Curious!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet new people around the world..to learn about new things, experiences, culture.

Interests

I love talking and listening to people- deep dive to understand what comprises of human emotions and what makes us who we are! People watching and spreading love:)

• culture
• reading
• psychology
• food
• travelling
• scenic views

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have done a solo trip to Japan in cherry blossom season- I had no idea of food, places and language. It was the most mesmerizing experience of my life.

More read here-

Warning!! it’s a long one and every WOMAN on my friend's list must read it and the MEN who are feminists (I love them).
“Travel get power and love back into your life”: RUMI. It truly does…
My first solo trip: - The idea was pushed to my subliminal mind by persuasive and powerful social media and not even by real people. I guess that’s a new reality - The Virtual Pandemonium!
I travel more than a typical person and am blessed to have friends/ partner who is willing to accompany me in my sojourns -ALWAYS. I dread the idea of being ALONE. My friends and I have always believed that I am not capable of steering my life without people and their validation (I suffer from constant need of attention!). There were so many times, I have gone for the walks on beaches, mountains, and parks, all by myself. I have come back delusional and distressed with negative thoughts echoing of my troubled infantile and common anxieties of an adulthood (though I have refused to grow up- turning 30 this year and it feels like 50!!!). In my attempt at self-discovery, recently I had started to steal few hours from my Saturday exclusively for myself- at a café, sipping my latte and trying to take control of life and procrastinating a solo trip. But as they say nothing you get before its time.- A work trip to Japan( Free tickets yohoo). For my middle-class upbringing “Phoren Trips” are a certain kind of accomplishment. My SOLO videshi trip to this magnificent country -though a very difficult one to navigate as you will rarely find an English speaking soul (Thank GOD! For google translate).

Milestone - “3rd April 2017”
This trip has made me more self-assured and has reduced my constant suffering of being validated, being dependent. I am penning down few touristy things I have done in Tokyo and how they are symbolic to my UNBECOMING!

Sakura – The blooming of the cherry blossom trees symbolises the transience of life and is an annual reminder that time is precious. I realised waiting has become a habit. Life is happening now- we must take risks and live our dreams or at least strive to get closer to them daily. “CARPE DIEM”

Public transport and safety- Everybody travels by train and Tokyo’s rail system is overwhelming but precise and brilliant. I have been so dependent on my car or now this ever-growing dependence on UBER. I was terrified of an idea of using metro or buses and felt crippled whenever I had to ever take one. But here I was with all my bags struggling my way through, with people walking in straight line, following rules- red lights, cues etc.– at my destination of becoming “UNRESTRICTED YET DISCIPLINED”

Accommodation & Food- In Japan food is type of art form that balances the taste, texture, appearance, and colours! But It's hell of a time when you are allergic to seafood life becomes harder by day for foodies like me when a rooster is a rare find and vegan meal means salad.
I had to be in Tokyo for three nights and had no confirmed bookings. I didn’t get any budget accommodation on air BNB before my travel so I connected with various hosts on couchsurfing who were surprisingly helpful and forthcoming. At least I knew I will not be stranded. And then Serendipity happens- I found this beautiful backpacker hostel CITAN -Hostel, Cafe, Bar, Dining just next to the station and booked it for a day as next two days were not available online. When I checked in they informed me that one bed is available as there were some last-minute cancellations. I met most wonderful people on this trip Lizzy Rand Ayoung Kim Moka Asli Luisa Fagiolo Thank you for making it worthwhile. I fixed myself vegan meals in their little kitchen and eateries especially tossed vegetarian meals for me. Universe helps you getting through your tuff stint. HOPE & BELIVE should always top our list of valued emotions. My interpretation of “SURVIVAL OF FITTEST"

Mt fuji- Being on top of the world literally. Standing right across the highest mountain of Japan which is also an active volcano- made me realised the rule of standing tall and how not to wither away with difficult times, taught me the courage to show strength in the toughest of the situations. And yes, if situations try to abolish you, you recoil with the magma inside you and rise again. This awe-inspiring experience truly defined the essence of “GRIT and WILLPOWER.

Onsen is a hot spring and was traditionally used as public bathing places and today play a central role in Japanese domestic tourism. But what they also do to you is make you more “SELF AWARE”. When the last piece of cloth is stripped from your body and you have to share the same space with many others- then we all become equally beautiful and flawed at the same time. As they say, Nudity is Unity. This was non-sexual kind of nudity that removes itself from the male gaze and tops it with humour and confidence. Post this enchanting occurrence you fall in love with people the REAL PEOPLE and not how they look or their superficial appearances... which will wane with time.

It's difficult to pen down the whole experience of how this all encompassing trip has changed me as a person. The learnings I have had and people I befriended. You learn about people, their native place, lifestyle, fears- but it all leads to one thing i.e. pretty much everyone is struggling with same life issues and insecurities. Travelling is a process of healing and unbecoming…the inclination to appreciate little things in life and to finally understand what you really want from life.
With other people, come expectations and compromises. Travel alone so you can, for a short time, live without compromise. Don’t want to get out of bed? Don’t! It’s your vacation. Want to spend the whole day shopping? Go for it! Want to wander through the museum to malls without a break? Knock yourself out! For these few days, you can be exactly who you want to be and do what you want to do. We compromise a hundred little ways every day, so give yourself the chance to live untethered.

P.S.- It can get lonely sometimes but you are never ALONE!

A BIG THANKYOU PAPA_ to my dearest dad in law Surendra Thakur- for funding this trip for me I love you and am truly blessed and to my partner Abhishek Thakur for encouraging me to do my first SOLO- YOLO!

Bon Voyage!
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Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach Hindi & English, share the experiences about living in the most distinct city of the world - Delhi. Show you around and take you to eat in most brilliant places to try Indian food. I can teach you how to be truly crazy and happiness in smallest of things:)

What I Can Share with Hosts

A huge garden, a small room, access to kitchen and a bathroom and lots of home cooked food peppered with lot of love:)

Countries I’ve Visited

Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

India