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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Uday Padyana moved from India to the US in his 20s, landing a few tech jobs in Silicon Valley. </li><li>Despite better growth opportunities in India, Uday prefers the work culture in the US.</li></ul><p><em>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Uday Padyana, a mid-30s manager at a Big Tech company in Silicon Valley. The following has been edited for length and clarity.</em></p><p>When I first arrived in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-i-left-silicon-valley-california-after-two-years-2023-12">Silicon Valley</a> in 2013 after relocating from India in my 20s, I wanted to move back.</p><p>My parents and grandmother thought it was just homesickness, but I'd previously lived and worked outside of my hometown, so knew that this wasn't that feeling. It was because I knew that working in Big Tech in Silicon Valley would change me into a different person and I'd never move back.</p><p>It's been 11 years since then, and I think I've gotten happier with my life here now that I've worked at a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/landing-job-career-big-tech-interview-amazon-meta-google-apple-2024-5">few different jobs in Big Tech</a>. But I've also missed out on so many things back home — my family, friends, social circle, and sense of belonging.</p><h2 id="c75e447d-f472-426f-b4b8-19ef15acd002">Working in the US suits me more, although I'd have more opportunities in India</h2><p>I've interned and worked at a few other tech companies in the Valley, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/early-paypal-employee-sold-stock-too-soon-millionaire-2021-6">PayPal</a>, and I'm currently at a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-big-tech-dream-job-pay-perks-not-worth-it-2024-5">Big Tech company</a>. Prior to my current role, I also worked in Atlanta at a midsize tech firm, and outside the industry for over four years as a data analyst in Washington, DC.</p><p>There are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-working-in-bengaluru-the-silicon-valley-of-india-2023-7">more opportunities</a> in India. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-why-investors-say-india-tech-startup-ecosystem-booms-2022-12">tech industry's growth rate</a> has been phenomenal there, especially for the top companies. If I worked the same job for the same company in India, my salary would probably be about 60% of what I make here, yet I'd probably be able to save almost twice the amount I save here.</p><p>That's because the cost of living and taxes in Silicon Valley are higher than those in India. There's no public transportation here, so people either have to have a car or pay for Uber, which is expensive compared to India. High-quality organic food and eating out here is also more expensive, and hiring cleaning services is cheaper in India. I also have higher expenses here because of my annual trips back to see family in India.</p><p>But despite this, working in the US suits me better than working in India because of my individualistic mindset. There's a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/middle-managers-great-flattening-organization-meta-tech-layoffs-firing-2023-3">flatter hierarchy</a> in general, and I respond well to environments with accountability, ownership, and independence.</p><p>I also like that there's more scope to explore restaurants with cuisines from across the world, meet people from different countries, and have access to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sf-hot-spots-where-founders-vc-tech-workers-hang-out-2024-7">top networking places</a>, conferences, and classes here in the US.</p><h2 id="dfe1658c-5024-4333-9878-9867140a9360">I had reverse culture shock when I first went home</h2><p>The first time I went back to India after three years of living in the US, I had a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reverse-culture-shock-moving-back-to-america-asia-singapore-2023-12">hard time adjusting</a>. It was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-delhi-heat-wave-record-water-crisis-2024-5">too hot for me</a> and everything felt smaller, including my own room, where I'd lived for years. I was more sensitive to noise; it's quieter in the US, while India is bustling with sounds all the time, so I couldn't sleep. The air quality was also worse.</p><p>Since I was upset, I threw tantrums like a teenager. By the end of the trip, though, I realized I was at fault since I was expecting people to change their ways and norms for me when I was only visiting for a few weeks.</p><p>I decided to travel once a year to India, a promise I've been able to keep for the most part.</p><p>Despite these regular visits, I realize I've changed. I expect more silence and personal space. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-heatwaves-could-soon-not-be-survivable-humans-world-bank-2022-12">summers have gotten even hotter</a> in India, and I've become accustomed to air conditioning and higher-quality wifi since we have them everywhere in the US. I've also forgotten some customs and have done them incorrectly.</p><p>Because of my newly acquired mannerisms, preferences, habits, and life choices, it's easy for my old social circle to see me as "the guy who's living abroad." If I say a word in an American way out of habit, sometimes they think that I'm doing it deliberately to show off. Or if I say something authoritatively, it's assumed that I got that confidence from living in the US, not because that was always my personality.</p><p>I also see that I might come across as snobbish now, so I have to consciously think through how I'm coming across before I say something. Some people back home think very competitively — they've hinted that they think I'm just plain lucky, and if they had the opportunity, they'd do it too and much better.</p><h2 id="72978b4b-ce83-4e5e-a4d6-9a4c6e3aeb5e">I missed out on relationships</h2><p>My definitions of comfort, friendship, and relationships have also changed.</p><p>Texts on WhatsApp and calls back home aren't as effective as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-deal-with-homesickness-loneliness-living-abroad-2023-11">being in person with family and friends</a>. WhatsApp calls can work for short chats but aren't as good for emotional conversations. It's difficult to assess their emotional and physical states, and there's also a higher risk of arguments due to misunderstandings.</p><p>Sometimes, friends or family don't share things with me because they think certain things would be better to be said in person. I also don't share as much about my life with them as I would've naturally if I were around. I've missed many occasions where people meet and reconnect — family members' and friends' weddings, childbirths, and other important events of their lives.</p><p>I also didn't evolve alongside my friends in India. I haven't followed their timelines and feel less peer pressure. Differences in mindsets between my old friends and I have crept up over time, from food and content preferences to outlook on life.</p><p>I feel like I could've grown faster both materially and spiritually in the US because of the opportunities I had here, and that may not necessarily be at the same pace as the people I grew up with.</p><h2 id="8b127f72-db4a-46f9-a249-de4026d82a01">I wonder what my life would've been like if I stayed in India</h2><p>I'm generally happy with my job and my experience working in Big Tech here.</p><p>While I have no regrets about my choice to move to the US for a tech job, part of me wonders what my life would be like now had I stayed back in India. Maybe I would've gone after dreams I aspired to as a teenager, like becoming an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-tech-job-launch-startup-now-make-400000-2024-4">entrepreneur in tech</a> or entertainment.</p><p>But perhaps this is a bit of wishful thinking. As a colleague here put it, "Who knows, maybe you'd have just been a failure there — so many try and fail and only a few succeed." I don't have any way of knowing what could've been.</p><p>Living somewhere new changes you internally and makes you a different person. I feel too foreign here and too foreign there. Even if I had all the resources to go back to India, it'd be different — I've grown apart from who I was. And as much as I really like the US, I'm not from here. I don't have the same upbringing as many people here, so there are subtle differences in the jokes, music, pop culture references, and even habits.</p><p>One thing I'd like to do is to actualize all of my gifts and feel fully utilized, whether from a creative standpoint or a tech and business standpoint. I feel I haven't done that much and mostly have been flailing to make ends meet and get myself into a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/financial-plan">"safer" situation</a> by having a job, insurance, and savings.</p><p>But with the recession, there's nothing safe, and I see that I could've just taken risks in the first place — on my startup idea, trying to break into the movie industry, or even taking a break to write a novel I've wanted to write — and I can do so even now.</p><p>When I first moved to the US, I explored different frameworks for long-term thinking, such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-you-can-learn-from-jeff-bezos-leadership-style">Jeff Bezos's</a> famous approach of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/896830-i-wanted-to-project-myself-forward-to-age-80-and">looking at your life from the point of view of yourself at 80</a>. I hope I can make more conscious future choices to reach an outcome that I can be happy about when I'm in my 40s, 50s, or 90s.</p><p><em>If you moved countries for a job and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at </em><a target="_blank" href="mailto:janezhang@businessinsider.com"><em>janezhang@businessinsider.com</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Leaving India and working in tech in the US changed me. I feel too foreign here and too foreign there.

