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Taking In The Unexpected Beauty Of The Ring Of Kerry

Kilarney is the perfect spot to stay if you want to travel the Ring of Kerry. The small town has charming buildings painted in bright colors with flowers overflowing from the windowsills. It also happens to be a great place to get an amazing hot chocolate. The town of Kilarney wasn’t my favorite town in Ireland, it was full of souvenir shops and candy stores.

We rented a car in Cork to drive through the rest of Ireland. The driving through the countryside to Dingle was full of lush green fields, sheep grazing and stone bridges. It was as if we were driving through a postcard. The landscape is pristine, the roads are completely charming and everywhere you look it is as if the sheep were paid to pose for your camera. Honestly, I can tell you the countryside of Ireland is absolutely exceptional. Although it was cold I rode with my window down taking pictures most of the way.

After a little lunch in a pub in Dingle we headed back towards Kilarney to check in to our hotel and grab a beer after the stressful drive. (You can read about driving in Ireland in this post.)

The next day it was time to hit the road and see the Muckross House and the Torc waterfall. I really wasn’t expecting what we experienced at all. We toured the Muckross house which was nice with some very interesting history. Then we went out on the grounds and were just blown away. Seriously the land the house sits on is in the Kilarney National Park. There are majestic hills, gorgeous lakes, beautiful green lawns all looking like the backdrop of any romantic English movie. I couldn’t believe it was real.

Kilarney National Park

J. wanted to take the horse and buggy (evidently this is a big tradition at the Muckross house) over to the Torc waterfall. It isn’t really my thing but I am glad we did it. The driver was so informative about the area, the land and the history we learned quite a lot. He delivered us to the tunnel opening which leads to the Torc waterfall. As I stepped through the small tunnel it was as if I arrived in another world. The rocks, trees and river banks were covered in a deep green moss. Each rock shimmered from the water of the waterfall, as the fall leaves elegantly fell from the trees. Slowly a lump started rising in my throat as I realized how lucky I am to stand in places as beautiful as this. It was nothing short of magic. The waterfall was beautiful and completely unexpected.

So far in Ireland I have been drinking Guiness beer. It feels really wrong not to. The choices are pretty much Guiness or Coors Light or Budweiser. There are some other offerings of imports but really if you aren’t drinking Guiness in Ireland, you are sinning. One night we did step out of the box and walked to Kilarney Craft Brewery to branch out. The craft beer they were making was really good and so was the pizza.

Ring of Kerry

The next day we were off to enjoy the Ring of Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way. There are two options to drive the Ring of Kerry. All of the tour buses drive the Ring counter-clockwise. So, one option, if driving on your own, is to drive this direction as well. The other option is to drive clockwise. The benefit of driving clockwise is you are not following behind all of the tours and the buses. The benefit of driving counter-clockwise is you don’t have to pass the tour buses on the very, very narrow roads. If you choose to drive counter-clockwise start early or late to avoid the crowds.

We decided to drive clockwise and take on the challenge of passing the buses. I am really happy we did it this way. We hardly ever saw a tour bus (it was a bit off season) and had most places all to ourselves. J. drove most of the day so I could take pictures. As we pulled out of the hotel parking lot I had no idea how many pictures I would take. Going clockwise from Kilarney meant experiencing the most romantic and picturesque parts of the Ring first. As the day drew to a close I was really happy about that since the sun was going down and we were pretty stressed from driving.

For us the small places, the unexpected ones, were really the showstoppers. The little towns were fine but they couldn’t hold a candle to the waterfalls, the small churches, the picturesque valley views, and the babbling creeks.

Completely by accident we saw a sign for the Kerry Cliffs, which they claim are the most beautiful cliffs in Ireland. My focus had been on the Cliffs of Moher so I knew nothing about the Kerry Cliffs. When J and I see a sign claiming something is the most or the best it is a challenge for us. So, we took the route through the beautiful country to find the Kerry Cliffs. After we pushed through the insane wind and made it to the cliffs it was immediately evident why they claim to the most beautiful cliffs. While we hadn’t seen the Cliffs of Moher yet I couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful than the majestic drops into the turquoise colored waters. We shared the whole area with only 4 other people which made the experience even better. We were able to stand on the edge of the cliffs and watch as the waves crashed against the massive formations in total silence, except for the massive wind whipping around us.

Once we left the cliffs we took a wrong turn and ended up on little one lane roads until we found ourselves back on the main road and headed back to Kilarney. At this point we had spent the better part of the day driving, taking photos and making random stops. The sun was starting to set and we definitely did not want to be on the roads after dark.

That night we were lucky enough to catch an Irish soccer final on TV in the pub. We had a great time watching and drinking Guinness. We saw so much beauty that I think we needed the distraction of the game to process it all.

I don’t know if it is possible to be prepared for how incredibly beautiful and seemingly untouched the area was. In the world there is nothing like the Ring of Kerry. For me Ireland isn’t about the towns it is about the scenery. The unspoiled nature that greets you at every turn.

Still no Robinson or Doyle pubs or restaurants. The search continues….

Where we stayed: The Brehon Hotel (The service here was incredible and they even had vegetarian options on the menu for dinner and at the pub!)

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What You Need To Know About Driving in Ireland

Driving in Ireland was intimidating to me. I have driven in many countries all over the world, but have never driven on the left side of the road. However, being the person I am I find intimidating situations a challenge and run towards them not away from them. Driving in Ireland, while nerve wracking to say the least, was so rewarding. The scenery on the local roads is some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. The lush green fields look like quilts laying across the earth, each green patch stitched together with a low stone wall. The fields and rolling hills are dotted with sheep, rocks and beautiful country homes. At numerous times during our journey we found ourselves very tense while driving and often stopped to switch positions. Yet neither one of us would see Ireland any other way.

We rented a car from Hertz in Cork. From there we decided to drive the rest of the country and Northern Ireland and then drop the car off in Dublin. Renting the car and picking it up was really easy. We used Hertz because they had the best rates. Their office was in the perfect location in Cork to pick up the car and get on the road to Kilarney. We used GPS to get around the country. I would NEVER drive in Ireland without GPS. (In fact I wouldn’t drive in any foreign country without it.)

There are two options to get around in Ireland, one is the highway system the other is the local roads. Each have their pluses and minuses. My recommendation would be to take the highway when traveling any distances, otherwise buckle up, breathe deeply and get ready for an amazing experience. Note: Most rental cars in Ireland are manual since there is less inventory of automatic vehicles it is best to book ahead to make sure one is available for you.

I love to drive a manual car. When we rented our car in Ireland we had no problem renting a manual. What I didn’t take into consideration before driving in Ireland was that the gear shift would be on the left side instead of the right. So balancing between being seated on the right side and shifting on the left was surprisingly not complicated. Maybe once you have put your entire drivers training on tilt your mind compensates, I don’t know but somehow it worked.

