• Home
    • Destinations
      • Australia
      • Malaysia
      • Thailand
      • Sri Lanka
      • England
    • Australia
    • Malaysia
    • Expat Life
    • About Me
    • Get In Touch

    Get my latest goss

    Travel Mermaid

    Travel & Expat Blog

    Travel Mermaid

    Travel & Expat Blog

    • Home
    • Destinations
      • Australia
      • Malaysia
      • Thailand
      • Sri Lanka
      • England
    • Australia
    • Malaysia
    • Expat Life
    • About Me
    • Get In Touch

    About Me

    Hiking in Perhentian Kecil.

    Ahoy! Welcome to Travel Mermaid.

     

    I’m stoked to share my little corner of the internet with you where I blog about travel and expat life in Asia Pacific.

    Have you ever found yourself on holiday saying “I’d love to live here!”

    From a young age, I did too. Somehow, I always knew I was destined to live abroad. The dreary, English weather was uninspiring and I loved how alive I felt in different countries. So 10 years ago I chose to pursue a career I enjoyed, that allowed me to lead a lifestyle I wanted.

    I’m not a full-time traveller, but a full-time teacher and expat. I’ve been fortunate enough to work in some awesome countries, travel my way around them during the school holidays and learn about communities & cultures on a deeper level.

    Travel for me has become more than just a holiday. As an expat, it’s a way of life and living abroad has taught me more about life, people and myself than university or books ever could.

    So on Travel Mermaid, I’ll be bringing you honest travel and expat articles from Australia & Southeast Asia. With my local insight, I hope to inspire you on some epic adventures where I’ll show you the best that this region has to offer.

    Where am I currently? Tropical North Queensland, Australia.

    Where in the world am I? // Travel Mermaid

    So what kind of travelling escapades can you expect from me?

    With the move from Kuala Lumpur to North Queensland last July, this year I’ll be exploring my own back yard and bringing you more expat & travel content from Australia.

    You’ll find lots of conscious travel guides with a focus on nature, adventure, culture and foodie highlights. I’ve got a lot of trips planned (in my head!) from the beaches of tropical islands, to tropical rainforests and deep into the remote backcountry.

    In 2020 I also intend to write more travel stories instead of just guides and reviews, which I didn’t quite have time for when I was teaching. I’m a little rusty on story writing though so I apologise in advance for how they turn out!

    Related Read:
    18 Relaxing Short Getaways From Kuala Lumpur

    Granite-Gorge-Wallabies-Atherton-Tablelands-North-Queensland-Australia ] Travel Mermaid 097

    For a New Year’s resolution I also made a crazy pledge to reduce my carbon footprint by 45% in 12-months! By figuring out how to be more sustainable in life, I’m hoping it will make me a more sustainable traveller. I’ll report my progress on the blog and try to find actionable ways that we can be better eco-warriors on the road.

    So stay with me a little while longer, linger on the blog or stalk my Instagram as I hope to inspire you on new & memorable experiences. In our hectic, modern lives, we often don’t get enough time to travel. So let’s make every holiday count- deal?

    “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

    Expat-life-in-Kuala-Lumpur-Malaysia-21-Travel-Mermaid-min

    Still reading? Here’s a little more about me.

    Growing up in London, I met so many people from all walks of life and was inspired by their travel stories. I always yearned to migrate and saw travel as a way to really experience life.

    So, after I met my Czech Sailor (you’ll hear a lot about him) and finished my degree, without a job, home and a little over £1’000 pounds to my name, we emigrated to Prague for my first expat experience.

    I guess you could say, the rest is history.

    Beach time in Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands

    In Prague I did what every other lost English degree graduate does, and took a TEFL course. Little did I know at the time that it would pave a career in teaching and opportunities to travel the world.

    After a year working as a TA at an International School alongside an awesome Scottish teacher, I left Prague prematurely for London to complete a post-grad in teaching (PGCE) and my first year on the job. It was a challenging time working in some tough London schools, but I knew it was a stepping stone to my ultimate goal- teaching abroad.

    PGCE students' Carnival Week' at Goldsmiths, University of London
    Carnival Day : Teacher training fun at Goldsmith’s University in London. Boris was just mayor at the time.

    Since then…

    We returned to Prague for the second time in an attempt to settle there permanently.

    I started working at another International School and as I was now earning a decent salary, this time around I could afford more holidays & skiing adventures around Czech Republic & Europe, as opposed to just staying in the city eating goulash and drinking beer!

    I’d also grown a close group of expat friends and because the Sailor’s Czech, I got to hang out with his Praguester mates too and have a more ‘local’ experience, so it was the best of both worlds.

    But all this travelling had unlocked some serious wanderlust and it wasn’t long into winter when the blistering cold Czech weather got the better of me.

    Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic
    I’ll always have a soft spot for Prague

    So I paid $10’000 AUD for a skilled migrant visa for Australia. As you do!

    The Sailor was over 30 so we couldn’t go down the easy ‘Working Holiday Visa’ route, but it worked out in our favour as this way we could stay indefinitely.

