Interview with Savi and Vid From Bruised Passports

1. Can you start by giving us a little bit of background about yourself and your blog. How did you start traveling? When did you start blogging, and what did you expect readers to get out of it?

We were schoolmates and friends, dated for years, and then got married. Currently, we call London home and hold full-time jobs here. Savi is an academic with a PhD in English literature, and I am a computer engineer by profession.

Both of us are equally passionate about travelling and have been exploring the world since the last 5 years – so far we have travelled to 37 countries and over two hundred cities. Needless to say, we are constantly adding to that list.

Our blog is only a couple of months old, but the response has been overwhelming. We get dozens of encouraging emails, tweets, and messages every month, and we’ve made so many new friends across the world. It’s all very exciting.

Bruised Passports is all about inspiring people to leave their comfort zones and get travelling. It is a unique mélange of travel and fashion for the road. Our philosophy is simple – you get one life, do what you love and do it often.

2. Let’s talk experiences – what has been the best experience you’ve had on the road? The worst?

We’ve been fortunate to have some amazing experiences on the road. It’s tough to pick one but we find it hard to forget the amazing people we met on our visit to a township in Johannesberg – it was the highlight of our trip to South Africa.

We’ve had a number of misadventures on the road- from sprained ankles to funky-tasting street food, we’ve suffered it all. The one that took the cake was a faulty GPS during our epic road trip through Croatia. It led us into a labyrinthine forest – instead of turning back, we went deeper and deeper into the woods till there was no turning back. Lesson learnt – be prudent, not adventurous when dealing with faulty GPS’s.

3. You have a nice Travel and Fashion fusion on your blog – is it possible to be trendy while traveling? What are some tips?

Absolutely. In fact, the ‘Wears’ section of our blog is dedicated to showing readers how to stay trendy while travelling. Savi always advises people to pack according to the destination-white maxi dresses for Santorini, ethnic prints for Marrakech, or breton stripes for Paris heighten the experience of travelling to new destinations.

People are often surprised when we tell them we are light travellers- the key lies in packing only the clothes you will need and packing a number of multi-functional pieces. Have fun with your clothes instead of following trends- it always works 🙂

4. I love that you have a lust list – reminds me of our bucket list. What are you hoping to cross off on your next journey?

We can’t wait to cross some stuff off our lust list. We’re going to the Tomatina festival in Spain in August this year. Towards the end of the year, we will fly to South-East Asia to explore Cambodia and Laos.

5. Despite living in London you travel on Indian passports – how does this complicate things when you go to get a visa?

Aah! We could write a thesis on this one. Travelling on Indian passports complicates things a lot. We need visas for each and every country, so it’s imperative we plan our travel in advance. We’d love to just book a ticket and take off to Argentina one fine winter morning, but we cannot. There’s a big task-list that precedes that – get our documents in order, book our tickets, procure bank statements, and book accommodation just to get our visas. Our British friends are always shocked at the amount of paperwork that goes into travelling on an Indian passport.

It’s easy to get dissuaded from travelling at all, but of course wanderlust triumphs every single time.

6. What are some good ways to be fashionable in conservative countries?

Savi is a big fan of dressing according to the place. Travel resources frequently suggest covering up in conservative countries. While that is true, it shouldn’t be an excuse to dress dowdily. Opt for relaxed bohemian cuts and ethnic prints while travelling to conservative countries. We recently discussed this on our post on UAE.

Maxi dresses, Maxi skirts, and peg-leg trousers are just some of the things you could pack while travelling to conservative countries. Never forget to pack colourful scarves – they are your best friends in conservative countries. Just pop one in your bag and use it to cover your shoulders, head, or legs if need be.

7. You have some real estate carved out on your blog for Fabulous Finds – what are your top three?

We’ve dedicated the ‘Fabulous Finds’ section to little gems that we’ve discovered during our travels- restaurants, cafés, and bars that deserve a blog post of their own. Our top 3 would have to be:

The Absinthe Bar in Antibes, France

Falafels in Haifa, Israel

Coffee at Nude Espresso, London

8. What are some of your interests outside of traveling?

Savi is passionate about English literature, world cinema, and Modernist art- you will find her swooning at Dalis and Picassos at every museum within a 10 mile radius.

I am a keen purveyor of third-wave coffee – a geek, if you may. I roast and grind my own beans at home, and love experimenting with different blends.

 

Bio: Savi and Vid live in London and are avid travelers. They have traveled to 37 countries and blog about their travel and fashion adventures at Bruised Passports. Their blog is full of outfit posts, travel stories, street food adventures, and photo essays. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.