Tag: travel Q&A

Globetrotters-Lyf&Spice

Travelling and food go hand in hand and this week’s Globetrotter Lyf&Spice have a brilliant blog focusing on their love of both of these elements.

One of the things I enjoy most about reading their blog (apart from drooling over some of the food they’ve been eating) is that it focuses a lot around South East Asia and India. Two places I’ve not really spent any time in at all. India has been on my list for AGES so its great to get inspiration and get tips and advice on what to see and do in this part of the world.

There are so many travel bloggers and Instagrammers that have images and stories that look like they have come straight out of a magazine but this quote on Lyf&Spice’s about me page makes me love reading their tales even more. I have a lot of time for bloggers who are authentic and relatable and you can certainly find that here.

‘ Lyf&Spice is a space where you will find simple, off-beat, fuss-free travel, with no frills attached, no make-up (well, almost) and no fancy outfits. In an attempt to keep it relatable and simple, I document my travel stories as they happen. Explore off-beat paths and try the local food with me as I embark on a new journey every now and then…’

I’ve got a couple of favourite posts that you should check out these include
https://lyfandspice.com/2017/07/21/halong-bay-cruise-vietnam/– So many epic photos and a great cruise. https://lyfandspice.com/2017/10/06/malioboro-street-yogyakarta-indonesia/ as I mentioned above authentic speaks volumes and being able to post about a place that includes not just the good bits but also the bad and the ugly.

So you are for a travel and culinary treat, let me hand you over to Lyf&Spice

A wanderopath with a munchlust!! (Wow! New words just got invented). I’m a dreamer, explorer, and soul-searcher; a crazy, wandering soul documenting my travel and food tales around Asia and the world in my blog Lyf&Spice. My mission is to eat (in every country), try every adventurous activity (at least once) and immerse in the local culture of places I travel to (as much as I can)!

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
Walking into my dream with my eyes open! That’s the best feeling ever. Travelling takes me to a different zone altogether. I feel alive.

Why do you think travelling is important?
To keep your spirits up! It helps you open up, breathe, de-stress, connect and most importantly LEARN and GROW.

Where are you off to next? Or where have you just come back from?
I’m most likely off to a small Malaysian city or India (not decided yet). I have just come back from the most gorgeous islands – Perhentian Islands, Malaysia from our annual Scuba Diving break.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?


This picture was clicked at the riverside of Hoi An, Vietnam. It’s my favourite photograph as it captures the very essence of travelling – human interaction and observing the simple ways of life.

Do you have a pre-travel ritual? If so what?
Yes, to charge all my electronic devices, especially power banks. Plus, to finish up all my pending assignments and sketch rough drafts of due submissions before my travels. Needless to say, to-do lists, reminder alarms, and vacations alerts go/ring off the hook!

Who do you usually travel with?
I usually travel with my fave travel buddy, aka Amit, who also happens to be married to me 😉 On and off, I travel alone or with my girl gang too.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Don’t think too much – Just go! Most of our travel plans are marred by over-thinking, both before and during the travel.

Tell us the most memorable moment you’ve had whilst travelling?
Too many to mention, so I’ll pick 2:
1. When we slept under the stars at Rishikesh (India) after a delicious barbecue and bonfire post our white-water rafting. Our arms were aching and our muscles were sore, but we still danced around the campfire and gazed at the twinkling sky above us.
2. When we rushed to Candy Ijo peak at Jogja (Indonesia) to catch a glimpse of the setting sun (supposed to be the best sunset spot). Although we saw nothing spectacular, I got up to click some pictures of the surrounding temples and when I got back, I just couldn’t disturb the uninterrupted conversations between my Hubz and Sis. To me, moments like these define beauty on earth.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Yikes! That’s a tough one. Yogyakarta or Jogja, Indonesia where we witnessed the best hiking trails, the most insane gondola ride across cliffs, amazing volcanic tours and heart-thumping high rope activities.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Not a city, but a place as such would be Kalibiru National Park of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We expected the views to be better than they were and the rides to be more fierce than they seemed online.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
Going on a Merapi Lava Jeep Tour in Java, Indonesia. The best part was getting to dust the volcanic ash off our hands and checking it off our bucket lists.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
My boarding pass (Lol)… Well, it’s actually my fanny pack with my phone, some money and knick-knacks to keep my hands free as I like to walk around when I travel.

Your go to or favourite book/film/tv series that always makes you want to travel?
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. It means ‘you won’t get this life again’ or simply ‘YOLO’ – a Bollywood movie where 3 friends travel and indulge in adventurous activities of their choice.

What can readers find on your blog?
Travel and Food stories on Southeast Asia (primarily) and India – travel tips, guides, street food tales, food stories.

Where does your blog name come from?
Lyf&Spice comes from the 2 main elements: Travel and Food. Each of these adds spice to Lyf (a twisted term for life). After all, it’s all about enjoying life with some flavour and spice, isn’t it?

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
Yes… the one I wrote in my book release. My book is called Kota Bharu Kelantan Malaysia: 50 Travel Tips From A Local and it is very dear to me. It’s based on my stint at my current hometown – Kota Bharu, Malaysia.. and I’d like to consider it a bit of an achievement (there goes my modesty out of the window) in terms of putting Kota Bharu out there – in the global map for travellers.

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Globetrotters- Always on the Way

Another Sunday and another fabulous globetrotter to introduce you to. This week we have Julie from Always on the Way.

Always on the Way is a huge resource of travel and expat information. There is soooo much for you to discover. Wonderful words, gorgeous pictures, insightful advice and honest reviews, it is a fabulous blog to follow.

As a fellow expat, it’s lovely to read on Julie’s about me page that we share a common feeling that living in a new country allows you to really experience it and see more than if you were just cruising through on a holiday. I’ve been dreaming about visit Canada FOREVER and as Julie has lived there I’ve been reading and rereading all of her Canada posts to just entice further wanderlust for me to get there. It seems every Globetrotter we have had recently has been to Canada. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.

One of my favourite posts is this one about Nazca Lines. I had never heard of these or where to see them but OMG they look amazing. It was so fascinating to not only read about it but also to see the pictures and that you can see them without flying. What a fabulous place to see and explore.

Julie regularly travels solo and I found it interesting about her thoughts on how some places are safer than what the media makes out that they are. You usually read so much about how being a solo female traveler can be very dangerous in certain destinations so its eye-opening to hear a different take on it. I know nowhere is now completely safe and you still need to be smart and have your wits about you but maybe some places are not as scary as we think it might be at first and by giving them a chance you get to experience something different. Check out her thoughts about this in her answers below.

Here is Julie from Alway on the way….

I am Julie, a travel blogger based in Toronto. I have lived in the USA (Hawaii) and Canada for eight years. When I am not traveling and writing, I am learning a new language, reading a book, and staring at the horizon to figure out my next adventure.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?

I love waking up alone in a new place and embracing the excitement of being surrounded by adventure. It feels surreal to visit destinations completely different from home, with people speaking a different language, sharing a different culture, and eating different food.