Driving In Ireland-The Highways

The highways in Ireland are great. They are in perfect condition, easy to navigate and clearly marked. If you are pressed for time the highways are much faster than the local roads. The lanes are wider which makes driving on the left side much easier.

Driving In Ireland-The Local Roads

Driving the local roads in Ireland is not for the faint of heart. The lanes vary in width from one lane total to barely two lanes. The local roads are lined with either beautiful rock walls (2-3 feet high), or plants. I ended up preferring the plants since the sound of them scraping the window was much better than what the wall would have done to the side of the car. Most of the local roads are clearly marked so getting lost was only an issue for us once.

Be careful about making turns and pulling out of parking lots. Take an extra moment to remind yourself which lane you should be in before you pull out, don’t let your instincts take over. If you do make a wrong turn, or get lost don’t panic, the locals are all great and can help you get back on track, or better yet, use your GPS constantly. When we did make a wrong turn we ended up in the middle of nowhere on tiny one lane roads and would never have made it out without our GPS.

Tip:

When driving the Ring of Kerry drive clockwise. The tour buses must drive counter-clockwise by law, you should drive the opposite. While it can cause some moments of nervousness when passing one, it is much better than following them. It also gives you the best chance of seeing the sights without the crowds are you are on a different time schedule this way. If you don’t want to pass the tour buses on the narrow roads then start early in the morning or late in the morning to avoid the buses. We preferred to drive the opposite since we didn’t want to leave late and drive the Ring of Kerry in the dark.

When we left Cork we were on the highway. During our journey we transitioned to the local roads in order to see Dingle. As J. drove I found myself incredibly nervous. Being a passenger isn’t usually an issue for me but sitting on the left side of the car gave me a different perspective than what I am used to. All of a sudden I was right next to the walls and plants judging how close we were but unable to make the choices I usually would as a driver. It was the strangest sensation. For me it was more difficult to be the passenger than it was to be the driver. (Maybe I have some control issues? Check out my Fear of Flying post.)

J. is great about remembering to take in the moments along the way. I am more of a get me to my destination type of girl. I was grateful that we followed his lead on stopping while we drove through Ireland. We were rewarded with beautiful parks, streams, mountainous views, ruins and quiet moments we would not have had if we had done it my way.

The best advice I can give you for driving in Ireland is to take your time, be patient. Drive slow if you need to and make sure to stop along the way. You will never be disappointed if you do.

If you have driven in Ireland or on the opposite side of the road from your training I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments.

How To Shoot And Edit A Beautiful Vacation Video

Your eye and your mind are the most lethal weapons to shoot and edit a beautiful vacation video, according to expert Brandon Mattingly. Choosing the right content and learning how to shoot and edit a beautiful vacation video can make all the difference. Many of us long to create vacation videos that people want to watch. Whether it is just our family members or an online audience getting it right makes all the difference. But how to shoot and edit a beautiful vacation video eludes many of us.

I sought out a professional to get advice on techniques, editing and content to learn how to shoot and edit vacation video to create something magical. Brandon has been creating videos since he was in middle school. As a professional videographer he knows what it takes to create a video worth watching and sharing, and luckily he was willing to share his advice on the subject.

The assumption with all of Brandon’s advice is that filming is being done with an iphone.

Below is our interview:

Sheri: What is your philosophy about shooting video and growing into a better videographer?

Brandon: I’m a big believer in the notion that the biggest way to improve your video is to improve yourself. Gear isn’t the enemy, but it’s also not the hero to making a good video. There are some tools that will make your execution easier, but the quality of the video hinges first and foremost on your storytelling ability and having a certain point-of-view. Film, like all other art forms, are birthed out of great ideas that can be executed upon by knowing the craft. Give me the best paints and brushes in the world, but my painting will look like crap compared to a Rembrandt painting. All that said, there are a couple things you can grab that might be a quick fix to common technical “errors” in making a video.

Sheri: What do you think constitutes good content for video? I am always overwhelmed by how to shoot interesting video. I am so used to thinking about photography it is hard for me to switch to moving objects.

Brandon: Personally, I like videos that have a point-of-view on a specific story or subject. If you are on a long vacation trip, perhaps you can spend your time planning to create a small vignette video of one specific place or person. Long video montages of locations are cool and all, but each of those videos kinda all feel the same after a bit. Here’s an example of a simple, thoughtful piece that was shot on an iPhone of the Tokyo Metro when Gareth Pon visited Japan. He could have filmed the bustling streets and all the tourist go-to spots, but rather, he sat on the train just people watching a creative a beautiful, rhythmic visual poem of how people use this transit system in their everyday life. Quite simple execution, but a spark of creative genius. In summary, try finding a moment in time on your trip that you can capture and share your experience to the world. Focus on quality over quantity.

Sheri: As a cinematographer how do you make choices about content?

Brandon: This sort of relates to the last question but I can elaborate a little more. When I consider making a video, all my decision-making is filtered through the all-important story. Before you press record or make an edit, ask yourself the question “Is this helping tell my story or is this just a pretty picture?” Deciding between the two is always a struggle because I like making pretty pictures, but I need to continually discipline myself to take the right picture.

Sheri: So many people take videos of their vacations but then find they are disappointed with the results (this definitely includes me). What equipment would you recommend for people interested in taking videos of their vacations or for blogging?

Brandon: Probably the first thing that people may want to add to there kit is a tripod for their iPhone. Shaky video can be a creative choice, but 99% it’s just poor camera work. To solve this, there are two things I’d suggest. First grab a tripod like this tripod + this mount for your phone. Use it to make perfectly still shots by putting on a flat surface Second, learn how to hold the camera steady. I know this sounds like a no brainer, but I see people messing this up all the time. Don’t hold your camera with fully extended arms – your arms will be more shaky and so will your video. Try keeping your elbows tucked in to your side. Bonus Tip: If you want to do a moving handheld shot, walk with your knees bent almost like a marching band. It’s call “heel-toe” because your feet glide smoothly from the back of your heel to the front of your foot. You may look a little funky to onlookers, but your end shot will be much smoother.

Sheri: What type of editing software do you think is best for people who are just hobbyists?

Brandon: iMovie on your phone works great. It will probably get done everything you need to. The next step would be something like iMovie for desktop, a little more in-depth. Sometime focusing on a phone for a long edit can get tiring haha! If you want to really get deep into editing, I’d say you should get Adobe Premiere on your computer. It’s a big jump, but anything in between will only feel like a mild improvement from iMovie.

Sheri: What are some basics of editing to make videos look more professional?

Brandon: An old teacher of mine drilled this concept into my head about storytelling and specifically editing… “Cut the crap.” Does this shot need to be more that 5 seconds long? If so, it better be the best shot ever or a very purposeful creative pause. If not, move on and continue to engage your audience into the progression of the story.

Sheri: How long do you think videos should be for blogs,Vimeo or Youtube?

