Dark glasses, walking shoes, unfashionable jacket , huge tote and fanny bag – that’s me in my tourist mode. Yes, I just scream ‘tourist’ even when I try my ‘local’ accent and try to merge with the walls.
There are lots of people like me in this world – travellers, explorers or people just curious to know more. Despite the comfort of armchair travel , there are times when I’m inspired enough to get into my tourist mode and out of my virtual world into reality .
Once while staying at a historic inn in Northfield, Minnesota , I was distinctly bitten by what I recognised as a mosquito. Really? In the most advanced country in the world? But coming from a tropical country where mosquitos abound , I was dead sure.
Unwilling to be fodder for the American Mosquito ( like everything American , it was 10 times larger than its Indian cousin) I went upto the Reception and asked for a mosquito repellent .
“I’m sorry,”she twanged. “This is a historic inn so we can’t use electronic or chemical repellents. You could have this.”
My jaw dropped in surprise as she handed me a fly swatter!
Twenty- five Seven 
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