Medhavi Davda - Author of RavenousLegs
Namaste! I'm Medhavi Davda.
I travel to Evolve..
In Nature, I confide..
I find my calling in the Himalayas..
In the Oceans, I meditate..
A curious soul, who refused to suppress her desire for life’s experiences. Though I enjoyed learning science and math in schools, it never felt enough. Adding sports to my extracurriculars shaped me for an adventurous life. In school, I traveled for badminton tournaments across Gujarat and represented my state at National Badminton Championships. I also got a diploma in Indian Classical dance, Kathak.
My dream of a career in sports didn’t come true. I became a Software Engineer and worked with top MNCs like TCS, Infosys, and IBM. Intrigued by machines, I coded and designed software applications while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I trained in Latin dance forms like Salsa, Swing, Cha cha cha, Tango, Bachata, and Kizomba. I reignited my passion for Badminton and held the title of corporate champion of Pune for five years.
Before exploring internationally, I traveled extensively in India. My idea of travel is to immerse myself in nature, live like the locals, or go trekking and diving to experience our planet’s beauty.
TREKKING:
The nostalgia for my first Himalayan trek at 16 lingered, and I felt a strong pull to embark on an adventurous journey. Trekking through snow-clad mountains felt like a new life, breathing unpolluted air at the heights where oxygen levels drop. At an age when reaching the top of a mountain felt an achievement, the beauty of nature took precedence. With the beauty, I also experienced the power of nature on my failed expeditions. Trekking changed my attitude towards life, and I conquered myself with every mountain I climbed (and even with the ones I didn’t):
- Roopkund Trek, Uttarakhand, India - 4800m
- Chadar Trek - Frozen River Trek, Ladakh, India - 4200m
- Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, Kashmir, India - 4200m
- Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh, India - 5200m
- Stok Kangri Summit, Ladakh, India - 6110m
- Mount Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia - 3726m (2nd highest active volcano of Indonesia)
- Auden's Col & Mayali Pass Expedition, Uttarakhand, India - 5490m (most dangerous pass in the Garhwal Himalayas)
- Kalindi Khal Expedition, Uttarakhand, India - 6000m
- Garuda Peak, Uttarakhand, India - a technical peak at 6000m
- Everest Base Camp & Kala Patthar Trek, Nepal - 5555m
- Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India - 4300m
- Mera Peak Summit, Nepal - 6461m
- Kilimanjaro Summit, Tanzania, Africa - 5895m (highest peak of Africa, seven summits)
- Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal - 4130m
SCUBA DIVING:
The temptation to explore more led me to a whole new world that remains hidden under the surface of the oceans. I got myself certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and discovered the depths of the oceans around different islands:
- Kalpeni/Kavaratti/Minicoy Islands, Lakshadweep, India
- Gili Islands, Indonesia
- Havelock Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India
- Nha Trang, Vietnam
- Koh Rong, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
- Neil Island, Andaman & Nicobar Island, India
- Phuket, Thailand
- Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
- Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt
- Laamu Atoll, Maldives
- Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Deep Diver
- Digital Underwater Photographer
- Night Diver
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Enriched Air Diver
PARAGLIDING:
After Mountains and Oceans, I ventured into paragliding, a thrilling adventure that initially seemed intimidating. It has motivated me to soar higher. Learning physics through these adventures has been invaluable. I’m currently pursuing a Club Pilot certification, building on my existing certifications.
- Elementary Pilot Course - Kamshet, Maharashtra, India (2-3 mins solo flights from 45 meters)
- Intermediate Pilot Course - Kamshet, Maharashtra, India (10-15 mins solo flights from 250 meters)
LIVING IN THE HIMALAYAS:
A clichéd dream of living in the mountains became a reality when I took a break from my unhealthy IT work routine. They say, whatever happens, happens for a reason! My resignation didn’t feel as liberating as giving away everything, except my essentials that could fit in my car. This marked my first step towards a minimalistic lifestyle and the freedom it brings. To pursue my passions, I moved to Himachal Pradesh and lived in remote Himalayan valleys (Bir, Spiti, Kinnaur, and Tirthan).
Nature enticed me to observe life thriving in all its elements amidst its purity and tranquility. I immersed myself in learning and adapting the locals’ way of living, a lifestyle completely in tune with nature for a healthy mind-body-soul. This invaluable experience expanded my curiosity about life beyond our conditioning. With a heavy heart and broader mind, I left the Himalayas and joined a startup in Mumbai as a Senior Product Manager for Scuba Diving, aiming to share unforgettable experiences with others.
TRAVEL TO EVOLVE:
Exposing myself to the breathtaking heights of mountains and the profound depths of oceans during ADVENTURE TRAVEL fostered a profound connection with nature and a deep concern for the environment. I actively promote reducing negative impacts on nature and human life through RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL and make an effort to be environmentally conscious in my daily life. SOLO TRAVEL instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility and awareness, transforming me into a more conscious individual. Traveling has been an invaluable learning experience, introducing me to natural ways of living that align with my healthy lifestyle. I am constantly expanding my horizons by EXPERIENCING LIFE in diverse parts of the globe!
