LOOKING BACK AT 2025: WHAT TRAVEL TAUGHT ME

By Keyaa
India Through the Eyes of an NRI Kid

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In this heartfelt reflection from Diary With Dad, Keyaa shares how travel helped her rediscover where she truly belongs.

 

 

Some years pass quickly. Others stay with you — not because of how busy they were, but because of what they quietly taught you. 2025 was one of those years.

From Disney to the Rann of Kutch, Hawaii, Leh–Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh, this year felt like a journey across very different worlds. Each destination looked unique, but together they shaped how I now see travel, life, and myself.

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Disney: Where Imagination Is a Language, Everyone Understands

Disney was loud, colourful, and full of movement. But beyond the rides and characters, it reminded me to believe in wonder. Joy doesn’t need a reason, and imagination doesn’t have an age limit. Watching people smile so freely made me realize how powerful happiness can be when you let it exist without overthinking it.

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Rann of Kutch: Finding Beauty in Emptiness

The Rann of Kutch was the complete opposite. Quiet. Vast. Almost endless. Standing on the white salt desert felt like standing in stillness. And yet, it wasn’t empty at all. It was full of stories, culture, and creativity. Kutch taught me that beauty doesn’t always shout, sometimes it waits for you to slow down and notice it.

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Hawaii: Learning Balance from Nature

Hawaii felt alive in a different way. The ocean, the land, the breeze — everything moved in balance. What stayed with me most was the respect people had for nature. It wasn’t just scenery; it was something to live with and protect. Hawaii taught me balance, strength and softness existing together.

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Leh–Ladakh: Understanding Stillness

Leh–Ladakh changed something deeper. The silence there felt powerful. The mountains didn’t rush. The monasteries spoke through stillness. Even unexpected moments — like being stuck due to a landslide — turned into memories of warmth, presence, and togetherness. Leh taught me that peace isn’t loud, and sometimes slowing down is exactly what you need.

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Himachal Pradesh: Learning to Slow Down

Himachal Pradesh felt like a gentle reminder to breathe. Misty mornings, winding roads, quiet markets — everything moved at its own pace. Places like Dalhousie and Dharamshala showed me that life doesn’t always need a plan. Sometimes, it just needs time.

Looking back, 2025 wasn’t about how many places I visited. It was about what each place gave me — wonder, resilience, balance, stillness, and slowness. Traveling with Dad made those lessons feel even stronger, turning every journey into something meaningful.

 

 

As the year ends and a new one begins, I don’t just look forward to new destinations. I carry these lessons with me — ready for new roads, new adventures, and new stories waiting to unfold.

Here’s to travel that teaches you something — and to journeys that stay with you long after you return.

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