They've been voted as the Top Couple Travel Influencer in the past and have been setting relationship goals since 2014! Based in Bangalore, Goutham and Thara have travelled to 15 countries, all while NOT having to quit their jobs!
We interviewed clueless compass because they are just so much fun and we wanted everyone to know them better too :)
What was the turning point where you both decided to become travel influencers?View this post on Instagram
We would rather call ourselves story tellers than influencers. We have been travelling together since 2014 and been clicking pictures. One day, we ran out of storage space on our hard disk and realised we had so many pictures from our travels. By then we had also started writing for 2 leading travel magazines in Malayalam and were getting good response from the readers. So we thought why not put our pictures and stories in one place! We started Clueless Compass as an Instagram/Facebook page. Blog came out 6 months later. It all happened in a year's time.
How did you both meet? How did you guys end up travelling together? How do you guys divide your social media work between you two?
We met in 2012, on Facebook! I had a blog back then. We became friends discussing one of the blog posts about a film. We bonded over cinema. We saw each other for about 3 years and then decided to make the relationship official. Our first trip together was to Kashmir in 2014 when we were seeing each other! That trip sort of sealed our bond. 8 months later we got married and went to Rajasthan for our honeymoon. Then we didn’t stop! It’s been 5 years since then. Goutham is good with the camera and I am good with the pen. So he clicks and I write. But we switch jobs at times.View this post on Instagram
What is your favourite place in the world and what makes it so special?
Our most favourite place so far is Istanbul, the capital city of Turkey. We were there only for 5 days, yet it felt like we belong to that place. We explored the city completely on foot and therefore got familiar with the roads and streets. Istanbul is a cultural feast for travellers. The history, architecture, music and culture of this place will leave you wonderstruck. You can see a mix of European and Asian culture in the city. Also, Istanbul has a variety of cuisines that are finger-licking good. If there's one place we want to go back again, that would be Istanbul.
Where in the world would you like to retire, and why pick that country?
We haven't thought about it yet. There's so much more to explore. Maybe we will discover one eventually.
What advise do you give young couples who want to travel to expensive countries like in Europe without breaking bank? What is the best way to travel on a budget?
We travel on a shoestring budget. It takes a lot of advance planning and resisting temptations when you are on the move. Infact, we have written a detailed write-up on our blog about it.
Are you a full-time travel influencer? How do you manage to work on your travels? Do you generally have a schedule for your business related needs?
Both of us used to have full-time jobs. I quit my desk job 2 months ago and decided to invest my time on managing the blog and writing for travel portals. First year of Clueless Compass was a roller coaster ride for us. We have struggled to balance our jobs and the blog. Hopefully it will be easier from now.
What country would you recommend for people who are traveling out of India for the first time ever and why?
If you want to go to another country on your own, it will be wiser to pick Bhutan or Nepal to start with. Both the countries don't need a visa, they accept Indian currency and are safe to travel. You can even go by road. They also have very friendly people. Once you gain confidence, you can plan for a longer trip to a farther country.
And the last question, what is the best thing that has come out of cluelesscompass?
View this post on Instagram
The best thing that has come out of Clueless Compass is that it has increased our bond as a couple. When you dream something together and work for it as a team, your bond grows stronger. After all Clueless Compass is our love child.
For more stories on their travel, you can check out their Instagram handle so you know what we're talking about.