11 Things You Didn’t Know About Me
I AM a lot more than an avid traveler. I love my life; I love the way it’s unfolding and shaping – there are so many varied aspects to it that I find it fascinating to get to be Renuka. It’s so much fun being me.
By God’s immense grace and mercy, I have had some amazing experiences in life – I have got to learn so much and have grown as a human being. Today when we are facing a global crisis together, I want to encourage each one of you to acknowledge who you truly are – the good and the not-so-good. Think beyond your public image – how people know you or perceive you. Let the real you breathe.
So, here’s the other side of me – 11 things you didn’t know about me!
I am a pretty good cook (or I’d rather say I have evolved into a good cook).
Most people don’t believe that I can cook. When I got married, the initial buzz in my new family was that if I knew any cooking at all. Apparently, people perceived me as a girl who just traveled and who knew nothing much about the household stuff.
Well, I have to say that I have surprised myself in many areas and cooking is definitely one of them. I had never thought in my wildest imaginations that I could make an elaborate dish like Biryani, and that too a good one. So yes, I can cook!
I don’t enjoy reading. I’m not much of a reader.
The fact that I enjoy writing is quite contrary to the fact that I don’t enjoy reading much. There are very few books that I have finished reading. Yes! It took me a decade to finish Gone With The Wind (after I skipped some portions of it). I remember somebody said to me, “how can you be a writer if you don’t read?” I don’t know how true is that, because I write out of my observations, experiences, perceptions and imaginations. I like to have conversations. I find conversations much more educative than books. I learn different things from different people.
I have written an unpublished book. Fiction is my first love.
My romance with writing began with fiction. I had never imagined myself to be a travel blogger or to do any sort of travel writing. I started writing short stories when I was 17. Then there was a phase in my life when I completely forgot writing. It was kind of an unconscious abstinence from writing for a few years. I had jarred my creative self. There was a time in my life when I struggled to weave words. I used to stare at the blank word page on my computer screen in vain.
Then years later, I wrote my first novella – Dry Leaves. I wrote it during 2008-2010. And, it remains unpublished till today.
I can design beautiful photo albums.
No, I’m not propagating my skillset here. Just wanted to share that I also have graphic designing skills in me, which I haven’t used professionally yet. I have designed a couple of wedding albums (my sister’s and mine), my nephew’s first year album and a holiday photo book. It’s one of the things where I like to pour my heart.
I’d like to give credit to my copywriting experience in a greeting card company, where I imbibed the knack of designing, choosing fonts and placing text aesthetically.
Also read: Alternative Income Sources For Travel Bloggers
I dread flights! I have started to hate airports.
This is quite strange because I never had even the slightest of fear or anxiety for the first 18 years of my flying experience. The Air India flight to Goa in July, 2018, which was exceptionally turbulent, changed my relationship with air travel. Now I travel with my new found fear every time I’m on a plane. I haven’t gotten over it even till today. Every flight that I have taken post that one instance has been a jittery experience.
Also read: My Worst Travel Experiences
I enjoy couple travel a lot despite the fact that I am a ‘solo’ traveler.
Even though I keep stressing on the joys of solo travel, I love couple travel a lot. And I want to tell you too that it’s totally okay to not like solo travel. I like the fact that when I’m traveling with my husband, I don’t have to worry about my pictures. I know somebody is there to take my pictures the way I want them. Isn’t that great?
Besides couple travel teaches you a lot – makes you understand a lot of things like the value of planning, being organized, and reliability.
I have lived in 7 cities so far! You can call me nomadic.
Mumbai is my 7th city ever since I am born. I was born into a Garhwali family of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand – in a town called Kotdwara. I’d say my first city, when I was 3 or 4, was Farrukhabad (a town in Uttar Pradesh) for a couple of years before we moved to Dehradun, where we lived for quite a few years. Out of all the cities where I have lived since childhood, Dehradun is closest to my heart. It’s my kind of a city – charming, sophisticated, and surrounded by the mountains.
Lucknow was my fourth city, where I lived for a decade (my school and college life) and then Delhi, where I lived for a decade (my professional life). So yes, both Lucknow and Delhi have played significant roles in nurturing me. Hyderabad was a big move. And now, it’s Mumbai.
A pair of beautiful shoes is my happiness.
Yes, I am typical girl. I like to shop; hoard clothes and shoes. I absolutely adore a beautiful pair of shoes – it can brighten up my day! I know many of you are nodding in agreement. I’m sorry if I sound shallow here. But, it’s my dream to have a huge cupboard just for my shoes.
I have reduced buying new shoes after I got into full time blogging, because my priorities are different now (travel comes first). I used to buy a lot of shoes when I was in a full-time job. I remember I had to hide my shopping from my mom sometimes.
I am a night owl. I can stay awake all night.
I could stay awake all night when I was younger. I enjoy staying up late even now, once in a while. There’s something so magical about staying awake till 2 am or even later. When I was in college, my mom used to be shocked seeing me awake at 6 o’ clock in the morning. She would think how could I get up so early and then she would realize that I didn’t go to sleep in the first place. Those were crazy days. I absolutely cannot stay awake all night now, but I do love the idea of doing it.
I began writing my first short story at 12 am while everybody at home was asleep. The creative juices flow well after midnight. What do you say?
I trust strangers quite easily.
The fact that I travel alone fearlessly is driven by my ability to trust strangers. I don’t doubt people easily. Yes, unfortunate things happen in our world. There are many people who intend to harm you or trick you in some way or the other. Nevertheless, my mind doesn’t work in that direction. It takes me a lot of effort to be wary of people.
Also read: The People I Met On The Road
I’m not saying that it’s wise to trust strangers easily. I’d say each individual should follow their own instinct and not get into something that doesn’t seem right. I’m a very intuitive person – I do feel it if something is not right. There have been times when I have brushed people aside when I have got bad vibes from them.
I think I can write a book on whether to trust strangers or not – there are many layers to it. What do you say…should I?
I am scared of birds.
People are scared of snakes, jackals, and leopards; and some people are scared of dogs. But I’m scared of birds! Weird, right? But that’s me. I don’t know why but I’m just too scared of (except for the cute, little ones) birds. You should see how berserk I go when I see a pigeon stuck in my balcony by any chance.
So yes, I’m not a bird-watcher at all! That being said, I love wildlife travel. I love going into the jungles, soaking in the lushness and spotting the wild animals. In fact, jungle safaris are one of my most favorite travel experiences.
What about you? What’s weird and quirky about you that not many know about?
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