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  • Shivya Nath, digital nomads india, solo travellers india

    One Year of Travelling Without a Home.

    by Shivya Nath

    Much has been learnt, more has been loved - and the one thing that has remained constant is my desire to keep moving.

    September 17, 2014
    Comments 158
    Reflections

6 years ago, I gave up my home, sold most of my possessions and embraced a nomadic life. This journey has taken me as far within as with my feet.

My first book: A national bestseller in India!

the shooting star, shivya nath

Reviews | Order a copy

FEATURED ON:

Shivya Nath
travel advice coronavirus, travel ban coronavirus, travel advisory coronavirus

How to Indulge Your Wanderlust During the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Published by Shivya Nath

Some creative ideas to satiate your travel cravings - safely and responsibly - during the uncertain coronavirus period.

March 16, 2020
Comments 40
featured, Go now
Japan first time, japan travel tips

Things to Know Before Travelling to Japan for the First Time.

Published by Shivya Nath

In the months since I left Japan, I faced a strange melancholy... and a barrage of reader questions.

March 10, 2020
Comments 15
Asia, featured, Japan
how to turn vegan, how to transition into veganism

11 Tips to Ease Your Transition Into a Vegan Lifestyle.

Published by Shivya Nath

How to transition into veganism, stay motivated, mentally prepare to deal with family and friends, eat healthy, travel and connect with other vegans?

February 9, 2020
Comments 14
featured, Vegan food

RECENT AWARDS

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Recent posts

things to do in cape town
Africa, recent, South Africa

50 Epic Yet Offbeat Things To Do in Cape Town!

Incredible hikes, dining in the dark, ghetto music, a walking safari, outdoor cinema and more.

February 3, 2020
Comments 13
digital empowerment india
recent, Stories from the road

Inspiring Indians Using Social Media to Drive Positive Change.

Fighting gender stereotypes, building climate resilience, rescuing abused horses and more.

January 19, 2020
Comments 14
travel bloggers
recent, Travel Blogging

Should Travel Bloggers and Influencers Voice Their Political Opinions?

Is boycotting a country for its politics the answer? Or is it fair to travel to a country and ignore its politics?

January 5, 2020
Comments 19

about me

Hello! I’m Shivya Nath. In 2011, at age 23, I quit my corporate job with a dream of traveling the globe. 2 years later, I packed up my life into a backpack and decided to hit the road indefinitely. I travel slow, seek offbeat and local experiences, stay in a place for a few weeks or as long as it inspires me, and move on.

In 2019, I did a solo land journey from Thailand to India via Myanmar, and travelled overland from the Persian Gulf via Iran to Armenia. I’ve lived with a Mayan community in Guatemala, volunteered at a coral reef restoration project in Cuba, lived in a nunnery in Ladakh (India), and shed my fears and clothes at onsens across Japan.

Join me to discuss responsible travel, under-the-radar destinations, veganism and sustainability. I hope to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and experience the world too!

More about me

What’s a life of travel like?

Why I turned vegan

I try to make conscious choices to support local communities and minimize my environmental impact. Not just because it’s the need of the hour, but also because it’s a more immersive way to travel.

Sustainable travel

the shooting star, shivya nath travel tips
November 11, 2019

15 Responsible Travel Tips for Authentic, Meaningful Experiences on the Road.

In the age of overtourism and in the midst of a climate crisis, responsible travel tips to meaningfully...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 32
KLM flight
September 16, 2019

Is it Possible to Fly Responsibly? What I Learnt on my KLM Flight.

KLM is the world's first airline to openly encourage people to take the train - and for that they've...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 18
how to use a menstrual cup, menstrual cup tips, why use a menstrual cup
August 24, 2019

Eco Living: Why I Switched to a Menstrual Cup – and How You Can Too.

Until last year, the idea of using a menstrual cup during my periods made me shudder.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 29
Volunteering in a remote island in Cuba, Shivya the shooting star, Shivya Nath
May 18, 2019

What I Learnt Volunteering on a Remote Island in Cuba.

About travelling, our consumption patterns, our dietary choices and how climate change is impacting the underwater world.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 42

"An adventurous life does not necessarily mean climbing mountains, swimming with sharks, or jumping off cliffs. It means risking yourself by leaving a little piece of you behind in all those you meet along the way."

