COVER STORY

READ THIS BEFORE YOU BOOK THAT FLIGHT

Friendly Canadians: Lovina and Kevin D’Souza Down Under. Image credit: LOVINA D’SOUZA.

By LOVINA D’SOUZA

The joy of exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, and meeting diverse people is something that cannot be fully understood until one takes the plunge into the world of travel.

My husband Kevin and I can’t help but marvel with gratitude at how much our lives are enriched exploring together not only Canada and India, but over fifty countries around the world. Kevin believes that travelling – whether across the oceans or a camping trip just around the corner – is integral to a happy family life as we take time to bond, relax and have fun together as well as develop a deeper appreciation for the beauty of nature, people, and cultures. Travelling opens our hearts, nourishes our minds, rejuvenates our thoughts, develops empathy for the less fortunate and encourages us to make this world a better place for everyone.

It’s a reminder that travel is not just about reaching a destination, but about growing together as a family and building memories that last a lifetime. When our mothers were alive, they travelled enthusiastically with us well into their 90s, sharing in the joy of our discovery, along with our three children who are young adults now. Now our children also travel solo, on sibling trips and with friends.

Questions we are asked often include:

How do you plan?

How do you manage finances?

Who pays for children?

How do you manage school holidays and work schedules?

Is it safe? Are you scared of flying?

Don’t you get tired?

Planning is key, and over the years, we have fine-tuned our processes. Our preparation starts well in advance, by saving and investing so we have enough finances for our travel and emergencies. This habit has been ingrained in us by our elders back home in India.

My mom would quote an Egyptian proverb: “Stretch your legs only as far as your blanket extends.”

It’s the same lesson Kevin’s dad taught him. “Spend within your means and never live in debt.”

We also prioritize and choose what’s more important. For example, travel is important to us as compared to say, home improvement. We covered our children’s expenses when they were younger, but once they started earning, they take care of their own expenses.

Once we are comfortable with finances, the next step is deciding the right time to travel, vacation and schedules, choosing destinations of interest to us which fit out budget, having good weather, checking for deals, whether it’s a cruise, group travel, all-inclusive, guided trips or all on our own, type of accommodation, etc., by researching and checking reviews through travel websites and agents, YouTube videos, social media and other people’s experiences. It is quite a juggle, but once that’s in place, we book the tickets and tours.

Do we feel safe? Yes! However, we have to take basic safety precautions in any place such as avoiding lonely areas, late outings, being aware of surroundings, keeping phones and valuables safe, having phone numbers and address of hotels handy, keeping photocopies of passport and tickets, avoiding conflicts and arguments with anyone and respecting everyone. We also seek advice about the areas from hotel staff and take a local map with some words in the local language before setting out.

As far as flying is concerned, there is some fear of turbulence or accidents, but that does not stop us from flying. I have heard some people take medication for relaxation. Things can go wrong any time anywhere, but we go with a positive mind hoping for a great trip and it has always been good.

Do we get tired? Feeling tired after a long day is natural whether you are working at home or travelling. Most of our tours start early and end late with a day full of activities. Some days, we wish we could just sleep. But the excitement of travel and seeing something new keeps us energized. Usually with a good night’s sleep, we feel refreshed when we wake up and a good breakfast gets us ready for another beautiful day. We’ve been fortunate in many ways, particularly with our health and the weather, which often plays a significant role in making travel comfortable. Luckily, we’ve never faced any major difficulties. Every journey has been enjoyable, packed with sightseeing and activities.

Much of the credit goes to Kevin, who is an exceptional planner. While he handles the arrangements, the excitement of travel begins early on for me and I start packing not just our essentials but some extra little things for the people of the countries we visit to bring them some happiness. It gives me deep joy to see their smiling faces with so much gratitude.

Some of our family’s favourite trips have been to Africa and Japan. Our daughter Caroline usually creates YouTube videos of our travel.

Most recently, Kevin and I embarked on a tour to Australia and New Zealand with a group of seniors from India and couples from Canada and the US. It was a delightful experience, and the group’s humour, laughter, and singing made the journey even more enjoyable. Some of them stood out for their incredible stories of resilience and zest for life.

Willie and Gertie Fernandes.“Blindness doesn’t stop people from doing things or travelling.”

Cosmas William Fernandes or Willie and his lovely wife Gertrude Margaret or Gertie from Goa/Mumbai amazed me. Willie’s story is one of tragedy, transformation, and triumph.

“I was a guitarist and singer for a band at a wedding. After the performance, some kids approached me to light fireworks. I wanted to make them happy, but, unfortunately, the fireworks blasted and burnt my face and broke my facial bones. Though I recovered over time, I lost my eyesight. I could not see my beautiful wife Gertie, my toddler son, my little baby girl nor anything of this world.”

Tragedy struck again in 2019 as Willie’s 32-year-old son passed away from a brain tumour. The impact of the accident on Willie’s life was profound and the tragic loss of their son made the road ahead challenging for both Willie and Gertie.

Yet, despite these challenges, Willie and Gertie refused to let their circumstances define them. Despite visual impairment, Willie continues to explore the world with Gertie, who reads and describes the sights to him. “I started international travel at 63. I travel with my loving wife Gertie and see the world through her eyes. I am grateful to God for Gertie, who is so patient and understanding. I pick up the vibes from the people around me, and I imagine and feel the beauty of this world through their descriptions and sounds. I love travelling, meeting new people, experiencing the cultures and food. I still continue to play guitar and sing.” says Willie. They have visited places in Europe, the UK, the West Indies, Australia, and New Zealand. “I am God’s creation and I have to face life even if He made some changes to the model He created. Gertie continues to read passages from the Bible to me and our prayerful life has helped me through the worst times. I am part of Catholic Association for the Blind and working towards building a home for the blind. We create awareness that blindness does not stop people from doing things or travelling,” says Willie.

