About me
Welcome to The Shooting Star!
In the summer of 2011, I took a 2 month sabbatical from my corporate life in Southeast Asia, to backpack around the Alpine countryside of Europe and take my first solo trip in the high Himalayas of India. In those two months, I saw, experienced and lived more than I ever had before, and decided to quit my first & only corporate job to be able to travel as and when I pleased.
I moved back to India to discover shores closer to home and focus on travel writing, and soon discovered that everything I had learnt while working with the Singapore Tourism Board could be put to good use. I started India Untravelled in mid-January 2012, with an aim to use my experience in digital marketing to help connect responsible travel offerings run by local communities & families, with urban travel enthusiasts. In the meantime, my travel stories appeared in The Times of India, The Hindu, CNNGo & The Huffington Post, among others, and I was featured as an intrepid woman traveller in the New Woman India Magazine and interviewed on All India Radio.
I turned 24 this February, and for once in my life, I felt I’d rather not be doing anything else but this or be anywhere else but here, although travelling to Norway or Iceland or Italy or New Zealand would be pretty awesome.
Hailing from a small town at the base of the Himalayas and having grown up in a protective Indian family, I am glad to have found the courage to fight my battles and the independence to do what I love. I continue to seek untouched, undiscovered places that few have been to and fewer have written about. I usually carry a backpack, but I don’t quite see myself fit the bill of a regular backpacker; I like to stay in nice places, prefer apartments & home-stays over hotels, and need Wifi on the go. I’m experimental with food, and haven’t yet starved as a travelling vegetarian. I love rooftop bars and think a place can be experienced so much more through its cafes than all its ‘tourist attractions’ put together. I hope you’ll join me on my journeys around India and across the globe.
Please comment on my travelogues if you’ve enjoyed reading them or been inspired by them; it makes me deliriously happy to know you’re virtually with me during my travels!
Join me on Facebook, Twitter & Google+ and share where you’ve been or where you’d like to go. I’m all ears & eyes.
Here’s a short presentation on my life so far, why I travel, how I can afford it, and what I do besides travelling:
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~ Shivya Nath
Twitter: @shivya
Facebook: The Shooting Star
Google+: Shivya Nath
Pictures: Flickr
Professional bio: Linkedin
Accommodation reviews: TripAdvisor
Email: shivyanath@gmail.com
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Interesting blog!!
Nice blog! The posts here portray you to be an intellegent person. Quite intellegent!
Keep writing!
@ loki thanks!
@ saadil lol, thanks
Nice blog.I hope to return.By the way I’ve added you on my Blog Roll..
Nice blog
http://bigbracket.wordpress.com
hi… blogwalking.
Nice blog….
@ cavallere84 and dinesh1201 – Thanks
@ undercover – thanks! i can’t figure out what language you blog in!
Shivya, i am indonesian. ok… never mind & i am glad comes here…
nice blog
nice blog!
I love ur blog! I’ll add u in my links… Keep writing! *HUGS*
@ pavan, brightlightwarriornika, smallstar : Thanks!
nice blog… i am http://sathyaphoenix.wordpress.com
Put up more pics of you!
@ girishmenon: facebook is a better place to do that, don’t you think?
hi shivya,
saw your comment on daryl’s blog regarding Social Media Breakfast. Do join our FB group at http://tinyurl.com/smbsg to be notified when our next session will be.
looking forward to meeting you!
cheers!
claudia
team at SMB|SG
nice blog!
You’ve a nice blog!
I also did my primary schooling from SJA!
just passing by….
keep up with your blog !!!
@ Frisking Skies : Thanks
@ Mahak : Thanks! Wow, a fellow Josephite! Which year were you there?
@ harsh : Thanks for stopping by
Hello, can we link exchange ? put my blog link in your blogroll please, i have put your link in my blogroll …
Shivya, all the best. Explore your world and life. that’s unique. Life is full of wonders and splendors – only if we ‘see’ it. Thanks.
