We live in a time (unlike our ancestors over 300 years ago) with the historical advantage of being able to fulfil the basic requirements needed for survival. Ever since, all human action has been for the betterment of one’s condition, which simply means you’re constantly searching for your own happiness and the enhancement of your current situation.
Boundless possibilities are the bedrock for the vastness of human predicaments. No matter who you are, once you acquire something you aspire for or desire, there’s always the next, & the next, & the next. Desire is insatiable, and humans do not have it in their nature to settle for any boundaries, it’s how the phrase ‘the sky is the limit’ was coined.
Desire today is the human appetite for a given object of attention. Products, people and places are associated with desirable attitudes, appealing to our human desire of ‘self-betterment’, especially today where capitalism creates desires and the need to accumulate and satisfy them, ‘oh if I just make more money, get this haircut, these pair of shoes, the new iPhone— I’ll finally be satisfied and happy.’ In literary, philosophic and religious spheres desire is portrayed to be at the centre, and cause of all tensions and sorrows, but even to think ‘I don’t want any desires’ is a desire! Desire, like life is inescapable.
Travelling has definitely been a cultivated desire in me, that I think only has positive externalities. For me, travel is inextricably linked to ‘first-times’ (new experiences). I seek the new, the unchartered, the unseen and the only way to do so is to seek discomfort. I came across a collective called ‘yes theory’ whose philosophy is ‘seek discomfort’ because “life’s greatest moments and deepest connections are outside your comfort zone!” It’s why those impromptu night outs and trips with your mates are still memorable ones! I remember once, on the day of my last grade 10 GCSE exam, I was to go to London for two weeks to visit my masi, my first time flying alone! Unfortunately, my visa was an accompanied one since I was a minor, which meant I could only travel with my mum or dad. Fortunately, my mum was on her way to the passport office to sort something out and had her passport with her, so I made her buy a plane ticket and come with me to London in that instant, with nothing but the chappal on her feet and the wallet in her bag, leaving behind her work, young child, and family behind with no prior notice. Despite the discomfort she expressed about my preposterous persistence on the plane ride there I can guarantee you, it is one of the best experiences the two of us share! Since then, I’ve desired the unknown of first times. I think the best way to gain perspective, whether it be to help others or yourself, is to travel.
Photo by Taabish RayaniMy father has always been a fan of exploring new places, and so I have been acclimatised to road trips since I was 5 months old. Despite being the citizen of only one country (India) after 24 years of existence I own 4 passports because all my pages are full of travel stamps and visas, and for that I am so grateful but as a young adult, I feel the need to talk about changing desires. My desire to travel used to stem from social lenses of ‘tourist destinations you need to visit before you kick it’ and ‘omg how have you not been there?’. This year however, my perspective on travel has changed and is more along the lines of ‘what footprint am I leaving behind in a place where I am a visitor?’ because let’s face it, how dirty are beaches in Goa and Bali & the streets of New York during peak season for tourism really? My desire to travel now supersedes any thoughts to decorate my social media pages with my ‘vacation game’ to fit the latest Instagram ‘travel hotspot hashtags’- did you really explore and appreciate a place when all you did was pose for a camera?
My trip to Kodi Bengre, was my first time solo travelling in India. The only thing I had booked was my plane ticket to Mangalore, and my stay for a few nights at Shaka Surf Club. Kodi Bengare is a small strip of land, sleepily laying between the Arabian Sea to its west, and the Survana a lazy river spread along its eastern shorelines, in the Udupi district of Karnataka. Most days on Kodi Bengre beach I was the only person on a 2km stretch of crystal white sands. Walking into Shaka Surf Club was beautiful== no walls, hammocks hanging across palm trees, wash basins overlooking the river, an outdoor shower. For three weeks, I slept under palm trees and stars, sometimes in a hammock, waking up with the sun— a perfect blueprint for a mind at ease. I feel blessed that for the first few months of 2021 I was buried in work till sometime in March- despite being the happiest I had been in a while- I felt unsatisfied, I desired more, but I couldn’t put my finger on what, till I was in Kodi Bengare. It was the city, drowning and muting my senses. What I thought I desired to be happy was to stay busy, but, what I really desired was peace, quiet, a strong sense of community and space to write poetry. A desire I realised I wanted only because of this first-time travel experience.
I don’t speak Kannada but I still formed a bond with the akka (big sister) who managed the shack. The food we ate was prepared by the neighbouring houses, so as to provide them with a source of income— I haven’t tasted better fish! I even tattooed residents of the village while I was there, I felt so connected to the community I was merely a passing guest in.
Desire is wonderful vehicle that will take you places you want to be because its range is limitless. Seek discomfort, recognise, understand, embrace, and manifest your deepest desires. Ask yourself, do you know what you want from life? Are you getting your desired return on your investment of time? Perhaps, “we have to live a little more, to understand how to gain the power to help others not feel powerless.”- Natalie Portman. Desire to travel* because it’s the best way to live a little and gain experiences, seek discomfort because leaving your comfort zone is where you push your limits and gain new perspectives,
and see if you have the same lust for life as me- life is too short to do the same thing twice.
* Remember travel does not have to be expensive.
Written By Taabish Rayani
I was born and bred in Mumbai, but I consider myself a resident of Pangaea. I’m a stick and poke tattoo artist, I like dogs more than humans, and I would rather read an ancient satire by Aristophanes, than watch a Marvel movie (I know, what a classical gyp). I believe life is happy if you are the person your dog thinks you are!
Week 20, May 2021
