New Delhi, March 3 -- In Mumbai, the investor conference season is on in full swing but Bertie is now exhausted with what feels like an echo chamber of corporates and investors. To break the monotony, he sought out the equity research head of a bulge-bracket bank. Bertie and this gentleman, Tom, go back over two decades and during that association, he has admired Tom's discipline of regularly visiting countries he covers; not just the financial centres but even the hinterland.

"Nice tan, Tom," Bertie started as they met for breakfast. "Kumbh," Tom said with a smile. Bertie felt embarrassed that he hadn't been to the place that Tom and half the country had visited. But that feeling quickly gave way to the excitement of knowing a well-trav...