women – Page 2 – She Went Wear

Wednesday Women: Ashlyn

Meet Ashlyn.

I am a twenty-something outdoor adventure traveler. I’ve been to 52 countries on six continents and fund my travels by freelance writing, speaking and shooting and editing videos. I also sell photography when possible as well.

I like to push my limits when traveling and you’ll most likely find me out hiking, surfing, scuba diving or trying out any crazy adventure activity an area offers – I’ve even flown a military jet! If it scares me, I can’t say no.

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

After five years completing two degrees in university, I decided I wanted to spend the same amount of time traveling the world so I designed a five-year travel plan. On my first six month trip, I was hooked and knew it was a lifestyle I couldn’t easily give up. I love how every day I wake up wondering how the destination I am in is going to change my life. It’s thrilling and educational – much better than sitting in a classroom to learn.

As for travel inspiration, my destinations are usually chosen based on photographs I’ve seen as well as recommendations from other travelers.

Where is your favorite destination to date?
It’s really difficult to decide but I loved spending a month in Madagascar. It’s not an easy destination to get to and there aren’t very many tourists so the locals are still curious yet friendly. The wildlife and landscapes were pretty spectacular as well and I spent a lot of time hiking and diving.

How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why?
I spend most of my time traveling on my own but always seem to meet up with other people on the road. Admittedly, I prefer traveling with family and friends as I find the experiences more meaningful when I can share them with someone I care about. To date, I’ve managed to visit six continents with my mom as she enjoys meeting up with me around the world.

Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?
There are definitely differences traveling as a woman than as a man. Some of them are positive and some are negative. As a woman, I’m more likely to get picked up while hitchhiking, but I’m also more likely to be bothered, catcalled and stared at by men. I have to be modest in how I dress and very respectful of other cultures depending what area in the world I’m in. Men and women definitely get treated differently while traveling.

How do you plan your trips?
I’ve discovered that long trips are best left to planning on the go, while shorter trips it’s easier and less stressful to plan in advance. I prefer to plan as I go as I like to add in side trips that I didn’t know about until I arrived at the destination.

When is your next one?
I’m currently working on a book back at home in Saskatchewan, Canada so I don’t have an immediate trip planned. I recently flew back from British Columbia where I hike the 75 kilometer West Coast Trail. Next month I’m thinking of escaping somewhere warm in the Caribbean if I can find cheap flights.

Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?
A scarf is one of the most helpful items to carry. It adds warmth, style, and additional coverage when entering mosques or temples. It can also be a towel on short notice.

Want to know more?

The Lost Girl’s Guide to Finding the World
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Wednesday Women : Eva

Meet Eva.

I’m Eva, a solo female traveler who just left on a trip of indefinite length! I am working remotely as an editor and social media manager along with running my travel blog, Eva Explores, about solo female travel. I love expressing myself creatively, whether that’s taking photos of colorful buildings, singing a song, or creating a sketch comedy video with my friends.

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

I love to see how other people live around the world, and even how they used to live when I visit places with a rich history. The fascinating nuances of how culture differs around the world, but how we are all essentially the same. Also, to be honest, I am constantly searching for the best cup of coffee!

Where is your favorite destination to date?

I’m going to go SUPER cliché right now and say Paris! Although I recently went to Prague for the first time and that reminded me of Paris in a lot of ways. I just love French culture, and of course food! I feel like I’m living inside of a movie when I am in Paris.

How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why?

I personally prefer traveling solo. I went on my first international solo trip this year, and was hooked! I love having the freedom to do whatever I want whenever I want. It’s an easy decision for me, since I’m an introvert. Solo travel lets me choose whether or not I want to engage with the outside world or just stay to myself observing everything around me.

Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?

I do think that there is a difference. Unfortunately, women still have to think about safety in a unique way before deciding on a destination, and then during her travels. It’s no reason to stay at home, but it factors into the way we travel. I rarely leave my accommodation at night if unaccompanied, because I feel more comfortable. Also, around the world women don’t have the same freedoms to travel as men. In much of the world it’s still expected that women will get married and bear children at a relatively young age. There’s no time to travel, and even if there were the money they would spend traveling has to go to necessities like taking care of a family.

How do you plan your trips?

Currently I just wing it! When I first started traveling, I planned everything down to the hour. Now that I’m traveling long-term there’s really no need to do that. I usually get the desire to go to a certain place from reading a travel blog or seeing a photo on Instagram. Or I travel somewhere because I have friends who live there. From there, I try to travel overland as much as possible (I actually hate flying!) to any nearby destinations. For my current trip in Europe it was a combination of everything. Originally I wanted to explore Eastern Europe because of the beautiful photos I saw on travel blogs. Then I added Helsinki, Finland as a base because my best friend lives there. While in Helsinki I was browsing Instagram and saw a photo of a coffee shop in Prague and thought ‘I have to go there!’ I booked a flight to Prague and have been taking buses and trains north back to Helsinki.

