Sapna Pabbi is a no frills kinda traveller, and we love how she likes to absorb a place without letting social media interfere with her experiences. By Priyanka Chakrabarti
1. What kind of traveller are you?
Last minute, no frills. Impulsive… yet always organised. I always keep adding stuff to my bucket list whenever I see good places to visit, stay and things to do — so, it’s easy for me to just get up and go.
2. What does travelling mean to you?
Traveling to me is about the people and the place. It’s never about taking pictures or posting about my holiday. I detest that stuff. It’s about feeling and absorbing the essence of where you are. I prefer to just walk around, sit around and talk to new people I meet who are doing the same. It’s about taking an experience or moment back with me that is so much greater than a souvenir.
3. Your work may take you to many destinations. Would you share a memorable anecdote?
Even though work takes us to so many beautiful destinations all over the world, we barely have time to experience them. Outdoor location shoots are actually more jam packed. For example we were in Cape Town for Khamoshiyan for almost 30 days and we only went out exploring (and partying) three hours before we had to head to the airport for the return flight. Me and Ali Fazal made sure we partied until we boarded!
4. When you were a child, where would you usually travel to for summer vacations?
We would usually travel to Punjab to meet my dads brothers and sisters. Or, it would be America or Canada, which is where the rest of our family had migrated. Me and my brother would get exhausted traveling from pind to pind (village) as kids!
5. What has been your best 2018 holiday?
Koh Phangan in May with my girl. I think, random trips with the girls are the best.
6. Who is your favourite travel buddy and why?
I end up running away alone most of the time because I don’t manage to convince Simer Motiani to come with me.
7. Tell us about your most adventurous holiday.
It’s yet to happen.
8. While travelling, do you maintain a fitness and skin care routine?
I would love to but I never manage it. I’m such a foodie and eventually give up aiming to get to yoga in the morning and give into trying food from all over the world. Food is a huge part of my travels. Skin care is sun, sea, smiles and sunblock!
9. If you could pack only five things for a vacation, what would they be?
Speakers, power bank, wallet/passport, boots, and a bikini.
10. Do you think solo travelling is more enriching than travelling with a group of people?
No. I think both are equally enriching and you get contrasting experiences.
11. Which are your favourite cities around the world?
Tel Aviv, Cape Town, Berlin, Florence, and Kyoto.
12. A destination that you want to visit this year?
13. The most awkward experience you’ve had while travelling?
I was in Tokyo with a friend and we lost each other in the town centre; we both got on trains going in opposite directions and we were lost and unreachable for hours!
