Brewed Stillness in a Buzzing Hostel.

Prologue: The Unplanned Pause

This was supposed to be a short temple visit — a break, not a journey. But life, as it often does, had other plans. An impromptu stay at Zostel turned into a five-day pause, filled with observations, discomforts, and small learnings.

It was my first time ever in a Zostel. Not out of curiosity — more from a quiet decision to experience it anyway. I wanted to understand the culture that draws so many people in: the stories, the openness, the chaos, and maybe even the stillness hidden behind shared walls.

During a daily morning walk

A Shared Room, Unshared Rhythms

Staying in a dorm with six strangers taught me more than I expected. There’s an invisible etiquette in shared spaces — a rhythm that requires silent agreements, patience, and adaptability. But not everyone moves at the same pace.

I observed how:

• Language often became a shortcut to connection.

• Games brought people together more than words.

• Alcohol flowed freely, and so did certain conversations I didn’t relate to.

And me? I stuck to my walks, to my thoughts, and mostly, to my coffee.

What I Learnt — About the Place, and Myself

I didn’t explore much — not in the typical travel sense. The weather was too harsh, and I didn’t feel safe venturing too far. So I stayed. Observed. Noticed. Took notes in my head — some about the Zostel, and some about myself.

Here’s what I’ve come to know:

1. I’m not much of a Zostel person.

2. I still prefer the calm of homestays.

3. I’m not into drinking, nor casual encounters.

4. Coffee over alcohol — always.

5. Lower berths are way more comfortable.

6. Check-in/out times are rigid, and they matter.

7. Always book multi-axle buses for a smoother ride.

8. Deep connections are rare for me — most talks stay on the surface.

9. Exploring new places keeps my curiosity alive; revisits feel dull.

10. No matter how far I travel, it often feels like I end up in 2nd/3rd tier towns — not metros.

11. I feel more myself around trees than around air conditioners.

12. Communication is key in shared spaces.

13. I can’t stay up all night — it ruins my next day.

14. Backpack over trolley, always — especially on the move.

15. Carry both shoes and chappals. Always.

16. Sleep and food are the two biggest pillars of my stability.

17. I love craft — not techy 3D art, but handmade, tactile, earthy things.

18. It’s helpful to have even a vague plan for what comes next.

The Unsaid & The Uneasy

My internal clock didn’t align with anyone else’s there. I felt like I was operating on a different wavelength — not better or worse, just... parallel. At times, the dissonance made me feel sick. Homesick, too.

And yet, I stayed. I wanted to see what female and mixed dorms really felt like — beyond the Instagram reels and stories. It wasn’t all bad. It wasn’t all good. But it was real. And real is valuable.

In the middle of shared beds and brief conversations, I understood a modern version of commensalism — coexisting without necessarily connecting, brushing past each other’s worlds with quiet acceptance.

Echoes

I may not have explored temples or taken stunning cliffside photos. But I did discover something quieter, more subtle — the kind of knowing that lingers longer.

That I am, unapologetically, a coffee soul in an alcohol world.