Finally, I’ve been able to fulfill a dream I’ve had for a very long time –- a trip to India. It was always high on my list of “Places-to-see-before-I-die” –- but somehow it never materialized.

I wanted it to be special. So I chose to go in the supposedly less crowded off-season and I tried to stay off the beaten path as much as possible. No luck! Wherever I went, there were already plenty of fellow travelers who apparently had made the same calculations.

Even in these times of economic uncertainty, interest in travel seems undiminished. Despite concerns about high transportation costs, the weak dollar or the threat of terrorist acts –- to mention a few –- it can safely be said that the travel industry is alive and well. However, the last frontiers of travel are disappearing fast. There are not many places left that are truly exotic. The beach resorts in Hawaii, Samoa or Kerala offer all more or less the same accommodations and creature comforts we travel-consumers have come to expect. It’s hard to get into the spirit of adventure when everything looks so familiar.

I’ve traveled myself in typical tourist style, cramming into each trip as many sight-seeing opportunities as possible. Needless to say, I often found myself more exhausted than refreshed after returning home from these “vacations.” I remember some travel experiences that were outright stressful. Staying at home, curling up with a good book or making up for some sleep deprivation would have done much more for my well-being than rushing through entire countries a day at a time.

So, this time I was determined to resist the temptation of overloading my itinerary. First, I vowed to take it slow. Traveling in India can easily overpower the senses. Instead of composing a long list of must-see attractions, I picked only a few places and stayed there as long as I wanted to, absorbing all the sights, sounds and smells that fill this beautiful country.

Especially when I got to visit the Taj Mahal, I made sure I would do justice to this breathtaking monument. Instead of taking a few snapshots for the family album, I spent three whole days there, walking the grounds or sitting still like meditating for many hours, sometimes as early as sunrise and as late as dusk. Far from feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from the heat and the crowds, I developed a deep sense of inner peace and serenity that stayed with me for the rest of the trip. As I opened myself up to my surroundings, they seemed to respond in kind.

This translated to my interactions with people as well. I met a number of extraordinary men and women who welcomed me into their homes and places of work. Whether it was a visit to an artisan wood carver’s workshop, or going shopping for spices at a local market with a star hotel chef, or learning how to cook a classic Indian-style meal in a private home –- it all made my journey so much richer than anything I had ever allowed myself to experience.

I also benefited greatly with regards to my professional education. Being a health spa fanatic, I had to try the ancient art of “Ayurveda,” which has been practiced in India for thousands of years. The word means basically “the art” or “science of life” and has been popularized here most prominently by Deepak Chopra, MD. After a few massage treatments, which were heavenly, I discovered that many of the “Ayurveda” techniques are quite compatible with Western methods, not only for spa treatments, but also for nutritional guidelines. I will write about this more in future columns.

The most significant lesson I’ve learned, however, is that it is far more important how one travels than where one travels. Whether we consider ourselves as explorers or are just in need of a good vacation, the goal is not only to see new places but, more importantly, that we expose ourselves to new experiences that can change us for the better.