“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain
The above quote fits right for a 63-year-old woman from New Delhi who is living her life to the fullest with her son by traveling the nation.
While a good lot of children become distant from their parents after a certain age, S Venkatesh, a guy from New Delhi has chosen his mom Subha Surianarayanan to be his travel partner.
By now the mom-son duo has been to destinations like Shimla, Dharmashala, Jibhi, Goa, Rishikesh, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Amritsar, and Kashmir. They have also successfully completed the Parashar lake trek and the Serolskar lake trek—which is quite arduous.
Son credits mom’s spirit
Speaking to Life Beyond Numbers Venkatesh said that his mom is always ready to go on adventures. Also, he emphasized on the fact that it feels quite great to travel with parents.
“I never have to ‘convince’ her—mom is always ready for spontaneous adventures. She is always ready for last-minute adventures. For people who think traveling with parents is difficult, I think they’re wrong. It is therapeutic, wonderful, and perhaps the best trend we have both started as a family. She is always excited to try new things and travel across India with me,” he said.
He called traveling with his mother is a ‘wholesome’ experience and his mom is actually the best ever travel partner he could ever have.
“I see people my age traveling with their buddies or partners, but my mother is my best travel partner. It is so easy to coordinate with her, and we cherish every moment of our travels. She is my everything. I have learned much since we traveled together.”
Ironically, Venkatesh’s mom is seemingly fitter than him despite his constant apprehension. Most of the times it is because of him, and not his mother that they have to slow down.A similar incident took place when they visited Ladakh in 2021.
“Many people experience AMS (acute mountain sickness) due to the high altitudes. I was initially worried that my mother would too, so I had planned for the first day to be kept free to acclimatise. But ironically, I was the one who experienced AMS, while she was fine.”
To this, Mrs. Subha spilled the secret of staying strong and fit. She happens to walk 45 minutes a day and eats according to her age.
“This allows me to take part in any adventure that comes my way,” she said.
Subha and Venkatesh are on a roll. They even tried out parasailing and then ziplining in Gulmarg. Despite her reservations she tried it.
“With my son’s encouragement, I dive into them,” she said.
The duo also makes sure that they travel within budget. Most of their trips so far cost around Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 for three to four days tours, excluding fuel. They have been spending more on adventure activities and sightseeing than on their stay.
Bonding over loss
About four years ago, Mrs. Surianarayanan lost her husband due to a health complication. The loss is irreparable and the pain lingers, these trips and their time together have helped them overcome it and be stronger.
For all the above reasons, Venkatesh has come to realize the value of the bond between a parent and his/her child very deeply. So, he urges people to make some time for their parents and try and be with them, if possible travel.
“We forget that everything is fragile, and things can take a moment to change. It’s never too late to prioritize your parents over other superficial things. Travel with them, capture their little moments of joy, talk to them, be there for them—at least that is something I do, and it makes me happy.”
They are due to their next adventure on Venkatesh’s mother’s birthday in August.
“We are planning the next adventure. Maybe we will take the Valley of Flowers trek or Hemkund Sahib,” shared Venkatesh.
“We also wish to do a Delhi – Kanyakumari- Delhi trip one day covering all major cities on the way in our car. Dubai is also on the list,” he added.
To all the senior citizens out there who aren’t sure about stepping out or trying something new, Subha has a word of advice.
“You are more than what you think. Confidence comes from within. Even I wasn’t confident in the beginning,” she said.
Also read: This Woman From Kerala Travels The World With Earnings From Her Grocery Store