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Chillibreeze Interview with Nico Desouza
1. Congratulations on being among the top 3 winners of the Chillibreeze 1st Quarter Article Writing Contest. What was your first reaction when you received the news? Did you expect to be the contender among the top 3 entries? Thanks very much. I was quite pleased on learning that my article - Tips to travel on a Shoestring Budget in India, was selected. I didn't quite expect to be among the top 3 contenders.
I came across Chillibreeze through a friend. The sample article I wrote is about travelling on a budget through India. I chose this topic because it wasn't merely a test of superlative story-telling and articulate language. It was about putting together relevant information that made sense to a traveller looking to budget himself in this country that can be harsh at times with language barriers and lack of information. 3. We understand that as part of your earlier desk job, you have travelled, researched and written travel guidebooks. Did this first-hand experience come in handy when you wrote the sample article? While travelling on work, the company pays for everything. So, one does not really need to watch the wallet. But first-hand experience from the earlier job helped me a lot, because I got to meet people from diverse backgrounds, each contributing invaluable tips that go well beyond the realm of shoe-string travel. The French have a popular phrase 'Profitez Bien' which means 'make the most of it'. It's true. One can make the most of a trip starting from the time the journey commences, perhaps your co-passenger in the train with his quirky mannerisms, or his wife who smothers and mothers you with her home-cooked fare. Honestly, I've seen that the party can start right from the moment you leave your home if you want it to, and not necessarily at that archaeological museum or botanical park. Stop and smell the roses along the way.
Writing a guide requires one to visit the place, meet property owners, museum curators, managers, waiters, drivers, tour guides, shop keepers, taxi drivers, boatmen, beggars, touts, priests, monks, masseurs and a whole lot of unaccounted and unexpected people who are going to shape your final impressions of the city. Your eyes are the camera and your ears, the dictaphone. Skill sets include flexibility, presence of mind, patience, empathy, a keen sense of observation, curiosity and a non-judgemental attitude. Of course, arranging the data into a meaningful pile of information that is interesting and informative is an obvious given for a travel writer! 5. You have also completed an IATA course and worked in the aviation industry. Tell us about the experience and what prompted you to switch to writing? Working at the airport as a security agent was an unforgettable experience. From screening baggage and dealing with super fragile egos of managers, customs officers, Bollywood stars and politicians, to watching the checking counters for suspicious activity, and accompanying the aircraft onto the airfield at 3 a.m. in a jeep in blinding rainstorms - life at the international airport was full of unlimited entertainment. The unpredictability is a drug-rush, however I realised that working during nights left me with no time to pursue other interests. Change was in order and writing was something that always attracted me.
Read up on the place you plan to cover, read travel blogs from previous travellers, put up posts on social networking sites asking friends who've been there for tips. If you don't like too much of preparation, then just dive in and follow your instincts. If you plan to get into the field professionally, fitness is paramount because you could be on a gruelling schedule. As romantic as dusk and nightfall is, remember that parks, museums, etc., work by day so you may be forced to work through the afternoon in harsh conditions especially in the torrid Indian plains. Stay hydrated and never compromise on food. Car-sickness, altitude sickness, pick-pocketing, sunstroke and being ripped off are unfortunate realities that can deflate you - so go prepared for the worst, and soak it in with a grin when things go as planned. Take time off to enjoy other stuff once the day’s work is over. Go to a karaoke bar, a yoga class or a concert and make as many notes as you can when the day ends. Compiling data a few days later can be surprisingly difficult if your photographs didn't have too many details or if you didn't listen closely to that restaurant owner, whose restaurant doesn't have a website, which you thought you could lazily rely on. And before I forget, do read up on travel quotes; they're worth a million bucks! 7. What are your other interests? Hah! At this time, the only thing that comes to mind on hearing the word 'interests' is Thievery Corporation and Loulou Ghelichkhani. Thievery has massively inspired and unleashed copious amounts of creativity in me with their sounds and vocalists, who weave magic in Persian, Portuguese, French and even Hindi. Their music fuels the desire to travel and learn newer languages; I tell you all these things are connected! Music does not inspire only musicians, and I'm testament to this fact. Other interests include short films; I've made a couple of amateur ones with a regular DSLR. They have been screened at festivals but now I plan to focus on just writing scripts and directing. Dogs are my good friends too. Picking up accents along the way is what I do best. Ask for a Russian rendition when we meet! Check the results of the writing contest for the First Quarter, 2012 Related links: Tips to Travel on a Shoestring Budget in India
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Nico Desouza, a freelance writer with experience in travel writing and travel guides. Scripting and directing short films and learning languages and drums keep her busy at other times
