When Blogchatter asked us to write a prompt on travel, I could only recollect our family trip during childhood. Like every other kid, my only world was me and my family. This post is my favorite travel memory.
I eagerly awaited the times when Dad would plan a family trip. Those were the only moments we truly spent together as a family, as he was often away during my childhood. Mom, my maternal grandma(Aai), my two uncles, and my aunt filled the void and ensured I never felt alone during those precious days. I understand that his absence wasn’t due to a lack of concern, but rather the demands of his job. My father works for the central government in defense, while my mother serves in the state police force. His challenging career often required him to relocate to different cities across India.
One of my favorite travel memories is from our trip to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir. The best part of that trip was the company of my maternal grandma, or Aai as we affectionately call her. She has always been a wonderful caretaker for every child in our family. Aai has spent her whole life effortlessly to make our lives better and perfect. I guess that’s what the current generation is really missing these days. The beautiful bond with grandparents is no longer common in most nuclear families.
Today, she is unable to travel, but she often recalls about those old trips that Dad took us on. It brings her immense joy to remember the times she spent traveling with us. She feels a sense of peace knowing that she fulfilled her desire to travel with us. However, today she has the limitations of her health.
The trip holds a special place in my heart. It was my first time in Jammu and Kashmir, and we instantly fell in love with the place. Back in 2006, social media and photography weren’t as prevalent as they are today, but I have vivid memories of every moment of that trip. I recall traveling by Indian Railways in the army quota with Dad’s colleagues and making sure to stay together throughout the journey.
This is one of my most cherished travel memories. I remember the challenging uphill trek and how Aai struggled to keep up. We had to resort to using a pony to reach the temple. Once we arrived, there was a cool morning breeze, we started by immersing our feet in the cold water before entering the Holy Cave of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple.
One of the most breathtaking moments of the trip was witnessing the sunrise from the valleys. The crisp, cold breeze, a warm cup of chai, and the stunning sunrise—it was truly a perfect experience. As I souvenir, we got the silver coins from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi temple. I feel blessed to have it in my home temple even today 🙂
My father’s work has taken us to many different cities (we never really resided there as mom was working too so it could have been difficult for us), but this particular travel memory remains my favorite. I will always cherish these memories. This post is a part of Blogchatter BlogHop. #BlogchatterBlogHop
Do you have any favorite travel memory?
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