KOCHI: She has hosted a variety of travel shows, acted in films like Ishq Vishk and travels non-stop. Vlogger Shenaz Treasurywala is a globetrotter and was in Kochi for the Ghoomo Responsibly campaign organised by Ola. The ‘lifestyle and travel influencer’, as she calls herself, is a delightful person and has ready advice for those who wish to travel the world.
Excerpts from the interview:
You were travelling non-stop for the past two weeks and covered 14 states in one-go? How was the experience?
There is no country in the world as stunning and versatile as India. I could spend my lifetime here and still not truly know all of India. The journey to each state was different. For example, I began my trip in Karnataka. Hampi, with its giant boulders, perched over magnificent ancient temples was the first stop and was very beautiful. My last stop was Assam on World Tourism Day.
Do you think the country is waking up to the concept of responsible tourism?
Despite its beauty, India is not easy to travel. It is not as safe for women to travel alone, as compared to other countries. The stunning landscape is often covered in garbage and sewage. It makes my heart bleed. Which is why I decided to take up the Ghoomo Responsibly Campaign and promote responsible tourism. Our planet, on the whole, is asking us to wake up and pay notice; hence, all the earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes.One way of being a responsible tourist is to support small businesses and respect the host. The other ways are to go litter-free, protect our heritage, travel responsibly and go local.
Do you have a word of advice to travellers, especially solo women travellers?
Be careful what you ask for (laughing).
What excites you most as a vlogger?
It’s a thrill to wake up every day in a new hotel, meet people from around the world and explore cuisines. I feel so blessed. I can’t imagine a better life than being paid to travel. When I was a child, I travelled the world with my father who was a captain. People used to ask me what I wanted to be. I said I wanted to be an explorer. Guess dreams do come true.
You call yourself a ‘lifestyle and travel influencer’?
One year ago I decided to start documenting my travels and I now use my photography skills and editing skills and hosting skills and make travel videos for YouTube and Instagram and Facebook. Brands started calling me out of the blue as I racked up over 5 million views on Youtube. It’s a new profession, I accidentally fell into it and I couldn’t be happier.
You have been in the US for many years. What kind of projects were you working on there?
I was working on projects Brown Nation on Netflix, The Nightly Show on Comedy Central and The Big Sick comedy film.
What are the kind of fans you have on Facebook, Instagram and You Tube?
I don’t call them fans. I call them my family. It’s because of them I am able to do what I do.
They are 25-40-year-old men and women who love to travel and enjoy photography as a hobby. They are the New Age Indians working in IT and banks looking to explore the world and find their next destination and hotel. I have a very loyal following who look to me to see the world. Feels great to inspire. A lot of them say they can’t travel as much as me but are hooked to waking up and seeing me in a different location every day.
Through me, they say, they see the world and that I feel is a gift.