Anyone that has a stuffed toy as a travelling buddy gets a big yes from me. Christina is the face behind the Wanderlusting Hippie and was kind enough to share her travel insight for this week’s Globetrotters.
The Wanderlusting Hippie is a blog for young travellers on a budget. As you will read below Christina’s goal is to show people you don’t have to be rich to travel the world and follow your dreams. I recently read this article Heartbreak you’re not a traveller without ithttps://wanderlustinghippie.com/2017/04/05/heartbreak-youre-not-a-traveler-without-it/ and straight away I knew this was a blog I wanted to follow. I could TOTALLY relate. Then reading through Christina;s answers below I could see the passion she has for travelling and for people to see the world I couldn’t wait to share with you all.
The fun part about these Q&A’s is learning more about everyone’s journeys where they have been, their bucket lists, where was good and where wasn’t so good. Whilst it was a little hard to hear my homeland didn’t live up to the hype it just reminds me that the places that didn’t live up to the hype for me could have been the best place for adventures for somewhere else. By connecting with others and hearing stories from other people just keeps opening up the world even further and I think that’s amazing.
I’m sure you are going to love following Wanderlusting Hippie as much as I do and be sure to check her blog for travel tips and inspiration and follow on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with where she is in the world. I’ve put all the links below so you get there in one easy click.
You are in for a treat. Let me introduce you to Christina,
Originally hailing from Florida, I’m a beach girl at heart, but have been suffering from an incurable case of gypsy fever for the last 5 years. I’ve worked in marketing for many different companies across the US before making the decision to go global. I’m also the author of Wanderlusting Hippie, a travel blog for 20-something solo budget travellers.
What do you enjoy most about travelling?
The part I love most about travelling is getting to see and explore new cultures that I was clueless to before. I love learning other customs and traditions and how other communities of people interact. I also love when foreigners get so excited to practice their English with me. It feels amazing to help someone master a skill like learning a new language!
Why do you think travelling is important?
Travel is SO important because it helps you grow as a person. It teaches you to value what you have and it unlocks a part of yourself that you may not have been able to access if you stayed in the same little hometown you grew up in. If I would have stayed in Niceville, the little Florida town I was raised in, I would probably spend my time complaining about an Uber driver talking to me too much when I didn’t feel like talking. Since I have taken the opportunity to travel and see other cultures, I realise how truly lucky we are to even have something like Uber exist in our everyday lives. Perspective.
What is your favourite photograph from your travels?
This photo was taken at my one of my favourite spots in Bali. I’ve always been a big fan of hookah, and there was an Italian cafe across the street from my guesthouse in Seminyak that had hookah for about $2 US. I lived in that guesthouse for 3 weeks, and I would walk over to get hookah and a coffee every day…and just people watch. They had an outside patio that faced all the action, and I loved taking my laptop there to work. It got to the point that they started to get my favourite hookah flavour ready when they saw me walking up! So this photo brings back amazing memories of the energy of the city that I got to sit and watch every day.
Which is your favourite type of travel/holiday- sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?
Being from Florida, I prefer to stick to my mermaid roots and be by the sea. Although I do love getting to experience new terrain with every new adventure! I love city life too, the energy of a city really motivates me…so when there is a destination that has both, you’ll be sure to find me there.
Who do you usually travel with?
Journey. This is my travel buddy! I’ve had him since last year and he’s been everywhere with me!
If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Always pack a backup change of clothes in your carry on! At least one pair of undies, clean shirt, pants, and a toothbrush. You never know what issues you might run into.
Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
When I was in Italy (inland from Venice) I waited at the bus stop for an hour…in the middle of December! It was about 30 degrees (-1 celsius) and I was shivering like crazy. Finally, a young guy came along and had to explain to me, all in Italian, that the bus was in fact not running that day. He spoke NO English and I knew NO Italian…but we made it work!
Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Although I fell in love with the spirit of Venice, Italy the one place I would love to go back to is Bali. There is something about the sunshine (told you I’m a beach lover) that just brings such a happy energy to the community!
Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
I hate to say it…but Australia was a bit of a letdown for me. I did only get to experience Cairns, so I’m sure other parts of AUS are amazing. When I travel, though, my goal is to experience cultures very unlike what we have in the US. Australia is very similar culturally, so it was not exactly all that I was looking for in my travels. I could, however, see myself living there one day…since it’s not SO wildly different.
Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
Portugal has been a recurring theme in my life as of late, so I definitely want to go there. Ibiza is also towards the top of my list.
What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
I try to not become too attached to “things” as I know they can be gone in an instant. But there is a book that I always try to have 2 copies of at any given time. It’s called, “Many Lives, Many Masters” and it’s a book that is very meaningful to me. I’ve met quite a few people along the way who the book could positively impact as well. I love to give away my extra copy when I inevitably run into the person who needs to read it.
What can readers find on your blog?
Wanderlusting Hippie is a blog full of tips and inspiration for 20-something solo travellers on a budget.
Click to find and follow Christina
www.wanderlustinghippie.com
www.instagram.com/wanderlustinghippie
www.twitter.com/WLHippie
As someone in their early twenties who loved to travel and explore new places as much as possible, I really enjoyed reading this post.
I would never travel without my phone or camera. I love snapping pics of new places to look at later.
This is such a good read! I really enjoyed reading this. It great to get to know blogger a little bit more. Thanks for sharing!
How awesome would this be for my kiddos! They’re in their 20’s and have a bug to travel! I love how I get a little insight to different parts of the world through these posts 💕
I’ve traveled with my 2 dogs and drove across country. It was pretty wild. 🙂 I have yet to visit Europe though. I think it’s much more fun traveling with loved ones (that you get along with.) If you’re traveling with people you might easily get in an argument with…forget it. It’ll be the worst trip of your life. lol
Oh wow that must have been awesome travelling with your dogs! Europe is amazing to explore. I agree travelling with someone you’ll argue with would be torture