the most amazing place you've never heard of

I felt the need to share this country with all of you as soon as possible, because with climate change and rising sea levels, it won't be around much longer.

Ever heard of The Maldives? 
Don't worry, most people haven't. In fact, it's not even on most maps.

Let's zoom in a little.

Here's Southeast Asia. The Maldives is a chain of islands located on the southwest coast of India, it should be in the bottom left corner of the above picture. See where all that ocean is? Yup, somewhere in there, that's The Maldives.

Even though it's not on a map, I think that everyone needs to visit this little treasure of a country. It's made up of about 1,200 islands, only one of which is inhabited by Maldives Islanders. There's 199 more that are home to resorts, and the other thousand are completely untouched. The bigger islands are bordered by rings of coral reef, creating beautiful dimensions of blue. When you're flying in from Europe or India, the beauty of The Maldives will take your breath away before your plane even lands at the airport on Male (pronounced Mah-lay).

#50shadesofblue

Once you arrive there's a pretty big selection of resorts ranging from about 300 to more than 800 dollars per night on the islands surrounding Male, as well as budget accommodations on the island capital. If you're staying on Male, it's important to remember that this is an Islamic country, and you should stay more covered to respect the locals and their beliefs. Indian rupees are also not allowed into the country, so make sure that you exchange them to US dollars (the currency used in The Maldives) before departing if you're coming in from India.

However, most people go for the resorts, reached by boat or seaplane, and opt for over-the-water bungalows or villas. When my family and I went in 2012, we decided to go for a "garden bungalow" at Kurumba, which was significantly less expensive. The best part? Even with this discounted room, it barely a minute to walk to the beach. 

The four days spent on Kurumba were pure bliss. 

This is the case with a few of the islands, but Kurumba is especially known for its shark population. Mother black tip reef sharks come to the calm lagoon surrounding the resort to give birth, meaning that there's a lot of baby sharks hanging out by the beach! Like this one, who we called Timothy, who had a brother named Jimothy (I know, super creative).

We also learned to stand-up paddle board while on the island, which cost about $30 per person including equipment rental for the day. However, the highlight of my time in The Maldives was the snorkel safari that my sister and I did (approximately $100 per person).

Snorkeling on the coral reefs that surrounded uninhabited islands was incredible. The water was crystal clear, and we were able to see the ocean floor. Clownfish, tangs, and sea anemones were abundant, and we were soon joined by turtles and three different species of sharks. Whenever I'd read about sharks being eight to ten feet, I never thought much of it. That seemed on the smaller side, especially compared to the sixteen and twenty feet great white and tiger sharks. Being in the water with these graceful, agile, powerful creatures that are twice your size is the most humbling experience, that I'll never be able to fully articulate. 

Growing up I was a huge nerd, especially when it came to the ocean. I've been dreaming of interacting with sharks in the wild ever since I was in kindergarten, and I'd always stood by the idea that sharks aren't vicious man-eaters. Not only was I able to live out my childhood dream on this trip, I've also been able to come back and talk to kids about the misconceptions about sharks. 

The Maldives sound pretty great, right? Well you'd better hurry and get down there since they won't be around much longer. 

This country is the world's lowest, with its highest point being seven feet and a majority of it sitting below sea level. As our climate changes and ocean levels rise, The Maldives are quickly sinking. It's estimated that this country will be completely underwater within the next fifteen years.

That seriously sucks. If you're like me and want to honeymoon here after getting married, you'd better put a ring on it really fast. Unless we seriously turn our actions around and combat the damage that we as humans have done to the environment, The Maldives won't be a place that our kids and grandchildren get to see. WE might not even be able to see it. It's easy to brush the idea of climate change under the rug, to think it's not a big deal, but we are drowning a beautiful and amazing country.

The Maldives are one of the last pristine, untouched places on earth where you can experience nature above and underwater first hand, and they hold a special place in my heart. I hope that every person who reads this is able to experience it. In the meantime, raise awareness! Talk to people about climate change and about The Maldives. 

