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: Travelling as a woman
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.
Dormlife: what it’s like to share a room with strangers
Having been on the road for four months now enjoying exceptional highs and enduring spirit-crushing lows, one thing has remained consistent: dormlife.
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
Prep part two: the tankini saga
When I get to Miami I’ve decided I’m going to have ice cream and Mariam has instructed me to go to the cheesecake factory. But there’s one last thing I need before we set off: swimwear.
Taking on my first challenge: the bikini wax
Sat in the back of mum and dads car (which in itself is absolutely ridiculous as I’m a 30 year old woman), I’m biting my fingers to pieces as I repeat to myself "it's ok, they see vaginas every day". I'm taking on the bikini wax.
Lisa Pool 