Tell us something about yourself and your background:
– I am an outdoor enthusiast with certification in mountaineering and first-aid.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Delhi University. I have a Basic Mountaineering Certification from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, and Advance Mountaineering Certification from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. I am a semi-qualified Chartered Accountant and have completed my 3-year Articleship.
How many countries and Indian states have you travelled?
– I have traveled to 6 countries so far out of which 5 I covered on my good old bicycle in a span of just 50 days. If I talk about India then I can say that I have been to a total of 15 states almost.
Any interesting travel moment or incidence:
– There were a lot of moments. While traveling every moment is so serene and memorable. You can never forget what you have experienced while traveling. Those long talks with strangers, that beer in the club, that dance with a girl you have just met. All those moments were just amazing.
There was a saying that the Universe has a certain way of helping everyone and you just have to realize it. There was a moment during my cycling journey when I just lost my motivation to continue. I just couldn’t push ahead. It was very difficult for me to move forward with the journey so I was just staying at one hostel in Myanmar and had no idea what to do next. There came a guy I met in that hostel, I spent a day with him roaming around the city with our bicycles and those stupid conversations with him motivated me to push ahead with much more strength.
Tell us about your fears and anxieties when traversing solo. How you keep them at bay?
– The most common fear while traversing solo is the sense of getting lost and getting into trouble that risks your life. My policy is to take risks but acceptable risks. If I want to sleep on a beach in my tent then I make sure that I am sleeping in a place where there is no risk of people robbing me without anyone knowing. I keep my fears at bay by not showing them to others. I do my research beforehand so that I won’t get into unnecessary trouble. The most important thing that helps me while traveling solo is a thought I truly believe in that is “People are good everywhere, you just have to find that good in them”.
What’s your favourite travel quote?
– “The best view comes after the hardest climb”
What’s the strangest thing you tried on your travelling days?
– There are a lot of things strange when I travel. My favorite one was putting my tent in the back of a truck at night in order to save money for accommodation. It was a risk I was willing to take that time.
Any travel tips for the readers?
– I don’t want people to think that I’m an extraordinary person. In fact, I want to be remembered as an ordinary person who managed to do something extraordinary. All because I had the courage to follow my heart.
The only advice I have is to never be afraid of doing something you love. People will try to stop you. But if you believe in something, at least give it a try. Don’t give up without trying. Learn from others’ experiences. Yet don’t follow them blindly. Create your own experiences. Follow your heart and do justice to your dreams. The right time to begin is NOW. Take a step forward and things will start falling into place. Go for it, but with planning and with a vision.
Follow Himanshu’s Journey here
