Breakfast Babble is ED’s own little space on the interwebs, where we gather to discuss ideas and get pumped up (or not) for the day. We judge things, too. Sometimes. Always. Whatever, call it catharsis and join in, people.
I recently returned from a trip where I clicked zero selfies. Zilch. Not even that awkward “chhupa Rustam” mirror selfie in the hotel bathroom. And strangely, I feel…free. Lighter. Like, I’ve dodged some weird digital tax.
See, I used to be that girl. The one who made everyone wait because “acha light nahi aa raha,” or demanded a full photoshoot next to an overhyped chai stall. I’ve made people crouch, climb rocks, and risk early-onset back pain just to get “the shot.” But somewhere between the 43rd retake and the 294th filter, I realised I was spending more time curating the trip than living it.
So, this time, I did something scandalous. I put my phone in my backpack and forgot about it. Okay, not forgot-forgot, I still used it to Google “best momo stalls in Shimla” and to play Lata Mangeshkar on winding roads like a true Bollywood tragedy. But I didn’t chase the perfect photo. I chased feelings. The kind that doesn’t fit in 1080×1350 frames.
I watched the fog roll over pine trees like a lazy, oversized cat. I danced in a drizzly hillside dhaba while someone played an old Kishore Kumar number. I made terrible jokes with strangers on toy trains, and not once did I think, “Wait! Lemme get this for Instagram.”
Also Read: Why Delhiites And Road Trips Is A Recipe For Disaster
The funniest part? I still have photos of the trip. Just not taken by me. A kind old uncle snapped one of me petting a street dog. My partner clicked a very unflattering but very me shot of me eating momos with deadly focus. And you know what? These random, badly timed photos clicked out of love, not vanity, feel more real.
Not clicking my own pictures didn’t mean I vanished. It just meant I stopped performing and started being. And that’s the kind of presence no camera can truly capture.
So here’s a small pitch for the next time you go gallivanting: don’t worry about your best angles or captions. Let someone else click you when they feel like it. Meanwhile, just live in the moment. It won’t break the internet. But it might just glue you back together.
Also, pro tip: real happiness is not in portrait mode. It’s in momo mode.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Blogger’s Own opinion
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: travel without selfies, slice of life, mindful travel, indian travel blogger, travel without filters, live the moment, quirky travel blog, solo trip vibes, offbeat travel india, travel happiness, unplug and wander, desi travel diaries, travel without pressure, travel for soul, no filter travel, travel stories india, digital detox travel, real moments not reels, indian travel tales
Disclaimer: We do not claim any rights or copyrights over any of the images used; these have been sourced from Google. If the owner wishes for credits or removal, please kindly contact us via email.
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