About Joy – The Soul Behind City of Joy
A storyteller from Kolkata, sharing the world through solo journeys and soulful connections.
Introduction
Hi, I’m Joy — a solo traveler, photographer, and story-seeker from Kolkata, the city that doesn’t just appear in the name of this blog — it lives in it.
Yes, City of Joy is where I was born, and Joy is also what my family has called me since I can remember. So when it came time to name this journey, it had to be both personal and poetic.
Why I Travel
Travel, to me, is more than destinations.
It’s the realization that this planet is so vast — and I’ve only touched a tiny corner of it. That curiosity, that hunger to explore, is what moves me.
I travel to connect — with people, cultures, foods, traditions, languages, and ideas. To taste the local delicacies from a vendor in Istanbul, to share tea and stories in a Himalayan village, to dance to unfamiliar music that still feels oddly like home.
A Voice from India, A Soul from Bengal
Wherever I go, I carry with me the soul of India and the spirit of Bengal.
I love sharing where I come from — what we eat, how we celebrate, how we live. Because just like I learn from the world, I believe the world should know us too — not just the postcard version of India, but the real, warm, diverse, chaotic, and beautiful us.
What This Blog Is About
City of Joy is where I document my travels — the places I go, the people I meet, the stories I stumble into, and the little moments that don’t make it to itineraries but stay with you for life.
Some posts may feel like postcards. Some may read like journal entries. Some may just be a photograph with a feeling.
Whether you’re a fellow traveler, an armchair explorer, or someone dreaming of that first solo trip — I hope my stories give you something: maybe a smile, maybe a new dream, maybe the nudge to pack a bag.
Thanks for stopping by. Let’s explore, one story at a time.
With joy,
Joy
(Akash Mandal)