Happy Diwali, I’ve changed my blog address to http://shaaaks.wordpress.com/
Hi
I am working in Pune in MNC and came across your blog.Nice blog with interesting posts and not saying for sake of saying:).
Do have a look at my blog at
http://indianpoliticslive.blogspot.com/
Your comments will be appreciated.Can you link my website to yours and i do the same?
THanks
Salil
just stopping by to say hi! you have a nice blog going
Hello Shivya,
I liked your title “shooting star”.
I think that today the world need resilience.
My studies and my experience came here:
http://vittoriobaroni.wordpress.com/cose-la-resilienza
Sorry but the site is in Italian. But the friend Sturla has done a good job of study on cultural resilience. The file is here, in English:
http://vittoriobaroni.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/sturle-hauge-simonsen-sulla-resilienza-culturale.pdf
Call me if one day pass for Venice.
Hello, Vittorio
came over by saadil’s blog.For ayoung one as you , you have lot of punch in ur words.Keep it up.
Adding you to my blogroll…keep up the great work!
Hi shiv
Browsed through your blog. Its a great piece of work put up together. i hope you keep up the gud work and keep sharing your thoughts…
Loved to find out the things that actually move you and I always knew you were a great mind with a golden heart.
Keep up the good work.
Love u
@ sulachanosho: Thanks, I’m trying hard to immerse myself in all the wonders
@ shaakspsyco: Thanks for the update
@ Salil: Thanks
Sure, I’ll check out yours too.
@ amreekandesi: Welcome here
@ Vittorio: Thanks for stopping by! It’s a great compilation on resilience. Hope to see you in Venice some day
@ Shah nawaz: Thanks
Hope you drop by often!
@ Samagra: Thanks Sam
Miss you!
Years come n go, but this year I specially wish 4 u a double dose of health n happiness topped with loads of good fortune. Have a gr8 year ahead! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
Dinesh
Nice blog
Good to see a fellow Indian in Singapore. Happy studying
wow !!
nice interests you’ve got !!
didnt know you were blogging for so long…
Nice Blog! Found you on Lumuhuku! Expect me after November (presently very busy).
@ Dinesh: Thanks, same to you
@ Lucky: Thanks, and welcome to the shooting star!
@ Liju Philip: Likewise
@ Rave: Thanks rave. Welcome to my blog
@ Vikas: Thanks and welcome here!
good one shiv,thats an amazing work done on your part.keep going friend.
You’ve been given an award here;
http://saadil.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/the-lemanade-blog-award/
Hope, you’ll respond to it
@ Ankita: Thanks
And welcome to the shooting star!
@ Aadil: Thanks Aadil, much appreciated
It seems to be an interesting blog
Looking forward to learn a lot from you.
@ spotlesssoul: Welcome to the Shooting Star! Hope you’ll have a good time reading
nice blog…..keep it up…
i would like to connect with you on linkedin…
@ Ykhan: Thanks & welcome to The Shooting Star. Hope to see you here and on linkedin
Hey Shivya,
What a find ! Congratulations on being a accomplished blogger ! If you’re thinking of freelancing , then I’d suggest get a domain. If you need help setting up that, I’m available
!
And hey, I’ve taken up freelance web designing! I am loving it !
Sidd
@ Sidd: Hey, thanks
I’ll catch up with you next week!
yours is really a nice blog…..actually i was inspired to write my own by seeing your “the shooting star”…
i liked the comment you wrote on my post the other day …..sure i needed some break ……i m happy now …taken up photography these days
Thanks Yogesh & welcome to the shooting star
Hope the photography’s going well!
my first time here..going through a lovely meaningful poem. I feel this blog deserves a better template for the good content it has
Welcome to the shooting star! Took your advice and changed the template
much better
its so pleasing now
Dropping by to say hello
nice-and-inspiring blog
hope we can keep in touch via Facebook
btw, we have the same title of the blog hehehe
Sure Della, and yes, two shooting stars
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Thanks Reseller, glad you see my writing improving!
hi,
my grandad was nath. where are the naths most commonly from in india.
