In my line of work I am privileged to meet some incredibly interesting and talented individuals. While we all share a passion for travel, our personal and professional backgrounds are often very different. It is those differences that make travel such a dynamic and exciting industry to be in, right now. Travel content creators are constantly coming up with new and innovative ways to share their unique stories, while traversing the globe. I asked a few to reflect on their year of travel; their experiences and lessons learned and to reveal the bucket list destinations on their itineraries for 2017.
Sarah O’Farrell from Fit Travels specialises in slow travel around South East Asia, coconut in hand. Image © Sarah O’Farrell
Sarah O’Farrell | Fit Travels
Currently based in Melbourne, Sarah spends a lot of time in South East Asia where she soaks up the warm weather, enjoys the beautiful beaches and savours the spicy food. She shares her experiences on her blog, Fit Travels.
Share your favourite travel moment from 2016 with us…
This year I was fortunate to be selected as the Australian representative on the Kerala Blog Express. I spent two weeks travelling through the Southern Indian state of Kerala with 30 bloggers from 25 different countries. We stayed in some amazing resorts, ate delicious food and I made some lifelong friends.
Do you have a nightmare moment from this year?
I was in the same room, attending the same (intimate) dinner as Miss World Australia and the four runners-up in Thailand this year. That’s a moment that will definitely make you regret the chocolate bar you just ate.
Who has inspired you most this year and why?
Gosh – this is a tough one and I can’t just give you one name so here goes:
My sister – For finishing a degree where she will make a difference in other people’s lives, and always puts playing with her kids before having a clean house.
My Mummy friends and relatives – All of these women are superheroes in my eyes. I’ve got women in my life who have four kids, have kids and work full-time, have a child with special needs and have a child plus run their own business. There’s a certain level of patience once acquires when becoming a mother and that’s something to be envious of if you’re not there yet!
Every single blogger I’ve met – I love how blogging can be so varied and I think I’ve learnt something from every blogger I’ve met this year (and it’s a big list!) It’s a hard job to do full-time and I admire those that have the drive to create their own success.
What is the best lesson 2016 has taught you?
There is no ‘right’ formula for success or happiness. Both can be determined by the individual.
What is on your travel itinerary for 2017?
I’m hoping to do a week or so in Bali and Thailand very soon (we are lacking sunshine here in Melbourne.) Plus we’re doing a week long family holiday to the Gold Coast for my mother in law’s 60th birthday in April. Eight adults and six kids! I’m actually looking forward to it as three of my nieces/nephews have never been on a plane before so I can’t wait to share that experience with them.
Name the three destinations that are now at the top of your bucket list?
1. Not a destination as such but the Trans Siberian Train journey from China to Russia is at the top of my list
2. Iran
3. Myanmar – I’ve been here twice before (2013 and 2014) but I’d love to see how much it’s changed since.
Can you share one big 2017 life goal with us?
Continue to put myself out there and meet fabulous people, just like you Skye.
Cruising the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam was Kerri McConnel’s favourite travel moment for 2016. Image © Kerri McConnel
Kerri McConnel | Beer and Croissants
Kerri McConnel believes that anyone can travel. She writes about real people, places and experiences that she encounters on her travels – whether it be in a motor home or a luxury hotel.
Share your favourite travel moment from 2016 with us…
Ticking off a dream to cruise along the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam was my favourite moment this year. It’s one of those experiences that I imagine I won’t do again, so I was keen to make the most of it. To cap it all off, we had a wonderful river boat all to ourselves for three days.
Do you have a nightmare moment from this year?
I don’t usually have any nightmare moments, but this year I did, courtesy of a dangerous boat situation in remote Indonesia. A small, closed in fibreglass boat, no suitable exit and a driver smoking over the top of open petrol barrels as we boarded was more than enough to make me disembark.
Who has inspired you most this year and why?
What is the best lesson 2016 has taught you?
In a an online world that can be incredibly singular and self-devoted, I have learnt I can still make a difference in the lives of others by helping them with support and advice when necessary. By actively being part of forums, there is an opportunity to always give back and improve someones day.
What is on your travel itinerary for 2017?
This is always in a state of flux but I hope to get to India in March and also western Canada. I’ve also now been away from Europe for 12 months so I’m getting itchy feet to return.
Name the three destinations that are now at the top of your bucket list?
