Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

Through Airbnb, Utsav ended up booking a place in a dangerous neighbourhood of northern Paris. But what we were not prepared for was our Airbnb host, who was unlike anyone we had met before. In a Covid world, it seems that we have already lived the last of our good times? Or maybe not? This week, Utsav brings to you an unlikely story of finding hope in the most dire times. If you are feeling low,...

The iconic American stand up comic George Carlin once made a strong case of worshipping the sun, as it is indeed omnipresent! But it was only during a trip to Rome did I realise how the sun and sunlight have indelibly influenced architecture. This week, Utsav talks about how both Europe and Asia have used sunlight in fascinatingly different ways, both giving rise to beauty that leavs us in awe. Yo...

For 40 years, the Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, sat fully constructed barring a dome. The Florentines had become so embarrassed by their failure to complete the dome announced a contest for the ideal dome design, with a handsome prize of 200 gold florins—and a shot at eternal fame. Leading architects of the age flocked to Florence and presented their ideas. This week, Ut...

In Paris, lies the Père Lachaise Cemetery, where you find the remains of a woman and two men. The Cemetery of the East, is the final resting ground of people from all walks of life in France. And yet, these three stand out. Away from crowds at the Eiffel, away from all the glitz and glamour of Paris, is the story of these three, who left an indelible impact on the world. But for the longest time,...

Kanta Prasad is 64, but his childhood memories are vivid. If he ever discovered that an animal is going to be slaughtered nearby, he would run holding a wide-mouthed container to collect the blood, the intestines and the offal, all parts that the upper castes discarded. The rakti, coagulated blood, was and still is a Dalit delicacy. This, week Utsav talks about a cuisine most of us have never even...

Near the end of the 18th and final of her pregnancies, Hiranmayi Ghatak, became a widow. Her body had withstood a whirlwind of miscarriages and stillbirths, which resulted in a total of eight living children by the time she was 37. For the rest of her life, much like countless women before her, she was forced to live very frugally and eat minimally. This week, Utsav brings to the fore a cuisine wh...

If there is one beverage which our country unabashedly loves, its Chai. We cannot imagine an India without Chai, and yet what you may not know is that Chai is less than 2 centuries old in India. This week, Utsav narrates the fascinating story of how chai became a part of our DNA and reflects on the absurdity of food origin debates. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (...

In 1922, fed up of his family squabbles, K Krishna Rao, left his home in Udupi, Southern Karnataka and moved to Chennai to work as an attendant at a restaurant. He eventually moved up and gave rise to a whole subculture of Indian food - Udupi restaurants. This week, Utsav talks about a success story of internal migration, but one that is laced with a discriminatory remanent of the past. You can re...

If you've been a fan of Bengali food like I've been, you may be surprised to know that there exists a whole other kind of Bengali food you may not have even heard of. It's a friendly food rivalry known to all Bengalis but it is a story of how our climatic conditions, geography and economic conditions shape our food. Join Utsav, as he walks you through this dichotomy of Bengali food, and gives us a...

What can the cult classic Gangs of Wasseypur teach us about Indian food, and the religious and caste underpinnings of it? In this episode, Utsav revisits a scene in the film, and talks about how we need to introspect and evaluate if we are unknowingly practicing discrimination, not only abroad, but more importantly at home. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle: @whywetravel42 https://insta...

We all love Indian food and swear by it. A few weeks abroad is all it takes for a desi food craving to kick in. However, there is a dark aspect about our food which we all know, but seldom talk about. We see it everyday, but have chosen to ignore it. Join Utsav as he walks you down memory lane, and pushes you to have a conversation you may have avoided altogether. You can follow Utsav on his Insta...

You have eaten this snack, guaranteed. But in all probability, you have no idea that it is the world's more popular snack. Traversing countries, religions and centuries, this humble snack is loved all over the world. Dive in for a fascinating food story, a trip in nostalgia land and an immersive travel experience. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle: @whywetravel42 https://instagram.com/w...

You have eaten this snack, guaranteed. But in all probability, you have no idea that it's the world's more popular snack. Traversing countries, religions and centuries, this humble snack is loved all over the world. Dive into this episode where host Utsav will narrate a fascinating food story, a trip in nostalgia land and an immersive travel experience. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle...

