Avishek Ghosh is an IT Consultant by profession. He has lived and worked at multiple locations in India and abroad, thanks to his various assignments in IT consulting. He and his wife Asmi love to travel, see new places and live new experiences. Avishek also loves to write about all his experiences on his travel blog, along with actively sharing content on social media platforms.
Originally from Kolkata, India, Avishek did his schooling from St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata, and his graduation in computer science from Fergusson College Pune, followed by an MBA from T.A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal.
TBE: Can you share with us something about your latest book, “The Heart Travels: Experiences of a Lifetime”, that isn’t in the blurb?
Avishek Ghosh: Well, the whole book is there. Most importantly it is a journey. It highlights the fact that the journey is as important as the destination if not more. Unless you enjoy the journey, the destination will just remain a photo on your facebook profile. The book is all about those journeys. Be it between countries or cities or be it between two points of interest.
TBE: Travelling is an attitude —a friendly interest in people, places, and things that makes a person an explorer in the truest, most vivid sense of the word. Apart from your views on travel and places, what I enjoyed most about your book is your outstanding selection of resources. Can you give us your own brief profile of Avishek Ghosh and explain how a talented IT consultant decided to be a travel writer?
Avishek Ghosh: See it is all linked. I would have never become a travel writer had I not been an IT consultant. The wonderful IT industry allowed me and many like me to travel to different corners of the world, live and experience the culture in a foreign land. Else it would not be financially feasible to travel to Europe on multiple weekend trips.
Coming to the writing bit, it all started because of the habit of narrating incidents to friends via email which was the ‘WhatsApp’ of those times (mid-2000s). While mailing on cricket games or a movie weekend, friends in my group highlighted that I write well.
Blogging was just getting popular, and you could start your own blog site. I did that and started writing about cricket and movies to start with. Then the travel opportunities came in and I did not have to think twice about what to write. It was all travelogues since then.
TBE: You’ve been traveling almost non-stop for years, but certainly there was a time when you were a travel novice. What might surprise readers about your early days as a traveler?
Avishek Ghosh: Not only readers but when I recall it even surprises myself. I had once visited Fiji Islands on a company sponsored stay for 2 days during my first overseas assignment to Australia (details will be revealed in the next book) and I did not even leave the hotel during the 2 days. Unbelievable it may sound today. But that time just the feeling of staying in a resort was satisfying enough.
Even in my stint in Moscow, I hardly went around and was mostly confined to the office and hotel. I feel the growth of social media has played a big part in encouraging people to explore places.
TBE: Out of all the places in the world where you’ve been, with which one do you feel a special kinship?
Avishek Ghosh: Undoubtedly the United Kingdom, my home for 5 years. And London is special.
TBE: Can you tell us something about the United Kingdom that a regular traveler from India wouldn’t know?
Avishek Ghosh: For many of us, the image of UK that comes to mind is of only London. In fact, I even end up saying that X is travelling to London when that person lives in a totally different city in UK. While London is special, there is much more to UK than London. And most importantly, the rest of UK is completely different to London. Read the book to know more.
TBE: What are some of the most shocking or unexpected moments and events you’ve experienced in all your years of travel?
Avishek Ghosh: Every delayed flight or a missed train connection comes up as unexpected. But over the years, it feels part of the fun. If everything goes as per plan, it can get boring and predictable.
I remember one moment when we were travelling from Delhi to Prague via Istanbul. At the time of check-in, they told us the connecting flight that’s mentioned in the ticket does not operate anymore so the Istanbul-Prague flight will have taken the next day. When the feeling sank in, it left us more elated than worried. An overnight transit means an airline sponsored stay in Istanbul. Sure enough, we were given a transit visa and we got a chance to visit the historic city of Istanbul.
TBE: What are your views on Tourist Vs Traveler debates?
Avishek Ghosh: Both are important. Both are necessary. I am both. Being a tourist has its own fun. There can be few things more exciting than stepping out into a new city with a map or a list on a sunny morning and figuring out where all to go. On the other hand, being a traveller has its own charm. I experienced that too. That’s when you ‘live’ a place in the true sense.
TBE: Traveling is often the greatest teacher. What’s the most recent lesson you’ve learned through travel?
Avishek Ghosh: One lesson surely was that no matter how pumped up you are to look at every nook and corner of a new place, you need to slow down and ‘enjoy the moment’. No matter how hard you try, you will miss something. So, wherever you are, just enjoy, live and soak in the moment. It does not matter if one item in your list goes unchecked. Have the list but do not be a slave of it.
Now, does this remind one of that ‘sunset’ scene in the film Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani? Yes. This is a takeaway from that scene.
Also, there will be the imperfect moments when things do not go as per plan. Like a delayed flight or a missed train. It is all part of the fun and experience. Do not let that bring you down.
TBE: What advice might you have for a stable nine-to-five working person who is looking to add some international adventure to their life?
Avishek Ghosh: This is mostly to my friends in India. Please take leaves/holidays. Do not think that your company will not run without you. And use your leaves not just to visit your hometown. At least one major trip must be accounted for every year. We are all hard-pressed for time so try and make the most out of weekends. Every city has getaways so make full use of that.
TBE: If you could only tell one thing to a new traveler, what would be your best advice?
Avishek Ghosh: Well, do not forget to charge and carry your power banks. The phone clicks photos as well these days and hence is extremely critical. It will be a disaster if you see something exotic but fail to capture it because your battery has died down.
TBE: How was your publishing experience with Leadstart?
Avishek Ghosh: It has been very satisfying so far. Everyone has been great to work with. Special thanks to my project manager Ananya. She had been extremely prompt in providing responses and solutions to all queries. The editing process with Shayoni was also very smooth and we coordinated well together. Special mention for R.Maharaja for the cover design and Victor Patali for the layout. The cover has been appreciated by all who have seen the book.
TBE: Is there anything you are currently working on that may intrigue the interest of your readers?
Avishek Ghosh: Of course. I am working on my next script (Leadstart! Hope you are listening). It is going to be similar, a sequel. Will contain some of the stories which did not make it to this book and all the trips post 2017. Unfortunately, the pandemic put the brakes on travel hence the book is only 50% complete. Once we resume, we can hope to get some great content to make this into another fulfilling book.