Why do you think traveling is important?

I believe travel is important for us to get out of our fears and see how things really are. We live in a society where negative news reports and fear are prevalent, and many afraid of traveling to certain countries because of safety concerns.

During my years of travel, I’ve learned that the world is generally a safe place and not every destination is as dangerous as the news media makes it out to be. The countries people are usually scared to travel to are the ones that give the best experience.

Where are you off to next? Or where have you just come back from?

I am currently traveling in Peru and then all the way south to Patagonia.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

This picture was taken when I walked to the top of Mt. Royal in Montreal. I was amazed by the changing color of foliage in the middle of October. A lady I met at a bus station ended up walking up Mt. Royal with me. She knew I was a traveler and told me to take as many pictures as possible because this was possibly my only chance of seeing such colorful landscapes on Mt. Royal. She was right – I returned to Montreal but never again did I experience such colorful scenery.

Do you have a pre-travel ritual? If so what?

I always write down the address and number of local contacts (embassy, police station, the owner of the accommodation) to be safe.

Who do you usually travel with?

I travel solo. I love the feeling of freedom that comes along, and taking time to explore a place, going where I want to go.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Trust your instincts. The world is generally a safe place and people are there to help, but if you feel something is wrong, please listen to it. It is always the best to be aware of your surroundings and be smart on the road.

Tell us the most memorable moment you’ve had whilst travelling?

Watching the northern lights on Christmas Eve. My friend and I went to the Chena Hot Spring resort in Fairbanks Alaska to celebrate Christmas holidays. We waited for the northern lights in the waiting room near a café where it was surrounded by the snowy mountains. At 12:30 am, the northern lights showed up and were dancing around the sky for over two hours. It was freezing cold but we did not care. We stood outside on the snowy and icy ground and watched the northern lights illuminating the northern sky. It was the best Christmas gift I have ever received, and it was magical.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?

USA – Alaska. I am a natural addict and Alaska offers the most beautiful landscapes in the USA. Postcard quality pictures are everywhere and any road trip in Alaska is not disappointing.

Canada – Prince Edward Island. It is the birthplace of Canada and it has a stunning coastline with gorgeous beaches. People there bend their back to help you should you need any assistance. The seafood on the island is freshly made and cheap. I could just eat lobster all day every day.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?

Grand Palace in Bangkok. It is expensive to visit and is filled with crowds. I was wondering why a place every guidebook recommends for a visit looked like a tourist trap. When I shared my experience with my Thai friends and hostel workers, they told me they have never visited Grand Palace because they know the experience would likely be the same. I wish I could have asked my Thai friends earlier, so I would spend my time and budget elsewhere.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?

I would love to take the VIA Rail to visit Churchill Manitoba (Canada). It is the polar bear capital of the world and has the Aurora Borealis show up 300 days each year. Churchill is in the subarctic region, has only 3,000 residents, and is a remote place that is inaccessible by road, which makes the travel experience unlike that of any other place in the world.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?

Books. I don’t feel my suitcase is packed up unless I fill it with some books on history, memoir or travel guides I love spending afternoons in cafés, on the beach, and the local park, and sticking my nose in the books.

What can readers find on your blog?

Always On The Way focuses on destination features, personal travel experience, and travel guide and tips from locals’ perspective, and the content on the tourist attractions is minimum. I have lived in the USA and Canada for eight years and had return visits to many places; so many blog posts are geared towards the places most travelers are not aware of unless they live there. I wish my blog will inspire you to explore new destinations beyond tourist attractions and connect deeper with the culture, history, and its people.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?

“8 Things I Have Learned After Living in Hawaii” is one of my earliest blog posts I wrote it back in 2012 revealing the thoughts and reality of living in Hawaii. That time, I just started blogging as a hobby. The post got published on another online blog and magazine Bucket List Publications and went viral in just a few hours with Facebook shares and comments. I love this post the most because not only has it received the most engagement and many a-hah moments from residents of Hawaii even to this day, it also inspires me to write more about Hawaii from my own experience and that is how my blog officially started.

For more from Always on the Way check out the below links
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Globetrotters – A Walk and a Lark

So we’ve taken a few weeks off with our Globetrotter series (sorry about that!) but we are back tonight and we have a gem of a blogger to share with you. This week it’s the lovely Josy from a Walk and a Lark.

I’ve long been a follower of Josy’s and always read her blogs wondering how her feet keep up with her with all her walking and hiking. I think mine would tell me to sit down and have a cuppa. We share that we are both expats with Josy previously liking Japan and now living in Canada and it’s great to read and relate to someone to who understands the trials and tribulations of living abroad. We also share a huge love of jumping photos and I am so glad she has sent one over to be included in this post.

This year she moved to Canada and as this has been long on bucket list I’ve been pouring through her posts to fuel even more wanderlust to get myself over there. This section on her blog has all the posts you need to know where to go, what to do and where to hike.

I really do love reading other travelers answers in this series and I think Josy’s answer to ‘Why do you think traveling is important’ is one of my all-time favourites. As traveling isn’t always important and that you can have a rewarding life even if you don’t travel. We often need to remember it’s a privilege to be able to do it and that not everyone has the means, funds or interest in traveling and that’s ok. We are all different and what’s important for one person is always going to be different to another and there are other ways to be enriched by the world. Such a refreshing reminder.

And on that note let me hand you over to Josy

Hello! I’m Josy.
I am not sure why I have always had wanderlust, but as soon as I first got a job back when I was 15, I started to save money for air tickets! I have lived in the UK, Japan and now Canada, so most of my trips have been close to those countries. My other love is walking and the outdoors so almost all of my travels include some long walks and thousands of photo opportunities.

What do you enjoy most about traveling?
This is a toss-up between food and pretty scenery! I LOVE to see the varied countryside around the world. When I lived in Japan, I picked up the habit of traveling with plans to eat a specific dish from whatever area I was traveling to. For example, Japanese people would all want to try kakinohazushi (really yummy sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves) when they visit Nara or eat Fugu (puffer fish) when they visit Ise. I love the culture of traveling to eat!

Why do you think traveling is important?
Hmmm…I don’t think it is important per se, but I do feel like I have been incredibly lucky and privileged to have been able to travel a bit. I mean, life can still be rewarding if you cannot travel, it is just the icing on the top to enrich a person’s life. I really think seeing the world and meeting people from different cultures opens my mind.

I am already a pretty cheerful person, but I also find planning my next trip helps make me really happy! It’s something to look forward to, and then something to experience and remember forever!

Where are you off to next? Or where have you just come back from?
At the moment all of my travel plans revolve around friend’s weddings. We just got back from a trip to Ireland (both North and South as the wedding crossed the border!) and my next big trip is for another good friend’s wedding in New Zealand. I am sooo excited to explore the land of the Lord of the Rings!

Having said that, as my husband and I are living abroad at the moment, every weekend feels like an exotic trip! I am having so much fun exploring the mountains near my new home!

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?


