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Just a girl who travels.

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All posts tagged: oudtshoorn

In Photos: Incredible Moments in South Africa.

Published by Shivya Nath

These are all the reasons I want to make 2016 the year of Africa for me, and hopefully for you!

Adventure / Africa / Go now / Photo Essays / South Africa

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My book – a national bestseller in India!

Read reviews of The Shooting Star

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.

I've done 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. I hope to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and experience the world!

What's a life of travel like?

Why I turned vegan

PUBLISHED ON:

WHERE AM I?

Currently in: South Africa

Jan 2019
Thailand to India via Myanmar

Feb-Apr 2019
Iran
Armenia

Apr 2019
Austria
Slovakia

Jun – Jul 2019
India

Aug 2019
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan

Sept 2019
Bhutan

Oct-Dec 2019
South Africa

To invite me on a travel blogging campaign, see my Work with me page.

UPCOMING TALKS (2019)

3-5 May
PEP: Hyderabad

6-7 Jul
Vegan India Conference: Delhi

22-25 Aug
Mountain Echoes Literary Festival: Bhutan

To invite me as a speaker, see my Speaking page.

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shivya

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As we move towards the end of each year, I can’t help but feel a familiar longing for Thailand. I dream of the gentle hills in the far north, the lush rice paddies and orange sunsets. Cycling along endless rubber plantations, winding rivers and tribal villages. The rejuvenating natural hot springs and relaxing massages. Lemongrass teas and fragrant curries. Local markets where farmers sell blue pea flowers, avocados and the sweetest young coconut water.⁣
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As we move towards the end of each year, I crave the comfort zone that Thailand has become for me over the years. But also the surprises it always throws in. Despite attracting droves of travellers, it has places with enchanting beauty, complete solitude, not a sign, not a local who speaks English. Cloud forests, the sea of mist, tranquil monasteries, tea estates, strawberry farms, breathtaking sunrise hikes.⁣
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After many years of ending the year in Thailand, I’ve broken that spell for South Africa (if only I could be in both places at one time 😉).⁣
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But if you’re heading to Thailand soon, here are some quick tips:⁣
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👉🏼Thailand has waived off the visa on arrival fee for Indians until April 2020!⁣
👉🏼 If you want some adventure, consider taking the land route from Northeast India via Myanmar to Thailand 👣⁣
👉🏼 Pick up the DTAC happy tourist sim at the airport before departure (in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta) or afternoon major Thailand airports, 7-11 or Family Mart stores to stay connected. Unlimited data with 15GB at max speed for 8 days / 30GB for 15 days.⁣ more: http://www.dtac.co.th/s/touristsim
👉🏼 Use public transport. Many VIP Thai buses have massagers on individual seats!⁣
👉🏼 Scout Airbnb / booking.com for incredible places to stay at super affordable prices.⁣
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And you, have you been to Thailand or long to go there?⁣
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Collab with DTAC sim [ad]⁣
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#theshootingstar #thailandtravel #slowtravel #amazingthailand #thailandinmyheart

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This fellow roared all night just metres from our tent on the first night of the Pioneer Trail @gondwanagr 😲 The idea of encountering him on foot was bone-chilling. Luckily we spotted him napping in the bush while getting a short ride in a jeep to the second camp!
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Turns out, male lions aren’t great hunters. They are big and majestic and their mane makes them stand out. So they mostly rely on the females to hunt for them! This male lion is estimated to be 14 years old, and our naturalists thought he’s a good dad atleast. The two lionesses in his pride leave their cubs with him while they go hunting.
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Would you like to meet him someday? 😉🦁
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@destinatetravel #shotoniphone

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Thrilled to present to you, THE SHOOTING STAR COLLECTION! 👣 Go browse and buy at Hoomanwear.co or at the link in my bio! Or read on...
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Since I published my book last year, multiple companies have been in touch with me to create travel-inspired merchandise but somehow none of it clicked until I got talking with @hoomanwear. This young startup with their focus on sustainability, ethical sourcing, a strong design focus, vegan-friendly printing, on-demand manufacturing and eco-friendly packaging had me sold!
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So we’ve been working tirelessly (mostly them actually 😝) over the past few months to create a unique travel-inspired collection for explorers, dreamers and rebels! The first 3 designs: “Just a girl who travels”, “Una Vida” (you know it if you’ve read the book) and “Musafir” are now available as hoodies, t-shirts and crop tops. You can choose from a range of colours, body types and sizes of course, but also from 3 different vibes: minimal, bold and cool, including “Musafir” in Urdu (one of my favs). And yes, we’re shipping across India and worldwide 🌏
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The best part: Every piece sold from this collection raises funds for @alaapchronicles - an Uttarakhand-based non-profit that grows native forests using the Miyawaki Method. For every 1000 pieces sold, they can create one real forest 🌳
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I’m so excited about this collection and hope you love it too! Well, do you? 🙈 Which one in the collection is your fav?
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#theshootingstar

