First a confession. I have been a computer geek all my life and entertainment outside the online world has meant an odd movie at the multiplex. But this week has been a breakaway from all those geek stereotypes, in true computer geek fashion.

Well frankly, I was sick and tired of the substandard movies dished out over the past two weeks and decided to opt for the ‘ white man’s way’ to relaxation i.e. Bagpacking. It is the art of surviving on bare minimum while soaking in beauty through all senses without being obstructed by who you were before bagpacking.
Actually I was coaxed into it by a group of Italian students who have descended on the house next to mine.

Pushkar is a experience that just pours into you through all your senses. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes and of course the intangible enthusiasm all galore around you in this world’s largest camel fair. No wonder these foreigners throng Pushkar every November. I did it all, lived in tents, mingled with locals, rode in Rang De Basanti style albeit on a camel and gave some Italian beauties a gala time, no pun intended. I was drowned in a riot of colors and a frenzied burst of activity and yet I feel so relaxed at the end of it.

Bagpacking is seriously a neglected art in India. It has much in common with the ‘tirthyatra’ tradition in India minus the ritual part. You can truly let yourself go and just enjoy the existence of the world. I am seriously contemplating forming a bagpacking group back in Mumbai and anyone interested please leave a comment here. We need not really travel together but we can certainly exchange a lot of information, a sort of a support group.

Even blogging seems pale in front of bagpacking. On second thoughts, just kidding.