Most of us want to break free. Most want to set out
on an adventure and explore the world, soaring across one continent or the
next. We want to bask in the glory of white-sugary-sanded beaches replete with
coconut groves and distant horizons filled with shimmering turquoise waters. We
want to throw caution to the wind, pack our bags and set out to
traverse the planet, taking the ultimate expedition.
However,
this isn't about some simple vacation. This isn't about taking a temporary reprieve
from your obligations and setting out for a few days or even a few weeks. Preetie Joshi, is no travel blogger or
YouTuber, her maxim in life is “Don’t
dream your life, live your dream. Keep calm and travel”. She loves travelling
with her family, close relatives and friends.
Getting Ms. Congeniality to talk about her travel
escapades was an easy task. After all, it was a topic she can speak non-stop about. Close friends of hers will strongly vouch and confess that “Preetie is that positivity
pep pill you would always love to have with you. Her always ready-to-help,
charismatic and unconditional approach is contagious”. Her Instagram followers
love watching her creatively shot travel bytes.
A self-confessed nomad,
a travel buff, a foodie, a shopaholic and a person who loves to experience it
all and share it with her friends, we leaf through her travel diary which
accentuates her travel maxims – Explore,
Dream and Discover.
Over to some travel moments from Preetie Joshi’s travel
diary.
The interview:
How many
cities and countries have you travelled so? Do list the names out.
There has never been a full stop to my travels and I would
love to travel till my last breath. To pen down all of it is almost impossible
but listing down as many as I can recollect.
Within India:
Union Territories - Delhi, Goa, Daman (Vapi), Silvassa,
Chandigarh.
Punjab - Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar,
Hoshiarpur.
Maharashtra - Pune, Kolhapure, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala,
Nasik, Igatpuri, Deolali, Shirdi, Shingdapur, Mulshi and many small hill
stations.
Gujarat- Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Baroda, Surat, Jamnagar,
Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jetpur, Morbi, Dwarka, Bardoli, Aanand, Visnagar, Kutch,
Morbi.
Rajasthan - Udaipur, Mt Abu, Jaipur, Nathdwara, Ajmer,
Ranakpur.
Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand- Dehradun, Nainital,
Mussourie, Shimla, Manali, Kasuali, Sanawar, Solan, Baddi, Timbertrail, Kandaghat,
Parwanoo, Chail, Kufri, Barog.
Jammu Kashmir - Jammu, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg,
Pahalgam, Katra, Patnitop.
Kerela - Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppy.
Madhya Pradesh - Bhopal
International
trips:
Thailand - Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh samui, Phi
phi.
UAE - Dubai & Abu Dhabi.
France - Paris, Marseille.
Switzerland - Chamonix, Gstaad, Montreaux, Lausanne,
Interlaken, Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Lauterbrunnen.
Germany - Stuttgart, Munich, Cologne, Heidelberg.
Netherlands - Helmond, Rotterdam, Hague, Eindhoven,
Amsterdam.
Belgium - Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp.
Austria - Innsbruck, Salzburg & Vienna.
Which has been
the most memorable travel vacation? What made it special?
It’s a herculean task to really choose one particular
place coz all have been so worth visiting but if I have to pick an
international spot then it would be Dubai as this was my first trip abroad. The
thrill and excitement of this trip is simply unmatched even today.
Within India I simply love travelling to Chandigarh and
any place up North as I just love the vibe of North India overall. The
topography, the food, the people, the weather, the lifestyle of this region is
truly enticing and inviting.
What are the 5
spots one must visit at your memorable travel destination?
I highly recommend to everyone to travel to Dubai at least
once in a lifetime. This place is for amateurs as well as savvy travellers. There
is something for everybody. The grandeur and the opulence of Dubai is simply a
different class altogether. There are so many changes Dubai has been through
from the time I travelled.
My second bet would be Switzerland. This country is just
too perfect for words. If i could choose where I would want to live the rest of
my life it would be here without a blink of an eye. Its serenity
personified.
