This Family of Four Traveled 13 Countries and 40 Cities in Six Months!
As someone once said, the greatest gift you can give is a lifetime of adventures, and that’s exactly what Khadija Poonawala and husband Husain Rampurwala gave to their children, Ammar and Ozair. When Ammar was nine years old and Ozair was just a baby of six months, the family rented out their home in Auckland, New Zealand, leaving behind their corporate lives to head for the road.
And the road took them to 13 countries and 40 cities in six months. They traveled to Russia, India, Finland, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Norway, Kuwait, UAE, Sweden, Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Singapore. They traveled by airplanes, cars, trains, ferries and local subways. And they traveled with a nine-year-old and a baby. It was hard to say the least, but they overcame their fears and found support in their friends and family.
The fantastic four even traveled extensively in India. As Husain explains, one tends to go with the trend of traveling overseas, but forgets to see and experience their own country. They ended their whirlwind adventure with some solid downtime in Pune, at the home of the grandparents, where Ammar even tried his hands on learning a couple of new languages. Here, then, is a conversation we had with Khadija Poonawala, who talked about her family’s adventures, challenges and advice to other families looking to venture out.
What inspired you and your family to head out on this crazy journey?
We are avid travelers; twice a year we travel overseas but this time around we discussed that as we are not getting any younger, to make most of what we have and to go experience the world along with our kids. We took a career break for 6 months, leaving our jobs, which itself made us brave and made the journey even crazier. Just like an adventure, not knowing where you going to wake up to or travel to and just going with the flow allowed us to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and how much our beautiful world has to offer.
What were the biggest challenges you faced along the way?
I would like to optimize the word ‘challenge’ by calling it ‘experiences’. One of the most important aspects when travelling with a baby is food. Many places in India and overseas, there weren’t much option besides tetra pack baby food, so we gave baby Ozair everything that we ate. Today when he just turned one year old, he eats just about everything!
What was the most memorable experience for your kids?
I know that for my ten-year old Ammar, seeing new places, food and people, and sitting on elephants and camels enriched him. But I’m sure that being a navigator by reading and studying maps and giving us directions while we walked or drove has been the most memorable experience for him and his favorite thing to do. For little baby Ozair: his first birthday in Singapore, where he massaged his face with cake with his own hands! And then he rode rides and saw the many lights and colors and the marine life in the aquarium at Universal Studios and Sentosa in Singapore.
What countries or experiences would you recommend to other families looking to explore the world like you did?
Singapore, Russia and India would be in my top three list for families to explore. Santorini and Mykonos in Greece are stunning, but we are definitely going back without kids! In terms of experiences , explore your palettes with your kids, do the touristy things but also encourage to do what locals do, and don’t be shy. Just talk and explore, drive on your own where u can and travel with different modes of transport: trains, subways ,buses, ferries, etc. You will be amazed on how much you learn.
What advice would you give these families with a similar spirit of exploration?
I sincerely think that if you are financially sound, no matter how old your kids are, just travel. Travelling makes you grow as a person. Exploring news places and food, meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and so much more is the biggest learning and blessing you can give your kids. It will not only make them humble but will make them aware of how tiny we are, almost like a speck of dust in this big world that has so much to offer. The travel experience will stay with them for life and we always tell Ammar to continue traveling all his life and pass on the spirit to his kids and peers.
Some do’s and don’ts for globetrotting with kids?
Do’s with a baby: – Carry a good mountain buggy stroller, a small foldable high chair and a portable cot, life will be sorted! – Eat local and meet local people; you will get the best experience. – Avoid trying to do everything ,you have a baby who needs rest and so do you . Don’t sweat over ticking all the boxes in your list. – Book in advance as much as you can; we relied on booking.com and it turned out to be a 9/10! – DIY; do it your own. Airline bookings, hotels and sightseeing: leave that until you reach the destination. You can always research on your phone and keep it handy. – Hop-on hop-off buses are the best while overseas! – The most cliché advice but it holds true: travel light. Trust me, you will be happier especially when you are with kids. – Always keep an extra change of clothes for your baby handy. – Maintain a diary and journal; these are two important things . Ask your child/children to write every second day, and you should do it too.
Dont’s: – Do not procrastinate; just travel and keep on the move. – Don’t forget to pamper yourself and splurge a little once in a while. It keeps you going. – Do not feel guilty if at all your child falls sick. They do anyway, and they grow anyway. This is your chance to keep yourself on the top and they will only benefit from you. – Don’t forget to carry a small sterilizer for the baby. – Lastly, do not go to the airport at the last minute. You are better off spending some extra time there instead of rushing with a child.
After a six-month adventure around the world, the family is back home in New Zealand, and they are already itching for their next adventure. It is their hope that their story inspires other parents who do not want to step out of the house because they are fearful of their baby’s health and the challenges that come with it.
Today, the parents pride themselves that their children got so much exposure. Ammar is more confident and modest and knowledgeable. Ozair has been an absolute pleasure and has grown to be people-friendly and smart. Ammar has his own YouTube channel with his travel videos, where his friends and family across the globe can see and experience the world through his perspective. In the words of American writer Henry Miller, “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”