blog Archives - Traveler Master Traveler Master Thu, 10 Jun 2021 11:14:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://travelermaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cropped-FAVICON_wp-32x32.png blog Archives - Traveler Master 32 32 Bridges and Balloons are the Perfect Tour Guides https://travelermaster.com/bridges-and-balloons-are-the-perfect-tour-guides/ Sun, 13 Jun 2021 14:42:00 +0000 https://travelermaster.com/?p=24380 Bridges and Balloons co-founder, Victoria, describes herself as “100% travel geek”. Alongside her husband Steve, the two have been running a successful travel blog-turned brand for the past nine years, promoting handpicked, unique itineraries, filled with beautifully designed places to stay and ways to experience life like a local. View this post on Instagram A […]

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]]> Bridges and Balloons co-founder, Victoria, describes herself as “100% travel geek”. Alongside her husband Steve, the two have been running a successful travel blog-turned brand for the past nine years, promoting handpicked, unique itineraries, filled with beautifully designed places to stay and ways to experience life like a local.

“I specialize in putting together itineraries (especially road trips and city breaks) that are ideal for people who like to discover the creative side of a destination,” writes Victoria in a recent Instagram post. “And I also create guides to the most special places to stay around the world, from Airbnbs to glamping to hip boutique hotels.”

Favoring a local style of travel, independent stores over chains, and unique experiences (rather than must-sees), the seasoned travelers admit to loving places that have a story behind them, featuring both budget and luxury styles. “We’ve been traveling since March 2012,” they shared in an interview with Never Ending Voyage. “We’re definitely more suited to slow travel.”

Traveling with two small children, Otis (3) and Arlo (1), also shaped the way they experience the world and, in turn, write about it. “We were apprehensive before having Otis about what family travel would look like, and if it would mean sacrificing style, but we’re delighted to say that hasn’t been the case and we’ve done some of our most exciting trips yet with the little one in tow,” they write on their blog.

Describing their traveling style as creative, cozy, independent, bohemian, boutique, slow, design-led, and characterful, between Victoria and Steve the two have been to 50 countries (!). Whether you’re traveling solo or taking your kids along for the ride, you’d want their guidance.

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]]> Dan and Audrey from Uncornered Market Will Take You on a Journey https://travelermaster.com/dan-and-audrey-from-uncornered-market-will-take-you-on-a-journey/ Fri, 27 Dec 2019 10:26:03 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11965 Dan and Audrey are the adventurous couple behind Uncornered Market, a brand that’s become their business and their lifestyle over the past years. When they first had an idea to travel the world, they imagined they would just run a business while on the road. They had saved money for about a year of traveling […]

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]]> Dan and Audrey are the adventurous couple behind Uncornered Market, a brand that’s become their business and their lifestyle over the past years.

When they first had an idea to travel the world, they imagined they would just run a business while on the road. They had saved money for about a year of traveling in advance, but when they finally took the leap, new opportunities started unfolding.

They now have skills and experience to run a sustainable business that doesn’t depend on the location and allows them to live their nomad lifestyle.

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In awe of Mother Nature at dawn – Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru.⁠ ⁠.⁠ Doing the Huayhuash Trek (Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru) had been a dream of ours for 10 years. Although our expectations were high, the reality of our experience far exceeded them: eight high mountain pass crossings, surrounding peaks of 6,000+ meters (20,000+ feet), turquoise alpine lakes, stunning glacier-covered mountains, and a diversity of landscapes. Each day felt like a different experience, a new discovery. After answering endless questions about planning, organizing and preparing for the trek, it’s time we share it all in our Huayhuash Trekking Guide (link in bio)⁠ ⁠.⁠ Since the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu often get all the tourist and adventure travel ink in Peru, many people have never heard of the Cordillera Huayhuash. However, this small sub-range of the Peruvian Andes packs a huge punch for its size. Although only 30km long, it includes six peaks over 6,000 meters (20,000 ft.) and features spectacular panoramic views of scores of high snow-covered peaks from different perspectives.⁠ ⁠.⁠ This view was the beginning of Day 4 of our trek, at our campsite on the shores of Lake Carhuacocha. Before dawn, our trekking guide woke us and enticed us out of our warm sleeping bags with cups of steaming hot coca tea. We scampered up a hill just above the lake and waited for the the sun to emerge behind us and shine a light on these 5,500 – 6,600+ meter / (18,000-21,650 foot) snow-covered peaks you see here.⁠ ⁠.⁠ As much as I wanted to capture the “perfect” shot, I reminded myself to put down my phone and camera to just enjoy the moment – the shadows, the light moving across the glaciers and peaks as the sun rose higher in the sky, the changing colors from orange to pink, and the subtle movements of reflections on the surface of the lake. . Most of all, I remember a stillness, sense of awe and feeling of peace. This is the Cordillera Huayhuash. . . . . #CordilleraHuayhuash #trekking #Peru #destinationearth #ourlonelyplanet #lppathfinder #bbctravel ⁠#trekkingperu #adventuretravel #hikingadventures #perutravel

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It all started in 2001 when they left San Francisco with a one-way ticket to Prague and six suitcases. They came back home at some point, only to repeat the adventure in 2006. 

“Our family and friends really thought we’d lost it,” their website reads. “Not at all. This was our approach: to live deliberately, to not look back one day and wonder What if? To practice regret avoidance.”

You can follow their adventures on social media. Here are some photos below.

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Overtourism. Social media is one of its many causes, but can it also be part of the solution? ⁠ .⁠ We think so. We've just updated our latest post (link in bio) to include 10 ways to use your influence — no matter how small or large — and social media platforms to educate and change behaviors to help combat #overtourism.⁠ .⁠ The idea: more enriching experiences for the traveler + less pressure on and more benefits for the destinations we visit.⁠ ⁠ Now, to this image: St. Sophia Cathedral Square in Kyiv, #Ukraine. This speaks to #1 in the article: to share images and stories from less popular destinations to encourage travel to different locations. With an estimated 70% of travelers going to 20% of countries that leaves a large part of our beautiful world to explore without the same crowds. And many of these destinations, like Ukraine, are interested in attracting more travelers. ⁠ .⁠ To that advice, we'd also add advocating traveling in the shoulder or off-season. The benefit for the destinations: visitor numbers are spread out for longer in the year to reduce pressure and this also extends the earning season for local businesses. ⁠ .⁠ For us, it meant that we could explore Kyiv free from tourist crowds and pressures. Plus, we had beautiful autumn weather and colorful leaves. ⁠ . ⁠ We took the train to Kyiv (via Odessa) from Berlin in early October, rekindling our love of long-distance train journeys. Kyiv surprised us in many ways, from its edgy street art and murals to its stunning 12th-century orthodox cathedrals and monasteries to its Independence Square and the story of the 2014 EuroMaiden revolution that helped shift the course of the country to its hip cafes overflowing with avocado toast and flat whites. We only had a few days in Kyiv, but that was enough for a taste to make us want to return for longer. ⁠ .⁠ What lesser known destinations have you visited recently that surprised you? And how can you use your social media channels to help others explore it respectfully and with positive impact? ⁠ . . . . #kyiv #kiev #thisissustainable #ukrainetravel #sustainabletourism #responsibletourism ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

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Excited to return to the Alay Region and Pamir-Alay Mountains of southern Kyrgyzstan! This time we're working with @helvetas_kyrgyzstan on the Bai Alai rural economic and tourism development program. Among our work these next weeks: to help create and test community-driven cultural, culinary and adventure-based travel experiences in the region. The goal: to help more travelers discover and explore this region respectfully + enable local villages to benefit from community tourism development.⁠ ⁠ .⁠ ⁠ Our relationship with the Alay region began two years ago when we were advisors on the @USAID BGI program and its tourism development projects. During our time in this particular region, we also helped mark the Heights of Alay trek, taking us over the other worldly Sary Mogul Pass (4,303 m/14,120 ft) pictured here. That is how we met Talant (also in the photo) from Visit Alay (@south_kyrgyzstan). As we trekked through the mountains together for several days, we shared our ideas about the potential for sustainable community-based tourism development in a region whose contours are stunning and beautiful yet also present challenges to business creation and livelihood development. Our work and counsel led to the Heights of Alay becoming the best-selling trek in the region, which in turn led to our being asked to develop a regional marketing plan.⁠ ⁠ .⁠ ⁠ Many travelers don't know Kyrgyzstan very well, much less the Alay Region (south, near the borders with Tajikistan, China and Uzbekistan). This area is truly special. As is the case with much of our advisory work, the goal is two-way benefit: 1) travelers discover the region through community-driven travel experiences, whereby they develop a stronger connection to local people and nature and 2) local communities see direct economic and social benefit.⁠ ⁠.⁠ ⁠ Stay tuned as we explore more of the Alay mountains and villages over these next two weeks. ⁠.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #kyrgyzstan #baialaiprogram #tourismdevelopment #sustainabletourism #thisissustainable #visitalay #alaymountains #communitytourism #discoverkyrgyzstan #trekking #trekkinginkyrgyzstan ⁠

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Rickshaws and rebuilding. An everyday scene in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal. . After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, recovery continues. So does daily life, as locals take a moment of shade on a temple staircase or shop at a street corner market, and rickshaw drivers wait — and call out — for their next customer. . It’s been 11 years since our last visit to Nepal. Some of the temples and sights from our memories have either been badly damaged or destroyed. The tragedy of brick piles where ancient temples once stood slowly gives way as community reconstruction efforts and the renewal of once rubbled sites continues. . Taken on our #GForGood trip (#sponsored) through the Kathmandu Valley where our local @gadventures tour leaders (CEO) shared stories from the earthquake, including work they did to help rebuild schools and homes and distribute emergency funds raised by @planeterracares and G Adventures to 14 of the 18 districts in Nepal impacted by the 2015 earthquake. . . . #kathmandu #nepal #nepaltravel #gwanderers #gadventures #lppathfinder

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The town of Shimla in the late afternoon light.⠀ .⠀ Once the summer capital of British India, Shimla today is a bustling hill town filled with promenades, markets, and fascinating stretches of colonial Victorian architecture. With Shimla’s cooler temperatures and views of the Himalayas, it’s easy to see why this is such a popular destination, especially for Indian travelers. Besides offering several stretches of laneway bazaars, a laid back spice market and even a craft brewpub, Shimla makes for a fitting way to wind down our @gadventures journey in Himachal Pradesh. #sponsored⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #shimla #simla #Himachal #Himachalpradesh #gwanderers #gadventures #lppathfinder #discoverearth #neverstopexploring #travelunscripted #incredibleindia

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The Golden Temple in Amritsar by night: stunning. Not only does the physical beauty of this place make it so. The atmosphere — welcoming, peaceful and inclusive — does, too. As the preeminent pilgrimage site of Sikhism, the temple complex courses with visitors and pilgrims day and night. Despite the constant flow of people, a calm, quiet and meditative feeling prevails. All are welcome, respected and even cared for, no matter their circumstances. ⠀ .⠀ I’d had the Golden Temple in Amritsar on my mind for years, dating back to my first visit to India over 21 years ago. Upon visiting now, I felt a nuanced sort of wonder, one which exceeded my expectations.⠀ .⠀ This was the first stop in our @gadventures rail tour through northern India. Although we’ve visited India multiple times, this marks our first time in the region. After Amritsar in the Punjab, we continue to the hill towns of Himachal Pradesh. . . . . #Amritsar #punjab #goldentemple #goldentempleamritsar #gwanderers #gadventures #lppathfinder #discoverearth #neverstopexploring #travelunscripted #incredibleindia

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Salvador de Bahia – the view of Pelourinho, the old historic center of town. ⁣ .⁣ A clear sense of local pride in Afro-Brazilian culture, music and cuisine defines Salvador, the capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia. History is deep here; the city was founded in 1549 by the Portuguese as the country’s first colonial capital. It was also South America’s first slave port.⁣ .⁣ Trip planning note: Our visit to Salvador happened to coincide with the season of preparation and practice just prior to Carnaval. As Salvador features the largest Carnaval celebration of its kind in Brazil, this run-up is a serious affair. We encountered “blocks” — think crews or groups of musicians and performers — coursing through the city streets, working out rhythms and routines. Drumbeats and voices echoed the colonial streets from morning through night. An excellent and engaging time to visit if you can't time your visit with Carnaval.⁣ .⁣ Be sure to head out of Pelourinho, up the hill into the Santo Antonio district. The path is flush with brightly colored Art Deco restorations, unofficial galleries and plenty of street art — from graffiti to full-on murals. Some of the best we’d seen in Brazil. ⁣ .⁣ We tacked our visit to Salvador and Bahia onto our @gadventures Wonders of Brazil tour. This and some extra time in Rio and Sao Paulo rounded out a full experience. For more info on this trip, check the full post (link in bio).⁣ . . . . #salvadordebahia #brazil #lppathfinders

