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‘Travel is the only thing, you buy that makes you richer‘
I had been to Russia in the year 1999 with colleagues, friends
and students. It was a school trip. I have travelled to many
countries and many tourist places in India too but this trip is
the most memorable one. This had taught us to be very-very
alert and conscious about our behaviour, when we are in a
new place, new country and with strangers. Travelling is not
only for fun and enjoyment but also for learning about the
place, its culture, and its rich History, food and most
importantly about ‘Travel Behaviour’. First, we went to Saint Petersburg which is famous for ‘White
Nights’ in summer. After visiting many countries, I experienced the pleasure of walking in a city
centre surrounded by beautiful ‘Neo Classical Palaces'. We saw the Palace Square where lies the
famous state Heritage Museum - some of the most beautiful and interesting treasures can be
found there. We also saw Russian Museum, the Summer Garden, the Palace and Saint Isaac’s
Cathedral. The most fascinating experience was experiencing the White Nights’. The ‘White Night
Festival’ is an annual summer festival in St. Petersburg, celebrating its near-midnight sun due to its
location near the Arctic Circle, each year between around April 21st to August 21st .The sky only
reach twilight and never reach complete darkness. We were there in the last week of June, when
the sun was bright than usual. During that time, for good ten days, people do not sleep, they enjoy
the bright sunlight by singing dancing and feasting. For us also, it was very difficult to sleep because
of bright sunny days and nights. Although, we had gone to its capital ‘Moscow’ too and saw ‘castle’
of Kremlin, 'Wax Museum’ but because of the ‘Mafia attack’ that experience became bitter. Our
students were trying to copy their style of speaking in
Russian language and we had to pay heavily for their, this fun; our
students intention was to learn the language but in the process they
were copying their accent; the floor In-charge got so angry by their
action that she called the 'Mafia' at night. Mafia gang robbed few
of us and flunked the hotel with cash and Passports. We really had
to struggle to get our passports. Indian Embassy in Russia had to
intervene, then after apologizing at the Police station, we got our
Passports; but all in all this trip taught us about ‘Travel Behaviour’ it was a life time experience for all
of us. ‘My travel experience in Russia was great that left me with so many memories and the constant
desire to go back again with my family .

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Dr. Seema Ahuja, Principal, Suraj School Sec-75