From an early age, I’ve had a natural passion for adventure, travel and living on the edge.
I’ve always enjoyed researching travel destinations ✈️, making travel itineraries and trying new extreme and adventure sports 🤿 in my free time.
After taking a big leap in my early 20’s to quit my job and backpack around the world for a year, I knew my life would be changed forever.
Travel changes you.
And in more ways than you’d expect.
Here’s a lil’ sneak peak into my story as an Australian backpacker, and how it all started.
You never know, some of what I’ve experienced may even resonate with you, and where you are right now in your journey.
It all started with “The Grind”.
A few years ago, I was in a similar position to many of you. I was working full-time in a good job, earning good money 💰 , but felt stuck in a job I had little passion for 👎🏽.
I had sacrificed a lot to get to where I was, but found that my decisions had led me to a place of heightened-stress, anxiety, unhappiness and lack of inspiration.
Now don’t get me wrong, I was proud and grateful for what I’d achieved:
- ✅ I graduated high school with an ATAR score within the top 5% of all students in the state.
- ✅ I was offered a graduate position with a global company before I’d finished my University studies.
- ✅ Within the first 18 months of that program, I was promoted to a new role and relocated to Sydney (bypassing the second year of the graduate program)
- ✅ I was on a 6-figure package at 23 years old, and
- ✅ By 24, I was close to having enough money to put a deposit on a house
In addition to the above, the company I was working for was great, with plenty of opportunity to grow and advance my career.
I should be happy right?
Wrong. I was quite miserable actually.
- ❌ My job had become my life and the main measurement of my self-worth
- ❌ I was a people pleaser, struggling to say no / set boundaries
- ❌ My anxiety and stress levels were through the roof
- ❌ My perfectionism was getting worse
- ❌ I was always maintaining a “go, go, go” lifestyle which, in most cases, led to burnout
- ❌ I cared more about what other people thought of me, than what I thought of myself
- ❌ I lacked confidence and often felt lonely, like I didn’t really fit it anywhere
From this, I learned that even when you think you’re ticking all the boxes, it won’t always make you happy.
Ticking all of society’s “boxes”, won’t make you happy.
Although I was on a clear career projectory, the money I was earning wasn’t bringing me the fulfilment that I thought it would.
I don’t know if you’ve ever felt this way, but some days I’d commute to work, zone out and simply watch other people.
I’d observe how, like me, they probably:
- Wake up tired
- Spend 8+ hours a day at a job they don’t enjoy (but that pays the bills)
- Get home feeling exhausted
- Cook dinner
- Netflix & chill
- Sleep & repeat
Where is it that we got the idea that this is what life is and what life is meant to be?
Is the “worker-bee” mentality really supposed to lead us to happiness?
The dream of wanting more.
Although I tried to fit in with society’s norm, I just simply couldn’t.
It didn’t matter how hard I tried to stay positive or be grateful, I’d always find myself coming back to the same question:
Is this it? Is this really what the rest of my life is going to look like? 🤔
Continuously stressed, overworked, unfulfilled, run-down and emotionally burnt-out.
I felt unmotivated and stuck on the hamster wheel of life. I was realising more and more that this pattern of “success” was no longer giving me joy.
I dreamt of more.
Something had to change and although I was scared to face it, I knew exactly what I needed to do.
Making the decision and taking a leap of faith.
By this point, I knew that my next step was to either:
- Remain on the career path I had planned and buy a house 😇 OR
- Throw in the towel and go on one of the greatest adventures of my life 😈
Well, you can probably guess which one I chose!
I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my crave for adventure, quitting my corporate job to travel solo around the world for 12 months.
Although some people thought I was crazy and questioned my decision. After all, in their eyes “why the heck would I do such a thing and give up everything I had worked so hard towards?”
But for once in my life I felt empowered.
I didn’t care what others thought, I was doing this for me.
Now, do keep in mind…
I did sacrifice a lot to travel, especially when it came to my career and finances. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but by god, it was worth every second.
Quitting your stable job to go backpacking solo is not for everybody, and definitely not for the faint-hearted.