New Delhi [<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>], April 29 (ANI): Despite Geo-political tensions India's <keyword id="19933965" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-industry" source="keywords">tourism industry</keyword> braces for a surge of more than 10 percent in <keyword id="20027126" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inbound-tourism" source="keywords">inbound tourism</keyword> this year. Industry experts cite escalating conflicts in the Middle East and shift of <keyword id="19948130" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-tourists" source="keywords">foreign tourists</keyword> from China after the pandemic as key factors propelling India into the spotlight as a preferred destination for travellers worldwide.<br /><br />Recent tourism data indicates an annual growth of 305.4 percent in <keyword id="20467201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-tourist-arrivals" source="keywords">foreign tourist arrivals</keyword> (FTAs) in 2023. In 2023, 9.23 million foreign tourists visited India. Although the FTAs arrival number is still less than the pre-pandemic number of 10.93 million in 2019, experts believe in 2024 we might cross the FTAs arrival number of pre-pandemic days.<br /><br />"In the last 12 months the inbound tourism has grown, and the hotels have had probably the best year ever in the last 12 months. I think this trend is going to continue at double-digit growth for the next two to three years" said Dipak Diva, MD, Travel Corporation of India at an event 'Tres 2024' on tourism industry by Tres India.<br /><br />Moreover, the recent orders of Indian airlines to acquire over 1000 aircraft will further boost India's tourism sector by providing enhanced accessibility and connectivity for foreign tourists. In last one-year <keyword id="19896871" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Air India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Air India">Air India</keyword>, Indigo and Akasha have together ordered 1120 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. Also, the number of airports in India has doubled to 149 in the last ten years, this will boost new tourism destinations in India.<br /><br />"I believe that from January 2026, Air India is going to be one of the pillars of growth of inbound tourism to India after it signed a deal to acquire 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing" said Diva.<br /><br />New and untapped tourist destinations are attracting foreign tourist; latest data shows that foreign tourist arrivals in Varanasi have jumped manifold. With the construction of Ram temple, Ayodhya too is attracting foreign tourists.<br /><br />As the world looks towards Asia for travel opportunities, India stands poised to capitalize on this momentum, leveraging its unique attractions and hospitality to welcome travellers from across the globe.<br /><br />Deva further added "the other major impact that I think is China, which used to be about 120 million inbound tourist destination, does not have that kind of demand anymore. So that has also resulted in India getting the opportunity to get more tourists".<br /><br />He also highlighted the unparalleled appeal of India as a tourist destination, attributing the nation's diverse offerings, from rich cultural heritage to pristine beaches and tantalizing cuisine, as driving forces behind its increasing popularity among global travellers.<br /><br />The government had declared the year 2023 as the Visit India year 2023 in a bid to position India as a 360-degree holistic destination in the major international source markets<br /><br />Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the overseas Indian Missions participated in major international travel exhibitions like FITUR to promote the industry. And also participated as a partner country for the JATA Tourism Expo, which was held at Tokyo, in October 2023.<br /><br />By 2028, India's tourism and hospitality industry is projected to generate revenue of over $59 Bn. Additionally, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) are anticipated to reach 30.5 million by 2028. The foreign exchange earnings in 2023 were USD 28.07 billion. <br /><br />With expectations running high, industry stakeholders anticipate a transformative period for India's tourism landscape, propelled by strategic investments and a renewed focus on promoting the country's rich cultural tapestry through initiatives such as the "Incredible India" campaign.<br /><br /><b>SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/ultraviolette-f77-mach-2-electric-sports-bike-launched-in-india-starting-at-2-99-lakh/slidelist/109615934.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/ultraviolette-f77-mach-2-electric-sports-bike-launched-in-india-starting-at-2-99-lakh/slidelist/109615934.cms" target="_blank">Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 electric sports bike launched in India starting at ₹2.99 lakh</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiocinema-introduces-new-ad-free-premium-plans-starting-at-29/articleshow/109581033.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiocinema-introduces-new-ad-free-premium-plans-starting-at-29/articleshow/109581033.cms" target="_blank">An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-c65-5g-with-5000mah-battery-120hz-display-launched-starting-at-10499/articleshow/109619597.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-c65-5g-with-5000mah-battery-120hz-display-launched-starting-at-10499/articleshow/109619597.cms" target="_blank">Realme C65 5G with 5,000mAh battery, 120Hz display launched starting at ₹10,499</a></b><br />

