This is my experience of taking a career break to travel, as a woman and someone stereotypically older than a gap year backpacker. I relive the doubts, the choices and the results.
Category: Challenges
Physical, mental and plain bizarre challenges I had while travelling
Toast, noodles, rice: eating in Malaysia
I've looked forward to Asia because I love all Asian cuisines, but when it came to Malaysia I was a little disappointed. This is just a short rant about the lack of fruit and veg available. Not that interesting.
Travel-life admin: the worst chore in the world
Everyone hates life admin and it gets worse when you're travelling. This is just a little rant about how shit it is to do life admin when you're in a different country. I know, woe is me.
Stop putting it off: it is possible (even if you’re lazy)
Living life in the moment and enjoying each day as it comes doesn't mean that we have to stop thinking about our future. With a plan and a bit of commitment anything is possible even if you're lazy.
Travelling as an introvert: coping with people overload
What do you mean?! You can be an introvert and actually enjoy meeting people while you travel?! I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘enjoy’ but I certainly hate it a lot less.
Conquering the W: trekking into the unknown
My experience of trekking over 100kms without a guided party. Dealing with unknown distances, unfortunate toilet stops and closed campsites.
Astroblog: the world’s darkest valley
The drive through the valley is literally called Ruta de las Estrellas, or Route of the Stars. I set up my camera and tried to capture some of the fabulous constellations we learned about.
Arse over tit: the Bolivian death road
I start off a bit more confident, I’m going a bit faster and the group have regular breaks to gather together and take photos. That's when I go wrong for the second time.
Trekking the Colca Canyon: I don’t need no mule!
I wake up at 4am. I’m really pissed off that the guide has made me feel so rubbish about myself. I’ve decided to prove him wrong
A detour down the train tracks: adding 10K to the Inca Trail
That’s when it happens. Our guide, Ray (who’s bloody amazing btw) stops us all at the gate and tells us he has something important to tell us. It sounds serious. We all stop, catch our breath, drink some water and put down our walking sticks.
Lisa Pool 