India is home, and it’s where most of my travels begin. From the mountains of Himachal to the villages of Goa, the places that have stayed with me are rarely the famous ones. They’re usually a bus ride and a short walk past them. Here you’ll find Soyal Village, a fairytale hamlet of wooden huts and apple orchards 14 km from Manali’s Mall Road; my North Goa guide to quieter beaches, budget food, hostels and ₹30 local buses; and Tanshikar Spice Farm, a 100% organic plantation in Netravali that shows a side of Goa far from the beaches. More Indian destinations are on the way.