“I run my own business as a financial and tax consultant and advisor in Mumbai and we are able to manage our travel and finances.” Says Willie.

“Fear is the worst enemy, and action kills the fear,” says Willie, explaining how he faces challenges without hesitation. His advice to others with visual impairment: “Travel with sighted people. That’s half the problem solved. Travel with organized tours and most importantly, maintain a positive attitude.”

Renauld Mendes. “Your hard-earned savings should be spent on yourself, too, and not just kept for your children.”

Another inspiring individual on our tour was Renauld Mendes, a lively senior from Mumbai, full of humour, jokes and laughter. Renauld, a design mechanical engineer retired from working as Deputy Manager for Tata Liebert.

“My wife Leena worked for an airline and we were fortunate to go on holidays every year. Like me, my wife and daughter too liked to travel. We went to Bangkok and Singapore mainly for shopping. Besides, we enjoyed local food, culture and tourist attractions.”

Despite losing his wife during the tragic Mumbai floods some years ago, Renauld continues to embrace life and travels on his own in his 70s. His daughter encourages him to explore the world, and he’s never shied away from challenges.

“I am not afraid to travel,” Renauld states. “I enjoyed my group tour to Australia and New Zealand in October 2024, and I managed well on my own. People are friendly and helpful; I felt safe, comfortable, and it was fun travelling with others.

“Many seniors hesitate to travel alone. My advice is, travel with a group of friends. It is natural to worry if you’ll get a good roommate, but, be the first person to adjust, accommodating, and take the initiative to make friends. As long as I have health, can walk, and manage, I will continue to enjoy travelling and seeing the world,” says Renauld.

He emphasizes the importance of managing finances. “Start saving early, and invest wisely in fixed deposits, government securities, and mutual funds. The interest you get from your investments can be used for travel. Your hard-earned savings should be spent on yourself, too, and not just kept for your children.”

“The important thing is to be fit and young at heart as we cannot reverse age!” advises Renauld. “Go for a health check up before travelling and go on at least one trip a year. When your time is up and you have to leave this material world, you should be able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived my life well and I have no regrets’.”

Dr Shreelatha Manohar Banger. “At almost 80, I am still travelling solo.”

Dr Shreelatha Manohar Banger, born in Udupi, Karnataka, living in Mumbai, is a true inspiration.

A doctor by profession, she decided to leave medicine and law behind to pursue her passion for travel full-time. “At almost 80, I am still travelling solo,” Dr. Shreelatha says. “When you have a passion for traveling, age does not come in the way. I always feel young and think young. Age is just a number.”

Her story began in her childhood, when she was fascinated by nature. “Passion for travelling started early on. As a young girl, I was always fascinated by nature: animals, birds, plants, mountains and beaches. I was daring and fearless, prepared to take any risk without knowing the consequences. I loved watching the sunrise and the sunset and the energy they radiate in us. As I started college, I started visiting temples, churches, forts, waterfalls, hill stations to admire the beauty of nature and study architecture. Climbing mountains, walking bare feet on beaches, high tide and low tide excited me. I visited almost all the temples of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (North to South) and from Gujarat to North east (West to East),” says Shreelatha.

Over the years, her love for travel grew, and after marrying an Indian naval officer, Commodore Manohar KK Banger, she had even more opportunities to explore the world. Sadly, her husband passed away some years ago. Despite the challenges of dealing with loss, balancing her career and family life with two sons and now three grandchildren, she found a way to pursue her dreams. “Travelling alone as a senior started gradually; initially, with friends, family and groups, then, with only women’s groups and finally alone. After travelling to more than 100 countries, one develops confidence and courage and it prepares you to take risks. Passion for travelling drives you to go on.”

Shreelatha’s travels have taken her to the US, Morocco, Uganda (gorilla trekking), Australia (para-gliding) and New Zealand. She has even conquered the tough terrains of Mount Kailash, the Valley of Flowers, and Hem Kund Sahib. Her spirit of adventure knows no bounds. “Bungee jumping in New Zealand was a dream I fulfilled at the age of almost 80,” she says. “I felt a great thrill, and I believe it was a miracle from God; and you and Kevin were angels supporting me. My next dream is skydiving before I kick the bucket.

“Travelling alone has helped me become very independent and confident. It has also given me a lot of knowledge of the various countries’ geography, history, languages, culture, traditions, food and people. Despite the challenges, it feels very rewarding and gives me a deep sense of accomplishment and joy. However, it does require one to lead a disciplined lifestyle and more importantly to take care of one’s health and finances. If travelling is your passion, age is no bar, go for it!”

Shreelatha offers this practical advice for solo travellers: “Plan well, travel light, carry only essentials, keep valuables safe, be cautious when venturing out, keep hotel phone number handy.”

The stories of Willie, Gertie, Renauld and Shreelatha share a common thread: the power of travel to uplift the spirit and provide a sense of accomplishment and joy. These individuals demonstrate that no matter what our age or physical limitations might be, travel remains an enriching experience that can expand our horizons and deepen our appreciation for life. Travel has a transformative power, a strength that can heal and inspire, help people embrace the unknown, and connect us all in ways we never imagined. Whether young or old, sighted or not, alone or with others, the world remains open to anyone willing to take that first step. And in each step, we find that travel is not just about the places we visit, but about the people we become.

To quote Sandra Lakes, “With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.”