Traveller Profile - Erin

I am excited to share this month’s traveller profile where we interviewed Erin, a travel loving Aussie adventurer.

Hey, I’m Erin. I call Australia home but have been a full-time traveller for over 10 years. I now work as a virtual assistant and travel blogger, but prior to this would find work abroad opportunities all around the world. I’m not a country counter as I prefer to travel slow and experience all I can in each destination rather than jumping from one place to the next.

My last international trip was a solo two-week adventure around Myanmar. The country absolutely blew my mind and exceeded all expectations I had. I found it was a great place to travel solo and the travellers I met were less of the party crowd you usually find in other parts of SEA. Due to travel restrictions, I have been trying to spend more time travelling locally and exploring NSW. 

The best places to find me online are via my travel blog curiouslyerin.com where you can find great travel resources, travel guides and tips, and information about living and working abroad and on Instagram @curiouslyerin

1. Why do you travel?

Travel has always been something that has allowed me to escape my comfort zones and become more open-minded. I love slow travel as it allows me to really get to know a place, its culture and discover the local secrets. I’m a huge fan of talking to strangers and getting ideas and recommendations from people who live in the places I’m visiting. The thing I love to do most is hike when travelling. I’m much more interested in exploring natural beauty and landscapes than history and cities.

 2. Tell us your favourite: place to visit, mode of transport and source to get travel info.

My favourite place is really difficult. Alaska was incredible, the scenery and wildlife were out of this world, it’s somewhere I would love to get back to and explore more of. As a whole country, Mexico is so diverse and offers a lot for travellers. Somewhere that stole my heart and I’ve returned to numerous times is Lake Tahoe in California. Regardless of the season, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been and has so many activities for thrill-seekers and outdoor lovers as well as a busy roster of local events. 

I guess my favourite mode of transport would be by car. My top overseas trips have been when I’ve hired a car and kept my itinerary flexible. I’ve had the chance to discover hidden gems that would have been missed without taking the side roads.

My favourite way to get travel info is by reading blogs. I’ll always see what my favourite bloggers like to say about a place I’m visiting and if they haven’t been I’ll search for new ones. Instagram is also a great way of getting travel ideas, although as it’s harder to search I use this more for destination-related searching, like finding a cafe.

3. What is your favourite travel memory?

During a trip to Puerto Escondido in Mexico, a friend and I had been at the beach all day. We returned to our hostel as a bus pulled up and asked if we were going on the bio-luminescence tour. Neither of us knew what the tour was, but in true travel style said, “yep” and jumped on the bus. We drove for an hour in the dark to a restaurant where we grabbed a couple of beers and were told to wait. Then were loaded on to a small dingy. We made our way out to the middle of a lake (or bay - we actually had no idea where we were) and the boat engine was switched off. 

It was pitch black with no moon and the whole milky way shining above us. Our captain told us to jump overboard. When we landed in the water we were met with a splash of intense bio-luminescence. Because our surroundings were so dark, it was hard to tell where the sky stopped and the water started. With the bio-luminescence in the water and the stars in the sky, it felt like we were swimming through the universe. Truly one of the most magical experiences of my life.

4. What's the most important thing you've learned while travelling?

To always say yes. A rule I set myself a long time ago and has always given me the best experiences (see above) is to accept all offers while on the road. Obviously, use caution and don’t say yes to things that seems dodgy, but when an offer presents itself take it. This will get you out of your comfort zones without the hesitation of thinking too much about it - you already know you are going to say yes.

5. Who would you love to sit next to on your next flight?

I’m the person who falls asleep as soon as they get on the plane. So whoever it is would be wasted on me.

6. What's your best money-saving tip to travel?

Slow travel. While it seems counter-intuitive that the longer a trip the less you will spend but it has proven true for me time and time again. The most expensive parts of travel are transportation and accommodation. 

When you slow down and stay in one place longer, you are taking less transport. You’re also able to find longer-term rentals or pick up voluntary work that gives free food and accommodation in exchange for a couple of hours of work a day. Workaway and Worldpackers are two great companies that help you find hosts. 

 7. How do you deal with the post-holiday blues?

By starting to plan the next trip ;)

8. What's one thing you like to do in every place you visit?

Hike. I love exploring on foot and seeing the country from this perspective. As I already mentioned, one of the things I love most about travelling is the natural beauty. I’d much rather visit an unknown town on the edge of a mountain or valley than a popular landmark. I love seeing mountains, valleys, fjords and canyons up close and personal. Extra points if I can add another adventure activity, like skiing, rock climbing or a via Ferrata!

