I never really understood what 'slow travel' or a 'me time' trip meant. Even though, I have also spent almost a month in one state; i did things that i wanted to do and have spent enough time for my 'solo' self.
My past travels have been to one destination for a long duration but I used to pack them up with places to see, stay, and venture out to a large extent. Back in 2016, I chose a smaller unknown place 'JIBHI' (to many) and explore as and what came my way. Jibhi was pointed out to me by another amazing traveller and am glad I went for it.
How does one spend a day, a week or a life in one such small locale? I have often been asked this, what do you do by yourself?
You just be.
With my visit to Jibhi, - I understood deeply the meaning of travelling into a place and letting it lead you. You feel the air, it is refreshing and pungent with life; you soak in the freshness of the soil; you listen to the sound of the flowing waters; you observe the selfless life of the locals. You may do all that you do back home, but here you do it with your own choice.
Out of city habits, I resorted to a routine but only to let Jibhi and its people choose the activities for me.
My days would begin early and I would choose to walk in one of the directions of the main road to cross the same homes, shops and people for the following week.
My first day was met with eager looks, new face in the town murmurs and by day 4 these were exchanged with smiles, and good mornings. In retrospect, in three days I got to befriend more strangers than I have in a city over the last five years.
My days would be spent reading next to the river, or sitting on a rock at the guest house overseeing the river flow along with 'chai' and sidhu- a local delicacy.
Guddu, the caretaker of the guesthouse I was put up at would enlighten me with the stories of the guest house, his dads work for the town and places I should discover every day. There was a new place on his map for me to walk to for each of the days and I would religiously follow them.
On one of my explorations to the nearby town of Chaini fort, I was over ambitious and decided to walk the whole stretch from Jibhi. While I managed to reach the fort encountering some very sweet elders and specially touched by dimple didi, who invited me over for some tea and apples.
On my return from Chaini, I realised i was too tired and couldn't walk all the way back to Jibhi. Guddu came to my rescue - he rode on his bike - found me and that is how I got my bike ride in the hills. These are a few encounters of what makes living in a place so wonderful.
While staying at this guest house - I also met Isha, a fellow traveller from Delhi and in a matter of those few days - found a friend, travel companion in my solo Jibhi adventures. Trekking to Raghupur or sitting on the bridge and talking aimlessly may not have been as fun or exciting without her.
During my wandering mornings, I landed up at the local school in Jibhi and as luck would have it, I made friends with two young girls and one of them happened to be my namesake. Visiting the school, chatting with children and just reminiscing my school days were something I hadn't done in the longest time - it was like getting a glimpse of my growing up years.
Days passed by, and Jibhi soon felt like this little hidden paradise that I did not want the world to find. I wanted to soak in its purity and innocence and protect it from becoming another commercial hub that people flocked to.
Meeting people who had left their city lives and settled here and opening Jibhi as an avenue for more than a pit stop to Shimla or for luxury stays was another insight. This was only possible because this place and its people open their doors to strangers.
On one of the days, the clouds decided to bless us with rains like never before. While everyone hustled into shade; I sat in my room balcony and decided to paint and watch the clouds and fog play hide and seek with tall pine wood trees. Spending an entire afternoon watching nature is the best therapy to open our senses.
On my last day while I was walking by a group of ladies discussing Star plus and our Indian soaps, we got chatting about my life back home. I mentioned to them that I was leaving, and they reacted with the fact that they had gotten used to seeing me around walking, taking local buses, and chatting around.
It was then when it struck me that even though I did not recognise them all, I had become a part of a life of this small town in ways I can't put in words, but are etched on my soul. May be I was one of the many faces they had encountered but they left an everlasting impression on me.
These are just a couple of reasons that helped me realise the joy of spending time in a place that can be "seen" in a day.
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