Travel stories to inspire your next adventure.

 

My name is Emily, I come from England and I am currently on mobility with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) where I am volunteering for 4 months with Udruga IKS, Petrinja. However, volunteering and going on mobility isn’t the only route to exploring the world and learning about other cultures. In fact, I am now 28 doing my first ESC mobility but my first travelling and intercultural experience was 10 years ago. The world is huge, diverse, full of amazing places and people so I hope you can find a way to explore the richness of the world in a way that suits you, your interests, confidence and budget. I would like to share some of my previous travel adventures to hopefully inspire you to start dreaming up and planning your own trip. 

 

India

 

My first backpacking adventure was to India when I was 18 years old. For a few years, I worked extra shifts and saved all my money from my part time job in a café. Then I was ready for India: for the colourful, lively culture, completely different England – and it didn’t disappoint. The streets were crowded with people and animals, I travelled with a friend and we often got caught up in cultural traditions. We were on a low budget so we always took public transport - a great way to experience the culture and see more of the country. However, the transport network was difficult to understand and there were challenges. 

 

One day we went on a day trip to one of the tallest waterfalls in India. We took a local bus after being told it would take one hour, but it took four. This didn’t trouble us though. We enjoyed our day, the views, some hiking and swimming to cool off. Then at the end of the day our bus back to our hotel just didn’t exist. We were stuck four hours away from our hotel, in a rural location and without our belongings… panic! What can we do? We spoke to a man who offered us his guesthouse – he also said it's not safe for young women to be walking around in the dark at night. I was unsure if I could trust this stranger but we took his advice and stayed in our room. After settling in, he returned with gifts of food and traditional pyjamas for us to sleep in. By talking to locals and trusting others we were saved, and this remains one of my most memorable experiences in India. 

 

Kenya 

 

By 21 years old I wanted to travel solo. I was in Uganda volunteering for a month during the summer holidays and then I took the opportunity to explore neighbouring Kenya on my own. I had secured some funding for my trip after successfully applying for a project grant through my university. I often felt lonely when travelling solo and learnt that I prefered to share these experiences with others - so think about yourself and find what works for you. When I met other travellers they were shocked I was a solo female in Kenya. Some shared horror stories of theft, knives and dark allies – so I was vigilant, careful and luckily I had a very fun and safe experience thanks to the advice of others. 

 

During my trip, I met two dutch travellers and together we went on a safari… by bicycle! We were up at sunrise cycling amongst zebras, giraffes, buffalos, gazelles – and we even spotted hyenas from a distance. I felt so safe and incredibly privileged to be in nature and able to observe such amazing wildlife so close to me.  

 

Croatia & Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

At the end of 2020 I came to Croatia. This travel adventure was different to the previous ones, as this time I was working full-time and using my weekends and annual leave to explore Croatia and neighbouring countries with my partner. In our campervan that we renovated, we were exploring remote places you can't reach with public transport. We were sleeping in amazing remote places, but we were always responsible by leaving no mess, reading signs and asking for permissions to camp when necessary. So remember to be a responsible traveller and leave no trace. 

 

Having a van is also a big responsibility and comes with ongoing maintenance. Whilst in Bosnia we broke down, and because it was a Sunday there were no mechanics able to help us. Eventually we got towed to an unregistered mechanic on a derelict industrial estate. We didn't speak the language but handed over our cash and had a restless night’s sleep in our broken van. Where were we? When would the mechanic return? Was I part of a scam? Eventually the mechanic arrived the next day, he fixed the issue and we were back on the road. Travelling in your own vehicle can really test your patience, navigation and problem solving skills but is so very rewarding - just try not to break down on the weekend!

 

United Kingdom 

 

Lastly, I would like to add that you don't need to go far to enjoy travelling. Why not enjoy your own country? Only after exploring different countries did I start to explore my own. I found different sub-cultures, traditions, lifestyles and I began to fully appreciate what my own country could offer. This is still full of challenges, crazy moments, and amazing memories BUT with the big benefit of no language barrier. If you’re interested in travelling and what a taster, then I would recommend starting in your own country. And if like me you’re interested in cycling, why not make it a cycle trip. It’s sustainable, affordable, and quite the adventure. 

 

I hope I have sparked an interest in you and you are already thinking of where and how you will explore the world in a way that suits you. Remember to speak to locals and other travellers, be prepared, be responsible and expect the unexpected. If you would like to learn more about travel and volunteering experiences for young people, then check out Eurodesk, ESC and Erasmus+. 

 

 

Updated on Τρίτη, 02/08/2022