Shivya Nath's Blog: The Shooting Star, page 5
March 4, 2023
The Magic of the Midnight Sun on the Lofoten Islands, Norway!
I had never really harbored dreams of travelling to the Arctic region. It sounded fascinating, of course, but also far, remote and fragile. Could I really justify flying all the way – and burning all those emissions – to experience it?
But after a week of self-guided e-biking across the Swiss Alps last summer, I was hooked to the idea of using low carbon alternatives to reach the farthest reaches in Europe – namely the Lofoten Islands in the Norwegian Arctic.
We hatched up a crazy plan, to...
February 4, 2023
Highlights and Lowlights of 2022.
Towards the end of the monsoon season in 2022, we set out for one of the most stunning and treacherous hikes in the Western Ghats.
The route took us through an old forest brimming with butterflies, then turned unexpectedly slippery. Water gushed over the mossy rocks we were to climb. As we walked up streams still in full flow, I held on to stray branches to try to find my footing. With hardly a dry patch, I slipped multiple times, sometimes landing on my butt and sometimes on my knees.
B...
October 29, 2022
Why I’m No Longer Travelling Full Time.
For a long time, I’ve wandered the world in search of the perfect place to call home.
But subconsciously, I’ve always waited for places to reveal their imperfections, and push me away. Chiang Mai got too busy, Guatemala was too far, New York was too expensive, Uttarakhand lacked an international flavor, Tbilisi’s visa norms had become too random, and so on.
Deep down, I guess I knew that a perfect place does not exist. But leaving one meant seeking another, and then another.
Even as I f...
October 11, 2022
How to Travel as a Vegan and Find Delicious Food Anywhere in the World.
From seafood-obsessed Japan to kebab-loving Iran, I’ve learnt that thriving as a vegan traveller is an acquired art. Behold, all my vegan travel tips.
I’ve travelled to over thirty countries since I turned vegan 3.5 years ago, including seafood-obsessed Japan, kebab-loving Iran and tribal regions of Myanmar, where every kind of animal is relished.
Sticking with my commitment to not consume any animal products, I’ve learnt along the way that surviving – nay thriving – as a vegan on the ...
10 Local Restaurants for Authentic Goan Food in North Goa.
On the search for the best Goan food in North Goa? These are my best finds over several foodie monsoons in Goa, updated for 2020!
My three weeks in Goa have busted two myths – that Goa is only about the beaches and crowds, and that Goan food has nothing to delight vegans / vegetarians. I’ve been indulging my taste buds in local delights. Home-baked Goan breads called Poi and Pao, seasonal vegetable curries cooked in Goan style, home-cooked appetizers and Goan sweets / desserts I had never hea...
A Visual Journey Through Goa in The Monsoon.
Goa in the monsoon is a whole other tropical universe – lush paddies, deserted beaches, flowing backwaters, so much to love.
A few days ago, I reluctantly bid adieu to Goa, and followed my heart to Kumaon. As I snuggle up in a cosy room in what was once a hippie town near Binsar, I reminisce about my time in the hinterlands of Goa. Whizzing around the lush green landscapes of a Goan village, the cool breeze in my hair, a light drizzle splashing off my face and the salty aroma of the sea breez...
Goa is a State of Mind.
A poem on green Goa, dedicated to the Goa state of mind
Every monsoon, when most tourists leave, I try to find my way to Goa. The lush rice paddies, the stormy Arabian Sea, old abandoned Portuguese houses and that distinct Goa in the monsoon feeling beckons.
I’ve put together an alternative travel guide to Goa, highlighting incredible responsible travel experiences to discover Goa beyond the beaches and crowds. I’ve written about mindblowing experiences in offbeat Goa for those who reall...
Offbeat Goa: 12 Mind-Blowing Experiences.
I’ve spent months seeking out Goa experiences you won’t find in any travel guide. If you’re looking for offbeat places to stay in Goa or places to see in Goa other than beaches, go after my finds!
On a rainy afternoon, wrapped up in my blue poncho, I drive my bike past verdant rice paddies, abandoned railway tracks and sleepy hamlets. The search for soulful Goa experiences leads me to little-known islands in the interiors of Goa.
On the empty ferry, the surprised driver asks me why I’...
My Alternative Travel Guide to Goa.
Beyond the beaches, crowds and cut-copy-paste lists, my unique guide to offbeat Goa, featuring responsible travel experiences discovered over the years!
Ever since I gave up my home to embrace a life of travel, Goa has become my ‘digital nomad refuge’ in the monsoon.
That liberating feeling of driving a scooter along the endless rice paddies and palm-fringed interiors. Working out of quaint cafes with decent Wifi. Indulging my taste buds in authentic Goan curries and at organic cafes....
October 1, 2022
An Insider’s Guide to the Best Vegan Restaurants in Goa in 2022.
As a foodie, I’m always on the lookout for vegan, healthy, organic, ethically-sourced, ideally gluten free, world-inspired food. Goa is perhaps the only place in India where that’s not too much to ask for!
Over the past 10 years of visiting, and the past 2 years of living here, I’ve delightfully witnessed an explosion of vegan restaurants in Goa.
I’ve also learnt that Goa’s own Saraswat cuisine has traditionally been vegan-friendly – and features a delicious range of local dishes and flav...