I’m not so sure! Definitely somewhere in the north.
First time here. You write well. Blogrolled you. And, welcome back to blogging!
Thanks & welcome to the shooting star! Hope to see you here often
Hi Shivya.
I saw that you have included my blog as a link on your travel blog list. I feel very honoured, thank you very much. I think that you have some very nice stories here too. Keep up the good work.
Cheers, Erin
Hi Shivya.
I saw that you have included my blog as a link on your travel blog list. I feel very honoured, thank you very much. I think that you have some very nice stories here too. I particularly like your last one about xmas, and couldn’t agree more about donating time and/or finances to those in need. Keep up the good work.
Cheers, Erin
Thanks Erin, hope to see you around at The Shooting Star
I admire the travels you made and how you savor the adventures of each trip and sharing it to the world. great blog.
thank you Island Traveler
Hope you continue to travel with The Shooting Star!
Hey – I happen to come across your blog – and I think its brilliant. I have added you to my blog list and will be returning on a regular basis.
That’s great, thank you
hey do i know you? you sound a bit familiar. during my trip to cambodia i met another indian girl from a protective family somewhere in the mountains and she’s been travel writing for 5 years…wait you’re 23. so i guess you’re a different person?! she doesn’t live in singapore though. but her name is also shiva?! i’m confused!!! are you her?
argh i’m 23 too. and i travel a lot but not certainly not as much as you. so amazing that can travel write so well yet i haven’t started my travel blog yet…
Awfully late reply Dew, but I’m pretty sure I’m not her. I was hardly in Cambodia for a day and would’ve remembered if I met someone. Then again, Shivya is such an uncommon name. Parallel universe maybe
Welcome to The Shooting Star anyway!
just kidding i checked her name again her name is shikha not shiva and her last name is longer…
o i admire both of you so much!!!! so what do you do? do you do travel writing as a career?
i heart traveling and really need to start blogging to on travel..but i’m just afraid that i’m not as talented as people like you ><
Hey Shivya, just came across your blog after traversing the Spiti search list on twitter. Some great travel stories although (I read only few so far, but now I know I will continue
) and nicely captured too. Glad to know that there are fellow travelers who like to visit the the unexplored places which makes you feel blissful and much closer to god 
… Keep traveling, keep exploring, keep sharing and will try follow your travel stories …
Thanks Dheeraj, right back at you
Nice blogging… keep the good work gng…
wish u all the best
Thanks Sheshadri!
Hey I found you on Facebook. I saw some nice pics out there. I have already joined your FB page. Keep the great work. By the way why “The Shooting Star”. What makes you to choose this name.
Ah, it’s so hard to come up with a name that makes you want to keep blogging. I experimented with several names before this, but The Shooting Star is the only one that made me want to stick around
Thanks for writing such a beautiful blog…keep blogging…
Thanks for dropping by Vishnu!
Love the posts and updates ! <3
Totally recommend your site
http://tiarainwonderland.wordpress.com/pagessites-i-recommend/
Keep travelling and let the posts flow in !
Thanks Tiara
Dear Shivya
I am delighted to hear that you liked that few lines on Shera Ghat. You have an amazing blog , just saw the headlines now ..cant wait to read one by one starting with Lake Garda and Dehradun . You will find more travelogue in my cooking blog because I have more followers there ha ha . Read this one http://ushnish.blogspot.com/2011/02/trip-to-sundarban-largest-river-delta.html and there are many on Northern Italy, which you will like.
Have a nice week ahead …Ghosh from Algeria
Thanks Ushnish, I’ll sure look them up. Italy calling!
Pretty Fab , its inspiring !
I love the way its been written and presented , i m smitten
wish u all the best
Thanks Saurabh, appreciate the being smitten
the way u presenting is awesome… congrats to ur future discoverys..
im really enjoying to look ur blog….
Thanks Vinoth & welcome here!
