We caught up with the incredible Shubham Mansingka on his travel tales in our latest episode of Travel Tales.
Shubham calls himself “Just a Boy who Travels.”
But we think there is more than just about that.
“I travel with a backpack and want to inspire you to do the same; let no hindrance be too big when you think about travel,” he says on his blog.
When we read about stories like Shubham, we come back reaffirmed in our faith that travel can truly broaden our horizons and make our lives so much richer.
Your ‘About Me’ page is a treat to read. Seems like an incredible journey. ‘I currently live in Jaipur, Rajasthan’ Where do you plan to go next?
My about me page is a straight from the heart, no-holds-barred account of things as they happened.
Jaipur is a place where I come back from my travels before moving on to the next place!
I usually don’t plan where to go next, but most probably it shall be to hike among the rhododendrons in either GHNP, Himachal or Uttarakhand.
You rely on the ‘goodness of strangers’ for your survival. Have you been let down anytime?
I believe that the best stories on the road are the unexpected ones.
We realize that the world is amazing and most people are good when we travel.
Unexpected love makes me feel good, I try and give myself a fair chance of receiving the same and hence ‘the goodness of strangers.’
I was majorly let down once when I trusted a bunch of locals (even when my instinct had warned me against it) and somehow escaped, from the remote mountains of Garhwal.
How have your parents supported you?
I belong to a successful business family.
It was quite difficult for my parents even to try and understand
1. My asthma issues
2. A sudden decision to leave a 30 crore rupee business
3. Travel like a wanderer without a plan.
They have supported me by respecting my decision that my health and happiness will be a much greater priority than money.
You felt weak in many ways before you began traveling. How has travel made you strong, in addition to being a medicine for asthma?
For the record, I think the travel gene in me was planted by my parents!
They were avid travelers themselves and used to love unplanned road trips.
Travel has made me realize the world is a wonderful place and there is so much goodness everywhere.
From natural beauty to culture, local food, crafts, folklore, architecture, there is a whole lot to explore.
Travel has taught me to live in the moment and not worry about what’s gonna come next.
I am happy to breathe normally and realize that I should be thankful for a renewed flair for living, thanks to the travel bug.
Do you plan on going international?
I’ve had one international trip to Singapore, the islands of Thailand and Malaysia and may end up going to either Nepal or Bhutan this year.
What is it about a place that charms you enough to live there?
Freshly grown food, lots of natural light surrounded by greenery and a wooden home!
I guess that’s all I need to live. (Oh and WiFi- we all need to make a living!)
Has there ever been a place that you wouldn’t want to go back to?
There have been places that I hated after arriving but gradually got around to fall in love with them.
The question does remind me of one place I wouldn’t want to go back to: Daporijo in Arunachal Pradesh.
I was nearly stuck there and had to hitchhike my way out in the absence of other modes of transport.
You love collecting topis. Which one’s your favorite? And how do you manage to store your collection on your travels?
Hehe, thanks for noticing that!
My favorite is the one that the monks of Phugtal gifted me (for the memories!) I never carry more than two hats on my travels, one to keep me warm and the other that would look most stylish.
What is your biggest piece of advice to aspiring travelshoebums?
If travel is your passion, sooner or later you will find a pursuit for the rest of your life.
Have a backup plan and requisite amount of money to sustain your life for at least one year.
Remember, it is not as rosy as it seems but if the road if your best friend, then everything is worth it.
Be true to your work and don’t fall prey to shortcuts.
Build a good brand around yourself and be honest with your followers. Remember most travel bloggers give up after a year or two.
You don’t want to be that person.
Trust the universe, find a way.
What do you miss the most from your previous life?
A never ending supply of money! Haha.
Jokes apart, I do sometimes miss the fact that business transactions worth millions of rupees were so easy while doing transactions.
In the blogging sphere, I keep thinking how companies waste time and energy discussing money rather than getting high quality work done.
What does responsible travel mean to you?
Responsible travel, in a nutshell, would mean community development while maintaining nature (as I found it), culture, customs and tradition.
Respecting the earth’s resources is necessary and as a responsible traveler, I try staying in local homestays as often as possible.
Your own, personal travel quote:
Thanks for this question as it gives me the chance to quote Rumi:
‘You were born with wings. Why do you prefer to crawl through life?’
One day, we are all going to die.
Let no reason be big enough to stop you from pursuing your dreams. Remember, you are not answerable to anyone but yourself.
The hurdles that we create are just that, hurdles. Stop thinking, the road will find a way.
With that, we too will stop thinking.