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The Shooting Star

Stories of slow, solo and sustainable travel

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Filter by Tags

art / book review / Books / business / Career / culture / digital nomad / Education / entertainment / events / friends / home / India / Indian travel blogger / Indian travel bloggers / Indian travel blogs / Indian travellers / inspiration / Inspirational / life / malaysia / offbeat / offbeat travel / people / personal / poem / Poetry / random / responsible travel india / review / Shivya Nath / singapore / southeast asia / spiti / thoughts / Travel / Travel blogs India / Travel contests / travel ideas / travel review / travel tips / weekend getaway / Work / World / writing
  • 7 Years of Travelling Without a Home – and Then a Pandemic.

    by Shivya Nath

    What's it like to chain myself to one place after 7 years on the road?

    3rd October 2020
    Comments 28
    Digital Nomad, Reflections

7 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.

FEATURED ON:

Shivya Nath

My first book

the shooting star, shivya nath

Reviews | Order a copy

Lofoten islands, midnight sun lofoten islands

The Magic of the Midnight Sun on the Lofoten Islands, Norway!

Published by Shivya Nath

To avoid the carbon emissions of flying, we spent 74.5 hours on trains over 8000+ km!

4th March 2023
Comments 5
Adventure, Europe, Featured, Go now, Land journeys, Norway

Why I’m No Longer Travelling Full Time.

Published by Shivya Nath

After seven years of living out of two bags, I feel ready to pursue a different kind of life.

30th October 2022
Comments 17
Featured, Reflections, Responsible Travel
visiting kashmir

What No One Tells You About Visiting Kashmir.

Published by Shivya Nath

I came to realize that there is more to Kashmir than the one-sided narratives of “trouble” and “jannat.”

31st May 2022
Comments 24
Culture, Featured, Kashmir, Reflections

RECOGNITION

Shivya Nath

AWARDS

Shivya Nath

CONNECT WITH ME

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Recent posts

Goa, India, recent, Vegan food

An Insider’s Guide to the Best Vegan Restaurants in Goa in 2022.

As a foodie, I'm always on the lookout for vegan, healthy, organic, ethically-sourced, ideally gluten free, world-inspired food.

1st October 2022
Comments 10
Robinson Crusoe Island
Chile, Conservation, Islands, Latin America, recent, Sustainable tourism

Why Robinson Crusoe Island Might Just Be the Most Unique Place on Earth.

"Those who do not know the Chilean forests, do not know this planet. From those lands, from that soil, from that stillness..."

11th April 2022
Comments 15
sustainable tourism in kerala
India, Kerala, recent, Responsible Travel

What India (and the World) Can Learn from Sustainable Tourism in Kerala.

Responsible travel is important than ever. After all, nature might have wrecked havoc on us to remind humans of the havoc we've been wrecking on her.

7th April 2020
Comments 21

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

In the midst of a climate crisis and overtourism, all roads point towards a way of travel that is more sustainable, meaningful and inclusive.

Sustainable travel

switzerland cycling
25th July 2022

The Swiss Alps on an E-bike: 385 Km, 7 Alpine Passes, 6 Days!

Every drop of sweat and every sore muscle was worth the reward.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 8
Robinson Crusoe Island
11th April 2022

Why Robinson Crusoe Island Might Just Be the Most Unique Place on Earth.

"Those who do not know the Chilean forests, do not know this planet. From those lands, from that soil,...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 15
the shooting star, shivya nath travel tips
11th November 2019

Responsible Travel Tips for 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 36
Volunteering in a remote island in Cuba, Shivya the shooting star, Shivya Nath
18th May 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 44

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.

Stories from the road

chile stories
1st May 2022

To Chile, With Love.

I had no idea that it would be the beauty of your people that would really overwhelm me.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 27
chhattisgarh tribes
30th July 2020

Ideas of Love and Life from the Tribes of Chhattisgarh.

Ideas I gathered on sexual freedom, relationships, food and sustainability, while spending time with the tribes of Chhattisgarh.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 16
30th April 2018

Little Acts of Kindness in Japan.