Foreign tourist arrivals in India will cross pre-pandemic level in 2024

If you’re dreaming of opening a restaurant, here are the most popular foreign cuisines likely to work in India

<br />A recent survey revealed that <keyword id="7476029" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indians-love-food">Indians love food</keyword> so much that they <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indians-love-food-so-much-that-most-of-them-just-wont-go-on-a-diet-survey/articleshow/67552032.cms">refuse to go on a diet. </a>Now, another study has shown exactly what they love besides the usual Indian and Chinese — and their gastro choices are impressive.<br /><br />A survey by <a href="https://in.yougov.com/en-hi/news/2019/03/12/italian-food-worlds-most-popular-indian-cuisine-ra/">YouGov</a> asked over 25,000 people globally about their most liked ones from the 34 national cuisines based on if they’ve tried and liked it, ranking the most popular ones around the world. <br /><br />Italian food including pizza and pasta beat all the other cuisines in the world as the most popular foreign cuisine, followed by Japanese.<br /><br />In India, too, over 80% of those surveyed have a liking for Italian food, but there were some other surprising entries. <strong>Here’s the full list of what’s most popular in India:<br />
	
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Travellers, this is for you. While it's a great idea to travel outside the country to see new cultures, witness and feel a different way of life, meet new people and explore nature's mystic beauty, you have all of this at home too if you haven't realized it yet.<br />
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We suggest before you get on that foreign tour, explore your country first because it's got beautiful people from different origin, diverse culture, beautiful landscape, all kinds of weather to soak or chill in and not to forget - absolutely breathtaking cuisines.<br />
<br />
So this time, take a vacation to enjoy to soak in the beaches in Andaman, relish the beauty of our ancient heritage or get onto that adventurous wildlife safari in Ranthambore. <br />
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Here are a<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-29-most-surreal-places-in-the-world-to-visit-before-you-die/articleshow/51342814.cms"> few places that are best to visit at this time of the year</a>:<br />

