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No dramas in the Bahamas – About Me

About Me | TravelMermaid.com

Hi! I’m Travel Mermaid, a serial expat and international school teacher who left London in 2011 with my Sailor in tow.

I’m now based in Malaysia, after 6 years living in Czech Republic, Australia and Thailand. I write about expat living in Kuala Lumpur and travel in Asia Pacific.

Find out more about me here, or follow my social media channels below.

Instagram

11 years with my Sailor 🌶 (and 10 years a nomad!) 🤟⁠ ⁠ When I first met this nut in London, I never thought we'd travel halfway across the world together, and not come back. ⁠ ⁠ But after just a few months of being loved up like Love Island's Tommy and Molly-Mae (😆), we were already jetting off to live in Prague, and each year or so since then have been moving from country to country.⁠ ⁠ I don't know what it's like to travel alone (apart from a short stint in Kuala Lumpur), but I know this. Travelling with a soulmate is *freaking awesome*.⁠ ⁠ Sharing all those experiences together- good or bad, big or small, strange or otherwise- has brought us closer then I ever thought two humans could be. ⁠ ⁠ We got married in this little nook of Port Douglas just over 5 years ago and today, we finally signed the lease on our new home in town (hell yeah!) We're so happy to soon be back in one of our favourite parts of the world.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ✍🏼 Where's you're special place?⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ⁠ #happyanniversary #anniversarycelebration #brideandgroom #weddingonthebeach #barefootwedding #portdouglas #portdouglasweddings #tropicalnorthqueensland #Australia #visitaustralia #loveandtravel #nomadcouple #coupleswhotravel #expatlifestyle #homeawayfromhome #tenyearsanomad #travelmermaid 🤟🏼 #travel_mermaid⁠
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11 years with ...

Bushwalking thousands-of-years-old Aboriginal pathways 🚶🏽‍♀️⁠ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦⁠ ⁠ Even though I'm still homeless (sigh), I'm glad to have had the opportunity to stay in Cairn for a few weeks to explore some of the awesome hiking trails nearby ...and city, of course!⁠ ⁠ Around this little piece of Barron Gorge National Park, many tracks were originally created by the indigenous rainforest people, called Djabugandgi Bama. ⁠ ⁠ They walked these pathways in search of seasonal foods, and to trade with other tribes along the Coral Sea.⁠ ⁠ Then in the 1870s when gold was discovered to the west of Cairns, explorers Douglas and Smith blazed trails up the range to link the mines with the coastal port. ⁠ ⁠ If the trees could talk, I'm sure they'd have some stories to tell. 🌳⁠ ⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ⁠ #nationalpark #worldheritagearea #natureplayground #qldparks #cairns #daytrips #queensland #australia #AsiaPacific #tropicalnorthqueensland #fnq #explorefnq #thisisqueensland #hikeit #hike_australia #instatravel #traveloz #lifeofaustralia #visitaustralia #travelaustralia #exploreaustralia #placeslikethis #australianlandscapes #wanderlust #expatlife #shareyouradventure #australiablogger #travelmermaid 🤟🏼 #travel_mermaid⁠ ⁠ ⁠
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Bushwalking thousands-of-years-old Aboriginal ...

Sunday marina sunsets in Cairns 🌶⁠ ⁠ It may be cloudy today (this one's from the pic bank!) but after being back in Queensland for only a few weeks, I've caught more than my fair share of sunsets. With rolling hills at every turn from Cains to Port Douglas, it makes for a dreamy backdrop at anytime of the day. But it's even more jaw-dropping at dusk. ⁠ ⁠ One of my favourite things to do in this city so far? Grab a good seat (at @salthousecairns or @roccobycrystalbrook), order a cheeky sundowner and soak in the sunset views. 🙌⁠ ⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ◦⁠ ⁠ ⁠#sunsets #sunsetview #cairns #queensland #australia #tropicalnorthqueensland #tnq #farnorthqueensland #fnq #explorefnq #thisisqueensland #visitqueensland #discoverqueensland #travel #instatravel #travelgram #traveldeeper #seeaustralia #travelaustralia #exploreaustralia #australianlandscapes #wanderlust #expatlife #travelmermaid #travel_mermaid⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠
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Sunday marina sunsets ...

