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 You don't have to re-read the title - It is 'Travel' as a 'Destination' that I am talking about. You will agree with this 'obviously wrong title' after you read through. Think about it - a decade ago, travel was mostly an indulgence of the affluent upper class. For the rest of us, it happened only if there was a need in hand like attending a family function or official work. And when you go, if there is any commercially touted tourist spot nearby, then there is a family outing with minimum number of 10 people! The outing would be more remembered for the chaos than the trip or the place visited!
 But it is a different scene today. Most families - irrespective of the social stratum - dream of travel and vacation at least once a year. And generally make it also even if it pinches their wallet heavily and eats it into their tight schedules at work place and home. Destination place matters to some extent - but what actually matters is the act of getting out of the routine and travel. How did this sea change in attitude happen? The first answer that comes to the mind is the increasing disposable income among the salaried class. But I think there is more to it. If money had been the prime reason, there are always other better and profitable ways of spending it.
There is this new spirit of adventurism in most of us probably kindled by the media coverage (bordering hype!) on travel. Take for instance, the internet. There is hardly any content site worth its name, which does not have a page on Travel. In TV, apart from dedicated programmes like 'Travel' in Discovery channel, every other channel features some Travel-related programme. Possibly this spirit of adventure coupled with loads of information available, could be one of the reasons. Also, life in the metro is getting quite drab. There is crowd, crowd, crowd everywhere and not a quiet place to spend time peacefully. And to top it, travel is getting to be a nightmare with traffic blocks every junction, the upcoming fly-overs and the regular congestion. All this results in a desperate wish to get away, relish the fresh air outside the metro and generally chill out. And You do it once, you get hooked on to it.
 Because, Travel sets the mind free. Just as the eyes lap up the scenery around you, the mind starts its own journey /travel. It is a good and a needed change for the mind, which has been otherwise tuned to think in a beaten track of the mundane affairs at hand. Suddenly one finds lot of time, peace and kind of liberated spirit like the wind around you. New insights appear; Solutions appear on given-up situations; And the whole experience mostly ends up with some great ideas in you! That is the lure of travel. Then of course comes the cream on the cake - which is the place you visit. So guys - next time you plan a vacation - don't think you will just enjoy the place you visit. Relax and enjoy the journey and see what it does to your spirit!
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