About Me

Hey! It's me, Riyanka.

I’m so flattered that you showed interest in knowing who I am, and clicked on this self-absorbed page! I hope to not let you down. Although I’m still on a quest to know myself deeply, here’s a li’l bit that can help you know who I am 🌻

I had read an article where Simone de Beauvoir said, “I’m just one among you, I’m one with a different view… I am awfully greedy; I want everything in life. I want to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write, to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to be unselfish… You see, it is difficult to get all that I want. And then when I do not succeed I get mad with anger… I suffer from a lack of patience, but at times, I feel there can be no one more calm than me.”

I’m an ordinary urban-middle-class Bong, living my extraordinary dreams of exploring the world and narrating the stories from my journeys! I believe in the miracles of destiny and want to travel to places, near & far, spend time with the natives, binge on local food, learn about their history, absorb their culture, and soak in the beauty of their lives!

What inspired me to travel the world?

Like many Bengalis, I grew up immersed in Tagore’s songs and Satyajit Ray’s movies. It was Ray’s films that sparked my love for traveling, though I must give some credit to Baba, who ensured we took at least two trips a year – once during the summer vacation and once during the Durga Pujo holidays.

One of Ray’s movies that captivated me as a child was ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’. I was fascinated by the magical shoes given to Goopy and Bagha by Bhoot’er Raja (Ghost King). These shoes allowed them to travel anywhere instantly by simply putting them on, high-fiving, and saying the destination’s name. I lost count of how many times I watched the movie, wishing for a pair of those magic shoes for myself.

Another masterpiece by Ray that left a lasting impression on me was ‘Agantuk’ (The Stranger). This was where I first encountered the term ‘wanderlust’. The story and the protagonist’s adventures, as he narrated them to his niece’s son, intrigued me deeply. Although I didn’t grasp all the movie’s nuances at first, I understood that the world was beautiful and I wanted to see more of it. I didn’t know when or how I would explore these places or what it would feel like to step out of my comfort zone and experience life elsewhere.

In my first year of college, I visited a friend’s house in Kolkata, where her grandfather asked me, “Tumi ki Agantuk’er Utpal Datta hotey chao?” (Do you want to become like Utpal Datta in Agantuk?) I couldn’t answer him then, but I rewatched the movie, and it struck a chord in my heart. I didn’t know if I wanted to be like him, but I certainly desired a life out of the ordinary.

After college, I joined a fellowship in Rajasthan, which gave me the opportunity to travel across the state on my own. During this time, I began scribbling my experiences in a notebook. Little did I know then that my passion for traveling and knack for writing would bring me to where I am today.

riyanka roy turkey Instagram Is Changing The Concept Of Traveling

What inspired me to travel the world?

Over the past nine years, I’ve had the opportunity to explore a significant part of India, from Ladakh and Kashmir in the North to Kerala in the South, and from Udaipur in the West to Dzukou Valley in the East.

I spent a month in Bhutan, hitchhiking from Thimphu to Paro, Punakha, and Haa Valley, and attended the Tsechu festival. I soaked in the beauty of ‘The Happiest Country in the World’ and experienced the pervasive goodness in the air.

I’ve extensively traveled through South and Southeast Asia, visiting Nepal, Bangladesh, Singapore, Langkawi in Malaysia, Bali in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. Farther east, I spent a few days on the East Coast of Australia, hopping along the beautiful beaches!

One of the most extraordinary experiences of my life was spending a month volunteering in Kenya. It was truly one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done! Later, I traveled across the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, known as one of the ‘hottest places on Earth’.

To celebrate my 30th birthday, I went on a solo backpacking adventure in Sri Lanka for about two weeks. It was a remarkable journey where I delved into the country’s cultural treasures, discovering its richness beyond the stunning beaches.

In 2022, I traveled to Turkey and South Africa with my 72-year-old aunt, and together we explored some offbeat places in these countries. In Turkey, we soared high in the air on a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, soaked in the Mediterranean vibes in Fethiye, and experienced thrilling game drives in Kruger, as well as crawled through the Cango Caves in South Africa. Our adventures were truly worth cherishing! And in 2023, I had the chance to visit Oman, and was left in awe of the rugged beauty of this Middle Eastern gem.

I believe we can never truly experience everything a place has to offer in just one visit, which is why I often return to countries I’ve already explored. I’ve taken five trips to Bangladesh, uncovering hidden gems and tracing back to where my grandmother came from. I’ve been to Thailand three times, discovering a new island on each trip and always being awestruck by the stunning shades of blue. I’ve visited Australia twice, leaving a piece of my heart by the shores of Gold Coast. Recently, I took my third trip to Vietnam, spending two weeks in the beautiful town of Hoi An, soaking in its laid-back vibes and savoring the diverse flavors of coffee – some bitter, some sweet, and some chocolatey!

Off late, I’m learning to embrace a slow-travel style, indulging more in month-long trips, where I can work and travel simultaneously (basically what we call a ‘workation’). This also gives me a chance to sink into the local life and experience the not-so-touristy things, exploring the hidden gems of the place. Usually hopping from one place to another, seeking new adventures, meeting new people, scribbling on postcards (yeah, I’m that old-school auntie sending postcards to people from all my trips!), and fueling my ‘wanderlust’.

You’ll mostly find me sitting at mountainside cafes with a book, binging on momos and Maggi but occasionally, I love to unwind and get a little tipsy on the beach as well!

While I enjoy traveling solo, I’ve been extremely lucky to have friends who agreed to join me for adventures (some of which even stretched for months!). And of course, I feel super happy to say that I’ve found some incredible friends in places I traveled to, and I look forward to meeting them again – someday, somewhere.

So, here I am, not just to share my stories from the road, but also to encourage those who, like me, feel the urge to pack their bags and break free from the chaos of urban life, embrace the world out there, and experience the incredible joy that traveling can bring.

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Tips for Solo Female Travelers

You can read more about my adventures and experiences, thoughts, and monologues here:

Make My Trip, The Wander Therapy, Life Gram, Life Hack, Elephant Journal, Thrive Global, The Better India, Thought Catalog, Huffington Post, The Travel Manual, Travel Dudes, etc.

I have worked as a Branded Content & Community Manager with Tripoto, and Volunteering Solutions as a Content Creator. I’ve also worked as an AirBlack Influencer, curating amazing travel itineraries & collections for mindful travelers, who are keen to experience something unique!

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