Shawna Grapentin

Go now

travel advice coronavirus, travel ban coronavirus, travel advisory coronavirus
March 16, 2020

How to Indulge Your Wanderlust During the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Some creative ideas to satiate your travel cravings - safely and responsibly - during the uncertain coronavirus period.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 40
uzbekistan things to do
October 7, 2019

11 Incredible Experiences That’ll Make You Fall in Love with Uzbekistan.

I fell in love not just with Uzbekistan’s grand mosques, minarets and mausoleums, but also with its quaint mountain...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 27
tajikistan travel, tajikistan landscape, visit tajikistan, tajikistan tourism
September 11, 2019

Tajikistan: A Country That’s Not on Your Travel Radar but Should Be.

With its awe-inspiring mountainous landscapes, warm-hearted people and "off the beaten path" status, Tajikistan beckons.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 40
nasir ol molk shiraz, why visit iran, iran travel blogs, iran travel 2019
May 14, 2019

Why You Should Drop Everything and Travel to Iran Now!

If you pick only one international travel destination this year, pick Iran.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 102

"I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."

Lily Tomlin

Passion projects

Spiti, Shivya the shooting star, Shivya Nath
September 20, 2017

“I Love Spiti” – How Travellers Must Help Save India’s...

An initiative to create awareness and alternatives for single-use plastic in the cold mountain desert of Spiti.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 30
indian instagram accounts to follow | rural life in India | village homestay uttarakhand
February 19, 2017

Sarmoli, Uttarakhand: A Himalayan Village Where Locals Run Marathons and Their Own...

@voicesofmunsiari - India's first and only Instagram channel to be run entirely by a rural village community.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 56

The difference between living and existing is how much wonder you find in the beauty around you.

Inspiration

never getting married, not wanting kids
June 16, 2019

How Travelling Changed My Perspective on Getting Married and Having Kids.

I finally decided to write this post for fellow dreamers, adventurers and rebels, who dream of doing life differently.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 78
Shivya Nath instagram, Instagrammers india
February 3, 2019

What I’ve Learnt on the Way to 60,000+ Organic Followers on Instagram –...

You CAN grow on Instagram organically, without gaming the system, plastering your gallery with perfect bikini shots and editing...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 41
digital nomad packing list, packing for long term travel, digital nomad lifestyle
January 8, 2019

How I Fit All My Life Possessions in Two Bags as I Travel the World.

I couldn't help but wonder whether we humans own things, or our things own us.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 29
best indian travel books | best travel books on india | bestseller books by indian authors
September 1, 2018

My Journey From the Cubicle to a Nomadic Life – Now in a Book!

This adventure is yours now, this journey is yours.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 51

"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries."

Aldous Huxley

Stories from the road

digital empowerment india
January 19, 2020

Inspiring Indians Using Social Media to Drive Positive Change.

Fighting gender stereotypes, building climate resilience, rescuing abused horses and more.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 14
real life inspirational stories | successful entrepreneurs in India | books about india
May 3, 2017

Bombay to Barcelona: How Travelling Inspired an Indian Street Kid to Chase an...

His story is the story of so many kids we ignore every day on India's streets.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 67
indian instagram accounts to follow | rural life in India | village homestay uttarakhand
February 19, 2017

Sarmoli, Uttarakhand: A Himalayan Village Where Locals Run Marathons and Their Own...

@voicesofmunsiari - India's first and only Instagram channel to be run entirely by a rural village community.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 56
Mauritius sunsets | Mauritius things to do | Mauritius travel
June 19, 2016

Mauritius is Not Just About The Seas You Sail, But Also the People You Meet Ashore.

Everyone who comes to Mauritius falls in love with the island; but you, who live here, do you love...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 45

The thing about solo travel is, you can never feel 100% ready. There will always be a tiny voice at the back of your head asking, "Are you crazy?"

Solo travel

solo travel destinations
December 18, 2018

Unusual Solo Travel Destinations to Feed Your Adventurous Spirit.

As solo travellers, we often tend to take shelter in the same tried and tested places.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 35
uttarakhand india
July 14, 2018

What It’s Like to Travel Solo When You’re in a Relationship. 

When people read about my solo travel adventures, they often assume that I travel alone because I'm single.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 55
parvinder chawla, wheelchair traveller, disabled travel blog, disabled travel advice
May 26, 2018

Meet the Courageous Indian Woman Travelling the World Solo – On a Wheelchair!

