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.
In the era of Google maps and travel apps, Niranjan Das is an aberration. He loves to travel the old school way with maps and guide books. He believes, ‘Life is a travelogue, and we are all nomads’. Whether it’s long bike rides in Ladakh or backpacking through the Indian countryside, Niranjan never misses an opportunity to explore. His engaging adventures beg you to step out and see the world. Read on to know more about his travelogues and the stories he discovers on road.
What made you start your own travel blog?
This one is a bit personal as the reason to start my blog was to woo a girl who was a blogger herself. My love for travel helped me decide what I wanted to write and focus on.
What is the first trip you remember taking and how old were you?
Though I did travel when I was much younger, the first memorable trip was a train journey from Kochi to Mumbai when I was 14, in mid 1990s.
If you had to visit a place again, which one would you choose?
There are a couple of places that I would love to visit again. Varkala followed by Rishikesh heads that list.
Have you been to a place which turned out to be totally different than how you imagined? If so, how was it different?
From whatever I have heard about Srinagar, I was a bit apprehensive about the curfews and situations that arise without a cue. However, I was totally taken aback when I spent some wonderful days amidst its lakes and gardens. Everything was peaceful and normal, and the people were always helpful.
Is there a place you’ve been to that left you feeling underwhelmed and why?
These days most of the touristy places are quite a disappointment due to the crowds and litter. Lately I found Kufri to be one such place.
Which country stands high on your bucket list at the moment?
Bhutan has been on my mind for a while now and I would love to ride into that country.
Tell us something unexpected but wonderful that happened to you while travelling?
During my solo ride in Ladakh last year, I had a flat tire and was almost stranded in the cold little town of Drass. While I struggled to find a puncture shop, a stranger unexpectedly helped me by driving to a puncture shop, a few kilometers away. It turned dark by the time I got the puncture fixed and got back to my bike. As I was fixing the tire back on to my bike, more strangers joined to help me out in the darkness. Those strangers were definitely some of the most wonderful souls I have met during my travels.
What do you think are the reasons for your success as a travel blogger that keeps your followers hooked?
I have got feedbacks that my readers and followers love my narrative style. While today we live amidst a pile of listicles with ‘Things to do’ and ‘Places to visit’, genuine readers love reading an experience more than a list of things. I do make sure that I publish articles where I share my experiences from a first person view to keep my readers engaged.
What are some of the mistakes you’ve learnt from (while travelling and /or in your journey as a blogger)?
I learnt over a period of time that how much ever you try to ignore social media; you can’t deny its existence and the role it plays for bloggers and influencers. I did not give the needed attention when I started off and learnt later that social media presence and SEOs are of utmost importance for a travel blogger. This is a medium to reach out to all your followers and also probably a major avenue to create a larger base of readers and followers.
How do you prepare for a trip?
The journey I am about to undertake first takes place in my mind. From the route to the places to visit, everything forms a draft in my mind before I sit down and plan it out with guide books, maps and google.
What is the one thing that you find most annoying or frustrating (or both!) about planning a trip?
I always over pack and despite the numerous travels I still find that I come back with many clothes that I don’t use. Am sure many travellers would have similar experiences.
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?
Rather than heavily clinging on to innovations and technology, I would love to see people travel with guide books, hand read maps and asking strangers for directions. Old school thoughts, I would say. But ain’t it more fun than relying so much on google? While it may not make planning easy, it definitely makes travelling more engaging.
How much time do you spend on planning a trip? Do you plan out all details or are you a spontaneous traveler? Why?
I always have a rough plan of my travels and keep them flexible. However, I do not decide things much in advance and prefer planning on the move. Flexibility is what I love during my travels as that makes sure that I can always change a plan anytime if it doesn’t suit the scheme of things at that point of time.
Do you have a good travel planning tip you would like to share with us?
Make sure to roll your clothes while packing as this reduces the space taken and helps you to squeeze in more.
What determines your next destination – your mood, time of year, company or something else?
It depends on what I would like to see and experience. So definitely it is the frame of my mind that decides my next travel.
What is your favorite mode of transport (plane/train/boat/car) and why?
Solo motorcycle rides have always been my favourite mode of travelling. Who doesn’t love riding bikes over the mountain roads and along the coast? The views through the visor and the fresh air hitting your face are the reasons why I love it. Riding solo helps me plan the travels at my pace.
Where do you get your travel inspiration from – books, magazines, blogs, travel shows, travelogues, social media or somewhere else?
Books and blogs are the sources from where I learn about new places and cultures. How much they urge me to visit that particular place also depends on whether it falls in my scheme of things or in my travel plans.
What are your suggestions to newbies who are looking at building a career in travel blogging?
One important fact that I learnt and would like to share is that one should never neglect their blog. The blog needs to be fed continuously with posts. Travel blogging might take a while shape up as a career but persistence is one crucial factor which shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Finally, some rapid-fire questions –
Favorite airline? Emirates
Favorite country? India
Favorite city? Florence
Favorite beach? Varkala
Favorite food? Biryani
Favorite language? Malayalam
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 am planning a motorcycle ride across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat in the month of February and March.
Follow his adventures on – Website – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram
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Tags: bucket list Travel stories
