“be a traveller - not a tourist”
from quite a young age, destinations have been on my horizon.
something about how people move, how they love and communicate. who they spend their time with, and how.
one cannot truly understand themselves unless they understand others.
in my life, i have been blessed with traveling to 30 different countries, many of which i was alone and unfamiliar in.
to submerse myself in others culture, and to better understand my own appreciation of place - to enjoy the mundane.
a coffee through a foggy german window, a frustrated motorist along a colombian backstreet, the volume of a singapore merchant in his efforts to sell me a shrimp cracker.
in my life, i attribute a large majority of my people skills, passion for community and ability to problem solve to my years spent out of a rucksack.
below are some of my favorite photos, places and memories.
france
this trip meant the world to me - because it was the first time my father and i traveled somewhere together, just us. i spent several days with him and his affinity for french cigarettes, gallivanting around the french countryside in a van that definitely screamed ‘we’re not from here’. whilst both of our french was rusty, we managed to offend a few people along the way by giving it our best.
i had one of my top 3 meals ever here. a small corner bar in bordeaux. the type you’d find your hotel bartenders drinking at. a classic steak frites, but done over toasted sourdough with a bruschetta and mushroom sauce. it was the simplest of ingredients presented in the most complex of styles. paired with a pinot that dionysius himself would’ve been proud of.
the people of france get a bad wrap. but their passion for a slow-dance type of sunday morning, a crystal clear glass of sauvignon blanc and food that looks like someone’s forgotten to cook it makes them some of the warmer folk i’ve had the pleasure of enjoying time with.
scotland
this is arguably my favorite place in the world. 500 miles around the north coast with a camper van and some guinness. i did this trip with my then-partner, who brought a depth and innocent curiosity to this country that i will never forget.
the most unbelievable changes in landscape i’ve seen in my days. from rolling hills to cragged mountains to gentle streams. teething with sheep, green grass and the most guilt-free air you’ll ever breathe.
while the food (and drink) tend to stick to the brown color palette, it’s people, culture and boundary-pushing definitions of what space truly means will make scotland skyrocket to the top of your bucket list.
korea
one of my biggest regrets is only being here for 72 hours. korea has the nicest people i have ever encountered, period. that comes from their undying attention to detail, coupled with a true desire to make your experience in their country memorable.
it’s true what travelers say about korean culture - it’s cozy, it’s familiar. you’re a part of them immediately. their food leaves you feeling warm, safe, maybe a little thirsty (shoutout to those noodles i did not read the full menu description of).
go to korea. don’t translate stuff. enjoy the ride and maybe you’ll have some fun while you’re at it.
portugal
my first visit to portgual was at the height of covid (shh, don’t tell anyone).
seeing the streets of lisbon hold more pigeons than people was a moment i shall never forget. the first flight from the states to portugal was my flight. accompanied by some journalists, medical professionals, and those returning home - i received a very different welcome than expected.
it’s as colourful as you could imagine. houses like skittles, people to match. wine and olive oil, fish and friendships throughout.
it was so enjoyable, i returned again not 6 months later to take in the sides i missed. castles and tuktuk rides, cappucinos on the balcony while strangers danced in streets of cobble below.
somewhere i would recommend to any soul looking for a bit of vibrance.
austria
tucked away, often overlooked by travelers to germany - austria is europe’s hidden gem in my honest opinion.
kind faces muddled with prolonged stares, mixing business and pleasure in one of the most profound and joyous of ways.
in my travels, i have visited austria seven times. each time learning more about the way the culture operates, forming relationships with goldsmiths and ski attendants alike.
above all, austria has taught me that you may in fact feel the most comfortable somewhere you’d never imagine yourself. it’s taught me to be patient and open-armed, to take in every chance to learn.
cheers to seven more.
colombia
this was my biggest leap of faith during the earlier years of travel.
colombia had never existed at the top of my destination list - and boy, am i glad i was able to experience it. its icy-blue waters coupled with ecstatic culture, music, food and community.
from haircuts in broken english to street bbq’s that rival no other meat you’ll ever taste, colombia and its people hold such a closeness in my heart that won’t soon be replicated.
i implore anyone searching for a country that truly embodies community and happiness to spend a week inside the stone walls of cartagena, on the beaches of rosario or amongst the rooftops of the highest-quality restaurants i can remember being lucky enough to dine in.
