How often do you look at a photo on Instagram of a dreamy location somewhere far away, wishing you were there? And then there are photos of travelers who seem to tick off every place on your bucket list, while you’re sitting at work wondering how they do it! How does one become a fulltime nomad? Is it as romantic as it appears? In this new series called The Vagabonds, we speak with our favorite travel addicts to know more about what got them traveling, what goes into being a year-round wanderer, and lot more so that you can find inspiration in their journeys to step out and fulfill your travel goals.
If you ask her when did she started traveling, Archana Singh won’t be able to tell you. She has been traveling since she was a toddler. She says, travel is in her DNA. She must be right, how else can she juggle traveling the world, writing about it, and being a successful brand strategist with such panache! An adventurous and spontaneous solo traveler, Archana explores offbeat places in search of untold stories. Her travelogues have been published in international publications and online journals. Read on to know more about this solo adventuress and her enthralling stories!
What made you start your own travel blog?
Even though I have been traveling since I was a child, travel writing happened to me by chance. I had booked a much-anticipated trip to Ladakh in August 2014. I had applied for a 15-day leave, booked my trip in advanced, and everything was sorted. On the day of the trip which was to begin from Manali, my trip organizer told me that the trip has been cancelled because the group I was supposed to travel with backed out! So, it wasn’t financially viable for him to send just one person! Instead he gave me two options (which were actually no options) – join another trip to Chandratal Lake or go to Ladakh on my own! In either case, I wasn’t getting my money back! Obviously, I was really angry and I had a difficult decision to make. I had never traveled solo in India, naturally I had apprehensions! To add to it, I hadn’t done any research for my trip because I relied on my travel organizer! I thought to myself, “the worst has already happened, what else can go wrong; I shouldn’t back out of my plans because of someone else!” So, I went to Ladakh alone and I had the most amazing experience in those 15-days. During those 15-days I realized, this can happen to anyone and I should share my experiences so that people don’t miss out on adventures. I started penning down my journey and published a blog. The response to this blog was stupendous! After that, I never looked back!
What is the first trip you remember taking and how old were you?
This is hard to say because I’m an army child, I’ve been traveling since I was a baby! Because of my father’s transferable job, traveling has always been a part of my life. When I grew older, I moved out for my education, lived in hostels and later worked abroad. So, I never had that moment where one fine day I realized how much I loved traveling. I’ve always loved it! But if I must choose one defining trip, it has to be the Ladakh trip. That place is very special to me, I go there to fix my mind! I’ve traveled to Ladakh in every season over the years!
In situations where something goes wrong, like your travel organizer backing out from a trip, how do you manage to keep your cool?
Earlier, I used to get very anxious in such situations. Now, I don’t, I’ve realized it’s a part and parcel of traveling. I think it’s just an opportunity to get better travel stories! Recently, I was in a tiny village in Slovakia and I missed my train! There was no Wi-Fi and no one on the train station could speak English. Finally, I managed to get a ticket for the next train which was going to leave only after four hours! Initially, I got irritated but it bothered me for just 5 minutes. Then I chose to spend that time reading, people watching and trying to talk to people. I believe in serendipity, everything happens for a reason!
Have you been to a place which turned out to be totally different than how you imagined? If so, how was it different?
My travels are heavily influenced by my favorite writers and books. When I was in Japan, I went to Hokkaido, way off the tourist track, inspired by Haruki Murakami, my all-time favorite writer. To my surprise, it wasn’t different from his descriptions but it was way more beautiful!
Is there a place you’ve been to that left you feeling underwhelmed and why?
Prague left me a little disappointed. On the first day of my trip, I wondered where had I landed. I was keen to visit Kafka’s museum and house, but the entire city was so crowded! It felt like half of humanity had landed in Prague. Thankfully, I found my groove on the second day and explored some of the city’s offbeat areas. Other than that, I find cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok that are run down by tourists a little underwhelming.
Tell us something unexpected but wonderful that happened to you while travelling?
I was in Ireland in September to attend a conference and a few days later I had to attend another conference in the U.K. So, I had planned to explore the countries in that free time. However, I was invited to visit Romania. Frankly, I never thought I’d go to Romania, it was never on my list. But that country completely blew me away. It’s so rustic and beautiful; it’s reminiscent of Europe before modernization! The people are so friendly and their hospitality is outstanding. Luckily, I was also able to attend a typical Romanian wedding and it was such a culturally immersive experience. I couldn’t believe how similar it is to Indian weddings in that it has loud music, the whole village comes together, plenty of food and wine, and lots of dancing. They even have a tradition similar to our Indian weddings where the bride’s sisters steal the groom’s shoes. Except, in Romania, the groom’s friends steal the bride herself and groom then has to pay his friends to get his bride back! Romania definitely surprised me, I loved that country!
