Dreams of the world

This is the season of success stories of tea vendors! Have you have heard or read about this tea vending couple – Vijayan and Palani? Coming from South India, their source of livelihood is a nondescript tea stall in Kochi yet they have travelled across the continents, visited 16 countries.

Vijayan, right from childhood had only one passion – travel the world. Travelling with his dad, from whom he got this ‘travel’ gene, used to take Vijayan along with him to small towns across Tamil Nadu and those memories stayed forever. But it is ok for some millionaire to dream of travelling the world but a tea vendor? With a family to raise and manage day-to-day expenses, we often forget our dreams but not Vijayan. He and his wife took a bank loan, travelled and once back, worked really hard for three years to repay and then once again took a loan and travelled. They have done this for some 45 years now. What mattered was how they saved during those three years – everyday, the couple managed to work hard and save Rs.300/day towards their ticket and once there, they did not go on a shopping spree but actually spent time travelling around, knowing the history and culture of the place.

Well, they have travelled to most of the countries which they desired but USA remains elusive. Their age and financial condition does not make getting a loan easy any more. Banks are worried about their ability to repay as they have grown older. But Vijayan and Palani are sure that their passports will soon be stamped with that visa as well.

Here, the need to take loans and then live a hard life, all for travel might seem too frivolous a purpose of life. Yet, the real story here is not what their dream is but the drive they have, the hardships they are udergoing to fulfill a dream. This determination is comendable.

So now you know a tea vending couple and another tea vendor who are touring the world!