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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.

Shivya Nath, the shooting star

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.

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 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 FacebookTwitter & Google+ and share where you’ve been or where you’d like to go. I’m all ears & eyes.

~ Shivya Nath

Twitter: @shivya

Facebook: The Shooting Star

Pictures: Flickr

Professional bio: Linkedin

Accommodation reviews: TripAdvisor

Contact: shivyanath@gmail.com

93 Comments Post a comment
  1. Interesting blog!!

    August 12, 2008
  2. Nice blog! The posts here portray you to be an intellegent person. Quite intellegent!
    Keep writing!

    September 9, 2008
  3. @ loki thanks!

    @ saadil lol, thanks :)

    September 9, 2008
  4. cavaliere84 #

    Nice blog.I hope to return.By the way I’ve added you on my Blog Roll..

    September 9, 2008
  5. Nice blog :)
    http://bigbracket.wordpress.com

    September 10, 2008
  6. hi… blogwalking.
    Nice blog…. :P

    September 11, 2008
  7. @ cavallere84 and dinesh1201 – Thanks :)

    @ undercover – thanks! i can’t figure out what language you blog in!

    September 12, 2008
  8. Shivya, i am indonesian. ok… never mind & i am glad comes here… :P

    September 12, 2008
  9. nice blog :)

    September 14, 2008
  10. nice blog!

    September 15, 2008
  11. I love ur blog! I’ll add u in my links… Keep writing! *HUGS*

    September 15, 2008
  12. @ pavan, brightlightwarriornika, smallstar : Thanks!

    September 15, 2008
  13. Sathya Narayanan #

    nice blog… i am http://sathyaphoenix.wordpress.com

    September 15, 2008
  14. Put up more pics of you!

    September 16, 2008
  15. @ girishmenon: facebook is a better place to do that, don’t you think? :)

    September 17, 2008
  16. 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

    September 19, 2008
  17. Frisking.Skies #

    nice blog!

    September 19, 2008
  18. You’ve a nice blog!
    I also did my primary schooling from SJA!

    September 30, 2008
  19. just passing by….

    keep up with your blog !!! :D

    October 11, 2008
  20. @ Frisking Skies : Thanks :)

    @ Mahak : Thanks! Wow, a fellow Josephite! Which year were you there?

    @ harsh : Thanks for stopping by :)

    October 11, 2008
  21. Hello, can we link exchange ? put my blog link in your blogroll please, i have put your link in my blogroll …

    October 12, 2008
  22. 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.

    October 13, 2008
  23. Happy Diwali, I’ve changed my blog address to http://shaaaks.wordpress.com/

    October 28, 2008
  24. 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

    November 2, 2008
  25. just stopping by to say hi! you have a nice blog going :)

    November 10, 2008
  26. 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

    December 7, 2008
  27. shah nawaz #

    came over by saadil’s blog.For ayoung one as you , you have lot of punch in ur words.Keep it up.

    December 10, 2008
  28. Adding you to my blogroll…keep up the great work!

    December 11, 2008
  29. Samagra Rana #

    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

    December 19, 2008
  30. @ sulachanosho: Thanks, I’m trying hard to immerse myself in all the wonders :D

    @ 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 :D Miss you!

    December 20, 2008
  31. 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

    December 31, 2008
  32. Nice blog :)

    January 14, 2009
  33. Good to see a fellow Indian in Singapore. Happy studying :D

    February 27, 2009
  34. rave #

    wow !!
    nice interests you’ve got !!
    didnt know you were blogging for so long…

    March 21, 2009
  35. Nice Blog! Found you on Lumuhuku! Expect me after November (presently very busy). :)

    March 23, 2009
  36. @ Dinesh: Thanks, same to you :)

    @ Lucky: Thanks, and welcome to the shooting star!

    @ Liju Philip: Likewise :D

    @ Rave: Thanks rave. Welcome to my blog :)

    @ Vikas: Thanks and welcome here!

    March 24, 2009
  37. ankita chauhan #

    good one shiv,thats an amazing work done on your part.keep going friend.

