Date a girl who travels, I say, or don't, how does it matter?

I'm the sort who feels claustrophobic in a party, awkward in a large group, suffocated in constant company, deadbeat when confined to a place for long. Traveling is in my genes. A long holiday doesn't imply party time, it means discovering a new place, or rediscovering an old place via a new path. Just today, I read a blog post about how you should NOT date a person who loves to travel. Something about how you can't handle her and all that jazz. Though beautifully written, I say, how does it even matter? When wanderlust consumes you, nothing else matters!
As I embark on yet another journey on the eve of Lunar/Chinese New Year tomorrow, here's a list of the top 15 destinations I've been to in the past few years (there are so many that I've missed orredy lah, oops I mean, already) :

1) Masai Mara National Park, Kenya:

Why I went: Masai warriors, my love for the wild

2) Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India:

Why I went: To get even more up, close and personal with Kanchendzonga than I've been in Gangtok

3) Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia:

Why I went: The origin of the Orang-utans and proboscis monkeys

4) Chennai, India:

Why I went: Mum's conference, essence of the South

5) Tioman Island, Malaysia:

Why I went: Snorkel, eat, eat, snorkel

6) Changu Lake, Sikkim, India:

Why I went: Snow fight, relive childhood yak ride memories

7) Singapore, Singapore:

 Why I went or rather came: First time non-parental guidance provided foreign trip, pre-21st birthday bash

8) Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, India:

Why I went: Ghost stories of Rani Roopmati, Forts of Mandu

9) Cameron Highlands, Malaysia:

Why I went: Strawberry-picking, Tea and scones, Strawberry-shaped cushion and Vegetable Shopping

10) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

Why I went: It's my 2nd home.

11) Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India:

Why I went: It's my 3rd home.

12) New Delhi, Delhi, India:

Why I went: Definitely not because it's not safe

13) Melaka/Melacca/Malacca, Malaysia: 

Why I went: View of the South China Sea from A Famosa Fort

14) Temi Tea Gardens, Sikkim:

Why I went: Sip tea amidst the tea gardens;cherry blossoms signifying the impending exams

15) Cheratin Beach, Malaysia:

Why I went: To have a beach all to ourselves, wildlife river cruise

Music therapy

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." - Bob Marley

Music therapy is actually a THING! I 'googled' it and there was a whole Wikipedia article about music therapy and its detailed history. But let's not go into all that. Concisely, music is a therapeutic solution to a variety of diseases- cardiac, neurological and psychiatric. It's a remedy for adolescents with mood swings, adults with difficulty in social skills and emotional developments. It's known to alleviate patients suffering from dementia, amnesia, aphasia, schizophrenia, depression and coronary heart diseases.Well, thankfully, my case isn't so severe (YET ;) ). I only require music as a cure when I'm convalescing from mild physical illness and missing home; wanting an ego boost after a fight with a friend; recuperating from a heartbreak or when studies bog me down! Eating alone, traveling in public transport, insomnia, boredom - music is my redemption. Have you ever felt that the lyrics of the song is just right for you? Not too subtle but not exaggerated as well? That's the best kind of music. Have you also felt like the chorus is so catchy that you can't get over it for days? That is also the best kind of music. Have you completely not related yourself to the song and still like it for its theme and beat? That's also the best kind of music. Like someone once said, "All music is beautiful." Sometimes music is enough, no meaningful lyrics necessary. Music calms your state of anxiety, decreases depression and elevates you mood. It releases your rage, diminishes your despair and glorifies your gladness.

Shreya Sharma

Is it because it's her birth month? Is it because I'm reading a book written by her cousin brother which is based in Gangtok and brings me an insurmountable amount of nostalgia mostly of her? Or is it because we haven't properly communicated for as long as I can remember? Maybe it's all of the above which makes me miss my namesake so much. You see, it's not just a name that we share. Our bond is unbreakable. In the past 6 years, I've met her just twice for a short duration, we haven't talked over the phone except "Hi, happy birthday" for a year and a half. And still our friendship remains.

Shreya Sharma a.k.a. Phhuchchu a.k.a. Baby Doll (called with sarcasm) despite having the same name is so darn different from me, in both behavior and appearance- she, the cheery, friendly and not-a-care-about-the world one and me the poker-faced, introverted and trying-not-to-care one; she the short, fair, cute one and me the tall, dusky, geeky one. One, never falling and another unfailingly in love (and changing with season). One a pure veg and another who can't live a day without non-veg food. One allergic to drama and another a drama queen. Yet, so similar. Both extremely talkative among their friends, overly annoying and pretty smart. Both sharing the same love for books (non-academic, of course), cute kids (only cute kids, mind you), sarcasm, Arjun Rampal and momos. Both highly repelling 'chamelipan' or 'naekami'. Both extremely attracted to slapstick humour - she the "laugh-er" and I the "cracker".

No we've not been mates since we were toddlers, no she was never my 'best friend' and no, I don't know where she is now and what she's doing. All I know is that she's my long distance friend and you see, it's not just a name that we share.