Meet Veidehi Gite from Mumbai, who quit her job at the world's largest ad firm to solo travel the world

Veidehi Gite quit her job as Head of Communications at WPP in 2015 and now she is an award-winning luxury travel blogger.
Veidehi Gite in Sigiriya
Veidehi Gite in Sigiriya

After quitting her job in 2015 as the Head of Communications at WPP, the world's largest advertising company, Veidehi Gite decided to pack her bags and take a trip, and then another, and another, until it transitioned into a full-time job. Documenting her travels gave her the idea to start a travel blog, Krazy Butterfly, where she shares stories of different destinations, restaurants and hotels from around the world to help her fellow travellers.

Over the past few years, she has been to more than twenty countries and has managed to do things many can only dream of. From climbing Sigiriya Rock Fortress to zip-lining on a cruise and taking part in adventure sports, adventure is a word that meets her in different forms every time she travels. She has now won multiple awards including Holidify’s Top Solo Woman Travel Influencer of India Award. We had the chance to speak to her and take a look into her life as a solo female luxury travel blogger. This is what we found out. 

How often do you travel and what do you miss the most about home when you're travelling?

I take at least one trip every month, including national and international destinations. I toggle between slow and fast-paced travelling which means sometimes it is one city in a month or sometimes it could be two countries in a month. What I miss the most about home while travelling is family time and my bed. 

What would you say is the biggest lesson you've learnt from all your years of travelling?

Not one, but two of the biggest lessons I have learnt from all my travelling is patience and embracing spontaneity. Patience is a skill not many people have, however, with travelling you are left with no other option than to learn to wait. Embracing spontaneity is a byproduct of patience. You learn to stay calm in the worst of situations. Together, both these attributes make you an extremely flexible person with time. 

Veidehi Gite, award-winning luxury travel blogger

What is the scariest thing that has happened on a trip?

Sometimes I end up meeting some very toxic people who drain my energy. That to me is the scariest part of any travel. Other than that, the universe has been kind enough to never give me a chance to complain. I embrace everything that comes along and I rarely complain. 

What would you say is the biggest safety concern as a female traveller?

Safety is the biggest concern for a female traveller. But that should not hold you back from exploring a destination. Be well-researched, be confident and learn to trust your instincts. If something is not right, you will sense it. That is when you must immediately walk away to avoid getting into an unwanted situation. Another thing that helps is being observant. Be constantly aware of your surroundings so that you do not become easily accessible to opportunistic criminals. 

Scandinavian cuisine namely Norway's leverpostei, Denmark's cheese, Finland's herring fish, gold caviar, reindeer burger, Nordic crayfish, Singapore's Michelin-starred ginseng infused dishes, Sri Lankan jackfruit delicacies, and Australian surf and turf top my chart. Add to that the Indonesian kopi luwak, world's most expensive coffee. I think street food highlights the essence of a culture. Being a foodie, it's almost hard, to not embody the taste of a given cuisine, especially when you are hell-bent on experiencing a country in its most authentic form.

Veidehi Gite, travel blogger (Pic: Instagram - @thekrazybutterfly)

What would you say is the hardest part of travelling constantly?

I think the hardest part of constant travelling is coping with fatigue and water retention problems. As much as, travelling seems fun, our body needs a reset. The fix is to listen to your body and give it, the desired rest, it demands. Don't forget to keep yourself hydrated at all times. 

How supportive have your parents been about your decision to change careers and take up travelling as a full-time career?

I think my parents love travelling more than I do. But even if they didn't, they are extremely supportive of what I choose to do in my life. They know I'm a responsible person and that I set clear goals for myself before I take on a mission. Although initially, they didn't think that travelling could be a full-time career, within a year, they were convinced that I was living a life that most people would love to. 

 If you could move to any country, where would it be?

Hands down, Norway! Of all the countries I have travelled so far, Norway is where I felt loved the most. Besides, who wouldn't want to relocate to the happiest country of the world, right? 

How many languages do you speak and has language ever been a major barrier during your travels?

I speak English and Hindi fluently. However, every time I travel to a new country, I spend some time learning a few words of the local language. By that virtue, I speak broken German, Spanish, Norwegian and a few other languages. From what I can tell, German is the key language to learn when travelling to Europe. Almost every European language is somehow relatable to it. As long as you make an effort to learn even a few words of the destination language, you will be received with much warmth and love. When locals see that you are making an effort to talk to them in their language, they are far more accommodating than they would be otherwise. I think it just works like a magical ice breaker. But in most cases, English works just fine. Although, I would advise everyone to install a voice translator App on their phone if at all, they fear getting stuck during international travel.

What is the one thing that has surprised you the most about yourself?

Never did I ever think that I could travel alone. Now that I do, I know that solo travel has immensely changed the way I interact with myself. Not only have I become a more open-minded person, but I have also begun to take an interest in history like never before. That surprises me. But what surprises me, even more, is that my belief system has changed. In the present time, all I celebrate is being alive and be able to get acquainted with the unexplored. 

What advice do you have for people who want to take up travel blogging as a full-time career?

Travel Blogging as a full-time career means that you need to become skilful at ten different things. This job requires you to become a travel writer, a photographer, search engine optimiser, social media manager, website administrator, keyword expert, marketing professional, sales director, a finance executive, and last but not least, a responsible entrepreneur. Alongside, travel blogging demands innovation with long hours of persistent hard work. But to begin with, build a niche, keep your curiosity alive and slowly and gradually develop your travel blog with an undying passion. As they say, a journey is like a marriage and commitment is what gets you started to turn it into a success. 

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