This is basically impossible for me to choose! I really like jumping photos and amazing mountains, so I guess I should pick this photo from Italy. A few minutes before the photo the whole world was white and the mountains were shrouded in mist. It is hard to describe how ridiculously happy I was when the clouds parted and this vista appeared. The sound effect that goes with this image is “squeee”

Who do you usually travel with?
Nowadays I travel with my husband, Marc. He loves to explore the world, but he is rubbish at making plans… so I normally make all the decisions, and just bring him along for the fun! He’s the one who takes my jumping photos.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Taste as many local dishes as you can. It may not look like something you expect to be delicious, but you’ll never know unless you try it!

Also, if you live somewhere for a while, go back and re-try things after you have started to get used to the flavours. I wasn’t keen on maccha and azuki beans when I first arrived in Japan, but now I LOVE them both.

I also think you should attempt to learn some of the local lingo. Even if you are still pretty rubbish, people really appreciate the effort and the world is less bewildering if you can understand more about what is happening around you.

Tell us the most memorable moment you’ve had whilst traveling?
I have so many! This will probably change each time I think of an anecdote!

A few years ago my husband and I were hiking in the Atlas mountains in Morocco. There was a moment when we came over the top of a ridge to look down on the valley below and it was just magical. The colours of the mountains changed from browns to reds and yellows, in large colourful stripes. People had built their houses from the rocks in their area, so the colours of the houses changed in sync with the surrounding mountainside. I had never seen scenery like that before, and it blew me away.

The people that lived in those colourful houses were soo friendly! We walked through a village just as a group of ladies were getting ready for a wedding ceremony. They giggled when they saw me, and brought me inside to join in the celebrations by covering me in henna! My husband and our guide were not allowed in (girls only!) but they could hear our giggles before I returned with some very orange arms!

Another brilliant memory is from Mongolia. We went to stay with a family in their traditional Ger camp. They are nomadic people, following their herds as they cross the steppes. The problem is, they were a little too nomadic for our guide! We had to drive around for a few hours looking for them as they were not in the place we expected!!

Once we’d settled in, the local children came over to play with us, and my brother, George, spun one of them around. The child loved it so much that he then had to spin every single child in the camp! It was hilarious watching them collapse into dizziness and giggles. Their parents welcomed us with their “beer” and “vodka” made from fermented horses milk. It was pretty gross, but still fun to try.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
This has to be Japan! I love the gorgeous mountains, the ancient culture with all the temples and shrines, the fooooood, the festivals and the people. I studied Japanese at university, so have lived there both as a student as well as working for a Prefectural government. I have so, so many amazing memories from my years there. I could easily write this entire post just about my experiences in Japan. I also have many good friends there that I hope I’ll stay in touch with for the rest of my life.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Marrakesh. I thought the city was beautiful and loved the food, but I hated the way people treated tourists there. It just seemed like everyone was pushy or attempting to rip us off. I had a horrible experience with touts and it made me want to hide in our Riad and keep away from the streets. In the end, the stresses didn’t stop me exploring, but I never felt safe while we were there.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
I would love to go walking in the mountains of South Korea and eat some of their gorgeous food. I studied Korean several years ago, and although I have forgotten most of it, I can still read Hangul. I’d LOVE to explore and see if I can actually understand anything there!!

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
Walking boots (or at least comfy shoes that I can explore in!) My favourite part of visiting a new area is finding a map and planning a walk!

What can readers find on your blog?
I started my blog to document some of our pretty walks around the UK or on our travels. Since then I moved to Canada, so I’ve been documenting the amaaaazing scenery around Vancouver in British Columbia. I take far too many photos and find it difficult to cut down, so my blog is full of the vistas that have taken my breath away.

Where does your blog name come from?
My long-distance walking started with the Capital Ring through London. This is a 126km trail which goes through parks and pretty areas of London. I started planning the blog as we walked through the parks on this route. Originally I thought about calling the blog “a walk in the park”, but then when my husband suggested “a walk and a lark,” I liked the sound of that better.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
This changes all the time! At the moment I love my post about the Honen matsuri (penis festival) just because it’s fun to share a funny side of Japan that less people know about! I also adored writing about our fantastique walking holiday in Italy. I tried to fit it all into one post, but had so many photos to share that it expanded into a whole mini-series of posts!

To find more from Josy check her out here

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Globetrotters- Mackinaw Road

This weeks Globetrotter is the Michigan gal Marta from Mackinaw Road.

I’ve never been to Michigan but reading Mackinaw Road’s about me page I could just tell it is somewhere special! I’ve been perusing all over their site reading up on what I can and found two places in Michigan that are on my hit list. Leland reminded me of the small fishing style villages of the British South Coast just more American (obvs). Charlevoix looks like a beautiful area with so many gorgeous boutique shops which I could spend alot of time and money in.

You will notice in the two posts above that design and shopping is included in their posts and also in reference to where is on the bucket list below (no spoilers here- you’ll need to read on) that traveling and design go hand in hand. We’ve recently written about collecting things (not just moments) when traveling and this really plays into Mackinaw Roads way of thinking in that picking on designs and items when traveling can help shape your home and daily life.

When checking out their site you’ll find as mentioned above Michigan Must visit and Travel inspired design but you’ll also find travel inspired menus, Island travel series, travel tips and lots of adventures in between. I would also recommend checking them out on Instagram the way Marta has travel inspired design and travel posts interwoven together just creates on fine looking Instagram feed!

So let me hand you over to Marta from Mackinaw Road

Hi, I am a Michigan girl with a big passion for travel. I am filled with fond memories of warm spring break vacations and summer road trips to the East Coast with my family. While I love where I am from I get a huge sense of restlessness if haven’t traveled in a while. I just love the feeling arriving in a new city, getting settled, discussing what to do, and wandering. It’s also just as fascinating to return to a place you once visited only to find so many aspects the same yet so many new things to discover?
To find out a bit more about us click here for our About me page
http://www.mackinawroad.com/about-me/

What do you enjoy most about traveling?
Traveling brings about a sense of rejuvenation and relaxation. I love learning about places when actually in the location- that kind of accidental information is the best.

Why do you think traveling is important?
Traveling helps us step outside our routines and see how others live. It helps us see what a tiny yet important role our lives play in the grand scheme of the world population.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?


My favorite photo to date is actually taken only about 45 minutes from our residence. It is of my children playing at sunset on the beach and represents the carefree feeling I always hope for when traveling.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVKWKZRBMV6/?taken-by=mackinawroad

Do you have a pre travel ritual? If so what?
Does scrambling and taking a million trips to Target count?

Who do you usually travel with?
Almost always my husband, most of the time it includes our children, and yearly at least one of our extended families.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Spend at least one day exploring without guides or Pinterest suggestions—just discover what you discover.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Banff, Canada. I almost didn’t go and now know what a mistake that would have been. It has something for everyone- I can’t think of one person that I know that I wouldn’t recommend Banff too.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Grand Cayman. We had been to multiple islands in the area, several of which we would readily return to but this just isn’t one of them.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
I’m slightly obsessed with the Norwegian way of life and would love to visit to really feel what it is like there.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
Aside from my husband and family, I haven’t gone on a trip without my Moment Lens for my camera. It is so much easier than lugging a big camera around (especially when I will inevitably end up carrying one of my children also) and takes great photos.

