In 2015, Singaporean Juvena Huang set off from her home in Kaki Bukit on a Vespa scooter, bound for the Czech Republic. She had mapped a route that would carry her across 25 countries and over 44,000 kilometres, but one destination loomed large in her heart before the journey even began: Ladakh, India.
Ten years, 20 Indian states, and countless memories later, Ms Juvena – also known by her adventure moniker, The Wandering Wasp – has turned her passion into a profession. She now co-organises motorcycle tours for fellow Singaporeans and global travellers in some of India’s most stunning regions, including Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, through her partnership with Indian tour operator Saurabh Khanduri of Highland Xplorer.
Falling in Love with Ladakh
“My first ride to Ladakh was the most transformative part of my scooter expedition,” Ms Juvena told tabla!, recalling her 2015 arrival in the Himalayas via the famed Manali-Leh Highway. “I had watched (the Bollywood films) Jab We Met and 3 Idiots, and seen Pangong Lake (a 134km long, high-altitude endorheic lake located at 4,350m in the Himalayas, spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet). I knew I had to go there.”
The journey was not without its doubters. Many questioned if a Vespa could survive the harsh mountain terrain and thin oxygen. But a chance meeting with seasoned bikers at Riders Inn in Manali (a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in Himachal Pradesh) reassured her.
“They said, ‘It’s possible. Just lighten your load.’ That was my first big lesson – always seek advice from experience, not fear.”
Armed with that wisdom, Ms Juvena stashed away extra camping gear, pushed past the cloud-covered Rohtang Pass, and rode on to Leh – facing icy roads, altitude sickness and multiple falls. “I learned about jugaad,” she said with a laugh, recalling a local who tied nylon ropes to her scooter tyres for better traction. “Resourcefulness over perfection.”
Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, around 50km from Manali. The pass serves as a vital link between the verdant Kullu Valley and the arid, high-altitude regions of Lahaul and Spiti Valleys in Himachal Pradesh. Jugaad is a colloquial Hindi-Urdu word for a creative, resourceful “hack” or improvised solution to a problem, especially when resources are scarce.
From Solo Traveller to Tour Partner
It was during this ride that Ms Juvena met Saurabh Khanduri in a Leh guesthouse. “He was already running tours in the region, and we kept in touch. Years later, when I returned, it felt natural to collaborate,” she said.
That collaboration now powers curated motorcycle expeditions for groups from Singapore. In August 2025, Ms Juvena and Mr Saurabh successfully led two Ladakh tours with 13 and 11 riders respectively, an idea born from consistent social media interest and years of rider referrals.
They are expanding in 2026 with routes tailored for beginners and seasoned bikers alike. “We want everyone – from novice riders to thrill-seekers – to experience India’s beauty at their own pace,” Ms Juvena said.
Riding Safe as a Woman
Riding solo across India is no small feat, especially as a woman. But Ms Juvena’s experience has been largely positive.
“Yes, there are risks. But they exist everywhere – Singapore, Thailand, even Europe,” she said. “India is huge and diverse. Ninety-five per cent of my experiences have been safe and overwhelmingly kind.”
She shares anecdotes of strangers in Manipur helping her with bike repairs, a chai vendor in Uttarakhand returning Rs10 (14 cents) unprompted, and hosts who opened their homes for meals and tea.
Still, Ms Juvena stays alert. “When boundaries are crossed, I am firm. I’ve blocked people who kept calling or showing up uninvited. You need to know when to be kind and when to be direct.”
The India Connection: Culture, Currency, Community
India has become a second home for Ms Juvena. Her travels span the Northeast, West Coast, South India and the Himalayas. In all, she has travelled across 20 of India’s 28 states and eight union territories, totalling about 30,000km. “I’ve stayed with locals, joined yoga retreats in Rishikesh, and even celebrated Deepavali with Punjabi families in Mumbai,” she said.
What draws her back to India?
“It’s everything – the mountains, beaches, deserts, diverse cultures and the warmth. You want mountains? You have the Himalayas. You want spices, colour, chaos, peace – it’s all there, she said.”
India’s tech evolution has also made travel smoother. “Back in 2015, I relied heavily on cash and ATMs. Now with UPI (Unified Payments Interface – an instant, 24/7 real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India) and apps like Mony, Niyo and MoneyHop, even roadside chai stalls accept QR payments. It’s amazing.”
She uses platforms like Hosteller, GoStops, and Homestays of India to find accommodation ranging from Rs400 (S$5.60) hostels to boutique stays. “There’s something for every budget.”
Adapting to Chaos: Driving, Living, and Thriving
Ms Juvena admits that adapting to India’s road culture was a challenge at first. “The traffic felt suicidal. But I realised people aren’t following rules – they’re following rhythm,” she said with a laugh.
Driving in India, she added, requires “situational awareness, not blind obedience to rules”. Anticipating hazards is the key. “You need to expect the unexpected. But once you get it, it’s liberating.”
Compared to Singapore’s order, India’s organised chaos has taught her to stay calm, improvise and let go. “That’s growth. When you’re uncomfortable, you learn the most.”
Highland Xplorer: A Dream for the Hills
Ms Juvena’s partner Saurabh, who hails from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, has been conducting motorcycle tours for 16 years. He hopes tourism can help reverse migration trends in the state’s ghost villages.
“In Uttarakhand, people are leaving due to a lack of jobs. Saurabh wants to bring travellers to rediscover these beautiful places and revive local economies,” Ms Juvena said.
She recently returned from a recce trip to Uttarakhand and is now planning four new tours in 2026.
“We always have a mechanic with us for small repairs,” she said. “But there is no problem even in remote areas as people always stop and help. People living in the hills are naturally resourceful and supportive. Most bike problems can be solved in the small towns, which have specialised repair shops.”
More Than Miles: A Transformative Journey
So far, Ms Juvena has clocked 44,000km from Singapore to the Czech Republic, and 30,000km more across India. Her trips have included Telangana’s Bathukamma festival, talks at India Bike Week and solo rides through Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Himachal Pradesh.
Now 38, she balances freelance work in digital marketing and yoga instruction with adventure riding and public speaking. Through The Wandering Wasp – her handle on Instagram and Facebook – she shares stories to inspire others, especially women, to push their limits.
“Travel reminds me that our problems are small in the vastness of the world,” she said. “India teaches me resourcefulness, resilience and joy.”
Riding Forward
As she prepares for her next tour, Ms Juvena remains humbled by the open-hearted people she has met and the terrains that have challenged her.
From remote Ladakhi villages where a woman invited her in for dal and tea, to the Zanskar highway – India’s newest, highest 298km road – where riders touch the skies, her adventures are less about destinations and more about discovery.
“India can be intimidating,” she said, “but if you let go of fear and embrace the chaos, it rewards you in a thousand ways.”
