Aakanksha Monga

How did I go from being a broke backpacker to a full time travel content creator?

My tryst with travel blogging started back in 2018 when I was around 19 and I met people as young as me from the US who were travelling the world right after high school.

This came as a shock because traveling solo, abroad was an unheard concept in India. They were living my dream!

That night I kept wondering, how I could live the life I wanted. Ever since I was a child, I LOVED travelling and being in front of the camera (I wanted to be a travel show host)....but somehow neither of these made it to the “sensible decision” list the Indian society tells us to follow.

There were a lot of challenges that lay ahead of me - money, permissions, safety.

But soon I realised that there are some problems that are under my control too, so I refused to let life happen to me and took control!

With that, my travel blogging journey began on Instagram. My strategy was to get in touch with hostels and help them with photography, writing and whatever they lacked in exchange for food, stay, etc. because I just wanted to travel desperately.

Out of 20 hostels that I pitched to in Udaipur, only one responded, and I took off! That one email was the turning point in my journey- it allowed me to dream bigger.

I spent those 5 days meeting people from all over the world, making notes to share with my community on Instagram, shooting videos, clicking pictures ; it was a journey that made me realise I was onto something bigger than I had ever imagined. If I put my heart to it I could be the host of my own travel show. Yet one that was on my Instagram account- i could be my own boss, ideate, shoot, script write- whatever I wanted.

Come graduation, I bagged a job in management consulting which was also a sustainable way to fund my travels. Worked out of 10+ cities and lived a slow travel life.

After a few months, I left the corporate world completely and ventured fully into travel content creation. It took me a lot of time and preparations to take this step. It has been a rollercoaster ride from the task of the convincing the family to managing travelling with a full time job to becoming a full-time travel content creator.

I’ve continued with the primary goal of creating value for you and sharing all my crazy experiences and now we are a family of almost 400k+ on my channels! ❣️

Thank you for all the support and let’s continue exploring the world together 🗺️💪

#travelblogger #travellife #travelstory #travelinspiration #travelexperience #personalstory

One of the biggest downsides of social media (and oh boy, we have many!) is the culture of promoting fast fashion.

⚡️ Transition reels, outfit hauls and pretty outfits against incredibly beautiful backgrounds make us believe in to wanting MORE. More clothes, more accessories, more styles, but do we ever take a step back and ask ourselves why?

🤔 Why do we need that new dress? Why do we need a fancy outfit for every day of the trip?
Well, I received the shocking facts this year and that made me pause and rethink my purchasing habits.

😶‍🌫️ Our addiction to new clothes is bad for the environment with the fashion industry producing 10 percent of global CO2 emissions. TEN PERCENT‼️
The second largest contributor, can you believe that?

Let me put it simply - we are literally ready to sacrifice ~ 4000 liters of water for a new pair of jeans‼️
💡But the solution is simple and honestly, not that hard.

👉🏼 Become an outfit repeater.
I am a proud one! I carried one bag to Europe, for a 3 month long trip. I realized all I needed was a dash of creativity and a remix of my outfits. 😉

👉🏼 While traveling, you’d come across some incredible thrift stores/vintage shops. Shop there instead of giving into buying from large corporations. This souvenir would be way more precious and unique!

👉🏼 Upcycle
I just turned 2 of my old sweaters into extremely cute crop tops and guess what? It costed me a 2 dollar trip to the tailor. So not only do you save money, but also the environment. 🥰

❌ We don’t need to destroy our planet, the lives of human beings (who work under horrifying conditions) to satiate our need to be “trendy”!

Let’s together be proud outfit repeaters. Showoff our creativity. Dress for ourselves, not for Instagram.

👖Thrift more. Save more. Shop less!

#savetheplanet #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment #thrift #savewater #environment #instagram #fashionindustry

Traveling teaches you a LOT.

Not just about places, people, and culture.

But also about BUSINESS!

Yes, when I was in Turkey I visited a historic candy shop - Haci Bakir.

This shop has been successfully selling Turkish Delight for 6 generations.

But every other shop in Turkey sells them? so what’s so special about Haci Bakir?

To find out, I decided to interview the current owner of the shop. She is the great great great grandchild of the founder and here is what she said -

1. Move with the times.

They keep reinventing their recipes. Today, they have sugar-free sweets and low-fat candy because more people have diabetes and are becoming health-conscious. They keep their best selling originals and in addition keep evolving to address their audiences wants.

2. Quality >> Quantity.

Often when you scale, you can’t control the quality of your product / service and slowly your business starts to fail. So, instead of expanding across many stores in Turkey, they decided to grow slowly but strongly.

3. It’s a family effort.

Their team is her family. Leila knows every confectioner, every member of the team, and their candy secrets have been passed on through the generations. Some of them have been working there for DECADES! In a world where attrition is so high, this business is an inspiration.

