Shivya Nath's Blog: The Shooting Star, page 2

10 Days in Japan: An Immersive Japan Itinerary for First Time Visitors.

On a spring evening in Japan, we had just returned from a stunning day of hiking amid volcanic landscapes on Kyushu Island. After a soul-satisfying meal of koya dofu, seasonal veggies and udon noodles, I was ready to call it a day.

But when my partner and I arrived at our family-run guesthouse, our Japanese hostess had been waiting for us – to invite us to join her and a few other guests to celebrate a local festival at the Shinto shrine nearby! So we piled into her car, no idea where we wer...

Highlights of 2024, a Dilemma, and a Blogging Resolution.

I’ve been in a weird state of flux the last few months.

Every time I travel away from our current base in Himachal Pradesh, I miss it, sometimes terribly. I miss sitting at my writing desk, staring out at the ever-changing agricultural landscapes and the mountains beyond. I miss going on long walks through the fields and villages, greeting people with a familiarity that only comes from living here long enough. I miss hanging out with a cup of tea (and the same old boring menu) at my favorite...

The Truth About Being a “Travel Influencer” in 2025.

A while ago, I binge-watched a gripping mini-series centered around social media and its twisted impact on our real lives.

In the hilarious yet thought-provoking pilot, the character I initially sympathized with was a young Youtuber who’d call his buddies each time he uploaded a new video, and beg them to like-share-comment. His life’s goal was to collaborate with a social media star who had a much larger following, so he could get more likes-shares-comments!

In a candid conversation with ...

The Truth About Being a “Travel Influencer” in 2024.

A while ago, I binge-watched a gripping mini-series centered around social media and its twisted impact on our real lives.

In the hilarious yet thought-provoking pilot, the character I initially sympathized with was a young Youtuber who’d call his buddies each time he uploaded a new video, and beg them to like-share-comment. His life’s goal was to collaborate with a social media star who had a much larger following, so he could get more likes-shares-comments!

In a candid conversation with ...

Everything You Need to Know About Community-Based Tourism

In my early days of travelling, circa 2011, I serendipitously landed up in a remote, rural, agricultural village in North Kerala, surrounded by rice fields, bamboo forests and mist-clad hills. There I learnt that local families took turns to host travellers like me in their homes, and local guides took turns to lead walks and other activities.

The majority of the money I paid went to to the host families and guides, but a small percentage was channeled into a ‘village development fund.’ The ...

What is Community Tourism Anyway?

In my early days of travelling, circa 2011, I serendipitously landed up in a remote, rural, agricultural village in North Kerala, surrounded by rice fields, bamboo forests and mist-clad hills. There I learnt that local families took turns to host travellers like me in their homes, and local guides took turns to lead walks and other activities.

The majority of the money I paid went to to the host families and guides, but a small percentage was channeled into a ‘village development fund.’ The ...

A Boston and Cambridge Travel Guide for First Timers.

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The Journey of a Thousand Miles Began With Curiosity.

I was 17 when I first left home to study abroad. I had randomly filled out college applications, with no clue of what I really wanted to do. All I hoped was to go somewhere far away. When I got accepted into Singapore Management University, I was over the moon. I would live on my own for the first time ever, and I couldn’t wait. But as time came to pack up my life in Dehradun and move far out of my comfort zone, I was terrified. In the days leading up to my departure, the butterflies of nervousn...

The Ultimate Guide to Monsoon Travel in Goa.

Over a decade ago, when my partner and I coincidentally landed up in Goa during the monsoon, we had no idea we’d be in for such a treat. I have vivid memories of those weeks spent driving around the interiors on our bike, huddling under old banyan trees with fellow riders during a heavy downpour, spotting peacocks dancing in the lush greenery, cycling on idyllic islands, chatting with farmers in their paddy fields, and celebrating Sao Joao – the well-jumping festival!

A lot has changed in Goa...

What it Was Like to E-Bike Across Morocco – From the High Atlas to the Sahara Desert!

On an early winter morning, I geared up to pedal 64 km from Ifrane – Morocco’s only Alpine ski town – to Midelt, at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Despite wearing several layers, I could barely feel my fingers under my gloves. It was 4 degrees Celcius, and the wind numbed my cheeks. We cycled through a forest filled with giant cedar trees, and within a few kilometers, the landscape turned into large rolling meadows resembling the Mongolian Steppes, filled with thousands of grazing sheep and the...