Fathom Questionnaire

Meet Vandana Verma of The India Tube

by Vandana Verma

Hometown: Born in the UK, although my family's from the state of Uttar Pradesh in North India. Currently I live and work in New Delhi, India.

Occupation: Writer and editor of The India Tube.

Favorite destinations: Brighton, Rajasthan, Bali.

Dying to visit: Mexico, Japan.

Bizarre travel rituals: Moisturizing like crazy until I'm too slippery for customs to catch me and compulsive list making and list-checking pre-departure. 

In-flight relaxation regime: Drinking, swaddling, and ensuring minimal chatter with neighbors. 

Always in carry-on: Dr. Hauschka lip balm, trashy magazines, and iPod.

Concierge or DIY? Ideally, a little of both. 

See it all or take it easy? Attempting to see it all, end up losing steam, and looking for a bar in which to take it very easy.

Drive or be driven? Be driven. 

Travel hero: My parents. They're retired, and all they do is travel. Also all those people who decide to up and go at a moment's notice, never worrying about tedious bits like luggage. 

Weirdest thing seen on travels: Weirdness is great. But the most inexplicable to me is those tourists who take endless pictures of buildings and fields. 

Best hotel amenity: Great sheets, a spotless carpet, and good products in the bathroom. 

I dream about my meal at a little warung in Bali and everything I've ever eaten on the streets of Thailand. 

Everywhere I go, I check out the bars, the fashion, and the local apothecaries. 

When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by walking, walking, and walking some more. Also by referring to the local edition of Time Out. 

I always bring home local beauty products, oils, and graphics flyers that I pick up as I walk around. 

If I never return to Miami airport it'll be too soon because the gentlemen at their immigration desks are the rudest I have ever met. 

I travel for fresh eyes and change of pace and, blessedly, for my work. 

We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.