One Life, Countless Journeys

Live life fully — with courage, curiosity, and countless journeys.

I grew up in Jalgaon, where I attended school, from where I began exploring Maharashtra. Travelling to different states across India with my family laid the foundation of my life. Those early journeys planted a deep seed of curiosity within me — a desire to see, learn, and understand the world beyond my immediate surroundings.

I completed my tourism management course in Pune and began my career with Thomas Cook in Mumbai. The professional world was dynamic and full of learning. In Pune, my colleague and dear friend Sameer became both a mentor and a constant guide. Over time, our shared passion for travel grew into companionship, and we married — partners in life and purpose.

I feel fortunate to have a life partner who shares my vision and love for tourism. For over 25 years, we have grown together, personally and professionally. Like any partnership, we had differences but chose understanding over ego and solutions over silence. Each challenge strengthened our bond and deepened our mutual respect.

Though I had studied tourism management, it was after marriage that my career truly found direction. Sameer believed in me even when I doubted myself. His clarity and confidence helped me recognise my own potential. He understood my strengths and weaknesses and encouraged me to rise above limitations.

Life, however, demanded balance. Like many women, I had responsibilities towards both my in-laws and parents. For a time, health concerns and family needs required my full attention. I left my job and turned to freelancing. It was not easy, but it taught me resilience and adaptability.

During that time, I realised my greatest asset was my social network. I reached out to family friends and our doctor, offering travel-related services. I began with passport assistance, travelling across Pune and nearby towns to help with documentation. It was humble work, but I did it with sincerity and dedication.

Then came a significant challenge — arranging passports for 50 people from Rajgurunagar and Manchar. Many lacked proper documents, requiring repeated visits to rural commissioner offices, preparing affidavits and patient coordination with authorities. After nearly two months of relentless effort, all 50 passports were issued. The experience strengthened both my confidence and reputation.

Soon after, the same group entrusted me with organising their international tour to Singapore and Malaysia in 2002. I planned the entire journey and travelled with them as a tour leader. That assignment became my breakthrough moment as a freelancer and reaffirmed my belief that dedication always finds its reward.

In 2003, our daughter was born. Gradually, she developed a deep interest in travel too. Since childhood, she has explored India and many countries with us, experiencing diverse cultures firsthand. Travel became her classroom beyond textbooks. Today, as a confident young woman, she handles situations independently, and we believe that exposure to different places and perspectives has shaped her personality.

As a family, we consciously chose offbeat travel. In Germany, we explored charming towns such as Pirna, Bad Schandau in the Saxon region, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Meersburg, Görlitz, Seiffen, Dresden, Meissen, and Bautzen. Each destination felt like discovering a hidden treasure — quiet streets, authentic local life, and stories waiting to be told.

In Switzerland, we visited lesser-known mountain peaks frequented mostly by locals. Across Europe, we often hired cars and travelled independently, immersing ourselves in regional cultures rather than limiting ourselves to popular tourist routes. Those journeys taught us that the soul of a place lies beyond postcards.

Standing on the glamorous shores of the French Riviera — in Monte Carlo, Nice, and Menton — once felt like a distant dream. Italy unfolded like poetry, with art, history, cuisine, and timeless beauty in every corner. More recently, our stay in the Netherlands allowed us to admire a simple yet efficient way of living.

Work also took us to the United States, China, and Egypt, each country offering powerful lessons in diversity, heritage, and humanity. With every destination, our understanding of the world expanded — and so did our gratitude.

For 25 years, travel has been more than a profession; it has been our way of life. We continue to guide and curate meaningful journeys for our loyal and new clients, adding thoughtful value to their dream tours. Nothing brings us greater happiness than seeing their expectations fulfilled — and often exceeded.

Even today, I feel there is so much more to explore. Because I truly believe that we get this precious birth only once. And we must live it fully — with courage, curiosity, and countless journeys.

(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)