What can readers find on your blog?
Mackinaw Road (www.mackinawroad.com) has a little bit of everything- traveling with and without children, travel-inspired design, and travel-inspired recipes.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
I don’t have a favorite blog post- I just can’t pick a favorite because they all feel unique and special in their own ways. I’ve enjoyed completing my Island Travel Interview series and learning about islands that I have not yet been to. I’ve also found it to be incredibly fun to collaborate on various posts with other bloggers/friends for travel, food, and drink. I think that someday it will be fun to look back on the travel posts to relive stories and remember aspects of the trip that I may have forgotten.

To find more from Mackinaw Road check out the links below
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Globetrotters- Molly the Gypsy

This week’s Globetrotter is the delightful Molly from  Molly the Gypsy

Molly is soo similar to me in that she loves traveling and she loves the gram. She married these two together and created her blog around travel advice and stories and hints and tips on how you can step up your Instagram game.

I love that her favorite photo is of a lightning strike. I once spent a whole afternoon trying to get a similar shot but out to sea (as we were on a boat) and my aunty even said she would get me an iPad if I managed to catch it. Alas, my finger was not quick enough but Molly’s was so do check it out below.

My other half has mentioned a cruise holiday to me a few times but we were never sure which area would be best so this post here was so helpful. So nice to read an honest review on each place.

Another post of Molly’s I also enjoyed was how to score a hotel upgrade and going to try her tips on our next holiday Fingers crossed! Who knew it could possibly be as easy as just asking!!

So without further ado here is Molly from Molly the Gypsy

I started traveling as a child with my mother. She would take me on cruises or across the country. When my aunt moved her family to Italy it occurred to me that you could leave the country. Somehow it hadn’t occurred to me before that. I began international travel as soon as I could afford it and have never stopped. I’ve been to 36 countries and 49 US states so far, with so much more still left to see and do. I love to help others live their dreams and face their fears, which is how my Instagram and blog were born.

What do you enjoy most about traveling?

Cultures, adventure and people all fascinate me. I’ve always had an insatiable appetite for new experiences.

Why do you think traveling is important?

It’s easy to believe that the world is like you if you don’t venture into it. By exploring, you discover how many incredible different worlds exist within our own.

Where are you off to next? Or where have you just come back from?

I just came back from a drive through the United States. Next trip will be a cruise to Mexico (and maybe Cuba) for Thanksgiving.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

note-picture is coming!

All my life I wanted my very own lightning shot. Finally, off the coast of Greece, I was able to capture an INCREDIBLE shot showing several lightning strikes from two different storms in the distance. I used a slow shutter speed, so it captured several of them, including their veins. It’s my favorite!!

Do you have a pre travel ritual? If so what?

I pack light, pray and double check my list. I then always text my mom and bestie when I leave and arrive. It’s become a tradition.

Who do you usually travel with?

I use a TINY swivel suitcase (small enough to fit on even commuter planes) and a purse. That’s it.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Go. Just go. Don’t worry about the when, where, why, how, etc. The world is waiting for you and life is far too short to see it all. Just. Go.

Tell us the most memorable moment you’ve had whilst traveling?  

That’s rough. My life is filled with beautiful memories from all over the world. One of my favorite memories is walking the streets of Pompeii. I’d wanted to see it all my life and standing there, walking the road, sitting in the brothel, seeing the bodies and taking in the enormity of what happened was a life-changing moment for me.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?

Istanbul. The city is beautiful, the people are so friendly and funny, the coffee is incredible, the food is perfection and it’s the only city that spans two continents.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?

Niagara Falls. I landed at night and our taxi driver took us to the falls. I looked out and said, “Oh those are cute, but where are the real ones?” Those were the real ones. SUPER underwhelming. They’re pretty but SO little. I really expected them to be larger than life. They weren’t.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?

I have only been to 36 countries, so there’s a ton more to see. A few I cannot wait to check off are Thailand, Barcelona, Cape Town, Sydney, Auckland, Prague and Auschwitz in Poland.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?

My inhaler. I’m an asthmatic and it’s literally the only thing I don’t go without.

Your go to or favourite book/film/tv series that always/ makes you want to travel?

Eat Pray Love and Tales of a Female Nomad are my super amazing, pro women, travel time books. I LOOOOOOOOOOVE them. I watch the movie all I can and wish they would make Tales into a movie as well.

What can readers find on your blog?

mollythegypsy.com was born of a love of both travel and Instagram. I LOVE that Instagram, unlike Facebook and the like, is just pretty pictures. I love how easy it is to follow people you like and to feel like you’re traveling the world with them. My blog is a celebration of that and helps people to either set up their own following, etc. or to find advice on best cruises to take or what to do in Puerto Rico.

Where does your blog name come from?

I’m Irish by descent, so being a gypsy or traveler is something in our blood. I’ve been described as a gypsy most of my life, so the name just kind of happened.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?

I don’t. I think each one has a purpose and can help different people depending on their need. I try to ensure that my posts will be of benefit to someone.

To find more from Molly check her out here

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Globetrotters- Cosmos Mariners: Destination Unknown

This week for our Globetrotters we are off into the cosmos to meet Natalie from the Cosmos Mariners: Destination Unknown.

Now I love a creative blog name and Natalie’s blog is one of the best I’ve come across. What is even more interesting than the name itself is the story behind it. You can read all about here and I completely agree that naming a blog is just like naming a child (although I haven’t experienced that just yet) you want it to be a goodun that stands out.

Natalie has been blogging for almost forever and you can tell she has mastered her craft over the years just by looking through her site. From a long list of companies, she’s worked with to informative and well-written posts. There is literally something for everyone who is looking for information and inspiration on their next trip.

I’ve always wanted to explore the south of America and Savannah has been high on my list so this post just makes we want to get there even quicker. The buildings look stunning and the tree lined streets are ones I want to wander down. For gems like the post above you can find even more destinations covered.

I’ve recently written a post about my travel loving parents and it was so great to read that Natalie travelling buddies are not only her husband but also her two children. Kids of parents who love travelling in my eyes will have the best childhood. The adventures, the stories and awareness of the differences within the world is something you only get by going somewhere new. They are two lucky little kiddos having Natalie as their mum.

I’ll stop jabbering on now and hand you over to meet the wonderful Natalie.

The wandering darlings Globetrotters- Comos Mariners destination unknown

Hi, I’m Natalie, a former college professor who combined my love of learning with a desire to see the world to create my travel blog, Cosmos Mariners: Destination Unknown. Since starting my blog in 2010, I’ve discovered a secret apartment at Hampton Court Palace, flown in a World War II-era DC-3, stood in the shadows of inspiring buttes at Monument Valley, and crept inside an Iron Age burial ground in Ireland.When I’m not travelling with my husband and two young kids, I can be found exploring my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, sewing, or reading contemporary British fiction.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
I love that every moment is a new opportunity to learn something. As soon as I step out of my hotel room when I’m in a new place, I’m bombarded by new sights and smells, all waiting for me to dive in and explore. That fresh, new environment is what I crave when I’m not travelling!

