On The Road With Shib

Trying to lead a nomadic life and working to make this world a better place to live in.

[ontheroadwithshib]

Breaking the Mould: An Unconventional Man's Guide to Life and Companionship

Tired of the traditional husband mould? Looking for a partner who values adventure, independence, and a touch of unconventional living? Look no further.

1. The Digital Nomad Husband Forget the 9-to-5 grind. As a digital nomad, I've found a fulfilling career that allows me to work from anywhere. This means I can spend more time doing what I love, like exploring new places and enjoying the freedom of a flexible schedule. And yes, I'm perfectly capable of managing household chores while still making a decent living.

2. Supporting Her Dreams, No Strings Attached I believe in empowering my partner to pursue her passions. Whether it's starting a business, travelling the world, or simply living her best life, I'll be there to support her every step of the way. Let's break free from traditional gender roles and create a partnership built on mutual respect and admiration.

3. Child-Free by Choice While some people find fulfillment in raising children, it's not for everyone. I've chosen to prioritize my own happiness and experiences. This allows me to travel more, focus on personal growth, and enjoy a more carefree lifestyle. There's nothing wrong with choosing a different path.

4. Embracing My Unique Style I'm not afraid to stand out from the crowd. My wardrobe may not be the most conventional, but it reflects my personality and sense of style. Whether I'm trekking through the mountains or attending a formal event, I'll always be comfortable in my own skin. I love bright colours, especially pink, and I'm not afraid to express myself through my clothing choices.

5. Living the Adventurous Life The thrill of adventure fuels my soul. I've embraced a nomadic lifestyle, exploring new places and immersing myself in different cultures. While this may not be for everyone, it's the perfect way for me to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

6. Minimalism is the New Black I believe in the power of simplicity. By owning less, I'm able to focus on what truly matters. A home, a car, and material possessions are not essential to a happy life. Instead, I prioritize experiences and meaningful connections.

7. A Celebration of Love, Not Tradition Marriage is about celebrating love, and not adhering to outdated traditions. I envision a simple, heartfelt ceremony that reflects our unique personalities and values. Let's ditch the extravagant spending and focus on creating lasting memories.

8. Adventure Awaits Whether it's backpacking through remote regions or exploring hidden gems in our own backyard, I'm always up for an adventure. I can't wait to share these experiences with my partner, creating unforgettable memories together.

9. A Cat Dad's Devotion My two feline companions, Gini and Rosy, are my world. They've been there for me through thick and thin, providing unconditional love and support. Any potential partner must be equally cat-friendly to join our little family.

So if you're looking for a husband who challenges the status quo, embraces unconventional lifestyles, and values personal freedom, I might just be the perfect match. Let's break free from societal expectations and create a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure.

“I have found out there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain

[ontheroadwithshib]

An Open Letter To My Girlfriend’s New Lover

Hey Mate, You must be wondering that why are you reading this mail in the first place and frankly, I never thought of writing one either. But unlike other ex-boyfriend’s I am different and since I loved my Bae very deeply I wanted to write to you since you are her new affection. You must be feeling what I felt when I started dating her, our worlds are shaken by this amazing woman. Since she has decided to replace me with you, I thought of giving you some pointers so she doesn’t have to go through a heartbreak ever. We both agree, that she deserves the best, she and the kids deserve happiness and nothing else. 

She is an extremely busy woman, her kids, and her family is of utmost priority for her. A typical day for her starts at 5 am, then showering the kids and getting them ready for school, then driving for an hour to school from home, waiting in front of the kids school for some time, feeding them in the car and dropping them at 9 am is her usual start of the day. Then starts her work shift until 3 pm. Her work is as equally important for her, her co-workers are very dear to her and she has flown across countries just to be with them so they feel loved and cared. 3 pm she picks up the kids at school and then go home, or running errands with kids and then back home. Go to the gym if she gets times, feed kids and put them to bed by 7.30pm and then get back to work 2nd shift until 12 pm at times. Don’t get overwhelmed. Because even after a busy day, she will be with you. Take the opportunity to ask her how her day went, what happened at work, is she tired. Tell her you love her deeply and that even after a full day she looks as gorgeous as ever. She might tell you it’s not true but trust me, she loves to hear it. Her face will become cuter and if you are lucky she might make cute faces to you. 

