During my travels, I've often found that trips that were meticulously planned weren't as enthralling as those that were cooked up at the eleventh hour. I have done several impromptu trips. I've hopped on a bus in Delhi without even reading where it was heading to, and travelled all the way to Yokohama in Japan with no plans whatsoever. Being on the road has always brought me a sense of tranquility that I cannot find anywhere else. Traveling makes one forget about the happenings around the world. Perhaps, the fact that I enjoy these solitary journeys takes me down untrodden paths.
While coming back from Kasol after a trip that went awry, I didn't want to head back home for I was still in a bad mood. After all, one shouldn't bring their baggage home (pardon the pun). So there I was, back in Delhi, deciding if I should return home to Hyderabad, or go on an impromptu journey to discover a place I had never seen before.
My curiosity took over, I found the bus stand and boarded a bus to Agra. I had lived in Delhi for two years but somehow, I had missed visiting the one iconic city that brings romantics and travelers from around the world–Agra. I had always imagined old Agra to be a quintessential Indian city, where love blossoms and pigeons fly in front of the Taj Mahal in sepia. I imagined walking through its rustic lanes that youngsters simply scurried through whilst old couples walked hand-in-hand wondering why no one else takes the time to savour life and love.
As I reached Agra, the magic of the city enveloped me. I made an acquaintance, a meeting that lasted only a few days, but pulled me out of my melancholy. The old me sprung back to life– bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, believing good things are just around the corner.
To experience the life of a backpacker, I booked a room in a hostel, and as I looked around the place, I found someone playing FIFA '18 in the corner. I inquired his name, and he told me that he it was Benjamin.
Man that walked among us–Benjamin's audacious journey
It did not take us long to bond, and soon we decided to see Agra together. For the next few days, we visited several places, spent evenings talking about the cultural, traditional and socio-economic differences between our countries, and I taught him how to not get fooled by hawkers and pay exorbitant amounts for goods.
During this time, Benjamin told me about how he had to save money for two years, to finally afford a trip to India. He revealed that he had been walking from Kanyakumari, and wanted to walk all the way up North, finishing his expedition in Punjab near the border. According to him, he had been walking for 4 months, covering around 40-60 kilometers almost every night, other than days when he just needed to rest. Indian temples, mosques and churches served as his sanctums where was given food and shelter.
Until then, I couldn't have ever imagined foreign travelers sleeping in places of worship in India, but his story and background intrigued me. After spending 5 days in the same hostel, it was time for Benjamin to leave, as he wanted to reach Delhi. But the night prior, he wanted to go to Radisson Blu Hotel, as he carried a pamphlet, which could lead one to believe that the Taj Mahal could be seen from the pool on the roof.
As it turned out, we couldn't see the Taj Mahal, but it didn't stop us and another friend from the United States from having a good time. The next day, Benjamin left for Delhi, while I left to visit more places in Rajasthan.
I haven't heard from Benjamin since. However, within 5 days, a stranger became a good friend, and that is all you can ask for as a traveler. I've met several people during my journeys, but no one piqued my interest as much as him. Alas, if only I could remember his last name!