Vaishnavi Karnam

15/08/2024

Happy 78th Independence Day, I guess? Well it’s certainly not happy for sure.

I wasn’t sure entirely if I wanted to talk about this on a public platform but as a girl who was raised in Delhi all her life, each and every time I’d hear my parents say, “don’t stay out too late”, “come back home on time and keep letting us know where you are”, “never take drinks from a random person”, “share your location”, “don’t trust strangers” and the list is endless. While a lot of times I told my parents, “I know who I am with and I trust them, they are my friends”, they always told me, “You never know”.

There was something about being raised in Delhi that my gut instincts were trained to be constantly aware of my surroundings. It’s a shame, isn’t it? To be constantly be vigilant and not being able to feel free.

I started travelling with my friends in 2018 and solo since 2020, I believed that there are good people out there. In December 2022, when I moved to Canada, I met people from across the world. For them, I represent India, a country which is unsafe for women. Every time they’d express how beautiful India is and they’d want to visit, there was always a level of hesitation. I kept defending saying, It’s not so bad. You just have to trust your gut, be with the right people and it will be all right.”

But with ever case I hear about where a woman and even children are brutally r***d and left to fend for themselves, I wonder, “Do I have it in me to keep defending a country I call my own where we women feel unsafe pretty much every single minute of our existence?”

No matter what I wear, whether it’s a dress, jeans, kurta or a saree, I am stared at. What is considered ACCEPTABLE by men after which I won’t be looked at in a creepy way?

All we ask is for us to feel safe when we step out of our homes not wanting to live in constant fear of ‘something can happen’. That’s all we ask for as someone’s daughter, sister, mother, female friend, wife, some freedom and independence in our own country!

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21/08/2022

A trip to Spiti means a trip full of memories! 🎟️
Spiti Valley had been on my bucket list for so long that when it finally came true after I won a contest, it was a dream come true. I, at first, couldn't believe it. It took me about 10 min to sink in when I saw my name there and then called my brother up to tell him the same!
Our sibling trip was finally happening and during the week I spent travelling around Spiti Valley, the landscapes mesmerized me! I met people from across India and the diversity felt really good. It is a must-visit for everyone!
Thank you .on for this trip! ❤️

12/06/2022

Can't believe this is happening! Vaibhav Krishna can't wait to rock at Spiti!!

Congratulations to for winning free trip to Spiti Valley 🥳

We would also like to thanks all of you for such an amazing response! We have more such contests aligned for you all😍

18/05/2022

• From the Archives - 31st Mar '18 •

This was the year when I took 3 major trips across India. Also, the year when I took my first trip with friends!
It was this year a.k.a. 2018 when i first started craving to travel, wanting to go experience different places, people, cultures, etc. I went on one of those budget trips with a company who made their maiden trip with us to Kausani, Uttarakhand.
Though I did go on that trip with my friends, I also spent ample amount of time with the remaining 20 people who were travelling with us. That was where I felt like, maybe I should give solo travelling a shot. Thinking I wouldn't have so much problem in making friends.
I was never the extrovert type when I was in school but I slowly started opening up when I got to college. Listening to my dad's stories from his days of touring, I also felt like having some of my own, to tell everyone or maybe just feel I've seen the world from a different perspective.
Today, when I meet people and they see my profile, they say, "Vaishnavi, you've travelled quite a lot!" To some extent I do agree to it because a majority hasn't but there's still a lot more to see, experience and live!

I'm waiting for the day when I can truly say, "I'm content!"

01/05/2022

I AM OBSESSED WITH SUNSETS. Period. 🌞
For someone who knows me well would till now have figured it out that chasing sunsets is something I've done tremendously. Not just sunsets but sunrises as well. Though there's a special connection between me and the sunsets. It gives me the hope that tomorrow is going to be a better day. No matter the kind of day I've had, watching the sun go down and the moonrise, the night bringing in some calmness.
Especially when I'm on a trip, watching a sunset at a different place every time just fills me up with gratitude, gratitude for living a life where I'm doing the things I enjoy. The fact that I'm able to witness a beautiful phenomenon, feeling satisfied to be able to appreciate such exquisite beauty of the nature.
This picture from my last day in Jaisalmer, boating with my family!

📍Gadisar Lake, Jaisalmer
Are you someone who enjoys watching sunsets? Let me know in the comments below!
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26/04/2022

Bir has left an imprint in my heart! No other place till now has left such a mark in such a short amount of time. This picture is from Sherabling Stupa and a two-minute walk down the road leads you to the campus where the monks study. I sat there for about 15 minutes and what I felt is something that I can never explain. It was kind of a placid feeling where my overthinker mind just stopped running. Being an overthinker, you constantly have something on your mind but there, it stopped by itself. That made me feel so calm. 😌

Spending three days in Bir just didn't feel enough. I felt a certain sense of calm while I was there. For once in my life, when I was planning my trip to Bir, I only decided that I'd do paragliding on one of the days and on the others, I was open to ideas. I am a planner and if I don't do so, something feels missing. This place never let me feel that. Somehow since the day I booked my tickets, my mind said, you will figure it out.

In Bir, you can do a lot and not do anything at the same time. A place known for its sunsets, it holds a perfect balance. Maybe it is just me, maybe you might not feel the same. Every place we go to will hold significance for you where you feel at peace and feel like you belong there. I am also wondering which other places would feel like home other than Bir for me.

Which place is that for you? 🌸

02/02/2022

I often wonder why changes keep happening around me at such a rapid pace. Even in the past two years, so much has changed around me and yet , I sometimes feel like I've haven't changed at all.
Change is subjective. While I do see so much difference in me in the past few years, I often wonder am I stepping out of my comfort zone enough or still trying to try something new within my comfort zone?
Sometimes, these thoughts hit me at such randoms times which definitely makes me wonder which situation would have triggered it!
I like to jot some thoughts down which helps me think things rationally.

