesn’t share the same passion for traveling.

7) You check flight prices on a regular basis, just in case you get lucky and find a lucrative deal.

8) You start showing some serious withdrawal symptoms if you haven’t traveled anywhere for a few weeks.Where to next? By DrifterPlanet.com

9) Your room has plenty of Knick knacks from different places that you have visited. UV lamps from Goa, Tibetan prayer flags from the Himalayas, mirror-work goodies from Jaipur, Tacky souvenir from Bangkok’s Khao San Road, shot glasses or magnets from your Euro Trip (well, because everything else was too expensive there).

10) You have your next 5 destinations roughly planned out in your mind. No wait, 10! Uff, 50!!

11) When not traveling, your eyes light up when you randomly meet a fellow travel addict in a party. You end up speaking for hours! And unlike what people think – no you’re not flirting but just sharing travel stories.

12) You don’t want a birthday party in your hometown, you want a birthday trip! A birthday party while traveling is an added bonus.

13) Your advice to your younger sibling / cousin / niece is to travel as much as possible before they start working.

Travel Addicts by DrifterPlanet.com

14) In your eyes, the most magical love stories are the ones where people meet each other while traveling, no matter how the end is.

15) You know how to say “hello” and “thank you” in 5 different languages apart from your mother tongue.

16) You may not have the best phone but you definitely have a killer backpack.

17) Let’s face it – you have shared inspirational travel quotes and images on your Facebook timeline a few times.

My Perfect Day Looks Like This by DrifterPlanet.Com

18) Your skin usually has a tan for most months of the year.

19) Even though it’s old, but you have watched “The Beach” over and over. That shit never gets boring! Same with “Into The Wild”.

20) Your inbox is full of travel deals and travel blog subscription emails. Airline deals, hotel deals, itineraries – you have them all!

21) If you could turn back time, that one thing that you’d do differently is to travel more.

Did you nod to most of the above points? Congratulations – you have definitely been bitten by the travel bug! There is absolutely no cure for this and you must keep traveling to satiate your appetite. It’s time to book your tickets for your next destination!

You might also like:

9 Things All Travel Addicts Are Sick of Hearing

11 Indian Girls That Are Totally Rocking Solo Travel

Round The World on a Bicycle

21 Signs You Have Been Bitten By The Travel Bug. How many of these signs do you have? by DirfterPlanet.com

21 Signs You Have Been Bitten By The Travel Bug. How many of these signs do you have? by DirfterPlanet.com

We are happy to announce that this post has now been published on The Quint! Click here to read.

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