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We come full circle to where we began our Brazil adventure: Rio de Janeiro. . The view is from atop Corcovado mountain, just below the 30m/98ft Art Deco statue of Cristo Redentor (“Christ the Redeemer”). We took the rack railway tram up 2200 feet, through the Tijuca Forest National Park for one of Rio’s best views. (Another is from Sugarloaf mountain, seen in the distance here.) . Rio is the final stop of our @gadventures Wonders of Brazil Tour (full itinerary link in bio). This visit, we took a couple more days to fill up on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, street art in Santa Teresa, a walking tour including Lapa and the downtown, more than a few visits to sushi bars, live music, nibbling and noshing on acai, gelato, selgados, and moqueca (fish stew), and a bit of caipirinha sampling. . Sure, we know there’s more to Rio, but we ran out of time. What did we miss? Feel free to suggest…we’ll take it up on our next visit! . . #hosted #sponsored . . . . #gwanderers #gadventures #rio #brazil #riodejaneiro #cristoredentor #lppathfinders

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Arguably the most colorful street going on the island of Malta. . If walking and uncovering the little details is your thing, then a day trip to the Three Cities (Vittoriosa / Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua pictured here) is worth a look. All cities are colorful and together feature a coffee table book’s worth of old store fronts, door knockers and motley balconies. Throw in a few cats, some laundry and a couple of grandmas, and you’ll get the feel. The hilly contours of the area offer plenty of looks across the Grand Harbor and beyond across the Mediterranean. Reward yourself with lunch on the Vittoriosa Yacht Marina before hopping the ferry back to Valletta. . . . . . #malta #visitmalta #cospicua #lppathfinders #threecities

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Sometimes the sharing economy can be double-edged and feature unintended consequences. . We continue our #overtourism series this week by sharing some ways travelers can help combat this problem while also having better travel experiences themselves. . Tip #6: Research your apartment rental to be sure it’s legal & doesn't do unintended harm to the local economy . Although Airbnb and similar apartment rental services can offer travelers excellent options for renting an apartment, depending on the circumstance this can sometimes come at a cost to locals. . As tourism took off in certain cities (e.g., Barcelona, Berlin, Reykjavik, Paris, New York, etc.), apartment owners removed rental units from the local market and instead rented only to tourists, as this made more money than renting to locals. This practice, however, resulted in the reduced supply of apartments available for locals. In turn, locals saw their rental prices rise, some to the rapid extent of no longer being able to afford to live there. . However, this doesn't mean that all vacation rentals are bad. Take, for example, this house in Hyrda, Greece (view from the balcony pictured here) owned by a family friend for almost 50 years. Outside of the several months a year she lived in it herself, it was empty. So last year she went through the licensing, taxes and paperwork to legally rent it out on Airbnb when she's not there. Travelers get a great place to stay (just look at that view!), a local person earns some additional money by maintaining and managing it, and the owner is able to earn money she wouldn't have otherwise been able to without the sharing economy and services like this. . As we make our accommodation choices and engage in the sharing economy, consider at what cost and on whose shoulders these new economy shifts fall. Before you book that apartment on your next trip, do a little research to determine if it’s legal and helping the local economy…or hurting it. . . . #hydra sustainabletourism #responsibletravel #sharingeconomy

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When you visit a city, do you often venture outside the old town or downtown? . We continue our #overtourism series this week by sharing some ways travelers can help combat this problem while also having better travel experiences themselves. . Tip #5: Branch out into the neighborhoods . We understand that it's often the old town or downtown area that may have offered the primary motivation for you to visit a city. But, don't forget the neighborhoods, including ones often ringed just around the tourist districts. If you want to “go local”, those areas are an excellent place to start. There, you’ll typically find more locals than travelers in cafes and restaurants. If you need to go further, press on. . Take Berlin, our adopted home, pictured here. When we spend time in our or other neighborhoods, we find it difficult to digest the statistic that from 2006 to 2016, the city’s tourism traffic doubled from 15 to over 30 million visitors a year. When we spend time near the concentration of historical sites, we feel the popularity. Then we retreat back to the neighborhoods 🚴 . For example, during our first “exploratory summer” living in Berlin, several times a week, we would choose a recommended restaurant with a lunch or “executive lunch” special and bicycle there. Even if you do this just once in your trip — tapping your inner adventurer — you’re likely to have your eyes opened. . The image here is of a boat making its way down the Landwehr canal. Water, bridges (more than Venice!), and canals offer loads of picturesque and experiential nooks and crannies — ones which intersect far-flung bits of the Berlin Wall way. . Do you visit nearby or outer neighborhoods when you visit a new city? If not, what's holding you back? . . . #berlin #sustainabletourism #responsibletravel #berlinlove

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How can we tread…even more lightly? We continue our #overtourism series of tips that make it better for travelers, and the destinations they visit. . Tip #4: Tread lightly and clean up after yourself. . It’s a shame this even has to be on the list. And I’m probably preaching to the choir. And the people who most need to hear this aren’t following this feed. But I just gotta say it: Don’t be *that* traveler. . Despite begs and pleas from advocates like us, travel companies and destinations, some travelers still insist on leaving a trail of trash and disrespect in their wake. . And it’s not just the cities. We witnessed this blatant disregard along the Huayhuash Trek in Peru (pictured here) earlier this year. In the midst of remote breath-taking landscapes and natural beauty, trekkers – who made the long-distance effort to get there to immerse themselves in nature — saw it fitting to toss their tin food cans and candy wrappers at campsites and for miles along trails. . Why visit someplace for its beauty, only to trash it? Make the wee effort to carry your trash in your pocket or bag until you find a proper trash can. It isn’t that hard, is it?. Note: if you aren't familiar with overtourism, check out the link in our bio for background, causes and more tips. . . . . #sustainabletourism #lppathfinders #responsibletravel #peru #huayhuash #trekking

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]]> Explore New Places with “Bridges and Balloons” https://travelermaster.com/explore-new-places-with-bridges-and-balloons/ Wed, 25 Dec 2019 16:31:16 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11982 Bridges and Balloons is a travel blog that’s all about traveling to special places. The woman behind it is Victoria, a wanderlust soul from Bristol who has been traveling regularly for the past 17 years. She travels with her husband Steve, who is a VR developer and filmmaker, and their son Otis. They’ve been to […]

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]]> Bridges and Balloons is a travel blog that’s all about traveling to special places. The woman behind it is Victoria, a wanderlust soul from Bristol who has been traveling regularly for the past 17 years. She travels with her husband Steve, who is a VR developer and filmmaker, and their son Otis. They’ve been to 50 countries between them so far. 

“We love road trips, indy bookshops, glorious nature, farmers markets, street art and discovering the creative side of a city,” Victoria writes on Bridges and Balloons’ website. Their travel experiences help them create detailed itineraries and city guides for everyone interested in following their footsteps. Some of the words that describe their taste are creative, cozy, bohemian, slow, independent, characterful, boutique, and slow. If those words wake up something inside your soul, we’re sure you’re going to love their blog.

Follow the adventures of this lovely family on their Instagram page and let them be your inspiration for your next trip.

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I had a nice little break from Instagram for the past week, partly because I wanted to switch off and enjoy the last days of holiday with these guys. 💕 And the other reason was because, as I said a few months ago, I’m still not sure where I’m at with Instagram these days. I find myself less and less inclined to share my personal life, and now that Otis is nearly two, I’d like to share less of his little face on here as well. Time is also a precious issue and seeing as my heart (and business) has always been with the blog, that’s naturally where I focus my energies (and it’s paying off – traffic to the site has trebled in the past year!). I haven’t quite worked out my way with all this yet, but a few ideas are forming. And in the meantime, I’ll muddle along as usual! Thanks for your patience! 🙌

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Charleston is a pretty complex place to visit. On one hand, it’s one of the prettiest cities I’ve ever been to, filled with a dizzying amount of gorgeous, picture-perfect houses. Horses and carriages roam the streets, it oozes southern charm and a visit there feels like a step back in time to the 18th century. It’s hard not to be captivated by its beauty. But on the other hand, you have to remember that the city was built on slavery. Charleston was the busiest slave port in the USA and its thought that 80 percent of African Americans can trace an ancestor who arrived in Charleston. I live in a city (Bristol, UK) which was also a busy slave port, so I know it’s possible to love a city in spite of its history. But that said, I think it’s important to respect and acknowledge that history in the ways you can. Admire those beautiful buildings and the charming city it’s become today, but don’t forget the cost it came at.

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We came here to see the trees, but hadn’t realised that the Wormsloe ‘historic site’ is also an old plantation that held enslaved people. I’ve been really unsure about visiting a plantation as I’ve heard that many of them tend to gloss over the history of slavery and focus on the architecture and life of the colonialists instead. Even worse, I read an article about people who complain if slavery is mentioned on a plantation tour because it’s “depressing” and “reflects poorly on their ancestors.” 🤦🏻‍♀️ Sadly, Wormsloe seems to be one of the places that doesn’t confront its history head on. We didn’t do the tour as it was too long for Otis, but I read a post by @oneikatraveller who explained how mention of slavery is entirely omitted from it (post linked to in stories). We’re still considering a plantation visit in Charleston or New Orleans, but are trying to find one that gives the history of enslaved people the proper respect and acknowledgment it deserves. To me, that would be the point of the visit – to pay respect. Does anyone have any recommendations? Or would you say it’s better to skip plantations altogether?

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I’ve lost my Instagram mojo of late. I’ve never been a natural on social media. It’s something I adopted to help with the blog, and have fallen in and out of love with over the years. I intermittently struggle with the exhibitionist side of it – I’m an introvert at heart, so like some time in the shadows. As a blogger, I sometimes feel I have to be on here. But as time goes one, I’m not so sure that’s true. My focus is the blog itself (and SEO) and I’ve hit some good milestones there recently. It’s without a doubt Bridges and Balloons’ strength. So from a business perspective, I guess I could let Instagram go. But I don’t quite want to do that. I’ve been on Instagram for seven years and I love having this little space and community where I can share photos and snapshots from our lives. Although fewer and fewer people see my posts because of the darned algorithm, I’ll stay here because I want to, not because I have to. I just can’t promise I’ll be consistent. I’ll be that friend who you see every now and then, not every day, but sometimes for weeks at a time. And then we’ll holiday together and you’ll have a week of me on stories. I hope that sounds okay – and thanks for sticking with me through all these years. I’d love to hear about your relationship to Instagram? How often do you use it? How do you feel about it?

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One of the reasons I love Bristol so much is because it’s surrounded by gorgeous countryside and lots of cute little towns. The problem is I don’t make enough time for exploring it all. But this weekend we went to Frome, which was an absolute delight. We’ve been to the @fromeindependent before but never on a non-market day, and I was amazed by how many creative businesses there are there. It’s filled with cute boutiques, cafes and galleries. Have a look at my story highlight for more and there’s a blog post coming soon. We went as part of a campaign for @GWRUK so going on the train added to the adventure to make it the perfect day trip, plus it was easier as Otis definitely preferred it to the car. It’s made us start wondering about where we should head to next on the train. What are you favourite day trips from Bristol? And any more Frome fans out there? #ad (for GWR) #GWRADVENTURES

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We’ve been staying in such a wonderful place for the last three nights 😍 It’s like a cross between a retreat centre and the holiday camp in Dirty Dancing, and it has the most spectacular beachfront setting. Last night I watched the sunset from my bed. Our stay was hosted by the hotel, but my gushing is real. It’s a little slice of added wonder on a coast that has already overwhelmed me. I really underestimated how beautiful Monterey would be. It’s called Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds, but don’t let the word conference put you off (like it almost did for me). It didn’t feel business-y at all, but rather like the historic retreat that it is (it was started in 1913 by a group of women from the YWCA, and parts were designed by Julia Morgan who did Hearst Castle.) It’s also really reasonably priced, starting at around $160 for a room. If you’re in the area, I can’t recommend it enough. The beachfront setting alone is worth it. Just look at that sunset! 🙌 Have a look at my stories for more photos 😊

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]]> Meet Brenna Holeman of This Battered Suitcase https://travelermaster.com/meet-brenna-holeman-of-this-battered-suitcase/ Wed, 25 Dec 2019 08:21:20 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11952 Brenna Holeman is an experienced and passionate traveler who has visited over 100 countries in 13 years. Many of her travels have been solo adventures so she started writing about them a lot in order to preserve precious memories. On her blog, This Battered Suitcase, she writes about other things too, but travel is her […]

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]]> Brenna Holeman is an experienced and passionate traveler who has visited over 100 countries in 13 years. Many of her travels have been solo adventures so she started writing about them a lot in order to preserve precious memories. On her blog, This Battered Suitcase, she writes about other things too, but travel is her main topic.