What is the best business lesson you learnt this year?

HOW DO I STAY FIT WHILE CONSTANTLY ON THE GO?🤸‍♀️

One of the most common questions I get asked is how do I stay fit while travelling constantly!

Honestly, it's not easy since I don’t really have a fixed routine but after a lot of hits & misses, I’ve figured out the best tips that have help me stay fit on the go:

💪 Start running: I don't need a gym for this and it’s the best way to start my day! Running has helped me explore new neighborhoods, beautiful parks and just observe life like a local. You could also do some yoga or even a quick bodyweight workout in the park/hotel!

🚶‍♂️ Choose active transportation: On days when I can’t go for a run, instead of taking a taxi or bus, I WALK or BIKE to my destination. It takes longer, but what’s the point of having more time if your body is not healthy?

🍴 Find healthy food options: Look for local restaurants that serve fresh, healthy meals. Snack on fresh fruits or carry granola bars! I avoid oily, street food at all costs! (gone are the broke backpacker days) Also, get a balance on your proteins and carbs!!

🏋️‍♂️Pack resistance bands: They're lightweight, easy to carry and a great way to get a full-body workout

🧗‍♀️ Create an Active Itinerary: I love hiking, swimming, and kayaking and always try to incorporate unique, fun activities into my trips! So not only am I staying fit, but I’m also learning and having a lot of fun!

📆 Build habits for shorter and FOCUSED periods: This is the reason behind me clearing my monk mode goals. The only rule is to be focused and not miss out on your set goals.

Any other tips you’ve got for our community? Drop them down below.

#TravelAMore

THE REALITY BEHIND LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN🌄-

My DMs are flooded with messages of people saying they'd love to trade places with me and how I’m so lucky!🤞

Well, I also know that if offered a one way ticket to a small town, most would decline.

Which is why I felt it was important to also give you a snapshot of the BTS of life in a small village- am I calmer, less stressed out because I'm in a small remote town? Does living here magically take away all my anxieties?🤔

The answer is, no. I might have escaped the anxieties of living in a city, but I did sign up for a whole lot of new worries that come with living here.

Yes, life here is a little less monotonous. I get to absorb a whole lot of nature everyday, go for hikes and add something new to my camera roll.

These are luxuries for most people right now.

But choosing to stay in an off beat town, means giving up my bubble of comfort. There's no socializing, no new friends - just a ton of fleeting conversations with locals; spending a lot of time in your own company. Shops open up for a brief window of 3 hours everyday and most things are out of stock.

Oh boy, don't even get me started on the hours of research that's gone into scouting the right house that would support my work.

The glorious hikes you guys love are just a small fraction of my day here, most of my hours go into working, maintaining my house and preparing all my meals.

But I'm not complaining, I decided to bet on these set of unknowns, far from the world I know. I know my current situation is born out of conscious decisions I made, decisions that were uncomfortable and challenging - not luck!

So please don't glorify my life and discount yours. You know what they say right, there's no one truth or meaning to life - every single one of us gives it our own definition. Mine isn't perfect, nor is it void of anxieties - I ask the same questions.

When will this end? When will I stop feeling like crap after reading the news? When will I get to travel freely again? When will I be able to see my family and friends?

I wish I knew, until then just sending myself and everyone out here virtual hugs and the strength to get through this! 🌄🌻

#AMthoughts

WANNA TRAVEL BUT YOUR FULL-TIME JOB DOESN’T LET YOU?

Here's how I TRAVELED to 12 CITIES and 3 COUNTRIES while working full-time (by the way, you can steal this🤫).

🗓️Weekend trip: Plan weekend trips to destinations closer to your home. This will save your traveling time, and increase your exploring time. And trust me, you can do a lot in 2-3 days.

🌜Overnight traveling and early morning arrival: Try traveling during the nights, or or arriving ate your destination early in they morning. This will save you loads of time during the day to explore.

📆Pre-plan: Make a note of all the public holidays, paid leaves, long weekends, etc., and plan your trips well in advance. Btw, I have curated a special calendar for you which will help you travel-a-more (it’s FREE)!

🌞Early morning adventures: If you have a remote job, plan out your adventure for early morning, before your day-job starts. I did this on all my work-cations and covered SO much!

🌃Make your evenings and late nights count! Post your job, you can always go walk in the city, chill at cafes and enjoy partying.

BUT THAT’S NOT IT!
Did you know you could turn your 16 days of leaves into 69 days off?
Check out the link in comments for your special gift! 🎁

#TravelAMore

This travel tip will SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY!

I just got back from a 2-month long trip in Europe and there’s a reason why I chose to travel now instead of the summer or peak winter; SHOULDER SEASON!