    We initially intended to migrate to Sydney, but somehow we ended up in a remote beach town in Far North Queensland which offered the kind of dreamy Australian lifestyle that you read about in books. After a lifetime living in huge concrete cities and gloomy weather, it blew me away with its tropical climate and incredible natural beauty… as well as literally nearly blowing me away with a cyclone!

    Whilst I waited for my permanent visa to come though, I took a year out of teaching to recoup and waitressed like every other backpacker in town. We explored the World-Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, and it was where I married the Sailor  🎉

    But of course, our happily ever after doesn’t stop here.

    Port-Douglas-wedding-Queensland-Australia ] Travel Mermaid

    I don’t know many people who have been to Thailand and weren’t totally blown away by it.

    En-route to migrating to Australia, we had an amazing holiday there and whimsically decided to move over. During these two years, we both worked at an International School and travelled extensively throughout the country on the holidays, having the most transformative expat experience to date. Thailand is an interesting place to live, but even more-so in its sex-pat capital, Pattaya, for good and bad.

    Koh-Lipe-Thailand-aerial-photo-25-Travel-Mermaid
    Koh Lipe, Thailand

    It was here I learnt about thankfulness and appreciation. The majority of Thai’s own so little, yet what they lack in material things they make up for in community spirit, strong family relationships and the ability to make the most of what they have.

    Since then I’ve been less concerned with possessions or a house full of stuff, but experiences, connecting to the world, to people and making a positive impact. I think everyone should move to Southeast Asia at least once.

    Koh-Lanta-5-Thailand-Travel-Mermaid
    Holidays in Thailand will always be some of my faves

    After that we moved to Melbourne to see if it was a place we could finally settle.

    I loved living here. As city’s go, this one is pretty darn cool with a distinctive European vibe, hipster laneways and the the best food you could imagine!

    But ultimately, we were looking to save for future projects which is hard in Straya, and we found ourself being strangely pulled back to Southeast Asia. Once you’ve lived there, it tends to have a hold over you.

    Pangkor-Laut-Resort-island-Malaysia-Travel-Mermaid
    Malaysia’s Pangkor Laut island

    Our last stint was two years in Malaysia’s colourful capital until July 2019. I was working at an International School whilst the Sailor worked remotely for his former Ozzie employer, so he would be in his bedroom office in 10 second flat!

    I really enjoyed living in Kuala Lumpur. It’s a city of many contrasts and one that massively surprised me, so much so that I declared it the most liveable city in Asia.

    Whilst there we developed a deep love for the jungle, started learning how to kitesurf on our holidays and had more than our fair share of tropical staycations.

    Top things to do in Malaysia's Perhentian Islands.
    Views for days – Malaysia’s Perhentian Kecil Island

    Now?

    Last year we had plans to migrate to Brisbane to buy our first home, begin other exciting ventures and try to stay long enough to finally gain citizenship in Australia.

    But instead we took a minor detour before that happens! Currently, we’re super stoked to be back in one of our favourite places in the world, Port Douglas in North Queensland. It’s kind of a beautiful full circle.

    Initially we said we’d stay for six months and use the time to slow down, reflect and plan life’s next steps. And hopefully leave being independent kiteboarders 🤟

    But we’ve already exceeded that timeframe and have no intention to leave just yet. So who knows what the future will bring.

    Thala-Beach-Lodge-Port-Douglas-Queensland ] Travel Mermaid


    So what about you? What brings you here?

    Say G’day in the comment box below, or contact me if you’ve got a question.

    Or, check out some articles:

    Australia Travel Inspiration Malaysia Travel Inspiration Expat Life in Asia Pacific

    Meet Travel Mermaid

    About Me | TravelMermaid.com

    Ahoy! I’m Shezz, a London-born School Teacher who left Blighty behind 10 years ago with my Sailor. After stints in Prague, Thailand, Melbourne & Malaysia, we’re now based in Australia’s Tropical North.

    On the blog I write about adventure travel & expat life, with a passion for nature, good food and sustainability. Through my travel stories, destination guides & photography, I hope to inspire your next adventure!

