Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.

What I was up to other than here:

  • Maybe you noticed my snowy photos. I’m in Finland! I’ve been in Oulu and Helsinki. I have about 5 more days here then back to Goa.
  • I recently read [easyazon_link identifier=”0062060562″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Before I go to Sleep[/easyazon_link] which was creepy and good but a little slow. Now I’m reading [easyazon_link identifier=”1501106481″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]The Light Between Oceans[/easyazon_link] and it’s looking like it’s going to be seriously good. I think they are making a movie about it.
  • I’m going to have a LOT of work when I get back from Finland. I have actually hired 3 virtual assistants to work for me after the New Year to help with my workload. I am working on making 2017 the best year yet for my blog!
  • I have not yet chosen the people to travel for the blog (If you didn’t read my post about me needed people to travel for me when I can’t, it’s here). I will look at applications after I get back to Goa. There are about 200 applicants, so I’m really excited to go through them!

Now your story,

I’m at a travel conference now in Helsinki called the MATKA Fair. It’s massive and there are probably over 70 or 80 countries represented here though tourism boards, hotels, and airlines. Buyers and suppliers, along with bloggers come here to try and network. It’s exhausting haha.

I’m literally writing this in the conference hall.

India is having one in Mumbai at the end of January which is pretty cool! It’s called the Gypsy Travel Festival  and it’s got some pretty good sponsors and a huge amount of people going to network.

I think it’s great that this is going on in Mumbai and that travel bloggers in India are going to make some great connections. Also, I’m going to finally get to meet some more Indian travel bloggers!

So, this isn’t a story about India because honestly, I don’t have a good one to tell! But I’m sure I’ll have a story after my time in Mumbai, as I am a speaker at the conference.

Yeah. I have never spoken publicly except speech class in high school and couldn’t even get through a speech without looking at the floor the whole time.

It’s something I want to get over because I have turned out speaking opportunities before. I have a blog that tells all about my life, but actually speaking or being on video is something I am not comfortable with at all.

I figured what better place than Mumbai in front of hundreds of people to make myself get over it! Ha! I’m an idiot, but fingers crossed it’s not terrible. It’s in about 10 days and I’m starting to work on my talking points – already getting nervous!

This is India!