Great to find you! I love your country. Hope to meet up one day.
Aw thanks Jim, it’s quite an incredibly country to not love
Let me know when you’re in Delhi next!
Awestruck!!
Taking that as a compliment
Great blog. lucky to have come across. would like to chat with ya. I am in GGN.
Thanks Pradeep & welcome to The Shooting Star!
What a pleasure to read your blog. The fact that you are 24 and have juggled all of this, gives me hope. At 22 I haven’t lost my battle yet against corporate life. Thank you. Keep up with the wanderlust.
Thanks Shaonli, we have the same last name! I’m glad my wanderlust inspires yours
Hope to see you at The Shooting Star often.
Just Great!!!
I like to visit different blog as usual… while wondering i just found ur blog…
its really gud blog… but i hav 1 q 4 u… when u started this blog… u quit ur job at 23… i m little bit confused in that …..
Thanks Murari & welcome to The Shooting Star! I started this blog much before I quit this job, more as a place for musings and rants. It gradually took the shape of a travel blog
ohh really !!! meditation coverts into travel >> haha
actually same thing happening with me also yaar , sum time i tried to write on technical skills or sumtime stock market or personal….. and last i stopped writing into blog and convert into my dairy!!!!
about my travel i write it into my dairy only ….i like to travel as alwayz…..lets see
awesome blogs… really motivated with what you are doing… right now, I am also working in mnc.. and now it has started to irritate me… working everyday, that’s not i want… if i’ll go on a solo trip, then i’ll surely comment again.. thanks..
I am returning here again n again to get inspired for future journeys!
Hi there!
I bumped into your linkedin page and found we got common friends Amrita, Prajakta (from S’pore).
Applaud your brave steps and wish you good luck to keep going! I have also travelled quite a bit and love photography (https://www.facebook.com/prasphotography?ref=hl) Hope to crossroads someday!
Cheers,
Prasanna
Lovely! Hope to see you sometime on the road too
goodness gracious shivya ur just awesome love ur work….and jealous tooo;)
Thanks Rohan, and welcome to The Shooting Star!
Simply loved your site…and the fact that you are living what so many of us (including me) just dream of! I wish I could chuck my corporate job and just travel and write…I do travel whenever possible but it’s just not enough. Good going girl!
Thanks Amrita, and welcome to The Shooting Star
It was a distant dream for me until just a year ago, so don’t give up on it! Off to read your blog now.
I quit my first and only corporate job in december to answer my call for travel and photography
Very inspiring and informative blog. Loved the idea of responsible travel, something that has to be instilled among the increasing number of tourists to preserve many beautiful places.
And here is my first attempt on untravel experience http://illusive.in/projects/ladakh-dreams/
That’s awesome Ashwin, and glad you found my blog
Your Ladakh features are great, loved the pictures. Seems like comments are disabled there so saying it here!
Thank you
very nice to know you right there
Thanks Conan, and welcome to The Shooting Star!
hey, I am checking your Facebook out now.
well done shivya …your are inspiration for all those who want to leave their corporate jobs and follow their dreams.
P.S. – Love your site and your writing style
Thank you! And welcome to The Shooting Star! Hope to have you join me virtually on my travels
Please reply to my mail. Darshil Mandalia.
Sorry for the delay, haven’t had much time online! Will reply soon
Planning for 3 days trip(Is it enough) to Jordan from Abu dhabi. Could you pl guide me like the places to visit(Sequence of start and end) and place to stay on a reasonable price.
Many Thanks.
Gifton
Gifton, I haven’t been to Jordan yet. (Turkey yes, and that’s fabulous). I guess Jordan tourism’s website will be able to help.
Thanks!
nice blog Shivya…………
Hi Shivya, I love your blog. It’s great seeing people take the plunge and follow what truly makes them happy. You have some amazing articles and photos.If you are ever interested in submitting any articles or photos to us at BarrelHopping, we have ongoing contests where you can win cash to help fund your continued travels. For every article or photo you do submit we will also provide a link back to your site. Our end goal is to help fellow travelers like yourself do more of what they love. Here are the details http://barrelhopping.com/get-paid-to-travel/
Thanks Mike for dropping by! I’ll sure have a look at your site and try my luck in the contests
Great blog… i’m gonna peek in from time to time for more of your fascinating travel stories.