In India, please do take trips to anywhere in the North.
Some spots are so rich in culture, food and scenic beauty. The icing on the
cake is that most of these Northern cities have yet maintained the earthy, raw
& rustic, untouched and unmodernised lifestyle which I truly love.
Even Chandigarh is my favourite city. It’s a modern and well
planned city which is like a learning experience for all citizens as the
discipline and cleanliness maintained here is noteworthy.
Last but not the least, one must always visit their
ancestral villages and homes to experience the true roots of their culture.
It’s great to explore the world and but never forget your roots.
5 tips to
travel smart and save on money.
Research - Whenever you plan a destination do complete research about all the important places to visit, it could be sightseeing, dining, and shopping.
You don’t want to miss seeing them coz you never know if you would ever visit the
same place again. So make sure you try to see all the best things of the city
in the first visit. Remember first impressions do matter. If the trip is well
planned then a lot of time, money and confusion will be saved.
Location - Try to find Hotels or home accommodations which are
centrally located as it saves a lot of travel, money and time. Plus, you always
get the vibe of the city in its heart.
Self-drive - If you truly want to explore a place to its fullest, it’s
best to rent a car and enjoy the place. This gives you complete freedom and leisure
time to visit any place, anytime without waiting for public transport to reach you
there. You can also explore places which are located in the interiors or on the
off-beat paths which are still unexplored by most tourists. This will give you
an edge over regular tourists. Besides this, today, GPRS is a great boon
and you can easily navigate your trip.
Home stays - Sometimes home stays work out really well as they give
u a better feel of the actual life of that place.
Try local food - Don’t hesitate to try local food as it may be cheaper,
fresher and more interesting than an expensive or stale pre-cooked meal. Tasting
the local specialties gives you a taste of the ethnic flavours which you enjoy
more.
Shopping - Do visit supermarkets or local markets of that city to
try their local products as they may be cheaper than malls and will exhibit the
essence of the city rather than shopping for brands.
Travel light - Carry the absolute essentials only. Most places have
everything available in case of a problem. Always make bags lighter and easier
to carry. You don’t want to be stuck with heavy bags and loads of packing and unpacking
to do all the time. Just plan the clothes day wise and maybe you can add an
extra pair or so. It’s always easy to get them laundered in case of
emergency.
Your
viewpoints (safe, unsafe, safety measures) about the future of travel post this
pandemic.
It’s definitely going to be an extremely long time till
one can start travelling confidently and spontaneously to any destination of
his choice. Until the vaccination is not out and until the pandemic is not
under stable control, it’s definitely not a priority for most families to
travel. But once that’s achieved, I’m sure the world shall be back to its
routine and we all shall travel enthusiastically again.
Being a travel
blogger / writer / photographer / YouTuber, how do you plan your trip?
Each trip of mine has a different agenda. Sometimes it’s an
adventure, sometimes shopping, sometimes exploring food, sometimes sightseeing,
sometimes spontaneous and sometimes just lazing and relaxing. So each time the
planning is done accordingly.
I try to pick a destination according to the budget, the
number of days possible, people travelling along with me, our groups likes
dislikes, season during travel, activities possible for all, value for money
deals and above all a new city or country each time so that the vacation gets
more exciting.
Do you make
money as a travel blogger? What are the other ways to make money being a travel
writer?
Honestly, I haven’t made a penny due to travelling nor has
anyone ever paid me to travel. Each trip may make a hole in my pocket but makes
me richer in experience. So far it’s always been trips on personal expenses
only.
But yes, I have been invited by many places to explore and
experience them which may not be paid trips but i have thoroughly enjoyed the
hospitality, respect and the warmth extended by them. I feel travel and money have no connection. Once a traveller is
addicted to his craze nothing can stop him. But yes, if you are a
savvy traveller and if you do get a paid opportunity to share your experiences
and expertise then definitely this platform is fantastic.