The 11 most beautiful places in India for travellers

<br /><ul><li><strong>India witnessed a dramatic 100-fold jump in weight loss surgeries over the last 15 years.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are the states with maximum number of weight loss surgeries.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>In 2019, the number of weight loss surgeries swelled to 20,242, from 200 in 2004.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>The approximate cost of surgery ranges from ₹400,000 to ₹1 million in India.</strong></li></ul>Weight gain and flabs are making Indians so conscious that they are taking an alternative route of weight loss surgeries — for quick and effective results. <br /><br />The country witnessed a dramatic 100-fold jump in weight loss surgeries over the last 15 years. The national capital Delhi holds the record for maximum surgeries. This was followed by the Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. <br /><br />In fact, children as young as 15 are also undergoing surgeries to reduce weight.<br /><br />According to the Obesity Surgery Society of India (OSSI), the country recorded roughly 200 surgeries, done to cut extra flab. However, the number swelled to 20,242 in 2019, TOI reported. <br /><br /><keyword id="6403263" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bariatric-surgery">Bariatric surgery</keyword> is a bypass surgery of the stomach, which can reduce appetite by stitching a piece of the stomach.<br /><br />“Most people get weight-loss surgery done when they are fed up with restrictions in lifestyle and want to look better,” Dr Arun Prasad, President of OSSI<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/100-fold-rise-in-weight-loss-surgeries-in-15-years/articleshow/70778436.cms"> told </a>TOI. However, statistics show that diabetes and knee pain are the key reasons for performing weight loss surgeries. <br /><br />According to a survey by global market research firm Ipsos, Indians <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indians-love-food-so-much-that-most-of-them-just-wont-go-on-a-diet-survey/articleshow/67552032.cms">prefer ‘eating well’</a> over restraint. Only a third of respondents said that being thin is more important than eating well.<br /><br />The approximate cost of surgery ranges from ₹400,000 to ₹1 million in India.<br /><br /><strong>The healthier way<br /></strong><br />Given that the surgical method wasn’t much popular back in 2003, India had merely eight surgeons specialising in weight loss treatments. Come 2019, there are nearly 450 weight loss surgeons in India.<br /><br />Meanwhile, as many as 250,000 weight loss surgeries were performed in the US in 2018. Australia, China and other American countries also had higher number of surgeries, than India.<br /><br /><strong>See also:</strong><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indians-love-food-so-much-that-most-of-them-just-wont-go-on-a-diet-survey/articleshow/67552032.cms">Indians love food so much that most of them just won’t go on a diet: Survey</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/most-popular-foreign-foods-likely-to-work-in-india/articleshow/68627671.cms">If you’re dreaming of opening a restaurant, here are the most popular foreign cuisines likely to work in India</a><br />

Weight loss surgeries grow 100-fold as food-loving Indians take the easy route

<br /> India is among the worst countries for expatriates to live in with a place in the bottom 10 of the list, according to InterNations Expat Insider 2015 survey. <keyword id="55893" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="ecuador">Ecuador</keyword> tops the list. More than 14,000 respondents participated in the survey to explore the general living situation of expatriates, according to a release. <br /><br /> India, ranked 55th out of 64 countries, performs rather well when it comes to personal <keyword id="25455" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="finance">finance</keyword> and cost of living, placed ninth and 11th, respectively, the survey shows. <br /><br />

	The "Quality of Life Index", where India holds the 58th place, weighs the country down in the global ranking. India does especially badly in the subcategories of leisure (59th), health, safety and well-being (59th), as well as travel and transport (54th). "Evidently, expatriates are finding it hard to explore the many things this vast and diverse country has to offer," says the release. 
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	In terms of quality of life, personal finance, working abroad and making friends, Ecuador takes the leading position. "A stunning 94 per cent of the foreigners in Ecuador are pleased with local leisure options, while 91 per cent are satisfied with the local costs of living," the release stated. 
<br /><br /> <keyword id="3746" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mexico">Mexico</keyword> is the second most popular among expats, with its friendly people, beautiful beaches and tasty cuisine. Over four out of five expats say that getting used to the local culture is generally easy and over 90 per cent appreciate the friendliness of the local population. Almost every single respondent likes the weather in Mexico — which is one of the four most common considerations when it comes to moving abroad. <br /><br /> Expats say that third-ranked <keyword id="74041" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Malta">Malta</keyword> is the best destination for working abroad. Job satisfaction is high and two-thirds of the respondents or more are happy with their career prospects, work-life balance and working hours. Malta is also popular for its ease of settling in: 73 per cent find it easy to make new friends. <br /><br />

	In India, four out of 10 expats moved for job-related reasons, with an assignment by their employer being the most common. Two-thirds of all expatriates currently work as employees or managers, and over 40 per cent of them have a position in the middle or upper management. Expats in India are twice as likely as the global average to stay in their host country for less than one year. 
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	Although other categories seem to leave expats in India wanting, personal finance and cost of living are more favorable. The household incomes of 59 per cent of expats in India are significantly above the local average, increasing their purchasing power in a country where 29 per cent of the respondents describe the cost of living as very good. Indeed, 27 per cent think that their disposable income is a lot more than what they need to get by. 
<br /><br />

	This comparatively high income can be considered a reward for their hard work. Expats working a full-time job in India put in an average 46.5 hours a week. Ultimately, these extra hours work against them in the rankings as India does worst in the work-life balance category, which in turn heavily influences the Working Abroad Index, where India comes 51st out of 64 countries overall. 

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	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

India not a place for expatriates to live in: InterNations
Expat Insider 2015 survey