Solo Traveller Series #2: Meet Parvinder Chawla, a Mumbai local and wheelchair traveller who isn't afraid to travel the...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 27
asian solo traveller | female surfers | maldives solo female
April 12, 2018

Meet the First Solo Female Traveller from the Maldives!

Mariyam Niuma - the first female solo traveller, couchsurfer and female surf photographer from the Maldives.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 43

"If you think it's difficult to be vegan, imagine how difficult it is for the animals that you're not vegan."

Gary L. Francione

Travelling as a vegan

how to turn vegan, how to transition into veganism
February 9, 2020

11 Tips to Ease Your Transition Into a Vegan Lifestyle.

How to transition into veganism, stay motivated, mentally prepare to deal with family and friends, eat healthy, travel and...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 14
November 26, 2019

Meet the Indian Software Engineer Who Quit His Job to Climb Mount Everest – But...

"If a 110 kg Gujarati guy, living a sedentary life, with no background in endurance training or mountain climbing,...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 13
vegan Japan the shooting star
July 13, 2019

The Ultimate Vegan (and Vegetarian) Survival Guide for Japan.

Mission frickin impossible. That’s how someone described my quest to spend a month exploring Japan as a vegan.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 8
vegan japan, Shivya the shooting star, Shivya Nath
March 20, 2019

How to Travel as a Vegan and Find Delicious Food Anywhere in the World.

I’ve learnt along the way that thriving as a vegan on the road is an acquired art.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 33

"Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don't need to escape from."

Seth Godin

Travel tips

why visit iran, iran travel blogs, iran travel 2019, the shooting star, shivya nath
August 8, 2019

Travelling to Iran? Things to Know Before You Go.

If there's one country in the world that's worth the pre-trip hassle, it's Iran.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 36
alternative copenhagen | copenhagen like a local | copenhagen sightseeing tips
May 19, 2018

Fun and Alternative Things to do in Copenhagen – Perhaps Europe’s Coolest...

Travelling to Denmark & looking for alternative things to do in Copenhagen? Take my list of fun, offbeat things...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 25
airbnb advice | Airbnb reviews | how to find a good airbnb
December 9, 2017

How to Find the Perfect Airbnb and Make the Most of Your Travel Experience.

About this post: How to find a good Airbnb? Is Airbnb safe? Is Airbnb reliable? After several years of...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 33
best ways to travel the world | cheap ways to travel | how to travel young
June 21, 2017

Advice for the Young and Penniless Who Want to Travel.

This is all the advice I wish someone had given me when I was sixteen.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 57

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

HJackson Brown (no, not Mark Twain)
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The past few days have been rather scary. Mask-cov
The past few days have been rather scary. Mask-covered faces. Queues to wash hands in public toilets. Sanitizers constantly out of stock. Accusatory looks towards anyone coughing or sneezing. Eerily empty hotels, flights and streets following the travel lockdown for Coronavirus. Places that were once plagued by overtourism are now deserted. The spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus has suddenly brought all usual life – and travel – to a halt.⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
But you already know that. You, like me, have cancelled your immediate travel plans. And probably you, like me, are wondering what you can do now to indulge your wander-lusting soul! ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
To keep myself from going crazy, I just published a blog post with creative ideas to satiate our travel cravings – safely and responsibly – during this uncertain coronavirus period. Go read it at the-shooting-star.com or at the link in my bio! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
As I prepare to hide out for the next few weeks, I plan to practice my Urdu writing lessons everyday. Finish watching One Strange Rock and a couple of other documentaries. After some heavy recent reads, I’m planning to lose myself in Murakami’s crazy but magical universe for a while. And I plan to continue penning stories from my travels (especially my recent adventures in Chhattisgarh) - because even if we can’t travel physically, we can continue to travel into the recesses of our minds! ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
More creative ideas to indulge your wanderlust “at home” on my blog 😉⁣
⁣
What about you? What are your travel lockdown plans?

