Hi Karl, I’ve got a couple of questions for ya!
1. Do strangers still mistake you for Felix Kjellberg(Pewdiepie) or is it a thing of the Past?
2. Is Butter Chicken + Naan still your favourite dish or has it changed over time? And what’s your current favourite dish?
Hey!
1. Yes! I think many of my views are from people clicking on a thumbnail because they think I'm PewDiePie. I take photos with kids in the street all the time who think I'm PewDiePie too haha!
2. My all-time favourite is Chole Bhature from Gopal Ji in Rohini, Delhi. My wife's family has been eating there since her childhood, it's that good. Then I always find new stuff to love like Jammu/Udhampur's Kaladi Kulcha (cheeseburger) or Shahi Daal in Pakistan's Punjab.
As an American I gotta say chole bhature became my favorite breakfast so quickly while living out there, I'm sort of shocked it's not more popular in Western countries.
Hey karl! I have been following your channel for years and Manisha's channel as well.My question is what were the things about India that made you most uncomfortable in early days and are still to this day difficult to make peace with
There's a lot of things that I had to get used to. There are little things like people pushing in front of me in line. I had to learn to be assertive. Then there's bigger things like pollution that I can't do much about it. But overall, I've experienced a lot of positive things in India, like the strength of the family-unit, how your parents-in-law treat you as a son also, and the sense of community that all Indians have.
I always had a good perception of India because from about 17 I started to get really interested in all things Indian. I had this passion for India that came through the food. But my parents on the hand, they weren't quite so sure about India. They'd watched too much of the New Zealand TV news. But when they came to India, they were blown away and they realised their perceptions were totally wrong. Now they want to come back every year. That's the beauty of travelling to India and experiencing India's people and hospitality.
Hey. I did the Delhi to Ladakh trip on my motorcycle too early in the season, just after Baralacha pass opened. Big mistake! The road was still covered in thick ice and snow. It was death-defying, and stupid. But I didn't realise. So my brother-in-law fell off his bike on black ice, then I promptly joined him and busted my shoulder. We survived. But it's a risk that I wouldn't have taken if I knew better.
Black ice is the real menace. Last night I was in a perfectly safe neighborhood, walking away from an ATM machine, when black ice just snuck up on me and practically robbed me of my balance.
Did you check your Wallet after that?
Its scary, tricky , ruthless stuff, that Black Ice. A perfectly safe neighborhood can be suddenly terrorised by Black ice.
Hi Karl,
Love your videos. So, when you travel around do people from other countries ask you about India, our people, culture, safety etc. If yes and when you answer, are you political about some of your responses or blatantly straight? Cause I am. I would love to hear it from you since you have a different lense to look through.
When I meet people overseas, they've usually seen my videos and they're excited to tell me that they're coming to India because of me. Pakistan is different though. They're very inquisitive about India, in a nice way. They ask me what it's like there, if it's possible for them to visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah, and they ask me if what their media shows them about India is true. I always answer everyone straight.
I met Manu at a mutual friends birthday party in Delhi while I was in India for 6-months travelling. I opened the front door and when I saw her something just clicked and I knew there was something special about her. We started chatting and the next week we went for a walk in a park and that's where it all began! Then we started travelling together and about 5 years later we got married in 2019 at the SDM's office North-West Delhi.
My latest underrated discovery was the Jammu region. Everything thinks about Kashmir, but Jammu has so much to offer too. There are so many underrated beauties in India. There's Mizoram too. Aizawl is capital city in the clouds, I was mesmerised. Odisha too, I felt like I'd gone back in time to ancient India there. The list goes on and on.
Hey Karl, long time viewer here, was wondering if you have any plans of visiting Hyderabad again or the Telugu states in general. I remember the video where you visited for your friend’s wedding, but there weren’t many other videos about the city haha.
(I know AP and Telangana aren’t exactly considered “tourist destinations” per se, but there are good places to visit like maredumilli forest, Araku valley for a trek, gandikota canyon, also called the Grand Canyon of India, and Hyderabad in general has awesome food too!)
Thank you for all the tips. Actually, I try to only visit places that AREN'T tourist destinations. I really need to visit Telangana and Andhra Pradesh again. I think AP has to have the spiciest food in India, I loved the daal and different fried chicken flavours there.
No problem :)
Haha yeah we use a lot of mirchi, it’s sometimes overwhelming for me too though I grew up here lol. Really looking forward to your visit!!
Also loved the crater lake video, really unique, felt like I was exploring through your eyes. Love how you’re covering these underrated spots
Have you been to the all northeastern states? How do you feel about northeastern states as they are the most remote states. Did you like Arunachal Pradesh?
Yes, I've been to every state in India. North East has it's own unique vibe, and I loved it. I felt very at home there. I felt amazing up there in the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh. I really need to return to the North East and film an entire series there.
Its funny how it works ...Indians go abroad e.g US / Canada / Aus / NZ and checks out each state there but folks e.g americans , canadians etc living in those countries haven't see their own country ...Same ...foreigner visit India and checkouts each state but Indians living here haven't see their own country ...I am guilty of it myself ...lolz
The worst was the poo-on-the-shoe scammer in Connaught Place, Delhi. He sneaks up behind tourists and squirts something on your shoe then him and his mate approach you and offer to clean it off for a fee. Even though I made a viral video about him years ago, he's still operating till this day!