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Samantha Shea had never been outside the US before she started college in 2014.</li><li>After graduating in 2019, she visited India and Pakistan while developing her travel writing.</li></ul><p>When I tell people from back home that I live in Northern Pakistan, I'm usually met with shock.</p><p>Their disbelief escalates when I show them pictures of the snow-capped Karakoram mountain range that surround the village where I live.</p><p>"I thought Pakistan was a desert" is the most common response. As wrong as they are, I don't blame them. I didn't know much about Pakistan before traveling there after college.  </p><p>I live in Hunza Valley, 8,500 feet above sea level on the border with Western China, where I work as a digital nomad.</p><p>When I first came to Pakistan in 2019, I was a recent University of Miami grad who'd never lived outside the US. </p><div type="image" title="A drone shot of Hunza Valley in early May." height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102321" hostid="261"></div><p>In Hunza, electricity comes on for only a few hours a day, you walk to the local market if you need anything – Amazon doesn't deliver to the mountainous valley region – and running hot water isn't guaranteed. </p><p>The valley has, despite these elements, become my home. Here, I don't lock up my bike or my front door, I can walk everywhere, and my recent major home renovation cost me only $3,000. </p><h2>Current guidance around traveling to Pakistan </h2><p>The US travel advice for Pakistan is to avoid traveling to Balochistan province, many parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Indian-Pakistan border because of the potential for terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and armed conflict at the border.</p><p>The US government warns that the assistance it can provide citizens traveling in Pakistan is limited because of these security issues. However, I have personally traveled to some of these areas and did not feel unsafe at the time.</p><p>Although this doesn't mean these threats aren't real and something to consider, many foreign nationals and local Pakistani people travel to the Hunza Valley without incident. Forbes recently named Pakistan an <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2020/01/02/the-not-hot-list-10-best-under-the-radar-trips-for-2020/?sh=acd0ba222647" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up-and-coming adventure vacation</a>. CN Traveller also awarded Pakistan as their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d18T5ypYzgM&amp;t=16s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">top holiday destination in 2020</a>.</p><h2><strong>My journey to a remote village in Northern Pakistan </strong></h2><p>My love of travel began at college. From 2014 to 2019, I was a student at the University of Miami in Florida. While I loved my school, being by the beach, and Florida's eternal summer, I never felt settled in Miami. </p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, young woman stood in front of the Miami beach shoreline." height="2688" width="3583" msid="100102323" hostid="261"></div><p>Because I grew up in suburban Connecticut, the move to a busy city was a big adjustment. It was noisy and fast-paced, and the proximity to crime, common in urban areas, put me on edge. </p><p>I had never traveled outside the US growing up, but I fell in love with backpacking at college. My trips became more and more offbeat. I was traveling through India the summer before my senior year in 2018 when I decided to pursue a career in travel. </p><h2><strong>I wanted to become a freelance travel blogger after graduation</strong></h2><h2><strong><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea graduating from the university of Miami sat on the college's sign." height="2179" width="2906" msid="100102325" hostid="261"></div></strong></h2><p>I worked three part-time jobs while finishing my degree to save up for my indefinite adventure.</p><p>After graduating in 2019, I set off for India again, traveling around the country and into neighboring Pakistan. </p><p>Despite media negativity and concerns from family and friends, I didn't feel nervous crossing the border from India. I traveled from the historical city of Lahore to the Hindu Kush mountains of Upper Chitral — a region that directly borders Afghanistan — and felt comfortable everywhere I went. </p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea in Swat Valley Pakistan" height="2316" width="3088" msid="100102329" hostid="261"></div><p>I found it easier and more fun to travel here than in India, a much more "mainstream" backpacking destination. I encountered fewer scammers traveling in Pakistan. I also found Pakistan had less trash on the streets, and the roads were in better condition.</p><h2><strong>I worked for DoorDash and learned Urdu while waiting out COVID-19 limitations</strong></h2><p>In December 2019, I returned to my family home with the plan to move to Pakistan full time in the spring as a digital nomad.</p><p>My plans were halted by COVID-19. I spent the next year learning Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, and delivering for DoorDash. I also finally saw some freelance traction. </p><p>I got my first paid byline, increased my blog traffic, and freelanced in content writing and social-media management. I wanted to have established myself as a digital nomad before I left home.</p><p>In April 2021, I traveled alone to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. I hadn't arranged a guide and had no plan beyond my first few nights at a hostel. To many, my trip seemed insane, but I was committed. </p><h2><div type="image" title="The vistas on a multi-day hike to the Shimshal Pass, not far from the Chinese border." height="2614" width="3486" msid="100102331" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>Why Hunza Valley? </strong></h2><p>My 2021 journey brought me to Hunza Valley for a reason. I'd head it was well known as the safest destination for <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Hunza-Valley-women-challenge-Pakistani-patriarchy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solo female travelers</a>, largely due to its <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/high-up-on-a-pakistani-mountain-a-success-story-for-moderate-islam/2015/07/22/f0b878d2-2572-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">liberal culture toward women</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Woman walking Hunza Valley" height="4854" width="6472" msid="100102550" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza Valley is a remote area in Northern Pakistan. The Gatorade-blue rivers and snow-capped mountains make Hunza a popular tourist destination. The local community is known for its hospitality, and I immediately felt at home – something I'd never felt in big-city America.</p><p>The community is welcoming of outsiders — respecting and taking care of guests is a core value here. Before 9/11, there were droves of foreign travelers coming to Hunza, and many locals and their families worked in tourism, so I was welcomed readily. </p><div type="image" title="The Karakoram highway that cuts through Hunza" height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102551" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza is home to a <a href="https://www.thejuggernaut.com/ismaili-muslims-pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority Ismaili community</a>, a liberal sect of Islam. Teens hang out in mixed groups, women own restaurants and shops, and it's common for girls to receive higher education.</p><p>I settled in Hunza and have lived here for nearly two years.</p><h2><strong>Many Westerners I've spoken with have trepidations about Pakistan</strong></h2><h2><strong><div type="image" title="Shea sits with locals in a small seaside village on the border of Sindh and Balochistan in the far south of Pakistan." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102553" hostid="261"></div></strong></h2><p>Hunza itself could not be safer. I don't worry about locking my bike, or even my doors. I've never witnessed a crime of any kind, nor any of the terrorist incidents the US State Department warns travelers of.