Over time you will fall madly, deeply in love with her just like I did. Her smile, her smell, her twinkles, her softness, her voice will sweep you off your feet, she will change your entire life for the better. Tell her every day, how much you love her and how intensely you feel for her. She loves hearing that. It will make her fall for you, like for real. At times you might be really busy with your work. But if you can, then sit on the bed and work then she will come and rest her head on your lap. She loves to do it and even if she takes a five-minute nap, she will tell you how good she is feeling. Remember, every little bit counts and with what she has gone through in her life she deserves love and care from you, every minute, every second of it. 

She might have a really busy day, might come home and say she is very tired and wants to sleep. Don’t get upset. Give her a tight hug and kiss on her forehead. She loves that too. Wrap her in your arms if you can and sleep off. She loves being under care when she is sleeping. 

My Bae is not a really good cook, that’s one thing she told me on our very first date. Actually, I haven’t seen her cooking and that’s ok. Cook for her, she loved when I cooked and I hope you will cook for her too. If you don’t know cooking, go and take some classes. She doesn’t care for fancy dishes, just mushrooms cooked in coconut oil and spices and rice will make her day. Make breakfast for her, scrambled eggs and sandwiches and serve her in the morning. She will give you lot of love. Yeah, she cares for everyone else but has no time for herself, so make sure you do that. Make sure to give her a glass of water to drink every now and then. She doesn’t drink much water and I used to push her to drink more. Now you have to do it. 

Bae doesn’t drink but when we were together she loved drinking good wine. Buy her a glass of wine now and then, should be “Red Wine”, from a good brand. Toast to the day and the life you both have and you will have with her. She loves the forest and being closer to nature. As Bangkok doesn’t have much to offer to take her on trips. A place which has a lot of greenery, some natural lakes and see her jump with joy. Take her to these places. She will wear her favourite heels and go on walks with you, sit on a bench in the forest and tell you how much she loves you. Brush her hair with your fingers and tell her how beautiful she looks. She might frown but the twinkles on her face will make your day.

Be nice to the kids. Play a lot with them, give them time and they will love you back. Her kids are her everything, so if you are nice to them she will love you more. At times you might have to help with the shower or just putting on their clothes, do it. I loved whenever I got the chance. The kids are just like her, full of love and care. Go with her when she goes to drop the kids to school, piano class, swimming class and just everything else and make sure to drop off the boy’s poop filled diaper secretly in a bin at times. 

When you are in the car with her, put on her favourite track a bit loud and see her shake up everything. She loves singing, humming to her fab tracks and driving. Someday if you can save up, gift her a sports car. She wanted to drive in races, make sure you help her do it someday. I wanted to but now you will. 

Make sure you are there to get her stuff which is kept on top of cupboards, kitchen shelves and during shopping. I know that you are tall like me cos Bae loves tall guys. She is short and make sure you help her with this. Sometimes she would just see you doing this and smile. Trust me, it will make your day. Stay close to her and since you are in the same city, stay as much as close you can. She hates distances because at times she forgets how much you love her if she doesn’t see you for days. It’s not her fault, she is just like that. Tell her every day how much you love her, don’t miss any day. Do it even if you are sick, tired or having a very busy day because after all, she has become your whole world. I missed doing it as I was very sick and now I regret it. Don’t let that happen to you.

Do this and more and you will have her forever. You are an incredibly lucky man, you have the most amazing, gorgeous woman in your life. Be good to her, be nice to her and love her with all your heart and soul. Love her kids just like you love her. Make as many happy memories you can with her and the kids. I wish you both a happy life ahead.

Love and Freedom,

Her Ex-Boyfriend/Partner(?)

[theplaceswelove]

350 was sent this beautiful film by the team at Aura – who went to Alaska and met a glacier guide, Rick Brown, who gave them a glimpse into the shifting world of the Arctic. 

[ontheroadwithshib]

It rained whole night and then this is what I woke upto today 😍👻⛄️. Winter in the mountains always throws up a magic. So blessed to be here. #winters #wintermonths #nofilter #bir #billing #himachalpradesh #himachal #instahimachal #rains #snow #snowfall #mist #mountains #lifeinavillage #nomad #nomadiclife #digitalnomad #travelgram #follow #zostel #zostelbir @zostel (at Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh)

[ontheroadwithshib]

Hidden in Himachal Pradesh: A small town called Bir Billing

In April 2016, I thought of coming back to Bir once again. This time to check out Zostel’s new hostel in Bir. Zostel is India’s first backpacking hostel chain and I stayed in their Rishikesh and Delhi hostel before. I stayed for a week and did some walks, paragliding. But something is me kept saying,”Shibayan, let’s go back and spend some more time in Bir”. So I came back in June and took a small house on rent in the village.