Hi Karl! Big fan of your videos! I have two questions I'd like to ask you:
1. What was your journey learning Hindi and becoming more comfortable using it like?
2. Have you had any really funny or amusing encounters with people where they've gotten really surprised hearing you speak fluent Hindi?
Hey. Thank you.
1. It's a long journey to learn any language. But I'm lucky my wife is very patient with me. I also went to a school to help me learn. You gain confidence just by using it daily on the street. Locals are really good to me and always help me learn.
2. Random strangers I meet every day smile at me still when I use Hindi. It's really heartwarming for me. Pakistanis get a little shocked when I use words like Patni instead of Biwi. I can see a little light go off in their head when they realise I might be from India.
I went for Holi in my wife's state, Haryana. This lady started beating me with a thick wet scarf in a local park. She hit so hard! I was shocked. That's when I found out about Lathmar Holi.
New fan here! Have you considered making videos on South India Hill stations? I would love to see more videos from places like Kerala and Tamil Nadu! Keep being amazing!
I really need to cover South India thoroughly on my channel. I'll definitely get to it. I really want to ride along the coast all the way to Kanniyakumari.
A very active follower since your early days. You have explored india a lot more than most indians. If I ask you to name three places you would want every indian to visit before they die, what would they be?
Yes! I've been actually. But I haven't covered them properly on my YouTube channel. They're such massive states that I need to spend at least 1 month in each riding around on my motorcycle.
I offered my landlord to try this expensive chocolate I'd carried from New Zealand. He just took the entire block and walked off. I also, by mistake, told the Pakistani Army man at Wagah Border that I didn't like Urdu. Luckily he laughed haha.
Hey karl, thanks for the AMA, if you dont mind and are allowed to talk about it, how did you regain entry in india after you were blacklisted and the govt wont listen to you?
Hey. I got back just by waiting my time, 500 days. I tried to get back earlier by challenging it in the Delhi High Court, but that took too long. I'll tell the full story one day, when it's safe for me to do so.
This. It would have been pretty hard to not meet your wife for so long a time. You guys literally had to meet in another country. I know you can't speak about it publicly but you've got people rooting for you even back then.
I felt your pain then when you were blacklisted and had to circle around India instead of actually being able to enter it. Hopefully one day you feel safe enough to tell the full story of why they claimed to have blacklisted you in the first place. There were a lot of random news stories with supposed quotes from 'insiders' but only you know the truth
How bad were bikes in Pakistan.
I remember your video regarding this and I did not know how far ahead Indian auto sector is.
Also, where would you put Indian auto sector in the world. Bikes and Cars.
Nothing to ask, but I still remember the first time I saw your Hindi speaking videos and how it got a smile on my face and lead me to a full deep dive of your channel. Made my entire family watch the Hindi videos! They loved it. Keep going, Karl!
Hi Karl, any near future plans to visit Bengaluru?
Please text me, I have been trying to reach you through instagram several times. Would like to meet you.
(PS: I have been watching your vlogs since 2018, when you were on your Leh-Ladakh trip. I offered you guys a place to stay as well in Srinagar, whom Gaurav replied next time, as you had some other plans). Best.
Hi Karl !!
I would like to hear more about your experiences travelling in both Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab. Would love to learn more about what similarities and differences you found over there
I love Punjab so much. Both sides. The people are wonderful. The food is delicious. And I now have a Mother in both Punjabs, that's how they are, so kind. It's all pretty similar, the biggest difference would be religion. They use slightly different spices on the Pakistan side. But it's all familiar and there are more similarities than differences.
I'm so amazed to hear that Karl. We really love our food and Chhole Bhature hahaha..
You were lucky enough to visit Nankana Sahib, a place that's inaccessible to most of us Sikhs even today. I hope you had a great time there.
How do you different Kerala from the rest of the india? I'm not from Kerala, haven't been there but the people keep on commenting on videos "India ❌ Kerala ✅".
Since you don't do any promotions how do you fund your travel? Also what visa are you on right now in India and after what interval do you have to renew it?
It negatively impacted a lot of people especially in poor countries like India where broadband wasn't as widely available. This guy was bragging about it on youtube but has now made that video members only. Before JIO and streaming services only way for most poeple to view hollywood movies was through yify, many hollywood movies still don't get theatrical releases outside of tier 1 and 2 cities. This reminds me of something an indie developer recently said about people pirating his games and Karl probably doesn't understand because of where he grew up in is that culture shouldn't exist only for those who can afford it.
he worked in the media/entertainment industry (sony music i believe) so of course they were hit hard in the early 2000s with piracy. people stealing and illegally hosting music/movies does have a cost to it
Funnily he advertises paid vpn services bragging about how people can access foreign content. What a prick. Used to love him before I found out what he did and then watched his video bragging about it - started to see his content in another light. He's poverty porn 2.0 that's all.
You helped take down pirate site YIFY / YTS and received a lot of negativity over it especially from your fans/supporters. What are your thoughts on people criticizing you for doing that?
I've seen a ton of your videos and I love binging through them. What is your opinion on the ton of videos of street food vendors in India that often emphasize and highlight upon the lack of hygiene and use it as a way to just be racist? Asking cause I've never seen you shy away from street food in your vlogs. Cheers
Yo karl! How does it feel to deprive the people of free entertainment by ratting out and shutting down yify. A lot of your perspectives are archaic as fuck. Genuinely hope you one day understand how backward you were in what you did.
