While in Pushkar, India, I decided to escape the main tourist attractions and the so-called “must-see” places. I rented a motorbike, took the first dirt road I found, and ventured into the countryside with no set destination—just the thrill of the unknown. No expectations, no preconceived ideas. Simply an openness to the excitement of the unexpected.
It turned out to be an incredible day. I talked and spent time with people working in the fields. I stopped in a flower field where women were carefully handpicking blossoms later used in Hindu temple rituals. I walked among them, shared moments, and made them feel models for a day. I learned about the lives of rural farmers harvesting their crops, stepped into a wooden factory filled with cheerful workers, and sat for tea in the home of a sadhu (holy man), discussing life and his vision of society.
I met people who were both delighted and surprised to see a foreigner in a place where no tourists go—a place where, according to most, there is “nothing” to see. In a remote village, a humble man and his wife welcomed me into their home, a tiny shack made from tree branches and leaves. They invited me to share a meal—one of the spiciest curries I’ve ever tasted—accompanied, of course, by chai. As we ate, he enthusiastically showed me the intricate techniques he used to handcraft musical instruments for a living.
By the time I returned to Pushkar, I felt as if I had experienced, seen, and learned more in a single day than in an entire journey. It was one of those moments that remind you what travel is truly about—the people you meet and the unexpected experiences that unfold along the way. Because in the end, pure travel isn’t about ticking off destinations; it’s about embracing the unknown, seeing with fresh eyes, and allowing yourself to be amazed: ready for the unexpected.