Brandon: Video duration should be as long as it take to get the point of your story across. No more, no less. Cut the crap, but make sure the audience has time to catch on to what you’re trying to say. I need a good reason to watch a vacation video over 2 minutes though. If you haven’t hooked me in the first 5-20 seconds I (and many others) may just move on.

Sheri: What trends do you see in video now for vloggers?

Brandon: I’m not sure if I can speak to this really well as I don’t follow vloggers too closely. Drones seem to be all the rave, but I think they get overused. Go watch a well made movie and you can count on a single hand how many helicopter (drone) shots are used. They are great tools to establish context, but if you are using 5 drone shots in a row, you may be doing something wrong.

Sheri: I would definitely have to agree with this. Drones are good for showing an overall view but you lose the details, which to me are what give feeling to the video. Honestly we don’t travel for overall views, we travel for the individual experience on the ground, with the people, the buildings or with nature.

Sheri: If you could buy only one piece of pro-equipment/software what would you buy?

Brandon: If you don’t have editing software to edit your video, start there because you’ll be unable to finish videos without it. For iPhone filming, I’d recommend to buy the app Filmic Pro. It will allow you to control your exposure, white balance and focus with much more control. Shooting on auto is nice, but it can often be detrimental to your image.
Personally, I’d skip all the online comparisons of this camera to that camera. In a recent roundtable discussion between all the 2017 Oscar nominated Cinematographers, the topic of shooting on film or digital came up. During that point in the discussion, Rodger Deakins, recent Oscar winner for Best Cinematography with Blade Runner 2049, said “I’d shoot on an iPhone and I wouldn’t complain…it’s what in the frame.” To his point there are several feature films that are hitting theaters around the world that have been shot on an iPhone including “Unsane” by Steven Soderberg being released March 23, 2018. Gear can help, a lot, but don’t let it become a substitute for good storytelling. It’s been said, “The best camera is the one you have with you.”

Sheri: Cinematography has been a passion of yours for a long time, what inspires you?

Brandon: From classic feature films to thoughtfully created commercial pieces, video has kept the gaze of my passion for a long time because of how it’s composed of multiple art forms. It uses photography, music, animation, design, writing, acting and, most uniquely, time to immerse the audience into a point of view. To me, it feels like my most real way to have people see what I see and feel what I feel.

Sheri: What have been some of your favorite videos you have shot over the years?

Brandon: A personal video I shot recently I really enjoyed. The video was just my 2 month old daughter and my wife playing together on our couch. It was a moment in time that I wanted to capture the joyful and delicate essence of this stage in our family. There is no story arc, but I like how it’s just a small slice of life that feels precious and simple. It’s my family, so obviously I’m biased! https://vimeo.com/252754206

Brandon has been working professionally for the past four years but has been creating videos since he was in middle school. I have known Brandon for 15 years watching him follow his passion and turn it into a profession. It was an honor to interview him.

Brandon create my website. You can find out more about him and see more of his work on his site. I found a lot of inspiration on his site, hopefully you will too. Please follow him on Instagram for more inspiration.

To see more of the possibilities of shooting vlogs, travel films, and short films with iPhones check out the collection of films on Moment Lens’s website. They are a smartphone lens manufacturer that shows how to much the limit of your iPhone to create amazing films. He works in house for Vandeavor in Chicago.

Hopefully you feel as inspired as I do to start shooting and editing beautiful vacation videos! I would love to see some of your videos, or answer any questions you may have, so leave a note or link in the comments!

Cork Ireland-The Beginning Of Our Month Long Irish Trip

Cork Ireland is definitely a working persons town. It is more industrial than beautiful but not without its own charms. Dublin is being challenged by Cork to be a top destination in its own right. In my opinion it has a long way to go. While Cork has a cute little district downtown with pubs, restaurants and shopping the rest of the city is pretty industrial looking. Cork is a great place to stay to take a few day trips. So take advantage of that and the easy transportation to explore the region.

We spent a day in Cork walking around downtown, finding amazing dark chocolate with salted caramels (this became an obsession with me everywhere we went in Ireland-you can find them in Butlers Chocolate Cafe throughout Ireland). We also walked over to St. Finn Barre’s Cathedral. A monastery was formed on the property in 606 A.D. by St. Finn Barre, eventually, in the 1800’s the cathedral we see today was built and consecrated. Throughout history it has evolved as a medieval church (a little of what still remains) into the Gothic church we tour today. Relics of its history lie on the grounds around the church and are very interesting to check out. It was so interesting to walk among the old gravestones, and building parts through the years. IWe loved seeing the 24 lb cannon ball in the church which was left from the Siege of Cork in 1690.

The second day in Cork we took a county bus to the town of Kinsale. This adorable little town is located right on the water. It’s downtown buildings are all very colorful and unique, housing some great shops and restaurants. I loved seeing the colors after being in Cork. It was so easy to catch the bus back and forth allowing us to spend a few hours in Kinsale buying beautiful sweaters, yarn and eating a delicious lunch. Kinsale is really different from Cork, not only because of the colorful buildings, but the people were warmer, the lifestyle more relaxed but also because of the quaint architecture we found missing from Cork.

Our third day we headed to Blarney castle. We hopped on another county bus and got there in about half an hour with no problems. The bus dropped us right in the little town, about a 5 minute walk to the Blarney castle entrance. I really had no idea what to expect when we arrived. I had decided I didn’t care much about kissing the Blarney stone, I just wanted to tour the castle. Having no idea what to expect left me surprised all day.

First, the castle is pretty much in ruins. I was expecting castles like we saw in Wales where they are still mostly in tact. What we saw were parts of the castle, which were still very cool to see, just not what we had become accustomed to. I also didn’t realize that the Blarney stone was at the top of the castle. It is a bit of a hike from the ground floor, and definitely not for the faint of heart. The stairs are extremely narrow, dark and the stone is uneven from where it has worn away over the years. When we reached the top of the castle there is a square walkway part of which is the blarney stone.

Now I am not afraid of heights at all. When I laid down on my back, hung half of my body over the side of the walkway and then had to bend backwards to kiss the Blarney stone I was taken aback. Perhaps it is seeing the lush green fields below, upside down, or the fact that half of my body was hanging of the side of this ancient castle and all that was keeping me from falling through the hole was two metal bars and a young Irish guy who had probably been drinking pints for lunch, I am not sure. It really freaked me out. The experience was exhilarating. I am glad I did it instead of skipping it like I thought I would.

The other surprise at Blarney castle was how incredibly beautiful the grounds were. The various gardens are vast and impeccably kept. We spent hours walking around, checking out 100 year old trees, walking through fern gardens and the gorgeous privately owned home on the property. It was such a luxury to have the time to walk around the property.

There are a few restaurants in town and some souvenir shops so no need to plan on spending a lot of time in the city.

