We’re not ones to talk much about ourselves, especially not in a self-promoting way, but we do understand that a safe and meaningful surfing or hosting experience begins with a bit of honest introduction. So here goes:

We’re Saloni(She/Her) and Shyamal(He/Him). We share a love for travel, culture, and meaningful connections. Shyamal hails from Delhi and brings his calm, grounded personality to our home and adventures, while Saloni’s spent years in Delhi and Bangalore. We're both culturally Bengalis (ancestry from West Bengal/ 🇧🇩 Bangladesh). Saloni began traveling solo in her teens, exploring India on her own before Shyamal joined her. Together, we’ve seen a tiny fraction of 🇮🇳 hope to see a larger part of the world in this life. Both of us are ambiverts but lean more towards introverted tendencies.

🥳🍷🚭 We don’t smoke and enjoy an occasional drink. Parties aren’t really our thing, but we love intimate gatherings with good food, meaningful conversations, and a relaxed environment.

☯️ We’re both atheists. That said, we respect everyone’s beliefs and live by the philosophy of live and let live!
We're pro-feminist, anti-fascist, and imperfectly-sustainable♻️ hosts. 🏳️‍🌈☮️🏳️✋🏻✋🏼✋🏽✋🏾✋🏿✋🐾 No matter who you are, what you believe, you're welcome here. We believe in being good and doing good above all.

🔏 We usually give our guests full privacy, which means we don’t talk much, invite you in, or offer too many things by default. This might seem a bit distant , but our only intention is to make sure everyone feels comfortable. We’re happy to chat, cook together, or spend time if you ask—if we can, we will, and if we can’t, we’ll let you know honestly. By default, we like to give people space to enjoy their stay without feeling pressure to talk or spend time with us.

Couchsurfing brings us so much joy.

While Shyamal prefers to stay off social media, Saloni shares glimpses of our life and travels on Instagram @the_travel_pundit. For any Couchsurfing-related communication, we’d love for you to reach out to us directly through the CS platform.

We work across different time zones, so our schedule stays moderately packed. Whatever time we have outside of work, we like to spend it with each other : Saloni, Shyamal, and Jiji ; or with any surfers we’re hosting. So, we kindly ask you not to message us solely for Meetups (ie connecting with local Couchsurfers without hosting at home), whether you’re visiting our area or we’re traveling to yours.

When reaching out, please introduce yourself and share a bit about your plans—it helps us connect better. We prefer casually-chatting after meeting in person and might not respond immediately to casual messages or just- "hi'.

Help us gauge sincerity and know you're well-prepared for the stay we offer—no surprises! Please take a moment to read the 'Accepting Guests' section before sending a request.
We're always excited to host kind, diverse travelers.

请先阅读 "接受客人" 部分
Lee primero la sección "Aceptando Huéspedes".
Lisez d’abord la section "Accepter des invités".
Lies zuerst den Abschnitt "Gäste annehmen".
Leia primeiro a seção "Aceitando Hóspedes".
कृपया पहले "अतिथि स्वीकार करना" अनुभाग पढ़ें।
Сначала прочтите раздел "Прием гостей".
Baca dulu bagian "Menerima Tamu".
يرجى قراءة قسم "قبول الضيوف" أولاً.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To connect with local during my travels and seek unconditional support.
To give back to the community and help travelers visiting my Country
To come a full circle in the life of a traveller.

Interests

• gardening
• hiking
• baking/cooking

Music, Movies, and Books

I particularly have a soft spot for wartime stories that touch the depths of human emotions. Films like "Pearl Harbor," "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas," and series like "Outlander, and "Anne with an E" have left a lasting impact on me. I also have a fondness for retro movies. There's something captivating about the charm and elegance of those bygone eras, and I find myself drawn to their timeless storytelling and captivating performances. Kiki's delivery service and Grave of fireflies are my favorites in animated cinema.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Started a Cafe and ran it for 2 years when we lost our jobs during the 2023 recessions.

Teach, Learn, Share

cook indian food

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cook homely food.
Help with cleaning, pet sitting or odd jobs around the house.

Countries I’ve Visited

Maldives, Sri Lanka

Countries I’ve Lived In

India