When you set off in pursuit of the epic travel story, the world falls together to make it happen.
Yeah, that actually isn’t how it works, is it? Except it is, for a chosen few. OK one person, we know one person who actually got to make that happen. So come, let us introduce you to Ajay Jain. He gets to be a professional traveller, by taking the most epic journeys and telling the most enthralling stories through photos, videos, blogs, books, even a charming travel cafe. His brand — Kunzum — is a creative enterprise married to a tight entrepreneurs workshop, and it is making waves.
We talked to him about how he got here. Was it a passion for travel that lit the flame?
“People assume travel, writing and photography were my passions and it’s good that I am able to make a profession out of it. I surprise them with my answer. Travel was not always my passion. Only when I started travelling — mindfully, and not just as a tourist — that I realised how much I liked it. And gradually, I wanted nothing more than to be able to discover new places and experiences. And that’s when it became my passion.
I have been a traveller since the summer of 2007 — the moment of purpose came as I stood shivering in the wind-infested high altitude Kunzum La in the Indian Himalayas. On a road drive, I thought I had lost my way ’til signs at Kunzum showed me the direction. It’s metaphorical in a way. It was a time when my life seemed to be going nowhere — so I decided to go everywhere.”
And he did. At last count, Ajay has visited 36 countries and has taken some amazing journeys into parts of the world and India that are so remote, so ethereal in their beauty, that even a seasoned traveller has to stop in their tracks. And that sharp intake of breath, that moment of intense religiosity, is what Ajay has built his career on — showing us what is out there, bringing a bit of that grandeur into our lives.
Of course it isn’t all heart-stopping moments. There are missed connections, landslides, and pickpockets even on the greatest journeys and Ajay has had his share. His advice…
“Keep your passports, bank cards, money and all valuables in a waist pouch or a sling that you NEVER take off when out of your hotel room or apartment. You may keep it on a restaurant chair or table, but you are likely to forget it there or someone will steal it. The crooks are smarter than we can imagine.”
We salute Ajay Jain and the Kunzum story!
At Toffee, we love stories of unbridled passion, we like to think we live these stories. As part of a community of travellers, we offer just-right insurance plans that will see you on your journey, looking after you, your stuff. So you get to live the fearless moments and tell the awesome tales. Check out our Globetrotters Toffee (for international travellers) and our Backpackers Toffee (for jaunts around India).
Write to us about your 2018 travel plans for more savvy hacks on safety!
And you know what they say, “A stitch in time saves nine.” A tiny investment before your upcoming travel can destress you, enabling you to relive some amazing memories, lifelong. Totally worth it? Heck yeah — just ask Ajay.
