“As a civil engineering professor, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine working in the tourism industry one day. The travel bug bit me only in my twenties, and it was merely out of desperation that I set out to explore, leaving behind my stable job for one whole year.

You see, hailing from a small town with a father in the construction business, the plan always was to become an engineer, gain some experience in the field, and eventually return to take care of his legacy. I was additionally given a deadline of three years, in Chennai, to gather ample knowledge and establish myself in a self-sufficient job.

But two years into it, anxiety got the better of me, and I feared the thought of my life being routine and mundane throughout. I realized that if there was any time to truly ‘live’ life, it was then. So, consumed by sudden wanderlust, I packed my bags one day and set out on an unplanned exploration.

And what a refreshing experience it was! Starting from Alappuzha, I navigated to the nooks and corners of the country, residing at every single destination to savor its feel. Of course, venturing into unknown territories with no clue of the language did come with its fair share of challenges, but just the thrill of it, got me to keep going. Plus in the process, I worked various part-time jobs, picked up a variety of skill sets, and came back, a much-evolved individual! I guess that’s one of the magical aspects to traveling!

Now somewhere amidst the soul search, I also realized the huge market there was for treks and short-term expeditions. And as a youth myself, the curiosity of following my passion, led me to slowly but surely take this up as a full-time career. What’s better than waking up every day, at a new location and being able to share that joy with new folks, right?

Then again, the journey wasn’t ever simple. In the beginning, I tried juggling both the construction business and organizing treks simultaneously but it wasn’t long before I recognized that these were mutually exclusive fields that needed my complete attention! Besides, the multitude of learnings in the process, especially after the Corona lockdowns, was a tough fight to put up with, but I got through, with the help of some good-natured folks around me!

That’s another perk! You meet so many people, and realize the value of being a good person! In my life, I owe so much to those around me, especially my wife, who has been my biggest pillar of strength. The plan going forward is to age happily, amidst new experiences, while collecting memories to look back at, with a smile!”