HarPiyTravel

When Travel Is Life!

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Harmit, Piyush, and Aayansh chase, The golden light where highways bend. A shutter captures nature’s smile, On wild trails that never end.

  • Why Material Possessions No Longer Hold Me

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    What’s one thing you own that holds deep sentimental value?

    Actually, there is none. I had to think a lot to get an answer, but I got nothing. For quite some time now, I’ve tried to keep myself detached from material things.

    Initially, I had an attachment to many of my possessions, like my first Trek bike, which was stolen, and I cursed the thieves for so long, only to later realize it was just another possession, not the sole source of my happiness. Happiness comes from within, not from outside.

    When Aayansh was born, everything related to him had sentimental value to me: his first clothes, utensils, toys he played with, and much more. But his happiness and his chatterbox personality, along with his great sensitivity, make me more emotional than anything else.

    Sometimes I come across items that remind me of our dating days, and they bring back memories. We take a quick detour to revisit those memories, but that’s all.

    My real sentiments are at their peak when my dear family is around me; I feel blessed to have them, and I can’t thank God enough for all he has given me.

    Happy Reading! Keep Traveling!!!

  • Worst Travel Experience

    Worst Travel Experience

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?

    The question is interesting; our worst experience was on our first trip to Disney. It might surprise many of you, but yes, we count that trip as our worst experience.

    Firstly, we planned the trip for the summer, and Florida is infamous for its humidity. Throughout our trip, we were restless and sweating like crazy. Second, there was a huge gap between our expectations and reality. We thought Disney would be similar to Universal Studios or Six Flags, but it was nothing like that. Magic Kingdom is more suitable for kids.

    The biggest disappointment was standing in those long queues only to find the mediocre rides. We didn’t even know many Disney characters then; of course, we knew Donald Duck, Micky Mouse, Uncle Scrooge, etc., but the characters in the famous parade were unfamiliar to us.

    On top of the humidity and mediocre rides were the expenses. The trip was super expensive; our typical trips to national parks are budget-friendly and give the soul happiness. We got so frustrated at Magic Kingdom that we didn’t even wait for the famous fireworks. The very next day, we went to Epcot, and that was decent.

    To save this trip, we finally decided to go to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, which was a great decision, and Gatorland was the icing on the cake. These two places saved that trip.

    Last year we went again with Aayansh (my 4-year-old boy), and this time we chose a better time and went with the right expectations. We decided to do whatever Aayansh wanted, and that made the trip full of memories.

    Happy Reading! Keep Traveling!!!

  • The One Travel Rule We Swear By: Always Pack for Any Weather

    The One Travel Rule We Swear By: Always Pack for Any Weather

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    What’s one piece of travel advice you always follow?

    One piece of advice we always follow is to be prepared for any weather and pack accordingly.

    We love traveling, and we learned from that experience that no matter the temperature or season at your destination, you should always pack for all weather conditions. As a traveler, you should be prepared for everything: rain, cold, and heat.

    We first realized how important this advice is when we visited Badlands National Park in South Dakota. It was summer, so we packed accordingly. When we arrived, it was much colder than we expected. We had only one jacket for the three of us (my elder sister was with us). Especially in the evening, it was brutal; the place felt like a desert.

    Another time we went to Colorado Springs, it was summer again. We covered Garden of the Gods, Seven Falls, and other famous places, then decided to tackle Pikes Peak. We wore shorts in the city because of the excessive heat, but as we got closer to the peak, the temperature dropped significantly. Snow covered everything, and we wore jackets, gloves, and warm hats. This time we were ready.

    Even on my hiking trips or 14ers, I pack all kinds of gear to fight the cold and rain. That always helps.

    What’s your best tip for staying prepared when the weather takes an unexpected turn on a trip?

    Happy Reading! Keep Traveling!!!

  • 5 Simple At-Home Exercises to Stay Fit Without Any Equipment

    5 Simple At-Home Exercises to Stay Fit Without Any Equipment

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    What are five simple exercises to do at home?

    If we talk about physical exercise, my top 5 bodyweight exercises (requiring no equipment and can be done anywhere) are:-

    1. Push-ups
    2. Squats
    3. Lunges
    4. Pull-ups (you need a place where you can hang: a high wall, a tree branch, or anything)
    5. Planks

    Combining all 5 will greatly help you maintain fitness. Push-ups build arm and core strength, and many variations target different muscle groups, such as wide-grip push-ups, narrow—grip push—ups, inchworms, clapping push-ups, diamond push-ups, and more.

    Squats are very important for building a strong base. Not everyone’s favorite, but they’re important, and combining them with lunges gives your legs a great workout.

    Pull-ups are tough, but you can master them over time. Start by hanging for as long as you can, then slowly try pull-ups for as many as you can. You can even ask your spouse to help pull you up—a great workout for your back, chest, and arms.

    Last but not least, plank for your core strength. Set a timer and hold the plank position. Improve your form and slowly increase the hold time. It isn’t specific to your abdomen; it targets most of your core muscles.

    In addition to these 5, wall sits, jumping jacks, bridges, and yoga poses are great at-home exercises.

    Be sure to include meditation for your mental peace, along with puzzle-solving like Sudoku, as mental exercises.

    Which of these five exercises do you find most effective for your fitness goals?

    Happy Reading! Keep Traveling!!!

  • How My Son Taught Me Patience, Perspective and Joy

    How My Son Taught Me Patience, Perspective and Joy

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Which relationship has taught you the most about yourself?

    That’s a very interesting question. Every relationship in my life holds great value, and it has taught me so much.

    For instance, my parents taught me how to raise a family efficiently. My spouse taught me how to be a good, down-to-earth man. My elder sister taught me to live life worry-free, like a free bird, and my younger sister taught me to be smart in whatever I do.

    My roommates during my early struggling days taught me to adjust and find happiness in small things. My teachers taught me how to become a good student and a lifelong learner.

    Everyone has contributed to shaping me, but my son, Aayansh, has taught me the most about myself. Before him, I always thought of myself as a patient guy, but he tests my patience in every possible way, and I always, always fail. That tells me I am not as patient as I always thought.

    He is a kid with a lot of curiosity. He does things on his own and tries different things, which sometimes upsets me as an adult. Then I scold him for doing this or that. But he can’t just sit idle and behave the way society wants him to. It’s his exploration age; whatever he sees, touches, and feels has a big impact on him. Everything is an experience for him, unlike us adults, who ignore our surroundings and take everything for granted.

    So he taught me: the problem isn’t in him; it’s in me. I have to unlearn a few things and become like him. Be like a kid and admire small to small things. I need to control my anger, see things from his perspective, and find happiness in small things, just like him. I need to have better control and patience. I am positive that I will achieve that.

    Happy Reading! Keep Traveling!!!