I always had an inclination towards a career in travel. But the main turning point was when I went backpacking across Europe, for the first time without family in 2015, for a month. This was the first time I travelled like a proper traveller. It was very hectic with a lot of tedious travelling, sightseeing and adventure involved. This trip made me realise that I wanted to pursue travel full time.
Retro Kolkata : First of all, thanks a lot for accepting our invitation for an interview. it’s a great pleasure to have you as our Guest. Let’s start from the first question… Let's jump into the past. How did you get started with traveling? What inspired you to start travelling?
Apoorva : My dad is my biggest travel inspiration. He loves driving and I recall taking spontaneous and unplanned road trips across South India as a child. Also, when kids my age were watching Cartoon Network, I was always watching travel shows. I knew very early that I wanted to do something in travel.
Retro Kolkata : How did you decide to become a travel Vlogger?
Apoorva : I always had an inclination towards a career in travel. But the main turning point was when I went backpacking across Europe, for the first time without family in 2015, for a month. This was the first time I travelled like a proper traveller. It was very hectic with a lot of tedious travelling, sightseeing and adventure involved. This trip made me realise that I wanted to pursue travel full time.
Retro Kolkata : Before venturing into Travel Vlogger, was there any restriction from the family side because you have to travel around the country and abroad and you travel the whole world as a girl, then permission was given from the family?
Apoorva : I've been pretty lucky that my parents have always given me the freedom to choose my career and passion. I've never had any restrictions from them. They are definitely concerned about my safety though, especially with solo trips. But with permissions and restrictions I've never had a problem.
Retro Kolkata : What places have you visited till now, which is your favourite place among them?
Apoorva : I have travelled to 38 countries and 17 states. Every place I have visited is quite special. If I had to choose, it would be Kashmir and Kerala from India and Bali.
Retro Kolkata : How do you fund your travel (savings/work whilst travelling/other)?
Apoorva : Initially I had to work, save up and travel. Now I fund my trips through my travels. After years of hard work, my Travelblog is now my main source of income.
Retro Kolkata : Have you ever travelled solo, was it what you expected?
Apoorva : I have travelled solo, it was way more challenging than what I’d expected. I can safely say that it has been my best teacher. It teaches you a lot about your true capabilities and makes you self-reliant in the truest sense.
Retro Kolkata : Have you been anywhere which turned out to be totally different to how you imagined? If so, how?
Apoorva : Yes, the iconic Ba Na Hills in Vietnam turned out to be way too crowded and much smaller than how it is projected in pictures online.
Retro Kolkata : Tell us about one of your most memorable adventures, and the impact it had on you.
Apoorva : Taking a bike trip across Ladakh is my most memorable adventure. From creating memories, getting lost amidst the mountains, absolutely scenic routes, crossing landslide avalanche prone areas was a complete adventure.
Retro Kolkata : How has travel vlogging impacted both of your lives personally and professionally?
Apoorva : Now, Personally and professionally I’m working more towards my passion for travel more than ever before.
Retro Kolkata : According to you, the top 5 Places in India one should travel to at least once?
Apoorva :Sundarbans, Ladakh, Pahalgam, Varkala, Nilgiris.
Retro Kolkata : Vlogging is increasingly becoming competitive. Do you think it will be a good choice for newbies to opt for travel vlogging in 2022 and further?
Apoorva : Absolutely! 2022 or anytime is the right time. Only important factor is to be truly passionate and have a lot of patience with it. Without passion, if somebody is entering this just for the goodies and other reasons, this is not an easy field to sustain in. It takes a lot of time to build a community and have a set of audience that admire your work.
Retro Kolkata : If you were to list top 5 reasons for your success as a travel vlogger, what would those be?
Apoorva : 1) Passion - Pursuing a career in a field like travel requires passion
2) Patience - It is not always fun and games. Patience is one of the key factors required for this field. Patience to get the right shot, patience to commute between places, patience to do justice to a shot.
3) Perspective - This is the main factor of connecting with your audience and makes you and your craft stand out.
4) Consistency- Being consistent with travelling and uploading content is important
5) Constantly stepping out of my comfort zone and thinking out of the box
Retro Kolkata : Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring travellers?
Apoorva : Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. The best experiences test your maximum capabilities and you learn a lot about yourself in the process.
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