Author: Thommen Jose

For 17 years I was a consultant specializing in corporate and responsibility communication based in Delhi. I wrote scripts, and directed films which were in turn used to build brand awareness, mobilize people, and raise funds, or just goodwill. My work mandated widespread traveling and to ensure I saw the places and got to know the people better, I began documenting it. My blog Wanderink.com was once among the top 10 travel blogs on responsible travel from India. I think its my writing that landed me book assignments from the Times of India Group which resulted in two road tripping books which I still talk about like yesterday: Experience Agra and around on the road and Experience Chhattisgarh on the road (both are available online). There were more that came along but I guess the discipline of writing was killing. Ok, actually, I think it was some other pressing personal issues. Before moving on to my wonderful present job, quickly about me: I hold a graduate degree in economics and a post graduate degree in communication and journalism. I was sub editor with The Week, a national newsweekly before moving on to advertising and later stints as copywriter, creative director with a few national agencies. All these glamorous stints and travel outings put some tattoos on me including one of an airplane on my neck. It was, let's say, closest to soothsaying that ever came my way. Right now I am with the company of some great people who represent airlines across markets - AirlinePros. Of course, my job is a continuation of what I have been doing - communication. My workplace has lots of airplanes and photographs of beautiful people and places. Contact me thommenjose@gmail.com

The Keralan in Keran

And the rise of border tourism in India Two nations. Two warring nations. Between the nations, flowed a river. ‘We call it Kishanganga, while for them it’s the Neelam,’ Fazan said. ‘But as you can see there is no difference between the waters,’ he giggled, sending flat pebbles skimming across the frothy top. He whistled […]

Merkato, into Africa’s largest open-air market

Teju Cole’s ‘Every day is for the thief’ is among my favourite books on Africa – a hark back to my own growing up days in Nigeria. A memorable quote from the book goes: One goes to the market to participate in the world. As with all things that concern the world, being in the […]

Coffee and connections. In Kodagu.

On a recent trip to the Kodagu/erstwhile Coorg region, my quest for good coffee opened up some interesting people, conversations, and stories. A lot can happen over coffee! Kannada for coffee There was no signage – at least none that I could read. It was the gas cylinder that made me stop – surely somebody […]

Thar’s how we do it

There is plenty about off-roading that you can apply to other parts of life, including regular roads – maybe another post. Now, the 101.

Dubai – With Determination

Imagine you are a family of five members and one of you has a disability. You want to go on a trip but your plans could be foiled because of the special needs of that family member. Cancelling will be a heartbreak, but carrying on with the trip without that member will be a bigger […]

Wings of dream

Natasha Mehl is the youngest pilot in Zambia today. She looks it too – wide eyed, inquisitive frown, warm smile and braces. At a recent aviation summit in Zambia, we bonded over the Concorde – the most beautiful thing in the sky ever built! I showed her the one and only photograph of the Concorde […]

Lusaka to Livingstone

There are two views from a moving car – the far and the near. While the first is barely moving, the second is a swishing blur. Between the knolls in slow motion and the swarming swards is you. Belted into a metal capsule, hurtling forward. Over soporific savannahs, just-vanished mirages, through blinking shades of patulous […]

A walk in Windhoek

You lose count on two accounts: one, when the number exceeds your counting ability and two, when you don’t count and instead just look forward to the next. I started visiting Namibia about two years ago on work and every time I am here, I am decided on what I have to do the next […]

Herero, kosher

Acts of assertion At airports: Bole International, Addis Ababa One would think it a gold-plated oil pipe if it was found anywhere else but on the passenger’s wrist. Even then the dimensions were adequate to traffic a newborn. Definitely more of what it was made of in little pellets or pewter format inside. The stuff […]