I have to be honest that if I were planning the trip again I would skip Cork and drive from Dublin to Blarney castle on my way to the Ring of Kerry. More on that part of our trip to come.

So far we have spotted no Doyle or Robinson pubs, restaurants or shops. The search for our surnames is on…

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12 Of The Best Ways I Learned Be A Better Travel Blogger

I have been working as a travel blogger for just over a year now. Throughout the process I have learned so much. As I start my second year as a travel blogger I have been reflecting on what I can improve to grow my blog presence. I want to offer more engaging content and to reach my goals for the year.

This is a list of what I have learned in my first year:

Make your posts count. When I travel I rely heavily on travel blogger recommendations but have failed to offer many in my posts. I know now how important it is to give readers something of value, not just my experience and inspirations but also information which can help them to have an amazing trip. So this year I am going to take specific notes on great restaurants, places to stay and things to do, especially unique things that aren’t blogged about.
Organize and label your pictures. As a travel blogger your pictures should have titles which coordinate with your post, they should also have alternate text which contains your focus keyword. It is important for SEO but also for you. Being organized will save you time when you are working and help you remember what was what when you are ready to post.
Take pictures of the journey not just the destination. Getting there is half the fun right? So show people your views from the train, the plane or the car. Don’t get caught up in the moment and forget that the journey is just as important as where you are going. Some of my best memories from last year were things I saw from the trains as we traveled, or the cars as we toured. It gives readers a sense of the whole trip, not just the destination.
Write more often. Being consistent is one of the most important things you can do for the success of your blog. It isn’t always easy when you are traveling to make the time to blog, I know, but if you don’t then you aren’t creating new content for people to like, comment on or follow.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Comparing yourself to others will lead to nothing but frustration unless you have an amazing following like, Nomadic Matt. It takes time and a lot of hard work to build a blog, a following and to obtain the numbers brands want in order to work with you. Look to other travel bloggers for inspiration not as a measuring stick. Remember everyone started somewhere, and almost no one was popular instantly, or even within the first year or two.
Promote your blog as much as you can, and then do more. If people don’t know you are there they can’t read or follow you. Post more often to Twitter and Facebook as well as other travel sites and articles. (I have started to contribute to stories using HARO to find opportunities.) Use scheduling tools like Buffer to post to Social Media, don’t just share your post once, do it many times.
Take an interest in other travel bloggers. Follow people on Instagram, Twitter and their blogs. Comment, follow, communicate. Make sure you are sincere in your comments. Many people suggest putting links to your blog in comments, I am not comfortable with that yet, but if you are and you do make sure it is after a well thought out comment, otherwise you just look spammy.
Don’t be shy. It is important to not get caught up in whether you are good enough or not. You are, there is an audience for everyone. If you don’t believe me, spend time looking at other blogs there are so many different kinds written in different ways, your voice is unique and there is a place for it.
SEO is vital. Utilize keywords, great headlines, photo descriptions and unique content to help the blog be seen. Get registered on Google Analytics and then learn how to use it. There is also Klout to see how you rate as an influencer. In the sea of blogs and information it is hard to be seen if you aren’t playing the SEO game. I am not good at this, but this year I will be!
Network, network, network. Tell people about your blog. Ask them to check it out. Include people in your blog if appropriate and then let them know you linked to them. When you are talking to other travelers on your journey’s don’t be afraid to tell them you blog and ask them to follow you.
Try to help others. If you can help others by promoting them, linking to them, collaborating or just offering your advice, or an ear to listen it will go a long way. Be genuine about helping. It always comes back ten fold.
Find alternate ways to build your audience. This year I am going to start selling my photos. It will help build an audience for blogging (and provide extra income). You can offer a newsletter with great travel tips, ideas or itineraries. Think outside the box on what you can do to reach beyond your blog and build a following or gain more exposure.

Blogging can be lonely. In our digital world we don’t get immediate feedback like we do working in an office. So make sure you enjoy what you are doing, have a network of support and always stick to your voice. Writing about my travel experiences is such a pleasure for me, make sure it is for you too.

I have a lot of goals for the year and a long way to go to get there. I know I am gathering great information and tools to reach them. Each week I am trying to implement one new thing. Whether it is a tool to make my blog better, a new site to contribute to or post my blog posts. I am continuing to work on ways to make my blog financially successful. I am so excited.

Here are a couple of the blogs that have taught me a lot or inspire me:

Travel Blog Breakthrough

Little Grey Box

Heart My Backpack

I would love to hear your stories, what you have learned, what are your struggles or goals.

Why you need to spend time in the lovely Conwy Wales

I chose to visit Conwy, Wales because it was easy for us to catch the ferry to Ireland, our final destination on our 8 month tour. Conwy was a great choice, if for no other reason than the sense of home we had there. The people in Conwy are incredibly friendly, welcoming us in and treating us like life long residents.

To arrive in Conwy we took the train from Caernarfon via Bangor. It was a great experience as most of the train was full of people going to a wedding. They were drinking beer at 10 a.m. preparing for the festivities, telling jokes, laughing and comparing outfits. Although it was pretty cold and rainy they were dressed in fancy cocktail attire for the women and jeans and dress shirts for the men. As I sat on the train platform shivering in my coat I watched in amazement as they held cold beers with short dresses, not affected at all. While we couldn’t understand most of their jokes, they were mostly speaking Welsh, we couldn’t help but smile and laugh at their joyful demeanor.

When we arrived in Conwy it was cold and drizzly. We had an uphill climb to our very comfy AirBnb. Pulling our luggage behind us we made our way along the ancient fortress wall to find our cottage. Conwy is famous for its castle, built in 1283, along with the fortress wall which runs around the city. We were so lucky to find a great place literally right next to the wall.

As always I was itching to start discovering so we headed down the hill into town. Conwy is quite small. There are just a few streets and waterfront area in the old town. Each street is just as quaint as the next with small buildings of stone or brick. They are brimming with small shops, coffee shops and restaurants. Everything was so enchanting, so small and inviting. We made our way to the waterfront where we found the smallest house in Great Britain. I couldn’t imagine anyone living in this tiny house, but then the whole town was full of petite places so perhaps my view was just skewed from growing up in America.

The waterfront is very pretty in Conwy, full of boats, rocky shoreline, trees and the castle sitting majestically on a hill at the end of the city. On this Sunday they were having a beer and local food fest along the water, fully of lively Welsh locals enjoying local meats and large glasses of draft beer. I was so surprised to find the Welsh drinking beer all day, starting at breakfast. When I understood that the beer alcohol volume is 4.5%-5% it made sense that you could drink it all day. In fact, I came to appreciate the low alcohol volume, it meant I could enjoy more of the various beers.