Thanks to the flexibility that my job offers (I work as a social media geek at the nonprofit and I can work remotely), I can stay and work from Bir. But I understand that not everyone has the same luck.

This post is for fellow travellers looking for a few days of peace or weekend break in the mountains.

So What Can Do You Do In Bir?

Paragliding:

Photo: Shibayan I did my first paragliding many years earlier in Manali when it was still allowed. But paragliding in Bir is definitely next level. Bir-Billing is considered to be the best paragliding spot in Asia and the second best in the world (second only to Lake Como in Italy). For Rs.1500-1800 you can get a 20 minutes ride and see the mountains from up close. The launch point is at Billing, takes a 30-minute ride from Bir. Generally, the Paragliding agency comes and picks you up from your hotel. The landing site is at the end of the Tibetan colony in Bir, a vast field where you can also sit and look in awe at the mountains.

Recommended: Book your paragliding flight through Zostel Bir.

Time: September to December and March to May.

Treks to Rajgundha:

One of the reasons to move to Bir was to explore the hidden trails around the valley. A two day/three days trek starting from Bir- Rajgundha-Bir is recommended. I did it last weekend and fell in love with the villages and vegetable fields I crossed during the trek. My friend Jennifer who was on the trek has written in details about the trek, distance covered and everything. Read it here. I will leave some photos here to inspire everyone to come and explore this trail.

Photo: Shibayan

Photo: Shibayan

Photo: Surabhi Borha

How to book the trek: Zostel Bir runs this trek,” The Escape Trail”. I recommend booking it with them as the guide Chander knows this place like the back of his palm.

Mountain Biking:

Mountain biking is getting popular in India and Himachal Pradesh is not behind. In Bir, you can hire Montra bikes from bike renting places and biking trails pass through many villages, temples, and monasteries. Many of the villages on the route are self-sustaining and practice organic farming. Some of the roads are metalled and good for off road biking but most village roads are unpaved.

Monastery Hopping:

Photo: Shibayan

Bir has some of the biggest monasteries in this part of India. If you are into Buddhism or even if you are not, then also you can go and spend some time there and maybe gain some nirvana.

The Bir Tibetan colony was established in the 1960’s when the 14th Dalai Lama came into exile.

Chokling Monastery (a.k.a. Pema Ewam Chögar Gyurme Ling Monastery) is the seat of Neten Chokling Rinpoche, a prominent reincarnate lama in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and the director of the film Milarepa. The monastery has a school for the monastic students and periodically hosts ceremonies which are open to the public. A guesthouse and restaurant is also located on the campus.

Palyul Chokhorling Monastery: The monastery has an unusual collection of white-on-black tantric murals in its main assembly hall and is worth a visit.

Palpung Sherab Ling Monastery (In Bhattu, West of Bir) Monastic seat of Kenting Tai Situ Rinpoche (Karma Kagyü lineage), offering periodic courses in Buddhist mediation and philosophy.

Where to stay:

Note: If you plan to stay in a guest house located inside the Tibetan colony, (anyone other than Indians, Tibetans, Nepalis, and Bhutanese) wishing to stay overnight in the Bir Tibetan Colony will need to apply for a Protected Area Permit (PAP) from the Indian Government. You can get this from Delhi or Dharamsala. For more information see this page.

Budget accommodation:

Photo: Zostel 

The best budget option to stay in Bir is the newly opened Zostel Hostel. You don’t need a permit since it is a 10 minutes walk from the main town. It’s located in a peaceful surrounding and has dorms and private rooms. You will get lovely views of the countryside from the rooftop and it has shaded hangout place where you can meet other fellow travelers. Dorms are at Rs.500/night and they also serve breakfasts/lunch/dinner. This is where you can also book your trek to Rajgundha.

