This is a perfect week to publish Kash’s Lucky 13 interview. You see, it was his birthday just a few days ago. There was a great group of travel bloggers that celebrated with him last Saturday night in Berlin and…. there is video.
Kash is a man on the move. He is one of the European travel bloggers that I most admire for his knowledge, insights, and vision for the future of the industry, along with Melvin of TravelDudes (upcoming interview) and Keith Jenkins.
In addition to being smart and thoughtful, Kash is a whole load of fun, which was brought home yet again last weekend in Berlin.
httpv://youtu.be/68ICxY7HhWM
He’s got a great project coming up on his website which will highlight the luxury hostels of Europe — yes, you read that right — and he’s one of the people you will hearing a lot more about in the coming months and years. Get ahead of the curve and catch him before he gets big-time.
So go check out his website, Budget Traveller, follow him on Twitter and enjoy his answers to the Lucky 13:
1 – Fill in the blank: I have an irrational fear of _______
Shitting in public toilets. Recently discovered this is known as Parcopresis (‘bashful bowel’ syndrome) I’m not alone- Supposedly 4 million people in UK suffer from toilet phobia!
2 – What do you most miss from school?
My school library- place where I could read anything from Love Poems of Pablo Neruda, Tolstoy , John Braine and Isaac Bashevis Singer -brilliant collection. I discovered the world in that library.
I will fight you to the death, Kash.
3 – Who is your biggest celebrity crush?
Natalie Portman.
4 – Give us your one paragraph obituary, as you’d like to have it turn out in the end.
He lived, loved and saw the world. He lived a life with no regrets, making every moment count till his last breath.
5 – What particular accomplishment are your parents most proud of you for?
No particular accomplishment- I think they are happy with the person I am today and proud of all of my achievements- good or bad as all of them have made me the person I am today
6 – Who is your favorite politician from today or from history and why?
I studied Economics. I grew up in India where I have seen politicians as corrupt people who are a stumbling block to social and economic progress. Living in Britain for the past 12 years has made me more apathetic towards them.
7 – Festival you most want to go to?
Love to revisit the Kolkata Book Festival. Takes place every January and is just an amazing place to be..filled with the smell of new books, great food and the happy commotion of people.
8 – If you could be transported to one time/place in history what would it be, and why?
I would love to go back to the 60’s. What is they not to love about the 60’s… The Beatles, The New Wave in French Cinema breathlessly led by the king of cool Jean Paul Belmondo. Yves Saint Laurent. The Austin-Morris Minor. Plus it was my favourite era of British Writing- Kingsley Amis, John Braine Alan Silitoe.
We were more idealistic. Despite the technological progress and innovations of the last few decades I feel as humans we were more connected with each other, more openminded about life and opportunities then.
9. Superhero you would most want to hang out with for a weekend and knock back a few pints with.
Batman without a doubt. A self made man with no supernatural powers but with ability to be extraordinary…. sure he would have some thrilling, good and dark stories to tell me.
10 – You have an unlimited travel budget for 24 hours — tell us what you’d do.
I love travelling on a budget so this is a tough question!
If I had unlimited travel budget I’d invite all my travel blogger buds ( including you Micheal!) and we’d all jet off to a beautiful secluded island, chill out…. play football/volleyball on the beach, watch sunset…then light a campfire and have a king size barbecube… sing songs with unlimited amounts of champagne and mojitos…dance till dawn.
11 — Mom and Dad are never going to read this, so I can finally admit that I lied to them about _________.
The missing wad of Rs 5 bills when I was 9. I spent it on buying cadbury chocolate bars every afternoon for 2 months!
12 — What is your favorite continent and why?
Europe. Europe. For me it has everything- history, great diversity of cultures, great food, beaches, mountains and easy to move around.
13 — if I were King for the day, I would make ______ illegal and punishable by __________.
Tanning salons illegal and punishable by sending clients to cold, wet dreary place. Like Scotland! Haha.
