My First Flight to a Life on the Road: 20 Years of Travel, Lessons, and Curiosity

My First Flight: A Childhood Dream Takes Off

It was May 8, 2005, at Delhi International Airport. I was heading to Mumbai after a work conference in Gurgaon. At that time, I held a modest position, and air travel felt like a luxury reserved for bosses and Bollywood stars. But destiny, like a clever travel agent, had other plans.

Delhi traffic made me miss my train, and management decided to fly us instead. That twist of fate became the boarding pass to my life’s biggest adventure.

The terminal lights, the polished floors, the hum of aircraft, everything felt surreal. I held my boarding pass like it was a golden ticket. My heart raced, my palms were sweaty, and my dreams were taking off faster than the plane.

As I walked down the aerobridge, I paused and stared at the nose of the airplane. Tears welled up. For a boy who had not even travelled in third-class AC trains, this felt like the sky opening its arms.

My colleague smirked, “First time flying?” I nodded. The air hostess noticed and smiled, as if she recognized that familiar sparkle every first-time traveler carries.

The Lost Mumbaikar says:
“Some firsts don’t just change your direction. They quietly change your destiny.”

Witty truth: My first flight lasted 90 minutes but felt like nine years of dreams coming true.

 

Growing Up Curious in Rajasthan

Fast forward to 2025, and the boy from Morak, Rajasthan, who once looked at airplanes like shooting stars now debates extra baggage allowance with airline staff.

Growing up in a small town, I studied in an English-medium school where English came with a strong Rajasthani accent. Fluency was optional. Curiosity was not.

I was fascinated by World War documentaries, Hollywood films, Sachin Tendulkar’s cover drives, and George Zamfir’s pan flute. While my friends collected cricket cards, I collected maps. I was not studying geography. I was memorizing my future routes.

The Lost Mumbaikar says:
“Curiosity is the first passport you carry, long before the real one.”

Witty truth: My teachers thought I was daydreaming. Turns out, I was planning my travels in my dreams.

 

Lessons Learned during and after traveling

I will soon be writing more about the benefits of travel, road trips, and solo journeys because some lessons from the road deserve their own stories. Travel has been my greatest teacher, patient, unpredictable and occasionally hilarious.

I have missed flights, lost luggage, taken the wrong trains, and once booked a hotel that turned out to be someone’s living room. Each mistake added flavour to the journey. In Costa Rica, a missed flight led to the wildlife. In Peru, a bike fall earned me a few wounds and unexpected friendships. In Finland, a dented RV came with Northern Lights and perspective. Each country left a lesson behind: patience in Cuba, humility in Egypt, silence in Finland, resilience in Romania.

Travel slowly teaches you that it is not about escaping life, but about facing it fully, chaos and calm included.

Every time I return to Dubai after my travels, something feels different. Or maybe I am the one who has quietly changed somewhere between airports, roads, and distant sunsets. Travel slowly teaches you that home is not just a place pinned on a map; it is a feeling you carry inside your stories, your playlists, and the silent stamps in your passport that remind you how far your heart has wandered.

The Lost Mumbaikar says:
“The best journeys are the ones that survive your mistakes”.

Witty truth: You don’t collect souvenirs, you collect survival stories and unpacking after a long trip feels like jet lag for the soul. 

 

Years of Global Travels

Two decades later, I have travelled across six continents and nearly 90 countries, from the icy glow of the Northern Lights to the warmth of Costa Rica.

I have driven across Europe’s snow-covered passes, cruised along New Zealand’s emerald coasts, and stood in silence before the echoes of Auschwitz. I have seen the world through airplane windows, bike helmets, and camera lenses, each frame reminding me that life’s best classroom has no walls.

The Lost Mumbaikar says:
“I started as a passenger. Somewhere along the way, I became the story.”

Witty truth: Airports once intimidated me. Now I know where to find the best coffee in most of them.

 

What’s Next? My Top 25 Countries

In my upcoming blog, I will share The Lost Mumbaikar’s Top 25 Countries, from the chaos of New York to the calm of Norway, from the magic of Mexico to the mystery of Moldova.

These are not destinations. They are emotional postcards from the last two decades of my life.

 

Before You Go

Before you close this page, pause for a moment.

Which country should I start with first for you?Tell me your favorite country, and I will share my travel experience from there.