Why do you think travelling is important?
Having your thoughts and perspectives challenged is incredibly important to becoming a more well-rounded person, and travel puts that at the forefront. If you’ve never been away from the comfort of home, and you’re suddenly placed in a foreign country, it’s overwhelming and scary, but it forces you to ask big questions like “What is my place in the world?” and “How can I better myself through what I’ve learned here?”

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

The wandering darlings Globetrotters- Comos Mariners destination unknown
This changes on every one of our trips since I always come back with new photos! My current favourite photo was taken on our recent road trip through the Western U.S. I’d always wanted to go to Monument Valley, so being in this incredible place with my husband and two kids was a dream come true. Fun fact: our 4-year-old took the picture! Perhaps I have a junior travel blogger in the family?

Do you have a pre travel ritual? If so what?
Getting ready for a trip with a 4-year-old and an infant is very different than how I used to get ready pre-kids. Nowadays, my pre-travel ritual is all about frantically throwing things into a suitcase a few hours before we have to leave for the airport and hoping that everything we need somehow makes it into the mess!

Who do you usually travel with?
My favourite travel buddies are my husband, Landon, and my two kids, Britton (my 4-year-old daughter) and Gibson (my 8-month-old son).

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Plan as much as you can, but know that you’ve got to be flexible in the moment. When making our itineraries, I give us more stuff to do than we can ever get to each day, so that way we have options when it comes to our sightseeing. Some days, we’ll get up and want to go to a historic palace for a tour, while other days, we choose to explore a local park.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
When I was a senior in college, my sister and I both went on a study abroad trip to the Bahamas. Our destination, Andros, is so sparsely populated, that our class flew on two tiny charter planes to get there, and the pilot of the plane I was on had to call ahead to the airport to make sure they’d cleared all of the cows off of the runway before we attempted to land! Once we landed (without hitting any local wildlife), we went through customs, got our baggage, and got an introduction to the island…all in the one room airport. I love going to (really) off the beaten path places since there are guaranteed adventure ahead!

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
It’s a three-way tie between the Aran Islands in Ireland, the Dry Tortugas off the coast of Florida, and London, England. We were the only non-locals at a Gaelic quiz night at a pub in Inishmore which was the perfect way to experience what life was really like on the Aran Islands. I love to snorkel and scuba dive and the Dry Tortugas are gorgeous! (Plus, Fort Jefferson has stunning ocean views AND an incredible history, which is my perfect travel combo). And London was where I studied abroad in college, so it is like my second home!

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
I always get weird glances when I tell people this, but Paris did not in any way live up to the hype. At first glance, you’d think I’d love it since it has gorgeous architecture, a deep history, and a rich arts scene, but I didn’t enjoy my time there at all. I might go back eventually to see if I can find out what people love about the city, but I have many, many other places to visit first.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
I REALLY want to go to Machu Picchu, Peru, and Angkor Wat, Cambodia. I’m hoping to check one of those off of my bucket list in 2018!

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
I am super near-sighted, so I always travel with a few extra pairs of contacts and my glasses. I would hate to get in the middle of a trip and lose a contact or two and not be able to see a thing for the rest of it.

What can readers find on your blog?
I focus a lot of the nerdy side of travel: historical and literary sites are my jam! Since I have 2 kids, I also write about family friendly spots that we visit and the products that make family travel easier. You’ll also find general travel posts about packing, our cruises, itineraries, and the like.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?

Before I started travel blogging, I worked as a college literature professor. I am deeply in love with all things literary, so my favourite blog post focuses on the ties that New Orleans has with American literature.

To find more from Natalie please check the links below.

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The wandering darlings Globetrotters- Comos Mariners destination unknown

Globetrotters- Earth’s Magical Places

This week’s wonderous Globetrotter is Rachel from Earth’s Magical Places.

I always love finding blogs with interesting names and Earth’s Magical Places is no different. You can just tell there is a story behind it. Anyone that has the goal to journey to see the magical and beautiful places on this planet we call home gets a big high five from me.

Reading Rachel words, finding out more about her travels and seeing her photographs you wouldn’t expect that she is only a 19-year-old traveller. Not that age matters but it’s great to read about someone wise over their years and isn’t expecting the world to give her a favour but is instead going out and working hard to achieve her goals. #slaygirl

I loved this postpost from Rachel about if we should be letting terror stop us travelling. I wrote a similar one around the same time and both of us have the same view point. We can’t let terror stop us from going to new places or stop us from our living our lives. Rachel discusses it so eloquently and respectfully with her words.

I also am always in awe of anyone that can travel solo as it takes a lot of guts to set off on an adventure on your own. Rachel has a great post here about how to meet people when you are travelling solo.
The two links above are just two of my favourite of Rachel’s posts but you can also find a whole host of information on her site including accommodation and flight reviews, destination guides, travel information advice posts, lust worthy snaps and a true and honest voice. I’ll include links to her blog and social below so you can check them out for yourself.

So with my absolute please here is Rachel from the Earth’s Magical Places.


Hi, I’m Rachel, a 19-year-old student and part time adventurer with an ambition to see as many of our planets ‘magical places’ as possible!

Whether that be a whole country, city, mountain range, beach or isolated village, I believe our world is full of beauty and wonder that I’m just dying to see…

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
I’d say that what I enjoy the most about travelling is stepping off a plane and instantly being greeted by the smells and sights of somewhere new… It helps that every corner of the globe is constantly leaving me speechless, thanks to the beauty of mother nature and each country’s strikingly different architecture and culture!

Why do you think travelling is important?
There’s a cliché that people go travelling to ‘widen their horizons’, but I actually think that this is so important! Travelling to cultures that are different from your own opens your eyes and makes you think twice before prejudging someone.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?
Hmmm, this is a tricky one! But I’d have to say it is this photo taken in LA

It’s the first time I looked back after taking a photo and thought to myself ‘damn that looks pretty cool’. Ever since I’ve fallen in love with photography almost as much as travel itself…

Which is your favourite type of holiday? Sun, Snow, Sea, City, Mountains or Country?
Is ‘all of the above’ an acceptable answer?

If I had to choose though… Sun! The British summer of two hot days whereby everyone in the country freaks out buys a barbecue and gets the inflatable pool out before it clouds over and inevitably rains for the rest of the month, is just not enough sunshine to meet my needs!

Who do you usually travel with?
Having only just turned 19, the majority of my previous travels have been with my family. My parents both share my love for exploration and so growing up I was lucky enough to visit many destinations in Europe over the summer holidays!
Throughout the last year, however, my travelling company has been limited to me, myself and I! I love the freedom of solo travel, being able to go wherever and do whatever you want without having to worry about anyone else is rather liberating. However, I can imagine it gets pretty lonely on longer trips. But, in the short term, a good book and the latest Netflix series are all the company I need!