Our first morning, after a hearty oatmeal breakfast to warm us up, we headed up to the wall, to walk around the city. It was really amazing to find the wall in good enough condition to hold tourists walking around everyday. The medieval architecture is amazing to me, with so much less sophistication in technology and equipment they were able to build massive structures which stand the test of time. The dark and brooding stones form together to create a castle that was truly amazing. It was not beautiful like the castles in Germany and France that we all admire but beautiful in the lines and details they created with what they have. During a time when everything was about defending the community they still managed to add some beautiful details in the windows and fireplaces. The Conwy castle is so well preserved, in fact the Welsh castles in general are incredibly well preserved compared to other countries, you leave with an understanding of how they lived in the castle and the city within the walls.

The downside of traveling during off-season, which is definitely October in Wales, is a lot of things are closed earlier than normal. (The upside of course is that we are able to find a more authentic experience and not fight the crowds wherever we are.) Each country, region and city is always different, which I love but sometimes it can lead to missing meals, or days with nothing to do (many countries basically shut down on Sundays. If you are traveling that day it can be a little difficult to find food, or something to do). In Conwy we got stuck on Monday night trying to find somewhere to eat. There were limited vegetarian options, and then we had not booked ahead so we headed to this cool looking bar close to the train station (which is actually just a platform and a machine) to eat dinner, play cards and drink beer. The Bank of Conwy Bar is located in an old bank, the hardwood floors, leather furniture, wood tables and long wood bar provide the perfect ambiance for a Welsh rainy evening of beer and cards. It also provides great conversation with the locals, and some pretty good Welsh specialty liquor and beer tasting. Unfortunately they didn’t serve dinner and so it was chips, beer and Merlyn’s cream liquor for us. In case you haven’t heard of Merlyn’s it is the most incredible cream liquor, think Bailey’s, we have ever tasted. It makes all the other cream liquors taste like watered down milk drinks. The problem with having the best cream liquor in the world is that you can’t get it again unless you are in Wales. Therefore, I must go back, it was seriously that delicious.

The next day we headed over to the small town of Colwyn Bay. We went via the local bus. I have to be honest, we were pretty underwhelmed with the shopping area. The beach promenade area was very similar to Aberystwyth with a mixture of brick and Victorian homes. In the summer there is probably a different feel but during the late fall the town felt hollow to us. (Although the bus ride was pretty entertaining.)

We spent our evening in The Bank of Conwy Bar again, talking to the people we had met the night before and soaking in the local culture. That is the one thing about Conwy that was different than other Welsh towns we visited. The people were eager to hang out, to talk and to share stories. In Conwy I felt like I had lived there for years.

I was sad to be leaving Wales the next day. As much as I am always eager to discover a new place in Wales I had found a comfortable country I wouldn’t mind settling in, under a warm blanket with a cup of coffee and a great book.

Where to Stay: We stayed in this Airbnb. If you are new to Airbnb use this code to save money when you book.

The Castle Hotel is a beautiful option if you are looking for a little luxury and piece of history.

How to Get There: You can take a train from most places in Wales to Conwy. There are also local buses or you can drive.

Practical Advice To Help You Overcome Your Fear Of Flying

I used to love to fly, then I was petrified to fly and now I tolerate flying.

I have experienced several flights that ended up in various degrees of dramatic emergency landings, either from losing an engine over the Atlantic Ocean, to a cargo door falling off as we made an emergency landing on our way to our destination. Each of these incidents left me feeling completely vulnerable, something I hate to be. Instead of thinking about what went wrong I should have thought about how well each situation was handled by the pilots and the flight staff.

Flying is something I do quite often but I struggle to find peace with it. Logically there is zero reason to be afraid. Through the years I have worked through my fear and learned I am not really afraid of the flying it is afraid of not being in control of the decisions and being uneducated about the whole process that makes me nervous. I have found ways to change from petrified to tolerant by educating myself, and learning to let go-choosing to find positive aspects rather than focusing on my fear.

I reached out to a pilot who has been flying planes commercially for years to see if he could help ease the fears and concerns lots of us share when it comes to flying. Here is my interview with him:

Do you have any suggestions for how to calm ones nerves when flying?

N. Rhodes: The biggest fear I believe for passengers is their lack of control and input into the decision making process. Aviation is, by far, the safest form of transportation. It starts with your crew of pilots who are highly trained professionals. It takes years of training and thousands of hours of flight time before one can even be considered as potential candidate as an airline pilot. After being hired, a pilot typically spends his first two months in training; learning the specifics of his designated airplane and company specific policies. After that, pilots attend continuing training events that occurs every 9-12 months for the rest of a pilot’s career. At all these training events we are trained and retrained on emergency and safety procedures. So please do not be afraid of the nameless, and more often faceless crew that is taking you to your next destination. In fact we always welcome any of our passengers to come visit with us during the boarding process and say hello. If you have questions during the flight, ring the flight attendant call button and they will also be happy to answer any questions.

Turbulence is so unsettling to people afraid to fly, is there really anything to be afraid of?

N. Rhodes: There is nothing to be afraid of with turbulence as far as the structural integrity of the airplane is concerned. Turbulence is mostly caused by the changing of the airflow about the airplane. For example, flying through a jet stream where wind speed and direction shift dramatically in a short distance or by thunderstorms. We have many different tools available to us that depict where turbulence may be. Some of these are now available to us in real time with the addition of WI-Fi on our aircraft. So from the time we sit down 2 hours before departure until landing, we have throughly analyzed where the turbulence may be and how we can avoid or minimize it. Fortunately, if encountered in flight, it is usually a very localized event and we can change altitude or course and escape it. Sometimes this isn’t possible due to restrictions within the airspace such as another aircraft nearby or our own aircraft limitations on altitude. When turbulence is experienced, the best thing to do is take your seat and make sure your seatbelt is fastened, but you need not worry about the durability of the airplane. Airplanes are built to withstand more turbulence than anyone would be willing to subject it to. With that being said pilots understand that no one enjoys turbulence, except the occasional daredevil or 5 year old.

During takeoff a lot of the noises and sudden slow downs of the engines are scary. Can you explain what we are hearing as the airplane goes from runway to optimum altitude?

N. Rhodes: There are many causes to the various noises you may hear in the course of a flight, and each airplane and flight are unique. Once airborne, one of the first noises you will hear are motors raising the landing gear. Soon after the landing gear is raised the flaps on the trailing edge of the wings need to be retracted. The passenger will hear a high pitched whine as the flaps are adjusted. The flaps are used to increase lift at slower airspeeds. As for the engine noises, the pilots sets the thrust (near maximum) on takeoff to achieve liftoff speed and climb to altitude. We would love to set the thrust at takeoff and leave it set until we get to cruise altitude, however with the congested airspace that is impossible. Sometimes we will level off multiple times before reaching our final cruising altitude. In order to stop climbing the thrust has to be reduced, and the passenger may hear the reduced sound of the engine.

What do you love most about being a pilot?

