“An incurable dreamer.” That’s what Tanushree Podder, writer, traveler, mother, cook, gardener, and more calls herself on her website. When we decided that we wanted to start a series of articles and interviews with some of India’s best travelers and travel writers, Tanushree Podder was one of the first names that came to our minds. There are travelers. And then there are writers. And then there are both. The author of several books, Tanushree Podder confesses to being a traveloholic. With Solo in Singapore, Tanushree has given us travel+romance+fun in one package. Somehow, that makes us want to go to the nearest beach, find a hammock, and start reading this story about a young girl who goes to Singapore to find herself.
First things first. Solo in Singapore, which has just been published by Harper Collins promises a “rip-roaring, side-splitting account of a young girl’s experience in an alien land and her efforts at keeping herself buoyed in choppy waters.” How did you come up with the idea for the book Solo in Singapore?
Yes, Solo in Singapore (SIS) is a hilarious story but it is also a story of hope, dreams, and love. Like most people, the protagonist nurtures a few dreams. She arrives in Singapore for 30 days but lingers on because she likes the place. I love traveling and writing, so I combined my two loves by becoming a travel writer.
This book is also an outcome of the two loves in my life. I was toying with the idea of writing a light and breezy book with dollops of interesting facts about a place and that is how the idea of writing SIS came to the mind.
We know you love traveling but why Singapore? Is it a city that intrigued you the most among all the ones that you visited?
I chose Singapore as the background of my story because I have spent a long time there, so I know the place quite well. It is not possible to write about a place where you have just spent a few days. One has to be familiar with the culture, cuisine, and people of a place before one can begin writing about it. Besides, Singapore is an interesting place.
We are all travelers here on this site. We love making a list. Knowing your own urge to travel, which country has fascinated you the most?
I have traveled to about 40 countries in five continents and if I were to count the cities within those countries, it would add up to a vast number. Each place has something amazing and unique to offer to a traveler, be it in terms of architecture, landscape, cuisine or culture, so it is very difficult to single out a destination.
To an avid traveler, the world is like a kaleidoscope of innumerable colors and patterns, each one more charming than the last.
Tanushree riding a Harley in Melbourne
Writing sometimes, like travel, seems like a mix of spontaneous combustion. We arrive at places not knowing how the journey would be. Writing, as a creative form, often takes the same journey. Your books range from the story of a dictator to the benefits of relaxation. How do you arrive at topics and ideas for your books?
Most journeys are more interesting than the destination and one has to learn to enjoy the journey. The enjoyment begins the moment one starts planning a trip. Similarly, the creative process is an enjoyable journey where the excitement begins with the ideation and plotting. Unlike a planned trip where the destination is fixed, a creative journey could take many turns and end up at a totally unplanned destination. That adds to the excitement. Imagine if you set out on a journey and instead of landing at the designated place, the meandering path takes you to a more beautiful destination. How amazing the experience would be!
I am an impulsive writer. I write about subjects that make me curious and throw up a challenge. Perhaps, that is the reason for the variety in my writing. Predictability can be boring. Don’t you think so?
We agree! We are sure you read when you travel. Do you carry 10 books with you or has the Kindle cast its spell on you?
Although I love the idea of holding a book in my hands, traveling with 10 books is not practical. So, the Kindle is my travel companion. Having said that, while at home, I prefer the good old paperback.
What’s the one funny/quirky/weird incident from your travels that you will always remember?
I don’t know whether to call it funny, weird or frightening, but a recent incident that comes to my mind took place in Vienna. I had taken an open top hop- on- hop- off sightseeing bus that goes through the wine village of Grinzing, a picturesque district full of wine taverns called “Heuriger”. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful and a verdant valley lay on the right side, while I was sitting on the left. Deciding to take some pictures, I got up to cross over to the other side. The bus lurched just as I stood up and I lost my balance. I went tumbling down the spiral staircase, unable to control the momentum of my fall.
Within minutes, I lay at the bottom, head down and body twisted, stunned after the fall. The driver braked to a sudden halt and the guide rushed to me, worried. Helping hands reached out to upright me. Three minutes later, I stood grinning embarrassedly as they asked if an ambulance had to be called. Everyone was amazed to see me walking up the staircase without any sign of pain or distress. ‘It is yoga,’ I smiled at the concerned faced around me. It may read like a funny tale but, believe me, the accident managed to shake me up. For a few stunned moments, while I lay twisted at the bottom of the steps, all I worried about was if I would be able to enjoy the Vienna trip.
At the Kafka House in Prague
In Solo in Singapore, Munmum Menon is half Bengali and half Malayali. She packs her bags on a whim and arrives in Singapore to search for her absent father. How much of you is in her character?
There is nothing of me in Munmun Menon, except maybe the fact that I am also a Bengali, a full-blooded one, at that. She is a fictitious character born of my imagination.
Solo in Singapore is your only book set outside India. Do you miss India when you travel? What are the things you don’t miss?
SIS is my only book set outside India, that is if you don’t count Death of a Dictator: The story of Saddam Hussein, which was set in Iraq. I don’t miss India when I travel because I love trying out different cuisines, exchanging notes with people from different countries, and enjoy eclectic architecture.
“I travel to learn,” said Mark Twain. What has travel taught you?
Travel teaches you a lot of things. Adaptability, endurance, and adjustments are a part of the process.
You can’t enjoy traveling unless you are ready to adapt to the local culture, endure some discomfort, and adjust to all kinds of situations.
‘People who don’t travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what’s in front of them. Those people cannot accept new things because all they know is where they live,’ said Martin Yan, and I fully agree.
Do you keep a bucket list? Is there a place you have been dreaming of traveling to, but you haven’t made it there yet?
I am quite a whimsical traveler and plan my travels on the spur of the moment. Having said that, there are some places I want to see before I die.
Machu Pichu, Bora Bora, Alaska, and Southern Patagonia are some of the destinations on my wish list.
Trippin Traveller is a curated site for offbeat, handcrafted tours and journeys. We love to connect travelers with local communities and understand the culture of the place we visit. Is that something that intrigues you as well? How would you describe your style of traveling?
As I said before, I am a whimsical traveler. I may plan to visit a place next year but book a completely different one, later.
I like offbeat journeys because of the challenge and novelty they offer.
The oft-taken paths are a dull experience.
You can find more about Tanushree Podder here:
Website: www.tanushreepodder.com
Travel blogs: https://tanushreez.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tpodder
Twitter: @tanushreepodder
You can also grab a copy of Solo in Singapore here:
http://www.amazon.in/Solo-Singapore-Tanushree-Podder/dp/9351777243
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