I don’t have bucket lists as I change my mind too often but I’d love to see these places soon – Western Canada and Alaska, Africa and Scandinavia.
Can you share one big 2017 life goal with us?
To travel more with my husband and to ensure I stay as fit and healthy as I am now.
Australian photographer and journalist Jackson Groves lives an enviable life of adventure. Image © Rob Mulally
Jackson Groves | Journey Era
Jackson is a 25-year-old journalist and a photographer from Adelaide, Australia who opted for exploration rather than a regular career after graduating from college. He now spends his days photographing people and places from around the world while sharing his adventures on Journey Era
Share your favourite travel moment from 2016 with us…
After sleeping on the deck of our sailboat in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, the rising sun was my alarm clock. I watched the sun creep over the horizon giving light to the other boats in the harbour. Captain Jack had promised me if the boat wasn’t moving I could jump from the mast. Our entire time on the ship it had either been moving or we were touring a specific location. Without any other thought on my mind I found Jack and asked him one last time if it was fine and then headed up the mast. While climbing the rickety old wooden ladder 50 feet or so above the deck I had no second thoughts and everything felt right. A drone buzzed around me and cameras and necks were arched up towards me from the deck. I flew off and plunged into the blue waters of Labuan Bajo, capping off an amazing journey throughout Indonesia.
Do you have a nightmare moment from this year?
I actually don’t it was a seamless year of backpacking and hiking with no dramatic moments or run-ins. Not once throughout my six months in Southeast Asia did I encounter any problems. Maybe because I am 6ft tall, bearded and have a long mane of hair. Who knows but I hope it stays that way.
Who has inspired you most this year and why?
I feed off people’s energy, drive and originality. So if you tick any of those three boxes you will have impacted me in some way or another. While on a trip to Indonesia I really fed off the energy of Rob Mulally, a professional photographer from Sydney. The guy would sprint along the beach to change a lens as the sun was setting and then throw himself down into the sand to find the right angle.
I found a lot of inspiration from the people I met who were living in villages and towns in Southeast Asia. There were far too many smiles around for the amount of hard work being done and the living conditions endured.
What is the best lesson 2016 has taught you?
2016 wow what didn’t you teach me. I think something I have learnt to do is to have the ability to listen to an entirely different point of view, religion or culture and not feel the need to compare or rationalize to my own beliefs, outlook or perspective. I’ve met hundreds of travelers and many locals while backpacking. I quickly gathered that the ability to listen despite how wrong, misguided or out of touch you think someone’s views are is the quickest way to make a friend on the road.
What is on your travel itinerary for 2017?
Who knows! I don’t plan too far ahead but I am hoping to visit India in early 2017 after spending time exploring the coast of South Australia, which is my home state. What happens after that I will have to wait and see.
Name the three destinations that are now at the top of your bucket list?
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Siargao, Philippines
Alice Springs, Australia
Can you share one big 2017 life goal with us?
Humanitarian work is high on my agenda and something I hope will be a big part of 2017.
One to watch: Anita Hendrieka has a huge year of travel planned for 2017. Image © Anita Hendrieka
Anita Hendrieka | Anita Hendrieka
Anita Hendrieka left NZ at the tender age of 19 to explore the world and share her stories through her adventure travel blog Anita Hendrieka. Now you can find her in New Zealand, United Kingdom or anywhere in between.
Share your favourite travel moment from 2016 with us…
My favourite travel moment would have to be discovering an absolute paradise called Palu Bay in Sulawesi, Indonesia. It just took my breath away, I could not put the camera down. Just imagine white sand beach, turquoise water, colourful huts and an ice-cold Bintang.
Do you have a nightmare moment from this year?
Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to go to Kerala, India. This was my second time in India so I knew what to expect except this time I was going with a bunch of beer-loving bloggers. Let’s just say I have learnt my lesson about drinking too much beer, combined with never-ending Indian food and staying in a pool until 5am during a lightning storm. It took me over a week to recover from brutal stomach ulcers when I returned home. It was certainly a trip of a lifetime.
Who has inspired you most in this year and why?
Janet from the website Journalist on the Run. She is absolutely killing the blogging game with her interesting stories and honesty about how travelling is not always perfect. I had the pleasure of meeting her earlier this year in Kerala, India and she’s just living proof that if you put in the hard work you will soon be rewarded.
