Kristin bought a one way ticket to Thailand last September 2012 after realizing that she wasn’t happy anymore with the current setup of her life. She was an investment banker by profession and had not done any backpacking nor solo travels prior to leaving her home. She left with a only a carry on backpack and has been traveling ever since.
Kristin loves going to off-the-beaten-path destinations and she documents her adventures on her travel blog, Be My Travel Muse. Kristin also loves scuba diving and frequently goes to various diving spots in Southeast Asia.
Get to know her more and follow her adventures at Be My Travel Muse.
Before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Kristin.
How did you discover your passion for travelling?
“I honestly think it started when I began playing Amazon Trail as a kid. No, seriously. Nobody has ever heard of it, but it’s basically the Amazon version of the popular Oregon Trail computer game. I had a good chunk of the flora and fauna memorized by age 10. The computer game, Civilization, also probably didn’t help.
I also had a very well-traveled grandmother who would fondly speak of her time abroad. I really looked up to her and like to think that she’d be happy to see me out following her footsteps now.”
What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?
“It was probably after 24 hours of travel that were meant to take 4. I was going from the Gili islands to Java in Indonesia overland and by public transport, the way I always elect to travel. Due to several fatal accidents in Bali (which we had to cross in order to get from point A to point B), and the bus breaking down several times, we were severely delayed.
The bus didn’t go all the way to where I wanted to get off, so I had to take a motorbike taxi the rest of the way, passing by bikes with young guys carrying CHAINSAWS (seriously, chainsaws) and 10-foot poles the whole way. I couldn’t get those fatal accidents out of my head while wishing we’d arrive alive. After the run-around and a bit of attempted scamming (luckily I was seasoned by now and knew better), I finally made it to a dirty guest house but was so happy to sleep that I didn’t care.”
What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?
“How do you pick one best? It’s almost impossible but it might be the time that a manta ray almost touched me on a SCUBA dive in Komodo. To have such a majestic creature come so close to me was truly awe-inspiring. Check out this video of Kristin in Komodo.”
What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?
“Just do what you want in life. Maybe it’s travel, maybe it isn’t, but whatever it is, just do it. Life is so damn short, why worry about tomorrow when it’s not even guaranteed? I realized I can’t wait to live out a dream. There’s just one shot at life and no reason to squander it slaving away for someone else’s dream. I’m going to go after mine, even if I fail.”
What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?
“I love a challenge. I enjoy waking up with no idea what awaits me. I crave constant change and that’s something that’s both tiring and rewarding. When I’m in one place for too long I get seriously stir-crazy.”
This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?
“Wilfred from the show by the same name because he just seems to be full of devious ideas. He’d definitely keep me on my toes.”
Where’s your favorite place in this planet and why?
“Under the sea. SCUBA diving has become a huge passion of mine through my travels and there’s no feeling I love more than feeling completely weightless, which diving gives me. Letting the current carry me while feeling at home with the coral and fish below is really an awesome feeling. I just sit cross legged in the water and watch the show.”
What’s your best tip for newbie traveler?
“I had a hard time with the fear of taking off on my trip. It didn’t feel like there was much support and I was so scared to travel alone. My best advice is to not let that fear cripple you so much that you never take off on your dream trip. If that means going alone, by all means, do it. There are so many fabulous people you’ll meet on the road, you won’t be lonely.”
What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?
“I was forced to sing karaoke (for the first time ever, I might add) in front of a crowd of Malaysians at a party where I was the only foreigner. The person who brought me thought it was hilarious to introduce me to everyone as a “singer from Hollywood,” to make matters even worse!”
How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?
“I am a solo female traveler so staying safe is always a concern. I haven’t felt in danger at any point of my trip, but I familiarize myself with any dangers I might encounter and make sure that I’m always aware. I think it’s important not to get too intoxicated and to always make sure you don’t find yourself alone in the dark at night.”
What do you think about yourself?
“I fancy myself an off-the-beaten path traveler. I avoid tours and I like to go places where other people don’t think of or know about yet. Sometimes I end up as the only foreigner on a bus/boat/train and I absolutely love that. I find the cheap and local ways to do things whenever possible and make that the focus of my website. That way, those who travel with a similar motto will now have a set of directions to make it a bit easier.”
“Be My Travel Muse is about packing up and selling my old life as an investment banker in California in order to see the world. I have traveled all over Southeast Asia and Oceania and have no intention of stopping. There’s almost nothing I won’t try and no adventure that I will turn down. I’ve hitchhiked in Java, SCUBA dived all over Southeast Asia, let a monk pick out a design and tattoo me, rang in 2013 silently meditating for ten days at a buddhist monastery, and climbed Southeast Asia’s tallest mountain in one day. I seek off the beaten path adventures and do it all with a bag no larger than a carry-on! I always travel independently – without a tour – and without a guide book. My advice comes from fellow travelers or locals and I love it that way.” – Kristin Addis
Editor’s Note: All pics are provided by Kristin.
Next: Trish Velarmino of Are We There Yet? Previously: Micki Kosman of The Barefoot Nomad For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.
[…] Kristin Addis of Be My Travel Muse: “Just do what you want in life. Maybe it’s travel, maybe it isn’t, but whatever it is, just do it. Life is so damn short, why worry about tomorrow when it’s not even guaranteed? I realized I can’t wait to live out a dream. There’s just one shot at life and no reason to squander it slaving away for someone else’s dream. I’m going to go after mine, even if I fail.” […]