Travel is something we all venture upon whether it is for
business or pleasure. Some of us like to travel alone and some like to go in
groups; some take a trip with family, some like trotting the country with
friends and others share the journey with their colleagues.
We all need that break from our monotonous lifestyle and a week-long
trip is usually the answer. How many times have you sighed heavily with these
words, “I need a break!” or I need a vacation! Yes,
travel is very very important but you gotta get it right.
If you are traveling alone half of your potential problems
are solved already but if you are traveling in a group, especially a stuck-up-careless-judgmental-ass-headed
kinda group, boy… are you in for a rocky ride!
What is Toxic Travel?
Many of us begin day dreaming of the places we are going to
visit, life suddenly becomes a bit more exciting! Then comes the big day, you
are all packed and ready for an adventure and BAAM!!! You find yourself in
middle of chaos. Trains running ultra late, cancelled flights and bus that
refuses to move. Fights within the group, bad food, health issues, sleepless
nights, death and misery…. Everything that can go wrong, does! If you have ever
experienced any or all of these then you, my friend, were on a Toxic Travel.With the right company you can manage but with the wrong lot you are doomed.
Things that Make You Go
Grrrr…My Trip from Hell
- Plan: Travel 3 cities in 2 days - what stupidity!
- Trip planned by: a senior group member – Giga Genius
- Casualty rate: Unimaginable! RIP my sanity…
While booking for a cab to take me to airport the app
repeatedly asked to “try again later”. When it finally did get booked and the
cab arrived I set out to pick up the rest of the traveling team (because
unfortunately I was stupid enough to agree to coordinate the ride to the
airport) and my group member showed up 40 minutes late, unapologetic (actually
angry with me for her confusion and delay!!!).
Let me cut the long tragedy short.
- Off to the venue in Delhi – one big ass hotel, character assassination and horrible food (intestines cried out for mercy!) later, the trip began.
- Train to Amritsar 2 hours late finally leaves at 9:15 pm – waited at the station feeding biscuits to dogs and listening to Kill Bill Soundtrack with creepy people roaming about scanning us top to bottom.
- Two men come up and started bullying people around because they wanted a place to sit till the next station; fight broke out between three men. Two compartments away, a man of about 50 dies of a heart attack. (Sleepless night, we meet again)
- Arrived in Amritsar at 10:30 am, the next day, 5 hours late due to a strike called in because of the price hike in rice. Our train to Agra was supposed to leave at 4:00 pm on the same day.
- At Amritsar railway station we were informed the train to Agra will leave from Jalandhar station at 5:30 pm (about 83 km, what shit!?)
- We hired a minivan and paid 3k – (wanted to commit mass murder)
- Reached Jalandhar and were told that our train will NOT leave from Jalandhar station, we can catch another which is about to leave any minute for Ambala and catch the train from there! (Went to hell and kicked devil’s ass to pulp…in my head)
- Ran on the railway tracks to catch the train like our lives depended on it. Bhag Milkha Bhag meet DDLJ mash!
- Reached Ambala and….yes waited again, wondering… can this trip get any crappier? Shit, I spoke too soon!
- Left Ambala at 10:30 pm and arrived in Agra at 11:00 am - was informed about the riots on the beef issue
- Team members insisted on exploring the Taj Mahal under the scorching sun at 1:30 pm (the urge to commit a serious offence returns)
- Got a call from Redbus that our bus to Delhi has been cancelled, we booked another, non AC. Humidity was in the air…
- Bus was suppose to leave at 7:10 pm but left at 9:05 pm and reached Delhi at 1:00 am members decided to take 3 autos to guesthouse, two autos had one guy each sitting with the driver for what joy I don’t know – last strand of sanity fell off with a deafening THUDDDHHH!
- Got up at 5 am, left for airport and caught the flight back home (Died and went to heaven or hell…don’t really know, don’t really care)
Does and Don’t for
Group Travel – For the Sake of Your Sanity!
- Don’t travel with negative, stuck up and narrow minded people. Just avoid!
- Don’t discuss personal details with nosy people; they will always use it against you.
- Don’t engage in negative conversation, short, firm and polite is the way.
- Don’t pay attention to nasty sarcastic remarks or comments - Ignore, be Zen
- Don’t eat oily fried stuff, junk food or spicy food. Keep it light, dal roti, sandwiches, fruits, wheat biscuits and lot of water. Stay hydrated at all times.
- Don’t let any situation overpower you - be alert of people around you, be aware of your surroundings.
- Do as much research before your travel as possible even if you are not the planner/coordinator, it will help you. Location, routes, timing, etc
- Do keep emergency numbers on speed dial and ALWAYS
be in communication with people you TRUST (family, partner, friend) keep them
posted about your location and travel schedule
at all times - Do hold your own when it comes to your health and safety but be flexible rest of the time. Keep your wallet, phone and pepper spray handy ALWAYS.
- Do carry books, music, First Aid/medicines, pepperspray and pocket knife (safety comes
first), blanket, tissues and hand sanitizer, chewing gum (somehow it helps, imagine you are a T-Rex chewing
up mean idiots who are bothering you)
- Do keep your mobile charged at all times, wherever you find the charge point, PLUG IT!
- Do keep calm no matter what is happening, what is being said about or to you, even when you want to pull out a knife and run after your group member like Chucky from Child’s Play -
Remember, deep breaths …
