Mariellen Ward, Travel writer

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Freelance travel writer, blogger, copywriter

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.

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Travel Writing Portfolio

Magazine and newspaper articles

Zoomer Magazine

• Happiness: What do they know that we don’t? (PDF)

Toronto Star

• Aging Gracefully: Delhi at 100
• Mumbai Mesmerizes
• Life in an ashram in India
• India: Journey to the other side

Canadian Living Magazine

• Change is a process, not a destination (PDF)

Homemakers Magazine

• Sacred Journey (PDF)

Zoomer Magazine

• Lotus Blossom: Turning 50 in India (PDF)

Discover India

• Bengaluru: Impressions of a city (PDF)

Acura Style magazine

• Golden Mirage: Jaisalmer (PDF)

Dreamscapes Magazine 

• India is Yoga (PDF)

Online travel and yoga magazines / sites

BBC Travel

• How I quit my job to travel
• The puppeteer who saved a slum
• How India gave us the zero

Atlas Obscura

• Barasingha of Kanha National Park
• Meera Mahal in Merta City
• The curse of the Chambal River
• The India Gate Cupola Mystery
• The Pushkar Brahma Temple
• The Triveni Sangam
• Adalaj Ni Vav stepwell
• Rani Ki Vav stepwell
• Raniji Ki Baori stepwell
• Fontainhas Goa
• The Golden Temple
• Bhimetka Rock Shelters

Gastro Obscura

• Langar at the Golden Temple

CN Traveller India

• When you write a travel book, you need to have terrible things happen to you
• Tips and advice from a solo woman traveller

World Nomads

• Travel safety for women in India 

UnearthWomen

• An afternoon with Dervla Murphy

Inside Himalayas

• Grass Routes Tour of Nepal

Horizon Guides

• Saving Pushkar’s historic camels

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

• The women of Ladakh are soaring
• Four seasons in India: Best places to visit
• The lifeblood of India: The Ganges River
• Delhi’s Literary Life
• Insider’s Guide to Pushkar Camel Fair

Mantra Wild

• Vanghat Lodge is a paradise for nature lovers
• Tiger safari tours in Madhya Pradesh

WomensWeb.in
Following in the footsteps of Mira

Toronto Tourism: My Toronto
Nostalgia, Toronto Style

Vacay.ca

• India masala in Toronto
• On Titanic 100th, Halifax remembers
• Halifax respectfully honours the Titanic
• Titanic memorabilia in Halifax
• Titanic feast proves Halifax seafood supremacy is unsinkable
• Riding the rails into Group of Seven Country
• Chasing Justin Trudeau in Ottawa

SoloTravelBlog

• Recovering from loss by following a dream

Transitions Abroad

• Yoga as a window into Indian culture

• Learning to love Delhi

Journeywoman 

• Top 10 tips for women travelling in India
• Shopping in India
• Bed, bugs, bacteria, and bad guys

Bootsnall India

• A Healing Journey

TravelersUniverse.com

• The art of solo female travel: Go your own way

Hotelscheap.org

• Expert Interview with Mariellen Ward

Canadian Living Magazine

• Change is a process, not a destination (PDF)

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