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When this photo was taken, almost exactly two years ago, I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I was at a breaking point, physically and emotionally. I was suffering from severe sciatica, back pain so awful I could barely get out of bed or walk. I felt lost and confused, my time in London coming to an end. I was eating too much and drinking too much. I had fallen into a deep depression, one fraught with panic attacks and long stretches of anxiety.⁣ ⁣ It’s surreal to look back at a photo like this in many ways; it feels like yesterday, and yet it also feels like a lifetime ago. If you’ve read my blog at all this year, I’ve written about the steps I’ve taken in 2019 to turn my life in a different direction. ⁣ ⁣ 2019 has been a fairly quiet year for me in terms of travelling or other big life events. I’ve barely blogged or been online. Instead, I’ve been spending as much time as possible with family and friends. I’ve been spending as much time as possible with my dog Dottie, going for long walks twice a day. I’ve been spending as much time as possible building my freelance career, gardening, reading, playing the piano, going to the gym, eating well, and falling in love with my record collection again. I’ve finally learned how to take care of myself and not put so much pressure on myself.⁣ ⁣ The sciatica is completely gone, and so too are the panic attacks and bouts of anxiety. All that travelling and all those adventures, and it’s right here at home in Winnipeg that I learned how to be happiest. ⁣😌 ⁣ I’m not sure why I’m writing this; maybe I just wanted to say hello, because I haven’t posted in four months. But maybe it’s because I wish I could go back two years and tell myself it will be OK. That things will get better, that life has a funny way of pushing you to the edge to show you how strong you can be. That there will always be ups and downs, but that being kind to yourself and asking for help are not things to be ashamed of. That sometimes, when you’re buried… you’re really being planted, and one day will bloom.⁣ 🌷 ⁣ And so, after nine months offline, I’m ready to start writing again. Thank you, as always, for sticking around. I’ve missed you. ❤

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Her Instagram is filled with gorgeous photos taken on her travels as well as long descriptions that tell real-life stories. Her followers stay with her because they love her honesty and openness, and we assume she will only get more popular in the future.

“Originally from Winnipeg, a city in the Canadian prairies, I have lived in Halifax, Toronto, Copenhagen, Yaroslavl, Edinburgh, Osaka, and London, and I have traveled to over 100 countries. Now my life is devoted to writing: for my blog, for my book, and for my career,” she writes on her website.

Her favorite things include window seats, whiskey, old cars, new books, scuba diving, cheap jewelry, and hot dogs. See some posts from her Instagram page below.

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As we took the ferry from Sorrento to Capri, the once-blue skies started to fade into an inky, ominous grey. Clouds gathered over the island, and the ocean started to churn and swirl. Almost as soon as we set foot on Capri, the rain came. ••• It goes without saying that we all want perfect weather when we travel. We want the sun, the warmth, the big, beautiful skies that look so great in photographs. Unless we’re specifically heading to an extreme location, most of us don’t want wind and rain and white, foggy skies overhead. ••• I’ve naturally had a lot of rainy and cold days on my travels, especially as I love to travel in shoulder season (it’s cheaper and there are far fewer tourists). I’ve been rained out in Thailand, thought I’d freeze from the wind in Poland, and nearly missed seeing Machu Picchu in Peru due to fog. ••• Was it disappointing that it rained the entire day I was on Capri? Of course, it would have been nice to see the island with blue skies, or to see just how turquoise the water gets in the sun. But I’ve learned to accept the rainy days, and to appreciate that I’m there in the first place, regardless of the weather. ••• Our day on Capri may not have been what I had initially hoped, but we still wandered its tiny streets, ate a delicious meal, and warmed up with strong espressos (and a few glasses of wine, too). It may not have been sunny that day in Capri, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a day to remember, a day to laugh with new friends, a day to be so incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to see it in the first place. ••• Has the weather ever affected your travels? ☔ ••• Thank you to @travelclubadventures for this fantastic adventure, and my apologies for the cheese today… I’ve been reviewing all of my photos from Italy and feeling so overwhelmed with gratitude. Oh and also I really do have lots of photos of cheese so, you know… I had to go for it. 😘🧀 ••• #sponsored #clubadventures #letadventurehappen #ditchthescript #travelunscripted #wheninitaly #capri #loveitaly #myitaly #beautifulitaly

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I turned 35 yesterday. Since I was 22 – the last birthday I celebrated in my hometown of Winnipeg, just before I set off on the first of many solo adventures – I vowed to spend every birthday in a new location. I’ve spent birthdays in Japan, Spain, Belize, Laos, Italy, Scotland, Grenada, and more, and each one has been memorable in its own way. • I’ve been very, very lucky these past 13 years, yes. Birthdays are often a time for reflection, and this year I reflected on just how grateful I am for this career: travel writing and blogging. As a kid, the thought of being a travel writer seemed just as foreign and glamorous as being an astronaut. And while it’s taken years and years (and years) of studying, freelancing, and writing shit on the internet I thought nobody would ever read, here I am at 35, realizing I’m finally where I want to be in my career. • So when I thought about where I wanted to spend 35, two places came to mind. One was Italy, as other than Canada, it always feels like home. Last week I had a pre-birthday celebration with my mum in Rome; we wandered the cobblestoned streets, stopped for wine in the sunshine, and ate my favourite pasta, cacio e pepe. • But for my actual birthday, May 5th? I knew it was time to return to Winnipeg, my hometown. Over the past couple of years, while I was already happy in my career, I knew I needed to work on my personal life. I craved having a great group of friends, a house to call my own, a closer relationship with my family, a garden, and a dog. I wanted to work on both my physical and my mental health. This past year has been all about that, to the point where I can say that, at 35, I feel happier and healthier than I ever have. • So yesterday, for my birthday, I didn’t worry that I wasn’t in an “exotic” location. Being right at home in Winnipeg with the people I love meant more to me than any faraway land. I spent the day with my beloved Dottie (whose birthday is ALSO May 5th, which I didn’t know until after I adopted her… more proof we were meant to be 🐶👯‍♀️) and with my sister Zalie and her boyfriend Ross. We ate sushi and watched a 90s romcom, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. 😌 Here’s to 35 🥂✨

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“I’m saving the Amalfi Coast for something special.” I used to say that whenever anybody asked if I’d been to the Amalfi Coast, and, because people know how much I love Italy, it seems I was asked a lot. Maybe I’d save it for a romantic trip, or a birthday, or a celebration of some kind, I’d tell people. ••• The truth is I had looked into going to the Amalfi Coast on my own many times, but kept being thwarted by the logistics of doing it alone. I knew that I wanted to drive along the coast in order to soak in as much of the view as possible, but I also knew I didn’t want to drive solo; although I love driving, I selfishly wanted to be the passenger in this case. There’s no way I could trust myself to keep my eyes on the road when those turquoise waters and colourful cliffside towns came into view. 😅 ••• “I’m saving the Amalfi Coast for something special,” I said again and again, but in reality I was dying to see it for myself as soon as possible; everyone I knew who had visited couldn’t stop raving about this gorgeous region of my favourite country. 🇮🇹 And so, as the coast emerged into view along the winding roads from Sorrento – and yes, I was a passenger in the car, not the driver – I couldn’t help but tear up. It was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. It was, for lack of better words, love at first sight. Three weeks later, I’m still overwhelmed with gratitude that I finally got to see it. ••• I think I’m going to stop saving places for “something special.” Life’s too short, or so we’ve been told. I didn’t need to save the Amalfi Coast for a boyfriend, or another year older, or anything else that might have been deemed worthy enough to be called “special”. The Amalfi Coast is special enough on its very own. Seeing something you’ve always wanted to see, making a dream come true? That’s all the “special” you need. ✨ Thank you to @travelclubadventures for making my Amalfi dreams become reality (and for making it so easy and relaxing to be the passenger 😌). #sponsored #clubadventures #ditchthescript #travelunscripted #letadventurehappen #amalficoast #amalfi #prettylittleitaly #myitaly #mytinyatlas #searchwandercollect #stayandwander

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How do you say, “I’m in heaven,” in Italian?* ✨🇮🇹 ••• The last ten days in Italy have been absolutely incredible. Travelling through Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast has been one of my favourite journeys through Italy so far, and as it’s my favourite country in the world, that’s saying a lot. I can’t truly explain what this country means to me, but every time I’m here I just feel like I belong. It doesn’t hurt that it’s full of drop-dead gorgeous views like this, of course… ••• This trip, my 13th to Italy, has inspired me to finally take my Italian language lessons seriously, to dust off my pasta maker more often, and to keep an alert for any cheap flights back. Of all the places I visited this time around, it was the town of Amalfi that stole my heart. I try not to feel too sad to leave, though, because I know I’ll be back one day… ••• *”Sono in paradiso”, in case you were wondering 😉🇮🇹 ••• Thank you to @travelclubadventures for an amazing tour and to @andre.vise for the photo! #sponsored #clubadventures #letadventurehappen #ditchthescript #travelunscripted #amalficoast #prettylittleitaly #loveitaly #amalfi

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I’ve rewritten this caption a lot in the past few days. This very moment, I’m sitting in my sunny home office in Canada with a cup of coffee (I’m not in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where this photo was taken by my mum a few weeks ago). Perhaps not surprisingly, I feel healthier and happier than I have in years. After years of being in travel blogging, I started to get it in my head that the only way to truly enjoy life and be respected in this industry was to be travelling constantly. To be nomadic. To forever be jetting off from one destination to the next. To call a suitcase home. And here’s the thing: I did all of that. I just did it before I had social media. And after over a decade, that lifestyle made me tired and grumpy as fuck. That lifestyle no longer makes me happy, and I hate that I was still striving for it even though it was bringing me down. Don’t get me wrong – I still plan on travelling a lot – but I no longer look at those bloggers who are constantly on the move with envy (though I do look at them with respect, because I can’t keep up anymore, nor would I want to). It's just that that lifestyle is no longer for me. Maybe you’re dreaming of travelling the world and being nomadic, and that’s amazing. Maybe you’re just really happy to drink a cup of coffee in the sunshine in your hometown, and that’s amazing, too. Maybe, like me, you fall somewhere in between, wanting to balance home life with the occasional holiday. Whatever you’re feeling, don’t let the pressures of social media trick you into believing your happiness isn’t valid, or that you should be doing more, or that because you're not on a perpetual holiday with lavish brunches you're somehow not living a fantastic and fulfilling life. I’m so tired of seeing posts that say, “This is the only way to live,” accompanied by some girl on a swing in Bali. Honestly? Just do what makes you happiest. The rest will fall into place. I'm trying to learn this, too. 😌✈☕ By the way, I’m well aware at the hypocrisy of posting this photo with this caption but I’m in full home office troll mode at the moment, and I’m smiling in this photo, so it seemed to fit. 😎

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Sometimes I know a lot about a destination before I get there, sometimes I don’t know anything at all, and sometimes I think I know a bit, only to quickly realise I knew nothing at all. I’m a big believer in learning while travelling; it’s always nice to have a holiday, of course, but when it came to visiting #Mississippi, I was mostly looking forward to learning, to trying to understand even the tip of the iceberg of this state’s history. I knew of the Delta blues, of the passion and soul that came out of this stretch of Mississippi; I had grown up listening to and then studied at university the music of Muddy Waters, Son House, Robert Johnson, BB King, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, and so many others, and also fell in love with the gospel music of Sam Cooke when I was 19. I even got to see some of these great musicians play while they were alive – Bo Diddley gave me his guitar pick after a show when I was 22 – but to say I “know” the blues, as a white Canadian woman, is wildly inaccurate. It's also impossible to sum up Mississippi by its music alone, as there is so much more to this state’s history and culture than that. Spending time in such noteworthy museums as The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, The BB King Museum, the brand-new Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Museum, and The GRAMMY Museum (just to name a few) is essential when visiting Mississippi, as they showcase the incredible people that have called Mississippi home, incredible people who, through their strength, intelligence, talent, and perseverance have forever changed – and are still changing – the landscape of both the state and the country. In visiting former sharecroppers' homes, and one of the possible graves of Robert Johnson, and driving out across the great expanse of the Delta and beyond, I hope I learned just a tiny bit more about Mississippi, and about who has shaped its history. They say there’s something in the water in Mississippi – something that has created such outstanding talent. I’d say there’s something in it that makes you want to go back, too, that makes you want to learn even more. #visitms #visitmississippi #presstrip

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Not a bad way to ring in 34 ✨ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• May 5th, 2018: Morne Rouge, Grenada May 5th, 2017: Flying from Antigua to London May 5th, 2016: Bologna, Italy May 5th, 2015: Madrid, Spain May 5th, 2014: Kent, England May 5th, 2013: London, England May 5th, 2012: Lamanai jungle, Belize May 5th, 2011: Luang Prabang, Laos May 5th, 2010: Tokyo, Japan May 5th, 2009: Osaka, Japan May 5th, 2008: Edinburgh, Scotland May 5th, 2007: Toronto, Canada May 5th, 2006: Winnipeg, Canada May 5th, 2005: Halifax, Canada •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I like thinking about where I might be for 35 ✈🌍 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #stayandwander #grenada #shewhowanders #cntraveler #passionpassport #bbctravel #athomeintheworld #womenwhoexplore #suitcasetravels #exploremore #forahappymoment #ladiesgoneglobal #dametraveler #sheisnotlost #letsgoeverywhere