When is your next one?

I am currently in Poland, but in October I am going to Asia for the first time! I’ll be going to my first TBEX as well. From there, I have one or two planned countries to visit, but mostly I’ll be taking my time exploring the region slowly.

Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?

Embrace the unknown! Anyone who travels for any amount of time will tell you that things pop up you never could have expected. If you’re rushing around from place to place just trying to check off the top sites, you miss so much. Try waking up in the morning with no idea of what your day will hold and then letting your intuition guide you!

Want to know more about Eva?

Snapchat: @evaeec

Wednesday Women: Katalin

hdr — Kupari, Croatia ; Abandoned hotels of Kupari in the background. A memorable place from the Balkans trip.

Meet Katalin. I’m Katalin, originally from Hungary. I have lived for 5 years in Finland and currently I am a kind of digital nomad (mostly working remotely) and traveling with my husband.

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

I love hiking and nature. First, I just took weekend trips around my home town, but after a while I wanted to see more and visit new places.

Where is your favorite destination to date?

My favourite place is either Lapland or Singapore. Lapland is the calm nature as far as you can see while Singapore is an always busy city with super summer weather.

How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why?

I have been backpacking solo in Southeast Asia and Turkey, but I still preferred to group up with other travelers. Lately I am on the road with my husband. I love exploring cities with others, and usually safer to hike or try new sports if you are not alone.

atins_brazil_katalin_waga-1 — Atins, Brazil ; It is well known from its rainforest, but I have visited a little ‘desert’ there too while backpacking there a month.

Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?

You have to be much more careful – but it shouldn’t discourage you from traveling. I think after a while you learn how to avoid the risky situations, although in some countries you will still get different kind of offers, no matter what.

How do you plan your trips?

Usually after browsing a map for hours we just notice a bargain flight offer and we end up on a totally different country/continent.

When is your next one?

Now! We are continuously on the road since March (2016), changing country in every month or so. We were on the Balkans in Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic and Finland. Currently we are in Vancouver, Canada.

Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?

You can live with much less items than you first imagine! One (big) backpack is enough. ☺

hiking_albania_katalin_waga — Albania ; Hiking in the Albanian Alps around 2000m. No trails, no tourists.

Want to learn more about Katalin?

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Wednesday Women: Habon

Remember Habon from Fashion Friday?

My name is Habon. I was born and raised in the south, Georgia, but both my parents migrated from Djibouti, a small east African country.

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

Growing up as first generation born American to Somali/Djibouti parents, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of traveling at a young age and learning the importance of cultures and what the world has to offer. This has definitely inspired me to travel.

Where is your favorite destination to date?

My favorite destination to date has to be Djibouti. I love going back and spending time with extended family members, learning more about my culture, and seeing where my parents have come from. There’s definitely a sentimental attachment to this beautiful country.

How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why?

I usually end up traveling solo and then meeting up with family and friends at the destination. I think it’s great being able to have someone there experiencing the adventure with you, but sometimes traveling solo allows you to learn more about yourself and focus on just the trip.

Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?

I definitely think there is a difference traveling as a woman. Women around the world may have different rules or traditions that I think we should be mindful of. I also think traveling as a woman (and even as a man) we have to be cautious and safe, that being said, this should not discourage woman from traveling, we all just need to be more aware of our surroundings.

How do you plan your trips?

I usually start by deciding on the destination and the dates, once I have those locked in, I go and book my ticket. I research hotels, activities, the local cultures and things that I should see at that destination. I book the hotel and make a list of things to do. I won’t have a day by day itinerary, but I will have a list of what I’d like to do there. I’m a big fan of lists. I need to be a bit more spontaneous, but my slight OCD doesn’t really allow me to do that.

When is your next one?

My husband and I got married in January and haven’t had the opportunity to take our honeymoon yet due to work and me moving up north to Toronto, but we’ve finally have some free time and will be heading to Mauritius. I’ve never been and I’m really looking forward to exploring the country and local culture!

Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?

The best advice I could give to my fellow travelers would be to explore the different countries. The ones most people haven’t heard of and to really immerse yourself with the culture as much as possible. I believe by doing this not only do you gain a wonderful experience but usually a different perspective on life and yourself.

Still curious about Habon?

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