N.Rhodes: I love so many aspects of my job. First I get to work with a great team of people from my fellow pilots to the flight attendants to the ground personnel and station operations. It takes an amazing amount of teamwork to get the job done and I enjoy the feeling of doing my part in the process. I also enjoy all the passengers I get to meet on my journeys. From the first time flyers, to the seasoned flyers, to the vacationing flyers and everyone in between. Lets not forget I get to see new places and destinations all over the world. A chance to try new foods and see different cultures. History has been a passion of mine since high school and it has been my pleasure to walk and see where historical events have happened.

N. Rhodes—First Officer—B777

I read somewhere to imagine that an airplane is a bus, and turbulence is like potholes in the road. They don’t damage buses it just makes the ride bumpy. This actually helped me a lot. Maybe it will help you.

I found this fantastic blog, Pilot Stories, about flying and interviews with pilots. I love the adventures they have, they explanations about procedure, and the reminder that they love what they do and do not take their positions lightly.

For years each time I would fly I would get so sick to my stomach in the hours before the flight that I would barely be able to fly. Once on board my nerves would be such a mess I couldn’t read, or even carry on a conversation. The only thing I seemed able to do was to watch movies. This has evolved for me as my fear has subsided.

No matter what I have a backpack full of distractions to get me through. My trip planning always involves making sure I have these distractions to attempt to enjoy the flight.

Here is what I always have on my plane rides:

1. Book

2. Movies/Netflix downloaded on my ipad

3. My Macbook Pro, for long flights I might try to write or organize documents.

4. Small Moleskin notebook and pen for writing (oddly my brain spits out ideas like crazy on planes).

5. Knitting

6. Book on my phone (now that we travel for most of the year I don’t have the luxury of packing a lot of books so I use the library app to download books as back up if I run out of actual books).

7. Water bottle.

8. Young Living Peace & Calming essential oil.

9. Aveda Rosemary & Mint Lotion and Various brands of lip stuff.

10. Planner with all of our travel information.

11. For long flights and trips I now have a down blanket which folds into a tiny pillow if I don’t want to use it to keep warm.

Yes, my backpack is always heavy but there is a lot of peace in there for me. Whenever things are hard in life I focus on the end result and not on the situation. It is the same with flying. That is usually quite helpful in getting me from here to there.

Why Beddgelert Is The Best Kept Secret In Wales

Winding through the quaint towns and deep green hills of Wales by bus was the perfect way to get from Aberystwyth to the tiny town of Beddgelert. The train system in Wales isn’t what we were used to in other parts of Europe, so we opted for the bus system. It was a fantastic choice. The roads are narrow in Wales and the bus stops are small signs on the side of the road usually with one person waiting to hop on. The journey from Aberystwyth to Beddgelert was about 3 and a half hours long. In most of the other countries we have traveled the buses are large, like a Greyhound bus in America, but in Wales they are small city style buses. J. was pretty hesitant about how comfortable and accommodating it would be for the journey, but it turned out great. We had the friendliest bus driver, even stalling for an extra minute or two so I could go to the bathroom in the only town we stopped in on our journey. It was in this town that I realized I had made a planning mistake. I hate it when this happens. I realize there is somewhere I wish we were staying but we didn’t. So, I will share it with you so you don’t miss it.

Imagine a small town with nothing but dark stone buildings built side by side, each one no taller than two stories with flowers overflowing in each window box and painted shutters shining against the dark stone. The only major road leads into the main part of town which hosts an incredible hotel, small cafes and shops, the tiny post office and little market. This is Dolgellau, a perfect location to explore parts of the Snowdonia National Park, drink some Robinson’s beer, and stay in a 19th century coaching Inn. The Inn itself has been remodeled using an excellent balance of style and grace to reflect the history of the building without compromising on modern conveniences or comfort.

Our bus route took us to Caernafon, a bigger town made famous by its stunning castle. In Caernafon I had my first taste of clotted cream with a scone. Not knowing what to expect I was delighted by the perfect blend of cream and buttery consistency of the clotted cream. I am not a big baked goods eater but this Welsh specialty became my obsession for the week knowing it wouldn’t be the same once we left Wales. Once we were done with our scones and the biggest cups of coffee ever, we opted for a taxi to Beddgelert since it was going to be hours before the next bus. (I have to say this is the nice thing about being an older traveler. We have the ability to spend extra money to get places when we want rather than waiting on public transportation schedules.) As we rode through the rolling hills the tiny hamlets popping up here and there along the stone fence lined road I was overwhelmed with the quiet simplicity of this country. It is so unassuming despite the natural beauty. As we pulled into Beddgelert I was in complete awe. Never have I arrived in such an idyllic place. The quaint stone buildings lining the road lead to a stone arched bridge with the perfect creek running under it, moss on the rocks, lush green banks with ferns and flowers and crystal clear water. Immediately I knew we were in a very special place-a completely perfect place.

One of the goals in Beddgelert was to go up to Mount Snowdon, unfortunately the weather was not suitable, it was rainy and foggy, so we missed Mount Snowdon. However, this gave us time to move slowly and really explore the area. On our first day we took another steam train, the Ffestiniog Railway to Caernafon. The Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent railway in the world. The steam train took us through the gorgeous green fields, small waterfalls, rocky cliffs, streams and the base of Mount Snowdon before we reached Caernafon. The castle sits along the shoreline in a rare hourglass shape. It has octoganol pillars and round pillars as well as a wall which encloses the city of Caernafon. I really loved the various sculptures in the castle, and oddly the Museum of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. It was so interesting to see the history of the last 300 years of uniforms, guns, medals and stories of Welsh history. After our tour I couldn’t resist a stop in the smallest pub in the world. Inside the warm pub, with a small fireplace we sat on tiny stools, at small tables eating some pretty good fries and drinking good beer. The perfect end to our day trip.

Dinner in Beddgelert is served between 7:00 and 9:00 and then everything closes, at least in the off season. There are only a couple of taverns and one restaurant in town. The tavern was across the bridge from our hotel so we walked over, stepped into the quaintest little tavern ever. In front there was a large picture window set into the old stone building with flowers cascading from the window boxes at every window. Inside the locals gathered for some Robinson’s beer and delicious comfort food (surprisingly every night they have vegetarian options). It was fun to talk to everyone, and listen to them tell stories about their treks on the mountain. J. and I loved hanging out in this small little tavern, it was so welcoming and full of life.

The next day we decided to stay in Beddgelert and trek around the rivers and up into the hills along the railway track. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous. Bright green fields, clear rivers with mossy banks and whispy trees moving slowly in the breeze. In one of the fields is a old stone remains from the house where the dog Gelert was killed by his owner, the Prince. The story is quite famous in Europe. The master upon returning home found his baby in it’s cradle covered in blood, he looks down and sees his family dog with blood all over his mouth. In complete grief he shoots his family dog. Then he realizes his baby isn’t dead, he goes outside and sees a dead wolf in back of the house, and realizes the dog attacked and killed the wolf to protect the baby. But it was too late for the dog. The weird thing is we saw a painting of this in the Prado Museum in Madrid without knowing the story or that we would end up in the town where the legend began hundreds of years ago.