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So I’m back in London, and it feels… weird. I’ve been back for nearly two weeks now, and it seems nothing is clicking into place like I hoped it would. I know I’ve always repped London SO HARD, especially East London, and I stand by those words. But the truth is, I’ve really struggled with London for the past two years. As much as I love it – the diversity! the galleries! the restaurants! the feeling I get when I walk down the street and I’m like, “Holy shit, there’s Big Ben”! – it has also felt incredibly lonely and anonymous for a long time. As someone who’s single, lives alone, and works from home, you can imagine I crave human interaction. But when you live in a city of 8.8 million people, oddly enough, sometimes it’s even harder to make real friends. I’ve found that so many of my friends in London move away, or have a similar job to me (which means it’s nigh on impossible to be in the same city at the same time), or simply live so far away that spontaneous meet ups for a glass of wine are rare. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Compare that to how I’ve felt in Canada these past few months, and it’s clear to me now that London and I are no longer meant for each other. It’s the funniest feeling; I honestly thought I might live here forever. I thought this visit would feel rejuvenating and inspiring – that it would feel like coming home – but all it’s done is confirm to me that I know exactly where I’m meant to be: in my own little house on a quiet street, the one with the office filled with books and sunshine, the one that’s only ten minutes away from some of the people I love most in this world (and only 15 minutes away from the airport 😉✈). •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I still love London, very much so, and I always will. But returning has felt like trying it one last time with an old flame, one you know isn’t right for you anymore, and finally having the guts to say goodbye. 💔💪 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Have you ever had that experience with a place? You simply know it's time to move on? Photo taken by @smallcrazy on a day two years ago (gulp) when I was still very firmly in my London love bubble ☺🇬🇧

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Oops!… I did it again. I played with your heart, got lost in the… wait, sorry, I got carried away. What I'm really saying "oops" for is that I haven't posted on Instagram in six weeks, other than Instagram stories (which were mostly just my dad and I getting drunk and losing money on slot machines in Vegas, so if you missed them, you didn't miss much). I wish I had some amazing, philosophical reason for not posting on Instagram for that time, but the truth is simple: I was just being lazy as all hell. Lazy and happy. I spent most of January working hard on my health, which in turn made me so much happier and more productive on the blog (my main platform, I don't consider myself an "instagrammer"… clearly). Then I went on a three week trip to Vancouver, Whistler, Kelowna, Banff, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, where I promptly undid all of that hard work but had a great time nevertheless (those photos coming soon). No joke, the past ten days were just a series of drinking delicious margaritas by cacti, and I loved every minute. I have a lot of interesting trips coming up this year, and lots of photos from the past to share, but if you follow me here or on any other platform, you know I always prioritise tequila over social media (which is why I'll a) never be that successful at this and b) never be able to be full-time nomadic again, because I'd never get anything done). So cheers to those of you who can travel, work, AND post beautiful photos on social media, because hot damn, I'm so ridiculously bad at it. Margaritas, however? I'm fantastic at margaritas (making them and drinking them). More photos of Canada and USA coming this week… 📷 by my dad ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••#arizona #scottsdale #scottsdaleaz #margaritaville #desertvibes #widelegpants #whydidihashtagthat

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One of the best parts of travelling? Discovering new-to-you places. When my sister, her boyfriend, and I started planning our Italian road trip, we came upon the little Umbrian village of Citerna purely by chance. Ross saw a photo of beautiful Anghiari on Instagram, and when I started researching places to stay near there, Citerna came up. And oh man, did it exceed our expectations and then some! ••• This tiny town is not only the perfect base to explore Tuscany and Umbria, it looks out on the most gorgeous valley (I posted a photo of it last week). We ate the best pasta of our entire trip, sat every night in the square with locals drinking wine, and totally fell in love with this place that, until this summer, we had never heard of. What about you? Have you ever had a similar experience in your travels? A blog post of this region coming soon… ••• 📷 by @zholeman ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••#loveitaly #beautifulitaly #prettylittleitaly #tlpicks #traveldeeper #instatravel #iamatraveler #instapassport #tuscanygram #igitalia #igitaly #bellaitalia #umbriagram #passionpassport #umbria #tuscany #darlingescapes #prettylittletrips #theprettycities #italytrip #italylove #italy_ig #visititalia #visititaly #ig_italia #italyiloveyou #italygram #discoveritaly

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]]> Liz Carlson Makes a Living Traveling the World https://travelermaster.com/liz-carlson-makes-a-living-traveling-the-world/ Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:16:18 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11941 Working and traveling don’t happen at the same time for most people, but for Liz Carlson, traveling is the way to make a living. Carlson runs a travel blog Young Adventuress and is active on Instagram where she has 204k followers. She travels a lot, and often alone, in order to avoid having to compromise […]

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]]> Working and traveling don’t happen at the same time for most people, but for Liz Carlson, traveling is the way to make a living. Carlson runs a travel blog Young Adventuress and is active on Instagram where she has 204k followers. She travels a lot, and often alone, in order to avoid having to compromise about the things she will do and see on her travels.

“A friend once described me as cynical but kind in equal measure, a disturbingly accurate bio. If you’re a fan of chaos, brutal honesty, sarcasm and girls who think they are wittier than they actually are, then you’ve come to the place,” she writes on her website.

Carlson started her blog in 2010 as she was getting ready to move to Spain to teach English. She moved from place to place in Spain until she realized that traveling is her real calling, not teaching. She never looked back and now lives a life of the nomad. “My parents are, of course, thrilled,” she jokingly writes. 

See some of the photos from her Instagram page below.

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I’ve have so very exciting personal news to share with you guys ⭐ I’m moving to Christchurch on Monday! . More specifically, I’m moving to Lyttelton, Christchurch’s quirky harbor town. And even more specifically, I’m moving out to one of the bays on the Banks Peninsula near Lyttelton. My current mood is a beautiful combination of giddy excitement meets unsettled panic 😱 . After 6 years in my beloved Wanaka, I’m about to embark on an entirely new chapter in my life. No, I’m not pregnant (mom), but I did fall in love with an old friend, @giuliosturla ❤ After a lifetime of self-doubt and an inherent belief that my travel lifestyle was incompatible with true love, I gave up on meeting someone and quietly accepted my fate as a cat lady meets librarian, which I would still happily embrace btw. As a solitary person, I don’t mind being alone but deep down I felt a quiet, profound sadness for my lot in life. . But we all know that fate loves a good laugh, and before I knew what was happening to me, a blissful, storybook love came out of nowhere and knocked me on my ass! All those cliche rom-com phrases describes us perfectly, and my deeply cynical frosty heart has softened considerably over this past year; as the perpetual 3rd wheel to all my friends, no one hates hearing more about love than me, but here we are 😘 . As I am beginning this new era of sharing and partnership, as an only child who’s never lived with a significant other before or had roommates in 6 years, have any life advice for me because I’m freaking the fuck out over here. . And with love comes change. While I’m still keeping ties to Wanaka, I’m now starting fresh in Christchurch where I have approximately 2 friends. So, who here lives in Canterbury? Have any tips for a newbie like me? Anyone want to be my friend? Please send any advice or comments for me 🙏🏻 . #trueloveeyeroll #christchurch #lyttelton #newzealand

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You guys know how much I love birds, so watching this sunset over the gannet colony in Muriwai BLEW MY MIND 🤯 one of the last stops on an epic roadie with @sarahpolger, it was so windy when we climbed up the hill to the colony. It was so windy that the gannets were flying and hovering mid-air like a helicopter. It was extraordinary! . Then as the sun began to sink below the horizon and the skies turned pink, I lost my mind from happiness. Great views, amazing birds, good friends in new places, what more could you ask for?. . Now the real question is, how many times did I get poo-ed on during this adventure? The winning guess gets a gannet chick (I jest, @docgovtnz, I jest) 🤗 . We’re so lucky to still have bird colonies like this one still going in New Zealand – let’s keep it that way! . #muriwai #gannet #birdnerd #nzmustdo #newzealand

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One of my favorite views in the whole wide world – looking up the Matukituki Valley towards Tititea / Mt. Aspiring in my hometown of Wanaka, New Zealand. . Flying over this magical valley with @wanakahelicopters is such a dream, and no matter how many times I take in these views, I could cry with happiness! What beauty we have here. . Of course it doesn’t look like this today as we are currently receiving a momentous amount of rain here in Wanaka, and the lake and rivers are already spilling over about to flood the town. Fingers crossed it stops soon, though a morbid, deep part of me would really enjoy being able to paddleboard down Helwick Street 👍🏻 . #wanaka #wanakanz #wanakaflood2019 #newzealand #nzmustdo #wanakahelicopter #mtaspiring #matukitukivalley

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A girls roadie to Milford Sound in an Aston Martin a couple of years ago is still one of my favorite kiwi travel memories! Top down, wind in my hair, sandflies biting my ankles, with nothing but the road ahead and big mountains above, it was certainly unforgettable! It was the first time I really understood how amazing it is to drive a car like this. I mean, it even sounds sexy! She purrs! . My friends at @ignitionselfdrive are celebrating their 4 year anniversary with an epic giveaway I had to share – to celebrate they’re giving away a two day sports car hire from Queenstown + an overnight luxury boat cruise in Milford Sound (with a hot tub) + sponsoring my favorite native bird the kākāpō for a year in your name! . I’ll link in my Stories how to enter – definitely check it out as you’ll have a real chance at winning. What an epic way to experience Milford Sound! . #milfordsound #ignitionselfdrivenz #milford #fiordland #astonmartin #nzmustdo #newzealand

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While many of my incredible female friends are undertaking the wild journey into motherhood, I’m also taking on a big responsibility of becoming a plant mom 😝 The past year or so I’ve really gotten into gardening and have been surrounding myself with flowers as often as I can, also inspired by my friends at @the_green_room_flower_company in Wanaka. My house is slowly becoming a little jungle as I fill it with house plants bit by bit. There’s just something so calm and soothing about being surrounded by greenery, can you relate? As a big traveler, being a plant mum is a big commitment haha and I have to get quite strategic around which friends to beg to come over and water my babies while I work. So far, I haven’t accidentally killed any yet, minus 2 orchids, which I SERIOUSLY don’t understand how they work! Why you so fussy? Anyway, who else here is a plant lover too? Spill! What are your favorite flowers and plants at home? How do you keep orchids alive? I’m starting to look for more unique varieties in NZ, have any tips? Any plant accounts you enjoy following? Share please 🙏🏻 . #hamiltongardens #green #indoorplants #gardens #plants

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No matter where I go, I almost always have a camera with me. But the kit I've been carrying for years is so hard on my body and really taking its toll. I can't tell you how challenging it is for someone like me to use such heavy equipment day in and day out to the point where if I can leave it behind, I will, missing out on potential shots and photo opportunities. I am quite literally bogged down by too much camera weight that it's begun to stifle my creative freedom. Can you relate? . This past year I've been slowly adjusting to using an Olympus, a much lighter camera system while on the road – and traveling with the @olympus_au OM-D system instead. Wow, is it life-changing! Olympus has been one of our biggest supporters over the years at @thetravelbootcamp and I watched @laurenepbath swap over and not look back. An inspiration to me in so many ways, I'm slowly following in her footsteps. I took my first trip with just an Olympus earlier this year to the US, and I'm so excited to see their latest campaign called "Break Free" which is all about letting go of all that extra camera weight. To me it represents a lifestyle of expanded creativity, flexibility, and originality – yes, yes YES. Personally I'm stoked to work my way towards more freedom from heavy cameras, bulky lenses, by moving towards a more lightweight portable system. In a few days, I'm off somewhere entirely new with some special Olympus gear in tow. Can't wait to share more! . #olympusinspired #olympus #thetravelbootcamp #charleston #breakfree #breakfreewitholympus

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🌟 Only 3 days left to get your ticket to @thetravelbootcamp in Queenstown before the doors close forever 🌟 . Join me, @laurenepbath and @georgiarickard as we give you the blueprints to success building a career in travel. . Over the past 9 years, my blog has been featured by National Geographic, Time, the Smithsonian, Forbes and the New York Times. Earlier this year I was named one of the most powerful women in travel by Condé Nast. I’ve been earning six figures through my blog for years, won countless awards and have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world again and again. . None of this happened by accident. . It took me almost 10 years of trial and error, fucking up and learning from my mistakes, figuring out what worked and what didn’t to build a long-term career in travel. I’m still learning. We started the Travel Bootcamp because we shared the same philosophy of taking all the knowledge we’ve acquired on our own and sharing it with others. We want to raise the standard of influencer marketing and give people the tools we never had. . We’re sending the elevator back down to you guys – are you coming to join us? DM me with questions. Link to the last tickets in my bio ✌🏻 . #thetravelbootcamp #travelblogger #queenstownnz

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]]> ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> blog Archives - Traveler Master Traveler Master Thu, 10 Jun 2021 11:14:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://travelermaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cropped-FAVICON_wp-32x32.png blog Archives - Traveler Master 32 32 Bridges and Balloons are the Perfect Tour Guides https://travelermaster.com/bridges-and-balloons-are-the-perfect-tour-guides/ Sun, 13 Jun 2021 14:42:00 +0000 https://travelermaster.com/?p=24380 Bridges and Balloons co-founder, Victoria, describes herself as “100% travel geek”. Alongside her husband Steve, the two have been running a successful travel blog-turned brand for the past nine years, promoting handpicked, unique itineraries, filled with beautifully designed places to stay and ways to experience life like a local. View this post on Instagram A […]

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]]> Bridges and Balloons co-founder, Victoria, describes herself as “100% travel geek”. Alongside her husband Steve, the two have been running a successful travel blog-turned brand for the past nine years, promoting handpicked, unique itineraries, filled with beautifully designed places to stay and ways to experience life like a local.