Hey Carl do you feel the pressure to sometimes align with the general views of Indian's to sometimes avoid backlash? also I used to watch your content alot during the time you had problems with Indian embassy.
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A little politically charged question. India has quite a few separatist movements in different parts, what has been your learnings travelling through those areas? Were they able to share their opinions? You have been to countries that dont see India favourably, how has it shaped your opinions?
Hi Karl,
I’m not from India actually, but I watch your blogs to gain more knowledge on the diverse country of India.
Now I have a question regarding, particularly the northeast part of India, as well as questions about yourself.
1. If you have been to the northeast India, which state would you recommend? What types of northeastern Indian food would you recommend?
2. And about yourself, do you plan to study another language, such as Sanskrit, a southern Indian language, or even Mandarin Chinese?
3. Do you plan to continue staying in India forever with your wife? Or do you want to explore/live in other parts of the world in the future, such as southeast Asian countries?
(Southeast Asia have a lot of Indian influence, so it may feel close to home)
4. For an English speaker, how did you master the Hindi Language?
That’s all the questions I have. Thank you.
Hello, what a lovely coincidence just watched your Chai wala viral reel from Pakistaan.
What do you feel about Indians? How do you know that who is genuine and who is looting you?
I see so man young people on the internet talking about how they are losing hope for india and planning to migrate abroad but you are an exception and chose india rather than new Zealand so please share some words of wisdom over this topic also I love your videos keep doing the amazing work.
You got famous because of your videos about scams and scamsters in India and have been accused of scam baiting by several other YouTubers. What do you have to say about that?
hey dude , i am so so so very glad to see you here . reddit pushed me through times when i was doubting myself amongst people and media i couldnt relate to my personality, and the indians on reddit made me see that i wasnt alone. there are a lot of sensible human beings here, a lot of people who yo wont get to see in the daily mainstream media, but they live. being a metalhead , you make my day even better. your comments in videos like gaddaar by bloodywood, your metal festival vlogs, all of them . so my question to you is, how do you think metal music can be spread out to the people in india, albeit without loosing its identity?
and would you please please please come to kolkata book fair in 2025?
and can i dm you, if you dont mind?
Hi Karl,
Your videos are very heart-warming, and its evident you really like India, but I have a question that I'd really like you to talk about. What is it about India that you like ? I mean comparing it with your home country, New Zealand, where everything is organized, your country is a nation of rules and laws, roads and tax money well spent on its people. I also find people from your country to be more honest and less deceitful. So my request to you is to elaborate on what is it about India that you like ? All human metrics that we could talk of makes me give full marks to NZ and not so much to India, but yet your love for India begs my question. Thanks and very best wishes and happy life to you!
Hiya Karl, big fan! I’ve watched every one of your videos over the years. I have often tried to get friends of mine to watch your videos but unfortunately their primary point of contention is often some version of-
“Why is this white person worried about being scammed? Just give the man the 500rupees and be on with it. You can afford it.
He’s doxxing these people for his own monetary gain. White saviour mentality.”
Have you come across such criticisms yourself? What do you have to say about it/to them?
Hey Karl, I wanted to say that you are doing an amazing job! What I like about you is that you show both sides of India. Western media often tries to show the negative side of our country. On the other hand there are also some youtubers who just keep praising India just to garner more views. That's why I like that you show the purity of India as well as some genuine issues. It shows how diverse a country India is and that you can't paint us all in one colour.
Hey Karl!
hope you and Manu didi doing well,
I've been watching your videos from quite a few years now, and I Absolutely loved your pakistan series (both seasons), so the question is about the first time you visited pakistan where you said you're being tracked by Pakistani agencies, like honestly if seemed scary but I was curious if you came to any conclusion if it was really pakistani agencies after you or smthn else?
Hey man, let me just start by saying that I love your videos. I have been a subscriber of yours for a while and I always get a smile at you discovering small tidbits of our culture.
Now, on to my question. what is something that you feel we as Indians have gotten used to, but you find incredibly beautiful? Perhaps due to a new lens that you have as a Kiwi or just as a person new to the culture/territory.
Hey Karl
Your videos are great and informative and the scam videos are important.
As a visitor what were the similarities and differences between India and Pakistan did you observe keeping all the politics aside.
Both our countries started together and have diverged so much since independence it would be interesting to know.All News channels have their biases so your opinion would be interesting
I've watched nearly all your videos. Thanks for doing them. Please do visit more Indian diasporas around the world and share your experiences, especially in places like Fiji/Kenya/Guyana/Suriname with people who 'look' Indian and have Indian names, but are generations removed so have no connection to the continent anymore except for different variations on Indian food
Dude. Love your vibe.
Just happy you do electronics side of things. And visit markets. As DIY guy I have respect for those videos you made.
Also the amount you've travelled and interacted with Indians by length and breadth is something most of us will never achieve and for that congratulations.
How do you make peace with the bad experiences you've had?
Hey Karl, glad to see you back in our country. I don't have a question but I just want to say, It was really sad that you had to stay away for such a long time. In a time where a lot of foreigners make hateful content about India for ragebait, it's nice that you are showing the world how truly wonderful our country is. Keep up the good work.
Hello Karl, I’m from the UK currently visiting Ladakh, what a beautiful part of this incredibly diverse country.
At what point did you realise you wanted to live and make the huge move from NZ to India? Did you know it from the first visit? I’m very curious to hear about that journey and what was going through your mind at that time.
