A why-me moment followed by life-is-so-unfair and all-men-are-dogs ones made Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu want to run away as far as she could. Today, that's turned her into one of the funnest, fiercest Indian women travellers in foreign lands, doing what no one could've ever thought of
A why-me moment followed by life-is-so-unfair and all-men-are-dogs ones made Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu want to run away as far as she could. Today, that's turned her into one of the funnest, fiercest Indian women travellers in foreign lands, doing what no one could've ever thought of
A meeting with Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu is like a Wiki session on travelling. She's been there, done that, returned and repacked. While most of her counterparts continue to live by the age-old 'have money, will travel' adage, she tweaks it to her temperament "little or no money, will yet travel". And her inexpensive experiences, chronicled in the travelogue Adrift: A junket junkie in Europe, aptly reflect the thirty-something's bold, bindaas attitude. A meeting reveals yet more. 
How is Adrift different from the loads of travelogues we read?
I honestly feel that travel, as a medium of writing, is still very untapped in the country. There are travelogues all right, but most of them are destination-driven, rather than journey oriented. I have tried to portray the various aspects of Europe, right from the people, food and practices, and how they affected me personally. The book is filled with interesting anecdotes picked up from all over the world.
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For instance...
There is a carpool network in Europe called Mitfahrzentrale. I assume that something like this can only exist abroad, and not in India. With the help of this network, you can roam the whole of Europe on a shoestring budget, and that, too, with like-minded people. It's convenient, cheap and safe. I'll never forget that. Then, there are little anecdotes on people, for example the family that I was staying with, in Germany.u00a0 I realised that families all over the world are the same; it's only the culture that's different.
How did travel happen to you?
I am single, so that leaves with me with enough time to travel and explore, which I always do alone. I make friends all along, not like real close ones, but yes, healthy relationships. It was way back in 1995, when I was working for an airline, that I started writing as a hobby. I love food, people, adventures and excitement, and hate the clich s that most travel guides reek of. That continued my quest.u00a0
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The places you've been, and the ones you think are definitely overrated.
I have been to Europe, Austria, Vienna, Africa, North America, Australia and South East Asia, among others. I was part of the Indo-Bhutanese friendship rally, and that felt absolutely awesome. There are many other unheard-of places that are great to be at, but I'd rather not name them, lest their charm is lost. On a more serious note, regions like Northeast India are still very unexplored. Nathula on the Indo-Tibet border is beautiful, and so is Austria. Paris, however, isn't as promising as they've always made it out to be. For me, Vienna is the most romantic city in the world, since it is the perfect blend of serenity and romance.
A single woman's solo trips are always seen as a dangerous indulgence. Any tips?
The first thing to be kept in mind is that travelling alone doesn't mean you stick out like a sore thumb. In fact, you should mingle with the locals and make friends. Be firm yet cordial to people, and have fun while you are at it. In India, it is still not safe for a woman to travel alone, but abroad, the scene is very different. Be confident and calm, and you'd be happy to see the places you go!
The book debunks many a well-entrenched myth surrounding
a) solo travel
b) solo travel by a woman
c) solo travel by an Indian woman
d) solo travel by a single Indian woman
e) solo travel by a single Indian woman in foreign lands
f) solo travel by a single Indian woman in foreign lands with strangers
g) inexpensive solo travel by a single Indian woman in foreign lands with strangersu00a0
And introduces you to, among other things
*u00a0Shakespeare's never visited backdrop for Hamlet
* Amsterdam's red-light district
* Hard breads of Scandinavia
* Bavarian wursts, Viennese schnitzels, Hungarian goulash and fisherman's soups
Adrift: A Junket Junkie in Europe, published by Frog Books, is available at leading bookstores for Rs 150
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