Chokling Guesthouse: Near Chokling Monastery. Sixteen pleasant rooms (some nicer than others) with attached bathrooms and solar-heated showers. Reasonably quiet setting facing the impressive stupa of the monastery. Restaurant serves decent Tibetan food (and veg sushi) in a less chaotic setting than most eateries in the colony. Rooms start at Rs 250. Checkout: 12:00 noon  ☎ [phone] or 88941-12325

Dzongsar Guesthouse: An eight-room guesthouse near Deer Park with somewhat cavernous rooms (can be cold in winter). Sometimes has solar-heated water for showers. No restaurant on premises, but Chokling (above) is nearby. Singles Rs 200, Doubles Rs 250.  ☎ [phone]

Where to eat:

Most accommodations in Bir has restaurants where you can order food and there are also cheap eateries serving both Tibetan and Indian food.

How to go to Bir:

From Delhi: Bir is about 12-14 hours from Delhi by bus. From the Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT), take a bus to either Baijnath or Bir . There is one overnight bus from Delhi to Bir and it departs at 5:45pm from the Interstate Bus Terminal at Kashmere Gate. For Baijnath there are two overnight luxury Volvo buses from ISBT. To book tickets, go to Himachal Roadways site here.

From Baijnath, take a local bus going to Bir colony or Bir road. Alternatively, you can take a taxi to Bir colony. The fare is Rs.250.

From Dharamshala: Bir is about four or five hours from Dharamshala by bus, depending on the timing of buses and number of connections. There are two daily direct buses to Bir Road/Upper Bir leaving at 6:00am & 2:00pm from the bus station in (lower) Dharamshala. Alternatively, a taxi will take you to Bir colony at a fare of Rs.1500.

I hope to see you in Bir and if you visit, let me know how it goes. Have fun :)

[ontheroadwithshib]

#throwback #reasonstolovemonsoons For the opportunity to walk in the clouds😍😎. Thanks @naresh_poonia_ for the photo from the hike in Barot Valley. #nofilter #barot #barotvalley #rajgundha #trekkinginbarot #trekking #hikes #trails #weekendtrips #backpacking #nomadiclife #digitalnomad #nomad #travelstories #traveling #livingoutofmybag #himachal #himachalpradesh #instahimachal #zostel #clouds #monsoon #rains (at Barot valley , Beauty of Himalaya)

[ontheroadwithshib]

#throwback Time in Paris was stressfull. Language problem, then had to be aware of pickpockets all the time I was there. Got cheated of €50 and got no help from police. The only place I could relax was at the riverfront and while the cruises speed by. #paris #france #pari #cruise #eiffeltower #eiffel #riverfront #europe #europetrip #backpacking #indianineurope #travel #travelstories #digitalnomad #nomad #nomadiclife

[ontheroadwithshib]

#throwback When I trekked to Triund and this is what Mcleodganj looked from the top. #hiking #trekking #trek #mcleodganj #dharamsala #instahimachal #instatravel #himachalpradesh #travel #digitalnomad #nomadiclife #travelstories #backpacking

[ontheroadwithshib]

Monks at the Zonskar Monastery in Chauntra get busy with their evening classes. Supervised by senior students and teachers they study buddhist philosophy which is followed by debating on key points. A 20 mns walk from @zostel Bir will take you to Chauntra or you can hire a cab for drop. #chauntra #bir #himachalpradesh #instahimachal #monasticlife #monastery #buddhism #philosophy #travelstories #india #digitalnomad #nomadiclife #instaphoto (at Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh)

[ontheroadwithshib]

The paragliding landing site in Bir is a place to be in the evening. You can see paragliders come in like a hawk down to the valley, families from local villages sitting together and enjoying the view, desi chat shops catering to foodies and ofcourse the evening sky changing its color every second. @zostel #bir #himachalpradesh #instahimachal #instatravel #paragliding #digitalnomad #travelstories #india #sky #clouds #evening #picnics #nomadiclife #backpacking (at Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh)

[nprstorytelling]

Introducing training.npr.org

Today we’re very excited to unveil a new site – training.npr.org.

We created it for the many journalists working in public media. Sometimes it can feel impossible to find the time and space to hone your storytelling techniques, learn something new or experiment with new tools. We hope the site will help jumpstart all of that for you. It features guides and best practices in four categories: audio, digital, social media and visual.

Check it out and let us know what you think. We’re just getting started!

                                                                  —Serri

[ontheroadwithshib]

For us, who work in the digital media space in non-profits it’s often challenging to get reading or training materials on it. Since we are not journalists most of these don’t come to us easily. Digital media is changing everyday and even now as I write this. 