During his time in Uzbekistan, Utsav decided to rough it out and travel in a second class compartment on a 17 hour train journey. What he wasn't prepared for was his interaction with the locals. Not with one or two, but an entire compartment, all wanting to talk at once? Join him in this two part series, where he narrates his experiences of this slice of Uzbeki life. You can follow Utsav on his In...

On a random stroll in the streets of Bukhara, Uzbekistan Utsav overheard a conversation about doors. Yes, the humble home door. What secrets could the design of a simple door hide? And what if that secret can be found in India as well? Tune in to the episode, as Utsav decode the secrets of culture hidden in the humble door. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle: @whywetravel42 https://insta...

Van Gogh and Uzbekistan didn't exist in each others' time but yet what connected them was the love for the colour blue. Tune in to the episode to know how the colour blue holds immense meaning to the people of Uzbekistan, and how it is present all across Islamic architecture. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle: @whywetravel42 You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM...

What connects the famous traveller Ibn Battuta in the 14th century, the Mughal Emperor Babur in the 18th century, and your poor podcast host Utsav in the 21st century? A fruit! And not just any fruit, the absolute pinnacle of agricultural glory. In Episode 14, he goes deep into the experience of eating a Melon from Samarkand. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle:  @whywetravel42 You can li...

How often have you turned up at a place and found yourself in awe of its beauty? We often associate beauty with talent, ingenuity and brilliance. Arriving in the historic city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Utsav stumbled upon the surprising simplicity of beauty and the unsung hero of all human achievement. Tune in to Epsiode 13 to discover how the most stunning architecture has to do with your orang...

On a long walk in the Himalayas, Utsav met with an 80 year old monk who was learning to drive a Jeep. If you are wondering why would a man, who is devoid of worldly desires, was learning to drive, tune in to the Episode 12, where we listen to the monk who gives a startlingly simple insight into how we should live our lives. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle:  @whywetravel42 You can list...

Everyone wants to be happy in their lives but sometimes the endless search for happiness leave us unsatisfied. This week on Postcards from Nowhere, Utsav talks about happiness vs. satisfaction, and what is common between Nobel Prize winning economist, Daniel Kahneman and Dolma Aunty, the amazing caretaker of the cottage where he spent a month alone in the Himalayas. You can follow Utsav on his Ins...

As Utsav set out to solo travel for 3 months to Bosnia & Herzegovina, Armenia, and Georgia, he constantly questions about safety and his ability to survive in remote places. Indeed, as the world becomes more xenophobic, narrow minded and inward-looking, it may come across as a pertinent question. Tune in to episode 10, where Utsav not only puts this question but also tells you why you should never...

In the spring of 1790, a 29-year-old Frenchman wrote the weirdest travelogue one could ever imagine. He was so pleased with his writings, that he went on to write another one in 1798, which was no less weird. He pioneered an ingenious way to travel everyday, which should have made him world-famous. Now you may not be able to quit your job and travel the world, but you could definitely follow the t...

How many times have you encountered large groups of Chinese tourists, who literally take over a place and kill it for others? We all feel annoyed with them, and Utsav was no different till he ended up living in Shanghai, China for 6 months. This week, he talks about the slow realisation of why the Chinese ended up like this, and what it means for us as travellers. Aided by a crash course in contem...

How do you travel and live in a city for  Free ? Yes, not Cheap but Free. In Shanghai, Utsav decided to try out Couchsurfing. He started out a social experiment lasting 6 months where he hosted close to 40 people, eventually became a way to reaffirm his faith in humanity. Tune in to episode 7 to find out how he crossed paths again with one of his Couchsurfers 2 years later. You can follow Utsav on...

A casual meandering around the Tea Gardens in Munnar, Kerala led Utsav to a Kalaripayattu performance. What was meant to be a cultural immersion turned out to be an experience which helped him untie mental knots? Tune in to Episode 6, to understand what is kalaripayattu and how this ancient martial art form could provide us ways to tackle our everyday problems and hardships. See omnystudio.com/lis...