Travel Blogger Problems
Clouds reflecting at Salar de Uyuni
Language
Travelling somewhere where you can’t speak the local lingo.
Good example: Arriving after a 20+ hour bus journey into Salta, Argentina. A spot people raved about. A spot I struggled to figure out where the darn laundromat was after asking at least 4 people (including police) and just got tiredly frustrated. So much so, that after trying to find food (after eventually finding the laundromat 2+ hours later) I couldn’t string a sentence of Spanish together and gave up in the local market and headed for the grocery store to find the first thing I could understand what it was to eat.
Seven Colour Mountains, Quebrada de Humahuaca
Health
I’m the queen of getting sick or injured in countries where it’s best not to, when I’m on my own. This is why I swear by travel insurance. None of my sicknesses were my fault, the sea urchin spike in my foot ‘may’ have been my fault for trying to adjust my silly snorkel, but it was a pure accident… less be said, it’s easier when you meet people who can translate for you or carry expert tweezers with them!
Sense of direction
When I’m not exhausted or with other people, I’m great at figuring out my way around places. Give me a map and I’ll pin point spots to remember my way. However, if I’m by chance travelling with someone else, this all goes out the window. Because I have someone to help it means I let go and don’t worry about where we’re headed until we’re lost… Also I’ve learnt a lack of sleep over 24-48 hours can send me into a drug-like trance where nothing makes sense, let alone where the heck I am.
At the Equator stop, just out of Quito
When to say no
I’m notorious for being a sucker when someone says ‘But this will be your one chance to bungee jump over the Nile’… yes I did it and yes I’m glad I did, but sometimes I’ve learnt it’s not worth it. Like hiking up Dune 45 (Namibia) on my birthday despite being scared shitless of heights. I was near tears with no-one to help me down and while that sounds a bit silly, seeing the sunrise from the bottom of the Dune would have been just as pretty. I’m still forever trying to challenge my fear of heights, I’m just not always sure that it’s worth it.
Machu Picchu, view from Machu Picchu Mountain (one time I was glad to overcome my fear of heights)
Bungee Jumping over the Nile
Missing family and friends
There’s the expat that has moved abroad and travels in spare time that misses their family, who can Skype or meet with friends for comfort. Then there’s the traveller who goes for a long extended period of time travelling alone. That person may not always have access to internet or phone and when the pangs of home or friends hits, there’s not much for it. It comes when you least expect it and when you need those people around you the most. It sucks.
Friends from studying in Austria
The weather
You can’t control this. Rain, hail or shine, you must travel and make the most of the time you’ve got in a certain area. Yes this means donning a raincoat and wandering the streets where locals think you’re mad.
Me standing in front of Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
The random people you meet on your travels
The good
These are the lovely people you meet at the hostel and chat to over banana bread breakfasts and terrible coffee. They’re the ones you realise you have an amazing connection with and spend the day venturing out into the wild unknown with. You might even meet up with them in the next town or decide to keep in touch on Facebook. Chances are you’ll never meet them again. They’re amazing and if only there was a country that you could drop them all in at once and live happily ever after with!
Part of the fabulous group from the Galapagos
Atlanta Couple who love Flight of the Conchords, San Fran
Jumping at sunrise on the Salt Flats, Bolivia
The bad
These are the idiots that put travellers to shame. The ones that disrespect cultures and wildlife. The ones that spend mummy and daddy’s money and drink like it’s new years day (every day). The ones that can’t comprehend why the heck you’d want to travel to some of the places you’ve gone to or why you’d do it alone. These are the idiots that you just feel sorry for and turn around and never think about again.
The memories
This is a nice ‘travel blogger problem’ to finish on. The memories that haunt you for years into the future. The photos that take you back to that very moment, feeling the sun on your skin, the sea air, the pure wonder and freedom that you’re alive. The memories are the very thing that keep me going, that make it real. Being a travel blogger is the perfect excuse to keep these memories alive.
Half Dome, Yosemite Valley Floor – the first shot I took when I arrived
Sloth crossing the road, Costa Rica
An island in the San Blas after 2 Days of sleeping out an possible sea sickness
A Chichico having fun in my hood
Condors in Colca Canyon, Peru
Southern Right Whale (head), Puerto Piramides
Baby Baboons, Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
Me with the Amahoro Group of Gorillas in Rwanda’s Mountains.
While there are plenty of travel blogger problems to be had (besides finding decent wifi to actually blog) I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve loved every moment of my travels – the good and the bad. The people and animals have made my life all the more richer for helping create such incredible experiences.
In truth, there is almost no travel blogger problem too big that it’s worth giving up travel for. Saying goodbye is possibly one of the hardest, but it’s one that shows you how incredible the experience must have been.
This is part of an awesome travel blogger linkup, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading as much as I did writing!
Great post 🙂 I’m usually great with maps too, but for the sense of direction issue I always download an offline map (on my phone) of the destination I’m heading to!
LOVED this! You’re right, travel is worth every problem.
Totally and all the problems make for great experiences and stories to share for years to come!
That baboon photo scares the hell out of me! Being covered in baboons is a travel blogger problem I’m glad I don’t have! 😀
Haha well I did get one bite from one of them! Oh and a nibble on the finger from the one I babysat overnight! No rabbies though so it’s all good!
Ha! I’d be terrified they’d rip my face off 😉
Well they are very unpredictable. I did see an nasty incident when the junior baboons (bigger than those in my photos) got loose and attacked one of the volunteers arms, thankfully nothing long lasting, mainly just scratches on her arms.
Oh my gosh, I’m always sick too haha! And it’s always RIGHT before a flight – seriously, days before a trip I’ll get a cold and be sick most of the holiday. Typical!
Blogging is so weird and wonderful at the same time.
Great post 🙂 my biggest problem was losing my wallet in Laos which had the cash I needed to pay for my room. It wasnt a lot of money, but the local ATM ran out of money and I had to wait two nervous days for it to be replenished. Still, two more days by the Mekong was hardly suffering !
That would be nerve wrecking!
I have zero sense of direction and it’s even worse when I’m traveling!
Your wildlife shots are incredible! I have absolutely no problem saying no to bungee jumps, but anything to do with food is another matter. And I would like a tiny monkey in my hood at all times please!
Thanks! And yes that little monkey is very cute isn’t it?
Brilliant photos in this post. Although that one with the baboons is scary! And yes finding wi-fi is a huge problem, it’s sad that I check before I even book somewhere now 😦
Hard to imagine I used to always go away without laptop and turn off my phone on short trips, but I think 8mth travelling spoilt that, now I’m too connected to technology again!
This is a beautiful wrap-up post. I related so much with the expat and traveler part. As an expat myself, I wish I could just spend more time with the family at the same time I travel the world. Ahhh, guess it is never possible!
Yes being an expat and dealing with family far away is difficult isn’t it? On so many levels!
Your photos accompanying this post are wonderful. After seeing sea urchins for the first time in Thailand I can’t imagine how much pain you were in when you trod on one, ouch! You are definitely right though, the memories make everything worth it (even the homesickness).
Thanks! Yes the memories are definitely what I hold on to!
your animal images are AMAZING!!!!! seriously need to check out the rest of your blog!
Aww thanks! In that case definitely look out for some of the Africa and South/Central America posts for wildlife in their natural habitats
Awesome post! The people you miss – so true. So many great problems to have 🙂
Definitely, but you miss those people all over again when you move away or home. Think of so many lovely people on a daily basis even after returning to NZ almost a year ago!