I’ll never forget that afternoon in Lesotho. ⁣
I’ll never forget that afternoon in Lesotho. ⁣
⁣
We were out for a drive when our guide took us to a local wool collection centre. Scores of the cutest sheep were huddled together, waiting to be stripped off their wool.⁣
⁣
Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw next. Two burly men were huddled over a sheep each. One sheep’s head was squeezed between the man’s leg and the wall. The other’s lay motionless in his arms. With big sharp scissors, the men quickly cut off the wool coat, poking and prodding the skin below. Drops of blood poured out of the forehead and parts of the skin. As the sheep limped out, I noticed they had no skin in the tail area... ⁣
⁣
One by one, each sheep came in, laying lifeless as the scissors stripped them off, walking away with bloody bruises, sometimes little chunks of flesh taken off them.⁣
⁣
I later learnt that wool workers are paid by the amount of wool collected, so the faster they work, the more they get paid - leaving little room to care to avoid cuts and blood. Most sheep are mulesed - the skin in their tail area is sliced off at a young age (mostly without anaesthesia), to keep flies away. They ultimately end up as meat.⁣
⁣
When I turned vegan back in 2015, besides food derived from animals (meat, seafood, milk, cheese, ghee, eggs etc), I also decided to say no to animal products like leather, silk and wool which cause animal suffering too.⁣
⁣
But to witness “wool” first hand drove me to tears. Yet this probably passes as “humane” or “ethical”. I shudder to think what happens in large scale wool farming (apparently selective breeding and artificial insemination, even in India).⁣
⁣
In a natural world, sheep would shed just enough wool to protect them from the heat, cold and rain.⁣
⁣
How can we avoid wool?⁣
⁣
🌱 Embrace minimalism. Use what we already have. Do we really need another blanket, sweater, muffler, gloves or socks? ⁣
⁣
🌱 If we must buy, opt for alternatives. Look for non-animal fabrics like cotton, acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, synthetic. If you can afford it, go for plant-based fabrics made from hemp, bamboo and coconut fibre. @kuntalj even climbed Everest without wearing wool, surviving -40 deg celcius 👏

I know Japan sounds like a distant dream right now
I know Japan sounds like a distant dream right now, but hopefully the corona pandemic will be behind us soon 🤞🏼⁣⁣
⁣⁣
While we stay home and dream of the road, my latest blog post is a detailed guide on how to plan your first trip to Japan. Including the best podcast to learn basic Japanese, where to go off the beaten path in Japan, what to eat (especially as a vegan), how to travel on a budget and what Japanese etiquette to follow! See the post at the-shooting-star.com or through the link in my profile ✍🏼⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Some surprising things I learnt while in Japan:⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🌱 Japan is probably the only country in the world where tipping after a meal is considered rude! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🌱 Locals in Japan often eat sushi by hand! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🌱 Until the late 1800s, the traditional Japanese diet was largely plant-based and meat-free! In 1873, emperor Meiji ate meat publicly for the first time, encouraging the rest of the country to follow his lead. Rumor had it that eating meat would let the Japanese become big, buff and blonde like the Europeans!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🌱 Most homestays / guesthouses in Japan don’t offer towels. It’s possible to rent one in some places!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🌱 In Japan, it is not considered polite to eat (even ice cream or a snack) while walking!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Lots more about how to navigate this quirky, fascinating country in my blog post. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Go read, then tell me, do you dream of Japan or have you been there?

PS: More virtual adventures in Japan in my stories today!

In Chhattisgarh, under hundreds of stars, I sat wa
In Chhattisgarh, under hundreds of stars, I sat warming myself by a bonfire, discussing the COVID-19 Coronavirus with my hosts. At their homestay, which works closely with the local communities, pretty much all their March bookings have been cancelled. It’s a substantial financial loss, especially given the short tourist season in the state. And yet, we solemnly discussed hypothetical scenarios of someone arriving here with the virus or contracting it while here... to conclude that no loss is worse than the loss of health, or worse, life. ⁣
⁣
Until a few days ago, the panic felt rooted in social media, whatsapp forwards and even racial profiling. ⁣
⁣
But there have been some shocking developments since. ⁣
⁣
As of yesterday, India has issued a notice that all Indians returning from China, Italy, Iran, Korea, France, Spain and Germany will be quarantined for 14 days, regardless of symptoms. And others travelling abroad might be quarantined upon return as well. ⁣
⁣
The forest dept in Kerala has temporarily stopped safaris / walks in some reserves. Chhattisgarh state govt is asking accommodations not to accept foreign guests. Israel has announced a 2 week quarantine for ALL overseas arrivals. Friends who recently travelled overseas have shared that in the UK, there’s hardly any screening of passengers. In the US, you can’t get tested if you have symptoms but haven’t knowingly been in contact with someone with the virus. Italy is under lockdown and things have worsened in Japan. India has cancelled all visas for foreigners till mid April. And WHO has declared it a global pandemic. Basically, shit seems to be hitting the fan.
⁣
Breaks my heart to say this, but it’s best to put all travel plans on hold, atleast until April. Travel advisories are changing by the day, and it just won’t be fun travelling amidst all this uncertainty anyway. Many airlines and accommodations have relaxed cancellation policies and are offering full refund / free date change...⁣
⁣
Personally, I’m trying to figure out where I go. With a home nowhere, I suddenly have nowhere to go 🤭⁣
⁣
PS: While we’re all off the road, I‘ll continue taking you on virtual travel adventures, okay?

