Globe-trotting grandpas

Age is only a quantity, says V Seshakumar, who stepped into his seventieth yr with an around-the-world-in- 50-days tour. In 2024, he and his associates, all of them over sixty, flew to Bangkok, checked out Hong Kong, took within the Japanese tradition at Tokyo, loved the plush landscapes of Hawaii. They then stopped at Los Angeles and Seattle, taking the highway from the west to the east coast of USA, then to Anchorage, his dream vacation spot. From there, they drove down to the touch the North Pole in Alaska, then to Santiago, adopted by a landing at Mexico, hopping into New York, making a pitstop at Turkey and earlier than lastly again dwelling to India. 

“Anyone who has the need can journey; age shouldn’t be a barrier,” says Seshakumar as he reminisces about his youthful days.

Based in Madurai, wanderlust bit him at a younger age. In 1978, whereas pursuing his BA in Economics at The American College, he alongside together with his two associates, determined to discover Sri Lanka on their bicycles. They cycled to Dhanushkodi, and from there, boarded the ferry Ramanujam to Talaimannar, blissfully unaware that they had been getting into a rustic that was within the throes of the Civil War. They managed to board a cargo ship going to the Maldives with the assistance of his father, who was within the police power. They disembarked close to Thoothukudi, from the place they had been introduced again to Madurai.

The adrenaline rush, fraught with pleasure and hazard, sparked Seshakumari’s curiosity in abroad journey. But from then on, every journey started with a well-planned itinerary. After retiring from his job with TVS, Seshakumar started ticking his lengthy bucket checklist of journey locations. In 2018, he and his journey companions roared on Harley Davidson bikes and touched practically 17 nations in Europe. 

Now, as he ponders on his subsequent journey, Seshakumar provides nuggets of knowledge for individuals who need to journey of their silver years. Building up a little bit bodily endurance is the important thing and he advises strolling, yoga for flexibility and delicate weight lifting to construct muscle power. “And to maintain the mind wholesome, nothing beats mediation,” he says, including that they carry a range and cooker in case they crave a easy home-cooked meal.

“This additionally helps us get monetary savings,” he factors out.

“Travelling has additionally given me a brand new perspective. We be taught to understand extra issues in our personal nation. In Alaska, it was pristine however inanimate magnificence that greeted me. In India, we are able to really feel the heartbeat of life in every single place,” he says.

After travelling the world, he feels that there isn’t any place like dwelling. “We are blessed to have the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot that boasts a big proportion of the nation’s plant and animal species. There are many virgin terrains that haven’t been explored,” he says. 

“Organised and sustainable tourism by the Government will assist protect this wealthy natural world and showcase it to the world,” says this globe-trotter.