travelher stories
Thank you for visiting! Here you will find a collection of travel stories from women around the world. Each one is as unique and varied as the next. Enjoy!
While visiting these spots, it occurred to me that taking a selfie with a large monument or a minuscule masterpiece is, you know, really embarrassing. Not to mention logistically awkward.
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Mom did not have a glamorous life for sure, anything but; she had a very challenging life. But she always rose to those challenges. And that drive and determination was instilled in me by her. It's funny how life is, generally we want all we can for our children, it's a given. But there was I, wanting more for my mother. I can’t remember exactly what we talked about, but what I do remember is the bright, cheery sound of her voice. It was probably mid-afternoon in New Zealand, perhaps my little brother had just woken up from his nap, and she chatted to me about normal life and made me feel as though I wasn’t alone. It was such a warm contrast from the deadly quiet, pitch black streets. I should mention my mom is five feet nothing and a tiny little blonde woman – and never once did she give the impression that she couldn’t do something. It was the perfect trip to get away from everything and everyone I knew, out of my comfort zone and into the open and unknown. I questioned everything I’d envisioned for myself in the past and tried to imagine what I wanted from life in the future. I didn’t find an answer… until I got to New Zealand. With each day and experience our confidence grew and we thought we were invincible. Look at us – we were killing this travelling thing, nothing could possibly go wrong! Or could it? Finnish people love their summer and so do I. I enjoyed the long sunny days, bathing in the lake and warming up in their traditional sauna. We found a flat on the first day and a job within a week. I did it—I moved to a new country on the other side of the world, found a job, and started a life! It was liberating to know I could do it. Riding camelback through the desert at night with only the Milky Way and shooting stars to light the way, we eventually stopped at a row of Bedouin tents in the middle of nowhere. I returned home and sold my store and planned to move to Australia for a year. This was one of the biggest decisions of my life so far. But even though I felt nervous, I felt very alive. I spent so much time convincing friends and family it would be fine that I had almost convinced myself… right up until the moment I stepped off the plane in Delhi. Home is my love, but New Zealand is my mistress, or maybe more—I’m still deciding if I prefer her long term. I stand here, appreciating lush landscapes as I gracefully brush my fingertips against the grains of rice fields and watch in wonder as the sun begins to set beyond the horizon. At that exact moment I knew it was time for me to return to the person that I, my friends and my family loved me for. And I needed a challenge, a big one. Until you have explored this vast planet, how do you know you’re not meant for something or somewhere else? I fell way behind my pack, limping like the runt of the litter. As my boyfriend fell behind to help me up the millionth step, I felt instant shame, looking around at the faces of my patient pals as they held on for me to catch up. Each day we went from stages of absolute misery in the mornings as we pulled ourselves up on our aching legs to euphoria as we passed through an ancient ruin site or reached a new peak. It’s a very soul-affirming feeling to travel and rely completely on oneself. For the first time in a long time I was responsible for me and had only me to answer to. The entire six months were filled with feelings of incredulous awe and appreciation—both of the unparalleled scenes of nature, and a humble appreciation for the daily realities and routines of the people around us. I was so nervous before the hike. Would my shoes be okay? Would the pack be uncomfortable? Would my body be up for the task? What would the weather be like? I’d given it my best shot, but nothing was working out. Every attempt to stay failed and I finally had to accept that I needed a new plan and a new destination, and that’s when I booked my flight to Australia. I didn’t feel brave at all. I was scared. But not of moving overseas alone and not of what would happen once I got there. I was terrified of the alternative. I wanted to help them take away amazing memories to cherish and to inspire them to use this experience in everything they did moving forward. I had always considered myself to be strong and independent. But there’s no way to feel more strong and independent than when you’re wandering through Kadıköy market on the Asian side of Istanbul, solo... Even as a firm believer in 'everything always happens for a reason', I was stuck wondering WHY in the world is this happening - this just didn’t make sense and I didn’t know how much more I could handle. |
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