A bushwalker’s reward in Tropical North Queensland 🐨⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Since moving to TNQ a few weeks ago, I’ve been spoilt for choice when it comes to where to hike ⁠(this place has more hiking trails than there are bananas!)⁠⁣⁠ ⁣⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣The Malaysian jungle was a bit more rugged than these tracks, and I saw more wildlife, but one cool thing about walking here is that the National Parks provide maps and info on all of their routes, making it much easier to plan a day trip.⁠⁣⁠ ⁣⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣I’m not a fan of all the paperwork involved in renting a house here, but I am a fan of the well documented walking tracks 🙌⁠⁣⁠ ⁣⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣This serene lookout is of Copperlode Falls Dam (aka, Lake Morris), which is the main water supply for Cairns. ⁠⁣⁠ ⁣⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣It took an hour of pure uphill slaughter to get here, but as you can see, the view [and resting spot] wasn’t shabby- at all.⁠ ⁠⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣We were the only two people at the top, the air was still and the only noise came from the birds. It was one of the most peaceful places I’ve been in a long time 🧘🏼‍♀️⁠⁣⁠ ⁣⁠⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣🇦🇺⁠ 🇦🇺⁠ 🇦🇺⁠ 🇦🇺⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁠ ⁣⁠⁣⁠ ⁣#ilovequeensland #natureplayground #lakemorris #copperlodedam #queensland #australia #hikeit #hike_australia #hiketheworld #qldparks #thisisqueensland #visitqueensland #explorefnq #seeaustralia #discoverqueensland #tnq #tropicalnorthqueensland #travel #instatravel #travelgram #traveldeeper #australianlandscapes #travelaustralia #nationalparks #exploreaustralia #wanderlust #expatlife #travelmermaid #travel_mermaid
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A bushwalker’s reward ...

Double tap if you fancy your morning coffee ☕️ here? 💙⁠ ⁠⁣◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⁠As wild hornbills flew around our terrace, sipping a coffee here in the morning with the ocean [and jungle] in full view, was utterly spoiling 👑⁠ ⁠ This was definitely the most luxurious resort I've ever stayed in. Our villa was spacious, with his and her sinks, a [real] coffee machine, an outdoor bathtub and the furnishings were all top notch.⁠ ⁠⁠⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ Wanna know more about this place and how you can save money on your trip? Head to the blog soon for a full low down.⁠ 🏝⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁣◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦◦⠀⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #PangkorLaut #PangkorLautResort #MalaysiaIsland #Malaysia #SouthEastAsia #VisitAsia #LuxuryTravel #LuxuryResort #IslandEscapes #TropicalIsland #VisitMalaysia #VisitMalaysiaOfficial #TravelMalaysia #MalaysiaVacation #DiscoverMalaysia #igmalaysia #MalaysiaTrulyAsia #AsiaVacations #travelmermaid #travel_mermaid⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠
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Double tap if ...

One idyllic island, one luxury resort 🥥⁠ ⁣✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ Now I know Malaysia isn't short of islands, but... There's not many [that I know of] which are owned by a single resort, with only that single resort on it, AND which aren't CRAZY expensive. This one was pricey- but not ridiculous- and every ringgit was worth it 👌🏼 I even got to see the bird on the ringgit around here 🤙🏻😉⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ Taking a jungle hike around this little beaut was hugely satisfying. We were the only people on the track and it hummed loudly with life, leading us to its powder sand beach on Emerald Bay. Then we turned around to Chapman's Bar to indulge in a to-order BBQ with all the fresh seafood and Malaysian delights you could ask for.⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ If Carlsberg made holidays, I'm telling you they'd be here!⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ Happy Monday guys 💙⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ 🇲🇾⁠ ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ #PangkorLaut #PangkorLautResort #MalaysiaIsland #Malaysia #SouthEastAsia #VisitAsia #LuxuryTravel #LuxuryResort #IslandEscapes #TropicalIsland #VisitMalaysia #VisitMalaysiaOfficial #wanderlust #DiscoverMalaysia #igmalaysia #MalaysiaTrulyAsia #AsiaVacations #droneshot #djimavicpro2zoom #travelmermaid #travel_mermaid⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠
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One idyllic island, ...

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