ShareSetting out on a solo road journey on her SUV, Naaji Noushi has reached Kuwait as part of her new mission after travelling the length and breadth of GCC countries over the last six months. An Indian mom of five and a vlogger and a social media influencer, Naaji has earned a name for herself as a lone woman traveler who braves rare odds to realize her dreams as a travel enthusiast and a cultural tourist.
In Kuwait, she travelled in her Mahindra Thar to several historical places like Failaka Island, Kuwait Towers, deserts, souks, farm houses, horse-riding centers and diwaniyas. “I need to meet people, get to know different cultures and the fascinating traditions of Kuwait,” Naaji told Kuwait Times. She is all praise for Kuwaiti hospitality. “It was a great privilege to meet and interact with top Kuwaiti dignitaries here,” she said.
Naaji has equipped her vehicle with a kitchen, a stove and a gas cylinder. She has also stockpiled essentials like rice, water and flour so that she can cook and eat on the go. “Usually, my friends serve me food wherever I visit. But, if I want, I can cook my food or make a cup of tea for myself or for my visitors,” she quipped. She recounted one occasion when she cooked and served biriyani for some foreign tourists on a street near Ballard Pier in Mumbai.
Naaji kicked off her new series of journey by road on September 10, 2024 from the UAE. From Abu Dhabi, she drove into Oman and then to Saudi Arabia where she travelled for three months. “This is the sixth month of the series and after Kuwait, I will travel to Iraq,” she said. From Iraq, she will continue her solo journey to Afghanistan and China to cover 15 countries before returning to India.
Naaji, a homemaker as she calls herself, hails from Thalassery in the southern state of India. Naaji started her solo journey in 2020 by undertaking an-all Kerala trip covering most part of the state. “Then I realized that I have a strong passion for travel and driving fascinates me,” she said. Following the Kerala journey, she undertook an all-India trip in which she drove across almost all the states and five union territories except the Northeastern states in the country. She also travelled to the India-Pakistan border at Keran Valley, Sino-Indian border near Ladakh and India-Myanmar border. She also covered 10 islands of Lakshadweep in 30 days as part of her pan-India journey. As part of a ‘Woman Empowerment of India’ program, Naaji embarked on another solo journey in her Jeep to cover India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Hostile terrains
Asked how she manages to travel through hostile terrains and unfamiliar lands all alone, she said, “I use different means to travel. I had to hitch-hike in trucks to reach Nepal and Everest base camp.” Naaji set a world record as the first woman to reach Everest Base Camp (Nepal) in just five days in 2022. “Similarly, I rode through extremely risky terrain in Manipur when I travelled to India’s border with Myanmar because it was the time when the region witnessed unprecedented ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities in the state,” she recalled.
Naaji also shared some of her memories with a Kuki family with whom she stayed during the trip. “It was an unforgettable experience for me to learn firsthand about the harrowing impact of an ethnic violence and subsequent mayhem,” she said.
FIFA World Cup
“I wondered why an Indian woman cannot go there and watch the FIFA World Cup,” she recounted her record-breaking road trip to Qatar to watch the World Cup in 2022. Naaji travelled in her Indian-made SUV to go to the World Cup. “It was a dream come true for me to watch my favorite team Argentina play at the World Cup,” she said. The World Cup exposure catapulted Naaji to a social media figure and she has garnered a huge following on her YouTube channel.
“Travel will teach you many things, especially if it is a solo journey. It will calm your mind. It will make you self-sufficient and prepare you to face challenges in life. If you go on a long journey all alone by road, it will transform you,” Naaji said.
Naaji, a mother of five, has earned a name for herself as a lone woman traveler who braves rare odds to realize her dreams as a travel enthusiast and a cultural tourist.
