How to satisfy your wanderlust in quarantine?

Never did I think, I would write a blog about it, but here it is. Like most of us, I was also waiting for this Summer eagerly and it came with lots of disappointments. The world has come to a standstill because of Covid-19. Yet everyday we wake up to some bad news or the other. But amidst all of these negativities, the last place we would want to find negativity is within ourselves. Therefore we need to engage ourselves with things that make us happy and positive. Travel, over the last few years, has been extremely therapeutic to me and it is the easiest way for me to escape harsh reality. Nothing gives me more joy than visiting fairytale places, ticking things off my bucket-list, interacting with locals and understanding their cultures, discovering hidden gems, trying new cuisines and making memories with my loved ones. Therefore over the last 10 weeks of self-quarantine, I finally had to learn how to satisfy my wanderlust at home in order to stay positive.

1. Watch travel movies: 

Thanks to Netflix and other streaming services, we can watch Eat Pray Love and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara anytime we miss travelling. We can virtually spend a day Under the Tuscan Sun and then Midnight in Paris. Till we go on our next Holiday, rely on your favourite feel-good travel movies to take your worries away for some time.

2. Cook new cuisines:

Do you miss having freshly baked croissants in a Parisian bakery or a yummy pizza in Italy? Why not make them at home? If you ever fancied taking up a cooking session whilst travelling, you can try that now with the help of Youtube and Masterchef. Now that we have a lot of time to make mistakes and learn, by the end of the lockdown, you might learn to cook the perfect pasta like an Italian nonna.

3. Consume travel contents:

Even as a kid I used to love watching travel shows. A couple of decades later, the love has grown exponentially. Almost everyday I watch videos of new places to inspire and motivate myself. The whole internet and social media are filled with millions of contents. There is something for everyone. You can watch travel shows/vlogs/documentaries and read blogs/articles/books about your dream places or places you have never heard of. 

4. Chat with your travel buddies:

What would we have done without FaceTime and WhatsApp? Now that we are all catching up with our friends, why not chat with the ones with similar interests? Share each other’s experiences and relive the moments. I recently did one such Zoom session with some of my friends and we ended up having so much fun.

5. Reminisce about old memories:

Instead of sulking about being stuck at home, reminisce about the wonderful memories you have made in the past years and be grateful. Go through old photos and videos and enjoy the nostalgia. You can even make a travel movie with all the photos and videos.

6. Go old school with the photos:

'Remember the non-digital era when we used to maintain photo albums instead of "Gallery" in our phones? If you have any printed photos or polaroids, make a photo album for yourself. You can be as creative as you can and take it to the next level - a travel book/scrap book with memories or a handmade calendar or a photo wall. This can easily become a fun family activity.

7. Learn a new language:

Pick up a new language, so that next time you visit a country you can speak more than just Bonjour or Hola. After years of lazing around, I have finally signed up for a paid course. Few weeks later, if I can communicate to someone even in broken Spanish, I know it will make me very happy.

8. Enjoy a virtual museum tour:

Loads of virtual museum tours and theatres are being taken place across the world. If you are an admirer of art, you have a lot of options to choose from. It can even be a good learning experience for kids.

9. Try drawing/doodling:

Every time we visit a new place, we take a souvenir back home. 'Ever tried making your own souvenir? Draw your favourite place or simply doodle. Explore your hidden talents and give your usual souvenirs an aesthetic upgrade. 

10. Get that Summer body:

Going to the beach is uncertain in this Summer, but you can certainly work on the Summer body, you have always wanted to get. During these unprecedented times, fitness is required for both physical and mental health. Since you have both time and flexibility, use them to get into the perfect shape. Even if there is a tiny chance of enjoying a little bit of Summer, we should be ready with our beach bodies. 

11. Plan your future travels:

Last but not the least, plan your future holidays. Sometimes when we get a good deal, we book an impulsive holiday and later think about the mistakes that could have been avoided. Well, now is the time to research about that place you have always wanted to visit, so that by the time things get better you are ready with the perfect itinerary.

We cannot deny the privilege we have. Therefore, we cannot make excuses of not having enough time anymore. We shall not be able to travel anytime soon, but we can definitely utilise this time to get ready to welcome a safer world with a better version of ourselves. So, “Dream now, Travel later".