TRAVEL TRUTHS

 

There is a bit of a lack of human experience in the travel blogging world today and it’s resulting in an unrealistic view of travelling full-time. It’s breeding unnecessary envy and disappointment towards where you might be in your life right now. If we shared a few of our not-so-perfect moments in our online lives, maybe it will result in healthier offline lives.

We are in an era of influences, instragrammers and bloggers who are living a life exploring the world and doing it in serious style. I love following the stories of these explorers, their pictures are inspirational and add colour to my sometimes not-quiet-so-lovely days. But it can be easy to forget that this is a ‘highlight reel’. All their perfect images compacted for my easy viewing pleasure. I think it’s wonderful that if by sharing your travel experiences, you can inspire someone to finally buy that ticket they’ve always been dreaming of, but it’s not quite so great if it’s making someone miserable in their current life because they can’t quite achieve that level of constant perfection and happiness.

When I share my story I want to be honest. This is my diary after all, why would I want to lie to myself? When I’m old and grey I want real stories not just perfect moments.

 

I saved for three years to come on this journey. I still spend countless nights planning our budget for each week, where we’ll sleep next month and what cities we can visit that are in our price range. Travelling long-term is completely different to that two-week holiday you might take once a year. You need sustainable funds, and you need to somewhat be prepared.

 

I am average. What you might call completely and utterly ordinary. But there really is no shame in being ordinary. My reality is that I wear the same outfit every single day! Sometimes I barely feel clean.. let alone stylish! I often wonder where travel bloggers put all their lovely clothes. I’m carrying four t-shirts, one pair of jeans, underwear, thermals, a jumper… and all that’s heavy! Oh and backpacking? Totally not stylish but definitely practical. Let me in on the stylish travel secret!

 

My accommodation is a mix of hostel/subletting a room/airbnb and only rarely a hotel. Sometimes it can be dirty or cold or noisy, and definitely not insta-worthy. Other times it’s cluttered, cosy and homely, and I love it even more than a trendy hotel room. Just because it doesn’t look like the ‘most beautiful’ place to sleep, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t share that photo.

 

Travelling long-term is exhilarating, but it’s also an emotional roller-coaster. Some days you’ll be the happiest you’ve ever been, but others you might feel really sad. Sometimes sad for no reason, or maybe you’ll be feeling homesick, other times you’re freaking out that you’re not doing what society says you should be doing and you feel like a bit of a waste of space. This lack of ‘purpose’ can be difficult. In our normal lives we are so consumed with work, both for money and for love. While travelling you’re stripped of this superficial purpose we’ve become so accustomed to. I manage this confusion by setting myself long-term projects. I take pictures to document life in different cultures and cities (to hopefully release a book), and I share real stories of the world with those who might never get to see it themselves.

When I see a beautiful travel picture on instagram, I try to imagine what that person does the moment after the picture was taken. Do they get lonely too? If we shared both the highs and lows in life, maybe we’d be more prepared for the harder days. We all have the same fears, doubts and anxieties. When we know that feeling sad is normal, we can embrace that feeling, acknowledge the reason for it and let it go.

 

When I started this journey I didn’t really know why I was doing it. To see the world while I’m still young? To explore while I don’t yet have serious commitments? To escape from the realities of society? Never did I think it would be so I could gain such a realistic perspective on my life, something I’ll never take for granted.

Knowledge is power. That perfect life you might be reaching for doesn’t exist. Be present in the now. There is this beautifully unperfect world waiting for you, if you’re brave enough to explore it.