If you'd like to get seriously involved, visit www.making-waves.squarespace.com to learn more about my new project called Making Waves (more on that next time), and if you're planning a trip, feel free to get in touch with me for any questions!

Much love,

-Nishaa

xoxo

"i'm not going to let the actions of one person keep me from doing what i want to do"

This is going to be a pretty serious post. 

As I mentioned in my Global Degree video, I was assaulted over the summer while volunteering in Costa Rica on my first international trip alone, right after receiving an emergency abdominal surgery and while I was under general anesthesia. 

This is something that not a lot of people know. I've made a pretty big effort up until now to maintain that I was completely fine, only confiding in my close friends and very few family members about what had happened to me. I debated for a long time about whether or not to include this information in my video, and eventually left it in. To be honest, at first I was worried that being the youngest contestant and one of the more inexperienced travelers would be concerning to Michael and Alex, I didn't want them to feel like they would have to babysit me if I was selected. Telling the world, telling people I don't even know, has been one of the scariest things I've ever done. 

But I'm glad I did now, and I know that I needed to. 

I shared the fact that I am a survivor of assault with the world because in getting my global degree, I wanted to restore faith and inspire women everywhere, myself included. Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of women, about one in three in the USA, and many more cases go unreported. I hoped that if I was successful in receiving my global degree, I would be able to confirm for myself that the world is a good and beautiful place, and that the actions of one person cannot drag me down. I refuse to let the world end for myself and I refuse to give up my dreams because one terrible thing happened. I hoped in doing this I would inspire other woken to do the same. I wanted to show women everywhere that it is possible to pick up the pieces and pursue your passions, even after you've been hurt. 

I've already been able to begin to do this, and the contest isn't even over yet. 

The amount of support I have been able to give and receive from people I know (not necessarily super well) has been mind blowing. I've had people come to me with their own stories of surviving and telling me that they've been inspired to go out and see the world, make that move they've been afraid to make, and take risks again. I have no words for how incredible this has been and I want to thank each and every one of these women for reaching out to me. 

And a note to women who dream but have been afraid to do: 

The world is a beautiful amazing place, and a vast majority of its inhabitants are beautiful and amazing too. The world is much safer than you'd think. 

There will be hard nights but trust me when I say they will become few and far between. 

Don't let the terrible actions of one person diminish your wonder. 

You are wonderful, you are inspiring. You have unlimited potential, and nothing can stop you from doing what you want to do   . There will always be a network of support available to you no matter where you go, even if it can be a little hard to see at first. Hopefully this post can be a step in building a network of love and support in the way that this constest has already begun to unify women from all over the globe. 

I hope to show you all through earning my global degree that we as women can do it. 

If you'd like to watch my video and vote, visit the link below:

http://www.globaldegree.tv/#!contestants/c1gzb

Make sure to like Global Degree on facebook/follow on Twitter so that your vote or share counts! Feel free to share and tell Michael and Alex why I'm the woman for the job! The contest ends tomorrow!

And if anyone needs support, a listening ear, or direction to resources, please reach out to me. <3

-Nish

Xoxo

"i threw myself into academics because i thought that was the only thing you could do"

Hi loves!

As a lot of you already know, I am the youngest contestant in the running for a "full ride" to get her Global Degree: a journey to every UN recognized country over the course of four years, starting in eastern Asia and the South Pacific!  I've put a link to my video application at the end of this post, which explains my personal reasons for wanting to apply but I thought I would take some time with this post to explain why I think the Global Degree is such an amazing concept for everyone.

As I talk about in my video, I graduated high school at the age of sixteen after throwing myself headfirst into my academics. While I don't regret pushing and challenging myself through that process, I DO regret not taking time in high school to discover things I'm passionate about and to figure out what I want to do with my future. I had all of this drive and motivation, and focused it entirely into my classes and academics because I didn't realize there were other options.

That's where the Global Degree comes in.

