Learn more about Raj and Mo
Raj and Mo started backpacking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at the ages of 19 and 20 yrs respectively. One back packing trip lead to another and we were soon addicted the ‘high’ you get from being on top of the mountains. Subsequent years lead to hikes in Adirondack Mountains of New York, Green Mountains of Vermont and Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. The love of hiking continued with our two children in the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Kauai, Swiss and Italian Alps and Dolomites of Italy. But along the way we also turned to cultural and nature travels all over the world. You can see our map of places visited here.
There was a constant through all the years - our best part of travels were the natural and cultural wonders. The people we met left imprints on us and taught us that the humanity is the same everywhere. We learnt the harshness of life from Bedouin tribes in the Moroccan Sahara, the joy of life by those same men who sat under the stars at night, drinking their mint tea and sharing their story.
Travels often lead to uncertain situations that just can’t be planned for and add color to the story. Such as getting lost in Prague at 2:00 AM with no map and no GPS. Or getting caught into a sand storm in Morocco. Or in a blizzard on top of Mount Madison in August. Or a vicious rain storm in the Black Forest on a night with no moon. Or navigating a washed out road with sheer drops in St Lucia.
There is new food around every corner in far away lands that you have never heard of. Or preparations that are beyond anything we have experienced. Like ordering a salad at a restaurant in Marrakech and getting 14 plates of varied foods. Freshly made ladoos at Taj Hotel in Jaipur, India. Open air market with charcoal cooking in Fez. Unimaginable seafood in Barcelona cooked in front of you. Or roasted corn in Goa. Our bodies have gotten a bit thicker with time, but ....
Travel feeds new dreams, fosters reflectiveness and makes you love your life. It challenges the ‘normal’ and makes you appreciate your what you have - health, happiness, financial comfort.
And lets not forget the health benefits of travel. Research shows that hiking and walking builds hippocampus part of the brain. It staves of aging process and builds creativity.
In 2013, Raj and Mo got a big surprise. A not nice surprise. Raj was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy - sporadic inclusion body myositis. Some of the first signs were random falls, tripping, difficulty climbing up or down.
The disease has progressed, but hasn't stopped Raj or Mo. But going forward the adventures must be done under the New Normal of ‘being disabled’.
The Kahani continues.....
