This is amazing. The journey of an Indian couple around the world with a Tea Stall.
It is a must read story for all those, who has travel bugs.
Really I am very impressed, proud and inspired.
Here is the story from
http://www.thrillophilia.com/blog/around-world-just-tea-stall/
Around the World with just a Tea-Stall!
HARE
While a million of people around the world give up their passions everyday and adapt to themselves according to the circumstances, a 65 years old couple from Kerala has set a new example of self confidence and passion. Rather than losing in the hands of circumstances, this couple from Kochin, gave up everything to fulfil their passion and travel around the world!
Vijayan, a small-time tea seller from Kochi, Kerala, with his passion and love for travelling has proved everyone wrong! Over the last few decades, this tea seller from Kerala, along with his better half, Mohana, has been to more than 16 countries around the globe. The travel list of this pious traveller couple include popular destinations like Britain, Switzerland, Israel, France, UAE, Austria, Egypt, South Africa and several others.
When asked about his passion, Viajayan mentioned his father as the person who introduced him to the fascinating world of travelling. A kid of 6, he got obsessed with travelling only after his father introduced him to the travel world and took him to places like Madurai, Palini and almost all the temples across Kerala.
Recalling those jovial days of his life, Vijayan says that after the tragic loss of his father, the zeal of travelling however started disappearing as responsibilities started growing around him. But as they say, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’, Vijayan got back to his passion once again. And this time it was his life-partner Mohana, who accompanied him all through.
Carrying on with the passion and love for travelling, the couple has by now travelled to some of the most desirable continents around the globe and is looking forward to explore the whole world.
When asked to his wife, she said, “I was really excited when we first travelled abroad. Belonging to a very poor family, I never dreamt of a life like this. Later along with him I too became obsessed with the journeys. Switzerland is my favourite among the places we visited”. She also recalls her experience when the couple made it to Israel and she witnessed the statue of Jesus. She calls that moment one of the best moments of their voyage and further admits that Switzerland has been her most darling destination.
However, unlike other professional or passionate travellers, this couple had to face a lot of obstacles and difficulties in continuing their passion of travelling! In order to meet up the expenses of travelling, the couple had to take loan from banks and had hard times in repaying them as their sole income source is their small time tea stall in Kochi.
Despite of all the obstacles and the hardship, this pious travel couple didn’t lose to the conditions and has always listened to their inner voice. There were times, when they had to save Rs 300 every day to plan their next trip; they in fact plan their trip only after repaying the previous loans. Unlike other travellers, who spend a lot during their vacations and trips, Vijayan and Mohana spend only $10 in picking up mementos from every destination and lead a very simple life all through.
When Vijayan was asked about what keeps them going, with a childish smile on his face, he replied that it is their love and passion for discovering new places and the urge to breathe free that keeps them motivating. He also added that, it is his wife, without whom it wouldn’t have been possible for him to travel around the world. With the last trip planned to Europe, the couple is now looking forward to visit the United States shortly.
Though with the growing age they are facing to procure loans from the banks, the couple have not stopped living their passion and is planning for their next trip to the United Nations.
