Traveling

An outing experience easily makes you happier by bringing you out of your daily grind.

The researchers found that even just one short-term vacation (~3 days in length) “independent of the mode, has large, positive and immediate effects on perceived stress, recovery, strain, and well-being.” Furthermore, the beneficial effects last quite a while after you return home.

According to a study by Amit Kumar, Matthew A. Killingsworth, and Thomas Gilovich from Cornell University, that money spent on doing something (called “experiential purchases”) will leave you with a longer-lasting sense of happiness than money spent on having something (called “material purchases”).

Nearly everyone goes on vacation. Gets to new places for exploration and leisure. We rarely had that. In our childhood, we've traveled north once or twice, which I don't remember now because I was very young at the time. We don't travel too much because of our busy schedules. We as students have to attend school except for weekends oops, everyone knows it. Dad has to be present at his boutique daily. So there's a hectic routine since everybody has a different job to perform.

Seven years ago, our uncle and aunt visited Pakistan for vacations, from where? Australia, they had just moved there. Well, they were here for three months in which we all had a lot of fun.

Talking late at night, playing games, dining out, going shopping, and taking group photos. Wow! What fun days. Two months passed like that. In mid-October, we planned to visit the Northern Areas.

Within a day we all packed up. We also kept some food for the way. At midnight we got into two cars and left for Murree.

The journey of five to six hours was spent talking and listening to songs. On the way we stopped at a rest house for a while, freshened up, and ate the sandwiches that mom brought from home. Between six to seven in the morning we reached our residence in Murree.

First, we rested for a while. Then I, my sister, mom and aunt went out and looked around the views. Then we had breakfast. Our hotel was on a hill, we came down the hill and went walking so far. The weather was nice and the sunshine in that extreme cold was so soothing. Walking in this beautiful weather in the morning brought its comfort.

We came back, ate some food, enjoyed evening tea and then again went out, took some pictures in that beautiful scenery. While walking we came across a cafe, we ate pani puri there. Believe me, that was so flavorful that I can't define it. After eating we left the cafe and walked to the Kashmir Point where there is a train that takes people for a ride passing through certain places. After enjoying the ride we came back to our hotel for dinner.

Since we were craving ice cream we decided to go out to devour. There is a spot in Pakistan's almost every city labeled Tutti Frutti, which is very popular for its yummiest frozen yogurts, we drove there at night. I remember I got the pineapple and blueberry flavor which was so delicious. Then we came back and talked up late at night.

The trip was planned for a week, but for some reason, we had to return on the fourth day. We enjoyed the remaining two days very well. After spending the third night, we left in the afternoon to return to Lahore. Halfway through, when we got near Lahore, we stopped at McDonald's because everyone was hungry. We enjoyed our meal and then set off again. About eight o'clock at the night we reached home. The following week after our return, Uncle Aunt’s flight to Australia was reserved. We had a great time together. Even today, when I look at those pictures, I recall that golden period.

Not all those who wander are lost -J.R.R. Tolkien