About
For as long as I can remember, writing has brought me solace. What started off with simple diary entries the moment I learned how to hold a pencil, gradually developed into writing silly rhymes and then into more mature but angsty teenage poetry. Thanks to my parents, I was always an avid reader and writer and most of my career options in childhood were also along the lines of “writing a book” or being a “journalist”. Before I even knew what career I wanted to pursue, I knew I wanted to study literature. And so, in 2019 I graduated with a Bachelors in Arts in English Literature from Hindu College, University of Delhi.
It was during this time that my love for travelling flourished. In the first year, I joined the dance society of my college and with them, I travelled to Mumbai, Phagwara, Kurukshetra and then some for various dance fests. Despite how little or big the city/ town/ village I was travelling to was – one thing was constant, and that was my newfound love for all these new experiences I was having. I found myself in trains, buses and rickshaws with people I knew and people I didn’t, sharing small accommodation spaces and still having the time of my life.
Just around then, I started Googling if a term such as “travel writer” existed. Surely, there were travel magazines and people were writing for them, right? But I didn’t know how to start off at this exciting job. Thanks to the ever-present surveillance on our internet usage and the absolute absence of any sort of internet privacy, my searches on Google converted into Facebook ads about one Australian travel magazines looking for writers – and so I applied! There was one condition, though. I had to have a travel blog to be able to write for the said magazine. So the next thing I did was decide to create a blog. It wasn’t new territory for me, you see. My teenage angsty poems still exist on the world wide web as a blog that I seldom disclose to people. If you dig deep enough, you might just find it too!
This is when Wayward wayfarer came into being. Wayward– meaning ‘difficult to control; insistent upon having one’s own way; headstrong’, and wayfarer– meaning ‘a person who travels on foot’ – it seemed to fit the bill and I went with it. And once I had built a blog, I told myself that I might as well start writing in it. And to be able to write, I must travel. So travel is what I did.
In my second year of college, I quit the dance society and I decided to go off with a “12 months, 12 destinations” mission. While juggling academics, I managed to take out a few days every month and went off to a new destination each time. How these 12 destinations turned into 14 then 20, I don’t know. But what I knew is that I had finally figured out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Over the years, I’ve realized my travel style is very fluid. I love natural spaces as much as I love learning about cultures and communities. Tribal life deeply intrigues me, mainly for their lifestyle that derives from nature, and gives back to it (what we call sustainability today). I’m a huge fan of astronomy, though I don’t know enough about it and for me, solo is the way to go. I don’t do well in big groups because I like my travel experiences to be raw, and not in a vacation-style which most others go for. I also like the interactions I am able to do with locals and fellow travellers as a solo woman, something I won’t get when with another person(s). I am an amateur birder, something that began with the safari I did at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. I go often go on bird walks in Delhi. I also travel on a strict budget. Since I travel slow and long term to be able to learn as much about the place and its people as possible, I must also budget my trips right to sustain this lifestyle. Oh, and I love water. The ocean, waterfalls, lakes, rivers – you name it. Give me a water body and I will not resist the urge of jumping in.
How do I earn a living? I am an experienced content writer and editor. Apart from the several stints I did in terms of writing and editing while in school and college, I have written web content for Tripoto, Thrillophilia, Trekatribe, Karwaan Journeys and Ever Outdoor to name a few. I have also been published in The Wire. As for photography, I am mostly into landscapes and sometimes portraiture. Additionally, I have also started doing workshops on several topics including building and growing your blog, search engine optimization, lightweight backpacking, sustainable living and more. Most of my work is available on Instagram and on my Facebook page.
I also often collaborate with various companies, properties, ventures, start-ups in the travel space. To know more in detail about my past work, and how you can work with me, please have a look at this page.
Happy reading!
