Sample cover letter for Internship position at Lonely Planet

“This is one corner of one country on one continent on one planet in the universe that is forever growing and shrinking and never remaining the same for a single second and there is so much to see because it goes too fast. I am not running away from things; I am running to them before they flare and fade away.” The Doctor (Doctor Who)

Doctor Who became my favourite show because it introduced me to a character who began to travel and never stopped. I experience life through travel because I know no other way. My restless spirit yearns for the hum of a train, a spicy roadside chai and the golden fields of Punjab. The burning desire to discover the world that we live in is deeply ingrained within me. Travelling, to me, is not just about going to different places, it is about discovering new things. There is always something new to experience, no matter where you are. Rather than waiting for these experiences to occur, I believe in actively pursuing them.

As an independent woman traveller, I understand the value of travel as an education from a woman's perspective. My travels have taken me to almost every state in the country. I've learnt that although caution must be exercised, there is no reason for women to not venture out and explore this spectacular world.

I had the pleasure of travelling with my good friend, Liz, when we visited India. I was able to provide her with the opportunity to experience India as an Indian would, for I helped her step outside her culture and overstep the barriers she had formed about this country in her mind. This did not just help her understand India better, it made her understand her own heritage and culture better. Her companionship also helped me analyze the Indian psyche from an outsider's perspective, which was rather interesting for me.

I have been studying temples and architecture for a while now and I have always been fascinated by Indian culture and society. I have lived in different cities in the Northern, Southern and Eastern parts of the country. I understand the nuances of living in these places and the psyche of the people that live there. India is not one, homogenous country- it is a thousand little countries packed into a greater one. There are adventures packed in every nook and cranny. Whether it is trying a plate of rabdi from a roadside stall at the Haldiyon Ka Rasta in Jaipur, hopping off the train for the Rs 10 masala vada at Kachiguda or going that extra 50 kilometers to visit the forgotten paleolithic dolmens near Munnar; India will never cease to provide you with an opportunity to discover yourself. I want to share these surprises with other avid travellers, and make them realize the truth about travelling in India- it is not quiet, it is not calm, but it is certainly the trip of a lifetime!

Samrudhi Sridharan