Some things are meant to be said

by Saumyaa Aggarwal (India)

I didn't expect to find Bolivia

I write this while sitting in Lachung (small pass), situated in Northern Sikkim, a state in the north eastern part of India, my home country. As I checked in my Inn about an hour ago, I started scrolling on Instagram, giving myself a ten minute rest to consume some local snacks and now I have found myself sitting on the green carpeted floor, trying to summarise my first solo backpacking here. I arrived four days earlier, making Gangtok my first stop. Today is my second last day, and I am staying 2,700 meters above sea level. One may think that this travel episode is not even completed yet, then how is it a story already? However, it is. It is, because this is my first solo travel story. While my family cannot be considered orthodox, it also cannot be called modest. I had to lie to my father, brother, the whole family, burying my entire trust on my mother with the truth of going alone, giving a responsibility, or more clearly, a burden on her shoulders, in case anything goes wrong. I’m quite glad to say I made it. I even made friends. I have an amazing driver who shares all the knowledge about this place. I told him while we were driving from Lachen (Big pass) to Lachung that this trip is the trip I take my pride on. I have been bugging him for all the possible information about this awestruck place. I think myself to be a romanticist, growing by reading various world and local maps, atlas, lonely planet, and travel magazines (National geographic, to name one). I have been exploring this place by myself since four days now, and I am crystal about the fact that I have loved nothing more than traveling by myself. The aura, the charm, the serene beauty only gets intensified when I am on viewpoints, attractions and going through some sightseeing, alone. This is the time of Coronavirus, a strange virus which has come from China and whose origin and cure are still to be named. As Sikkim borders China, it’s major attractions such as Yumthang valley, NathuLa, Tsomgo and Gurudongmar lake and zero point are closed. It has been raining for most of the days. Normally it would have made me sad, if not disappointed, as I love to explore. Solo traveling is still a concept which makes heads turn in my society. I may not be getting sponsorship, or a certificate, or any sort of gift, but I surely know this one thing: I am stronger, I am falling in love with life, the road, the place, the mountains, and most importantly, with travel. I don’t think there can be limit to my love for traveling, it will keep growing, it must keep growing. Today, while writing my travel story I have realised that the road is so much more beautiful than the destination. I have realised, that the attractions matter, but falling in love with each and every place that I go to, exploring whatever I can, talking to the local communities, tasting the epic foods of each place, and most of all, leaving a little piece of my heart every time I go, is my priority (along with sustainability and vegan travel). It is what makes me love travel so much. The fact that me and my destinations only meet to leave each other, the broken beauty of it is a blessing indeed. This is why my journey to sikkim is important. I have grown as a frequent traveler, I am still learning, and this solo experience has made my thoughts so clear. I have enjoyed every bit of it. I will be going to leave this place with a very warm heart.