How and when did you get into photography and Instagram?
Both Nataly and I registered on Instagram at the end of 2010. I was into social media and photography websites that would act like galleries for a photographer. After failing my first year in Civil Engineering at Imperial College London, I moved back to Moscow for a year to study so that I could reattempt my exam. And I did. But in that year, I had taught myself photography, and when I finally graduated, I decided not to pursue engineering.
Tell us about the inception of the #followmeto series and how you choose your destinations.
We often say that we are pensioners of Instagram (laughs). Our series started from a spontaneous photo we took in Barcelona 10 years ago. And now we are here—a huge audience on social media (across three Instagram accounts @muradosmann, @natalyosmann, and @followmeto), several books, our own TV show, and a lot of different businesses around this project. At the core of it lies our passion for each other and travelling. This is what the #followmeto project is all about—love, travel, passion, culture, exploration, and adventure. Nataly stands with her back towards the viewer, kind of blocking the central composition. But this composition invites the viewer to be more adventurous and imagine that he/she is travelling with us.
We both have items in our bucket lists that we try to check off. It seems like we have been everywhere, but since we both work in Moscow, we cannot travel 365 days a year. We still haven’t been to places like Australia, Argentina, Peru, Iceland, New Zealand, South Africa, and many more. You also have to explore countries and research their cultures. You cannot say that you’ve been to France if you have been to Paris only.
This story is from the January 2022 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
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This story is from the January 2022 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GOOD SPIRITS
I think it must have been my mother's mom, Moyra, from whom I inherited my love of travel. Widowed in her sixties, she used her late husband's pension to fund a succession of solo trips, each more ambitious than the last.
THE BIG SWING
When her son, a lifelong sports fan, expressed an interest in visiting the baseball stadiums of Japan, Helen Schulman planned a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Tokyo. The result was a home run.
Safari Bond
Tanzania abounds in national parks with dramatic landscapes. Devanshi Mody scouts a few with her mother, encountering captivating wildlife and insightful guides on the way.
Toddler Towns
Turning a leisurely vacation into a child-friendly one brings unique challenges but also the joy of seeing the world in a new light. Huzan Tata recounts navigating Austria and Hungary with a toddler in tow.
And Quiet Flows the Ganges
The river Ganges becomes a steadfast travel companion for Gustasp and Jeroo Irani on a sustainable luxury cruise to the Sundarbans National Park and Tiger Reserve in West Bengal.
"Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort Is The Perfect Place To Disconnect From The City"
Be it comedic flair in rom coms like De De Pyaar De and Manmadhudu 2, an action hero persona in thrillers like Runway 34 and Spyder, or displays of vulnerability in emotional dramas like Doctor G and Chhatriwali, RAKUL PREET SINGH embraces genres and movie industries with a certain panache. In a conversation with Bayar Jain, the versatile actor speaks about adapting to different styles of acting and credits her parents for this journey.
At Home In The Mountains
Actor Rakul Preet Singh has had little time to celebrate post her wedding to her dear friend Jackky Bhagnani. Two months into the union, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia whisks away the newly wed actor to Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh for a celebration of the mind and soul.
Just For Laughs
A Mumbai-based businessman, Atul Khatri switched the gears of his career at 44 to become a stand-up comedian. Since then, he has performed at many international shows, sending the audience into a laughing fit with his middle-class life anecdotes and jokes surrounding fatherhood. The comedian speaks to Simrran Gill about his sets, dealing with trolls, and the best compliment he has received.
World Through Their Eyes
A television host, model, and actor, Mini Mathur is also a passionate advocate of family bonding over travel. In 2018, she produced and presented Mini Me, a 10-part series that chronicled her travels with her seven-year-old daughter across six countries in Europe. In a conversation with Bayar Jain, the multi-hyphenate reveals the fun and challenges of exploring the globe with her kids, Sairah and Vivaan.
Paws and Go
Pet parents Tanveer Taj and Priyanka Jena (wheelsandtails) started travelling with their dogs in 2015. In 2019, they embarked on a road trip across India for 90 days, covering more than 10,000 km with their furry kids, Frodo and Cruise. The couple's Instagram feed is abuzz with pictures and videos of the Golden Retriever, Labrador, and their pet cat Noorie running around on beaches and climbing mountains. The couple speaks to Simrran Gill about the joy and challenges of travelling with their pets.
