KatchutravelsThis edition of the #TravellerStories features Rohit Das, who teaches students on how to binge drink and miss flights. NO- I was joking! He is into discovering new ventures for his employer in the corporate world, and is a passionate traveller who documents scenery on his camera. Do hop over to his Facebook feed to see some sublime shots.
Why the need for such a series like TravellerStories? We hear so many travel stories, but we’d be able to appreciate the travel stories at a relative level, only when these same questions are put to people at different place, we’d probably have a sense of awe towards how geography and history places a bias on our thinking. So these are nice postcards that you want to quickly rummage through, over an evening snack. Yes, just meant over tea and biscuits.
A) Where are you from and what do you do for a living?
This is a question that has confused me at many levels for a long time! And here’s why. I am a Bengali who was born in Chennai (with strong roots there) and brought up in Delhi. Growing up, these three axially different elements made for an interesting concoction. The confusion put aside, I was very clear from an early stage that I wanted to get into the corporate world and focus on building new things. I am fortunate to be doing what I like for a living. I currently am the New Ventures Discovery Leader of a large multinational with presence in 120+ countries.
B) What’s the most cliched thing that outsiders say or feel about your city/country?
Delhi is my home town. It is interesting to note that whenever outsiders refer to Delhi, they have one of two distinct views depending on what part of the world you’re in. The South Americans, for example, think of Delhi being a really hip and chic place with a splash of the more traditional India thrown in. The second, which is probably a wider view, considers Delhi to be a mix of fast moving madness where the rich and poor seamlessly coexist.
C) What’s that one dish travellers should try out at your city and where?
If you are a non vegetarian, then you have the try the ‘Mutton Korma‘ at Karim’s in Jama Masjid or the ‘Kosha Mangsho’ at the West Bengal stall in Dilli Haat. For vegetarians, my recommendation would be to try the ‘Chole Bhature’ at Evergreen restaurant in Green Park.
D) Reg exploring places outside your city, which is your favourite place (and why)?
There is a small pub in central London called Ye Olde Mitre that I absolutely love. I try to visit that place every time I am there. It is 400+ years old and still has a very traditional English charm to it. Their stout beer on tap is to die for.
Ye Old Mitre Pub in London. Rohit Das is 2nd from right and 3rd from Left.
E) Of all your travels on work, which city charmed you the most and why?
My absolute favorite place in the world is a place just outside of Reykjavik in Iceland called Hafnarfjordur. It’s a small town of about 25,000 people but still one of the top three populated cities of that country! The place is really out of the world! I was so taken aback by the beauty of that place and its breathtaking landscapes that I decided to buy a serious camera after that.
Reykjavik by Rohit Das
F) What is the craziest thing you have ever done while travelling?
Have an insane and totally out of control beer drinking competition with a bunch of Aussie rugby players, land up in a hospital ER and then miss my flight back home the following morning!