After our walk we headed into town to shop in the one store in town and stroll along the other river. It was a completely peaceful day, except for J. laughing at my pathetic attempts to skip stones across the river. That night we ate in the restaurant, Hebog. The food was great, the beer was delicious. Followed by an evening stroll it couldn’t get any better in Beddgelert.

Where To Stay: Plas Tan Y Graig was a fantastic B&B. The rooms were comfortable, the owners were so sweet and helpful and the breakfasts were fantastic (there are even veggie and vegan options!). We would recommend anyone stay here when they are visiting Beddgelert.

Where To Eat:

Hebog restaurant for sure! If the weather is good sit outside and listen to the river run while you eat, if not eating inside is wonderful, just make sure to make reservations the day before.

Tannron Inn is the warm and wonderful pub where we ate dinner twice. We loved the casual atmosphere and delicious food.

How To Get There:

The easiest option is to drive. You can take the A5 to A498 at Capel Curing, A4085 from Caernarfon or A497 from Porthmadog.

You can travel by train from some locations arriving either in Porthmadog (9 miles away) and then taking a taxi or the Welsh Highland Railway which runs from Porthmadog to Caernarfon and the halfway point station is in the centre of Beddgelert. You can also take a train to Bangor (25 miles away) then take a taxi or bus from Bangor to Beddgelert.

You can also take the bus to Beddgelert from many different locations. As I said we loved taking the bus in Wales, there is Wi-fi, the seats are comfortable, the drivers are helpful and friendly and you are able to see a lot of gorgeous countryside as well as the towns and villages along the way.

The Simplistic Charm of Aberystwyth

Once I got over my complete heartbreak of leaving Italy my sights were set on Wales. One of my travel goals was to go through the Chunnel (the underground train tunnel/chanel between Paris and London). I booked a seven and a half hour train ride from Milan to Paris with a five hour layover in Paris to switch stations. No biggie, the stations were 20 minutes away from each other. We had a great train ride, beautiful views of Switzerland and the French Countryside, with a little drama of watching some people get thrown off the train and arrested. I LOVE the train, I don’t know why we can’t get it together in the USA and develop our train system, but we are really missing out. Once we arrived in Paris it took us four and a half hours to make it the twenty minutes to the next station due to a protest in the city. We were so stressed out, our taxi driver was so stressed, but he worked really hard to get us there right in time to catch the bullet train to London.

The train was really cool, and so fast! In no time we were in London, hopping off the train in a station so similar to Harry Potter it was crazy. There were old brick walls giving way to glass storefronts, and marbled floors leading out to the English night sky. We jumped in one of the awesome old style London cabs and headed to our hotel to crash before our train ride to Aberystwyth the next day. I have to say it was a struggle to get used to people speaking English, it has been eight months since we were in an English speaking country!

The trains to Wales were quite a change from the ones in Spain, France, Switzerland and Italy. They weren’t nearly as nice, and were totally confusing. We had to move seats quite a bit due to the very strange cabin sectioning they have. The green fields outside were nice, but the train ride wasn’t. Yet, it was still better than a plane ride. We were quickly introduced to the cooler, rainier weather of Wales.

We arrived in Aberystwyth on a Sunday afternoon. It was completely quiet, like an abandoned train station. The slow drizzle and grey sky were a little ominous with the completely quiet streets. We walked through the corridors and found a taxi driver and immediately felt comfortable. He was really friendly and in the five minute (or less) ride from the station to our hotel he was proud to tell us all about the town and the area. As we pulled up to our hotel, with the ocean waves crashing on the shore across from the old buildings on the promenade it truly felt like we had entered a town that had been vacated. There was no one anywhere. I always appreciate when towns are closed on Sundays so people have a day of rest and community and given the drizzly weather it was understandable that people weren’t outside, but it was quite a contrast from the busy streets and squares of Italy and Spain.

Aberystwyth is a great location to get a feel of true Welsh culture, landscape, and community. It has several pubs, restaurants, one movie theater (more on this later), some shopping, and the promenade. It is easy to make it through the town on foot in an afternoon, and I would highly recommend it. The Welsh people are very nice, but definitely more reserved than the Italian culture. We spent Sunday afternoon warming up in our very quaint hotel room before heading out for dinner in the local pub (which had vegetarian options-totally unexpected!). The pub had warm wood tones, lots of locals and comfy arm chairs to hang out and watch the game, the American Football game, which was shocking for me and fantastic for J. Things wrap up early in Aberystwyth, everyone is home by 9:00 so we followed suit and called it a day early.

Our first full day we decided to ride the Vale of Rheidol Railway. This railway was open in 1902 and runs the 12 mile route to the Devil’s Bridge Waterfall. The old steam engine train offers absolutely stunning views as it climbs the hills to reach the tiny little town close to the waterfall. The train stops at the station which is a bathroom, teahouse/restaurant, chocolate shop (yep we stopped there), and a really cool looking stone hotel. I really didn’t know what to expect of the waterfall so when I saw how majestic it was. The water flows under the three bridges, the earliest built by monks, the second built in the 1100’s and the last one, that is used now built within the last century. The waterfall falls a total of 300 feet to a stream which runs under the bridges, in-between two giant rock formations. The walk down and up is pretty steep and the steps are very damp. Luckily for me the day we were there I was able to observe it completely alone, but it can get fairly busy in the tourist season.

Each time we visit a new city I want to see it all, but I also want to experience the culture while we are there. In Aberystwyth I was too antsy to turn in at 9:00 so we decided to go to the small movie theater and see The Kingsman sequel. There is only one movie choice at this theater, and it plays once a night. It just so happened though that The Kingsman was special to the locals because Taron Egerton, is from Aberystwyth. Our tickets were old school raffle style tickets, and the counter was one person selling tickets, and next to her a young man selling popcorn. To get a beer I headed to the basement bar, ordered a draft and then carried it to our seats. After the previews the curtains close and on the left side of the screen a small door opened, and a woman stood at a counter selling candy, soda and other treats. The intermission lasted about 10 minutes and then we sat and enjoyed the movie. It was an incredible experience, going back in time about 50 years. It was easy to feel the sense of community and the innocence of the city while we were there. The walk to the hotel afterwards was the same. Everything felt so safe and innocent.

