Backpacking Bella

22/07/2025

Belgium may be small, but it's packed with charm and history. I have lived here for ten years and I've explored this lovely little country in depth.

Here's my recommendation for the perfect 7 day Belgium itinerary that you can do entirely by train. It's great for first-time visitors.

Link is in the comments! Photo below is me a few years ago in a wintry Bruges.

07/07/2025

During my time in Bali, I found myself reflecting on the journey that brought me on this round-the-world trip: the break-up, the travel dreams and how I’d been standing in my own way.

Read it here:

The healing we seek can be found in unexpected places

03/07/2025

Latest chapter of my travel memoir!

I wake to a dramatic surprise on my first day in the ancient city of Hampi in India, and make an important discovery.

Read it here:

How destruction on day one led to my greatest discovery

01/07/2025

Who else is obsessed with Portugal? 🙋‍♀️

This is a photo of me in Lagos back in 2017 - the coastline there is absolutely stunning.

The Daily Telegraph has named Portugal Europe's greatest holiday destination and I totally get why! Unlike other popular countries, here you can still stumble across quiet beaches and cute cobbled lanes.

I've put together my ultimate 2-week itinerary for Portugal with every secret spot, perfect timing and dream accommodation I've discovered over the years.

Find the full guide in the first comment 👇

27/06/2025

Solo travel has a way of transforming anyone willing to take the leap. By the time you return home, you’ll have learned four things that change you for the better.

Four powerful reasons to take the plunge

24/06/2025

Planning a trip to Japan? Check out my ultimate Japan 3 week itinerary, including the tropical islands of Okinawa 🇯🇵

This isn't just another generic Japan guide - it's my real story and experience, including:
💰 Exact daily costs
🚅 How to master the bullet trains
🏨 Where we actually stayed (and loved!)
🍣 That incredible yakitori place in Nagasaki...

Perfect for first-time visitors who want to see Japan's incredible diversity without rushing.

From beaches to ancient temples, modern cities and sacred mountains - this route covers it all.

Link in comments 👇

18/06/2025

Ever felt like you've lost touch with your creative spark?

I found mine again on a beach in Goa, surrounded by drummers, dancers and the most incredible sunsets.

Sometimes we need to slow down and remember what makes us come alive ✨

Read the latest chapter of my solo travel memoir here:

Falling back in love with who I used to be

31/05/2025

Latest chapter of my travel memoir!

Read it here:

How I learned to fail more gracefully in India

21/05/2025

There’s a fascinating contradiction in travel friendships.

When we’re away from home, we’re stripped of our usual identities and routines.

And in these moments, we become more authentic, not less.

There are four remarkable kinds of relationships we usually only find when we travel solo — each revealing a different aspect of who we really are.

Find out what they are here:

The four authentic connections you make when you travel solo

15/05/2025

Planning a visit to Italy? Check out my guide to 3 days in Sorrento, gateway to the gorgeous Amalfi Coast:

Sorrento is the gateway to Italy's Amalfi Coast. I've created the best 3-day Sorrento itinerary so you can make the most of your time here.

14/05/2025

MY TRAVEL MEMOIR

In this chapter, I recount the first days of my global expedition. Here, on Goa’s shores, I realise that, even far from home, I’m still the same nervous wreck.

Read it here:

Just arrived in Goa — and it turns out, my baggage came too

16/04/2025

MY TRAVEL MEMOIR - Chapter 5 is here!📚

I wasn’t sure why I’d chosen India — maybe India had chosen me. Yoga had become part of my routine and curiosity about its birthplace, or simply the allure of its famous hippie beaches, had drawn me in.

Either way, here I was, boarding a plane. Alone. Heading straight for Mumbai with a one-way ticket.

What the hell am I doing? Am I actually insane?

This is how I designed my lifetime dream of world travel - the adventure began before I even boarded the plane 😅

Read more here: https://medium.com/true-travel-tales/how-i-designed-my-lifetime-dream-of-world-travel-7d323b05d248