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Simple, get out there and do it! We spend so much time sitting, planning and procrastinating when we could be out exploring! Trust me, it’s far better taking the world in with your own eyes rather than ‘liking’ it through Instagram.

Tell us a funny story or mishap from one of your adventures?
During a recent trip to Los Angeles after a morning spent in the deceivingly cool fog of its famous hills, I returned to the hotel for a little R&R by the pool… Little did I know that my feet had been sizzling away in the sun and only continued to do so pool side. I’d completely forgot to put sun cream on them!
It was only in the evening that I realised how red they’d become… I resorted to covering them in Aloe-Vera and wearing socks to keep in the moisture (it was a good look). Although not necessarily funny at the time, and still debatable now due to the pain suffered, it was certainly a mishap! Moral of the story? Sun cream is important EVERYWHERE… I am now extra vigilant, not an inch of skin is left uncovered… Or, I just cower in the shade like a true Brit 🙂

What is the favourite place you’ve been to?
Without a doubt, Yosemite National Park (California). I have never been so overcome by beauty in my life! I can’t describe to you how stunning this place is: towering trees create a sea of green, while its rivers are clearer than diamonds! All this is framed by colossal rock formations and pristine meadows.
I’d recommend a visit to anyone, certainly something to make time for if you’re ever in California!! I made a full post on my time on Yosemite here

Where is one place that didn’t live up to expectations?
Before the feet burning incident in LA, I explored Hollywood Boulevard. As a big fan of the series 90210 and film in general, I’ve always romanticised Hollywood. I’d naively assumed that it was the height of glitz and glam…. And that I’d surely bump into Sandra Bullock (other actors are available) walking down the street.
Unfortunately, this was not the case, the streets were dirty, grubby and crammed with tourists, all of whom were pushing and shoving people out the way. Meanwhile, street vendors and people dressed as superheroes tried to sell you tacky souvenirs, or a picture, every five steps.
There’s simply no sense of magic and charm. Whatever this area had back in the 1940’s is sadly long gone… So yeah, not worth going and so over hyped!

Tell us one place or experience on your bucket list?
New York is top of my Wish-List! A love affair with Gossip Girl ignited my desire to visit this iconic city… While this may not be the most accurate portrayal of life in New York since 2010 I’ve fantasised of the day I’ll get to walk the streets of the Upper East Side and Brooklyn or lose myself in central park.

What is one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
My phone! I’m ashamed to admit that I’m a millennial through and through! I would be lost without my phone on my travels…

What can readers find on your blog?
Readers will find stories from my travels along with helpful guides and reviews… Basically, anything to do with my adventures around the globe!
All such posts are of course accompanied by envy inspiring photos, my honest (if sometimes brutal) opinion and a sprinkling of British sarcasm 🙂

Check out more from Rachel here
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Globetrotters – Gin & Lemonade

This weeks Globetrotter is the hilarious Lorna from Gin & Lemonade.

Like myself, Lorna is an expat. Hailing originally from the U. S of A she is has been residing in bonny Scotland for many years. We’ve bonded over shared expat stories, love of travelling and putting our thoughts and ideas down on a computer screen. She is utterly hilarious with her writing style and it always feels like I’m reading notes written by a friend when I read her words. She is literally loving life and that feeling jumps out of the posts.

Another thing which you will learn quickly about Lorna is that she always travels on two wheels. Like always. As a wheelchair user, she is rolling her way around this globe. I can imagine that it’s probably not the easiest in all parts of the world but that doesn’t stop her from getting out exploring new places and on the plus side she doesn’t have to carry the suitcases.

One of her recent posts which I loved (and will possibly steal the idea to do a similar post myself) was her top 17 Travel Memories. I don’t think mine could ever match some of hers. Thankfully I didn’t have to learn the hard way that a bidet isn’t a sink for small people.

Lorna’s been blogging for donkey’s years and checking out her blog won’t just give you posts about travelling, you can also find lots of stories about love, life and reading. There is so much to discover and all of it is coated with her fabulous style. Once you’ve had a read you will be hooked.

So let me introduce you all to Lorna.


Hi, I’m Lorna, a 30something American living in Scotland for nearly 25 years. I write, I read and I live quite happily with my husband, our daughter, lots of books, a few fish, and computers called Hemingway, Truman, and Frank. I’m a wheelchair-user fuelled by coffee, humour, and passport stamps. I’ve been blogging at Gin & Lemonade since 2010.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
I love the excitement of going somewhere new, getting lost somewhere new, eating somewhere new, drinking coffee somewhere new. Traveling is an adventure and a clean slate where anything can happen.

Why do you think travelling is important?
I’m a huge fan of shaking up routines and looking at life and all things from different angles. Filling up notebooks with new words. Traveling, anywhere, helps me do that.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?



This is my husband and me on the Barcelona end of our Bruges and Barcelona honeymoon. I love how relaxed we look, after all the wedding shenanigans. I often flip back to this photo when I need peace from other shenanigans.

Which is your favourite type of travel/holiday- sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?
Can I have a little bit of everything? Seriously, I enjoy where ever I go. That said, now that my family and I live in the country, I have a new appreciation for vibrant city trips.

Who do you usually travel with?
I went on some epic journeys with my Dad as a kid. In my twenties, I travelled alone or with at least one friend. These days, my best travel buds are my husband and our three-year-old daughter. And our travel-mascot George Bailey-Penguin.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Be open to anything. Get lost. Look up. Write it down. That’s more than one, but I can’t count!

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
I fell off a toilet in Pisa, Italy. I wasn’t even drunk. And I’ve made all the jokes so you don’t have to.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
I have several. I love Florence and Prague. And Bruges. And Norway. And Edinburgh and Seattle. And New York. I told you, I can’t count.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
PARIS. Except for Shakespeare & Company Bookshop.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?

I’d love to take my husband and daughter to see penguins in New Zealand. Or Antarctica. As for me, I’d like to go to New Orleans. And see more/all of Italy.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
My wheelchair. My family. My notebook(s).

What can readers find on your blog?
I write about life, love, travel, and books. All on wheels.

What is your favourite post on your site any why?
I’ve been blogging for 7 years in August. My favourite is still A Path of Pebbles,
where Neil and I decided to get hitched. By mutual agreement. Or something. You’ll also find passport stories on my post, Dude, Where’s My Passport?

To find more from Lorna check out the below

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Globetrotters – Digital Travel Guru

You guys are in for a treat with this weeks Globetrotter- Elizabeth from Digital Travel Guru.

I came across the Digital Travel Guru on their Facebook page earlier this year and have loved getting to know Elizabeth and her site. She is so supportive of other travel bloggers and even runs a travel blogging group to encourage interaction and collaboration between like minded bloggers. I love anyone that is building others up and helping get everyone working together. You would think by the layout that they have been around for years but the blog only started late 2016. The design is spot on and so easy to navigate. I’ll leave links below and I can’t recommend enough that you head over to check them out.