👉🏽 Shoulder season is the period of time (a few weeks or a month) between a destination's low and high seasons of tourism.
Traveling during this time was the perfect decision as it didn’t only save me money, but helped me avoid the HUGE summer crowds - but at the same time, I could enjoy a little bit of warmth before the weather turned devilish.

Here are a few ways to make the MOST out of your trip during shoulder season:

👉🏽 Search for flights in advance: Most airlines run fewer but cheaper flight routes. It’s helpful to book these in advance as the flights are limited. Flights within European countries can be as cheap as $20 during the shoulder season.

👉🏽 Get lucky with hard-to-get experiences: Most experiences that usually need to be booked 1-2 months in advance during peak season, can easily be booked even a day prior now! Even world-famous restaurants can be accessed without long queues.

👉🏽 Be prepped for weather changes: There’s a chance you might see a little bit of change in weather during your trip. But I didn’t mind - considering it never lasted longer, the perks outweighed this downside. But do carry clothes accordingly, a raincoat and a warm jacket are a must.

👉🏽 Experience 5-star properties at 3-star rates: I booked my stays at half of the price and I didn't have to book in advance. I experienced luxury at extremely affordable rates.

👉🏽 Avoid party hotspots: This is the only place I’d avoid (for e.g.- Mallorca, Ibiza, etc.) as these party hotspots are best enjoyed during peak season when they’re open in full swing. You may find yourself on deserted islands if you go during the shoulder/off-season.

👉🏽 Fewer crowds = more solitude: My favorite part of the trip was how I could travel freely without getting stuck in long queues and reservations. No matter how sociable you are, the fewer people at your destination, the better.

Tell me in the comments below, places you have visited during the shoulder season?

#experience #travel #money #europe #travelhacks #savemoney

In the past 3 months, I’ve traveled to over 5 countries!

I have woken up from a different bed to a different view almost every other week.

But the one thing I’ve been consistent with is - a workout!

Here are 4 reasons why working out is the most constant part of my life -

💪 1. It improves my mental health

I’d go stir crazy without movement!

Throughout the day we’re pulled in by constant distractions, notifications and work. My one hour at the gym or my 30 min run is my version of a “mini mental retreat”

I’ve realised when I’m consistent with my workouts, I see an overall improvement in other facets of my life too - be it relationships or work!

Maybe because the happy hormones bring out the best in us?

💪 2. It helps me feel strong.

I stopped looking at working out as a way to get thinner but to get stronger.

I solo-travel a lot.

That means I have to carry my own luggage, and secure myself and my belongings.

To do these things I need to be strong.

To hike mountains, save myself from sticky situations, and be independent, I need a body that can support me.

Working out helps me build my strength and flexibility to live the life I dream of.

💪 3. It helps me feel grounded.

When I am traveling so much, it is easy to lose all sense of routine and discipline.

But by including a workout in my schedule consistently, I am able to create a sense of routine and purpose around my day that helps me prioritise myself and feel grounded.

💪 4. It made me love myself more.

Working out gives me a sense of purpose and is a form of self love for me.

By committing to my overall well being and improvement, I feel like I have something to celebrate - no matter what’s happening in other facets of my life.

So, yes! I definitely recommend consistent workouts to everybody!

Their benefits are manifold.

P.S. - my workouts sometime look like this too! A 10km hike across the Lycian trail in Turkey 😛

#workout #worklifebalance #travelamore #gains #flex

Everybody wants to be creator but not everybody goes viral

Here are 8 ways in which you can increase your chances of virality.

1. Make eye contact

Don’t look at yourself while speaking to the camera, look up. Your audience should feel like you you are right in front of them.

2. Hold the attention of your audience

Have a rough script prepped! People scroll away too fast nowadays - within the first 3 seconds. It is important to get your point across with fewer words.

3. Talk with your hands and eyes!

You’re not giving a business presentation, you’re talking to friends, teens, mothers - real people! Retain their attention by giving your 100% to them.

4. Dress for comfort not for style.

Show up as who you are, not what you see on social media. I am loud, excited and love bright colours, I show up as myself!

5. Know that nobody cares!

Shooting in public can be stressful, but remember you are only the centre of your own universe. People will look at you for a second and forget you the next second.

6. Know your material

Knowing your material inside out is important as it can help build your confidence in front of the camera.

Take time to research and familiarize yourself with the content you are presenting.

7. Focus on impact, not perfection

Shift your focus to building a connection rather than making the video perfect. It's less about being flawless and more about being authentic.

8. Don’t beat yourself up

You will not always like the way you look on camera. But let it go. Embrace the ups and downs, celebrate the wins, learn from the challenges and feedback.

Like anything else in life, virality comes with practice.

#Travelamore #creator #virality

What would I do if I had to start from ZERO?