But I was single and had nothing to lose 😂, so thought “screw it!” what’s the worst that can happen.
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Well, hello world! 👋🏼
Since the day I made that decision and took a leap into the unknown, I’ve been blessed with some of the most incredible experiences of a lifetime.
✅ I have backpacked solo through Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
✅ I’ve jumped off one of the highest bungees in the world.
✅ I’ve scuba dived with manta rays and sharks in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
✅ I’ve seen shipwrecks and many of the world’s most beautiful reefs while scuba diving in Africa, Seychelles, Indonesia, Australia and many other locations.
✅ I’ve skydived twice
✅ I’ve ridden camels across the Sahara Desert in a sandstorm to a campsite in the middle of nowhere.
✅ I’ve ventured to the blue city of Chefchaouen, Morocco
✅ I’ve volunteered with kids and contributed to animal conservation projects all over the world.
✅ I’ve galloped on Horseback through the lost city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Jordan.
✅ I discovered a street called “Ash Street” in the Lake District, UK
✅ I’ve hiked to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
✅ I witnessed snowflakes falling for the first time in Poland.
✅ I drank my first Guinness while listening to Irish Folk music in Dublin.
✅ I’ve floated weightlessly in the dead sea in Jordon.
✅ I’ve indulged in proper European mulled wine while exploring Winter Christmas Markets
✅ Smoked a Shisha for the first time in Egypt
✅ I achieved my dream of exploring Neuschwastein Castle in Germany – the inspiration behind the Disney’s fairytale castle.
✅ I’ve visited the Great Pyramids, thousand year old ruins, tombs and temples in Egypt.
✅ I’ve been inside the Vatican City and admired Michaelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel painting
✅ I’ve explored the Colosseum, ruins of Pompei and Mount Vesuvius in Italy.
✅ I’ve visited many famous places of historical significance, including Auschwitz (Jewish concentration / extermination camp) in Poland and Hitler’s Eagle Nest (mountaintop chalet) in Germany.
And the coolest part of it all:
✅ I’ve made new and long-lasting friendships all over the world
✅ My confidence, love and trust in myself has grown substantially
Exploring the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia
Sky diving in Torquay, Australia
Riding camels across the Sahara Desert at sunrise
Ventured to Doune Castle in Scotland, UK (from Outlander)
Drinking mulled wine in Berlin, Germany
Exploring the blue city of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Volunteering in Tanzania teaching English
Nevis Bungy Jump in New Zealand
Completing my PADI Scuba diving course in Indonesia
Volunteer project in Poland teaching English
Hiking to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
Indulging at the Whitsundays, Australia
Riding camels in the Sahara Desert, Morocco
Happy snap with some of the students in Tanzania, Africa
Visiting Juliet's wall and balcony in Verona, Italy
Admiring the incredible scenery of Ireland, UK
Animal conservation project in South Africa
Hiking around Mt Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompei
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany
Wearing a turban for the first time in Morocco
Scuba Diving in Indonesia
Witnessing my first snow flake in Poland, Europe
Floating in the Dead Sea, Jordan (Middle East)
Enjoying a fire and some local tea in Jordan, Middle East
Being an Au-pair in Florence, Italy
Views atop the Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Hello, Adventure Travel Pro! 👋🏼
Following my travels, I just HAD to create a platform where I could share my experiences and help others, in a similar place to where I was:
To take the leap and start living life more adventurously.
I hope to show you that no matter your age or where you’re at in life, there are always things you can do to bring more joy, fun and growth into your journey.
Whether it’s:
- Stepping outside of your comfort zone
- Seeing the world from a different perspective
- Meeting more like-minded people from all over the world
- Get out of your bubble and learn about other cultures
- Growing into the person you truly want to be
- Reflecting on your life and all the things you are most grateful for
- Doing things that make you happy and putting your needs first
- Becoming more independent
- Feeling happier in your own company
I look so forward to sharing my passion with you, and empowering you to live yours too.
So what are you waiting for?
Let me help you bring more joy and adventure into your life.
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