Thank God there’s a name for my affliction… Parcopresis! Hello fellow, “wait till I get home” traveler. I guess I am normal after all.
Hilar that I didn’t even know his name was Kash, I only identify him as @budgettraveller via Twitter!
Great interview, as usual Michael. I love that he loves Cadbury chocolates…recently drove past their headquarters in Mumbai and thought of how much I miss my daily fix from my years living in London.
Cheers,
Priscilla
Tell me about it Priscilla.
I think my fear for public toilets came from my school years in Calcutta-school I used to go to had 17,000 students and toilets were at a premium so they never….ermmm.. you can figure out.
I am glad to hear that a few other travellers suffer from this!
PS When you mention to anyone in India about chocolate -the first thing they think of is Cadburys…some of my best memories of my childhood can be linked to cadbury’s
It was Kash’s birthday a few days ago … me too! I’m March 8th. I keep discovering new great things about you Kash :). Thanks for doing the interview Michael.
Tell me about it Priscilla.
I think my fear for public toilets came from my school years in Calcutta-school I used to go to had 17,000 students and toilets were at a premium so they never….ermmm.. you can figure out.
I am glad to hear that a few other travellers suffer from this!
PS When you mention to anyone in India about chocolate -the first thing they think of is Cadburys…some of my best memories of my childhood can be linked to cadbury’s 😉
Mariellen- seems like we have a lot in common no? 🙂
Be fun when we finally meet…….
Hahaha! That is a fab video!
The interview isn’t bad either, but the video rocks & it seems I missed how a star was born? 🙂
Was a really fantastic night and thanks to the girls and also Mike for the video-I think this could be a regular date in the calendar… ITB Berlin, Traveldudes party, birthday party….
Great interview…but that video. wow.
I love the butterflies at the end. Too funny!
Next year Mica-Berlin. Any good at karaoke?
Great interview! I love Kash!
I love you too! ( even more when we finally meet ? )
Love the answers and the video is amazing!!!!
I had so much fun that day!
You were rocking that mike on With or Without you-great group performance haha…
Was a great day and weekend- I’m having Berlin withdrawal symptoms….was a great week.
Hopefully see you soon in Scotland…stay in touch
Glad you had an awesome birthday, Kash!! Hope to see you again soon!!!
Hey guapi- thank you and when the hell are we meeting again!!?? Been too long since Manchester…..are you coming over for Umbria?
apart from the interview (i liked batman as a hero to spend a weekend with as well, sure he’d have some cool stories:D)
the video is hilarious!! And again apart from all the video, the credits at the end are the best! 😀
Thank you and glad you enjoyed the interview-say hello to me on Twitter, Facebook and there’s plenty of more laughs and hideous karaoke performances on the way.
Gotta love Micheal’s video…driving me nuts all the evening filming me and now in the end….it’s all clear.
A true work of genius, especially the end credits- tipsy blogger productions: legend!!
I was stealing money from my parents to buy chocolate too 😀 My biggest love …
When you’re a boy of 9 and the world’s becoming a confusing place, you gotta have your chocolate…..
I love Europe too, is there a specific destination you’d recommend for a weekend city break. I’m a budget traveller so it would have to be relatively inexpensive and easy to get to?
I thought I was the only one with a fear of bowel movements in public toilets. Turns out there is an official name for it and 4 million other people share my reluctance. I feel normal again. Thanks for the interview. Checking out his blog now.
Hey. Welcome to the ‘v.exclusive’ club 🙂
I am glad to hear that its normal now ( this interview has been v therapeutic)
Say hello to me on Twitter, Facebook- be great to connect with you.
Best wishes from bonnie Scotland…
Question 9 is redundant. Who wouldn’t want to spend time with Batman?!
First of all awesome surname Roy ( really your surname?)
I know.
Who would not want to hangout with Batman…be some night out that….
Drop by. Say hello on Twitter, FB
Kash, good luck with the fancy Hostels book, I think it will be a great success.
HAHA! #13 is hilarious 😀