What do you think are the reasons for your success as a travel blogger that keeps your followers hooked?
I think my USP is that I try to see offbeat places and share untold stories.
Social media is full of stories of young people who quit their jobs to travel. Yet you have often said that one shouldn’t quit their job to travel. Why do you say that?
I think such social media stories are for clickbait. But the reality is, most of these people who leave their job without thinking are struggling. Initially, most people quit their jobs in a euphoria, but after six months on the road reality sets in. It’s difficult to sustain, you need money to pay your bills at the end of the month. I strongly believe that if you want to do something only to escape or get rid of a situation, it’s never justified. I apply this philosophy not only in my work but in my life. You should do things only out of passion. I am extremely passionate about my job as a brand strategist but when I wanted to travel for a long period, I took a sabbatical. I planned my finances for the next two-three years. When you take a rational approach, you’ll never struggle. First, establish yourself as a brand, understand your niche, and make sure you’re financially sound. Once you’ve sorted that, you can quit your job and be sustainable too!
How has travel changed you?
When I started travelling, I used to get very impatient and would always complain when things weren’t going right. Travel has made me calm and humble. Also, I used to hate my Indian passport because we need to apply for visa to visit most countries! Then, during my travels, I met a Syrian chef who works at the Shangril-La Hotel in Dubai. The hotel was going to send him on a work trip to Japan and Malaysia where they were hosting an Arabic Festival. Despite the backing of such a reputed international chain of hotels, his visa was rejected only because he’s from Syria! Experiences like these taught me gratitude.
How do you prepare for a trip?
My first step is to find cheap flights to places I’ve never been to. Then I plan a very rough itinerary. I don’t plan day-wise details though. I also reach out to people within my network who’ve been to the place to get their tips. I try and connect with different brands who will be happy to host me. Once I reach the destination, I talk to locals and get travel advice from them. I use Google trips app extensively while planning!
What is the one thing that you find most annoying or frustrating (or both!) about planning a trip?
I hate searching for flights. Browsing through so many different websites and comparing flights is so time consuming! I could use that time for so many productive things.
What is the one innovation in the trip planning / travel industry you’d like to see or have been waiting for to help you plan easily?
An app or website that gives a readymade packing list. I’d love to get real-time packing lists based on the destination, its season, weather, safety, culture etc.
How much time do you spend on planning a trip? Do you plan out all details or are you a spontaneous traveler? Why?
I don’t research a lot about the destination before traveling because I like to visit without having any particular notions in my head. I like to get a first-hand experience of the place, absorb it, find my stories, and then after I come back I research. Serendipity plays an important role in my travels. The only research I do is about what to pack and how expensive the place is, just some basic practical research!
Do you have a good travel planning tip you would like to share with us?
Never ever travel with people who aren’t compatible with your style of traveling. Your best friends might not necessarily be your best travel buddies!
What is your favorite mode of transport (plane/train/boat/car) and why?
Walking! There are certain stories you can only find when you walk. There are two reasons I love walking – first, it helps me bring down my carbon footprint, and second, because you meet so many interesting people as you walk and get to explore different nooks and corners.
Where do you get your travel inspiration from – books, magazines, blogs, travel shows, travelogues, social media or somewhere else?
As I’ve mentioned earlier, books are my primary source of information. Other than that, travelers I meet during my trips inspire me. Recently, I met a traveler in Dubai who has traveled to so many obscure places. He told me about Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan which is a 24×7 burning natural gas crater. It’s so fascinating! Such people are my biggest inspiration.
What are your suggestions to newbies who are looking at building a career in travel blogging?
I always emphasize that saying no is more important than saying yes. So, you should know when to put your guard down. Don’t compromise, believe in yourself and what you write. If you believe in what you do, brands will come to you. People don’t buy products, they buy conviction of people. Do less work but do good work, that’s my mantra. It’s always better to work with ten good brands than 100 random brands. Also, it’s very important to look for what differentiates you from other bloggers and stick to your passion. Success always comes to those who believe in themselves. Don’t get influenced by what others doing. Be in your own zone, be your own competition, and do your best!
Finally, some rapid-fire questions –
Favorite airline? Singapore Airline
Favorite country? Japan
Favorite city? San Francisco
Favorite beach? El Nido
Favorite food? Keeps changing, current favorites are Mexican and Mediterranean
Favorite language? Sign Language! Always works!
And one last question, what’s your next travel destination? If you haven’t planned one yet, where would you like to go next?
I’m headed to Meghalaya next.
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Tags: Interview Travel Bloggers Travel Inspiration