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

    Instagram

    Shezz 🧜🏻‍♀️ Travel Mermaid

    travel_mermaid

    Follow me at @travel_mermaid

    View
    20 6
    Open
    Welcome to The Glass House! 🏠 🌊 ...⁠
⁠
A while ago the Sailor and I came up with the idea of setting up a kiteboarding stay in Western Australia, and so while this is still in the pipeline we settled on a boutique holiday stay for now. We spent months transforming our guesthouse into this gorgeous space. It took A LOT of work, but we finally opened in January and we've been so stoked with the feedback, which made all the hard work worth it. ⁠
⁠
It's almost booked out until 2023, but if you're ever in WA, come check it out! 👋🏼⁠ ⁠ ⁠
⁠
@glasshousewa⁠ ⁠
⁠
#westsidestory #wanderoutyonder #boutiqueaccommodation #airbnbaustralia #westernaustralia
    20 6
    View
    12 2
    Open
    My little town just had a foodie festival 🦞⁠
⁠
When I moved to Geraldton I remember noticing that everyone either looks like a fisherman or a surfer! ⁠Partly true. It has one of the largest fish industries in Australia, famous for its Western Rock Lobster. ⁠
It's also hotly contested as being the the country's kitesurfing capital as it's recorded to have some of the strongest onshore winds in the world (called the 'sodding southerlies' by some locals), which would certainly test the sea legs of any long-serving fisherman.⁠
⁠
The weekend was a celebration of culture, incredible local produce and the people behind it, with some hot 🔥 WA chefs making the magic happen.⁠
⁠
We took an insightful peek inside Gero’s Lobster Factory, the 2nd biggest fish holding facility in Oz after Perth with a 70 tonne capacity, then bought a fresh back-of-boat lobby for $20 and had it cooked-up for free (so sweet and juicy, tasted amazeballs 🤤).⁠
⁠
Some food buffs also had the chance to catch a chopper 🚁 over to the stunning Abrolhos Islands for an exclusive long lunch. Mebs next year for that one.⁠
⁠
⁠
#westernrocklobster #lobstermania #shoreleavefestival #geraldton #westernaustralia #wildwildwest
    12 2
    View
    23 3
    Open
    Locals! 🐬⁠
⁠
So cool to have a pod of wild dolphins hang out around the bay at Monkey Mia. As I read my book I watched them swim for hours up and down the shoreline, weaving in between swimmers and kayakers. ⁠
⁠
We also spotted turtles 🐢 and huge rays from the beach. The marine diversity around Shark Bay is pretty awesome.⁠
⁠
〰️⁠
⁠
🎣 Back in the 60's a few local fishermen started feeding the dolphins leftovers from their daily catch, slowly built up their trust and they've been visiting this shore ever since.⁠
⁠
🧭 Shark Bay was named by the British pirate (and explorer) Bill Dampier who felt the area was frequented by sharks 🦈, but it was probably dolphins he saw.⁠
⁠
⁠
#dolphinwatch #monkeymia #worldheritagesite #sharkbay #westernaustralia #wonderoutyonder @australiascoralcoast
    23 3
    View
    28 4
    Open
    Lovely little getaway to the beautiful Monkey Mia. ⁠
⁠
It's been a busy year moving state, with renos and starting a new business in the wild wild west, so this was a much needed few days away. ⁠💆🏻‍♀️⁠
⁠
Mia (spoken "MY-ah") is the Aboriginal word for home/resting place. It's believed 'Monkey' either comes from a ship that visited the area in the 1800's, or the Malay pearlers that camped here back in time and kept pet monkeys. 🐒⁠
⁠
#monkeymia #sharkbay #westernaustralia #wanderoutyonder #thisiswa @australiascoralcoast
    28 4
    View
    6 0
    Open
    Some feel good vibes from Australian Kite Surfari!⁠
⁠
We visited this gem of a spot for a kiteboarding trip earlier this year and had an absolute blast. If you're a kiter in Oz, I've written a full blog post about it, link in bio.⁠ 🤟🏼⁠
⁠
.⁠
⁠
⁠@australiankitesurfari #poweredbythewind #colouredsands #cooktown #exploretnq #kiteboarding #kitebeach #kitesurfingaustralia #secretkitespot #elimbeach #travelmermaid 🧜🏼‍♀️ #travel_mermaid⁠
    6 0
    View
    15 0
    Open
    We did it!⁠!⁠
⁠
It's so awesome to finally be at our new home in Western Australia. We got stuck in limbo for ages due to state border closures and 'rona related shenanigans... it took roughly 7 hotels, 3 lockdowns and a 16 day stopover in Darwin to get here, but it's all been worth it in the end.⁠
⁠
Until now we've been super busy setting up our new home and venture.⁠
⁠⁠Some of you may know that we love kiteboarding and travel, and for a while now we've dreamt about setting up an idyllic kite stay for fellow adventurers. A place that's right on the beach with awesome conditions and surrounded by natural beauty. ⁠
⁠
When we found a house available along the Coral Coast earlier this year, we quickly flew over to take a look. Set on a 400 acre beachfront estate it has ocean views from every room, private access to the beach and its blissfully tranquil.⁠ ⁠We knew straight away that this place was perfect.⁠
⁠
For weeks we've been top to toe in DIY trying to set it up (Bunnings may start charging rent!) and hope to open soon. I'd love for you to follow along our journey, check out @glasshousewa⁠ 🌊 ⁠ ⁠to keep up to date with news and competitions!⁠ 💙⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#coralcoast #westernaustralia #wildflowercountry #geraldton #vacationrental #kiteboarding #kitestay #surfspot #windsurf #beachvibes #australia #boutiqueaccommodation #wanderoutyonder
    15 0
    Follow me on Instagram

    Get my latest goss

    Subscribe

    Like & Share

    Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.

    Anita Desai

    Travel Mermaid

    Travel & Expat Blog

    Copyrights © 2020 TravelMermaid.com. All Rights Reserved.