#TheBlindList ~ Wander Bird’s quest to explore the unknown!

Almost each one of us has always had a ‘Bucket List’ in life – be it a wish list for travel, food, life goals and what not! But, have you ever thought of a BLIND LIST – a list with unknown wishes? A list which blindly says ‘Yes’ to the world. A list which blindly trusts the world to reveal its incredible beauty wherever we go, unveiling amazing new experiences at every turn. 

Because of my knack for impulsive travel, I have had both good and bad experiences. The bad ones were just a blemish on the learning curve, while the good ones created memories of a lifetime. Such is the thrill, excitement and soulful happiness in the good experiences, that the risk is totally worth it. I have always been a firm believer of the motto – ‘Travel To Explore’ and I vouch to keep following it until my last breath.

Today, I bring to you my very own BLIND LIST for travel, in association with Lufthansa. Please note that my list includes 2 distinct parts – Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1 —> includes crazy experiences which were never really planned and are already accomplished in my past travelling sprees.

Part 2 —> includes unplanned experiences which I am hopeful about happening soon in future.

#TheBlindList – Part 1 (The Past Memories)

• I had once decided to go on a trip to Himachal Pradesh, without any prior booking of accommodation or transport. I was actually headed towards the unknown. My flight tickets were just booked to and from New Delhi. And from Delhi onwards, the bookings were on-the-fly. It was indeed a roller-coaster trip with – an amazing riverside resort booked in Patlikuhal (located in outskirts of Manali), random bus journeys with local music, a chilling first-time experience of minus 6 degrees, piping hot local food, a local wedding and a missed train. Trust me, all the bookings were on-the-fly, which let us experience Himachal the local way. I couldn’t have asked for better travel memories, indeed. Read all about Himachal Diaries of Wander Bird here.

• On a journey to Phuket, I decided to go for an impromptu scuba diving experience with a ratio of just 1 instructor for 5 divers. Basically, I was on my own, deep down the sea. And let me inform you – I am hydrophobic and have not even learnt swimming. Something inside me just triggered and I decided to go for that dive into the unknown. Whatever I felt after I came back to the water surface, is inexplicable. It was such an enriching experience.

• On a trip with friends to Goa, I decided that I would try riding an Avenger bike and get the feel of the unknown. I weighed less than 45 kilos back then and had no experience of riding any heavy bike before that. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a shot. Ofcourse, I had a very supportive friend, who agreed to be my pillion and help me in balancing. I still thank him for that. Trying something new, and that too, with an impulsive decision, is the best feeling ever. Read all about that bachelorette trip in Goa here.

• On my first visit to Mumbai, I hopped on to one of the Mumbai local trains to get a feel of a regular day in Mumbai. Little did I know that I had jumped straight into a crowd with an unknown energy of highest magnitude. I was swept off my feet by the crowd while entering the train, and was almost dragged out of the train at the Dadar station. That day, I fainted, broke a toenail and  twisted the frame of my brand new RayBan sunglasses – all thanks to that unknown magnitude of crowd in Mumbai local trains. Anyway, I still headed next to Bandstand, to catch a glimpse of my favourite actor’s residence. Such is the positive vibe of that beautiful city! Read all about ‘Mumbai Darshan’ of Wander Bird here.

• On a road trip to Las Vegas, we decided to take a quick detour and explore the unknown. In the process, we had to drive 15 miles in the Death Valley, with no internet connection to route using GPS, no single vehicle in those deserted roads and cactus surrounding us from all sides. Today, as I write about that experience, it still gives me the chills! We have become so used to technology that we sometimes shudder to think about life without it. But trust me, we can still manage without it. We did! It was an unforgettable road trip indeed.

• My first international solo travel was to Singapore, in my early twenties. I was deputed on an onsite assignment for the IT company I worked with. I knew nothing about Singapore, didn’t know anyone there and went there, just with an office address in hand. Coming from India, as a solo woman traveller, I was already anticipating difficult travel experiences (especially directed towards females travelling alone). But I had none! Every day in Singapore was a new revelation for me and I explored an unknown freedom for women in that country. Hats off to the level of women safety in that beautiful country.

I can go on and on about the innumerable experiences I have had in life, which were executed on an impulse and were never planned at all. All it took was that on-the-spot decision to give it a shot and dive into the unknown. The memories are unforgettable and the self exploration in the process is magical! Yes, I have always said ‘Yes’ to the world.

#TheBlindList – Part 2 (The Future Dreams)

• I am yet to explore North-East India and I do not intend to follow any itinerary for the same. I would love to rather opt for a homestay, explore the locality by foot and enjoy the local cuisine – basically live the local way. I want to travel to the north-easternmost tip of India, without an iota of concern about political or regional issues. I want to tap the uniqueness of each of the eight states, comprising NorthEast India, in my own way.

• I want to visit the most haunted places in India and listen to the local folklore about each place on my own. I want to talk to the local people about the unknown. Neither am I believer nor a non-believer. I just want to have that first-hand experience and explore the unknown.

• I wish that someday, we manage to break the shackles of international friction and have an unhindered to-and-fro travel opportunity to our neighbouring country, Pakistan. Considering our troubled history, I would actually love to have an open-minded take on our neighbour. Do we practice the same beliefs? Is our cuisine the same? Do we have the common hope for peace and brotherhood as always? Are we actually the same? And for heaven’s sake – I’m not an anti-national at all! 

• I dream of experiencing lush greenery and picturesque landscape of Europe in countries like Sweden, Germany, Poland and many more without following any travel itinerary. I intend to have my own offbeat experience and bring to everyone, amazing travel stories from across the world.

There are not many dreams that I can pen down here, because I obviously can’t predict or imagine much about the unknown. I wish for a strong resilience and courage to take that next step into oblivion, in every stage of life. Risks always give you a memory of a lifetime. I just want to be able to walk across borders, in a free world. I so wish to go on a blind date with the world. YES! Again and again, I #SayYesToTheWorld !

Have you said ‘Yes’ to the world yet? Share your experiences in this contest powered by Lufthansa here.

Let go of the fear and inhibition. Take a shot and explore the unknown. Write your own BLIND LIST and create memories of a lifetime.