This new site from NPR (National Public Radio) is like a new year’s gift for me. Hope to learn more and do some kickass digital media work in South Asia on topics like, climate change and resistance being two of them.

Thanks to my boss Thelma for the headsup :) 

[ontheroadwithshib]

Spreading HAPPINESS in IIM, Ahmedabad

Like last year, this year too IIMA’s Winter School in Ahmedabad invited me to talk to students and interact over a period of five days. 

Every time I talk to students in different schools I often get this questions, 

“I want to be happy. Is this even possible?

“Shibayan I am getting out of college. What if I don’t get a placement?”

“Shibayan I don’t want to do this. I want to live my life. How do I do it?”

I never do sessions on happiness or living mindfully as I don’t see myself as any type of guru or saint types. (Read: Babaji types :P) I also think being happy is a choice where some see it and some don’t. But this time, I thought why not try it and see how it goes. 

I started my session with a 15 minute guided meditation exercise. Thanks to calm.com I didn’t have to do much except put on the guided meditation app on it. 

Next one hour I spend on talking about HAPPINESS and what does it mean to you? I talked about my life and how a difficult time during my teenage days shaped me. I talked about following my heart and giving 100% to my beliefs. I talked about how following a principled life gives us happiness. I talked about how not to give about what society thinks about you or your work. All that matters is to “BE HAPPY”. All that matters is having a purpose in life and finding happiness in it. 

I don’t have a video of my presentation, glad I don’t though ;) But watch this to get a shot at what I spoke at IIMA.

I also screened this Thai motivational video. A must watch if you wonder where your positive actions are having any effect on others :)

[ontheroadwithshib]

Our ex-servicemen demand “One Rank One Pension”

I was in Delhi for few hours on August 16, 2015 Took some time off to Visit the dharna by ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar. Ex-servicemen of the Indian Armed Forces are on a relay hunger strike for 63 days demanding "One Rank One Pension". But except empty promises and talk of technical problem the present government has failed them. I have voiced my views on the armed forces misconduct in disturbed areas in India but on this issue I stand with them. They have given their youth for the country and "One Rank One Pension" is their right.

What is “One Rank One Pension or OROP?

“OROP”' implies that the pension amount will be same for having served in the same rank and also having rendered the same length of service. For example, if a sepoy has served 30 years in the army and has retired in 2010, he will receive the same pension as anyone who will retire in 2012.

Do read this handy one pager by Logical Indian on this issue and if you are in Delhi, do visit the ex-servicemen at Jantar mantar. Now three ex-servicemen have started a indefinite hunger strike to put pressure on the government to implement “OROP”.

[ontheroadwithshib]

Kodaikanal Won't: Sofia Ashraf's Rap Song Puts A Spotlight on Unilever's Malpratices in its Closed Mercury Factory in India

A rap song by Sofia Ashraf is putting a spotlight on Unilever’s mercury related liabilities in its closed plant in Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu. The Chennai based rapper can be seen singing to the tunes to Nicky Minaj’s Anaconda but here it asks Unilever to clean up its mess.

The rap song goes like this:

“So here’s the story They set up a thermometer factory Where workers handled toxic mercury They dumped their waste in the local shurberry"

According to Jhatkaa, Unilever didn’t provide any protective equipment or necessary information to its workers during when the assembly plant was in operation. The factory owned by Hindustan Unilever also dumped toxic mercury around their plant, and this has not been cleaned up in the 14 years since this plant was shut down. The contamination continues to impact forests and groundwater in the area.

Sophia’s song has gone viral on youtube and is now at three thousand short of reaching 9 lakh views. Her rap song is a testament to the growing popularity of music/songs in movement building. The Bhopalis have used songs to shine a spotlight on the Bhopal gas disaster of 1984 which killed thousands of people and left an entire generation maimed. Sophia has also rapped for Bhopal gas victims as well few years back. You can watch it here:

The adivasis in India have also used songs to protest displacement at the hands of state and against corporate land grabs. Here is one example:

Do sign the petition and ask Unilever to clean up its mess in Kodaikanal:

UNILEVER – TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR KODAIKANAL MERCURY POISONING

[ontheroadwithshib]

Filter Coffee and South Indian Veg Thali for Lunch at Sagar Ratna.

[ontheroadwithshib]

Rava Masala Dosa for Dinner.

[ontheroadwithshib]

Pabda Maach, Sabji and Rice at Paltan Bazar, Guwahati.