Wanderlust – Where Kate Resides

Behind the Blog – Meet Isabel from Bel Around The World

Hi! I’m Isabel and I am a freelance travel writer and travel blogger at Bel Around The World. I work full time at a digital agency specializing in social media.

Where are you based/located?

Singapore.

What first sparked your love for travel?

When I set off on a one-way ticket to Europe through my school’s international exchange. This program allows university students to do a semester of classes abroad in any host country. Through exploring Europe on my own for 6 months, I’ve grown to love the idea of exploring the unknown and discovering new places.

Since then, I’ve only taken travelling in my own hands and begun seriously pursuing it, both with my blog and setting time and money aside to do it throughout the year.

What are some of your favorite countries to visit?

I usually go for scenic destinations since I’m based in a city. My favourite city is New York, beach destination is Maldives, and the best place I’ve been for a road trip is New Zealand!

Are there any places you’d tell people to avoid?

Oh I don’t think any country should be avoided just because of certain stereotype – every place has something worth exploring and learning about!

What is your favourite memory that comes to mind when you think about your travels?

Discovering beautiful landscapes that I never would have thought exist in the world until I saw it in my own eyes, like in New Zealand.

Any advice for new and aspiring travellers?

Yes! One of it is to be bold and never do anything (or the lack of) you would regret – you may only have that one chance to visit a place or try something foreign. More tips for first time travellers in this post: 10 Tips For New Travellers.

What destinations are on your bucket list?

I recently checked off Maldives (hurray to that!). Next would be Africa to see the safari, Fiji for the beaches, Nepal for the great Himalayan trek and Arizona’s Grand Canyon!

Do you have any upcoming travel plans for 2019?

Next stop is Bhutan in South Asia

Do you reasearch for your upcoming trips before visiting them?

Yes, sufficiently so!

What is your most favourite photograph that you have taken during your travels?

Which airline do you prefer to fly with?

I am easy with the type of airlines as long as it makes it affordable to get to one place. I guess budget airlines are my best friends!

Tell me your top travel quotes to inspire yourself or other travellers.

I love inspiring quotes. One of which is “The world owes you nothing. The world has given you everything you need.”
More inspiring ones can be found on my Instagram @belardtheworld!

Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/belardtheworld/
https://www.belaroundtheworld.com
https://www.facebook.com/belaroundtheworld
https://twitter.com/belardtheworld

If you’d like to be featured on my Behind the Blog series, please enquire via email at wherekateresides@outlook.com

Behind the Blog – Meet Chris from Wild Kiwi Adventurer

Hi I’m Chris from Wild Kiwi Adventurer. I grew up in the wilds of New Zealand in a place 2 days walk from the nearest road. My family is known as the most remote family in the country. I’m now a world traveller. How did that happen? Well from the moment I left home I never looked back. Everything was a new experience and I just wanted more. My first adventure was working on a Russian Ice Breaking ship in Antarctica and then next thing I was in London! My blog: WildKiwiAdventurer is my place to show my travels and lifestyle to the world and more recently I have been focusing on Vlogging on Youtube. I love to inspire others to live the same sort of lifestyle that I am lucky to live.

Where are you based/located?

Gorge River, New Zealand is still my home. But for 8-10 months of the year home is where my backpack sits.

What first sparked your love for travel?

Growing up I always read and listened to stories of faraway places. When I was old enough to go myself there was nothing could stop me!

What are some of your favourite countries to visit?

Thailand, Philippines and China. It’s the incredibly welcoming people here that make me feel so at home in these countries. For Adventure I like Antarctica and the high Arctic. Places only accessible by boat or by working on remote research stations. Because it’s just so remote, wild and untouched. And there are Polar bears and penguins!

Are there any places you’d tell people to avoid?

There’s nowhere I would say don’t go. It all depends of your level of adventure and comfort zone.

What is your favourite memory that comes to mind when you think about your travels?

Sitting on the ice in Antarctica and having an Emperor penguin stand 30cm in front of me and gently peck my hand out of curiosity. Eye to eye. Second one is sitting in a small inflatable boat watching a young Polar Bear walk along the shore line in north Canada.

Any advice for new and aspiring travellers?

Don’t hesitate. Don’t worry. Once you make the choice to leave you will never regret it. Don’t get hung up on finer details, it will work its self out.

What destinations are on your bucket list?

Always Antarctica. So much to see there. The North Pole. Lake Baikal in Russia. Nepal. Palawan Island in the Philippines. Tibet. Patagonia.

Do you have any upcoming travel plans for 2019?

Currently I’m working as a field trainer in Antarctica for Antarctica New Zealand. After I finish my contract here I plan to travel from March to September. I would like to go to China, North Korea, Mongolia and Russia.

Do you research for your upcoming trips before visiting them?