My office @quietbytheriver_cghearth 😉 There’s
My office @quietbytheriver_cghearth 😉 There’s no connectivity here, except on one specific rock in the middle of the Periyar River. But there’s plenty of inspiration to write, brainstorm ideas and daydream! ⁣
⁣
People often ask me how I make this digital nomad life work. The truth is, behind the glamor of travel and sometimes dreamy encounters, there’s a mad passion to share stories from the road. ⁣
⁣
That passion is what first drove me to start travel blogging. That was back in 2011, when no one could imagine making money from their blogs. But I loved every bit of the process. Not just the actual travelling, but also having a head full of stories. Putting pen to paper, or rather, finger to keyboard. Reading and re-reading, editing and re-editing. Creating a piece of writing that spoke to me, and perhaps to some people who read it. Feeling a sense of fulfilment upon finally hitting the publish button...⁣
⁣
But things have changed and how. Instagram’s exploded and its algorithms are a nightmare. The race for likes drives me mad. As does competing for SEO with poorly written, mostly copy-pasted content. The sinking feeling that all those stories will probably get lost in the clutter.⁣
⁣
On many levels, 2019 filled me with self-doubt. I can’t compete with the perfect photos on Instagram. I can’t churn out a video a week. A lot of my content isn’t among google’s most searched keywords. ⁣
⁣
But in 2020, something’s changing. I feel that mad passion within me again. Not for Instagram, not for likes, not for SEO, but just for the love of blogging like in the years gone by. For the love of sharing stories, because it soothes my soul. ⁣
⁣
So here I am, relishing my virtual wilderness “offices” again, writing for myself, again ✍🏼⁣
⁣
How do you feel about blogging, writing and social media these days? ⁣
⁣
📷: Shot on #iphone11pro⁣
👣: Collab with @cghearth

CONSENT. ⁣
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For a long time, a female’s bod

CONSENT. ⁣
⁣
For a long time, a female’s body was considered a male’s possession. Especially if said male was her husband. It was considered okay for a man to forcefully use a woman’s body for sex, impregnate her, even decide whether she should go through with a pregnancy. ⁣
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Atleast in some parts of the world, we’ve come a long way. Consent - the choice to say yes to a sexual encounter - is to be given as much by a woman as by a man. The lack of consent, on either side, is considered rape, a legal offence, punishable by law, societally frowned upon.⁣
⁣
Pretty sure you’d agree that consent is necessary? That no means no? ⁣
⁣
Now replace the human female with an animal female. ⁣
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On my travels in India, Bhutan and Europe, I’ve seen how a cow is tied up - often her legs are also tied up - as she is milked. That sounds like a no. ⁣
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Her newborn baby is tied up (if female), often just metres away, as she jostles with the rope to use her breasts for HER kids, not for humans. That sounds like a no. ⁣
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Like a human female, she only gives milk when she gives birth. In order for that to happen constantly, she is most often artificially inseminated with male sperm - even as she kicks and resists being forcefully injected. That sounds like a no. ⁣
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And finally, when she can’t produce any more babies, she is packed off to slaughter for meat and leather (yes, even in India). I’d venture a guess and say that is probably a no. ⁣
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She is similarly violated for our plates and palettes, without consent, if she is a hen, a pig, a sheep, a bee, a goat, a fish...⁣
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Curious, what are your thoughts on consent? ⁣
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PS: This is my 8th post in the #TSSVeganSundays series. See my past posts and join the discussion! ⁣
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#theshootingstar #womensday #whyvegan #indianfoodies #animallovers ⁣


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