Elizabeth is like a kindred spirit in many ways! Passion for photography, travelling, visiting historic places and a huge desire to see and share so much of the world. Total #girlcrush. She also loves sharing stories and q&as with other travel bloggers on her blog. Similar to our Globetrotters series she has her featured blogger series and takes great pride in introducing her readers to other bloggers who will help give them inspirations on what to see and do when visiting places around the world. I’ve included some links below. We both love being inspired by others so it seemed only right that she got involved with our Globetrotters series. You may also see us pop up on their site shortly.

A couple of my favourite posts include 20 Amazing things to see around Bali and 25 Travel Blogging idea and 20 Inspirational travel bloggers. I think if I had stayed in Australia for my 20/30s then I would have made it to Bali but alas it remains on my bucket list and this post induces some serious wanderlust. The 25 Blogging ideas and 20 inspirational travel blogger is such a good post that I have it bookmarked for when the writer’s block creeps in we also feature on the list of inspiration travel bloggers so another reason this one is a fav.

Oh and if you are scared of snakes maybe skip over the travel misshap questions below.

Without further ado let me hand you over to Elizabeth the Digital Travel Guru.


Hi, I’m Elizabeth and I run and manage Digital Travel Guru, which I launched late last year in 2016, the blog is still very new as it has taken me some time to understand word press and various other things you need to know about running a blog. I was encouraged to document my travels and photography by friends and family, also because I was helping many people plan their trips and itineraries.

Digital Travel Guru is travel blogging site that focuses on 360 travel I cover all aspects of travel on it. To date, I have travelled to over 40 countries and still have a bucket list a mile long. I love historical places and tropical beaches. My big passion is writing and photography. I am also planning to start doing travel droning and developing my YouTube travel channel. I run a Travel Bloggers Club with a friend and fellow travel blogger from Creative Travel Guide, which aims to help Travel Bloggers network with each other and with engagement on their sites. 

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
I have been travelling since I was a child with my parents and I have previously lived in Asia and Africa. Currently, I live and work in London UK, but I have plans to move to Asia later in the year. What I enjoy and have always enjoyed about travelling is seeing new countries, meeting people, experiencing cultures, trying out new foods and learning about how different people live. My favourite of them all is visiting historical sights such as temples and of course exploring and finding beautiful beaches. One of my passions is photography, so I love destinations that offer good photo opportunities such as (street photography, ancient building, portrait’s of people and scenic views).


Why do you think travelling is important?
I think travelling is important to understand people, which links to my profession in psychiatry, I just love finding out about people, their traditions, their cultures and ways of lives. I think travel has helped me do my job better as it involves working with people from many cultures and countries. Travelling is important to give you a greater insight and understanding of how life is lived in other places and to develop greater awareness and understanding of the world and people in it.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?



Photography is my passion, and I am constantly learning and developing my photography skills. One of my favourite photographs is of Mount Batur in Bali, which is an active volcano and a sacred mountain according to Hindu beliefs. Mount Batur is located in Batur village, Kintamani District, Bali, Indonesia and it is 1717 m above sea level, the highest mountain in Bali.

Do you have a pre travel ritual? If so what?
Well, yes, I have a few LOL. Prior to booking my flight and before my actual flight.

Before booking a flight to a destination I do the following:
Plan and research the destination.
Putting together a rough outline of all the places and things I want to do.
Check the weather of the destination and what season it is.

Before my actual flight:
Check passports + copy of boarding pass and e-ticket
Check cards + money
Check I have all my gadgets (laptop, cameras, chargers)
Check my accommodation booking confirmations
Ensure I have things I need for my flight such as (warm cardigan, mini size toiletries, comfy socks, spare set of clothing, and a book)
Check I have my phone
Weigh all my luggage

Who do you usually travel with?
I have travelled solo and with friends and family, as well as with my partner. Mainly solo and with my partner at present and I usually meet friends and fellow travel bloggers if they are in the same place as me.


If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Plan and research your trip as much as you can before you go, so you have some sort of idea what you want to do and see when you get there, it saves a lot of planning time once there, also check with the locals once you get there, for off the beaten track places. This I always feel maximises my time once in the destination and allows me to see and do more.

Tell us the funniest story or a miss hap from one of your adventures?
Having a SNAKE in my suitcase in Koh Samui, Thailand, that was definitely a big mishap as I am terrified of them. I was staying in a beautiful pool villa with views overlooking the jungle, and I went out one day and left a door open by accident. When I came back that evening, something said to me there was a snake or some sort of creature somewhere as I usually act on my instincts, so I started looking for snakes and creatures around the villa, as I realised I had left the door open.

Anyway, I didn’t find anything and I went to sleep. The following day I was checking out to move to another part of the island, as the villa owner was assisting me to put my suitcase in the car I rented, he said to me I have a story to tell you, he disclosed to me, he said as the cleaners were cleaning my villa the day I left the door open they saw a snake in my suitcase and had to carry my suitcase outside to take it out, while I was out, very scary.

Another funny story was I was in a rush one day in Bangkok and needed to book a flight to Koh Samui but instead, I booked a flight to Surat Thani (Koh Samui is also known as Surat Thai district) and I thought it was the same thing whilst rushing. When I was on the plane and about to land I thought hold on I can’t see the sea lol, then realised I had booked and taken a flight to the mainland this was many many years ago. I was still able to go to Koh Samui that day via a taxi and then a boat, it was actually a good experience in the end as I got to see, a different part of Thailand, however, it added 6 hours onto my journey. I still laugh about this till today.


Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
This a hard one to answer. I’ve been to some amazing and beautiful places, for me I have my favourite places in and around Asia, but in terms of a tropical paradise, with secluded beaches, crystal clear turquoise sea, and amazing scenery it has to be Seychelles. I spent two weeks here just driving around the island, exploring beaches, driving in the mountains, trying out local foods, and island hopping.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Difficult to answer, as I always try and find good things about a place, but once I booked a last minute trip to Sharm El Sheik In Egypt, and I really did not like the place and could not find much to do there. Some of the scenery was nice and the sea, but I’m more into cultural activities and experiences and it was one place that I could not find any historical places and sights to see. Plus I got an awful tummy bug there which just made me dislike the place even more, as this was something that is apparently very common there, so, all in all, I was not really impressed.


Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
I really want to go to the South Pacific Islands like Fiji. I love tropical destinations and the sea, these islands look spectacular and so beautiful. My bucket list seems to never end!!

One experience on my bucket list is to visit Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Mainly due to my love of historic places, the views here look so beautiful and the history fascinating.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
The one thing I need with me is my phone, at least you can still snap your memories or video them with your phone if you have nothing else or for emergencies and to keep connected with everyone also for maps and to checked saved notes of where I want to go as well as making my blogging notes on.