“I specialize in putting together itineraries (especially road trips and city breaks) that are ideal for people who like to discover the creative side of a destination,” writes Victoria in a recent Instagram post. “And I also create guides to the most special places to stay around the world, from Airbnbs to glamping to hip boutique hotels.”

Favoring a local style of travel, independent stores over chains, and unique experiences (rather than must-sees), the seasoned travelers admit to loving places that have a story behind them, featuring both budget and luxury styles. “We’ve been traveling since March 2012,” they shared in an interview with Never Ending Voyage. “We’re definitely more suited to slow travel.”

Traveling with two small children, Otis (3) and Arlo (1), also shaped the way they experience the world and, in turn, write about it. “We were apprehensive before having Otis about what family travel would look like, and if it would mean sacrificing style, but we’re delighted to say that hasn’t been the case and we’ve done some of our most exciting trips yet with the little one in tow,” they write on their blog.

Describing their traveling style as creative, cozy, independent, bohemian, boutique, slow, design-led, and characterful, between Victoria and Steve the two have been to 50 countries (!). Whether you’re traveling solo or taking your kids along for the ride, you’d want their guidance.

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]]> Dan and Audrey from Uncornered Market Will Take You on a Journey https://travelermaster.com/dan-and-audrey-from-uncornered-market-will-take-you-on-a-journey/ Fri, 27 Dec 2019 10:26:03 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11965 Dan and Audrey are the adventurous couple behind Uncornered Market, a brand that’s become their business and their lifestyle over the past years. When they first had an idea to travel the world, they imagined they would just run a business while on the road. They had saved money for about a year of traveling […]

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]]> Dan and Audrey are the adventurous couple behind Uncornered Market, a brand that’s become their business and their lifestyle over the past years.

When they first had an idea to travel the world, they imagined they would just run a business while on the road. They had saved money for about a year of traveling in advance, but when they finally took the leap, new opportunities started unfolding.

They now have skills and experience to run a sustainable business that doesn’t depend on the location and allows them to live their nomad lifestyle.

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In awe of Mother Nature at dawn – Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru.⁠ ⁠.⁠ Doing the Huayhuash Trek (Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru) had been a dream of ours for 10 years. Although our expectations were high, the reality of our experience far exceeded them: eight high mountain pass crossings, surrounding peaks of 6,000+ meters (20,000+ feet), turquoise alpine lakes, stunning glacier-covered mountains, and a diversity of landscapes. Each day felt like a different experience, a new discovery. After answering endless questions about planning, organizing and preparing for the trek, it’s time we share it all in our Huayhuash Trekking Guide (link in bio)⁠ ⁠.⁠ Since the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu often get all the tourist and adventure travel ink in Peru, many people have never heard of the Cordillera Huayhuash. However, this small sub-range of the Peruvian Andes packs a huge punch for its size. Although only 30km long, it includes six peaks over 6,000 meters (20,000 ft.) and features spectacular panoramic views of scores of high snow-covered peaks from different perspectives.⁠ ⁠.⁠ This view was the beginning of Day 4 of our trek, at our campsite on the shores of Lake Carhuacocha. Before dawn, our trekking guide woke us and enticed us out of our warm sleeping bags with cups of steaming hot coca tea. We scampered up a hill just above the lake and waited for the the sun to emerge behind us and shine a light on these 5,500 – 6,600+ meter / (18,000-21,650 foot) snow-covered peaks you see here.⁠ ⁠.⁠ As much as I wanted to capture the “perfect” shot, I reminded myself to put down my phone and camera to just enjoy the moment – the shadows, the light moving across the glaciers and peaks as the sun rose higher in the sky, the changing colors from orange to pink, and the subtle movements of reflections on the surface of the lake. . Most of all, I remember a stillness, sense of awe and feeling of peace. This is the Cordillera Huayhuash. . . . . #CordilleraHuayhuash #trekking #Peru #destinationearth #ourlonelyplanet #lppathfinder #bbctravel ⁠#trekkingperu #adventuretravel #hikingadventures #perutravel

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It all started in 2001 when they left San Francisco with a one-way ticket to Prague and six suitcases. They came back home at some point, only to repeat the adventure in 2006. 

“Our family and friends really thought we’d lost it,” their website reads. “Not at all. This was our approach: to live deliberately, to not look back one day and wonder What if? To practice regret avoidance.”

You can follow their adventures on social media. Here are some photos below.

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Overtourism. Social media is one of its many causes, but can it also be part of the solution? ⁠ .⁠ We think so. We've just updated our latest post (link in bio) to include 10 ways to use your influence — no matter how small or large — and social media platforms to educate and change behaviors to help combat #overtourism.⁠ .⁠ The idea: more enriching experiences for the traveler + less pressure on and more benefits for the destinations we visit.⁠ ⁠ Now, to this image: St. Sophia Cathedral Square in Kyiv, #Ukraine. This speaks to #1 in the article: to share images and stories from less popular destinations to encourage travel to different locations. With an estimated 70% of travelers going to 20% of countries that leaves a large part of our beautiful world to explore without the same crowds. And many of these destinations, like Ukraine, are interested in attracting more travelers. ⁠ .⁠ To that advice, we'd also add advocating traveling in the shoulder or off-season. The benefit for the destinations: visitor numbers are spread out for longer in the year to reduce pressure and this also extends the earning season for local businesses. ⁠ .⁠ For us, it meant that we could explore Kyiv free from tourist crowds and pressures. Plus, we had beautiful autumn weather and colorful leaves. ⁠ . ⁠ We took the train to Kyiv (via Odessa) from Berlin in early October, rekindling our love of long-distance train journeys. Kyiv surprised us in many ways, from its edgy street art and murals to its stunning 12th-century orthodox cathedrals and monasteries to its Independence Square and the story of the 2014 EuroMaiden revolution that helped shift the course of the country to its hip cafes overflowing with avocado toast and flat whites. We only had a few days in Kyiv, but that was enough for a taste to make us want to return for longer. ⁠ .⁠ What lesser known destinations have you visited recently that surprised you? And how can you use your social media channels to help others explore it respectfully and with positive impact? ⁠ . . . . #kyiv #kiev #thisissustainable #ukrainetravel #sustainabletourism #responsibletourism ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

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Excited to return to the Alay Region and Pamir-Alay Mountains of southern Kyrgyzstan! This time we're working with @helvetas_kyrgyzstan on the Bai Alai rural economic and tourism development program. Among our work these next weeks: to help create and test community-driven cultural, culinary and adventure-based travel experiences in the region. The goal: to help more travelers discover and explore this region respectfully + enable local villages to benefit from community tourism development.⁠ ⁠ .⁠ ⁠ Our relationship with the Alay region began two years ago when we were advisors on the @USAID BGI program and its tourism development projects. During our time in this particular region, we also helped mark the Heights of Alay trek, taking us over the other worldly Sary Mogul Pass (4,303 m/14,120 ft) pictured here. That is how we met Talant (also in the photo) from Visit Alay (@south_kyrgyzstan). As we trekked through the mountains together for several days, we shared our ideas about the potential for sustainable community-based tourism development in a region whose contours are stunning and beautiful yet also present challenges to business creation and livelihood development. Our work and counsel led to the Heights of Alay becoming the best-selling trek in the region, which in turn led to our being asked to develop a regional marketing plan.⁠ ⁠ .⁠ ⁠ Many travelers don't know Kyrgyzstan very well, much less the Alay Region (south, near the borders with Tajikistan, China and Uzbekistan). This area is truly special. As is the case with much of our advisory work, the goal is two-way benefit: 1) travelers discover the region through community-driven travel experiences, whereby they develop a stronger connection to local people and nature and 2) local communities see direct economic and social benefit.⁠ ⁠.⁠ ⁠ Stay tuned as we explore more of the Alay mountains and villages over these next two weeks. ⁠.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #kyrgyzstan #baialaiprogram #tourismdevelopment #sustainabletourism #thisissustainable #visitalay #alaymountains #communitytourism #discoverkyrgyzstan #trekking #trekkinginkyrgyzstan ⁠

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Rickshaws and rebuilding. An everyday scene in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal. . After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, recovery continues. So does daily life, as locals take a moment of shade on a temple staircase or shop at a street corner market, and rickshaw drivers wait — and call out — for their next customer. . It’s been 11 years since our last visit to Nepal. Some of the temples and sights from our memories have either been badly damaged or destroyed. The tragedy of brick piles where ancient temples once stood slowly gives way as community reconstruction efforts and the renewal of once rubbled sites continues. . Taken on our #GForGood trip (#sponsored) through the Kathmandu Valley where our local @gadventures tour leaders (CEO) shared stories from the earthquake, including work they did to help rebuild schools and homes and distribute emergency funds raised by @planeterracares and G Adventures to 14 of the 18 districts in Nepal impacted by the 2015 earthquake. . . . #kathmandu #nepal #nepaltravel #gwanderers #gadventures #lppathfinder

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The town of Shimla in the late afternoon light.⠀ .⠀ Once the summer capital of British India, Shimla today is a bustling hill town filled with promenades, markets, and fascinating stretches of colonial Victorian architecture. With Shimla’s cooler temperatures and views of the Himalayas, it’s easy to see why this is such a popular destination, especially for Indian travelers. Besides offering several stretches of laneway bazaars, a laid back spice market and even a craft brewpub, Shimla makes for a fitting way to wind down our @gadventures journey in Himachal Pradesh. #sponsored⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #shimla #simla #Himachal #Himachalpradesh #gwanderers #gadventures #lppathfinder #discoverearth #neverstopexploring #travelunscripted #incredibleindia

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The Golden Temple in Amritsar by night: stunning. Not only does the physical beauty of this place make it so. The atmosphere — welcoming, peaceful and inclusive — does, too. As the preeminent pilgrimage site of Sikhism, the temple complex courses with visitors and pilgrims day and night. Despite the constant flow of people, a calm, quiet and meditative feeling prevails. All are welcome, respected and even cared for, no matter their circumstances. ⠀ .⠀ I’d had the Golden Temple in Amritsar on my mind for years, dating back to my first visit to India over 21 years ago. Upon visiting now, I felt a nuanced sort of wonder, one which exceeded my expectations.⠀ .⠀ This was the first stop in our @gadventures rail tour through northern India. Although we’ve visited India multiple times, this marks our first time in the region. After Amritsar in the Punjab, we continue to the hill towns of Himachal Pradesh. . . . . #Amritsar #punjab #goldentemple #goldentempleamritsar #gwanderers #gadventures #lppathfinder #discoverearth #neverstopexploring #travelunscripted #incredibleindia

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Salvador de Bahia – the view of Pelourinho, the old historic center of town. ⁣ .⁣ A clear sense of local pride in Afro-Brazilian culture, music and cuisine defines Salvador, the capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia. History is deep here; the city was founded in 1549 by the Portuguese as the country’s first colonial capital. It was also South America’s first slave port.⁣ .⁣ Trip planning note: Our visit to Salvador happened to coincide with the season of preparation and practice just prior to Carnaval. As Salvador features the largest Carnaval celebration of its kind in Brazil, this run-up is a serious affair. We encountered “blocks” — think crews or groups of musicians and performers — coursing through the city streets, working out rhythms and routines. Drumbeats and voices echoed the colonial streets from morning through night. An excellent and engaging time to visit if you can't time your visit with Carnaval.⁣ .⁣ Be sure to head out of Pelourinho, up the hill into the Santo Antonio district. The path is flush with brightly colored Art Deco restorations, unofficial galleries and plenty of street art — from graffiti to full-on murals. Some of the best we’d seen in Brazil. ⁣ .⁣ We tacked our visit to Salvador and Bahia onto our @gadventures Wonders of Brazil tour. This and some extra time in Rio and Sao Paulo rounded out a full experience. For more info on this trip, check the full post (link in bio).⁣ . . . . #salvadordebahia #brazil #lppathfinders

