Travel interview with Stories by Soumya

Here’s our interview with Soumya from Stories by Soumya. Her amazing historical travels have always amazed us. We love her blog and would definitely recommend reading her blogs to anyone who loves cultural and historical travels!!! 

Questions for the Interview

1) Introduce yourself and your blog to our readers.

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Hello Everyone! I am Soumya, freelance writer and full-time mom to an inquisitive 5-year-old. I am also the creator of Stories by Soumya .

Writing was my first love and traveling was always a passion. There came a phase in my life when I loved traveling more than writing and writing more than traveling!!! It was then that I decided to be a travel writer and capture the beauty of both my passions.

Initial plan was to capture my travel experiences through my project “Stories by Soumya”. They would mostly be personal stories – incidents like getting lost in Myanmar, losing my passport in Italy, or missing a train in Switzerland. But gradually I started writing about places I had visited, good things I had seen there, and hidden gems I had discovered. Readers started enjoying these posts. And I decided to do more of proper travel blogging. I absolutely love it now.

On my blog, readers can find travel guides, itineraries, and write-ups on world heritage sites & exotic cuisines. They can also find interesting/humorous anecdotes from my travels around the world. I have been to more than 20 countries around the world and I plan to incorporate stories from all of them over the next one year.

Readers can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get regular updates.

2) What’s your style of travel?

I am more of a Cultural Traveller. I love to explore the history and the culture of a place more than anything else. That is why I am always on the lookout for historical destinations and places with vibrant food and cultural scenes. I intend to create a niche for my travel blog in the area of cultural travel in the future.

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3)Which place are you from? What are the top 3 must visit places in your city?

I am from Bhubaneswar, The City of Temples in the eastern part of India. As the name suggests Bhubaneswar has a number of ancient temples, all of them richly carved. According to me, the 3 must-visit places in and around Bhubaneswar are the Sun Temple of Konark, the caves of Udaygiri and Khandagiri, and the Chilika Lake.

Konark houses an exquisitely-sculpted, chariot-shaped temple dedicated to Sun God. Chilika lake is Asia’s largest salt-water lagoon and is home to a variety of flora and fauna. Just the perfect place for bird-watching. Udaygiri and Khandagiri are two hills filled with caves and rock-shelters cut into them. All of them present interesting sights and are must-see’s when you are in Bhubaneswar.

4)Do you like travelling Solo or with a Travel Partner. Why do you choose so?

I began my traveling journey with my husband. Our first trip together was to Vietnam in 2009. That was also my first international trip. And I absolutely loved it. We have been traveling together ever since and I haven’t really gotten bored of him. YET!

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In all these years, a clear division of labour has worked out between us. He is usually the planner. Even though both of us pick the destination, he is the one who works out the details. I take pride in being the writer, the photographer, and the meticulous organizer of holiday needs, however small. We are a team and love to be one.

I would not, however, mind a trip on my own. Looking forward to one when my kid is a little older.

5) Your top 3 blogs on your website .

I love all my posts. I haven’t really written about all my trips. So there are many more interesting ones coming up. However, these 3 are my current favourites.

1. The Best of Myanmar Traditional Food: Must-Try Dishes from The Burmese Cuisine
2. Why Watching a Kecak Fire Dance Is A Must-Do In Bali
3. A Day in Lothal: Experience Life from 5000 Years Ago

6) What is the message that you have for all aspiring Travel Blogger.

I would advise you to “take one step at a time”. Blogging can be overwhelming when you start off. It was for me. There were so many things to deal with. First, I had to figure out how websites ranked on Google and then had to go about optimizing a hundred different things on my blog. I am still learning, every day. And I understand that I cannot rush through. What I can do is create quality content and market it well.

7) The best piece of advice that you can give an amateur travel blogger aspiring to earn a passive income through blogging.

I haven’t monetized my blog yet. I shall come up with a tip once I do that.

8)Do you have any funny/strange travel story?

I do. In fact, I have many. You can find some of them on my blog under the category “Stories”. The best was a recent one when I got lost (well almost) in Myanmar. It was in the middle of the night and we were on a bus from Yangon to Mandalay. I had to rush to the loo in a crowded bus stand and then suddenly I was lost. I could not trace my way back and did not recognize anyone around me. I was in tears. To find out what happened next click below.

(Almost) Lost in Myanmar

9) If you could go back in time. Which ancient ruin from around the world would you choose to visit and explore. Why?

Oh, there are so many that I find it hard to choose one. I am a big history-buff and I can spend days imagining life in ruins of the past. Ruins have an amazing effect on me. They act as my loyal time machines and take me eons ago. And suddenly I become one among those ancient people. I have always felt this strange connect with ruins, an almost surreal one.

The connect was the strongest in Pompeii. Pompeii is an ancient Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. I could visualize people running around on the streets when I was exploring Pompeii. I could smell the intense flavours wafting out of the kitchens. I could see the lava pouring in from Vesuvius. It was unfortunate that I could spend only a day there. I would love to go back there one day.

10)How does “Travel” make you feel? Can you share with us 3 top insights that you gained from your travels?

Travel makes me happy. I am usually a satisfied person. I seek happiness in the present and have regrets in my life. Travel has helped me tread this path. I cannot really split my gains into 3 different points. But by traveling more often, I have become more aware of people outside my own circle of family and friends. This has given me a more holistic perspective of the world and a greater appreciation of other cultures and traditions. Travel has also helped us, as a family, to walk the path of minimalism.

