Hello from New Delhi : Himalayan lover turned auto journalist turned hotelier!

Hey there,

Yet another 'oh-steemit-is-cool' newbie from India? Umm, well, not really! I have been a silent reader / observer of Steemit for a while and having gone through numerous success stories (like that of my old pal @firepower) I finally decided to take the plunge and get back to writing. The basics first:

1. I am 34 years old (or will be soon - in Sep)
2. Born in New Delhi (5 hours and you are in the base of the hills)
3. Bunked school and college to quench my thirst for long rides on my little motorcycle (160cc, then 223cc)
4. Became an auto journalist (without a journalism degree) and lived a dream life for 11 years (I hold a Guinness record too)
5. The IT slump hit people like me last year - also gave me enough time to relax, talk to myself & spend time with my family
6. Currently running a little hotel / home stay in the North Indian hill-station of Manali (no, I haven't done a MBA course)
   6a) That doesn't mean I have left the auto journalism industry completely!
7. And I conduct personalized tours to Ladakh, home to the world's highest roads!

So yeah, life has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride : just like our roads in India - smooth and bumpy at the same time. Its great to be a part of this community - i am still trying to learn a lot so please excuse me if my first post isn't up to the mark.

The current experience of running a little hotel (or a home stay whatever you wanna call it) has been fantastic. From the initial re-construction work to getting all the furnishings from New Delhi (550km away) to dealing with extended winters and the snowfall, what a journey. It teaches you a lot too - plus learnings from guests, from complaints, from positive reviews, from friends and foes. This also means if any of you are ever in North India, please do drop me a message!

I promise to be a regular here - its a low season (for tourists) in the town of Manali which means I will have ample time to contribute here. UPDATE --> Here is my second post - https://steemit.com/news/@bunnypunia/india-s-largest-selling-car-costs-usd-3800-3000-pounds-why-is-it-so-popular

And here's my 3rd one - a LONG post on Ladakh, home to some of world's highest plains, lakes and passes - https://steemit.com/travel/@bunnypunia/looking-at-the-most-epic-roadtrip-ever-welcome-to-18000-ft-5500-mtrs-welcome-to-ladakh-long-post

Thanks for reading - signing off with an image of me and my white elephant during our latest Ladakh trip!