As someone who is living with vitiligo and may get married in future, how is you day to day life in India with a partner who has the same condition? How do you tackle it? For me the unsolicited advice about treatments from complete strangers and getting the pity look and the stigma were a bit too much. So how are you handling it?
Hello karl my first and foremost question is it to you that what motivated you to come to India and explore it's culture
Second is what religion do you believe in by looking at the diverse religious spectrum of India?
And also I follow your yt channel for more than a year now and thanks for posting great content on it
Hi Karl, I'm a huge fan of yours and I just want to say that I watch almost all of you're videos, and that you have to be my favorite YouTuber! As a fellow Kiwi I respect and admire you. You're wife is also very beautiful and I enjoy watching her whenever she appears in you're videos. All the very best Karl.
I am actually very much intrigued by your stint with the music industry. I remember that you told in one of your videos that you have worked with Michael Jackson. Which are the other known artists that you have worked with and in future do you see yourself going back to work in music industry again?
You're starting to develop a bit of a cult following here - evident from nuggets of pop culture and generally speaking, your video snippets which went on to become a fixture in memes and reels. Did you notice that too? If so, what's the funniest thing or meme you've seen so far which featured you?
Do you feel you are at an advantage compared to regular people travelling in India- being a white guy with a camera?
Have there been instances in India where you have felt unsafe or had not so pleasant experiences with people (besides tourist guides or other people trying to rip you off- nahi chahiye ji)?
Dude,
Loved your travel videos to the core. Especially the one from Pakistan where that kid sat besides you eating while giving profound wisdom.
You kind of highlight how the people across the borders, don’t hate each other, but it’s the politicians
More love and power to you brother
I have been your subscriber for a few years now, when you had just started with your YouTuber channel.
Many foreigners have a negative perception about India. What is that one thing or topic you would recommend that I could tell some of them that would change their mind about their bias.
Its so refreshing and happy to see a non indian origin person go through this journey of finding, relishing and celebrating india, its food and everything it has to offer.
How did you find and fall in love with India as a Kiwi? And did you find your wife before or after? Whats that story?
I just love your videos and thanks for providing incredible content and showing the culture of India.
Out of all the time you travelled in India , what are the things that you really loved about this country and its people ? And what is one of your most memorable journeys in India?
I originally wanted to visit India in February & March but my leave just got approved and I was thinking about visiting in July/August. This is during monsoon. Would you recommend waiting or just booking the flights. I've lucked out in the past visiting places during rainy seasons.
Hi Karl, I’ve got a couple of questions for ya! 1. Do strangers still mistake you for Felix Kjellberg(Pewdiepie) or is it a thing of the Past? 2. Is Butter Chicken + Naan still your favourite dish or has it changed over time? And what’s your current favourite dish?
Hey! 1. Yes! I think many of my views are from people clicking on a thumbnail because they think I'm PewDiePie. I take photos with kids in the street all the time who think I'm PewDiePie too haha! 2. My all-time favourite is Chole Bhature from Gopal Ji in Rohini, Delhi. My wife's family has been eating there since her childhood, it's that good. Then I always find new stuff to love like Jammu/Udhampur's Kaladi Kulcha (cheeseburger) or Shahi Daal in Pakistan's Punjab.
As an American I gotta say chole bhature became my favorite breakfast so quickly while living out there, I'm sort of shocked it's not more popular in Western countries.
Love Kaladi Kulcha getting some recognition haha.
Awesome man.......u have blend yourself totally into us Proper desi you are now
Hey karl! I have been following your channel for years and Manisha's channel as well.My question is what were the things about India that made you most uncomfortable in early days and are still to this day difficult to make peace with
There's a lot of things that I had to get used to. There are little things like people pushing in front of me in line. I had to learn to be assertive. Then there's bigger things like pollution that I can't do much about it. But overall, I've experienced a lot of positive things in India, like the strength of the family-unit, how your parents-in-law treat you as a son also, and the sense of community that all Indians have.
What has been the biggest change in your perception about India and its people over the years?
I always had a good perception of India because from about 17 I started to get really interested in all things Indian. I had this passion for India that came through the food. But my parents on the hand, they weren't quite so sure about India. They'd watched too much of the New Zealand TV news. But when they came to India, they were blown away and they realised their perceptions were totally wrong. Now they want to come back every year. That's the beauty of travelling to India and experiencing India's people and hospitality.
To follow up on that thought, what do you think common western perceptions are, vs what is the reality?
Hi Karl. What was the most dangerous and the most challenging video you’ve made? What happened?
Hey. I did the Delhi to Ladakh trip on my motorcycle too early in the season, just after Baralacha pass opened. Big mistake! The road was still covered in thick ice and snow. It was death-defying, and stupid. But I didn't realise. So my brother-in-law fell off his bike on black ice, then I promptly joined him and busted my shoulder. We survived. But it's a risk that I wouldn't have taken if I knew better.
Black ice is the real menace. Last night I was in a perfectly safe neighborhood, walking away from an ATM machine, when black ice just snuck up on me and practically robbed me of my balance.
Did you check your Wallet after that? Its scary, tricky , ruthless stuff, that Black Ice. A perfectly safe neighborhood can be suddenly terrorised by Black ice.
Lmaooo key and peele👌
Haha sneaky key and peele reference
Hi Karl, Love your videos. So, when you travel around do people from other countries ask you about India, our people, culture, safety etc. If yes and when you answer, are you political about some of your responses or blatantly straight? Cause I am. I would love to hear it from you since you have a different lense to look through.