    March 26, 2009
  38. You’ve been given an award here;

    http://saadil.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/the-lemanade-blog-award/

    Hope, you’ll respond to it :)

    March 30, 2009
  39. @ Ankita: Thanks :D And welcome to the shooting star!

    @ Aadil: Thanks Aadil, much appreciated :D

    April 5, 2009
  40. spotlesssoul #

    It seems to be an interesting blog :) Looking forward to learn a lot from you.

    May 16, 2009
  41. @ spotlesssoul: Welcome to the Shooting Star! Hope you’ll have a good time reading :)

    June 22, 2009
  42. ykhan #

    nice blog…..keep it up…

    July 20, 2009
  43. ykhan #

    i would like to connect with you on linkedin…

    July 20, 2009
  44. @ Ykhan: Thanks & welcome to The Shooting Star. Hope to see you here and on linkedin :)

    August 23, 2009
  45. Sidd #

    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

    August 24, 2009
  46. @ Sidd: Hey, thanks :) I’ll catch up with you next week!

    September 30, 2009
  47. 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

    October 12, 2009
    • Thanks Yogesh & welcome to the shooting star :) Hope the photography’s going well!

      December 7, 2009
  48. my first time here..going through a lovely meaningful poem. I feel this blog deserves a better template for the good content it has :)

    November 24, 2009
    • Welcome to the shooting star! Took your advice and changed the template :)

      December 7, 2009
  49. 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 :P

    December 24, 2009
    • Sure Della, and yes, two shooting stars :)

      May 9, 2012
  50. 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!

    January 5, 2010
    • Thanks Reseller, glad you see my writing improving!

      May 9, 2012
  51. renu #

    hi,
    my grandad was nath. where are the naths most commonly from in india.

    January 16, 2010
    • I’m not so sure! Definitely somewhere in the north.

      February 11, 2010
  52. First time here. You write well. Blogrolled you. And, welcome back to blogging! :)

    January 24, 2010
    • Thanks & welcome to the shooting star! Hope to see you here often :)

      February 11, 2010
  53. 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

    December 16, 2010
  54. 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

    December 16, 2010
    • Thanks Erin, hope to see you around at The Shooting Star :)

      February 5, 2011
  55. I admire the travels you made and how you savor the adventures of each trip and sharing it to the world. great blog.

    May 19, 2011
    • thank you Island Traveler :) Hope you continue to travel with The Shooting Star!

      July 4, 2011
  56. 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.

    July 7, 2011
  57. 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…

    July 17, 2011
    • 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!

      May 9, 2012
  58. 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 ><

    July 17, 2011
  59. 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 …

    August 3, 2011
    • Thanks Dheeraj, right back at you :)

      May 9, 2012
  60. Nice blogging… keep the good work gng…
    wish u all the best

    October 16, 2011
  61. 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.

    October 24, 2011
    • 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 :)

      May 9, 2012
  62. Thanks for writing such a beautiful blog…keep blogging…

    October 27, 2011
  63. 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 !

    October 28, 2011
  64. 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

    October 31, 2011
    • Thanks Ushnish, I’ll sure look them up. Italy calling!

      May 9, 2012
  65. Saurabh #

    Pretty Fab , its inspiring !
    I love the way its been written and presented , i m smitten :)
    wish u all the best :)

    November 12, 2011
    • Thanks Saurabh, appreciate the being smitten ;)

      May 9, 2012
  66. vinoth #

    the way u presenting is awesome… congrats to ur future discoverys..
    im really enjoying to look ur blog….

    January 4, 2012
  67. Great to find you! I love your country. Hope to meet up one day.

    January 8, 2012
    • Aw thanks Jim, it’s quite an incredibly country to not love :) Let me know when you’re in Delhi next!

      May 9, 2012
  68. Roushan Singh #

    Awestruck!!

    February 3, 2012
  69. Great blog. lucky to have come across. would like to chat with ya. I am in GGN.

    March 12, 2012
    • Thanks Pradeep & welcome to The Shooting Star!

      May 9, 2012
  70. 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.

    May 15, 2012
    • Thanks Shaonli, we have the same last name! I’m glad my wanderlust inspires yours :) Hope to see you at The Shooting Star often.

      May 15, 2012

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