IT EARS ROLLED DOWN my face as I sipped on wine in an Emirates flight. I was flying from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro—the 15-hour flight being one of the longest I had ever taken. But that wasn’t why I was crying. I had just had my heartbroken and left it behind. Why was I drinking wine? Because I was celebrating the act of embarking on my life’s most awaited adventure: travelling to an unknown land all by myself.
Colombia wasn’t always my dream destination. In fact, I knew very little about it. That’s exactly why it fit my description of a ‘somewhere unknown’ in a ‘land far, far away’. Just the place for an adventure at 27 years of age. My career was going nowhere exceptional and my love life had just gone down the drain. I decided it was time to reboot my life. So, I headed to Bogotá for a six-month-long ‘Teach English’ programme piloted by the government of Colombia.
When I landed at Bogotá, the airport flummoxed me and I couldn’t find my luggage or guide. I knew not a single word of Spanish. So, I mimed my queries to the airport crew. My bilingual guide, eventually found, held my hand as she took me around the La Candelaria neighbourhood in broken English.
BOGOTÁ
This story is from the March 2022 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2022 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Abode Of Gods
Paphos, the ancient home of Aphrodite, is steeped in folklore. A walk around the old town can turn into a journey to the past; all you need is a little imagination.
Chasing Joy On Rottnest Island
Blue waters, shimmering sandy beaches, and historic sites-Rottnest in Western Australia is the quintessential island getaway. But what truly captivated our cover star Rashmika Mandanna is the happy and laid-back life that the island offers.
AS TIME GOES BY
A decade and a half after a life-changing sojourn in Vietnam, a writer returns to track the country's transformations-and his own.
PARIS MATCH
Royal roots and boho cool, French trad and cosmopolitan flair: Thomas Chatterton Williams visits the Marais and finds the perfect mix.
Spotted in the Wild
Tracking down a creature as evasive as the cheetah is never guaranteed. Jeff Chu treks to southern Africa to find big cats and fulfill a long-held family promise.
Tastes Like History
With a lineage spanning millennia, Armenian cuisine is an alchemist's dream. Veidehi Gite samples iconic dishes that evoke memories of home.
Secrets of the Happy State
A road trip from Aizawl to Champhai along the Indo-Myanmar border leads to many revelations for Florina Soren.
Championing Cheer
Fostering mindful atmospheres within corporate environments, Dr Sharon Rajkumar stands as a beacon of positivity, guiding others towards a more fulfilling and balanced life. In a candid chat, the TEDx speaker shares her journey with Kiara Sengupta, on how serendipity led her to become the first happiness evangelist in India.
Doodling Up Joy
Turning embarrassing moments of daily life into comedic relief comes naturally to Neha Sharma. The CA-turned-doodle artist now harnesses the power of her paints to create relatable comics that mirror the everyday. In a hearty chat with Bayar Jain, the self-taught artist and storyteller outlines her journey and underlines the importance of art in bringing happiness.
A Novel Take On Happiness
With his 90th birthday on the horizon, India's most beloved author Ruskin Bond, talks to Eshita Srinivas about love affairs on ships, the excitement of train journeys, and his new book that he hopes will inspire young readers.