What is the best lesson 2016 has taught you?
To wear more sunscreen so I don’t end up looking like a lobster and have to hide in a dark room. You would have thought I would have learnt this lesson by now having fair skin my whole life.
What is on your travel itinerary for 2017?
I don’t think I have had more exciting travel plans than my itinerary for 2017. Next year I will be starting my adventure in January from the UK back to my home, New Zealand. I will be travelling for 4-5 months and going to Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Oman, Turkey, Dubai, Cyprus, Maldives and more! I have a feeling that 2017 will be the best year yet!
Name the three destinations that are now at the top of your bucket list?
Egypt, The Philippines and Iran. Next year I am going to have to think of two new places to replace Iran and Egypt!
Can you share one big 2017 life goal with us?
To explore more unusual and interesting places. As a travel blogger, it’s sometimes hard to differentiate yourself from other bloggers, so this year I really want to explore destinations that people might not usually think of when researching where they should travel to. I want to come home with the most interesting stories.
Rhiannon Taylor’s incredible eye shines through in every facet of her work. Image © Rhiannon Taylor
Rhiannon Taylor | In Bed With
Rhiannon Taylor injects her extensive expertise in editorial photography into her lifestyle blog, In Bed With. Cleverly curated around the simple question ‘Where are you staying tonight?’ she features beautiful experiential reviews on luxury resorts and lodges from around the world.
Share your favourite travel moment from 2016 with us…
There are so many great things I’ve experienced through travel this year but it’s the smaller moments that are the ones that have brought me the most happiness. Eating cheap gyros by the sea in Greece probably tops my list. Sounds simple, but add great company and follow it up with a dip in the Med and it becomes a memory that I go back to time and time again when I’m bogged down with work and stress.
Do you have a nightmare moment from this year?
Yes and I hope I will never have to relive it. I had a day of disasters travelling out of New York. Redirected between two airports (twice), airport shut down due to a storm (which never happened), an airport hotel over a nightclub with many remnants of the previous guest’s bodily fluids, no sleep, out-of-pocket about $1000, no answer on any airline call centre and a dying phone battery. It also caused me to miss a shoot for a client. Needless to say all I could do was cry. The worst part was I could have spent another evening in New York in a fabulous hotel with great food.
Who has inspired you most in this year and why?
There are so many but above all my family who support my creativity and believe that I have skills in my craft as a photographer. They’re pretty honest, so their support gives me confidence that I’m good at what I do (most of the time). I also have some great women in business that I look up to, some who are in completely different fields to me but are so incredibly innovative in their industry that it’s hard not be inspired. It’s great to have a diverse network – it’s really useful when trying to think outside the box.
What is the best lesson 2016 has taught you?
If you want something to happen, you need to make it happen yourself. I sat back for a very long time and waited for work to come to me which was unproductive. It was only until I went through a big life change a few years back that I got off my ass and became proactive. I know this advice is common, but it’s so true. Also, to be kind. So many people I’ve met over the last few years have been kind and generous with their time and resources to me. I really like to pay that forward.
What is on your travel itinerary for 2017?
It really depends on where my clients send me, but I have Indonesia, South Africa and the USA coming up for the first quarter of 2017.
Name the three destinations that are now at the top of your bucket list?
Oman, Cuba and Seychelles.
Can you share one big 2017 life goal with us?
Buy a farm and start a B&B! But if I’m being realistic, take on more assignments that go above and beyond the frivolous fun of travel. I’m blessed to shoot for publications and clients that are looking to dive deeper in to the power of travel, how it connects us to each other, the land we are privileged to inhabit and how we can be better global citizens. So more of that next year.
Iceland, Rwanda and Jamaica are firmly at the top of Jo’s travel bucket list for 2017. Image © Jyotsna Ramani
Jyotsna (Jo) Ramani | Wander with Jo
Jo is an adrenaline junkie and an avid globetrotter. She loves to write and started putting pen to paper at a very early age by jotting down letters to her pen pals. Now, she prefers to write on her blog Wander With Jo and share her travel tales with adventurers across the globe. She loves the great outdoors and being close to nature, among other things.
