All posts tagged: Travel

Meet Sonam Choki — A Passionate Pilot From Kathmandu, Nepal

Published by Temsulong

Most of us have at least once in our lives dreamed of becoming a pilot, and soaring high up in the sky. Today we have Sonam Choki who made this dream a reality! She currently works as a pilot in Nepal and is also mother to 8 dogs. Sonam is definitely taking her life to new ‘heights’ and can inspire many to do the same. Join us, as Sonam tells us more about her work, some memorable incidents and places she’s been to! Hello Sonam, tell us a little bit about yourself. Hello there! I am Sonam Choki Sherpa, 31-years-old, living in Kathmandu, Nepal. I’m pretty much leading a normal life apart from what I do for a living. In my day to day life, its either work or I’m out with my dogs (8 of them. Yes, you read that right!), indulging in hiking, swimming, wall climbing, yoga and traveling in the rural parts of my beautiful country. That’s quite adventurous. Can you tell us about your work and what inspired you to become …

Explore Khaama Kethna – A Holistic Centre Nestled in the South Goan jungle

Published by Samyama

Panta Ferrao is a 61 one-year-old, local Goan entrepreneur, yoga enthusiast and spiritual practitioner from Mapusa, North Goa. He is the founder of Khaama Kethna, a well-being retreat centre in South Goa. He was a successful lawyer but gave it up to pour his passions into something that truly drove him and made him happy. We caught up with this lovely man and heard his story about how he founded Khaama Kethna. The journey so far Panta Ferrao set out to create and demonstrate the possibility of living in harmony with nature and the Earth. This was his endeavor to create a new way to live and earn a living without compromising on his truth. He began by creating an eco-resort, focused on health and nature, in South Goa. This resort, Bhakti Kutir, was built from sustainable materials and incorporated the local flora and fauna. It encourages wellness through yoga and healthy practices, including Ayurveda, in a natural setting to inspire spiritual development. For the last two decades, he has been trying to engage and share his …

“I Revisit My Fond Memories of Exploring Hidden Places Through My Art” Self-Taught Artist Srijana from Darjeeling Takes Us Into Her World of Timeless Destinations

Published by Shanmi

“I picked up art again after a long hiatus – and today I use it as a form of meditation.” Self-taught artist Srijana from Darjeeling chats with Roots and Leisure about her passion for travel and storytelling – and how she welcomes people into her world through her beautiful sketches. True to this motive, we can’t help but wander into the quiet charm of the many corners, she showcases through her art. We delve deeper into her world to know more about the person and the artist behind these surreal works of art. Here is her story. R&L chats with artist and storyteller, Srijana who grew up in the misty hills of Darjeeling, West Bengal. She talks about her love for art and travel, which are now sources of meditation and calm – and how she combines the two through her series of sketches. Photo: Srijana, an artist and storyteller from Darjeeling, West Bengal. Hi Srijana, so nice to have you here with us! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Hello! My name is Srijana, the self-styled …

“I am Often Intrigued by Stories Behind The Face of a Stranger – A Vague Glimpse of Which, is Often Shared Through a Glowing Eye” ~ Helivi Zhimomi

Published by Shanmi

“I had almost forgotten about this photo.. came across it one day as I was clearing space in my camera. Just looking at the photo gave me so much peace – and my mind wandered to the place and time I took this photo. I vividly remember that moment – a passing moment while impatiently waiting for our cab to get through the toll gate on highway 55. It was in the evening hours … right before the afterglow; I have a loud ecstatic memory of the sunset glimmering behind as I traversed a straight road with fading music in the background. We stopped at one of the many toll gates on the highway. That’s when I saw this lady selling some local condiment (peanuts?) to people plying that highway. That moment. I took out my camera to capture her . . . with no particular reason. Maybe the same reason why my gallery is flooded with unfamiliar sights, documenting not the loud, but the silent details that catch my thoughts. When I saw her …

Amy Kim from Canada Talks About Her Trip To Pakistan and The Wonderful Places She Visited During Her Stay There

Published by Vilina

Traveling to a new place, meeting new people and learning about a new culture is one of the most thrilling things. Especially, when it’s full of little unexpected surprises like Amy Kim’s lovely visit to Pakistan. With the breathtaking views up in the north, green valleys, friendly and warm people, and so much more, she reminisces about her experience. She chats with R&L about her travel stories. Amy Kim from Canada (she is half Korean and half Taiwanese), who is currently working in Mumbai talks to R&L about her incredible visit to Pakistan, the unbelievable beauty of the landscape and the friendly hospitality of the locals. Hi Amy! Tell us a little about yourself and what you do. My name is Amy Kim and I’m a 26-year-old Canadian working in Mumbai. I’m heading the marketing department of a travel social enterprise based in Dharavi called Reality Tours and Travel. I love what I do mainly because I know 80% of all our profits go back to the community through our charity Reality Gives. My team is …