This project, and the fact that it's being documented through a web series (which has been picked up by the Discovery Channel, you guys, this is legit!!!) are trailblazing a path for men and women of all ages to discover alternative methods of educating themselves. As an intended intercultural communications major, there's no better way to learn than by communicating in different cultures! Throwing yourself into Nepal, for example, and meeting the people there and learning about what makes them tick will leave you with much more lasting knowledge than reading about Nepal in a textbook (and will undoubtedly create amazing memories). This isn't just applicable to a major that's globally focused: experiential learning is the most effective way to develop an understanding: what better way to learn about pelagics like sharks than hopping on a boat in South Australia to monitor them first hand? Lab sciences take into account the importance of experiential learning, but it seems as though there's much more that can be done.

If I'm selected as the newest member of the Global Degree team, I have plans to partner with four classrooms (at the moment, I am totally open to adding a few more to that list though!). The kids i would be talking to range from 3rd-7th grade, and I plan to answer any questions that the kids have over Skype or FaceTime. I'm doing this for a lot of different reasons: obviously if I am lucky enough to have this experience, it's important to share that with my community, but I think talking with the kids will have a myriad of other benefits. Even though we can't all drop everything to travel right now (for a variety of reasons) I think partnering with the classrooms is the next best thing. As the fourth and fifth graders are learning about different cultures, geography, and their own heritage, they would be able to ask questions. Kids are curious! I think this would also show younger students that there are other options besides what's emphasized in the current US education system. It's both important and incredibly healthy to explore your passions while you are younger. You don't have to focus only on your academics or go right to a four-year college, locally, there are so many experiences to be had! Many countries have work-holiday visas for long term stays, there are gap years, they can get started on their Global Degree! And if they do decide to go the traditional educational route, hopefully the partnership experience will spark a desire to study abroad during their young adulthood. 

Go out. See the world. There's ALWAYS a way to make it happen, and even funds set aside specifically to help you fund your adventures! We should all strive to earn our Global Degree and gain the ultimate education.

As promised, here is the link to my video:

http://www.globaldegree.tv/#!contestants/c1gzb 

To vote, make sure to like or follow Global Degree, then visit the contestants with the last names T-Z. I'm the very last video, please show it some love! If you have any questions about the program or need advice in beginning your own travels please reach out to me.

Thank you for all your support!

-Nish

xoxo

packing like a pro (travel-friendly fashion)

Hi loves!

Somebody actually commented on my first post (which is super exciting like wow, a comment from a real person that isn't my mom!!) and they asked if I could do a post on how to look cute while on a trip, while still being able to pack efficiently. I'm sure a lot of these tips are already out there but I thought it would be super fun to put in my two cents, especially since I'm going to LA for a three day trip on Thursday and just finished packing my bag. If you're like me and don't want to spend money or risk losing your luggage, you probably will want to stick to a carry-on only like I do. I'm notorious for having the smallest bag out of my travel group (I used the same bag I'm bringing to LA for a three-week Costa Rica trip) Here's my advice for doing that while looking cute!

1. YOU CAN BRING MULTIPLE PAIRS OF SHOES WITHOUT FILLING UP YOUR WHOLE BAG: If you are traveling, odds are you'll end up in the water. I always do; be it a hotel hot tub or pool, or the actual ocean. This is why it's always essential to bring a pair of flip flops (these also help if you're visiting friends on university campuses or staying at a hostel, and using communal showers). As tempting as it is, don't wear these on the plane. They're the pair of shoes that will take up the least room, and should be packed. On that same note, make sure you wear your bulkiest pair of shoes while you're in transit. Personally, I tend to wear boots, canvas sneakers or trainers depending on the nature of the trip, and then pack a pair of flats (bonus points if they're the roll-up kind!) or sandals, and flip-flops. Only bring heels and boots if you KNOW that you'll need them.