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We come full circle to where we began our Brazil adventure: Rio de Janeiro. . The view is from atop Corcovado mountain, just below the 30m/98ft Art Deco statue of Cristo Redentor (“Christ the Redeemer”). We took the rack railway tram up 2200 feet, through the Tijuca Forest National Park for one of Rio’s best views. (Another is from Sugarloaf mountain, seen in the distance here.) . Rio is the final stop of our @gadventures Wonders of Brazil Tour (full itinerary link in bio). This visit, we took a couple more days to fill up on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, street art in Santa Teresa, a walking tour including Lapa and the downtown, more than a few visits to sushi bars, live music, nibbling and noshing on acai, gelato, selgados, and moqueca (fish stew), and a bit of caipirinha sampling. . Sure, we know there’s more to Rio, but we ran out of time. What did we miss? Feel free to suggest…we’ll take it up on our next visit! . . #hosted #sponsored . . . . #gwanderers #gadventures #rio #brazil #riodejaneiro #cristoredentor #lppathfinders

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Arguably the most colorful street going on the island of Malta. . If walking and uncovering the little details is your thing, then a day trip to the Three Cities (Vittoriosa / Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua pictured here) is worth a look. All cities are colorful and together feature a coffee table book’s worth of old store fronts, door knockers and motley balconies. Throw in a few cats, some laundry and a couple of grandmas, and you’ll get the feel. The hilly contours of the area offer plenty of looks across the Grand Harbor and beyond across the Mediterranean. Reward yourself with lunch on the Vittoriosa Yacht Marina before hopping the ferry back to Valletta. . . . . . #malta #visitmalta #cospicua #lppathfinders #threecities

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Sometimes the sharing economy can be double-edged and feature unintended consequences. . We continue our #overtourism series this week by sharing some ways travelers can help combat this problem while also having better travel experiences themselves. . Tip #6: Research your apartment rental to be sure it’s legal & doesn't do unintended harm to the local economy . Although Airbnb and similar apartment rental services can offer travelers excellent options for renting an apartment, depending on the circumstance this can sometimes come at a cost to locals. . As tourism took off in certain cities (e.g., Barcelona, Berlin, Reykjavik, Paris, New York, etc.), apartment owners removed rental units from the local market and instead rented only to tourists, as this made more money than renting to locals. This practice, however, resulted in the reduced supply of apartments available for locals. In turn, locals saw their rental prices rise, some to the rapid extent of no longer being able to afford to live there. . However, this doesn't mean that all vacation rentals are bad. Take, for example, this house in Hyrda, Greece (view from the balcony pictured here) owned by a family friend for almost 50 years. Outside of the several months a year she lived in it herself, it was empty. So last year she went through the licensing, taxes and paperwork to legally rent it out on Airbnb when she's not there. Travelers get a great place to stay (just look at that view!), a local person earns some additional money by maintaining and managing it, and the owner is able to earn money she wouldn't have otherwise been able to without the sharing economy and services like this. . As we make our accommodation choices and engage in the sharing economy, consider at what cost and on whose shoulders these new economy shifts fall. Before you book that apartment on your next trip, do a little research to determine if it’s legal and helping the local economy…or hurting it. . . . #hydra sustainabletourism #responsibletravel #sharingeconomy

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When you visit a city, do you often venture outside the old town or downtown? . We continue our #overtourism series this week by sharing some ways travelers can help combat this problem while also having better travel experiences themselves. . Tip #5: Branch out into the neighborhoods . We understand that it's often the old town or downtown area that may have offered the primary motivation for you to visit a city. But, don't forget the neighborhoods, including ones often ringed just around the tourist districts. If you want to “go local”, those areas are an excellent place to start. There, you’ll typically find more locals than travelers in cafes and restaurants. If you need to go further, press on. . Take Berlin, our adopted home, pictured here. When we spend time in our or other neighborhoods, we find it difficult to digest the statistic that from 2006 to 2016, the city’s tourism traffic doubled from 15 to over 30 million visitors a year. When we spend time near the concentration of historical sites, we feel the popularity. Then we retreat back to the neighborhoods 🚴 . For example, during our first “exploratory summer” living in Berlin, several times a week, we would choose a recommended restaurant with a lunch or “executive lunch” special and bicycle there. Even if you do this just once in your trip — tapping your inner adventurer — you’re likely to have your eyes opened. . The image here is of a boat making its way down the Landwehr canal. Water, bridges (more than Venice!), and canals offer loads of picturesque and experiential nooks and crannies — ones which intersect far-flung bits of the Berlin Wall way. . Do you visit nearby or outer neighborhoods when you visit a new city? If not, what's holding you back? . . . #berlin #sustainabletourism #responsibletravel #berlinlove

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How can we tread…even more lightly? We continue our #overtourism series of tips that make it better for travelers, and the destinations they visit. . Tip #4: Tread lightly and clean up after yourself. . It’s a shame this even has to be on the list. And I’m probably preaching to the choir. And the people who most need to hear this aren’t following this feed. But I just gotta say it: Don’t be *that* traveler. . Despite begs and pleas from advocates like us, travel companies and destinations, some travelers still insist on leaving a trail of trash and disrespect in their wake. . And it’s not just the cities. We witnessed this blatant disregard along the Huayhuash Trek in Peru (pictured here) earlier this year. In the midst of remote breath-taking landscapes and natural beauty, trekkers – who made the long-distance effort to get there to immerse themselves in nature — saw it fitting to toss their tin food cans and candy wrappers at campsites and for miles along trails. . Why visit someplace for its beauty, only to trash it? Make the wee effort to carry your trash in your pocket or bag until you find a proper trash can. It isn’t that hard, is it?. Note: if you aren't familiar with overtourism, check out the link in our bio for background, causes and more tips. . . . . #sustainabletourism #lppathfinders #responsibletravel #peru #huayhuash #trekking

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]]> Explore New Places with “Bridges and Balloons” https://travelermaster.com/explore-new-places-with-bridges-and-balloons/ Wed, 25 Dec 2019 16:31:16 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11982 Bridges and Balloons is a travel blog that’s all about traveling to special places. The woman behind it is Victoria, a wanderlust soul from Bristol who has been traveling regularly for the past 17 years. She travels with her husband Steve, who is a VR developer and filmmaker, and their son Otis. They’ve been to […]

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]]> Bridges and Balloons is a travel blog that’s all about traveling to special places. The woman behind it is Victoria, a wanderlust soul from Bristol who has been traveling regularly for the past 17 years. She travels with her husband Steve, who is a VR developer and filmmaker, and their son Otis. They’ve been to 50 countries between them so far. 

“We love road trips, indy bookshops, glorious nature, farmers markets, street art and discovering the creative side of a city,” Victoria writes on Bridges and Balloons’ website. Their travel experiences help them create detailed itineraries and city guides for everyone interested in following their footsteps. Some of the words that describe their taste are creative, cozy, bohemian, slow, independent, characterful, boutique, and slow. If those words wake up something inside your soul, we’re sure you’re going to love their blog.

Follow the adventures of this lovely family on their Instagram page and let them be your inspiration for your next trip.

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I had a nice little break from Instagram for the past week, partly because I wanted to switch off and enjoy the last days of holiday with these guys. 💕 And the other reason was because, as I said a few months ago, I’m still not sure where I’m at with Instagram these days. I find myself less and less inclined to share my personal life, and now that Otis is nearly two, I’d like to share less of his little face on here as well. Time is also a precious issue and seeing as my heart (and business) has always been with the blog, that’s naturally where I focus my energies (and it’s paying off – traffic to the site has trebled in the past year!). I haven’t quite worked out my way with all this yet, but a few ideas are forming. And in the meantime, I’ll muddle along as usual! Thanks for your patience! 🙌

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Charleston is a pretty complex place to visit. On one hand, it’s one of the prettiest cities I’ve ever been to, filled with a dizzying amount of gorgeous, picture-perfect houses. Horses and carriages roam the streets, it oozes southern charm and a visit there feels like a step back in time to the 18th century. It’s hard not to be captivated by its beauty. But on the other hand, you have to remember that the city was built on slavery. Charleston was the busiest slave port in the USA and its thought that 80 percent of African Americans can trace an ancestor who arrived in Charleston. I live in a city (Bristol, UK) which was also a busy slave port, so I know it’s possible to love a city in spite of its history. But that said, I think it’s important to respect and acknowledge that history in the ways you can. Admire those beautiful buildings and the charming city it’s become today, but don’t forget the cost it came at.

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We came here to see the trees, but hadn’t realised that the Wormsloe ‘historic site’ is also an old plantation that held enslaved people. I’ve been really unsure about visiting a plantation as I’ve heard that many of them tend to gloss over the history of slavery and focus on the architecture and life of the colonialists instead. Even worse, I read an article about people who complain if slavery is mentioned on a plantation tour because it’s “depressing” and “reflects poorly on their ancestors.” 🤦🏻‍♀️ Sadly, Wormsloe seems to be one of the places that doesn’t confront its history head on. We didn’t do the tour as it was too long for Otis, but I read a post by @oneikatraveller who explained how mention of slavery is entirely omitted from it (post linked to in stories). We’re still considering a plantation visit in Charleston or New Orleans, but are trying to find one that gives the history of enslaved people the proper respect and acknowledgment it deserves. To me, that would be the point of the visit – to pay respect. Does anyone have any recommendations? Or would you say it’s better to skip plantations altogether?

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I’ve lost my Instagram mojo of late. I’ve never been a natural on social media. It’s something I adopted to help with the blog, and have fallen in and out of love with over the years. I intermittently struggle with the exhibitionist side of it – I’m an introvert at heart, so like some time in the shadows. As a blogger, I sometimes feel I have to be on here. But as time goes one, I’m not so sure that’s true. My focus is the blog itself (and SEO) and I’ve hit some good milestones there recently. It’s without a doubt Bridges and Balloons’ strength. So from a business perspective, I guess I could let Instagram go. But I don’t quite want to do that. I’ve been on Instagram for seven years and I love having this little space and community where I can share photos and snapshots from our lives. Although fewer and fewer people see my posts because of the darned algorithm, I’ll stay here because I want to, not because I have to. I just can’t promise I’ll be consistent. I’ll be that friend who you see every now and then, not every day, but sometimes for weeks at a time. And then we’ll holiday together and you’ll have a week of me on stories. I hope that sounds okay – and thanks for sticking with me through all these years. I’d love to hear about your relationship to Instagram? How often do you use it? How do you feel about it?

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One of the reasons I love Bristol so much is because it’s surrounded by gorgeous countryside and lots of cute little towns. The problem is I don’t make enough time for exploring it all. But this weekend we went to Frome, which was an absolute delight. We’ve been to the @fromeindependent before but never on a non-market day, and I was amazed by how many creative businesses there are there. It’s filled with cute boutiques, cafes and galleries. Have a look at my story highlight for more and there’s a blog post coming soon. We went as part of a campaign for @GWRUK so going on the train added to the adventure to make it the perfect day trip, plus it was easier as Otis definitely preferred it to the car. It’s made us start wondering about where we should head to next on the train. What are you favourite day trips from Bristol? And any more Frome fans out there? #ad (for GWR) #GWRADVENTURES

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We’ve been staying in such a wonderful place for the last three nights 😍 It’s like a cross between a retreat centre and the holiday camp in Dirty Dancing, and it has the most spectacular beachfront setting. Last night I watched the sunset from my bed. Our stay was hosted by the hotel, but my gushing is real. It’s a little slice of added wonder on a coast that has already overwhelmed me. I really underestimated how beautiful Monterey would be. It’s called Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds, but don’t let the word conference put you off (like it almost did for me). It didn’t feel business-y at all, but rather like the historic retreat that it is (it was started in 1913 by a group of women from the YWCA, and parts were designed by Julia Morgan who did Hearst Castle.) It’s also really reasonably priced, starting at around $160 for a room. If you’re in the area, I can’t recommend it enough. The beachfront setting alone is worth it. Just look at that sunset! 🙌 Have a look at my stories for more photos 😊

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]]> Meet Brenna Holeman of This Battered Suitcase https://travelermaster.com/meet-brenna-holeman-of-this-battered-suitcase/ Wed, 25 Dec 2019 08:21:20 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11952 Brenna Holeman is an experienced and passionate traveler who has visited over 100 countries in 13 years. Many of her travels have been solo adventures so she started writing about them a lot in order to preserve precious memories. On her blog, This Battered Suitcase, she writes about other things too, but travel is her […]

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]]> Brenna Holeman is an experienced and passionate traveler who has visited over 100 countries in 13 years. Many of her travels have been solo adventures so she started writing about them a lot in order to preserve precious memories. On her blog, This Battered Suitcase, she writes about other things too, but travel is her main topic.

