Okay, new blog is a stretch. It’s the same blog but with a very cool new design. Despite an eight month absence from the blog, my social media apparently picked up a bunch of new followers. I thought this might be a good time to re-introduce myself and the blog. Also, my lovely husband spent the weekend clearing up space on my laptop so I spent that time re-designing and writing future posts. Stay tune for more Aheli Wanders – A
hello, I’m aheli !
Welcome to Aheli Wanders. I started this blog back in 2007 as a way to share my study abroad (mis)adventures in Edinburgh & beyond with my friends & family. Now, that I’m (sadly) back in the US, I use this blog as a way to share every from recipes to restaurant reviews, travel guides to personal essays about life in Brooklyn. I put together a little FAQ so you can get to know me better.
the faq
Where do you live?
Brooklyn by way of Connecticut, Philadelphia, Manhattan, Boston(-ish), Zermatt, Kolkata & Edinburgh.
What is your favorite place to travel to?
I’m definitely biased towards Kolkata, where my family is from and Edinburgh, where I studied abroad. That said, I have the best memories of South Africa and Kashmir, which are two of the most beautiful and hospitable places I’ve been to.
Why do you travel so much?
My parents loved to travel, and since I was the only child, I got dragged along for the ride. I haven’t stopped since. It’s been 37 countries and counting.
Where exactly have you traveled?
I lived (for more than 3 months continuously) in the Scotland, Switzerland, and the US. I also go to India every year, so that has to count for something…beside the frequent flier miles.
Africa: South Africa, Swaziland
Asia: Japan, Maldives, India, Singapore, Russia, Thailand
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Catalonia, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Wales
North America: Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico, United States
South America: Paraguay, Columbia, Peru
Other: New Zealand
Where is your happy place?
Sitting on the heating duct in my family kitchen, wrapped in a blanket, sipping tea, and reading a good Agatha Christie, or the middle of a empty dance-floor rocking out to really bad pop music.
What exactly do you do for work?
My dad and I started a company together. I’d like to think I’m the “Smokey the bear” of preventing data center servers from overheating and data center fires starting. In my previous life, I worked for a UN think tank. This makes me both a #supernerd and an awesome dinner companion.
What’s your favorite book?
I’m not sure why* I posed this question TO MY SELF when it’s so hard to answer. First, I would start by recommending my “10 Books to Disrupt Your Life” post. And then I would rephrase the question I asked myself to say my favorite books to re-read are: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman, Educated by Tara Westover, the Namesake Jhumpa Lahiri, and every Harry Potter, but especially The Prisoner of Azkaban, Coincidently, I own these all in book form and Kindle form so I’m never without them.
*Probably because I love reading other people’s FAQs. Also I spend a lot of time reading so it is a fair question.
What do you do for fun?
I love to eat. There is something lovely about herding my friends/family into a single space, sharing some delicious food and sharing stories/debating/being ridiculous. Luckily, I’m surrounded by people who love to do the same thing. Also, I double majored in History of Art and Political Science so anything involving modern art and/or politics amuses me.
What is your ideal night?
Rooftop dinner party. Six courses, twelve wine pairings, potluck style with my friends and family. Add a beach and/or lakeview and I’m golden. And maybe a zebra or a llama for some entertainment.
Why write a blog?
I started this blog in early 2007 to document and travels while living abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland. Somehow this morphed into a pseudo “travel slash lifestyle slash I took photos of foods and shiny objects before #instagram hash tags became cool and I’m not sure what to do with them” blog. Or maybe I started because my trusty Macbook Pro has rendered journal writing completely obsolete. Who knows? But I’m definitely enjoying it for now.
What’s your favorite book?
I’m not sure why* I posed this question TO MY SELF when it’s so hard to answer. First, I would start by recommending my “10 Books to Disrupt Your Life” post. And then I would rephrase the question I asked myself to say my favorite books to re-read are: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman, Educated by Tara Westover, the Namesake Jhumpa Lahiri, and every Harry Potter, but especially The Prisoner of Azkaban, Coincidently, I own these all in book form and Kindle form so I’m never without them.
*Probably because I love reading other people’s FAQs. Also I spend a lot of time reading so it is a fair question.
What’s your work out routine?
Another equally hilarious and pointless question that I gobble up on other blogger’s FAQs. I’m not a natural athlete. I preferred non-team sports like gymnastics and tennis in my youth. Now I struggle to make it to weekly yoga, pilates and boxing classes. Lately, I’ve been “working out” to my husband’s VR game, Beatsaver, and quick jogs to the nearest subway stop.
What’s your favorite food/drink?
Finally, an important question. I asked my husband last night if he had to eat one cuisine for the rest of his life what would he choose. He chose to ignore the question and keep eating the delicious Korean food in front of us. For me that’s an easy question. I would 100% choose Japanese food. I mean, sashimi and ramen. It’s an easy choice. Also, we’re planning a trip to Japan in February so I’ve been non stop researching places to go. Seriously, my favorite food is a salmon belly hand roll from my local hand roll shop in Brooklyn, and my mom’s daal. Those are the only two foods that I could eat every day, all the time, and (probably) never get sick of it.
IMy favorite drink is: tea.. I probably drink about 3-5 cups a day. It’s definitely unhealthy but I do switch to non-caffiented versions at some point. The best order of tea is: An English Breakfast equivalent, like PG Tips, Fortnum & Mason’s Royal Blend, 5 Roses, with 2% milk. Then it’s green tea. My personal favorite is a Japanese genmaicha (玄米茶).
That said, I love a great glass of red wine. I’m still day dreaming about this 2006 greek wine called Dom Economou Liatiko.
That’s it for now! Hope you enjoy!
– A
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