</p><p>Barely a day after I'd arrived, I found myself lost on a 5-mile trek I set out on alone. Wandering, I ran into a young male shepherd. He insisted on showing me the route back and carrying my bag.</p><p>I kept waiting for "that moment" for which all solo female travelers are on high alert — but it never came. The shepherd was polite and helped me safely find the trail.</p><div type="image" title="Hunza valley in Northern Pakistan" height="1066" width="1422" msid="100102555" hostid="261"></div><p>I think I felt more comfortable in Hunza than I did in Miami for several reasons: The local cuisine shared many similarities with my Polish grandma's recipes, I experienced daily peace, and being surrounded by 20,000-foot peaks made me feel like I positively was on another planet.</p><div type="image" title="Traditional spread of Hunza foods." height="1405" width="1874" msid="100102558" hostid="261"></div><p>I didn't have great WiFi for the first few months of living in Hunza, which was stressful at times. I've since found work-arounds, but it's not simple. </p><h2><strong>The biggest issue is that electricity comes on for </strong><strong>only </strong><strong>around 5 or 6 hours a day, primarily at night</strong></h2><p>I knew Northern Pakistan didn't have great electricity from my 2019 trip to other mountain valleys. Regardless, I always travel with a power bank.</p><p>I remember times when the electricity wouldn't come on as planned and I'd forgotten to charge my devices properly. I found it incredibly stressful, especially if I had a lot of work.</p><div type="image" title="Cycling in the Hunza Valley" height="1410" width="1884" msid="100102560" hostid="261"></div><p>Once, while on a road trip through Upper Chitral, another mountainous region in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, my power bank fell in water and wouldn't turn on.</p><p>I was in an area even more remote than Hunza and knew the power bank likely wasn't sold anywhere in Pakistan. The bank amazingly came back to life, but I did end up breaking another one a year later.</p><p>When these things happen, it makes me miss conveniences like Amazon, but a company called Daraz does manage to deliver plenty of items to Hunza within two or three days. </p><p>Power banks and other electronics can also be sourced from other countries via Packr, an app I've used several times to receive items from the US.</p><p>Now I have a permanent home, I've arranged more long-term solutions. </p><p>I bought a $35 UPS car battery at a local market, which keeps my WiFi router and basic lights working 24/7. I also have two 26,800-mAh Anker power banks as backups, the 2nd of which I purchased after that road-trip scare.</p><h2><div type="image" title="Car battery for back up electricity." height="5304" width="7072" msid="100102562" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>How I live and work in Hunza Valley</strong></h2><p>One month of accommodation costs between $150 and $250 on average — a far cry from the $1,300 I paid in Miami to share an apartment with roommates.</p><p>My life in Hunza began in Gojal, the local name for the northern portion of the region. When I arrived, I stayed in hotels. Nowhere I stayed cost more than $15 a night, and if I got a long-stay rate, they averaged closer to $8 a night.</p><div type="image" title="Gate to a house in Hunza Valley" height="7477" width="4987" msid="100102564" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza was slightly more expensive than I thought, especially before I found permanent accommodation. </p><p>I was shocked by how expensive some hotels were. Budget options are available, but a large portion of Hunza's tourism caters to the wealthy sector of the domestic market.</p><p>This experience has positively influenced my career as a freelancer. I've had my stories published in major media outlets. I also run an Instagram account and a YouTube channel focusing on life here and helping travelers plan their trips.</p><h2><div type="image" title="Shea speaking at a tourism event in Hunza" height="2274" width="3024" msid="100102569" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>I now live in Aliabad in central Hunza, the largest town in the district </strong></h2><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea and her boyfriend sat outside their house." height="1737" width="2316" msid="100102572" hostid="261"></div>I met my now partner, Fareed, in a local coworking space a few months after I arrived in Hunza. He was born and raised in Hunza and now works in trekking tourism.<p>We're happily settled in Aliabad in central Hunza, close to my partner's family, who have become a second family to me. </p><p>I've started learning Burushaski, one of the two major languages spoken in the valley. My partner speaks perfect English, so there's no language barrier.</p><p>Aliabad has high-speed fiber-cable WiFi, which makes uploading content or taking Zoom calls easy, and it's where you'll find amenities like ATMs, stores, small hospitals, and a few restaurants and shops.</p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Hunza Valley drone" height="3156" width="4208" msid="100102574" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>Even so, Aliabad is still a village in many ways</strong></h2><p>The main roads are paved, but many residential areas have dirt roads. Everything from the doctor to my cellphone provider is within a 15-minute walking radius. </p><p>My partner and I moved into a house his parents owned. It had no electricity, flooring, or running water. We recently renovated two rooms and added a bathroom with running water and a Western toilet. It ended up costing about $3,000.</p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, a digital nomad stands with her boyfriends' mother and grandmother." height="2264" width="3019" msid="100102577" hostid="261"></div><p>If we were renting, it would cost around 20,000 Pakistani rupees a month, or about $50. Renting might have been cheaper in the short term, but I love having a space all our own.</p><p>A meal at a restaurant is usually between $2 for local spots and $7 for Western fare, but cooking at home is much less expensive and often tastier. WiFi costs around $8 for unlimited data each month, and I pay $4 for 10 gigabytes of data for my SIM card.</p><div type="image" title="Woman eating Yak burger in Hunza Valley, Pakistan" height="5301" width="7068" msid="100102579" hostid="261"></div><p>Hot water is also not a given in Hunza — but an $80 gas-powered water heater solved that, with refills totaling about $20 a month. The electricity that does come is only about $2 a month, and the cold running water, sourced from a glacier, is free.</p><div type="image" title="2000-gallon water tank in Hunza Valley" height="5203" width="6937" msid="100102582" hostid="261"></div><p>Aliabad has a cold desert climate.</p><div type="image" title="Yak burger on traditional stove." height="2073" width="2764" msid="100102587" hostid="261"></div><p>The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Frequently frozen pipes and a lack of central heating mean winter can be difficult.</p><p>Having spent most of my life in Connecticut, I was used to cold, long winters, and I find Hunza's to be shorter. </p><p>Winter limits my daily activities, but it almost feels like a cozy hibernation period.</p><p>I spend lazy days working by my bukhari — a traditional fireplace.</p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Hunza Valley local drying apricots." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102590" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>The benefits of living in Hunza Valley far outweigh any negatives</strong></h2><p>I save thousands each month compared with living in a US city, and my quality of life is infinitely better.</p><p>I avoid the American hustle culture, which I find toxic. The people I meet in Hunza are generally quiet, polite, and respectful. I breathe clean air and eat organic, home-cooked food for every meal. </p><p>Though my solo journey to Pakistan started as a trip, Hunza Valley is now my home. I've even obtained the equivalent of permanent residency. With the money I've saved, I hope to travel to other countries, with Hunza as my base.</p>