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When this photo was taken, almost exactly two years ago, I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I was at a breaking point, physically and emotionally. I was suffering from severe sciatica, back pain so awful I could barely get out of bed or walk. I felt lost and confused, my time in London coming to an end. I was eating too much and drinking too much. I had fallen into a deep depression, one fraught with panic attacks and long stretches of anxiety.⁣ ⁣ It’s surreal to look back at a photo like this in many ways; it feels like yesterday, and yet it also feels like a lifetime ago. If you’ve read my blog at all this year, I’ve written about the steps I’ve taken in 2019 to turn my life in a different direction. ⁣ ⁣ 2019 has been a fairly quiet year for me in terms of travelling or other big life events. I’ve barely blogged or been online. Instead, I’ve been spending as much time as possible with family and friends. I’ve been spending as much time as possible with my dog Dottie, going for long walks twice a day. I’ve been spending as much time as possible building my freelance career, gardening, reading, playing the piano, going to the gym, eating well, and falling in love with my record collection again. I’ve finally learned how to take care of myself and not put so much pressure on myself.⁣ ⁣ The sciatica is completely gone, and so too are the panic attacks and bouts of anxiety. All that travelling and all those adventures, and it’s right here at home in Winnipeg that I learned how to be happiest. ⁣😌 ⁣ I’m not sure why I’m writing this; maybe I just wanted to say hello, because I haven’t posted in four months. But maybe it’s because I wish I could go back two years and tell myself it will be OK. That things will get better, that life has a funny way of pushing you to the edge to show you how strong you can be. That there will always be ups and downs, but that being kind to yourself and asking for help are not things to be ashamed of. That sometimes, when you’re buried… you’re really being planted, and one day will bloom.⁣ 🌷 ⁣ And so, after nine months offline, I’m ready to start writing again. Thank you, as always, for sticking around. I’ve missed you. ❤

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Her Instagram is filled with gorgeous photos taken on her travels as well as long descriptions that tell real-life stories. Her followers stay with her because they love her honesty and openness, and we assume she will only get more popular in the future.

“Originally from Winnipeg, a city in the Canadian prairies, I have lived in Halifax, Toronto, Copenhagen, Yaroslavl, Edinburgh, Osaka, and London, and I have traveled to over 100 countries. Now my life is devoted to writing: for my blog, for my book, and for my career,” she writes on her website.

Her favorite things include window seats, whiskey, old cars, new books, scuba diving, cheap jewelry, and hot dogs. See some posts from her Instagram page below.

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As we took the ferry from Sorrento to Capri, the once-blue skies started to fade into an inky, ominous grey. Clouds gathered over the island, and the ocean started to churn and swirl. Almost as soon as we set foot on Capri, the rain came. ••• It goes without saying that we all want perfect weather when we travel. We want the sun, the warmth, the big, beautiful skies that look so great in photographs. Unless we’re specifically heading to an extreme location, most of us don’t want wind and rain and white, foggy skies overhead. ••• I’ve naturally had a lot of rainy and cold days on my travels, especially as I love to travel in shoulder season (it’s cheaper and there are far fewer tourists). I’ve been rained out in Thailand, thought I’d freeze from the wind in Poland, and nearly missed seeing Machu Picchu in Peru due to fog. ••• Was it disappointing that it rained the entire day I was on Capri? Of course, it would have been nice to see the island with blue skies, or to see just how turquoise the water gets in the sun. But I’ve learned to accept the rainy days, and to appreciate that I’m there in the first place, regardless of the weather. ••• Our day on Capri may not have been what I had initially hoped, but we still wandered its tiny streets, ate a delicious meal, and warmed up with strong espressos (and a few glasses of wine, too). It may not have been sunny that day in Capri, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a day to remember, a day to laugh with new friends, a day to be so incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to see it in the first place. ••• Has the weather ever affected your travels? ☔ ••• Thank you to @travelclubadventures for this fantastic adventure, and my apologies for the cheese today… I’ve been reviewing all of my photos from Italy and feeling so overwhelmed with gratitude. Oh and also I really do have lots of photos of cheese so, you know… I had to go for it. 😘🧀 ••• #sponsored #clubadventures #letadventurehappen #ditchthescript #travelunscripted #wheninitaly #capri #loveitaly #myitaly #beautifulitaly

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I turned 35 yesterday. Since I was 22 – the last birthday I celebrated in my hometown of Winnipeg, just before I set off on the first of many solo adventures – I vowed to spend every birthday in a new location. I’ve spent birthdays in Japan, Spain, Belize, Laos, Italy, Scotland, Grenada, and more, and each one has been memorable in its own way. • I’ve been very, very lucky these past 13 years, yes. Birthdays are often a time for reflection, and this year I reflected on just how grateful I am for this career: travel writing and blogging. As a kid, the thought of being a travel writer seemed just as foreign and glamorous as being an astronaut. And while it’s taken years and years (and years) of studying, freelancing, and writing shit on the internet I thought nobody would ever read, here I am at 35, realizing I’m finally where I want to be in my career. • So when I thought about where I wanted to spend 35, two places came to mind. One was Italy, as other than Canada, it always feels like home. Last week I had a pre-birthday celebration with my mum in Rome; we wandered the cobblestoned streets, stopped for wine in the sunshine, and ate my favourite pasta, cacio e pepe. • But for my actual birthday, May 5th? I knew it was time to return to Winnipeg, my hometown. Over the past couple of years, while I was already happy in my career, I knew I needed to work on my personal life. I craved having a great group of friends, a house to call my own, a closer relationship with my family, a garden, and a dog. I wanted to work on both my physical and my mental health. This past year has been all about that, to the point where I can say that, at 35, I feel happier and healthier than I ever have. • So yesterday, for my birthday, I didn’t worry that I wasn’t in an “exotic” location. Being right at home in Winnipeg with the people I love meant more to me than any faraway land. I spent the day with my beloved Dottie (whose birthday is ALSO May 5th, which I didn’t know until after I adopted her… more proof we were meant to be 🐶👯‍♀️) and with my sister Zalie and her boyfriend Ross. We ate sushi and watched a 90s romcom, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. 😌 Here’s to 35 🥂✨

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“I’m saving the Amalfi Coast for something special.” I used to say that whenever anybody asked if I’d been to the Amalfi Coast, and, because people know how much I love Italy, it seems I was asked a lot. Maybe I’d save it for a romantic trip, or a birthday, or a celebration of some kind, I’d tell people. ••• The truth is I had looked into going to the Amalfi Coast on my own many times, but kept being thwarted by the logistics of doing it alone. I knew that I wanted to drive along the coast in order to soak in as much of the view as possible, but I also knew I didn’t want to drive solo; although I love driving, I selfishly wanted to be the passenger in this case. There’s no way I could trust myself to keep my eyes on the road when those turquoise waters and colourful cliffside towns came into view. 😅 ••• “I’m saving the Amalfi Coast for something special,” I said again and again, but in reality I was dying to see it for myself as soon as possible; everyone I knew who had visited couldn’t stop raving about this gorgeous region of my favourite country. 🇮🇹 And so, as the coast emerged into view along the winding roads from Sorrento – and yes, I was a passenger in the car, not the driver – I couldn’t help but tear up. It was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. It was, for lack of better words, love at first sight. Three weeks later, I’m still overwhelmed with gratitude that I finally got to see it. ••• I think I’m going to stop saving places for “something special.” Life’s too short, or so we’ve been told. I didn’t need to save the Amalfi Coast for a boyfriend, or another year older, or anything else that might have been deemed worthy enough to be called “special”. The Amalfi Coast is special enough on its very own. Seeing something you’ve always wanted to see, making a dream come true? That’s all the “special” you need. ✨ Thank you to @travelclubadventures for making my Amalfi dreams become reality (and for making it so easy and relaxing to be the passenger 😌). #sponsored #clubadventures #ditchthescript #travelunscripted #letadventurehappen #amalficoast #amalfi #prettylittleitaly #myitaly #mytinyatlas #searchwandercollect #stayandwander

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How do you say, “I’m in heaven,” in Italian?* ✨🇮🇹 ••• The last ten days in Italy have been absolutely incredible. Travelling through Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast has been one of my favourite journeys through Italy so far, and as it’s my favourite country in the world, that’s saying a lot. I can’t truly explain what this country means to me, but every time I’m here I just feel like I belong. It doesn’t hurt that it’s full of drop-dead gorgeous views like this, of course… ••• This trip, my 13th to Italy, has inspired me to finally take my Italian language lessons seriously, to dust off my pasta maker more often, and to keep an alert for any cheap flights back. Of all the places I visited this time around, it was the town of Amalfi that stole my heart. I try not to feel too sad to leave, though, because I know I’ll be back one day… ••• *”Sono in paradiso”, in case you were wondering 😉🇮🇹 ••• Thank you to @travelclubadventures for an amazing tour and to @andre.vise for the photo! #sponsored #clubadventures #letadventurehappen #ditchthescript #travelunscripted #amalficoast #prettylittleitaly #loveitaly #amalfi

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I’ve rewritten this caption a lot in the past few days. This very moment, I’m sitting in my sunny home office in Canada with a cup of coffee (I’m not in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where this photo was taken by my mum a few weeks ago). Perhaps not surprisingly, I feel healthier and happier than I have in years. After years of being in travel blogging, I started to get it in my head that the only way to truly enjoy life and be respected in this industry was to be travelling constantly. To be nomadic. To forever be jetting off from one destination to the next. To call a suitcase home. And here’s the thing: I did all of that. I just did it before I had social media. And after over a decade, that lifestyle made me tired and grumpy as fuck. That lifestyle no longer makes me happy, and I hate that I was still striving for it even though it was bringing me down. Don’t get me wrong – I still plan on travelling a lot – but I no longer look at those bloggers who are constantly on the move with envy (though I do look at them with respect, because I can’t keep up anymore, nor would I want to). It's just that that lifestyle is no longer for me. Maybe you’re dreaming of travelling the world and being nomadic, and that’s amazing. Maybe you’re just really happy to drink a cup of coffee in the sunshine in your hometown, and that’s amazing, too. Maybe, like me, you fall somewhere in between, wanting to balance home life with the occasional holiday. Whatever you’re feeling, don’t let the pressures of social media trick you into believing your happiness isn’t valid, or that you should be doing more, or that because you're not on a perpetual holiday with lavish brunches you're somehow not living a fantastic and fulfilling life. I’m so tired of seeing posts that say, “This is the only way to live,” accompanied by some girl on a swing in Bali. Honestly? Just do what makes you happiest. The rest will fall into place. I'm trying to learn this, too. 😌✈☕ By the way, I’m well aware at the hypocrisy of posting this photo with this caption but I’m in full home office troll mode at the moment, and I’m smiling in this photo, so it seemed to fit. 😎

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Sometimes I know a lot about a destination before I get there, sometimes I don’t know anything at all, and sometimes I think I know a bit, only to quickly realise I knew nothing at all. I’m a big believer in learning while travelling; it’s always nice to have a holiday, of course, but when it came to visiting #Mississippi, I was mostly looking forward to learning, to trying to understand even the tip of the iceberg of this state’s history. I knew of the Delta blues, of the passion and soul that came out of this stretch of Mississippi; I had grown up listening to and then studied at university the music of Muddy Waters, Son House, Robert Johnson, BB King, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, and so many others, and also fell in love with the gospel music of Sam Cooke when I was 19. I even got to see some of these great musicians play while they were alive – Bo Diddley gave me his guitar pick after a show when I was 22 – but to say I “know” the blues, as a white Canadian woman, is wildly inaccurate. It's also impossible to sum up Mississippi by its music alone, as there is so much more to this state’s history and culture than that. Spending time in such noteworthy museums as The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, The BB King Museum, the brand-new Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Museum, and The GRAMMY Museum (just to name a few) is essential when visiting Mississippi, as they showcase the incredible people that have called Mississippi home, incredible people who, through their strength, intelligence, talent, and perseverance have forever changed – and are still changing – the landscape of both the state and the country. In visiting former sharecroppers' homes, and one of the possible graves of Robert Johnson, and driving out across the great expanse of the Delta and beyond, I hope I learned just a tiny bit more about Mississippi, and about who has shaped its history. They say there’s something in the water in Mississippi – something that has created such outstanding talent. I’d say there’s something in it that makes you want to go back, too, that makes you want to learn even more. #visitms #visitmississippi #presstrip

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Not a bad way to ring in 34 ✨ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• May 5th, 2018: Morne Rouge, Grenada May 5th, 2017: Flying from Antigua to London May 5th, 2016: Bologna, Italy May 5th, 2015: Madrid, Spain May 5th, 2014: Kent, England May 5th, 2013: London, England May 5th, 2012: Lamanai jungle, Belize May 5th, 2011: Luang Prabang, Laos May 5th, 2010: Tokyo, Japan May 5th, 2009: Osaka, Japan May 5th, 2008: Edinburgh, Scotland May 5th, 2007: Toronto, Canada May 5th, 2006: Winnipeg, Canada May 5th, 2005: Halifax, Canada •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I like thinking about where I might be for 35 ✈🌍 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #stayandwander #grenada #shewhowanders #cntraveler #passionpassport #bbctravel #athomeintheworld #womenwhoexplore #suitcasetravels #exploremore #forahappymoment #ladiesgoneglobal #dametraveler #sheisnotlost #letsgoeverywhere

