“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – St.Augustine
Hello, there! I’m Anshula. It’s pronounced Un-shah-la, but don’t worry, I don’t expect you to pronounce it correctly. I’m just putting it out there because that is the first question most people ask when they meet me, unless they are Sanskrit aficionados or yoga instructors (not that I’ve met many of those).
I’m the founder of Passport to Eden. What started out as a small project has somehow managed to become a global phenomenon and I’m sure you are dying to know the story (that’s why you’re here, right?). Well, I’ve always been fascinated by the Garden of Eden. To me, it was a perfect slice of paradise. But Eden was more than just a beyond-gorgeous garden. It was a garden laced with a story. Thus Passport to Eden was born. It was a place to collect all the pockets of paradise that I’ve found while travelling. But more than that, the guides and news published here have a strong narrative base because much like the garden of Eden, I wanted to make every place feel more alive and vivid through storytelling.
This website stems from my strange love affair with the world (but I’m sure you’ve already figured that out). Seriously. I’ve been jumping across this planet for over a decade. And it has been wonderful! I’ve lived in three countries so far, visited many more, and my case of wanderlust has yet to be diffused (not that it ever will). I love immersing myself in other cultures, eating exotic food (who doesn’t?), and finding amazing stories in the most unexpected places.
Travel, for me, is more than just a vacation. It’s a journey to find myself. It pushes me to try new things and go far, far beyond my comfort zone (I’m a fairly introverted, tech nerd. You can kind of imagine where my comfort zone is.) It encourages me to see the beauty in life and that’s why I can’t live without it. I’ve had my ups and downs while traveling. Sure, it can be a little scary not having a permanent address, but I’ve met some amazing people, marveled at the constant change that travel offers me, and had some unforgettable experiences.
In 2015, Passport to Eden started out as a blog where I planned to record everything I learned from my travels. I’m a firm believer in learning from mistakes (luckily for you, I make a lot of them). Today, it is a go-to destination for thousands and thousands of people (I’m still reeling) in regards to USA travel. I started this project solo and now have a part-time team. What I want to say is thank you. Yes, you. You make it possible for me to keep this project alive and running and I am so grateful for your love and support every day. I hope you find infinite pieces of paradise.
Happy Travels,
Anshula Varma