Usually I start to research after I get to the place and find I don’t know anything about it!

What is your most favourite photograph that you have taken during your travels?

Which airline do you prefer to fly with?

The Cheapest one…… Or Air New Zealand if possible

Tell me your top travel quotes to inspire yourself or other travellers
“Live every day like it’s your last” “Never say no

Social Media
www.instagram.com/wildkiwiadventurer/
www.facebook.com/wildkiwiadventures/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCM-76PfqWz3qUjx4fAnuFMg
www.wildkiwiadventurer.com

If you’d like to be featured on my Behind the Blog series, please enquire via email at wherekateresides@outlook.com

My Favourite YouTubers to watch for Travel Inspiration in 2019

YouTube has become a world-wide phenomenon where thousands of people, everyday, share videos about anything and everything. It has become increasingly popular for travel videos and vlogs.

Whether you’re wanting advice on what to pack for a certain destination, the perfect spots to visit in a city, or some wanderlust itinerary for future trips, you can find it on YouTube.

But it’s difficult to find the truly useful and inspiring amongst the many that are posted every day. Here is my list of favourite Travel YouTube Channels and Vloggers to encourage you to Travel the World in 2019!

Kara and Nate – http://www.karaandnate.com
These two are husband and wife from Nashville, Tennessee. They left in 2016 to take a year off. Almost 3 years later they are still travelling the World, planning to travel to 100 countries by 2020.

Flying the Nest – http://www.flyingthenest.tv
Jess and Stephen have been documenting their life ever since leaving Australia. They are now travelling full-time around the globe. Their goal is to inspire others to venture out, explore, take risks and go on their own adventures.

Lost LeBlanc – http://www.lostleblanc.com
Christian quit his job in the corporate world to whole-heartedly pursue his passion for creating films and sharing the world with others.

Ash Owens – http://www.ashowens.com
Ash is a lover of all things creative and is passionate about travel. She loves to take you along on her travels whether its visiting somewhere in her home country of New Zealand, or an epic trip overseas.

RayaWasHere – http://www.rayawashere.co
Raya has created a community that instills passion and inspiration about travel, culture, adventure, self growth and self love.

Hey Nadine – http://www.heynadine.com
Nadine is your “go to” for any travel hacks, tips and advice. Her travel knowledge is impressive and her passion for travel is contagious. She creates videos to teach and inspire others to follow their dreams.

Antoine Janssens – http://www.vimeo.com/antoinejanssens
Antoine is a self-taught photographer, filmmaker, artist and explorer. He loves to share the beauty of our planet through his amazing cinematography with his viewers. Such a delight to watch.

Girl vs Globe – http://www.girlvsglobe.com
Sabina has a serious case of wanderlust. As a result she travels a lot, promising to take you all along with her to exotic locations.

Polkadot Passport – www.polkadotpassport.com
Follow Nicola around the world as she searches for the most unique, bucket-list worthy destinations.

Hopscotch the Globe – www.hopscotchtheglobe.com
Kristen and Siya are professional adventurers traveling the world full-time and living life on their own terms. Their channel is loaded with videos to help you try become a better traveler.

Cup of TJ – www.cupoftj.com
If you’re looking for any sort of food inspiration to try while traveling, you must check out TJ’s Channel. She documents herself trying all sorts of bizarre and crazy local foods. This channel is all about the food – with a touch of comedy.

I hope these YouTubers bring you lots of travel inspiration! 🙂

Let me know in the comments who your favourite Travel YouTubers/Vloggers are!

Photo Diary – Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Photo Diary – Mo’orea, French Polynesia

Behind the Blog – Meet Louise from Captured to Share

My name is Louise Brady, a 25 year old Travel Blogger from Sydney. In 2014, I quit my job and moved over to London on a one-way ticket. After a year abroad, travelling Europe and working for a high profile family in London, I wanted to create a creative space to share my stories, photography and life updates with family and friends. Thus, Captured to Share was born.

Where are you based/located?

From Sydney to London and now the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. We are currently running the blog part time from our new home on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

What first sparked your love for travel?

I have definitely always been an admirer of natural beauty. I can almost pin point the very moment my love for travel was awoken. It came with the purchase of an Italy photography book. I am sure I wore the pages thin, flicking through them several times a day and daydreaming about the many places I wanted to visit. At 16, I travelled to Italy with my grandmother, which confirmed my love for the beautiful country. At 22 I embarked on a four-month trip around Europe, which I suppose is the moment, I fully understood the impact of travel and silently vowed to peruse a life of it.

What are some of your favourite countries to visit?

Barcelona in Spain is somewhere I find myself returning to with each European adventure. I love the culture, architecture and summer vibes. I am a HUGE fan of Italy, as you may have read above. Croatia was another place that stole my heart in Europe Bali is my go-to mini getaway.