I left Miami for a remote village in Pakistan. I have no running hot water and limited electricity &mdash; but my quality of life here is infinitely better.

<p class="source"><span>Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">U.S President Donald Trump presents fast food to be served to the Clemson Tigers football team to celebrate their Championship at the White House on January 14, 2019 in Washington, DC.</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>President Donald Trump's aversion to vegetables and love of junk food is well known, and former White House physician has described his attempt to introduce more healthy eating into the president's diet.</li><li>"We were making the ice cream less accessible, we were putting cauliflower into the mashed potatoes," Dr. Ronny Jackson told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/us/politics/ronny-jackson-congress-texas.html">The New York Times</a>.</li><li>Trump was found to be clinically obese in his physical exam last year, weighing in at 243 pounds.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>Former White House physician Dr. Ronny L. Jackson has described to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/us/politics/ronny-jackson-congress-texas.html">The New York Times </a>his plot to introduce more vegetables into junk-food fanatic President Donald Trump's diet.</p><p>Jackson, who is currently campaigning to be elected representative of Texas' 13th congressional district, told The Times that before the leaving the role as Trump's physician, he had been determined to cut the president's weight by 10 to 15 pounds, possibly by introducing an exercise bike. </p><p>"The exercise stuff never took off as much as I wanted it to," he said. "But we were working on his diet. We were making the ice cream less accessible, we were putting cauliflower into the mashed potatoes."</p><p>Jackson's glowing endorsement of the president's physical condition while he was White House physician - where he claimed the president could live "200 years" with dietary improvements - had earned him Trump's favor.</p><p>In 2018, Jackson was nominated by Trump to head the Department of Veteran's Affairs, but later was forced to withdraw his candidacy <a href="https://www.businessinsider.my/ronny-jackson-trump-va-nominee-report-drunk-crash-2018-4">after reports emerged</a> of allegations of faulty prescription practices and drunkenness at work. </p><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Trump-Physical/ebb8f5bc019e4c87bab03225eb70400c/4/0">Carolyn Caster/AP</a></span></p><p class="caption">Jackson shakes Trump's hand after leaving Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.</p><p>Trump's love of junk food is well known.</p><p>He famously fueled his presidential campaign with Diet Coke and McDonald's, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-serves-fast-food-in-white-house-2019-1">served a Big Mac buffet on silver platters</a> when Clemson University's football team visited the White House in January 2019. </p><p>Some foreign leaders have catered to Trump's indifference to haute cuisine, and on the president's first official visit to Japan <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-japan-american-burger-tokyo-golf-club-shinzo-abe-hideki-matsuytama-kasumigaseki-country-a8040221.html">in 2017 the country's prime minister, Shinzo Abe</a>, eschewed the country's traditional delicacies and served the president a beefburger after they discussed affairs of state.</p><p>The president was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-trumps-diet-is-like-review-2018-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">reportedly placed on a crash diet,</a> swapping junk food for salads, after a physical by Jackson in 2018 found him to be just one pound short of clinical obesity.</p><p>But it seemed to have little effect, with the president found to have gained weight in last year's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-mocks-fan-for-being-overweight-mistaking-him-for-protester-2019-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">physical, weighing in at 243 pounds. </a></p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:<a></a></li><li><a style="font-family: Georgia, Times, sans-serif;" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beef-loving-donald-trump-vegetarian-meals-india-trip-narendra-modi-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">'They don't serve cheeseburgers': Trump's beef-heavy diet largely consists of fast food and steak, but he'll be living on vegetarian meals during his trip to India</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-obese-doctor-says-to-lose-10-to-15-pounds-2018-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">Trump's weight is one pound below the obesity level, and his doctor said he should lose 10 to 15 pounds</a></li></ul>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/presidential-debate-entertaining-problem-democratic-trump-reality-tv-show-2019-9">How networks treat the Democratic debates like reality TV</a></h3>