2. COLOUR SCHEMES ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND: As far as actual clothes go, it's important to be able to mix and match your tops and bottoms in as many ways as possible. This gives you a bunch of different outfits without having to bring a bunch of clothing. For the LA trip, I packed black shorts, light wash denim shorts, patterned shorts, and a floral skirt. I'll be wearing black leggings on the plane. When in doubt, stick with the basics: black, denim, white, olive/khaki, navy, and a neutral coloured pattern. I try to keep my tops solid coloured, with maybe one patterned shirt that can go with all of my bottoms except for the one with a pattern on it. This goes for swimsuits as well: you can bring four tops and four bottoms and have sixteen different swimsuit options without bringing sixteen different pieces. For my trip, I am bringing a pastel green bikini top and a patterned bikini top with mint and white bottoms.

3. GO WITH THE FLOW: This isn't always applicable, but if you are traveling to warm destinations or more conservative countries, it's good to go with clothes that are flowy. For example, a chiffon maxi skirt with a flowy short-sleeved crop top or tee can get you by in places like India, where covering up is crucial in order to respect the culture. Materials like chiffon and cotton are great for covering a lot of skin without getting clingy and gross in tropical climates. My personal favourites are harem pants, which come in a million different colours and patterns and make you feel like Princess Jasmine.

4. LAYER UP: Layers are life while traveling. And it is very possible to keep warm without adding a ton of bulk to your bag! Stick with a couple of neutral coloured sweaters/cardigans and wear your heaviest jacket on the plane. I usually go with a navy blue all-weather jacket from Hollister and it keeps me covered for just about anything (I wouldn't suggest it for extreme climates like Norway or like, Patagonia though).

5. DON'T LET TOILETRIES CRAMP YOUR STYLE: Most people I know check in their luggage for long trips because of the TSA rules regarding liquids in your bag, even though they don't actually have to! You can fill multiple travel-sized bottles with the same products!! For example, I plan on bringing two travel-sized bottles of shampoo, one of conditioner, and one of my hair product on my three-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, and this keeps within regulations. If it comes down to it, you can always buy toiletries wherever you're staying, but don't let shampoo be what causes you to pay 25 to 50 dollars to check your bag in! However, I would suggest packing LOTS of feminine products, as those can be really expensive or hard to find in other countries.

6. YOU CAN STILL ACCESSORIZE OR GET DRESSY: I try to keep things pretty minimal and make sure that my accessories match just about everything in my bag: I have a silver charm bracelet I almost always wear, I never change my earrings or nose stud, and I bring my beige infinity scarf on almost every trip I go on. It's okay to bring a couple of "luxury" items that you just can't live without. If you're like me and have the worst natural hair ever, bring a flat iron-- you can curl and straighten your hair, and iron out any dresses or formal wear that you need to bring on the trip! #lifehack.

7. NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS, ROLLING IS BETTER THAN FOLDING: I don't even feel the need to justify this. That's just the way the world works.

I hope that this helps, and if anyone has any questions feel free to comment and ask, or check out my instagram @nishaauttam for travel pictures and more fun stuff. Happy travels!

-Nish

yikes + update

The other day, I casually remembered that I have a blog and then realized that I haven't posted a single thing since MAY. Yikes. I am so sorry. For 2015 I've decided to make a point of posting at least weekly, especially since I have so much going on now! 

So here's the update: Since my last post, I selected a college to attend in Washington, graduated high school, got my SCUBA certification, and after some crazy health issues over the summer, made the decision to take a gap year and pursue higher education in California starting in the fall of 2015. I think things worked out for the best, since I graduated a matter of days after my seventeenth birthday, and it's a major pain to be on a college campus as a minor. 

During this year off, I've been working in retail, volunteering at my former elementary school & with marine conservation organizations, interning with a travel agency (which means that there will be lots and lots of travel advice and promotions headed your way) and I've also become a brand ambassador/representative for two companies: SandCloud and Life Before Work Travel. I'm also entering a competition to complete my Global Degree: meaning I would be the youngest female to visit all 193 UN recognized countries! I'm about six percent of the way there at the moment and I'll be making a video and posting on all of my social media so any support would be greatly appreciated (more about that in a later post, though).

If you're reading this, thank you for having patience with me and actually sticking with this blog.

Much love,

Nish