"20 years from now, you'll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the things you did. So throw off the bowlines; sail away from the safe harbour; catch the trade winds in your sails. Dream. Explore. Discover."

Kalpana Sunder is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Chennai, India where she lives with her entrepreneur- husband, and two children. She believes that life is too short to do just one thing and she has re-invented herself several times- she is a qualified company secretary and a Japanese language specialist. She has taught Japanese to adult learners and children, handled interpretation assignments for corporates and organised creative writing workshops for young learners. Her life changing trip was in 2001 when she travelled through Japan on a Japan Foundation Scholarship. She has snorkeled on the Barrier Reef; zip lined through rainforests, snowmobiled in Lapland, and floated on the Dead Sea, in her search for a good travel tale. She loves spicy Chaat, cheery colours, junk jewellery and cherubic kids, reads anything she lays her hands on, and slows down with yoga. She believes in serendipity, the power of a hug and in always eating dessert. Travel and writing are integral parts of her DNA. Her ever growing travel wish- list is a topic of discussion with her family and friends!

Her articles have appeared in:

• The Hindu - Metro Plus and Sunday magazine
• The New Indian Express
• Hindustan Times-HT Café
• Times of India (Crest edition)
• The Telegraph
• The Tribune (Chandigarh)
• Mail Today (Delhi)
• Deccan Herald (Bangalore)
• The Mumbai Mirror
• India Today Travel Plus
• India Currents
• Femina
• The Week
• Jet Wings (In flight magazine of Jet Airways)
• Conde Nast Traveller (Digital version)
• Khaleej Times (Dubai)
• The Week
• National Geographic Traveler (Indian Edition)
• First Post
• Huffington Post