#Faces | “I Wanted to Capture The Moment When This Mom (Who Runs a Homestay) Finally Gets Time to Piggyback Her Baby” – Abi Lama, North Sikkim

Published by Nara Longkumer

“I work for a travel company, so this was taken during one of our work visits to a homestay at Gnathang Valley which is at an altitude of 14,000 ft. The woman in the photo runs this warm homestay with her husband, who is posted in North Sikkim. In the picture is her baby Hissey, who is as adorable and caring as her mum. She had just finished serving us breakfast and I managed to take this picture of her and her baby. This picture, to me, really captures her warmth as well as her strength as a woman and as a mother. Because her husband works as a police officer in Sikkim, she runs this homestay by herself for the better part of the year. Gnathang Valley is such a remote place… life up here isn’t as easy as it looks, so just her unabashed zeal and commitment is truly inspiring.” ~ Abigial Lama “I felt like capturing those little moments, like when she gets time to piggyback her baby” – @AbigialLama

24-Year-Old Livika Swu from Nagaland Talks About Her Travel Adventures Around the World and Gives Us Her Top Travel Tips

Published by Vilina

How exciting is it to see the sunrise in one country and sunset in another? Breakfast in Paris… Lunch in New York… Dinner in London… That is something we all would like to experience once in our lifetime. 24-year-old Livika Swu from Nagaland lives her life out of a suitcase and travels to her dream destinations as part of her job. Livika Swu travels the world as a cabin crew for Qatar Airways. We’re delighted to have her tell us about her favorite destinations and give us her top travel tips. Read on to get a glimpse of what it feels like to meet different people, explore new cultures and work across different times zones all in one day! Hi Livika! We can’t wait to hear your travel stories… But first, tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m am Livika Swu from Dimapur, Nagaland. I am 24 years old and currently based in Doha, Qatar. I’m part of the cabin crew for Qatar Airways. I love traveling, meeting people from different parts of the …

RootsandLeisure_LaitlumCanyons_Meghalaya

Trekking and Sunset Lovers, Head to the Laitlum Canyons in Meghalaya in the Northeast of India

Published by Manha Slong

If you are looking for a place to escape to, so that you can “start afresh”, then backpacking to the Northeast of India may be one of the best options out there. As it also happens to be one of the coolest places to be right now, you may as well stop your search right here, and start planning your one-of-a-kind trip! Our local guides of Roots and Leisure helps you explore the most happening local hotspots in the region so be assured that we’ll fill you in sufficiently with all the exclusive and local info. Today, our contributor Mahna Slong from Shillong takes us to the Laitlum Canyons in Meghlaya. Laitlum means “End of hills” and is a must visit if you wish to get a taste of what the region has to offer beyond the sturdy hills that defines the region. Mahna enjoying her hot cup of tea and the picturesque view of the Laitlum Canyons About the Laitlum canyons, Meghalaya by Mahna “The mountain and the hills have their way of challenging me so that I can …

World Traveller E Jey Shares His Story About His Visit to Dimapur, Nagaland

Published by E Jey

Traveling to Northeast India is always a memorable one; it’s one of those experiences that you keep sharing with the folks around you. So this post comes from one of our readers – E Jey, who wanted to share his travel story to Dimapur, Nagaland with the Roots and Leisure community. E Jey is an avid traveller and runs his own travel blog called “Jaunt Monkey”, which he says is a lifestyle that developed over years of travelling across the globe. He has been to 19 countries -including Nepal, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia,Uganda and more. How I landed in Dimapur Nagaland It was on a bright sunny day that I started my trip to Nagaland. I had just one thing on my mind – which was to be a part of the Hornbill Festival, the cultural extravaganza that is held every December (usually 1st to 10th) in Nagaland. Starting from Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, my friends and I travelled more than 3000 kilometers to reach Nagaland. Not only did the journey brought me closer to experiencing their culture …

‘Just A Venue’ in Mokokchung Village in Nagaland is Your Ultimate Holiday Getaway

Published by Kumti

Small towns in the far North East of India are prepping themselves to becoming one of the top travel destinations. Every nook and corner of this part of the country has so much to offer, it is hard for the team to keep up but the joy of exploring new places everyday is becoming an exciting adventure! Today our local contributor takes us to a piece of heaven in the small town of Mokokchung, in Nagaland. Known for their cleanliness and friendly ambience, a walk in the town guarantees that your happiness quotient will rise substantially. Beyond that, the town has so much to offer with relaxation spots that are popping up every day – with most of them promising to ease your stress in ways they know best – by offering a healthy mix of nature, calm and happiness. “Just A Venue (JAV)” nestled cosily in the beautiful hills of Mokokchung Village provides an ideal retreat for tourists and locals alike. You will find happy people, fertile farmlands, friendly village ladies and giggling, mischievous kids. Swimming …