Are there any places you’d tell people to avoid?

This is hard because I found every place I visited to be meaningful. I suppose my least favourite city would have to be Darwin in Australia. There are amazing National Parks in the NT itself but I didn’t enjoy Darwin as much as I have other locations.

What is your favourite memory that comes to mind when you think about your travels?

The past three years have been a whirl wind of adventures, new experiences and new cities but every time I think back on the journey, I think of the tour around Europe in which I met my now boyfriend. Yes, I actually fell in love on TopDeck. 40 strangers boarded the bus in London and made our way around 6 different European countries over 17 days. I spent the 12-hour buses rides seated next to an Australian guy from Adelaide. We spoke the entire 12 hours every time we moved between countries. Our last stop was in Paris. We caught the Eiffel tower light up at midnight and as I turned around wondering where he had disappeared too, I found him standing with a rose. Nawwwwww. Three years later and we are still exploring the world together, and on occasion, he still buys me flowers.

Any advice for new and aspiring travellers?

Be present. It is so easy to miss the moment by being caught up with people, technology and thinking about tomorrow. My favourite travel memories have been experienced alone, in silence, consumed by nature. Travel has a way of demanding your full attention, especially when visiting a place for the first time. Don’t miss those magical moments.

What destinations are on your bucket list?

I think it is a shorter list to highlight where I do not want to go. Basically everywhere. To name a few – Sahara Desert – India (I really want to see the Taj Mahal) – All of South America – Alaska

Do you have any upcoming travel plans for 2017?

We have just returned from a trip to Bali, Indonesia and I am leaving for London in a weeks time (feb 5). From London I am flying to Switzerland and may make a pit stop in Paris for a day or two. Other than that, we are really focusing on exploring more of Australia. I still haven’t been to the Great Barrier Reef. Hamilton Island and Fraser Island. Those locations are top of my list for 2017.

Do you do research for your upcoming trips before visiting them?

Yes. I like to check out local tourism websites and see what they recommend doing. I also read a few articles from fellow bloggers experiences. I think its important to have a balance of planning and spontaneity. You want to make sure you research the important things like countries religion and laws, as well as a few things of interest. I always research national parks and breakfast spots.

What is your most favourite photograph that you have taken during your travels?

Posintano by Jay Foy (aka boyfriend)

Which airline do you prefer to fly with?

When we lived in London we would fly with the cheapest possible option- this was mostly Ryan Air. In Australia, we opt for Jet Star or Tiger Air (again, because they’re cheap). These days, I generally fly with Emirates for long haul flights but if we are on a budget, we will fly with anyone. Seriously… one time there was ash trays on board and no in flight entertainment

Tell me your top travel quotes to inspire yourself or other travellers

I am a big Eckhart Tolle fan. Any quote about living in the moment is right up my alley. I’ll go with this one “Realise deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”

Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louise__brady/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/capturedtoshare

Blog: www.capturedtoshare.com

Twitter: @capturedtoshare

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle – Schloss Neuschwanstein

Whilst visiting a friend in Munich a while back, we took the opportunity to head out on a road trip to Schloss Neuschwanstein – One of the most famous Castles in all of Europe.

Schloss Neuschwanstein was created by King Ludwig II “The Fairy-Tale King’ of Bavaria. Construction began in 1869 and was never finished, due to the sudden death of Ludwig II in 1886. It ended up being used as a model for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The Palace was intended as a private retreat for the King but became open to the public on his death.

The best view of the Castle is from Marienbrucke (Mary’s Bridge in English), which is just a 10 minute walk from the Castle grounds. Marienbrucke is located over Pöllat Gorge and above a waterfall.

The Castle tours are offered at set times only and have limits on numbers, so I suggest you reserve your tickets online.

Unfortunately we made the mistake of trying to aquire our tickets on arrival and didn’t manage to book a tour until 4pm (we had arrived there at 11am!). Luckily we had noticed a sign for the Tegelberg-cable car on our way in, and decided to venture in that direction.

This ended up being a fantastic journey with spectacular views from atop the Ammer Mountains.

The ride to the top takes about 10 minutes and takes you to a height of 2,150 meters, with marvellous views of Schloss Neuschwanstein on your way. From here you can either perch yourself at the cafe, watch paraglider’s jump off into the horizon, or wander around the tracks.

Behind the Blog – Meet Irone from IroneXplores

I am Irone Kim Tolibao, a Filipino, who loves traveling and writing. I have been to many places in the Philippines and I’d love to share my adventures and experiences with other people. I established my travel blog to encourage and help people travel and guide them on how to reach the places I’ve been to. My blog is all about giving directions and information about different places. Blogging for me is like hitting two birds in one stone, my love for travel and writing.

