About Mariellen

Freelance travel writer and blogger

Welcome to Breathedreamgo! My name is Mariellen Ward and I’m an award-winning professional travel writer based in Rishikesh, India. I started travel blogging in 2005 and launched Breathedreamgo in August 2009 — inspired by my extensive travels in India (and South Asia). Click here for more about this site, Breathedreamgo, or for my company India for Beginners.

Welcome to Breathedreamgo! My name is Mariellen Ward and I’m an award-winning professional travel writer based in Rishikesh, India. I started travel blogging in 2005 and launched Breathedreamgo in August 2009 — inspired by my extensive travels in India (and South Asia). Click here for more about this site, Breathedreamgo, or for my company India for Beginners.

I have a BA in Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto (1986) and write for leading international newspapers, magazines and online sites (see portfolio below). I am also a seasoned communications professional, copywriter, and editor. You can find out more about my corporate communications work on my Linkedin profile.

India travel blog

My passion is travel in India, the underlying theme of my writing is the power of travel to connect and transform, and I am an advocate of women’s solo travel and responsible travel / sustainable tourism practices.

In 2019, I won the National Tourism Award for Best Foreign Travel Journalist / Blogger from Incredible India Tourism (2019), and I have been short-listed several times for responsible tourism awards — most recently for the Outlook Indian Responsible Tourism Award (2020) for Best Communicator.

To find out “why India” please read How I quit my job to travel or My Story. In 2010 I published my first book, Song of India: Tales of Travel and Transformation. You can get a free PDF copy of this book by signing up for my inspiring newsletter Dispatches.

Responsible travel

Responsible travel principles have always been important to me, since the start of my career. I carry a reusable bottle when I travel and refill it with filtered water. I take great care to show cultural respect while travelling and in my writing. I try and promote fair trade artisans and organizations, responsible tourism companies, and well-managed wildlife tourism. I speak out against irresponsible practices and animal cruelty, such as elephant riding. In 2020, I trained as a naturalist at a tiger reserve in India.

Please scroll down to see a select portfolio of my travel-related writing.

For profile / travel pictures please visit this Flickr set.


Travel Writing Portfolio

Magazine and newspaper articles

WOMANKIND MAGAZINE

  • Cover: Yogis in India 2019
  • Cover: My Life in an Ashram May 2019

VOGUE India

  • The Travel Issue: Oysters in PEI (PDF)
  • Following in the footsteps of Mirabai (PDF )

OUTPOST Magazine

  • Just Breathe, Dream, Go (16-page feature on my travels in India)

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER India

  • Cover: A Place in the sun – Summer Trips 2018
  • Cover:  Beyond Capital Limits 2018

ENSEMBLE Magazine

  • Solo in Ireland
  • Taking a tea pilgrimage to Darjeeling

DREAMSCAPES Magazine

  • Yoga in India PDF

Zoomer Magazine

Toronto Star

Canadian Living Magazine

Homemakers Magazine

Zoomer Magazine

Discover India

  • Bengaluru: Impressions of a city (PDF)

Acura Style magazine

Dreamscapes Magazine 

Online travel and yoga magazines / sites

BBC Travel

Atlas Obscura

Gastro Obscura

  • Langar at the Golden Temple

CN Traveller India

World Nomads

UnearthWomen

  • An afternoon with Dervla Murphy

Inside Himalayas

Horizon Guides

Traveling Mitch

Matador Network

International Expeditions

  • Understanding the rhythms of India
  • Survey of India’s Wildlife

Zeghram Expeditions

  • How to prepare for your trip to the subcontinent
  • 9 Reasons every traveller should visit the Himalayas
  • A guide to Dharamsala for nature lovers and spiritual seekers
  • Exploring the Bay of Bengal

Better Places Travel blog

  • Responsible travel as a way of life
  • Immersion in the local culture of Nepal
  • Trekking in the Kathamndu Valley
  • Unique accommodation in Nepal
  • Women on Wheels: Empowerment through tourism

G Adventures

Mantra Wild

WomensWeb.in
Following in the footsteps of Mira

Toronto Tourism: My Toronto
Nostalgia, Toronto Style

Vacay.ca

SoloTravelBlog

  • Recovering from loss by following a dream

Transitions Abroad

  • Yoga as a window into Indian culture

Journeywoman 

Bootsnall India

  • A Healing Journey

TravelersUniverse.com

Hotelscheap.org

  • Expert Interview with Mariellen Ward

Canadian Living Magazine

Killing Batteries

  • Vomiting anthology

Travelblog

Mariellen’s India Travel blog
~ between December 2005 – April 2009 I spent 11 months living, traveling, studying and volunteering in India. Please visit if you want to share my adventures on the subcontinent.

All material on this weblog is copyright Mariellen Ward 2022