Thanks! I’ll be glad for the virtual company
Hey Shivya, I have a blog too. Like your travel bug, I have the writing bug. For the first time in all my life, I stumbled upon a blogger I could absolutely admire for who she is and what she does. I haven’t written in a long time now (7 months), because as a final year engineering student, I’m figuring out hard how to escape the corporate for doing that which fuels the fire in my belly. I’m sure I’ll find my way out, to that place Rumi talks about–Elsewhere.
All the very best for your future endeavors! You inspire me so much..
Lots of love
Kritika
Thanks for dropping by, Kritika; I’m so heartened to hear your comment. I’m sure you’ll find your ‘elsewhere’ soon enough. Off to check out your blog soon; start writing again!
Hi Shivya, stumbled into your blog while looking for vegetarian food in Turkey. I am really inspired, I see myself doing exactly the things, travelling to the places that you are now. Spain,France,Spiti are high on my list(although there’s no way I’m quitting my job, that’s what funds my travels) And I’ll definitely visit Guzeylurt. I’m glad I’ve kept 4 days for Cappadocia in my trip.
And I ‘m going to continue visiting this blog frequently, would love to hear more from your travels. And yes,
All the best!!
Ashwin.
And I really like to read accounts written by indian vegetarian travellers, its kind of reassuring.
I would love to be in your shoes, and travel ….loved your Blog Shivya…
I’m elated & inspired! So far, I travelled to three countries in the Southeast Asia but still working to be a nomad officially, your blog certainly struck the chords of wanderlust within me
Thank you! I can sense that there are so many adventures lined up for you too. Southeast Asia is a great place to start.
Still reminisce .. of games that you can play,
one of the advantages of games is that they are readily
accessible.
Hi Shivya,
I am a blogger, penning randomly on anything and everything ..however, I love travelling and photography and I stumbled upon yours at blogadda… and I am so glad I did.
Your blog is great and you are an inspiration … an inspiration to do what one loves to.
Cheers,
Namrota
So glad to have stumbled across your blog! I really admire your spirit and welcome any advice you have on travelling in India. It also thrills me that you are from Dehradun as I am about to embark on a one month project there and look forward to reading on your travel advice for in and around that region. Congrats on everything you have achieved. I’ll definitely be following!
Thank you! What kind of a project are you doing in Dehradun? I’ll be happy to share what recommendations I have, but to be honest, it’s a region I’ve hardly explored. And that’s because each time I’m home, I have to report on where I’m going, why, when, with who et al. It’s exhausting. So I just stay cooped up at home and rejuvenate
It’s a beautiful little town nonetheless.
A spot of voluntary work in a school with an NGO called SNEHA. Haha, I feel your pain. This weekend I am chilling in Mussoorie, it’s captured my heart. Keep writing, keep travelling. I look forward to reading more
Hi Shivya,
This is definitely one of the most inspiring travel blogs I have come across by far (Written by an Indian). You are a role model for women who wish to travel solo. I feel proud of you for having the courage to give up a corporate job and follow your heart.
You are the perfect example of how traveling can become a life transforming experience.
I’m a psychologist/Life coach and a newbie freelance writer who loves to travel and cook. And I would be glad if our paths cross someday.
All the best
Ankita
Thanks Ankita,
Glad you stumbled upon The Shooting Star! Thanks so much for your kind words. Your encouragement means so much
Sure hope to cross paths someday!
Amazing blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option?
There are so many choices out there that I’m totally confused .. Any recommendations? Cheers!
Hey Mindy,
This should answer all your questions – http://the-shooting-star.com/2013/02/24/how-to-start-a-travel-blog/
Good luck