As 63-year-old Subha Surianarayanan and I join over a name, I can hear a heavy downpour within the background, and the decision retains reconnecting.
This unhealthy community, she says as she apologises, is as a result of she is presently in Beed, on yet one more journey together with her son Venkatesh. The 2 have been journey buddies since 2015, and have traversed a majority of India collectively.
It began when Venkatesh discovered that always, he was unable to plan journeys as a result of somebody or the opposite had work commitments. That’s when an thought dawned on him — his mum was free and he or she could possibly be his journey companion.
Talking to The Higher India, he recounts her response to being requested to come back together with him on his travels. “Apne dosto ke saath jao na. Mein kya hello karungi aake?” (Go along with your pals. What is going to I come and do?). However Venkatesh satisfied her to at the very least give it a strive.
“I informed her it’s by no means too late to start out one thing, and so she agreed,” he says.
Constructing reminiscences and desires
The 30-year-old social media supervisor says that he and his mom have travelled throughout India — Chandigarh, Amritsar, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, Manali, Jaipur, Goa, Ladakh, Gulmarg, Dalhousie and Dharamshala.
And has it been a enjoyable time?
“Most undoubtedly,” says Venkatesh, including that always, it’s due to him, and never his mom that they need to decelerate.
One such occasion was after they visited Ladakh in 2021. “Many individuals expertise AMS (acute mountain illness) because of the excessive altitudes. I used to be initially anxious that my mom would too, so I had deliberate for the primary day to be stored free to acclimatise. However paradoxically, I used to be the one who skilled AMS, whereas she was effective.”
To this, Subha says the key to going head-on with these experiences is to stroll 45 minutes a day and eat in response to your age. “This permits me to participate in any journey that comes my means.”
The Ladakh journey was deliberate as a birthday shock for Subha, and each agree that it was actually a memorable expertise. “We reduce the birthday cake on Pangong Lake. Nevertheless, on this distant space, one would hardly discover a birthday cake store,” says Venkatesh, including that they adjusted with plum tea cake and a debit card that doubled as a knife.
Together with these treasured moments, there are additionally ones of excessive adrenaline. For example, in Goa final 12 months, Subha tried out parasailing after which ziplining in Gulmarg. She liked it, however like each different particular person this age, had her reservations about attempting out new issues. “With my son’s encouragement, I dive into them,” she says.
Nevertheless, there may be all the time a specific amount of threat concerned, whether or not it’s travelling lengthy distances by driving to distant areas or partaking in journey actions. In Venkatesh’s phrases, “Folks cheer after they see us on social media, and watch our reels, and urge us on with their feedback about how spectacular that is. However I do know that one mistaken step and they’re going to query why I selected to threat taking my mom on such journeys.”
One other problem is travelling by automotive on rocky terrain. As most of their journeys are completed on this method, the climate and the highway can typically be daunting.
Recalling his Dalhousie journey in 2016, he says, “I had simply begun driving and whereas going to our lodge I missed a flip and ended up on a one-way highway. It was getting darkish and we reached a useless finish on a cliff.”
Whereas folks would assume his mom to be the one to panic, he says she was the epitome of calm and composed, till they managed to navigate their means onto the highway once more.
Happiness on a funds
The duo give attention to funds journeys which can be round Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 for 3 to 4 days, excluding gas. They consider in spending extra on journey actions and sightseeing than on their keep.
In a world the place senior residents are anticipated to take a again seat and put their toes up, Subha is difficult these norms.
On the age of 63, she has tried extra journey actions than most children. So as to add to this, she will not be deterred by excessive altitudes or lengthy treks. She does all of it. However her son worries.
“I usually ask her if she is doing okay whereas we’re on a trek. She stops in her tracks and laughs, “Mein toh theek hu, tu apna bata de. (I’m okay. Are you?)”
Up till now, the duo has made their means by India and have a dream to journey by automotive from Delhi to Kanyakumari, and discover the South and its heritage. “One other dream that we plan on conducting this 12 months is to journey to Dubai,” says Venkatesh, including that he desires his mom to expertise the fantastic thing about international lands.
As for Subha, she is able to tackle all of it.
“Age is only a quantity,” she says. “It’s all about one’s willingness to journey and discover. I’m glad that my son takes me on these adventures and makes me expertise all these thrills even at this age. I’m simply being me and doing what I really like, which is travelling.”
To all of the senior residents on the market who really feel not sure of whether or not they could make this potential, Subha has a phrase of recommendation. “You’re greater than what you assume. Confidence comes from inside. Even I wasn’t assured at first.”
“Take the leap of religion and issues will end up nicely for you!” she says excusing herself from the dialog, as she’s all set to go paragliding in Beed.
Edited by Divya Sethu