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The more I travel, the more I think about what I’m spending my money on. Is my tourism money destroying the indigenous ecosystem or helping restore it? Is it supporting the captivity and unnatural way of life of wild animals? Is it going towards an establishment whose waste harms the ocean and marine life? Or is it encouraging efforts to protect the environment?
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That means the more I travel, the more I ask questions. Besides the experience itself, I ask about electricity and waste and water. I observe the use of plastic and the food on offer. I try to gauge environmental commitment in big and small ways. So the more I travel, the harder it becomes to find places that aren’t just “greenwashing” - pretending to be green.
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Luckily here in South Africa, I’m really glad @destinatetravel recommended the new Pioneer Trail by @gondwanagr - a walking wildlife safari (see yesterday’s post for deets). We slept in solar-powered camps, got water only in recycled glass / 2L reusable hiking bottles, the camp waste is segregated for composting and recycling, half the reserve’s naturalists are women, we got special vegan meals (though the irony of serving animal products at a wildlife lodge always gets to me), there is a strong anti-poaching unit, and our trail guides were some of the most passionate naturalists I’ve met so far 💚
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The more I travel, the luckier I feel that there is still so much to experience, learn and discover in this world - and contribute our bit in the process 👣
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And you, do you think about these things when you travel?
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PS: A LITTLE SURPRISE coming tomorrow! Watch this space, turn on notifications if you want 😉
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#theshootingstar #gondwanagamereserve #southafricatravel #responsibletravel #shotoniphone

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#hellofrom the Pioneer Trail! Spent the last 3 days hiking 20km across Gondwana Game Reserve @gondwanagr 👣
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Until 16 years ago, the 11,000+ hectares of this protected reserve were farming land (the rest of the surroundings still are). The natural vegetation had been completely destroyed to raise livestock / plant crops. All predators and even herbivores had been wiped out. When the current owners bought the land, there were some 4 antelopes remaining here.
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16 years later, Gondwana is a private free roaming reserve with lions, elephants, wild beasts, zebra and tons of other animals. Proving that nature does heal itself if given a chance 🍁
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So over the past 3 days, we discovered the wonders of the fynbos (fine bush - Cape vegetation), spotted the tiniest bush wonders, picnicked under acacia trees, jumped into a water hole (see my stories), and slept to a lion roaring right outside our tent 😲
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On foot, we spotted zebras, wildebeests, elands, impalas, red hartebeest, elands and giraffes 👆🏼💚 So different from seeing these fascinating and bizarre animals from the comfort of a jeep. What an experience!
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And you, would you opt for a walking safari in a wildlife reserve or do you prefer being in a jeep?
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Thanks @gondwanagr @destinatetravel for hosting us!
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#theshootingstar #pioneertrail #gondwanagamereserve #meetsouthafrica #giraffe

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How to find the perfect @airbnb when you travel? Sharing 4 tips that have helped me find real gems around the world:
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👉🏼 Think about the kind of experience you’re looking for. The thing about traveling is, one size doesn’t fit all. I might love spending time in an obscure little village deep in the mountains and you might love the vibrant night life of a city. I might love slow days with no plans and you might love road tripping from town to town. Knowing what you want makes it easier to find!
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👉🏼 Use filters to shortlist accommodations. During a typical search, I choose the following filters: Entire place or private room. Wifi obviously. Kitchen, if I intend to stay longer than a week. Superhost, to get an idea of the top-rated accommodations at my destination.
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👉🏼 Read reviews of past travellers. Reviews >> photos. I look at what aspects of a place most reviews tend to praise – the hospitality of the host, the location, the surroundings or the room/apartment itself – and assess if those are the ones most important for me. I pay close attention to anything negative, especially if it concerns cleanliness. I also use reviews to suss out if a place is rented out by a genuine local or an agent with many properties - the former ensures my tourism money supports the local economy.
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👉🏼 Remember you’re not in a hotel; be a mindful guest. Time and again, my Airbnb hosts have gone beyond a business relationship to invite me into their lives. Many of them became good friends during the course of my stay, some invited me to come back and stay as a personal guest, others I still keep in touch with and hope to see again. But these relationships are always a two-way street - and being a mindful, accommodating guest goes a long way 💚
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And you, how do you find unique experiences when you travel?
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📷: My sweet Airbnb abode in Bhutan! #shotoniphone .
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Collab with #airbnb

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