Partners in Crime (read Travel)

My world on my shoulders

I have noticed that people are far more receptive of me when I’m traveling alone. Some want to know why I do it others pick my brain about travel experiences and always conversation and food flows and before long we part friends.

But I’m not always a single woman traveler. I enjoy company on the roads and I’m blessed with two fabulously different and unique travel companions. Between the two of them, they ensure that I have a great time and solid memories to fill up my backpack.

My partner Sajeev, is a busy corporate guy, whose idea of travel is associated with the words ‘break’ or ‘vacation’. Timeline, USP (unique selling proposition), constraints, value add and EOD (End of Day) are terms that come into play when we plan our travels together. Like all business heads, he likes to delegate, which means I end up doing all the planning, researching and booking, but within the framework of the above mentioned keywords. 

Corporate busy-bee

This I enjoy, because it allows me to design our trips in a manner that works for the both of us. For him the luxuries of a comfortable bed, relaxation massages and fine dining; for me, some local cuisine and interactions, neighborhood markets and breathtaking moments. It is a sort of middle path, that combines the 'holiday' with the 'travel' experience.

None of these rules apply when I’m traveling with my bestie. Gowri is a cinematographer turned social ad film maker, who like me, believes that having no plan is the best plan. This is also because experience has taught us that when the two of us plan things to the T, nothing ever works out. So we simply decide on a date, and pack our cases, and let the road lead us. Sometimes we get into trouble and then rely on common sense or friends to bail us out. But after what can only be termed as the worst experience ever (link here), we have learnt to travel more cautiously.

Gowri's photograph in print: ET-TRAVEL

Ultimately I believe that it doesn’t matter how you travel, so long as the means has justified the end. This is a travel blog, but sometimes I digress and talk about people or food or an experience or an observation because travel is not just about going to places and dotting the map. It’s those things that you discover, that makes every trip worth taking. 

One final thought. Sometimes the best travel stories can come from our own backyard (meaning city or town), and I promise to be on the lookout for those kinds too. 

15 Things You Didn't Know About Me

The other day a reader wrote me saying there is very little information on my blog about the person I am. I thought long and hard about that, but a smart answer eluded me. So instead I took the easy way out, and drew up a list – 15 things you didn't know about me.

Will this do?

1. First and the most obvious. I'm a list maniac. Packing list, To-do list, Grocery list, Birthday list… I make lists. I simply can’t function without them. Could also be that I have the memory of a gold fish. This naturally brings me to the second item on the list.

My phone cam pic

2. Its not personal, but I’m bad with names – horrible, terrible with names. But good with faces and places.

3. I met His Holiness the Dalai Lama's in Jaipur during JLF'13. Covered his press conference and sat a mere 5 ft away. Yes, he was inspirational. And patient enough to indulge all of us. Someone even asked him about his Masterchef Australia appearance. If I manage to find the audio recording from that interview, I promise to make a post of it. (Meanwhile, you can read about my tete-a-tete with the Australian Masterchefs here). 

4. Starting over in a new place is a real challenge. It tells you what your chances really are. I've done that. TWICE! 

5. I didn't have a passport for the first 24 years of my life.

6. When people presume I don’t have the stamina to do certain things, it pisses me off. Yes I’m a woman and I’m not skinny, but hey I’m not dead either.

7. I got inked in Malaysia this year, but I took five years to conquer my fear of the needle. No, it doesn't hurt bad. The noise of the machine is scarier. That’s why Apple invented the iPod.

Yup, its a selfie no doubt

8. I got lost in Turkey, while traveling there on work (full story here). Was rescued and dropped off safe by a policeman in his official car, rotating lights and all.  

9. I’m perfecting the art of taking artful selfies.

10. I still get goosebumps thinking about my first camping experience. The raging storm nearly blew the tent away but I woke up to a magnificent sunrise at the foothills of the Himalayas. That blog post found here.  

11. I was in the school band, played the trumpet. We didn't win the inter-school competition that year. 

12. Jughead is my comic book hero. And like him, I was christened ‘the bottomless pit’ in school. I grew up to become a food critique and connoisseur and have two successful food shows to my credit. It’s all there on my personal YouTube page.

13. I did theatre in college, studied English Literature and Communication, started my career in a Public Relations firm, crossed over to the other side and took up journalism.

No.. I can't.. no..nooo...

14. During takeoff, I close my eyes, hold my breath and my seat. Remember Meg Ryan in French Kiss?

15.  When I’m not traveling solo, my partner (busy corporate television person) Sajeev travels with me. At other times my bestie and genius photographer Gowri gives me company.

So this here is a list of things that might interest you about me. Or maybe not. Phew! I just found out how hard it is to make a selfie list. Have you made one already? Leave it in the comment section cos by now you know I love listings.