Where are you based/located?

My travels are solely focused in the Philippines for now. Got to love my own country.

What first sparked your love for travel?

My first travel was when me and my girlfriend went to Baguio City. One of the most visited places in Philippines due to several tourist spost. I was still courting her during that time. Witnessing these marvellous man-made or natural wonders inspired me to visit more beautiful places.

What are some of your favorite countries to visit?

So long I’ve only been here to the Philippines. So I must say Philippines is my favorite country. It is also my birth place.

Are there any places you’d tell people to avoid?

There would be none. Telling people to avoid places is like telling them to miss an opportunity. Traveling is an adventure. The only thing I can do is warn them of my negative experiences in that place, but I will not stop them. I will let them know and avoid the mistakes I’ve made during my trip, but I will not hinder them to visit it.

What is your favourite memory that comes to mind when you think about your travels?

My favorite memory in all my travels is when I had a trip to Masbate Island. I encountered several misfortunes along the way like cancelled flight, cancelled island hopping, a storm, giant waves and so forth. Those unfortunate events happened in a single trip.

I was forced to change my itinerary and rerouted to Caramoan Island instead, which was totally out of plan. I have no contacts on that place, or any guide on what to do. I just held on to fate. Fortunately, everything went well. I found a decent guide, who I just met on a Church. He pretty much took care of everything. At the end of the trip, I discovered Caramoan Group of Islands was several times better than Masbate, and fate lead me there.

Any advice for new and aspiring travellers?

My best advice for new travellers is just to take the first big step. Most people don’t start traveling just because fear already takes them before they even started. People fear of getting lost, a cancelled trip, or a lack of money. This is part of the challenged. Once you experienced these challenges, you’ll know how to overcome them. Nothing can stop you now from traveling.

What destinations are on your bucket list?

I don’t have a bucket list. I just wander wherever my feet would take me. Every place is unique and special. Everywhere should be a bucket list.

Do you have any upcoming travel plans for 2017?

I do have several plans this 2017. It’s already scheduled since last year.

New Year I went to Sagada. I went trekking, spelunking and waterfall hopping.
February is island hopping to Palawan.
March is climb a mountain somewhere in the northern Philippines.
April is spelunking and waterfall hopping in Samar.
May is the festival month of the Philippines. I just haven’t decided which festival to visit yet.
June is to visit Leyte, my home province, to visit lakes and islands.
July is probably another mountain climbing.
August is tour around the province of Batanes.
September to December is yet to be finalized. I already have several places in mind.

Do you reasearch for your upcoming trips before visiting them?

Yes. I do research every time I want to visit somewhere. I good information and directions about the place is the first thing I take care of before heading out. Just to avoid getting lost, or spending too much.

What is your most favourite photograph that you have taken during your travels?

This has always been my favorite photograph. Me and my girl was in an Island Hopping in Guimaras, and a perfect rainbow appeared to us. Such an amazing sight to behold.

Which airline do you prefer to fly with?

I prefer AirAsia and Cebu Pacific. The services for both airlines are the same.

Tell me your top travel quotes to inspire yourself or other travellers

“Travel with someone important to you. The stronger the connection, the greater the fun.”

“If you wish to travel far with a lesser cost of leaving home, then let your home travel with you.”

“You only have one life. Travel lets you live it a hundred times.”

“Every journey starts with a single step.”

“There are always good things at the end of every struggle. The higher the mountain, the better.”

“There is light at the end of the darkest cave.”

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/ironeXplores

https://twitter.com/ironeXplores

https://www.instagram.com/ironexplores

My Website URL:

http://ironexplores.com

If you’d like the opportunity to be featured like Irone, please contact Kate at wherekateresides@outlook.com

Exploring the ancient town of Thera on Santorini Island

On the Island of Santorini, The ancient town of Thera (otherwise known as Thira) is located 360m high on Messavouno Mountain, between Kamari and Perissa Beach. You can either drive from Kamari – I recommend taking an ATV instead of a car, as the road is VERY narrow – or walk up the mountain from Perissa Beach.
Thera is only accessible by foot from a certain point, but the stunning view makes the hike worth it!

Ancient Thera consists of Roman, Hellenistic and Byzantine ruins. You can wander around these cobblestoned pathways, following footsteps from settlements as early as the 9th century BC!

For only €2 entry – I highly suggest adding Ancient Thera to your Santorini Itinerary!

10 Instagram Accounts to fulfil your case of wanderlust

Rainy days have me pondering through Instagram dreaming of future travel adventures. Instagram is never short of spectacular photography to fuel your passion to travel. I always find myself discovering new destinations to add to my travel bucket whilst flicking through different accounts.

Here are 10 of my most favourite Instagram accounts to follow:

1.Polkadot Passport