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11)Name your top 5 bucket list travel destination and why do choose it?

My top 5 bucket list destinations are the following:

1. Machu Picchu in Peru because of its historical importance. It is a ruin-lover’s pilgrimage.
2. Greece because of the number of historical sites it possesses. Greece has been a vibrant cultural centre for centuries. You can smell history as you walk down its streets. I have been here once. Would love to go back.
3. Morocco because of its colours and flavours. I would love to walk those narrow alleyways and taste some flavoursome Moroccan tagine.
4. Pyramids of Egypt because of the pyramids, of course. Egyptian Pharaohs have tantalized my brains a good bit since childhood. So, I have to definitely see where they lie.
5. Northern Lights of Scandinavia because of the almost unreal beauty they offer to the viewer’s eyes.

12)Do you have any tips on travelling with a pet?

Nope. I do not have pets. And I am really scared of dogs.

13) Where do you prefer to stay- Hotel, Hostel or AirBnB etc? Why?

We prefer to stay in hotels that are cheaper and have decent reviews. Airbnbs also work great as long as they meet our budget. Once in a while, we do love to splurge on pool villas but that is not very often.

14)As travellers we all love collecting Souvenirs. What do you love collecting?

I love collecting fridge magnets. This picture does not have magnets from all my trips but most of them. I find fridge magnets durable, easy to carry, and inexpensive.

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15)When do you find time to blog on your travels? How long do you usually take to finish a blog?

I quit my job last year to become a full-time mom to my 5-year-old. I treat my blog as my second child, albeit a more understanding second child. I try to give it as much as time as possible when my kid is in school or napping. Plus, I schedule my routine tasks when everyone is around so that I can devote most of my me-time to my blog. I have given up my entertainment schedule for the second kid. My blog is my perfect entertainment.

The length of time for a post depends. Sometimes, I have written a post, worked on the pictures, and marketed it in less than 2 days. But then there are times when I have taken more than two weeks to do the same. I am trying to be more regular now.

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16)Do you send postcards to your friends when you travel? If not postcards what souvenirs do you prefer to gift your friends?

No, I do not send postcards. Never been in a habit to do so. But I do buy fridge magnets for friends and family. They are easy to carry and my son gets to pick one for everyone. It is almost a ritual during our travels, now that I come to think about it.

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17)What’s your favourite cuisine? Do you like trying out local food when you travel to places. If yes, what’s your favourite dish that you loved the most?

I am a foodie and I love trying out different cuisines. An all-time favourite is food from the Mediterranean especially from the Arab world. I can swoon over those amazing plates of hummus and batata harra.

My latest favourite has been the Ethiopian Cuisine with its soft brown Injera bread and delicious curries. You can read my post on the Nutritious and Communal Ethiopian Cuisine here.

18) When do you prefer to travel to a new place – peak season or off season? Why?

Usually off season if the weather is okay. Sometimes places can get very crowded in the peak season. A lot of time is lost waiting for turns. Alternately, off season allows you do things at your own pace. Plus, things are a lot cheaper then.

But so many things are available only in the peak season especially if you are talking about natural occurrences such as the Cherry Blossoms of Japan, Christmas Markets of Germany, or Northern Lights of Finland. No point doing off season there. So, it eventually turns out to be a mix and match of both.

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19)How do you manage your travel expense? Do you have any particular suggestions for budget travellers?

We usually budget for our trips at the beginning of every year. This usually includes two international trips and 2-3 domestic ones. My husband and I are both minimalists. The only things we splurge on are trips and books. Also, we mostly travel “budget” so that we can save for the next trip.

If you are a budget traveller, it pays to plan in advance. However, planning is not always feasible for families with small kids. In those cases, it is useful to invest in good credit cards and frequent flyer programs. My husband is quite deep into airline miles and credit card points. These things have helped our travels quite a bit in the last few years.

20)If you had to draw a pie chart of your travel expenses. What would your top 5 priorities be?

Top priorities would definitely include a decent accommodation, good food, cultural experiences such as dance or music, an airline with good service, and entrance tickets to heritage sites.

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21) What are the apps or resources that’s been an absolute life saver during travels or planning your trip?

I have a very interesting sense of direction, one that gets me lost many-a-time. Google Maps has been my lifesaver, definitely.

We use booking.com to look up hotel prices and Google flights to look up flights.

Now some quick questions

Name your dream destination for each word mentioned below:

1. Historical Place– Machu Picchu in Peru

2. Culture Travel– Most definitely some place in Africa, maybe Ethiopia or Senegal

3. Couple Travel- Japan because I am scared of getting left behind on the Tokyo Metro. I am sure my husband will pull me out. J

4. Solo Travel– The Havelis of Shekhawati in Rajasthan

5. Adventure (Water sports, for all adrenaline junkies)- Not a big fan of adventure but my dream adventure is Hiking up The Inca Trail

6. Nature and wildlife (Trekking, Camping etc) – Camping out in Serengeti

7. Favourite city – Aamchi Mumbai – New York City – London

Mumbai because it has always welcomed me with open arms every time I have come back.
NYC and London because of the umpteen number of languages and cultures that I encounter on the metros and the hundred different cuisines that I encounter on the streets.

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Travel Interview conducted by COUPLE TRAVEL TALES (Achu & Unni)!

Those who wish  to participate in our travel interview series ,please feel free to contact us via email at coupletraveltale@gmail.com .