My Travel Experience

Travelling has done me the world of good. It is one of my favourite passions. I enjoy experiencing different cultures and ways of living especially after travelling South-East Asia. I was travelling quite a lot before Covid hit. There are many countries that I plan to see over the next couple of years. I lived in Canada for 9 months and travelled parts of America as well. I have been to a lot of cities in different European countries. In Canada, I have seen Vancouver, Whistler, the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Toronto and Quebec. I have been to the west and east side of America. With South-East Asia, I had stayed a month in each country and some of the countries I explored are Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. I am the type of traveller who enjoys not planning my schedule and decide on the day what I like to do as I like having flexibility and living in the moment.

For me travelling is the best investment in oneself. It opens the mind up, looking at the world from different perspectives and a fresh approach. Travelling is personal development for me. I enjoy being a solo traveller as I can do whatever I want. All memories created our my own. Travelling has allowed myself to reflect on my own life in solitude and gain clarity in what I really wanted to pursue. It really got me thinking about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life as I was working in accounting and had no real passion or desire to build a career in it. Qualifying as a chartered accountant did help to fund my travels. Travelling did help me to fall in love with coaching and now I have my own business. Coaching has given me so much meaning, fulfilment and purpose to my life because I love helping people. It has also led me to starting a new career in recruitment as this is an industry I tried to break into before. So far, I am enjoying my journey in learning the craft of a recruitment consultant and helping people to find a job that will help them to progress their career.

For some travelling is an opportunity to run away from lives problems and fears. For me it is an opportunity to reflect on my own life, where I am and what I want to do next. Each day travelling, I was living in the present, I didn’t worry at all and just enjoyed and embraced the adventure I was on. I met so many fun and interesting people around the world and some of them I still keep in contact today with.

I would highly encourage people to travel. When you have the time just go for it. Don’t worry about having gaps on your CV and thinking about a future employer not hiring you. While living in Vancouver in 2019, I came across an Australian palliative nurse Bronnie Ware who wrote The Five Regrets of the Dying as she recorded the regrets of the dying who only has 12 or less weeks to live. The number one regret was:

“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”. 

For me to have real freedom is being aware that you are making your own choices and living in line with your authentic self. Travel while your young and don’t leave it too late. Don’t get scared of what could go wrong while travelling. Just do it! All you have is time. Embrace new opportunities and learn more about yourself. Travelling to a new country, I find is writing a new chapter of your life.

If you are not keen travelling and just like holidays and have other interests that is completely fine. I just hate to see people self-sabotaging themselves that something could go wrong in a different country and finding excuses not the travel and remain in the comfort zone. If you are interested in travelling and not sure for how long you would go for don’t book that much in advance and just plan for a couple of days at a time. At least you have given yourself an opportunity if you decide to come home if you want or to continue travelling.

When you pack that bag, get on that plane and arrive at the country you want to see, you’ll end up visiting a few countries along the way. Once you are enjoying the adventure, the travel bug will kick in and you’ll not want to stop. The first step for me was very easy and it can be daunting for other people to be solo travellers. If you have a partner or friends who would have similar travel ambitions that could work. Our time on this planet is very short and none of us no when our own clock will stop. Don’t wait for later when you can do it now. From my own experience, I have grown more confident in myself and know what I want for my life. If I didn’t travel, I probably still be in accounting unhappy but that’s not the case now. For your first time travelling, 2 to 6 months is a good range to go for. Travelling is all about having fun and living life on your own terms. The power of choice is wonderful and when you learn to trust yourself more, it is a lot easier to live the life you want to pursue. Travel freely, have fun along the way and just live in the moment. See where the flow of life will take you next.