TLDR;
Aakanksha, a professional traveler, joins "The Having Said That Show" to discuss her unconventional lifestyle and travel philosophies. She shares her controversial opinions on travel, emphasizing the importance of "un-vacations" for personal growth and challenging the notion of travel as purely relaxation. The conversation touches on balancing health and fitness while traveling, the value of solo travel, and how to navigate relationships while maintaining a nomadic lifestyle. The episode wraps up with a fun game of "Imposter Country Edition" and Aakanksha's "empty shelf item," offering insights into her minimalist travel essentials.
- Aakanksha advocates for "un-vacations" that push personal boundaries.
- Maintaining health and fitness while traveling requires routine and discipline.
- Solo travel is transformative, fostering self-discovery and new connections.
- Travelships are a unique relationship dynamic formed while traveling.
Intro [0:00]
Aman introduces Aakanksha, a traveler who lives a houseless lifestyle, moving between countries every three months due to visa restrictions. Aakanksha explains that she doesn't associate home with one particular place, as her father's military career meant constantly moving. She believes one can build a home anywhere and prefers the term "houseless" over "homeless."
Aakanksha’s controversial opinion [3:15]
Aakanksha shares her first controversial opinion: people should take "un-vacations" annually, trips designed to be uncomfortable and challenging. She feels that real growth happens through travel when one is pushed outside their comfort zone. Growing up in India, travel was always seen as aspirational and comfortable, but she believes that experiencing discomfort through activities like hiking or cycling leads to gratitude and personal development.
Aakansha’s next unvacation [7:49]
Aakanksha is looking for ideas for her next "un-vacation," considering options like climbing Kilimanjaro or the Trans-Siberian Railway journey. She emphasizes the importance of incorporating culture into her travel experiences. She also discusses how she maintains her health and fitness while traveling, prioritizing cooking her own food and finding gyms near her accommodations. She acknowledges the initial struggle to balance travel with health but has since found a routine that allows her to sustain her lifestyle.
Most fun trips we took as kids [20:47]
The hosts reminisce about their favorite childhood travel memories, highlighting the simple joys of traveling with friends, trying new foods, and the novelty of staying in hotels. Sid recalls enjoying cultural experiences more as he grew older, while Aman admits to tuning out museum visits with his own music. Aakanksha reflects on the challenge of introducing culture to children, as their interests and values differ from adults.
Unvacation [27:49]
The conversation returns to the concept of "un-vacations," with Aakanksha clarifying that it involves actively seeking challenging situations that push one emotionally and physically. She shares her experience living with tribes in Ethiopia's Omo Valley, where she confronted cultural differences and ethical dilemmas. She emphasizes the importance of observing without judgment and respecting different ways of life.
Aakanksha’s second controversial opinion [34:17]
Aakanksha's second controversial opinion is that couples should travel together early in a relationship to assess compatibility. She believes that travel exposes a person's true character and reactions to stress, providing a comprehensive understanding of whether the relationship can work long-term. While acknowledging the investment of time and effort, she argues that it saves months of potentially wasted dating.
Travelships [41:17]
Aakanksha introduces the concept of "travelships," relationships formed while traveling with no expectation of long-term commitment. She shares her experience meeting her partner while traveling in Sri Lanka and how their shared lifestyle and values led to a more serious relationship. She emphasizes the importance of organic connections and the freedom of solo travel in meeting new people.
Trains [46:16]
The discussion shifts to trains, with Aakanksha admitting she's not a train enthusiast. Aman expresses his love for trains and the quality of sleep he gets on them. Sid shares his unique napping habit of sleeping in his gym's soundproof studio while his coworker plays house music.
Rapid fire [48:35]
Aakanksha answers rapid-fire questions, revealing that Japan is the country she hasn't visited but wants to, she has been to 46 countries, and she prefers Airbnbs over hotels. She shares tips for finding good Airbnbs, such as reading German reviews and using Google Maps Street View to assess the location. She also mentions that Indonesians are the friendliest people and Norway is her favorite place.
Game time! [58:13]
The hosts play a game called "Imposter Country Edition," where three players know the name of a country, and one player is the imposter who must guess the country based on vague clues. The first round involves the country New Zealand, and Sid is revealed to be the imposter. The second round involves Spain, and Aman is the imposter.
Playing imposter [1:05:42]
The hosts continue playing "Imposter Country Edition," providing clues and attempting to identify the imposter. The game involves strategic thinking and creative clue-giving to mislead the imposter while still conveying the correct answer.
Aakanksha’s empty shelf item [1:21:29]
Aakanksha shares her "empty shelf item," a Dormon-themed metro card from Taiwan, and gives the hosts coins from Colombia and Chile. The hosts thank Aakanksha for being on the show, praising her travel insights and unique perspective. Aakanksha expresses her enjoyment of the conversation and her appreciation for the hosts' work.