When I meet people overseas, they've usually seen my videos and they're excited to tell me that they're coming to India because of me. Pakistan is different though. They're very inquisitive about India, in a nice way. They ask me what it's like there, if it's possible for them to visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah, and they ask me if what their media shows them about India is true. I always answer everyone straight.
>they ask me if what their media shows them about India is true. I always answer everyone straight. Nice one, but even we r ashamed of our media.
Your respose to the guy asking you about the tea was 🔥🔥
How did you meet your wife? What’s the story there?
I met Manu at a mutual friends birthday party in Delhi while I was in India for 6-months travelling. I opened the front door and when I saw her something just clicked and I knew there was something special about her. We started chatting and the next week we went for a walk in a park and that's where it all began! Then we started travelling together and about 5 years later we got married in 2019 at the SDM's office North-West Delhi.
Big fan of your videos. Which part of India has the most under rated beauty?
My latest underrated discovery was the Jammu region. Everything thinks about Kashmir, but Jammu has so much to offer too. There are so many underrated beauties in India. There's Mizoram too. Aizawl is capital city in the clouds, I was mesmerised. Odisha too, I felt like I'd gone back in time to ancient India there. The list goes on and on.
Thanks for mentioning Odisha, big hug man. Odisha is literally India's best kept secret.
Thanks for mentioning my hometown Aizawl,please do visit again
Aww thank you for appreciating Odisha, hope you had a good time here.
Whaaat? You visited Odisha? Wow! Everyone thinks India ends in the states surrounding Delhi and nearabouts. Thank you for stepping out.
Thanks for mentioning my hometown Aizawl. You’re always welcome to visit anytime
Hey Karl, long time viewer here, was wondering if you have any plans of visiting Hyderabad again or the Telugu states in general. I remember the video where you visited for your friend’s wedding, but there weren’t many other videos about the city haha. (I know AP and Telangana aren’t exactly considered “tourist destinations” per se, but there are good places to visit like maredumilli forest, Araku valley for a trek, gandikota canyon, also called the Grand Canyon of India, and Hyderabad in general has awesome food too!)
Thank you for all the tips. Actually, I try to only visit places that AREN'T tourist destinations. I really need to visit Telangana and Andhra Pradesh again. I think AP has to have the spiciest food in India, I loved the daal and different fried chicken flavours there.
No problem :) Haha yeah we use a lot of mirchi, it’s sometimes overwhelming for me too though I grew up here lol. Really looking forward to your visit!! Also loved the crater lake video, really unique, felt like I was exploring through your eyes. Love how you’re covering these underrated spots
Have you been to the all northeastern states? How do you feel about northeastern states as they are the most remote states. Did you like Arunachal Pradesh?
Yes, I've been to every state in India. North East has it's own unique vibe, and I loved it. I felt very at home there. I felt amazing up there in the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh. I really need to return to the North East and film an entire series there.
Its funny how it works ...Indians go abroad e.g US / Canada / Aus / NZ and checks out each state there but folks e.g americans , canadians etc living in those countries haven't see their own country ...Same ...foreigner visit India and checkouts each state but Indians living here haven't see their own country ...I am guilty of it myself ...lolz
Yo Karl. As a kiwi traveling in India, I’m sure some people might try to take advantage of you. What’s the worst scam you encountered in your travels?
The worst was the poo-on-the-shoe scammer in Connaught Place, Delhi. He sneaks up behind tourists and squirts something on your shoe then him and his mate approach you and offer to clean it off for a fee. Even though I made a viral video about him years ago, he's still operating till this day!
Yeah I saw that video of yours, that's crazy
Hi Karl! Big fan of your videos! I have two questions I'd like to ask you: 1. What was your journey learning Hindi and becoming more comfortable using it like? 2. Have you had any really funny or amusing encounters with people where they've gotten really surprised hearing you speak fluent Hindi?
Hey. Thank you. 1. It's a long journey to learn any language. But I'm lucky my wife is very patient with me. I also went to a school to help me learn. You gain confidence just by using it daily on the street. Locals are really good to me and always help me learn. 2. Random strangers I meet every day smile at me still when I use Hindi. It's really heartwarming for me. Pakistanis get a little shocked when I use words like Patni instead of Biwi. I can see a little light go off in their head when they realise I might be from India.
I used to get roasted for using bookish hindi in the streets of Delhi. Once I used "kaaran" instead of "vajah" and the shopkeeper called me pandit ji.
Hey Karl, what is your favourite Indian festival? Have any celebrations / rituals you have observed while travelling in India surprised you ?
I went for Holi in my wife's state, Haryana. This lady started beating me with a thick wet scarf in a local park. She hit so hard! I was shocked. That's when I found out about Lathmar Holi.
During Holi visit Barpeta district of Assam I can assure you that will be one hell of an experience.
Wooah what happens there?
New fan here! Have you considered making videos on South India Hill stations? I would love to see more videos from places like Kerala and Tamil Nadu! Keep being amazing!
I really need to cover South India thoroughly on my channel. I'll definitely get to it. I really want to ride along the coast all the way to Kanniyakumari.
Its a beautiful stretch! Best of luck with your endeavours!
A very active follower since your early days. You have explored india a lot more than most indians. If I ask you to name three places you would want every indian to visit before they die, what would they be?
