Love for Travel

Confessions of a Travel-Obsessed Over-Planner

Let’s get one thing straight: I don’t just love travel — I love everything about it. From the moment the idea of a new trip pops into my head, I’m already mentally packing (and overpacking). For me, the journey starts way before it starts — it begins with obsessive research, color-coded spreadsheets, and convincing myself that I definitely need three pairs of sunglasses for a five-day trip.

Some people wing it. I… spreadsheet it. I find pure joy in deep-diving into blogs, travel vlogs, and reviews from people who have strong opinions about food. I make “must-eat” lists, “must-buy” lists, “in-case-it-rains” lists — basically, I treat trip planning like an Olympic sport. And don't even get me started on the shopping. Is it even a vacation if I didn’t buy a suspicious number of travel-size toiletries and a hat I’ll wear exactly once?

Once I land, the vibe shifts — the planner in me takes a backseat (well, sort of), and the explorer takes the wheel. Whether I’m soaking in the chaos of a buzzing local market, awkwardly miming my way through ordering food, or just watching the world go by from a tiny café, I’m in my happy place. I’ve learned that every destination has its own rhythm — and I love figuring it out, one tiny misadventure at a time.

And sure, things don’t always go as planned — But honestly, that’s all part of the fun. Because in between the perfectly posed photos and tightly packed itineraries, there’s laughter, spontaneity, and stories that will live forever in group chats and badly taken selfies.

So yes, I travel for the views — but also for the chaos, the cute stationery I get to use while planning, the thrill of finding a hidden gem restaurant, and the satisfaction of crossing places off my bucket list with dramatic flair. To travel is to fall in love with the world, one packing list, long drives at a time.

5 Quirky Travel Habits

1. I make an itinerary… then freestyle it.
I’ll spend weeks planning the perfect day-by-day schedule with maps, timings, and backup plans. But once I get there? Suddenly I’m like, “What if we just wander and see where the wind (and snacks) take us?”

2. I pack like I’m going to a fashion show, desert hike, and Arctic expedition — all in one trip.
Yes, I know I’m only going for four days. Yes, I still need options. No, I don’t know why. It’s called being prepared, okay?

3. I research restaurants with the intensity of a food critic.
I’ll spend 2 hours reading reviews to find the best local dumplings — and I’ll drag my travel buddies across town to get them. Worth it? Always. Regrets? Only that I didn’t order two.

4. I collect fridge magnets… and mildly weird souvenirs.
Fridge? Covered. My shelves? Featuring everything from a tiny llama made of yarn to a vaguely cursed keychain from a night market. I live for the oddly specific keepsakes.

5. I get overly emotional at sunsets and mildly aggressive at souvenir shops.
Nothing like a good golden hour to make me question all my life choices. And nothing like haggling over a 500 rupee bag like it’s a high-stakes business deal.

I take 87 photos of the same thing... and still can't choose one.
Whether it's a doorway, my coffee, or that curved road.. that looked kinda poetic — I will take photos from every possible angle like I’m shooting for National Geographic. Then spend 30 minutes later trying to pick “the one” for Instagram… only to post a sunset or a sun rise instead. Classic.