: At 63, My Mom Hasn’t Lost Her Sense of Adventure: Tales From Our Journey Across India #IndiaNEWS #Senior Citizens As 63-year-old Subha Surianarayanan and I connect over a call, I can hear a heavy

At 63, My Mom Hasn’t Lost Her Sense of Adventure: Tales From Our Journey Across India #IndiaNEWS #Senior Citizens
As 63-year-old Subha Surianarayanan and I connect over a call, I can hear a heavy downpour in the background, and the call keeps reconnecting.
This bad network, she says as she apologises, is because she is currently in Beed, on yet another trip with her son Venkatesh. The two have been travel buddies since 2015, and have traversed a majority of India together.
It all started when Venkatesh found that often, he was unable to plan trips because someone or the other had work commitments. That’s when an idea dawned on him — his mum was free and she could be his travel companion.
Speaking to The Better India, he recounts her reaction to being asked to come along with him on his travels. “Apne dosto ke saath jao na. Mein kya hi karungi aake?�? (Go with your friends. What will I come and do?). But Venkatesh convinced her to at least give it a try.
“I told her it is never too late to start something, and so she agreed,�? he says.
Building memories and dreams
The 30-year-old social media manager says that he and his mother have travelled across India — Chandigarh, Amritsar, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, Manali, Jaipur, Goa, Ladakh, Gulmarg, Dalhousie and Dharamshala.
Subha Surianarayanan and her son Venkatesh
And has it been a fun time?
“Most definitely,�? says Venkatesh, adding that often, it is because of him, and not his mother that they have to slow down.
One such instance was when they visited Ladakh in 2021. “Many people experience AMS (acute mountain sickness) due to the high altitudes. I was initially worried that my mother would too, so I had planned for the first day to be kept free to acclimatise. But ironically, I was the one who experienced AMS, while she was fine. �?
To this, Subha says the secret to going head-on with these experiences is to walk 45 minutes a day and eat according to your age. “This allows me to take part in any adventure that comes my way. �?
The Ladakh trip was planned as a birthday surprise for Subha, and both agree that it was truly a memorable experience. “We cut the birthday cake on Pangong Lake. However, in this remote area, one would hardly find a birthday cake shop,�? says Venkatesh, adding that they adjusted with plum tea cake and a debit card that doubled as a knife.
Along with these treasured moments, there are also ones of high adrenaline. For instance, in Goa last year, Subha tried out parasailing and then ziplining in Gulmarg. She loved it, but like every other person this age, had her reservations about trying out new things. “With my son’s encouragement, I dive into them,�? she says.
Subha Surianarayanan is always open to trying out adventure sports
However, there is always a certain amount of risk involved, whether it’s travelling long distances by driving to remote locations or partaking in adventure activities.