Globetrotting at your fingertips with Nadir On The Go
"Nadir On The Go" is a popular YouTube channel, maintained by Nadir — a Bangladeshi documenting travelogues since 2016, as he visits different cities across the globe. Recently, Nadir won the Best Content Creator award in the Travel Vlog category at the Blender's Choice-The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards 2021.
Below are excerpts of a conversation we shared with Nadir.
What was your motivation to begin a travel channel on YouTube?
I have been travelling for a large part of my life. Once I was able to capture these experiences with modern smartphones, it only made sense to put them together into videos I could look back to, so I could cherish my favourite moments. The channel was initially just me making videos for myself and my friends and family. When I started, I did not have any grand ambitions of being influential on social media and did not think this could ever become a career.
Your inspiration for calling your vlog: Nadir On The Go?
I went through quite a few brand names trying to find something that is unique, catchy and summarises my brand. Once I came across this name, it hit all the checkboxes and just made sense.
It is said that to overcome your biggest fear, you swim with the sharks. What message do you want to send to your fans through this feat of yours?
Although the experience was terrifying, it was one of the most fun things I have ever done. My message to anyone reading is to not let irrational fears hold us back from making the most out of life.
You have beautiful vlogs on Dhaka and Cox's Bazar. Any other particular city you want to cover and feel like it has not been revealed as much as it should have been?
Inside Bangladesh, the one city I have always wanted to cover but have not had the chance to yet is Chattogram. I used to visit there with my family almost every year as a child and would love to make a video covering the city's history and highlights someday.
For a traveller, every country is unique and there are beautiful stories to tell. Even so, if you were to pick your five best experiences of travelling, which ones would they be and why?
It's very hard to pick just five experiences, but I will list trips that I really cherish, in no particular order:
Singapore, 1997
A family trip that was my first time visiting a place that looked nothing like home.
New York City, USA, 2011
This was the first stop when I moved abroad for university and my first glimpse of the western world.
Reykjavik, Iceland, 2013
My first trip to Europe. I spent a semester at the University of Iceland and made amazing friends.
Europe, Summer 2018
I travelled through around 30 cities in over 100 days. It was the first time I was travelling fast and solo for more than a month, and it made me realise this is the life I always wanted to have.
Belgrade, Serbia, 2021
A short trip that ended up being a long one and Belgrade became my favourite city and the place where I feel most at home.
If someone wishes to become a travel vlogger like you, what are the basic tips you want to suggest to them for a smooth start?
Travel vlogging is a very expensive hobby, so I would make sure to have a way to finance it that does not depend on the vlogging itself. Everything else will come with time and one can learn everything else that is needed for free from the Internet.
Do you want to convey any special message to your fans in the country?
I am beyond overwhelmed with the support I have had in the last few years and it makes me so happy to know other people enjoy my work. I hope to be able to keep delivering for many more years to come.