Hi, I’m Anshula (pronounced un-shah-lah)!
I’m a Texas girl. 21. I love chocolate and scrunchies and window seats and road trips.
Get To Know Me
- Why I Travel
- How I Squeezed In Travel As A Full-Time Student
- The Biggest Lessons I Learned From My Favorite Soul Searching Books
FAQ
Are You Traveling Right Now?
Nope! All the articles I’m currently posting are based on past trips (some two to three years old – still digging through those photo archives).
But once it’s completely safe to travel normally again, rest be assured: I will be taking a gap year and going on an RTW trip!
Update: I took one day trip to an indie bookstore in Waco. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be (though it felt a bit strange and dystopian). Luckily, most every everyone inside was wearing masks!
How Much Coffee Do You Drink A Day?
I’ve been getting asked this question so much as of late. I drink about one cup a day if I’m not researching for a post. If I’m researching for one of my “best of in a city” posts, I average around four to six cups a day. But this is definitely not the norm on a typical work day!
Fun fact: I hated coffee until I turned 21. It’s hard to believe considering how many cafes I recommend on the blog. But there are so many remnants of me bashing coffee in some of my older posts (so glad that’s changed).
What Are You Currently Reading?
- Our Eden Book Club Picks for this month!
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
What’s Your Favorite Destination?
Kingston, Jamaica because it’s home. And home is where my heart is.
Can I Pick Your Brain About Blogging?
Yes! Absolutely. The fastest way to get a response is via email: [email protected] (I usually respond within 24 hours but sometimes it takes a little longer).
2020 (Now 2021) Goals
- Visit Yellowstone National Park. I need some serious cheap flight mojo for this. Wish me luck!
- Travel sustainably (I’m reading up on this a lot. If you run a sustainable travel blog or have any tips, please send them over – much appreciated).
Introduce Yourself. I Want To Know You
If there is one thing I LOVE more than traveling, it’s getting to know my readers. Send me an email introducing yourself. Do you run a blog? I’d love to read it. Do you have an amazing travel story? I’d love to hear it. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
I’ll list some types of questions I frequently get so you have a better idea of what readers are sending me. But you can honestly email me about anything.
- I’m moving to Dallas, what are the best areas to stay in?
- Have you read (insert book here)?
- I like (insert genre here), what books do you recommend? (strangely enough, I get more book-related questions than travel-related questions)
- Do you have recommendations for X city? (usually, this is a city that isn’t listed on my blog. In this case, I find a local travel blogger or regional expert to refer you to).
I also value your input. Do you have additions for any of my guides? Is there a destination I haven’t covered that’s on your bucket list? Let me know.
On that note, thank you for stopping by. It really means the world to me (*reaches out for another bear hug*). I hope you find infinite pieces of paradise.
![5 Ways For Non-Black POC And White Travel Bloggers To Be Better Allies:•••👉🏽Visit and support Black-owned businesses and restaurants not just on your next trip but every trip you take. And include your favorite Black-owned businesses and restaurants in your travel guides. “If you’re not actively making an effort to include, you might accidentally exclude.” - Anonymous••👉🏽Look into the tour companies/hotels you promote. Do they hire BIPOC? If yes, how do they treat BIPOC? Do as much research as you can. Email them if you need to (sometimes, they aren’t going to respond. Sometimes, there isn’t going to be that much information. But it’s important to try).••👉🏽Try not to use the word minority in your blog posts (there are times when it is appropriate but it isn’t always). Over the years, the word has unfairly developed a negative connotation. It implies being lesser-than (and not numerically). And no person is lesser than (or greater than) another person because of the color of their skin. Don’t just use a word because of its surface-level definition. Understand its meaning, nuances, and cultural context. Be more aware of your language.••👉🏽Change how you approach stock photos. If you’re looking for a stock photo of a girl traveling on Unsplash, also look up “Black girl travel” and include it in your post. This is a way to not only be more genuinely inclusive but it also increases awareness. I saw a Facebook post by Raciana Brown that mentioned nappy (same style of licensing as Unsplash) and BlackIllustrations as well (thank you Raciana. We will be using these resources as well from now on).••👉🏽Follow Black creators. There are so many amazing and inspiring accounts out there. I personally love @theartisangeek (non-travel but books) @feedthemalik (so many great food recommendations) @packslight (funded travel opportunities) amongst many others.•••P.S. I’m a non-Black POC. I don’t know what it is like to be Black. I will never understand what it is like to be Black. But I see you. I hear you. I stand with you. Black Lives Matter.•••[contd in the comments below]](https://i0.wp.com/www.passporttoeden.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)