Twenty-five years have handed between Kerryn’s first Intrepid journey to India and her fiftieth in Bali. And although she’s now, I’d argue, the very definition of an Intrepid traveller, that first journey happened by pure probability.
‘A lady at work stated she was going to India,’ explains Kerryn. ‘She was going to promote for somebody to go along with her. I used to be like, don’t be silly, I’ll come. So we went on the journey and liked it and it began a cycle. She handed away just a few years in the past, however we took most likely 20, 25 journeys collectively through the years.’
These journeys – plus those Kerryn has taken since her buddy handed – have taken Kerryn from her residence in Australia to 70 international locations throughout all seven continents. Ever the Intrepid traveller, she prides herself on on the lookout for journeys that don’t usually seem on most travellers’ bucket lists: Timor-Leste, for instance, or Rwanda and Uganda.
‘I at all times search for one thing that’s a bit extra area of interest,’ Kerryn says. ‘The journey would possibly go to one tiny a part of a rustic or go someplace uncommon. I don’t actually like mainstream [destinations].’
From tenting beneath Egyptian stars to swaying in a hammock cocooned within the Bornean jungle, Kerryn has seen extra good views, made extra good pals and loved extra good instances than most. And it’s solely pure that such a prolific traveller would have realized just a few classes alongside the best way. I caught up along with her to seek out out what these may be.
1. At all times carry rest room paper in your pocket
‘This actually is my primary tip. At all times, at all times carry rest room paper. When you study nothing else, study this. However you continue to at all times find yourself with humorous rest room tales once you journey. And everybody is aware of everybody else’s rest room enterprise, too. I’m not shy, although. I don’t care.’
2. Become involved with the locals
‘What I actually love about travelling is simply getting misplaced. You may have free time to stroll round and mingle with the locals and I feel that’s actually vital. I’ve met so many individuals that I keep up a correspondence with, even a girl I met on that very first India journey in 1999. In the event that they invite you in for a cup of tea, go in. Don’t be scared to take a seat down and play with the children. When you keep in somebody’s residence, get entangled. Assist them prepare dinner dinner or milk the cows or no matter. I feel simply being a part of their setting and doing what they do – the on a regular basis stuff – is enjoyable.’
3. Let little moments final a lifetime
‘This can sound bizarre, however one in all my favorite reminiscences was spending a Saturday evening in Romania watching the cows come residence. We have been doing a homestay on this tiny little city – one road, 12 homes – and we sat on a bridge and watched the cows come down from the paddocks to their homes. It was superb. You don’t at all times want a big-ticket merchandise just like the Taj Mahal or Eiffel Tower. You’ll be able to benefit from the little issues and it makes a very large distinction.’
4. Observe your pursuits (and produce good strolling footwear)
‘I’m all about wildlife, so I typically decide my journeys primarily based on the animals I’m going to see. I went to Ethiopia as a result of I needed to see the gelada monkeys, and Rwanda and Uganda for the gorillas and chimps. One of many gorillas even grabbed my fingers. Antarctica was superb, too, having penguins stroll throughout my toes. And being in a blow-up boat with a whale swimming beneath me was phenomenal. I’ve been chased by a hippo – just a few animals, in reality – in order that’s one other good lesson: at all times convey good strolling footwear.’
5. Embrace spontaneity
‘I wish to take every day because it comes and don’t have any expectations except for anticipating the sudden. Dwell within the second and go together with no matter occurs – it at all times results in the very best experiences. Even getting bogged in Africa was superb. We have been there at midnight, the park was closed and we have been pushing the truck in pouring rain. The ranger stated, “I feel you must get on the roof as a result of there are some lions simply over there.” That kind of stuff, it could’t be deliberate.’
6. Don’t look forward to anybody else
‘Go by your self. Don’t look forward to others. You’ll make new pals and get taken care of so properly by the Intrepid leaders. It’s actually secure as a lady, so simply do it. You’ll be able to at all times earn more money, however you possibly can’t at all times make the reminiscences. My motto is figure, save, journey, repeat.’
7. Rent a Sherpa
‘At all times rent a Sherpa once you’re on a trek. Once more, it’s a lot extra pleasurable having that interplay with a neighborhood. And it supplies them with an earnings, too. I used to at all times carry my very own stuff, then I employed a Sherpa and realised it was sensible. I couldn’t imagine I’d been carrying my very own stuff all these years.’
8. Give again to communities
‘I actually just like the accountable journey facet of Intrepid. I additionally like that they now use native leaders… I feel the native leaders make a very large distinction since you’ve acquired insider information. And I at all times decide Intrepid as a result of I like that they offer again to the communities that we go to. They’re Australian, too, which I wish to assist, however for me, the principle factor is that they offer again.’
Discover the proper first or fiftieth small group journey with Intrepid.
