How I stopped exploring and started experiencing
As travel became less about ticking off places
I’ve been in Bir for two and a half months now.
And if you ask me what I’ve seen, I’ll probably shrug.
No waterfalls. No temples. No long bike rides through winding mountain roads.
The only monastery I visited? That was because a friend took me.
Instead, I attended three workshops. Loved them.
Met a bunch of interesting people — loved that too.
But when it came to “exploring,” I just... didn’t feel like it.
And it pains me to admit that. I feel guilty for it.
I’m not even curious about local culture or history — except for a few very specific things that catch my attention.
That realisation stings. I always thought curiosity was a big part of who I am. And yet, here I am, in a place like Bir, actively choosing to do... nothing.
I sit in the same two cafés.
I watch the same (or maybe not the same?) paragliders take off.
I soak in the sunset from the same spot.
And I feel... content.
The same thing happened in Kerala. I was there for three months, training in Kalari.
Every weekend, people would head off — Wayanad, Munnar, some beach town.
I never went. I didn’t want to.
I was happy just being where I was. Training. Resting. Hanging out.
And still, there’s this voice in my head whispering,
You should be seeing more. You should be doing more.
But... should I?
What if I don’t feel like chasing new views?
What if I just want to sit with the ones I already have?
What if I no longer feel the need to “make the most of a place” the way travel is supposed to be done?
At first, it looked like a lack of curiosity. A disinterest.
But as I sat with it longer, I realised —My curiosity has become focused.
Instead of seeing a million things at a surface level, I’ve been choosing to see one or two things with all my attention.
To practice them. To live them.
Maybe it’s not that I’m not exploring.
Maybe I’m just exploring differently.
Deeper. Slower. More intentionally.
And truth be told, I’ve never felt more connected to the places I’ve travelled to than I do on this trip.
Not because I’ve seen everything.
But because I’ve chosen to see a few things, really, really well.
Little Joys
“Joy is always around if only we pause to acknowledge it.”
With life's burdens and big ambitions, it's easy to overlook our everyday joys. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the small joys from the last week. Here are mine -
Went on an impromptu trip to Mcleod Ganj with a bunch of women.
Tried Japanese food for the first time and had an amazing carrot cake.
Spent 5 hours in an art studio painting a Dot Mandala Art.
Despite feeling really uncomfortable, I asked a favour (something I’m learning to do) to a person whom I haven’t even met. Not only was she okay with it, but I think we connected deeply because of it!
Saw a very beautiful natural phenomenon.
I got a really good haircut!