Traveling is supposed to be one of the best ways to learn some lessons of life. I believe it is a fun way too. Whether it is a bus commute to another city or a flight to another country, each travel has taught me something and enriched me in some way. Which is why each time I return from some place, I start dreaming of the next destination to go to.
My readiness to travel by any mode and travel light throws up a lot of options and I am glad for it. Additionally, travel experiences get more vivid and memorable when I travel to a new place and do something new. Such travel adventures become a source of immense happiness.
Listen to thoughts hitherto unravelled
For you cannot claim to have lived well
Unless you have moved around and travelled
(written by self)
My travel to Aamchi Mumbai stands out as the best when I list the various things that made me happy in 2023. It was not the first time I went to Mumbai – I had been there twice earlier – but this was different. I would be lying if I said Mumbai trip happened just like that, for it did not. Yet, it happened unexpectedly.
I was looking forward to an urgent break from the routine and preferably something that involved travel. I wanted it to be a meaningful trip too. By some stroke of God’s grace, I chanced on the name of Ashwin Padukone ji, a marathoner, on Facebook.
Some achievements of Ashwin Padukone –
1.
Tata Mumbai Marathon 2020 – Full Marathon
2.
ProCam Slam Achiever (4 major racing events of
India) 2019-20
3. Over 30 half marathon races including 2 podium finishes in his age category (60+)
The above could have been achieved by anyone with rigorous practice. But Ashwin took up running in 2017 after 3 major health set-backs. He suffers from Coronary Artery Disease. He had heart attack and underwent Angioplasty in 2010 with 2 stents. Ashwin is a Kidney Cancer survivor (Metastatic clear cell RCC) with the diseased kidney removed in 2014. To me, he is a cancer winner. He also suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis. That’s what makes Ashwin a marathoner with a difference.
I had taken up walking/jogging seriously from January 2023 and was looking forward to someone to guide me. Considering Ashwin’s achievements in the backdrop of his health condition, he seemed to be the right person to become my mentor. Ashwin does karaoke singing too, which was like icing on the cake for me as I too am fond of Karaoke singing. Thus I had no further thoughts on making Aamchi Mumbai my destination.
I travelled by sleeper bus both ways to save on the flight charges. Remember, any mode of travel? I started on Friday and reached on Saturday. I accepted the invitation to be the guest of Ashwin and Anjali Padukone, and stayed with the wonderful couple and basked in their warm hospitality.
The next 3 days comprised the following –
Saturday – Day zero – It was Dussehra time. So I
got to witness Dandia by the colony neighbours in the evening. It felt so warm
to see men, women and children of all ages dancing with steps to the Dandia
songs and tunes. Some synched their steps, a few just had fun. Got a beautiful lac
(a natural resin) bangle custom-made by the artisan there, courtesy the bank
who sponsored the Dandia program that evening.
Sunday – Day 1 – Morning walk in Borivali National
Park reaching upto Kanheri Caves – together nearly 14 Km.
Monday – Day 2 – Morning walk on Marine Drive, and along Chowpatty beach and Grant Road ending with a buffet breakfast in Shetty Foods. Met Shri Muralidhar Hegde, the manager who greeted us cordially and personally looked after us, happy to find we were from South Kanara like him.
Tuesday – Day 3 – Walk on Malad Back Road – lots of walkers / joggers / runners / cyclists. Met Shri Kamalaksha Rao – a passionate marathoner who is nearly 78 years of age; he did a 75 Km. run on his 75th birthday. Wow, that’s such an inspiring manner to celebrate one’s birthday. Then I met Daya Shetty, of “darwaza thodo” fame from the popular TV series CID , who stopped his cycling and obliged to my request for a couple of photos.
I fulfilled the wishes I had before starting for Mumbai. I met Ashwin and found inspiration and got a lot of tips on running marathons, ate Mumbai’s signature fun food Missal Pav, sang duets with Ashwin on karaoke, and also met real life and reel life heroes mentioned above (including Ashwin).
Elaborating my travel experience on social media may seem needless. But I have done it to convey the message that traveling is worth when it helps us to explore unknown spaces and connect with real people who have challenges but rise above and beyond them and become examples for others to emulate. Most importantly, traveling doesn’t have to burn a hole in the pocket if planned thoughtfully.
Mumbai is probably an ordinary city but the people
I met there are and will remain extraordinary to me. Always so.
No comments:
Post a Comment