In this digital world, our minds are flooded with impressions created by others.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 42
Mauritius sunsets | Mauritius things to do | Mauritius travel
19th June 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 46

"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

offbeat escapes

Lofoten islands, midnight sun lofoten islands
4th March 2023

The Magic of the Midnight Sun on the Lofoten Islands, Norway!

To avoid the carbon emissions of flying, we spent 74.5 hours on trains over 8000+ km!

by Shivya Nath
Comments 5
11th February 2022

Enroute to One of the World’s Remotest Islands!

The first rays of sunlight penetrated the darkness outside my window, revealing layers of dramatic, snow-dusted, desolate mountains.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 13
uzbekistan things to do
7th October 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 29
tajikistan travel, tajikistan landscape, visit tajikistan, tajikistan tourism
11th September 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

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

Lily Tomlin

Projects

explore rural india
6th May 2021

Explore Rural India and Meet Inspiring Storytellers – Without Leaving Home!

A chance to explore remote corners of India virtually, through the words, photos and videos of the very people...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 22
Spiti, Shivya the shooting star, Shivya Nath
20th September 2017

“I Love Spiti” – A Campaign to Save Spiti Valley from Single Use...

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
19th February 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 57

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

Seth Godin

Inspiration

19th September 2022

This Month, 11 Years Ago, I Quit My Full-Time Job to Travel.

Were these the big plans I had dreamt about when I quit my corporate job in Singapore all those...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 5
never getting married, not wanting kids
16th June 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 80
digital nomad packing list, packing for long term travel, digital nomad lifestyle
8th January 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
1st September 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 52

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

3rd March 2021

Meet the Indian Solo Traveller Who Quit His Job, Set Out for His Dream Trip in 2020...

His travels were always constrained by time and finances. Finally, he quit his job and boarded a flight to...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 11
bhutan solo travel, bhutanese blogger, layap bhutan, western bhutan
19th June 2020

Meet the Bhutanese Blogger and Solo Traveller Unearthing Bhutan’s Best Kept...

While hiking with Denkar, I learnt how the King of Bhutan reads her travel blog and even invited her...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 25
solo travel destinations
18th December 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
14th July 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 58

"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

1st October 2022

An Insider’s Guide to the Best Vegan Restaurants in Goa in 2022.

As a foodie, I'm always on the lookout for vegan, healthy, organic, ethically-sourced, ideally gluten free, world-inspired food.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 10
7th August 2021

What No One Tells You About Being a Vegan Muslim.

Some Muslims think that it's un-Islamic to be vegetarian or vegan. And some vegans have an anti-Muslim sentiment. So...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 6
7th February 2021

Try These Cafes and Restaurants in Auroville for Divine Food!

A collection of organic farms, silent meals, and unique cafes and restaurants in Auroville - including the best restaurants...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 10
how to turn vegan, how to transition into veganism
9th February 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 16

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

Aldous Huxley

Plan your travels

why visit iran, iran travel blogs, iran travel 2019, the shooting star, shivya nath
8th August 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 40
alternative copenhagen | copenhagen like a local | copenhagen sightseeing tips
19th May 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 26
airbnb advice | Airbnb reviews | how to find a good airbnb
9th December 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
21st June 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 58

"We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."

Anne Marie Bonneau

Sustainable living

21st August 2021

Shop at These Zero Waste Stores in India to Cut Your Plastic Footprint.

Zero waste stores in India - from Dehradun to Chennai - can help us ditch single-use plastic in everyday...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 16
silhouette of woman holding hat in blue and gray nebula
26th August 2020

The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Fashion in India.

Sustainable fashion in India is on the rise with homegrown, upcycled, fair-trade, organic, ethical and eco-friendly brands. Now that's...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 22
plastic pandemic, reduce single use plastic
5th July 2020

Can We Stay Safe Yet Reduce Single Use Plastic During the Pandemic?

As we gear up to face the pandemic for the long haul, another catastrophe might silently be brewing.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 20
17th May 2020

Sustainable Living Ideas to Embrace as we Emerge Into a New “Normal”.

In the midst of a pandemic linked to biodiversity loss, all roads seem to point towards a life that...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 28

"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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