Over the last two years, I have experimented with various elements to evolve as a content creator and to grow my travel family to over 400k+ people.

But if I had to go back to zero, here are the skills I’d prioritize over everything else.

➡ Sincerity & Consistency. It’s more than just a hobby.
You need to be as serious about creating content as you'd be with your other well-paid job. Be sincere, plan ahead and stay consistent. You’ll see results


➡ Time Management
Can't emphasise how important this is! As a travel content creator, with a packed travel routine - I need to carve out time for ideating, strategizing, shooting and editing content. So time management and taking adequate breaks while traveling was crucial.


➡ Self-Confidence; know how to work the camera
As a content creator, you need to let go of the fear of judgement. You need to let go of the awkwardness. It’s just you, your camera and your audience. Don’t let judgement from others stop you!


➡ Stay true to your core
As a content creator, your line of work is very different from that of a movie star. You’re not acting, this is your life. Try to bring your most authentic self, no matter what genre you pick. Only if you can connect with your own ideas, can your audience connect with you. Don’t blindly follow trends!

Which skill do you think you need to work more on? Tell me in the comments!

#contentcreator #hardwork #timemanagement #womeninbusiness #work #travel

~ FEAR ~

“Fear to a great extent is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell a different story…”
Cheryl Strayle, Wild

I came across this idea a while ago, in an extremely empowering book and it blew my mind! When we’re scared or fearful to do something, it mostly depends on the narrative we choose to believe. The stories we choose to write.

When I left my first job without having another job in hand, I was scared. Fearful of the future, of what my parents might say and the uncertainty.

When I decided to go for my first solo trip I was scared. Fearful of the world out there. Of the stories society feeds women.

Believe it or not, we’re all great storytellers, weaving scenarios in our head that breed fear without even realizing what it may lead to. Which is why, telling yourself a different story is so important and believing it even more!

I chose to believe a different story when I left my job. I was strong. I was ambitious. I was loved. There was a better, brighter version of myself out there.
…and a different one when I travelled solo.

I decided I was safe. I was prepared. I was excited. Nothing could defeat me.
I changed the narrative. As the author says it’s a form of mind control, fear begets fear.

So the next time fear creeps in on you, ask yourself where it’s rooted. Change the story, because we’re the authors of our lives.

Have you re-written a story recently?✍️

#AMthoughts

Mountains >>>> beaches

Here are 6 reasons why I’m always and forever a mountain person -

🗻 The air and the starry nights

Mountain air is crisp and clean, it's like a hug for your lungs. A welcome change from the pollution of cities or humidity of beaches.

Best part is?

The clear skies and little light pollution, make for the most incredible stargazing experiences.

🗻 Getting to the summit

Mountains offer endless trails to explore, many leading to new hidden waterfalls. The hard climb up is never easy - but the views from the top are always worth it. It fills me with adrenaline and leaves me fuelled with energy.

🗻 It gives me perspective

From the top of a mountain, the world stretches out before you. It's a humbling experience that helps me put my problems in perspective and reminds me how beautiful life really is.

🗻 The silence!

In the mountains, I hear nothing but the sound of my own breath and the wind in the trees. It’s almost like a meditative experience for me.

🗻 The community

Most mountain people live in close-knit villages, forming tight communities along with local animals and tribes. I love learning about their cultures and stories.

So, tell me in the comments below, are you a beach or a mountain person?

#Travelamore #Mountainlove #Mountainperson #traveltoday

MONSOON🤝TREKKING

And trust me, YOU CANNOT MISS THESE MONSOON TREKS THIS YEAR:

👟 Hampta Pass Trek, Himachal Pradesh
Duration: 5 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 14,065 ft

👟 Kashmir Great Lakes, Jammu & Kashmir
Duration: 8 Days
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 13,750 ft

👟 Valley of flowers, Utrakhand
Duration: 6 days
Difficulty: Easy
Altitude: 11,500 ft

👟 Kudremukh Trek, Karnataka
Duration: 2 Days
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 6207 ft

👟 Kalsubai Peak Trek, Maharashtra
Duration: 2 Days
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 5400 ft

👟 Harischandragad Trek, Maharashtra
Duration: 2 days
Difficult: Moderate
Altitude: 4690 ft

So, where do you plan on going? Do tell me in the comments👇

#TravelAMore

HIRING ALERT!📣

I'm on the hunt for a creative and dedicated long-form video editor to become a part of my team!

This year I’ll also be diving deeper into storytelling and connecting with my audience through longer videos. If you share this passion and are eager to embark on this exciting journey together, I'd love for you to apply.

Just FILL OUT THE FORM in the comments to get started!

The position is not limited to only travel videos, but videos that cover a broad spectrum of self development, creating content etc.

Looking forward to your applications!✨