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Street Talk: The young times of a born traveller

Dubai - A fictional story Bhumika Nasta penned as a child would turn out to be the account of her own life

Born and raised in UAE, Bhumika Nasta has always been a girl who liked to socialise with people from different parts of the world. She has an innate curiosity about people's backgrounds and cultures. "If it wasn't for growing up in Dubai, I wouldn't have developed this curiosity. I absolutely love the fact that the city has evolved into a melting pot of people from various corners of the world," Bhumika says.
One of Bhumika's fondest childhood memories is of getting a fiction story published in Khaleej Times' Young Times supplement. She says, "Children born in the 80s and who grew up in Dubai are likely to remember this children's magazine, that fascinated all of us." Her story was a fictional account of a girl who travelled to a new place, and in doing so, learnt some valuable life lessons. Little did she know then, that the life of her fictional protagonist would turn out to be the account of her own life!
As she grew up, Bhumika's fascination for travel grew too. "Being someone who can make friends easily, and an active listener, I love to befriend new people. It's one of the reasons I love travelling," Bhumika says. Her wanderlust has taken her to different parts of the world. Destinations that top her list include Singapore, Bangkok, Krabi, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar, Agra, Johannesburg, and Durban.
What's tops her list of favourite moments in her travel diary? "One?! One is too less. let me give you the top three moments!" Bhumika explains.
First, Bhumika talks about the magical sunset she witnessed in Bali while taking a dip in a private pool at her hotel. "I was in awe of the spectacle. The hues in the sky were absolutely mesmerising. The spectrum of orange to purple shades is a sight I still remember vividly." The colours in the sky reflected in the pool, and it felt as if Bhumika had immersed herself in a colourful painting, she recalls.
Next, she cherishes a tranquil moment experienced at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. "It seemed like someone had pressed the pause button on that scene. It was a cold December morning. The warm 'karah parshad' (a sweet served at the temple) simply melted in my mouth. It felt like being touched by the warmth of God's love, in a cold world."
With a whimsical tone, she starts describing the third moment - dancing in the rain with some Thai children in Bangkok. It was at that moment, she says that she realised "We are all born happy and that is so evident when you look at children. We must not stop emanating happiness as we grow up!"
After all the travelling, though, there is only one place where she feels the comfort of home. "Dubai is home to me. I am glad that I was born and raised here. I would definitely want to spend the rest of my life here too," says Bhumika.
As a youngster logged in on the digital world, her Instragram account @bhuminasta is a photo travel diary of sorts.
gaurav@khaleejtimes.com