What started your passion for traveling? Was it an event in your life? If so, describe it!
Wow. Where to start? I guess what started it was the fact that, in another country I realized I could be whoever I wanted to be. This may sound silly, but I didn’t like the life I had. Every day was the same. Life was very routine, I needed change, I wanted to leave home and see another way of life. The world is so big and there is so much out there, I wanted to see how others lived and to have new experiences.
Back in 2012 when I was 20, I did my first internship abroad. And what a great experience that was. I benefited a lot from traveling from a personal point of view. Before my “travel addiction”, I was in an unhealthy relationship; my dad passed away when I was 13 and I started suffering from social anxiety which then lead into depression.
I realized I needed to get away; go somewhere new, where no one knew my name, where I could be whoever I wanted to be, without the fear of being judged. Because that is what social anxiety is; the fear of being judged by others. I wanted to live a different life from the one I was living. I needed to start afresh and make new friends. I needed to find myself.
After those two months abroad; when I realized how travel changed me as a person and the way I perceived myself, I craved for more. And that I suppose is how my passion for traveling began.
How did it feel coming back home after traveling long term?
The first time I left home was in 2012. I was 21 and I had the best experience of my life. When I came back home “back to reality” as you would say, I felt that I didn’t belong there and all I wanted to do was go back. I found myself feeling out of place in my own country. It’s a horrible feeling. It took me a while to adjust back towards feeling comfortable with where and who I was. I secretly cried all the time and was so frustrated and confused. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I wasn’t prepared for coming home, so prepare yourself for a reverse culture shock when you return home as it could really be difficult to readjust.
“I found myself feeling
out of place in my own country.
It’s a horrible feeling.”
Have you ever had any life-changing moments while traveling?
After my first big trip to India in 2014, I discovered my love for photography which prompted me to create this travel blog and share my photography. When I returned home a spirit of “wanderlust” awakened. I realized how much I enjoyed adventure and wanted to share my experiences. Photography became a way of capturing all the amazing things I was seeing, all the special moments I was experiencing. I started to share these online and I quickly realised that others were enjoying my posts so I continued to share my pictures and I now have over 7000 followers on Instagram. This has since led to sponsorship deals and I will continue to share with my followers all the adventures yet to come.
“Photography became a way
of capturing all the amazing things I was seeing,
all the special moments I was experiencing.”
Describe your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to. Have you been back?
I have been to 14 countries (France, England, Spain, Italy, India, Morocco, Ireland, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mauritius, Madagascar and Sri Lanka); I think, out of all of the countries I have visited, my favourite place would have to be India.
Although, don’t get me wrong, every single country I have been to has left marks on my heart, but nothing compares to India. There is something special about this country. I wish I could describe it to all of you who are unlucky enough to have never visited. But, this would be impossible. There aren’t any words that would ever allow me to sum up every unique memory I have of such an amazing country. India is an experience and one you will never forget. Your experience might not be as similar as mine because everyone has different experiences. One thing for sure is that, India will frustrate you, make you feel alive, make you smile, laugh and maybe even cry. Actually, I’m sure you will experience every human emotion in just one day. It happened to me!
Often India can be very overwhelming; you will generally get over frustrated with what is going on around you. The chaos, the smells, the noise, the heat, the dust, the perstering rickshaws and sellers etc… Remember though, this is not home, you are in another country. The culture is entirely different from your own in every way. You will never understand it, you just have to enjoy the moment and be glad that you were there to experience it, because apart from the dirtiness and the chaos its a beautiful culture and you will remember it forever.
“India is an experience
and one you will never forget.”
What would you tell someone to convince them to travel?
There’s a big world out there, you’d be a fool to miss it. We only have one life, you need to travel, go somewhere you have never been before. All you need to do is take the leap! You will not regret it. A quote I live by: If not now, when?
Give us your best traveling story.
I will always remember the time I spent just under 24 hours stuck on a “separate carriage” of a train in India.
I had stayed at my friend’s house in Mumbai and woke up that morning feeling a bit hungover. This was the last time I was going to see her so we didn’t want to waste a good night.
I got to the train station just on time however I didn’t manage to get a reserved sleeper class ticket. I bought the cheapest ticket available at the counter and left it up to fate to decide where I’ll be spending the next “17 hours”. Yes, “17 hours” as things didn’t turn out that way.
I got to platform 1 with my general class ticket and walked to one end of the train in search for the ladies carriage. After making it all the way; of course, there was no ladies carriage! That’s all I needed. I asked a passenger who kindly stated it may be at the other end. Panicky, as one may be when a train has 28 coaches, I quickly started making my way in the opposite direction.
By that time, (yes you could’ve guessed), the train blew its whistle. Yikes! No time, I stopped thinking and hoped onto the carriage that was just in front of me. Whilst getting on, I saw a sign on the door stating “disabled carriage”. You see, not all trains in India have ladies carriages. This one I thought had, didn’t.
When I got on, I saw it had only two upper beds and two lower beds and luckily only 3 people. I got my bags and jumped onto the upper bed. I was really happy to be able to lie down, but also very nervous that I had to spend quite a number of hours here not knowing who would get on and not being able to access the other carriages.
Before it got dark, I decided it was best for my safety to go to the general compartment where I knew I wouldn’t be on my own. When the train stopped at a station, I packed up my things and ran as fast as I could. I made it. The only downfall was that I had to sleep on cold luggage racks for the rest of my last 8 hour journey. Can’t have it all.
How do you like to pack?
I like to pack light as I only backpack, so I usually don’t bring much. Also, as I care less about my image when traveling, I usually wear clothes with holes in or that are stained, so I have less regret leaving them there. Haha!
What is one thing you always take with you on your trips?
A diary and a pen. Well actually that’s two things, haha! But I can’t go to a country without writing in my diary. It gives me things to look back on. Your mind won’t remember all the crazy things that have happened to you whilst traveling. So it is always good to keep those memories on paper too!
What is your favourite travel souvenir?
I like to collect magnets of the countries I go to; postcards and little objects that are emblematic of the country.
Where do you feel most at home?
Strangely enough, when I’m traveling. Not sure if that makes sense; but that’s where I feel the most comfortable. I feel at home when traveling because you’re in a different place and you can just be yourself; without any expectations of who you’re supposed to be.
What do you feel you get out of traveling?
I actually have very low self-esteem and I found that traveling has helped boost my confidence and self-consciousness. Back home, I never used to leave the house if I hadn’t washed my hair or put makeup on. The more and more I travel, the more I realize that things like that aren’t important. I don’t get treated differently! Nowadays, I don’t always wear makeup when I’m out, nor do I wash my hair everyday like I used to. It’s great to be able to not care about appearance anymore.
Traveling does a hell lot of good, not only for the appearance but also for the mind and soul. Traveling has actually taught me a lot, but this is one of the most important things it has taught me about myself.
It’s good to get out of your comfort zone, to help you become a better, stronger and healthier “you”. Traveling is also one of the best forms of education and you have so many things to share and stories to tell. You also become less materialistic I think and you learn to appreciate small and simple things in life. Material things don’t make you any happier. You become more open minded too.
Also, travel has changed “me”. It has changed the person I am and has also turned me into a happier me. I like traveling so much because it is the only time where I really live in the present and enjoy every moment. The more I travel the more I realize how little I know and how much I would like to know more.
“Traveling does a hell lot of good,
not only for the appearance but also
for the mind and soul. Traveling has actually
taught me a lot, but one of the
most important things it has taught
me is about myself.”
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