Traveller of the Month: Suzy from Suzy Stories

Welcome to Traveller of the Month! Each month I’m featuring a fellow world traveller to help foster connections, share some new travel tips, and spread a little love in the blogging world.

Without further ado, meet November’s Traveller of the Month: Suzy!

And if you missed last month’s, check it out here!

Who are you, where are you from and where are you now?

My name’s Suzy, owner of Suzy Stories and I’m from Surrey in the UK! I’m currently back in the UK since living in Perth Australia for the past year, and hoping to move to Christchurch New Zealand in the next couple of years.

What’s your travel story? How did you get into travel and what kind of travel are you doing now?

I come from a travel-loving family! Both my parents love to travel, and the same for my grandparents who lived abroad for much of their lives, so I think it was inevitable to catch the bug.

My travel style was a typical budget backpacker but as I get older and working full time it’s evolved into part-time travel where I’ll let myself enjoy a bit more privacy and comfort than a dorm room. I’ve also very much been enjoying life as an expat abroad. I’ve always tried to embrace nature and culture as a priority, and now more than ever appreciate meaningful experiences through slow travel.

When did you start your blog and what sort of stories do you share there?

I began Suzy Stories in 2016 when I embarked on a 6 month trip around Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. At the time, it was an easy way to document my trip and share news with friends and family. Eventually I started to share tips and ideas for the places I visit and wider considerations about the practice of travel from a philosophical perspective.

What do you do when you’re not travelling or writing about travel?

Dream of travel! Only half-joking… I work in digital marketing full time, so you’ll often find me putting my planning and writing skills to use in some other way!

I love photography and nature, so in my spare time I try to combine both with a walk and my camera on hand to capture my surroundings.

Having lived abroad and been in a long distance relationship for the last 4 years, I probably spend a lot of time video chatting with friends and family around the world too!

If you had to sum up your travel ethos in one phrase, what would it be?

Travel with meaning! Whether I’m going for a relaxing beach break or a historical city visit – I strive for all my trips to have a meaningful purpose. That doesn’t always mean I have to learn something educational; I use travel to reconnect with myself, or get back in touch with nature too.

What’s your best travel memory of the last year?

We took a weekend break down to Esperance in Western Australia last spring. It was an incredible trip for several reasons, but a special highlight was a scenic flight over Lake Hillier and the Recherche Archipelago where the lake water is bubblegum pink! It was truly a wow-factor feat of nature to see.

Travelling has made me…

Grateful for the diversity of the world around us, and grateful for my home comforts when I’ve been away for too long!

What is your unpopular travelling opinion?

That places cannot be “instagrammable”! Some destinations are especially aesthetic, beautiful, unique – but they are not for social media bragging only. To me, that’s reducing their value to something far less significant.

What’s something you do on every trip?

I try to visit an art gallery in every new destination. Granted, it’s pretty hard sometimes! I find the curation of an art gallery can teach you a lot about a place. It showcases its history, famous figures, culture, struggles, politics, successes and more all in one place. It often replaces museums for me!

What destination is calling your name in 2021 and beyond?

I am really intrigued by Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan! I would like to challenge myself to some different experiences and trips to places I’m less familiar with, and I think that would tick the box nicely. I have a dream of journeying through the ‘Stans, but I would like to take my time. There’s so much to see!

If you could live abroad, where would you live?

I absolutely loved living in Perth, Western Australia. I would move back there in a heartbeat. The quality of life is excellent and there are so many gorgeous beaches, parks, and endless nature to explore.

I had hoped to move to New Zealand this year but a certain few border restrictions have disrupted those plans! It’s my favourite country in the world and I’m so lucky to have visited a few times already thanks to my Kiwi partner, but we’ll have to put those plans on pause for now.

How do you cope with travel burnout or bad days on the road?

I try to slow down when things get rough on my travels. During long stretches of travel you’re bound to get worn out with constant activities and sightseeing. The important thing is to remember that you’re not being ungrateful, you’re just drained of energy.

I try to take a walk or do some light exercise such as swimming. Any activity that you find clears your mind such as meditation or a long bath can work too! I like to write my thoughts down afterwards. It offloads my brain jumbles and that extra physical acknowledgement of my feelings clears my mind.

If I’m in a city or large town, I try to do something “normal” for a day or so. Pop to the shops, perhaps go to see a movie. An activity that would be done at home can help reset a balance of normality. Hopping from museum to waterfall to historical ruins to hiking trail is completely out of the normal pattern of life. Allow yourself some small indulgences that make you feel like yourself.

What is your favourite blog post that you’ve written and why?

I’m really proud of a few of my posts that aren’t about destinations! This post about vacation shaming was one of the first I wrote that took a look at travel habits and attitudes. It’s not a perfect post but I’m proud of it because I put my opinions out there and I enjoy the conversations it starts.

What do you wish you saw more of in the travel industry? What do you wish you saw less of?

I once wrote a post about everything wrong with travel bloggers. While it was slightly tongue in cheek, it called attention to a few gripes I have about the travel industry and especially bloggers within it!

For me, it boils down to issues about being transparent, honest travellers. We have a responsibility to share the world in a realistic way, and so often the rose-tinted lens of Instagram and inspirational lifestyles can taint that. So I would like to see more raw, real experiences that highlight not everywhere is as rosy as it seems.

What is your most unique travel moment?

What a brilliant question! I treasure these moments above anything else. There is something quite remarkable about a special moment that is completely spontaneous and entirely magical.

On a trip to New Zealand, my partner and I enjoyed a road trip through the South Island. It was pouring with rain as we drove to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, but to our complete shock when we woke up the next morning, the sky was clear and a fresh coat of snow lay on the ground.

We decided to take a last-minute hike up the Red Tarns Track which leads to a lookout over the village and across the mountains. We were the only ones on the whole track, and as the sun melted the snow, we knew anyone else on this hike that day wouldn’t get the same incredible moment of the white snow and the sharp mountain peaks that we shared. It was completely mind-blowing!

Lastly, where can we find you online?

Come and say hello at:

• Suzystories.com
• Twitter.com/suzystories
• Facebook.com/suzystories
• Instagram.com/suzystories
• Pinterest.co.uk/suzystories

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Thank you for joining my Traveller of the Month series, Suzy! Head on over to Suzy’s blog to follow along on her adventures and stay tuned for an exciting announcement about my Traveller of the Month series for 2021!