The next day we hung around Aberystwyth. We walked around looking at the stores, having coffee, and then walking along the water to the 13th century castle ruins and past the college, which looked like it could have been a back drop in Harry Potter. The ruins were really cool to see, and the view was absolutely stunning, despite the rainy weather. We had lunch on the promenade, fish and chips for J.-which he was pretty excited about. Then we headed over to the funicular to ride up to see the Camera Obscura. I had no idea what this was but it was a good excuse to ride the tiny funicular and get another view of the town and the town on the other side of the mountain. When we got to the top there was a little restaurant serving beer (the locals drink beer for breakfast, lunch and dinner here) and ice cream. There is a little path to the building housing the Camera Obscura, which is huge 14″ thick lens which shows views of Aberystwyth, 26 mountain peaks, and the surrounding towns. Unfortunately for us the weather was completely overcast and we were able to only see Cardigan Bay in Aberystwyth. It was easy to understand why the Victorian’s loved this machine.

On our last night in Aberystwyth we spent the evening in the most fabulous pub, The Libertine. The mahogany wood walls, the fabric or leather wing chairs, the sofas and coffee tables all dimly lit were the quintessential Welsh pub. On a Tuesday night we were one of the only peoples in the pub so we enjoyed their hospitality, incredible ambience and talked about our new love for steam engine trains. After drinks we walked hand in hand through the foggy evening, the only people on the streets, as if we were in some romantic movie. The waves slowly crawled high onto the beach while the wind whipped through the air. It was a setting I have never experienced in my life, a calm amongst a windy night, a feeling of being completely safe in an environment we have only begun to explore.

We stayed in the Gwesty Cymru hotel. I honestly can’t imagine staying anywhere else in Aberystwyth. The food, service and rooms were wonderful. The location on the water was perfection.

Our favorite restaurant was Medina for dinner. It was perfect for vegetarians and meat eaters. A casual place to eat a really fantastic Mediterranean inspired meal, with delicious beer and yummy deserts.

DO NOT miss The Libertine Pub. Take time to admire their incredible menu, relax in the dimly lit warmth of a Welsh Pub while enjoying the conversations of the locals.

Inspirations From World Travelers: Nikki

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One of my favorite things about traveling is the people we meet. In Bukit Lawang, a small town of only a few hundred people (if that many) we met a fellow traveler who we were lucky enough to spend time with over beers, hiking or dinner. She is a definite contrast to me and J.. Nikki travels alone a lot, she is much younger than us, and definitely travels to places we are apprehensive about visiting. We had a great time with her, learned a lot and were really inspired by her dedication to her passion even when it isn’t easy.

Nikki is in her 20’s, single and working in her hometown in the UK. She bravely gets on planes (despite her fear) and travels around the world, checking off her dream list as she navigates experiences and adventures. Recently she agreed to answer some questions and share her story. This is our interview:

Me: How long have you been traveling?
Nikki: My first long term trip was in May 2014, so coming up to 4 years now. Since then, I’ve travelled at least once a year, usually for a few months at a time.

Me: What was your first trip? Nikki: I backpacked around Asia for 7 months; visiting Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Although 3 of those months were spent on one tiny island on the east-coast of Malaysia, because it was so beautiful it took me a really long time to leave.

Me: Why do you travel? Nikki: I travel because for me, I never feel more free than when I arrive in a new country, and everything is completely alien to me. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating arriving in a place where you know no-one, can’t speak the language, and have no plan. Each day is a new adventure, and the choice on how you spend it is completely up to you. Your imagination is your only limit!

Me: How are you able to work and travel? Nikki: I usually work for 6 months in the UK, saving every penny I can, and then travel for as long as my funds will allow. Then return home, and repeat.

Me: Do you travel alone or with others? Nikki: I have done both. Each has its pros and cons. As I get older and travel more, I enjoy travelling alone because it gives me complete freedom to make my own schedule, and choose exactly what I want to see and do. I am glad I travelled with a friend for my first trip though; as a sheltered 23 year old, it was quite a daunting experience and it was nice to be able to share it with someone while my confidence at navigating the world grew.

Me: What is your favorite destination so far? Nikki: The toughest question of all, but I’d have to say Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia. The people were so welcoming, the food was amazing, beautiful scenery, and it was so cheap! It’s still pretty off the beaten track in terms of backpacking in Asia, so it’s really affordable.

Me: Where do you dream of going? Nikki: Everywhere! Most days I hear about a new place I’d like to visit. But Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Iceland are next on the list. I’m planning a 6 week trip to visit them in April.

Me: Do you think traveling has changed you? If so how? Nikki: It always sounds like such a cliche when people say travel changes you, but for me, it certainly has. Personally, I’ve learned that I need very little to be happy. A nice car, the latest mobile phone, a designer handbag, all seem so irrelevant after a while.

I’ve also learned to relax a lot more, and accept situations that are beyond my control. Traveling definitely teaches you not to sweat the small stuff, and I’m not easily phased now. A 14 hour bus journey through the mountains of Vietnam will really make that traffic jam on your daily commute seem insignificant.

Lastly, it has increased my confidence more than I could have ever imagined. Five years ago, the thought of a train journey to London on my own would have scared me. Now, I regularly fly all over the world, with no plan, sometimes not even so much as a hotel booking, and I just know that wherever I am, and whatever difficulties may arise, I’ll be OK.

Me: What advice would you give people wanting to travel more but wondering how they can afford it? Nikki: I would say to them, it’s not as out of reach as it seems. A lot of people who talk to me about my travels say they wish they could do the same, but they could never afford it. If you’re prepared to budget, and make sacrifices, it’s a goal that’s quite easily attainable. Once you start tracking what you spend, you’ll be amazed at how much a few pounds for that coffee every morning, or eating out for lunch at work every day, all adds up. Plan ahead and pack your own lunches, and put the money in your travel fund instead!

Me: Have you ever felt intimidated being a woman traveling alone? Nikki: There have been a few occasions where I have felt intimidated, but for the most part I am always in awe of people’s compassion. I have found myself in a couple of unfortunate situations whilst travelling, and whilst it is a disappointing experience, the displays of kindness and help from strangers, wherever you may be in the world, restores your faith in humanity tenfold.

Me: Are your friends and family supportive of your traveling so much? Nikki: Yes, they are. In fact they’re so used to me leaving, they don’t even plan leaving parties anymore! But they do always keep in touch while I’m away, and always show an interest in what I’m doing while I’m gone.

Me: I find I feel antsy and stifled when I am not traveling. Do you feel the same? Nikki: Always. I find this is both one of the best, and worst things about being a travel addict. The curiosity to step outside of your comfort zone is a great thing, but I now find it hard to stay in one place for too long without becoming restless!

Me: What is your best advice for surviving long flights? Nikki: Long haul flights are never pleasant, especially for those of us who are terrified of flying. My top tips for making them more bearable are downloading a few of your favourite TV shows and films; Netflix now enables you to watch them offline. I always make sure I have the following in my carry on;

* Headphones

* Books/ Magazines

* Face Wipes – Great for freshening up on the go!

* Moisturiser – Flying can really dry your skin out.

* Snacks – Because food on planes is expensive, and that money is better spent at your destination!

You can follow Nikki’s travels on Instagram.