💡 Where do you get your ideas?
From doom scrolling on Instagram and Twitter, of course. But then again, I really do love to travel, and with a family who travels at least 5 - 6 times a year, a lot of my inspiration comes from real life experiences. I’m also quite an avid reader - be it non-fiction, romance novels, or magazines. I still adore the news websites across the globe. The Guardian, The Strategist and Time Out London for me are most fun! Oh, and Roads & Kingdoms founded by journalists Nathan Thornburgh and Matt Goulding, and backed by the late and inimitable Anthony Bourdain.
🗣️ How would you describe your writing style and approach to storytelling?
I write how I speak, so my writing is almost always straight from the heart. I try to infuse my personality and experiences into my words, which I hope keeps the reader engaged! You’ll find more of my writing on Headout here. And also articles from my time at LLB,India and the New Indian Express. We won’t go beyond that please. It might get embarrassing! I’ve evolved as a writer, yeah?
🔍 How do you do your research?
I start as most people do…on the divine Google search bar. I also find reviews on products, pages, videos and posts are nowadays one of the best sources of information. These are true gems that are coming from real people. Nothing is more valuable than that.
🖊️ Who are your favorite travel writers?
Paul Theroux, Colin Thubron (especially To a Mountain in Tibet), Jon Krakauer, Pico Iyer and plenty of travel bloggers which I usually quite randomly come across, and sadly, forget even though they’ve entertained me as I read.
🔖 What is your favorite travel book and why?
I’m going to take the liberty to say three!
1️⃣ The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux:
Descriptive, insightful and thoroughly entertaining, this one is an account of a 4-month long, arduous train journey. I loved the sardonic, often grumpy tone used to describe places and people. Lovely combination of sharp observation and wit.
2️⃣ Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaeur:
A gripping and detailed account of the tragedy of 1996 on Mount Everest, this one hit closer to home. Not quite a travel book, I appreciated how it was told - with a blend of personal insight and journalistic clarity.
3️⃣ Vroom with a View by Peter Moore:
It’s about Italy. I love Italy. Moore’s humorous and vivid writing style make it a fun read, while also weaving in personal growth and experience. Besides, what is not to like about a romantic portrayal of motorcycling through Italy on a vintage Vespa.
✈️ What ignited your passion for travel and writing?
Enid Blyton can be credited for this! So, perhaps since the age of 7 years, I’ve wanted to write and travel. I wanted to escape to secret islands like The Famous Five, I wanted to go caravanning like them and I certainly wanted to write about it all in my diary, like the Girls of St Claire! I started out as a journalist knowing that sports and travel were the two things I wanted to focus on. So, after working in sport for a few years with the BBC Radio, I switched to lifestyle writing for the newspapers. Then came the digital world, and here we are!
I had no other aspirations growing up. So, thankfully, it turned out okay.
❣️ What has been your most memorable travel experience and why?
Without a doubt the few nights I spent in the deserts of Jordan. Navigating the sand and sun through the dunes to Wadi Rum in a 4x4, deftly driven by a local guide as the car and I both, hummed and heaved over the bumps; riding a camel to a sand dune, and then climbing (scrambling up, really!) the dune to witness the most sublime sunset I have ever seen, and then settling into a tent at Bedouin camp, singing traditional songs and then seeing the Milky Way above us…and staring into space, quite literally, until the sun came back up. The highlight however, was a young bedouin lad asking if I would marry him. He probably asked every other lady he wanted to get a tip from, but let’s just assume it was only me!
📍Do you have a favorite destination or type of place you love writing about? What makes it special?
The mountains have my heart, but I’m not fussy! I’ve loved Durdle Door in Dorset as much as I loved climbing the walls in Dubrovnik. I enjoyed the coffee in Chikmagalur, India and much as I did the tea in Petra. Japan’s austerity was as intriguing as Spain’s chaos. So really, I’ll be happy anywhere I go!
🛣️ Are there any travel rituals or habits you have while on the road?
I have a few morbid ones! I usually travel in a thick t-shirt, jeans (don’t judge me!) and sport shoes. My logic is that if the plane were to crash, or the train crashed in the middle of nowhere, this kind of outfit would last longer than a flimsy dress. I also always wear bright coloured tops or t-shirts so that I can easily be spotted by a rescue team!
🤝 How do you immerse yourself in different cultures during your travels?
Almost always, it is food that brings me close to the culture of a place. It is a clear reflection of the heritage, the region's history, geography, and heritage. It also gives me great insight into the area’s climate, resources and it’s a great conversation starter. After all, recipes are a culture in itself, no? Food is, to me, an intimate way to experience the local way of life, hospitality, and traditions.
🕺🏽 Outside of travel writing, what are some of your other interests or hobbies?
I love sports - to watch, play and talk about. Especially football, basketball, Formula 1 and tennis. I also love hiking and climbing, running and dancing. I don’t think it classifies as a hobby, but music and reading also makes me happy!
☯️ How do these interests influence or complement your travel writing?
Oh, they fit perfectly! I travel to see games, races and concerts. They feed off each other. I travel to write and I write to travel.
🗺️ Is there a particular destination or travel experience you're eager to explore and write about?
I dream about visiting New Zealand. I hope to go there in 2024. But for now, my aim is to climb to Mount Everest’s Base Camp when the season begins next April.
🔋 What do you do to unwind and recharge when you're not traveling or writing?
I run, read and watch copious amounts of television to unwind. Playing board games is another way I relax.