What do you do when you have to contemplate life?

30/11/2021

Udaipur has been a delight... With its picturesque views, one just can't seem to get enough of it. At least I couldn't. I left for Udaipur as a solo traveller but instead returned with new friends and many more memories.
Sometimes, time just doesn't seem enough to explore one destination. We ofter cover the tourist places but what about those stories that we find in the bylanes?
It's still a mystery to me how each place I visit has my heart. I don't know if I will ever be able to go back but if I do, it'll definitely be a completely new story again.
This is one of my favourite pictures from Udaipur! 💙
📍 Udaipur, Rajasthan

13/11/2021

• From the archives - 18th Nov '18 •

For the past few days I've been seeing stories and pictures from Pushkar Mela in Rajasthan, I was taken back to my trip to Pushkar back in 2018.
The three days I spent in Pushkar was so vibrant with culture. Though I've heard that over the years it has become extremely commerical but I believe it's important to preserve culture.
From camel cart rides🐪, to hogging food in cafes🌯, sunsets🌅 and the amazing market! It was a blast. Every single trip I take, a piece of my heart is left there, making me want to go back again.
I've had plans to go to Pushkar around Holi but it hasn't been possible till now. Maybe one day I will...
Until then, it's been to keep scrolling through the archives and to reminiscence my memories! 🏜️
📍Pushkar, Rajasthan

08/11/2021

While we were in Kalga, Moonlight was our go to place. With a vibrant ambience and three dearest dogs! 🐕 The vibe of the place was just amazing with mouth watering food and the people at Moonlight Cafe just made everything much brighter! ✨
It's one of the most popular places in Kalga that you just cannot miss. Enjoy the views of the mountains from the cafe and the open sky right above you! 🏞️
It's definitely a must visit if you're ever in Kalga! 's attic is the best place. If you're friends with her, she might let you in otherwise, it isn't happening!
Also, you should definitely get some apples from there. Can you spot the apple orchards in the timelapse? 🍎
📍Kalga, Himachal Pradesh

30/10/2021

A friend recommended that I should visit Holy Cow when I go to Kalga, mentioning that the views from their cafe are pretty crazy. At first, I didn't consider it thinking whether or not I'd get the time but when I did cross Holy Cow during a hike to see the sunset, I definitely wanted to spend some time there.
Holy Cow cafe is a must visit if you're in Kalga. The food is absolutely mouth watering and the main attraction is the vibe and the breathtaking views it has to offer.
I literally took a nap, took some crazy pictures, gossiped with my fellow travellers ( ) and it was pretty much the best time I spent there.
It almost took 40 minutes to record this timelapse! 🥵⛰️
📍Holy Cow Cafe, Kalga

26/10/2021

Maggi certainly gives a different emotion when have it on the mountains!
We did a hike to Tulga from Kalga that wasn't on the original plan but I'm so glad we did. This little homestay in Tulga offered such beautiful views from its attic. With an extremely cosy feel to this place, we rested, got some food in our tummies before we took a detour back to Kalga!
What are your thoughts on maggi in the mountains and sudden plans?
📍Tulga, Himachal Pradesh

17/10/2021

At the beginning of this year, I got to visit the Coastal region of Karnataka. 🌴 With a view like this from my room, it was so pleasant and pleasing to the eye, much different from Delhi's pollution and hustling life! This was my first trip after covid and has been a memorable one with my family!
Would you like a view from your room like this? Comment below.
📍Karkala, Karnataka

10/10/2021

This would probably be the first time but long caption alert! 🚨
A few years back in college, I took a step towards prioritising my mental health. We always pay attention to our physical health but never think about our mental well-being. It is extremely important to accept certain things and deal with it the right way according to you and not what the society expects you to. It is considered a taboo but also extremely important to talk about it.
Over the years, I have learnt to put myself first by pursuing things that give me happiness and helps me being at peace. The past year and a half has been extremely difficult but by prioritising myself, it has helped me in multiple ways. Travelling, dancing, singing and even reading, these hobbies bring me happiness. It could be the smallest of the things but do it, take time out.
It's a process and will take time but do make sure that YOU CARE ABOUT YOURSELF FIRST and then the people around you, like it's important to love and accept you!
Love yourself! ❤️

05/10/2021

Tere Bina Cover - Guru 💫
This song has been running in my head for a few days now and I just had to do this! This is also one of my favourite songs from the movie!
#

01/10/2021

It has exactly been 3 weeks since I left Kalga and I can say this for sure that I left a piece of my heart there. It's such an unexplored gem that not a lot of people know about. I'm certainly glad that it was. It has been over a year and a half since I last took a trip like this which were the set of places I had been to Uttarakhand. Every trip I take teaches me so many things, lessons that life wants you to learn. I probably wouldn't have learnt them otherwise.
Cheers to the wonderful memories this trip has given me, new friends, more stories to share and my heart would want me to go back to Kalga, again.
Hoping for more trips like these! Also, is it time for another trip again? 🤔 Let me know what you all think!

27/09/2021

This World Tourism Day, I wish everyone gets travel to wherever they want to, explore our planet and get mesmerised by its beauty!
Let's pledge to take care of our planet, so that all of us get to enjoy it's beauty. 🌍
Here's a small compilation of videos from my travels across India. What do you think about World Tourism Day? ✨

21/09/2021

I've grown up hearing travel stories from people around me and it had been something that I've always been fascinated about. In the past few years, wherever I've been to, it has opened up a window for me to a world that I would have never known off if I wouldn't have travelled.
What does travel mean to you?
Double Tap and show some love!! Share with your friends! 🔥✨