Field Notes from the Road
Real stories from the road—wins, weird moments, and the “wish-I’d-knowns.” These posts are my unfiltered take on places I’ve actually traveled, with honest opinions and the simple tricks that help solo women feel confident. Expect practical takeaways tucked inside personal tales, from budget blunders to street-food gold. No fluff, no filters—just the truth and a nudge to go.
Monteverde: Costa Rica's Misty Cloud Forest
After volunteering with sea turtles on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, my journey continued into the misty mountains of Monteverde. Join me as I navigate local buses, explore the famous cloud forest, watch hummingbirds, and search for the iconic red-eyed tree frog.
What Travel Looks Like vs. What It Really Feels Like
Travel photos capture the highlights, but they rarely show the ordinary moments that shape us. After travelling to 56 countries over 16 years, here's what travel really felt like - and why I believe you don't find yourself through travel, you build yourself.
Three Days in Tamarindo: Three Hostels, an ATV Tour, and New Beginnings
Three hostels in three nights, an ATV tour with a mind of its own, unforgettable sunsets, and the moment I finally started feeling like myself again. Tamarindo became far more than just another beach town on my Costa Rica adventure.
My First Days in Costa Rica
My Costa Rica adventure began with a long immigration line, an unexpected lesson about onward tickets, volcano hikes, waterfalls, local buses, and the laid-back atmosphere that makes this country so memorable.
13 Travel Mistakes I've Made After 16 Years of Solo Travel (And How to Avoid Them)
Travel is the best teacher—sometimes the lessons are just expensive. Here are thirteen travel mistakes I've made over the past 16+ years, from booking the cheapest flight to forgetting offline Google Maps, along with the stories that changed how I travel today.
Ometepe, Nicaragua: The Island Where Everything Stopped
I came to Ometepe expecting volcano hikes, island life, and an off-grid reset. Instead, I spent New Year’s sick in a jungle hostel, surviving on Gatorade, soup, and sunsets while wondering if I could even continue the trip.
Final Days in El Salvador: Back to the Capital, San Salvador
Two final nights in San Salvador — museum stops, long walks, grocery runs, and one last botanical garden wander before crossing into Honduras.
Why I Love Packing
Packing isn’t just about clothes — it’s where every adventure begins. After 15 years of travel and living out of a 65L backpack, I share why packing brings me joy, how it connects me to the journey ahead, and why it’s become part of the magic of travel.
Guatemala Blog #2 — Semuc Champey, The Caves, the Chaos & the Road to Guatemala City
After a peaceful stay on Flores Island, I set off for Semuc Champey — the caves, the turquoise pools, and one of the craziest travel days of my Guatemala trip. From climbing rusty ladders underground to tubing through the jungle, cacao tasting, the viewpoint climb, a freezing tarp-covered truck ride, and getting dropped on the wrong side of Guatemala City… this day had everything.
Why I Started Travelling
I told my mom I was moving to Australia when the snow started falling — six days later, I was on a plane to Melbourne. What began as a six-month trip to see the Great Barrier Reef turned into 15 years of living, working, and exploring around the world. Here’s how it all started… and why I never looked back.