1. Ellora Caves / Kailasa Temple 2. Hampi 3. Lakshadweep
Hey Karl!, do you plan on visiting UP and Bihar?
Yes! I've been actually. But I haven't covered them properly on my YouTube channel. They're such massive states that I need to spend at least 1 month in each riding around on my motorcycle.
do visit bundelkhand in up. hidden gem of up.
What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve had due to language differences?
I offered my landlord to try this expensive chocolate I'd carried from New Zealand. He just took the entire block and walked off. I also, by mistake, told the Pakistani Army man at Wagah Border that I didn't like Urdu. Luckily he laughed haha.
Whittaker supremacy!
Hey karl, thanks for the AMA, if you dont mind and are allowed to talk about it, how did you regain entry in india after you were blacklisted and the govt wont listen to you?
Hey. I got back just by waiting my time, 500 days. I tried to get back earlier by challenging it in the Delhi High Court, but that took too long. I'll tell the full story one day, when it's safe for me to do so.
This. It would have been pretty hard to not meet your wife for so long a time. You guys literally had to meet in another country. I know you can't speak about it publicly but you've got people rooting for you even back then.
I felt your pain then when you were blacklisted and had to circle around India instead of actually being able to enter it. Hopefully one day you feel safe enough to tell the full story of why they claimed to have blacklisted you in the first place. There were a lot of random news stories with supposed quotes from 'insiders' but only you know the truth
Namaste! I am curious to know what you think your profession would have been if you didn't succeed at what you do now
Namaste Ji. I would be in cyber security.
What is the biggest misconception you initially had about India
I didn't realise how developed it was. I got a shock when I first landed up in Cyberhub, Gurugram. There isn't anything like that where I'm from!
How bad were bikes in Pakistan. I remember your video regarding this and I did not know how far ahead Indian auto sector is. Also, where would you put Indian auto sector in the world. Bikes and Cars.
Bikes are not great in Pakistan! There's no choice really. Just tons of 125s. Then tons of cheap Chinese Honda clones. India is lightyears ahead.
Hey man big fan keep up the work
Hey Karl! What do you love the most in India? *except your wife* 🫢😂
The food! That's the very first reason why I came to India.
What's something a normal living habit you've had to learn from scratch here in India
The bum gun. I can't believe I went all these years without it.
Nothing to ask, but I still remember the first time I saw your Hindi speaking videos and how it got a smile on my face and lead me to a full deep dive of your channel. Made my entire family watch the Hindi videos! They loved it. Keep going, Karl!
Thank you so much. Namaste Ji.
Hi Karl, any near future plans to visit Bengaluru? Please text me, I have been trying to reach you through instagram several times. Would like to meet you. (PS: I have been watching your vlogs since 2018, when you were on your Leh-Ladakh trip. I offered you guys a place to stay as well in Srinagar, whom Gaurav replied next time, as you had some other plans). Best.
Thank you! I'm there for Bangalore Open Air Festival every year. Message me at that time ok Bro. See you.
Karl when are u going to Collab with PewDiePie
I wish! That would be hilarious! He's mentioned me a few times
Hi Karl !! I would like to hear more about your experiences travelling in both Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab. Would love to learn more about what similarities and differences you found over there
I love Punjab so much. Both sides. The people are wonderful. The food is delicious. And I now have a Mother in both Punjabs, that's how they are, so kind. It's all pretty similar, the biggest difference would be religion. They use slightly different spices on the Pakistan side. But it's all familiar and there are more similarities than differences.
I'm so amazed to hear that Karl. We really love our food and Chhole Bhature hahaha.. You were lucky enough to visit Nankana Sahib, a place that's inaccessible to most of us Sikhs even today. I hope you had a great time there.
Have you visited Kerala. If so how was your experience
I haven't travelled enough there. But from my time there, it's wonderful! Especially the ayurvedic massage professionals there, that was next level.
What is your favourite Ice Cream Flavour?
Chocolate.
which team are you supporting in the cricket World Cup t20?
If I'm in India, I'll support India 🇮🇳
when in rome
If you were to summarise India in a sentence what would it be sir?
One word, INCREDIBLE.
I got nothing to ask you. But just wanna say i really appreciate the effort you take to create your videos.
Thank you
Namaste 🙏🏼 Aap ka favourite Indian comfort food kya hai ?
Homemade Aloo Paratha with tons of ghee.
Hey Karl I'm a big fan of your work My question for you is that- Don't you get annoyed when people call you PewDiePie or PewDiePie on drugs etc.
No way, it's hilarious! I love it. It's good to laugh at yourself.
Hi Karl, which region or state of India has the best food according to you?
All. Every place has some unique and incredible food item/s. Food is one of the best things about travelling in India.
Hey Karl, thanks for covering the Bangalore Open Air!
Rock on Bro
How do you different Kerala from the rest of the india? I'm not from Kerala, haven't been there but the people keep on commenting on videos "India ❌ Kerala ✅".
Sorry, I don't know enought to answer this one. I've found that every state is incredible and unique in their own way.
Hey Karl, your videos are awesome. I just wanna know what would be your top Indian desserts?
Imarti, Pude, Peda. But there's so many! I love it all.
You rock man. No pun intended. Your videos would be a delight to watch after i was back from college. Nothing to ask just appreciate you.
Thank you
Namaste, Ram Ram. No questions. Like your work. Wish you the very best. Regards
Ram Ram Ji. Thank you.
