Ever dreamt of travelling the world with your partner? Well, Nikita Das is doing just that and having a ball while at it! Trippin Traveller caught up with her to find out more about her adventures and how Our Vagabond Stories has evolved.
How long have you dreamt of traveling? Was it since childhood or did the travel bug bite you much later?
My family is from the Army, hence the travel bug has always been there. Though we didn’t move much after I started school, we used to travel somewhere at least twice a year. I used to really look forward to those days and I have been fond of travelling ever since.
Please share one of your most bizarre experiences (positive or negative) during a foreign tour?
I won’t ever forget the time we were almost robbed of our passports, phone & other valuables during our trip to Rome! We were just sitting after taking a tour of the Colosseum and someone came from behind and opened the zip of my backpack! Luckily, I felt something & looked back to catch him.
Do you miss anything about your previous life, before you decided to explore whichever place you could?
Not really, I really love how adventurous my life is & always craved of such a life sitting in the drab corporate job.
Which is that one place you would like to visit again and again, and why?
Rome! During all of our Europe trip, there was something about that city that really connected my to it. The architecture, history & beautiful slow life- it all seemed like a dream I would love to explore again & again.
Have you ever had an experience that has made you want to give up on travelling and go back home?
Yes, long long airport transits definitely make me want to quit & go back. Not to mention, jet lag!
Of the twelve countries that you have visited, which cuisine has appealed to your taste buds the most, and why?
Let me be honest here, nothing beats Indian food. After staying out for a couple of weeks I definitely crave the home-cooked rajma chawal the most. No matter how many Italian pastas & pizzas I had in Italy, the masala’s of Indian food cannot be compared to any cuisine!
Since you are an avid reader, we would like to know the top 3 books that have motivated you to travel more.
First, Da Vinci Code & Angels & Demons. We actually tried to do the Dan Brown tour in Florence, where the books are based. It was incredible. Another of my all time favourites is- Into The Wild, which makes me want to visit Alaska so bad!
How does travel help you? What does it do for you?
It makes me explore other cities, cultures and people. Which makes me grow as a person. Self-learning & exploration is one of the top reasons why I travel. Apart from that, I love being amidst nature and it gives me a sense of calmness.
What are your top three tips for newbie travelers?
- Planning your trip before going is one of the best ways to not waste time & explore a place as much as you can.
- If you’re going to visit a popular place, make sure you buy the tickets online before hand. You will thank yourself, when you see those 2-3 hour long ticket lines.
- Mostly, never stop exploring. Don’t only visit the touristy places, instead take a detour & explore cities on your own.
What is your favorite travel quote?
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:
I love not Man the less, but Nature more” – Lord Byron
Thank you for this interesting chat Nikita! We wish you a travel-filled future!
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