I started this travel blog in the year 2018 to simply document my journeys and travel experiences. After much thought, I decided on the name – Shepherd Traveller. Over the years, several people admired my choice of this name and a few questioned me about what really inspired me to name my travel blog and my social identity as Shepherd Traveller.
The reason behind the name Shepherd Traveller is a book! A long time back I came across a book called ‘The Alchemist‘ which is written by Paulo Coelho. I was hugely inspired by the character of Santiago, who is a shepherd in the story. In the book, there is an interesting passage, which tells us how and why Santiago becomes a shepherd.
“Well, I’d like to see their land, and see how they live,” said his son.
“The people who come here have a lot of money to spend, so they can afford to travel,” his father said. “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are the shepherds.”
“Well, then I’ll be a shepherd!”
an extract from book The Alchemist
It is a crucial turning point in the story of the Alchemist when he decides to be a shepherd. He decides to be a different type of traveler, unlike anyone else in the world. A traveler who looks at life as a chance to follow and achieve his dreams. This story really resonated with me and has stuck with me ever since.
Modern-day Shepherd Traveller
Today I believe that I am a modern-day Shepherd Traveller. I am not a real shepherd by any means. Actually, I have the most celebrated degree of Chartered Accountant in India, and a very promising career in finance, anywhere across the globe. But I am just like the shepherd from that story – a person who follows dreams and looks at life differently from the rest of the world.
The name Shepherd Traveller shows my travel style too. I like to explore off-beaten tracks and roads that are less traveled. I do not like to go to the same tourist places where all the sheep go! I carve my own path across the globe, which is full of unique adventures, and that can be followed by other fellow travelers.
The Shepherd loves to be in nature and in the mountains, and so do I! I had not traveled as much when I first started this blog, and when I had decided on this name. But this name was just a subconscious choice that developed into my travel ways through the years. It was something that I already had within me, and this travel spirit has only grown over the last few years.