9. Travelling can leave a big environmental footprint, how do you minimise yours?

I’ve started to heavily reduce my plastic consumption both at home and while abroad. I actively use plastic-free travel products, containers and go reusable when I can. Having a water bottle filter for visiting places where you can’t drink the tap water and choosing to shop at local markets and opting for fruit and veg that aren’t wrapped in plastic. Plus always saying no to bags (no matter how many times they insist you have one). When I was living in Myanmar I joined the trash heroes, a local group that helped educate the community about the effects of plastic. 

I know there are so many more ways to reduce my environmental footprint when travelling and this is something I would love to become better at.

10. Plan an around the world trip for us, stopping in one city only on each continent.

1. Cairns, Australia. Cairns is the gateway to the northern Great Barrier Reef. There are day trips and overnight trips to the islands and reefs. Once you’ve explored the underwater world, hire a car and drive north to Port Douglas and beyond, the road is basically touching the ocean and is one of the most scenic drives I have ever taken. Past Port Douglas, you can stop at Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest. Back in Cairns visit the night markets, go skydiving, bungee jump and laze in the sun at the lagoon.

2. Hpa An, Myanmar. Hpa An is a small village east of Yangon known for its karst landscape. It was the highlight of my trip to Myanmar but be prepared to wake up early. There are a few hikes that are spectacular at sunrise. Also great for avoiding the high temps during the middle of the day. The riverside night markets will give you a taste of local cuisines and culture and are frequented mostly by locals. Choose to hire your own scooter or jump on a tour to visit the numerous monasteries and temples. A lot of these are located in unique environments like on the point of a karst rock formation or inside caves. Finally, end the day at the bat cave where you’ll see thousands of bats exiting as the sunsets.

3. Sibiu, Romania. Picking one place in Europe was tough, but Sibiu encompasses everything I believe a European city should have. There are buildings and fortresses that date back to Medieval times, unique architecture, delicious locals foods and wine and the best Christmas markets I have visited in Europe. Sibiu also sits on the outskirts of the Transylvanian wilderness making it a great location for day trips on horseback, hiking or visiting Dracula’s Castle.

4. Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is an expat lovers dream. So if you work online you’ll be sure to make many friends in a similar situation. The cafe scene is next to none and you can experience incredible nature at your doorstep. By visiting the different neighbourhoods you’ll get a taste of the varying cultures. Head to Boulders Beach to see the penguin colony and splurge on a helicopter to get unbroken views of Table Mountain. Once you’re back on land, take a hike (or cable car) to the top of Table Mountain to enjoy some very well-deserved views of the city.

5. Santa Marta region of Colombia. From Santa Marta, you can access white sandy beaches, rainforest and desert sand dunes. Start by heading out to Tayrona National Park. Tickets go on sale each day at the gate and you are required to hike into the park. It’s a gorgeous 2-hour hike through the rainforest where you’ll see all sorts of wildlife that lead to remote beaches. You can camp inside but it’s first-come, first-serve. Further along the north shore, you’ll find affordable accommodation sitting right on the beach and places slightly inland where you can tube down the rivers. The Lost City track is a 2-day hike to reach a ruined city. It’s hot and sticky, there are river crossings but it’ll definitely be a memorable adventure.

6. Lake Tahoe, USA. As I already mentioned, Tahoe is the place I go back to time and time again. Spend at least a week here ideally in the summer unless you’re a big ski bunny. You’ll be able to learn to wake board or water ski, take the stand up paddle boards out, float down the Truckee River on a tube with some beers, explore some of the hundreds of hiking trails and get your trill on rock climbing or downhill mountain biking. When you’re ready for a rest, head to watch some live music or a movie on one of the beach shores, try your luck at the casino’s over the Nevada border or attend a festival held by the ski resorts. 

Thank you Erin for sharing your travel stories and experiences. How incredible that you can work remotely and still travel. To find out more about Erin, remember to check out her blog here.

To read past traveller profiles; click here.

Each month an enthusiastic traveller will share with us their personal stories from their adventures around the world. If you would like to be featured in the upcoming months then please drop us a note below…