Trump's former doctor said he mixed cauliflower into the president's mashed potatoes in a sneaky attempt to get him to eat vegetables

Food is a political stuff. Though the basic role of food is to fill the tummy, give the body its share of nutrients and proteins, modern world has discovered more ways of using food as a means to more important ends.<br />
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Haven’t we all heard of power lunch? Working lunch? A business brunch or networking at fine dining places? Food, for sure, brings a lot more people together than business alone can. Food has this unique characteristic of moving from the basic premise of a meeting, and creating a short cut into people’s emotional worlds. Food is a lot emotional stuff too.<br />
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From being a significant part of human existence, food has gained many shades to itself. Apart from serving its functional purpose, food has turned a political tool, a decisive element in the society and now, into a form of art.<br />
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As the journey of the food got exciting, humans who turned into ‘people’ realized it could work more than its share of brief.<br />
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It was as though, the magic capacity of food was unleashed over the world. How else would you explain the ‘fine dining’ occasions helping create business deals, run empires and forge bonds?<br />
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Over a period of time, after globalization left the borders open for everyone; food also underwent a massive change. People tried cuisines that were unheard of, and surprisingly, realized they took a liking to something so foreign and vivid.<br />
<br />
To understand how Americans love Chinese takeaways and UK loves its butter chicken, you need to understand how cheese has become almost inseparable from wine evenings all over the world.<br />
<br />
Meals at restaurant weren’t anything like what mothers prepared at home. In fact, meals at restaurant were never meant to taste like home. Hence, homes began to replicate taste of ‘restaurant’ in their kitchens. With time, gourmet cuisine upped the game by a few notches.<br />
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With that, meals became more than what they were.  Food moved beyond being a matter of taste and nutrition. It assumed the form of art.<br />
As of today, when gourmet meals are ‘curated’ and created plate by plate, they remain a mark of exclusivity and craftsmanship. And it’s nice to see when artisans are still in awe of their work. After the crafted meal has made its way into the stomach and intestines of its eater, a chef reinvents his art; betters it and adds his creative juices to make the experience even more enjoyable with subsequent time.<br />
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The palates long for even more exclusive taste.<br />
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Having relished the taste of such art form that has evolved for better; demand for curated meals has only increased in the recent past. Hence it is little surprise that Mumbai launched India’s first home delivery of restaurant style meals. The venture has tasted good success too.<br />
<br /> Indians are hungry for varied cuisines. They love their share of pasta with biryani, if need be, even working a combo of burritos and pulao depending on the weather. ‘<keyword id="3199820" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="haute-chef">Haute Chef</keyword>’ as a concept is pitted at changing the dynamics of marriage between Indian food and international cuisine.<br />
<br /> Going by the fact that experience makes human existence complete, these meals, created by celebrity <keyword id="2752932" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chef-Ranveer-Brar">Chef Ranveer Brar</keyword>, have the unique aspect of being able to have a hands on experience of creating these dishes, with perfectly measured ingredients. This truly is the USP of Haute Chef, says CEO Vishal Shah.<br />
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For Chef Brar, this experiment of creating an experience that was lost in the tide of time.<br />
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“Future of food is bright in India, because our people have a taste for many varieties of cuisines. The situation right now, pertaining to food, is extremely conducive owing to the fact that we have capital, technology and the market to create niche products. Ours is a vibrant scene because food for us, is nothing less than the culture itself” he says.<br />
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Haute Chef has an interesting line of dishes with Chicken Cafreal, Veg Crudites, Akhrot Aioli, Biryani Galette, Desi Ratatouille Makhani, Achaari Watermelon and Tahini Raita so on and so forth.<br />
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In a time-pressed world, CEO Vishal Shah really took a huge risk despite the skepticism of meal kits working in a market that is so accustomed to the ready-to-eat meals.<br />
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“Indian food market is rapidly evolving. Our niche segment is as exclusive as our line of products. This is a very promising aspect. It is catering to our idea of bringing artisan meal experience into people’s kitchens, and allow them to rediscover the joy of rustling up magic,” he adds. Magic, it truly is; the food we mean.<br />
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(Image: Indiatimes)<br />
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