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So I’m back in London, and it feels… weird. I’ve been back for nearly two weeks now, and it seems nothing is clicking into place like I hoped it would. I know I’ve always repped London SO HARD, especially East London, and I stand by those words. But the truth is, I’ve really struggled with London for the past two years. As much as I love it – the diversity! the galleries! the restaurants! the feeling I get when I walk down the street and I’m like, “Holy shit, there’s Big Ben”! – it has also felt incredibly lonely and anonymous for a long time. As someone who’s single, lives alone, and works from home, you can imagine I crave human interaction. But when you live in a city of 8.8 million people, oddly enough, sometimes it’s even harder to make real friends. I’ve found that so many of my friends in London move away, or have a similar job to me (which means it’s nigh on impossible to be in the same city at the same time), or simply live so far away that spontaneous meet ups for a glass of wine are rare. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Compare that to how I’ve felt in Canada these past few months, and it’s clear to me now that London and I are no longer meant for each other. It’s the funniest feeling; I honestly thought I might live here forever. I thought this visit would feel rejuvenating and inspiring – that it would feel like coming home – but all it’s done is confirm to me that I know exactly where I’m meant to be: in my own little house on a quiet street, the one with the office filled with books and sunshine, the one that’s only ten minutes away from some of the people I love most in this world (and only 15 minutes away from the airport 😉✈). •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I still love London, very much so, and I always will. But returning has felt like trying it one last time with an old flame, one you know isn’t right for you anymore, and finally having the guts to say goodbye. 💔💪 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Have you ever had that experience with a place? You simply know it's time to move on? Photo taken by @smallcrazy on a day two years ago (gulp) when I was still very firmly in my London love bubble ☺🇬🇧

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Oops!… I did it again. I played with your heart, got lost in the… wait, sorry, I got carried away. What I'm really saying "oops" for is that I haven't posted on Instagram in six weeks, other than Instagram stories (which were mostly just my dad and I getting drunk and losing money on slot machines in Vegas, so if you missed them, you didn't miss much). I wish I had some amazing, philosophical reason for not posting on Instagram for that time, but the truth is simple: I was just being lazy as all hell. Lazy and happy. I spent most of January working hard on my health, which in turn made me so much happier and more productive on the blog (my main platform, I don't consider myself an "instagrammer"… clearly). Then I went on a three week trip to Vancouver, Whistler, Kelowna, Banff, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, where I promptly undid all of that hard work but had a great time nevertheless (those photos coming soon). No joke, the past ten days were just a series of drinking delicious margaritas by cacti, and I loved every minute. I have a lot of interesting trips coming up this year, and lots of photos from the past to share, but if you follow me here or on any other platform, you know I always prioritise tequila over social media (which is why I'll a) never be that successful at this and b) never be able to be full-time nomadic again, because I'd never get anything done). So cheers to those of you who can travel, work, AND post beautiful photos on social media, because hot damn, I'm so ridiculously bad at it. Margaritas, however? I'm fantastic at margaritas (making them and drinking them). More photos of Canada and USA coming this week… 📷 by my dad ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••#arizona #scottsdale #scottsdaleaz #margaritaville #desertvibes #widelegpants #whydidihashtagthat

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One of the best parts of travelling? Discovering new-to-you places. When my sister, her boyfriend, and I started planning our Italian road trip, we came upon the little Umbrian village of Citerna purely by chance. Ross saw a photo of beautiful Anghiari on Instagram, and when I started researching places to stay near there, Citerna came up. And oh man, did it exceed our expectations and then some! ••• This tiny town is not only the perfect base to explore Tuscany and Umbria, it looks out on the most gorgeous valley (I posted a photo of it last week). We ate the best pasta of our entire trip, sat every night in the square with locals drinking wine, and totally fell in love with this place that, until this summer, we had never heard of. What about you? Have you ever had a similar experience in your travels? A blog post of this region coming soon… ••• 📷 by @zholeman ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••#loveitaly #beautifulitaly #prettylittleitaly #tlpicks #traveldeeper #instatravel #iamatraveler #instapassport #tuscanygram #igitalia #igitaly #bellaitalia #umbriagram #passionpassport #umbria #tuscany #darlingescapes #prettylittletrips #theprettycities #italytrip #italylove #italy_ig #visititalia #visititaly #ig_italia #italyiloveyou #italygram #discoveritaly

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]]> Liz Carlson Makes a Living Traveling the World https://travelermaster.com/liz-carlson-makes-a-living-traveling-the-world/ Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:16:18 +0000 https://stagingtrm.wpengine.com/?p=11941 Working and traveling don’t happen at the same time for most people, but for Liz Carlson, traveling is the way to make a living. Carlson runs a travel blog Young Adventuress and is active on Instagram where she has 204k followers. She travels a lot, and often alone, in order to avoid having to compromise […]

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]]> Working and traveling don’t happen at the same time for most people, but for Liz Carlson, traveling is the way to make a living. Carlson runs a travel blog Young Adventuress and is active on Instagram where she has 204k followers. She travels a lot, and often alone, in order to avoid having to compromise about the things she will do and see on her travels.

“A friend once described me as cynical but kind in equal measure, a disturbingly accurate bio. If you’re a fan of chaos, brutal honesty, sarcasm and girls who think they are wittier than they actually are, then you’ve come to the place,” she writes on her website.

Carlson started her blog in 2010 as she was getting ready to move to Spain to teach English. She moved from place to place in Spain until she realized that traveling is her real calling, not teaching. She never looked back and now lives a life of the nomad. “My parents are, of course, thrilled,” she jokingly writes. 

See some of the photos from her Instagram page below.

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I’ve have so very exciting personal news to share with you guys ⭐ I’m moving to Christchurch on Monday! . More specifically, I’m moving to Lyttelton, Christchurch’s quirky harbor town. And even more specifically, I’m moving out to one of the bays on the Banks Peninsula near Lyttelton. My current mood is a beautiful combination of giddy excitement meets unsettled panic 😱 . After 6 years in my beloved Wanaka, I’m about to embark on an entirely new chapter in my life. No, I’m not pregnant (mom), but I did fall in love with an old friend, @giuliosturla ❤ After a lifetime of self-doubt and an inherent belief that my travel lifestyle was incompatible with true love, I gave up on meeting someone and quietly accepted my fate as a cat lady meets librarian, which I would still happily embrace btw. As a solitary person, I don’t mind being alone but deep down I felt a quiet, profound sadness for my lot in life. . But we all know that fate loves a good laugh, and before I knew what was happening to me, a blissful, storybook love came out of nowhere and knocked me on my ass! All those cliche rom-com phrases describes us perfectly, and my deeply cynical frosty heart has softened considerably over this past year; as the perpetual 3rd wheel to all my friends, no one hates hearing more about love than me, but here we are 😘 . As I am beginning this new era of sharing and partnership, as an only child who’s never lived with a significant other before or had roommates in 6 years, have any life advice for me because I’m freaking the fuck out over here. . And with love comes change. While I’m still keeping ties to Wanaka, I’m now starting fresh in Christchurch where I have approximately 2 friends. So, who here lives in Canterbury? Have any tips for a newbie like me? Anyone want to be my friend? Please send any advice or comments for me 🙏🏻 . #trueloveeyeroll #christchurch #lyttelton #newzealand

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You guys know how much I love birds, so watching this sunset over the gannet colony in Muriwai BLEW MY MIND 🤯 one of the last stops on an epic roadie with @sarahpolger, it was so windy when we climbed up the hill to the colony. It was so windy that the gannets were flying and hovering mid-air like a helicopter. It was extraordinary! . Then as the sun began to sink below the horizon and the skies turned pink, I lost my mind from happiness. Great views, amazing birds, good friends in new places, what more could you ask for?. . Now the real question is, how many times did I get poo-ed on during this adventure? The winning guess gets a gannet chick (I jest, @docgovtnz, I jest) 🤗 . We’re so lucky to still have bird colonies like this one still going in New Zealand – let’s keep it that way! . #muriwai #gannet #birdnerd #nzmustdo #newzealand

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One of my favorite views in the whole wide world – looking up the Matukituki Valley towards Tititea / Mt. Aspiring in my hometown of Wanaka, New Zealand. . Flying over this magical valley with @wanakahelicopters is such a dream, and no matter how many times I take in these views, I could cry with happiness! What beauty we have here. . Of course it doesn’t look like this today as we are currently receiving a momentous amount of rain here in Wanaka, and the lake and rivers are already spilling over about to flood the town. Fingers crossed it stops soon, though a morbid, deep part of me would really enjoy being able to paddleboard down Helwick Street 👍🏻 . #wanaka #wanakanz #wanakaflood2019 #newzealand #nzmustdo #wanakahelicopter #mtaspiring #matukitukivalley

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A girls roadie to Milford Sound in an Aston Martin a couple of years ago is still one of my favorite kiwi travel memories! Top down, wind in my hair, sandflies biting my ankles, with nothing but the road ahead and big mountains above, it was certainly unforgettable! It was the first time I really understood how amazing it is to drive a car like this. I mean, it even sounds sexy! She purrs! . My friends at @ignitionselfdrive are celebrating their 4 year anniversary with an epic giveaway I had to share – to celebrate they’re giving away a two day sports car hire from Queenstown + an overnight luxury boat cruise in Milford Sound (with a hot tub) + sponsoring my favorite native bird the kākāpō for a year in your name! . I’ll link in my Stories how to enter – definitely check it out as you’ll have a real chance at winning. What an epic way to experience Milford Sound! . #milfordsound #ignitionselfdrivenz #milford #fiordland #astonmartin #nzmustdo #newzealand

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While many of my incredible female friends are undertaking the wild journey into motherhood, I’m also taking on a big responsibility of becoming a plant mom 😝 The past year or so I’ve really gotten into gardening and have been surrounding myself with flowers as often as I can, also inspired by my friends at @the_green_room_flower_company in Wanaka. My house is slowly becoming a little jungle as I fill it with house plants bit by bit. There’s just something so calm and soothing about being surrounded by greenery, can you relate? As a big traveler, being a plant mum is a big commitment haha and I have to get quite strategic around which friends to beg to come over and water my babies while I work. So far, I haven’t accidentally killed any yet, minus 2 orchids, which I SERIOUSLY don’t understand how they work! Why you so fussy? Anyway, who else here is a plant lover too? Spill! What are your favorite flowers and plants at home? How do you keep orchids alive? I’m starting to look for more unique varieties in NZ, have any tips? Any plant accounts you enjoy following? Share please 🙏🏻 . #hamiltongardens #green #indoorplants #gardens #plants

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No matter where I go, I almost always have a camera with me. But the kit I've been carrying for years is so hard on my body and really taking its toll. I can't tell you how challenging it is for someone like me to use such heavy equipment day in and day out to the point where if I can leave it behind, I will, missing out on potential shots and photo opportunities. I am quite literally bogged down by too much camera weight that it's begun to stifle my creative freedom. Can you relate? . This past year I've been slowly adjusting to using an Olympus, a much lighter camera system while on the road – and traveling with the @olympus_au OM-D system instead. Wow, is it life-changing! Olympus has been one of our biggest supporters over the years at @thetravelbootcamp and I watched @laurenepbath swap over and not look back. An inspiration to me in so many ways, I'm slowly following in her footsteps. I took my first trip with just an Olympus earlier this year to the US, and I'm so excited to see their latest campaign called "Break Free" which is all about letting go of all that extra camera weight. To me it represents a lifestyle of expanded creativity, flexibility, and originality – yes, yes YES. Personally I'm stoked to work my way towards more freedom from heavy cameras, bulky lenses, by moving towards a more lightweight portable system. In a few days, I'm off somewhere entirely new with some special Olympus gear in tow. Can't wait to share more! . #olympusinspired #olympus #thetravelbootcamp #charleston #breakfree #breakfreewitholympus

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🌟 Only 3 days left to get your ticket to @thetravelbootcamp in Queenstown before the doors close forever 🌟 . Join me, @laurenepbath and @georgiarickard as we give you the blueprints to success building a career in travel. . Over the past 9 years, my blog has been featured by National Geographic, Time, the Smithsonian, Forbes and the New York Times. Earlier this year I was named one of the most powerful women in travel by Condé Nast. I’ve been earning six figures through my blog for years, won countless awards and have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world again and again. . None of this happened by accident. . It took me almost 10 years of trial and error, fucking up and learning from my mistakes, figuring out what worked and what didn’t to build a long-term career in travel. I’m still learning. We started the Travel Bootcamp because we shared the same philosophy of taking all the knowledge we’ve acquired on our own and sharing it with others. We want to raise the standard of influencer marketing and give people the tools we never had. . We’re sending the elevator back down to you guys – are you coming to join us? DM me with questions. Link to the last tickets in my bio ✌🏻 . #thetravelbootcamp #travelblogger #queenstownnz

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