What can readers find on your blog?
You can find my blog at www.digitaltravelguru.com come and say hello. My blog focus on the 360 travel, so in essence, I cover everything from reviewing places abroad to doing interviews with bloggers for my featured blogger section, travel guides, travel resources and a lot of photography.
I am constantly changing and developing my blog site, so it’s work in progress, I am looking at adding travel videos to my site in the future and some other types of travel content such as drone videos.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
My favourite blog post is a recent one on Bali. Here is the link:

To find more from the Digital Travel Guru see below

Blog  links to check out

https://digitaltravelguru.com/interview-jeremy-noronha-think-travel-lift-grow/
https://digitaltravelguru.com/interview-with-runwaymarina/
https://digitaltravelguru.com/history-of-koh-samui-island-Thailand/

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Travel Blog Club
Email- digitaltravelguruinfo@gmail.com (if you want to guest post or be interviewed for The Digital Travel Guru site please send Elizabeth over an email)

Globetrotters- Nomad by Trade

I just love the tag line Kris from Nomad by Trade has –  ‘A travel blog for the kid at heart’. It just draws you in to want to find out more about her blog! We all just want to be a kid at heart, don’t we?

From featuring posts of her interstate travels to international adventures to exploring Disney. There is something for everyone on Nomad by Trade. I really like how everything is categorised on the site- Leisure travel, Evening tourist, Tips, Disney and Michigan Love. Really mixes it up and is a nice change from having everything listed as destinations. It also makes you want to find the gems of information listed in these categories.

I’ve mentioned more times than I can remember that Iceland has long been on my bucket list and it seems every Globetrotter we’ve had recently has been to Iceland. Cue – huge amounts of jealousy!  Kris has recently explored this magical country so has so much Iceland content that I’ve been scouring her blog for lots of insight and planning advice for when I do finally get myself over there. My favourite post (there was sooooo many to choose from), however, was this one as a huge photography lover and someone who would sell her left arm to see the Northern Lights it is such practical advice to make sure you get that dream capture of this beautiful phenomenon.  Her amazing picture of herself, mum and sister is a winner and you’ll get to see it below.

Reading Kris’s answers I love how open she is especially when describing her blog. She knows her voice, what to share and what she wants to say which is so important when creating your own space in the blogosphere.  We can all get a bit bogged down in comparing ourselves to others especially other travel bloggers who seem to have it all travelling the world.   But like Theodore Roosevelt once said  ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. To know yourself and be true to yourself is what every blogger should do. Kris epitomises this and is something I really respect.

All links to Kris’s blog and social channels will be listed below and I can’t recommend enough that you head on over to check them out.

Let me hand you over to Kris


I’m Kris and as a frequent business traveller, I hop from one city to another throughout the United States. As a lifelong traveller, I’ve been to five continents and 45 US states with a goal to hit them all someday. When I’m not travelling, I’m likely to be on Pinterest planning another trip or cuddling my dog, Artoo.

What do you enjoy most about travelling? 

I love exploring new places more than anything else. There’s no better feeling than stepping out of an airport in a new city full of things to do, foods to try, and sights to see.

Why do you think travelling is important? 

I think travelling is the best way to create positive global relationships. Going out and seeing other countries and meeting their residents firsthand is the best way to eliminate misconceptions and ignorant stereotypes. You learn so much about other cultures as well as your own that it’s hard not to come back wiser.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?  

I love this shot of my mom, sister and me in front of the Northern Lights that I took with a mini tripod and self-timer in Iceland. The Lights were spectacular that night and I got the idea to have us stand really still in front of them. We’re a little blurry because I was using a long exposure, but it was just SO cool.

Do you have a pre travel ritual? If so what?

I’m an obsessive planner. I spend weeks or months researching attractions down to their opening hours, admission fees, and addresses. I also try to learn as much as possible about the place I’m visiting ahead of time. If it’s somewhere where another language is spoken, I’ll learn a few useful phrases (“Do you speak English?” is key), figure out the exchange rate, and research driving laws and road signs if I’m renting a car.

Who  do you usually travel with? 

I travel by myself a lot for work, so I have a lot of adventures on my own. Lately, I’ve been travelling with my mom and sister a bunch because they actually get vacation/break time. I’ve also taken a couple of really fun trips with my boyfriend the last couple of years.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Just do it. Whether you’re going for a weekend trip somewhere close or booking a month abroad, it will be worthwhile. Set a budget for yourself and save if you need to, but make it happen. I promise that the new experiences will be more worthwhile than a new pair of jeans or shoes.

Tell us the funniest story or a miss hap from one of your adventures?

When I was in Iceland a few months ago, my mom made the car rental reservation and I never looked at the booking. She’d rented a small SUV for the week and said it was only about $400. That seemed fairly reasonable since I usually get weekly rates when I’m renting cars for work and they’re a touch under $200. We rented the car, had a blast on the trip, and returned it to the airport before our flight. The problem was that when she made the booking, she somehow only did it for one day. The daily rate was $400. we’d had the car for seven days at that point. I was a little queasy since I was supposed to be sharing the cost. Luckily, they negotiated with us and only wanted an additional $900 on top of the $400 we’d already paid, but it was still staggering. I’m still baffled by the fact that they hadn’t tried to contact us (or the police) when we kept the car for an extra six days, but I guess they figured we couldn’t take it very far on a relatively small island.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?

Probably Iceland. Despite the mishap described above, I absolutely adored every corner of the country. I’ve never seen so much natural beauty in such a small area. Every corner seemed to be more beautiful than the last, and our days and nights were filled with incredible sights. If Iceland isn’t on your bucket list already, it should be.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype? 

Nassau, Bahamas was pretty disappointing, as well as the whole cruise we were on. I love exploring new places and learning about the local culture and trying new foods, but Nassau felt just like a run-down American beach town. Our ship docked at the same time as two other huge cruise ships, so just getting off of the dock was an ordeal. We spent the day on the beach right next to the cruise docks with a commercial shipping centre to our left and a scraggly sandbar in front of us. It was far from the picturesque Caribbean scene I had imagined, and we ended up re-boarding the ship way earlier than expected.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list? 

I’ve been wanting to go to New Zealand for the longest time. Every picture I see there seems gorgeous and I love exploring nature. It just seems like the kind of place that I would love.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without? 

Aside from the obvious socks and underwear kind of stuff, my main necessity is my camera. I’ve always taken tonnes of pictures and I love trying to snap unique shots.

What can readers find on your blog? 

Lots of fun stuff! I’m really just an overgrown kid, so I try to write posts for grown-ups who like the same kind of goofy fun stuff that I do. I’m never going to be the picture-perfect travel blogger or Instagram star, but I love writing about things like ridiculous ice creams and posting pictures of my head on a giant Pez dispenser. It took me a while to find my voice, but now that I’ve figured out who I’m writing for (and it helps that my target audience is also myself) it’s a lot more fun.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I really like my post called “25 Pictures to Put Iceland on Your Winter Bucket List” It was nice to get a chance to show off some of my photography, and it’s one of my most viewed posts. I’m also really fond of a couple of Disney posts that I wrote. One is about visiting the parks solo, which I’ve done on numerous trips, and another about my favourite fireworks show that ended its 13-year run last month.

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