Where stories meet the road

While my days are spent crafting compelling narratives for social impact organisations and helping changemakers amplify their voices, there's another side to my storytelling journey that takes me far beyond strategy conversations and content calendars into the mountains, on sea shores, across unfamiliar streets, and into the heart of solo adventures.

There's something profound about being alone with your thoughts in a new place that strips away pretense and reveals the raw material of genuine stories. Many years ago, with a need to document these personal journeys, I started writing on a travel blog, where fellow wanderers share their most memorable adventures. My collection of travel stories there isn't just about destinations, it's about the transformative power of stepping outside my comfort zone and the stories that emerge when I do.

From navigating several feet of fresh snow in Kashmir during my "most magical winter experience" to exploring the Emerald of isle - Ireland during my rain-drenched "walk to the Cliffs of Moher" through solo travel and why some of us choose to wander alone, each story captures not just places visited, but perspectives gained. These aren't typical travel blogs filled with itineraries and recommendations (though many of my friends have used them as such). Instead, they're reflections on what happens when I allow myself the opportunity to be changed by the places I visit and the people I meet along the way.

A quote I often share reflects this: "Distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is still the same. But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything." - Jonah Lehrer

What fascinates me is how travel writing has deepened my approach to business storytelling. The same vulnerability required to share a personal trekking adventure translates into more authentic brand narratives. The same attention to sensory detail that brings a Kashmir snowfall to life makes impact reports more compelling.

In both realms, whether I'm helping a nonprofit articulate their mission or describing the feeling of walking down a snow-covered mountain, the goal remains the same: to create stories that matter, stories that move people, and stories that linger long after the last word is read.

If interested, visit my Tripoto profile to read about unforgettable winter adventures in Kashmir, the spectacle that is Varanasi, a chronicle of my first ever trek in Himachal, reflections and tips on solo travel, and other journeys that have shaped not just my perspective as a traveler, but as a storyteller.

These stories remind me why narrative matters, whether we're building trust for a social enterprise or simply sharing what it feels like to navigate the challenges when on solo travel, the power lies in our ability to help others see through our eyes and feel through our experiences. After all, the best marketing communications and the best travel stories share the same foundation: authenticity, emotional resonance, and the courage to be genuinely human in our telling.