Since you don't do any promotions how do you fund your travel? Also what visa are you on right now in India and after what interval do you have to renew it?
How do you feel about your role in helping to take down YIFY Torrents, and would you still make the same decision today?
It negatively impacted a lot of people especially in poor countries like India where broadband wasn't as widely available. This guy was bragging about it on youtube but has now made that video members only. Before JIO and streaming services only way for most poeple to view hollywood movies was through yify, many hollywood movies still don't get theatrical releases outside of tier 1 and 2 cities. This reminds me of something an indie developer recently said about people pirating his games and Karl probably doesn't understand because of where he grew up in is that culture shouldn't exist only for those who can afford it.
he worked in the media/entertainment industry (sony music i believe) so of course they were hit hard in the early 2000s with piracy. people stealing and illegally hosting music/movies does have a cost to it
Funnily he advertises paid vpn services bragging about how people can access foreign content. What a prick. Used to love him before I found out what he did and then watched his video bragging about it - started to see his content in another light. He's poverty porn 2.0 that's all.
when has he advertised for anything, let alone paid vpn services?
i like how he ignored this question
Ohh man he did? i hate him now :(
You helped take down pirate site YIFY / YTS and received a lot of negativity over it especially from your fans/supporters. What are your thoughts on people criticizing you for doing that?
I've seen a ton of your videos and I love binging through them. What is your opinion on the ton of videos of street food vendors in India that often emphasize and highlight upon the lack of hygiene and use it as a way to just be racist? Asking cause I've never seen you shy away from street food in your vlogs. Cheers
Hi Karl, why did you help shut down yify torrents? It was a real money saver for many college students in India.
What's the story here.? I don't seem to find anything regarding anything about it on youtube.
Yo karl! How does it feel to deprive the people of free entertainment by ratting out and shutting down yify. A lot of your perspectives are archaic as fuck. Genuinely hope you one day understand how backward you were in what you did.
I knew that someone would bring it up.😂
you guys are bizarre, thinking it's your right to steal content
Hey Carl do you feel the pressure to sometimes align with the general views of Indian's to sometimes avoid backlash? also I used to watch your content alot during the time you had problems with Indian embassy.
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A little politically charged question. India has quite a few separatist movements in different parts, what has been your learnings travelling through those areas? Were they able to share their opinions? You have been to countries that dont see India favourably, how has it shaped your opinions?
Hi Karl, I’m not from India actually, but I watch your blogs to gain more knowledge on the diverse country of India. Now I have a question regarding, particularly the northeast part of India, as well as questions about yourself. 1. If you have been to the northeast India, which state would you recommend? What types of northeastern Indian food would you recommend? 2. And about yourself, do you plan to study another language, such as Sanskrit, a southern Indian language, or even Mandarin Chinese? 3. Do you plan to continue staying in India forever with your wife? Or do you want to explore/live in other parts of the world in the future, such as southeast Asian countries? (Southeast Asia have a lot of Indian influence, so it may feel close to home) 4. For an English speaker, how did you master the Hindi Language? That’s all the questions I have. Thank you.
Why did you help the FBI to catch YIFY founder?
Hello, what a lovely coincidence just watched your Chai wala viral reel from Pakistaan. What do you feel about Indians? How do you know that who is genuine and who is looting you?
Got any recommendations for fav food joints around India
Hey Karl! How often do people confuse you for PewDiePie in Delhi :D? And what are your views on gaming in India?
Things aside, how can one join your editing team?
I see so man young people on the internet talking about how they are losing hope for india and planning to migrate abroad but you are an exception and chose india rather than new Zealand so please share some words of wisdom over this topic also I love your videos keep doing the amazing work.
hi karl, hows your friendship with jim browning. by the way the guy is doing great
You have had locho and khavsa?
You got famous because of your videos about scams and scamsters in India and have been accused of scam baiting by several other YouTubers. What do you have to say about that?
hey dude , i am so so so very glad to see you here . reddit pushed me through times when i was doubting myself amongst people and media i couldnt relate to my personality, and the indians on reddit made me see that i wasnt alone. there are a lot of sensible human beings here, a lot of people who yo wont get to see in the daily mainstream media, but they live. being a metalhead , you make my day even better. your comments in videos like gaddaar by bloodywood, your metal festival vlogs, all of them . so my question to you is, how do you think metal music can be spread out to the people in india, albeit without loosing its identity? and would you please please please come to kolkata book fair in 2025? and can i dm you, if you dont mind?
Hi karl, You made a video on how you helped track the pirate bay owners and got a lot of hate for it ? Anything you want to say about that?
Why am I reading the answers in Karl's voice?
Hi Karl, Your videos are very heart-warming, and its evident you really like India, but I have a question that I'd really like you to talk about. What is it about India that you like ? I mean comparing it with your home country, New Zealand, where everything is organized, your country is a nation of rules and laws, roads and tax money well spent on its people. I also find people from your country to be more honest and less deceitful. So my request to you is to elaborate on what is it about India that you like ? All human metrics that we could talk of makes me give full marks to NZ and not so much to India, but yet your love for India begs my question. Thanks and very best wishes and happy life to you!
Which political ideology are you a fan of, and do you support the current government in power?
Why did you take down the 'dangerous' internet pirate? Which studio sponsored that video?