Share your favourite travel moment from 2016 with us…
My top travel experience was surely the time I spent in South Africa. As a big time wildlife buff, I loved my 6 nights in Zululand Rhino Reserve. From watching lions on foot, a family of Black Rhinos charging at our safari vehicle, 3 cheetah cubs enjoying their prey and 400+ new species of birds – it was a full on amazing mix of awesome experiences all bundled up.
Do you have a nightmare moment from this year?
I am the queen of travel fails so there’s never a “non-nightmare” situation with me. I was in Sri Lanka after a minor cyst removal surgery from the neck. Was okayed to travel by the doc but suddenly one morning I wake up to something wet and sticky on my neck. I felt it and when I opened my eyes and saw blood gushing out of my open stitches, I swear, I almost fainted. Was rushed to a hospital in an auto rickshaw – all alone – straight to the emergency and they fixed me up again. Phew!
Who has inspired you most in this year and why?
A lot of amazing bloggers. It has been a roller coaster ride with my new travel blog and every meeting with a fellow blogger, photographer or social media guru has been absolutely inspirational and fantastic. Especially the amazing bloggers we had for the Trip of Wonders in Indonesia.
What is the best lesson 2016 has taught you?
2015 was one of the roughest year’s of my life so 2016 was all about new beginnings. I learnt that no matter what you do or where you go, you simply cannot run away from your problems so I had to put my big girl pants on and face them head on – Look how it has turned out for me – Pretty darn good, I would say. Oh and that “rising from the ashes like a phoenix” saying – Oh hell yeah, that’s all true!
What is on your travel itinerary for 2017?
Oh SO much. I am looking forward to a lot of meaningful travel in 2017. Already applied for some volunteer jobs with children and animals – totally psyched about 2017. Bring it on.
Name the three destinations that are now at the top of your bucket list?
Iceland, Rwanda and Jamaica (well among maybe 100 more).
Can you share one big 2017 life goal with us?
Eating better. I have never really focused on what I eat and I think its time to do so – healthy lifestyle = more travels. Right?
Visiting Raja Ampat in Indonesia was one of the many travel highlights in 2016 for Paula and Gordon of Contented Traveller. Image © Contented Traveller
Paula McInerney + Gordon Arthur | Contented Traveller
Paula and Gordon are Destination and Experience Marketers. Their travel site Contented Traveller is aimed at fit, free and financial travellers, who are a little left of centre.
Share your favourite travel moment from 2016 with us…
We had an unusual year with a lot of different destinations that we were not expecting, nor even really knew much about, before we went there. Unusually, 2016 was the year of Asia and Oceania. Sulawesi, Ambon, Saparua Island and Raja Ampat were highlights because we knew so little about Indonesia, outside of Bali where we also worked. But the highlight, I think, was going to TBEX, the travel bloggers conference, in Manila, Philippines. Not only did we act like teenagers night clubbing, but we networked with amazing companies, met incredible people, and felt validated that we are doing a good job at Contented Traveller.
Do you have a nightmare moment from this year?
I could say nine flights in 7 days through Sulawesi, Indonesia was a nightmare, but it ended up being an excellent Media Famil Trip with some amazing personalities. No nightmares; it is all about serendipity and having Gordon as a calm husband.
Who has inspired you most in this year and why?
Gordon says he has. He says because he is wonderful. OK, he is.
What is the best lesson 2016 has taught you?
That working your butts off creating a small business, pays dividends. Staying authentic on our travel blog is imperative. We now have a very viable travel blog and a consulting business, where we work with people from all different areas, not just travel.
What is on your travel itinerary for 2017?
We are having a holiday, which sounds weird when we travel for a living, but we are skiing at Nozawa Onsen in Japan in January and February, and we are excited to return. We will be doing a Beach Bums series through the islands of the Philippines like Boracay and Palawan. It is funny as I asked the airlines and different companies we will be working with, did they realize our age? They said yes, and that is why it will work. They are right. Beach bums come in all shapes and sizes. We are also off to Ireland for TBEX in October, and this is exciting as my family comes from there. The rest is serendipity, though we do have some attractive job offers.
Name the three destinations that are now at the top of your bucket list?
Too difficult, as we are very open-minded but Prague and The Czech Republic, has me interested, as does India and Colombia
Can you share one big 2017 life goal with us?
Make it to the end of the year. Always a good goal. Keep Contented Traveller relevant and real for our readers, and stop using alliteration.
Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.
She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.
As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.
Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.
Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.
Read more about Skye’s story here.