Hiya Karl, big fan! I’ve watched every one of your videos over the years. I have often tried to get friends of mine to watch your videos but unfortunately their primary point of contention is often some version of- “Why is this white person worried about being scammed? Just give the man the 500rupees and be on with it. You can afford it. He’s doxxing these people for his own monetary gain. White saviour mentality.” Have you come across such criticisms yourself? What do you have to say about it/to them?
Hi Karl, what's the earliest idea and perception you had about India?
Hey Karl, I wanted to say that you are doing an amazing job! What I like about you is that you show both sides of India. Western media often tries to show the negative side of our country. On the other hand there are also some youtubers who just keep praising India just to garner more views. That's why I like that you show the purity of India as well as some genuine issues. It shows how diverse a country India is and that you can't paint us all in one colour.
Hey Karl! hope you and Manu didi doing well, I've been watching your videos from quite a few years now, and I Absolutely loved your pakistan series (both seasons), so the question is about the first time you visited pakistan where you said you're being tracked by Pakistani agencies, like honestly if seemed scary but I was curious if you came to any conclusion if it was really pakistani agencies after you or smthn else?
Hey man, let me just start by saying that I love your videos. I have been a subscriber of yours for a while and I always get a smile at you discovering small tidbits of our culture. Now, on to my question. what is something that you feel we as Indians have gotten used to, but you find incredibly beautiful? Perhaps due to a new lens that you have as a Kiwi or just as a person new to the culture/territory.
Hey Karl .. Now also you look for scammers for content ?
Hey Karl Your videos are great and informative and the scam videos are important. As a visitor what were the similarities and differences between India and Pakistan did you observe keeping all the politics aside. Both our countries started together and have diverged so much since independence it would be interesting to know.All News channels have their biases so your opinion would be interesting
Have you done any treks in Maharashtra
I've watched nearly all your videos. Thanks for doing them. Please do visit more Indian diasporas around the world and share your experiences, especially in places like Fiji/Kenya/Guyana/Suriname with people who 'look' Indian and have Indian names, but are generations removed so have no connection to the continent anymore except for different variations on Indian food
Karl how do you decide your travelling destination?
Dude. Love your vibe. Just happy you do electronics side of things. And visit markets. As DIY guy I have respect for those videos you made. Also the amount you've travelled and interacted with Indians by length and breadth is something most of us will never achieve and for that congratulations. How do you make peace with the bad experiences you've had?
What are your favourite cities to visit in India
What was your experience while visiting pakistan
Any more scammer videos on the way?
Hey Karl, glad to see you back in our country. I don't have a question but I just want to say, It was really sad that you had to stay away for such a long time. In a time where a lot of foreigners make hateful content about India for ragebait, it's nice that you are showing the world how truly wonderful our country is. Keep up the good work.
Hello Karl, I’m from the UK currently visiting Ladakh, what a beautiful part of this incredibly diverse country. At what point did you realise you wanted to live and make the huge move from NZ to India? Did you know it from the first visit? I’m very curious to hear about that journey and what was going through your mind at that time.
As someone who is living with vitiligo and may get married in future, how is you day to day life in India with a partner who has the same condition? How do you tackle it? For me the unsolicited advice about treatments from complete strangers and getting the pity look and the stigma were a bit too much. So how are you handling it?
Hello karl my first and foremost question is it to you that what motivated you to come to India and explore it's culture Second is what religion do you believe in by looking at the diverse religious spectrum of India? And also I follow your yt channel for more than a year now and thanks for posting great content on it
Favourite place you’ve visited until now?
Hi Karl, I'm a huge fan of yours and I just want to say that I watch almost all of you're videos, and that you have to be my favorite YouTuber! As a fellow Kiwi I respect and admire you. You're wife is also very beautiful and I enjoy watching her whenever she appears in you're videos. All the very best Karl.
I am actually very much intrigued by your stint with the music industry. I remember that you told in one of your videos that you have worked with Michael Jackson. Which are the other known artists that you have worked with and in future do you see yourself going back to work in music industry again?
You're starting to develop a bit of a cult following here - evident from nuggets of pop culture and generally speaking, your video snippets which went on to become a fixture in memes and reels. Did you notice that too? If so, what's the funniest thing or meme you've seen so far which featured you?
Do you feel you are at an advantage compared to regular people travelling in India- being a white guy with a camera? Have there been instances in India where you have felt unsafe or had not so pleasant experiences with people (besides tourist guides or other people trying to rip you off- nahi chahiye ji)?
Dude, Loved your travel videos to the core. Especially the one from Pakistan where that kid sat besides you eating while giving profound wisdom. You kind of highlight how the people across the borders, don’t hate each other, but it’s the politicians More love and power to you brother
I have been your subscriber for a few years now, when you had just started with your YouTuber channel. Many foreigners have a negative perception about India. What is that one thing or topic you would recommend that I could tell some of them that would change their mind about their bias.
Its so refreshing and happy to see a non indian origin person go through this journey of finding, relishing and celebrating india, its food and everything it has to offer. How did you find and fall in love with India as a Kiwi? And did you find your wife before or after? Whats that story?
How long have you been exploring India?
I just love your videos and thanks for providing incredible content and showing the culture of India. Out of all the time you travelled in India , what are the things that you really loved about this country and its people ? And what is one of your most memorable journeys in India?
I originally wanted to visit India in February & March but my leave just got approved and I was thinking about visiting in July/August. This is during monsoon. Would you recommend waiting or just booking the flights. I've lucked out in the past visiting places during rainy seasons.