Accepting the past so I can move into the future
It was a beautiful day in hectic Yogyakarta. I’d been travelling for nearly one month and enjoying disconnecting from reality, which was not so bright and shiny back then… Looking back, that was the year my father died and, in a nutshell, it was not the greatest year of my life. Yet, it was probably
Solo-Travelling to find self-love
Things weren’t working between us anymore. I needed a break and took a plane to London. It was my first time traveling and staying by myself in a place that I knew a lot about but never thought of going there alone. The government had announced Brexit and I could feel the tension in the air.
Venturing into the unknown… together.
Three years ago, my sister Kelly and I were both in places in our careers where we decided we needed a change. Kelly had been contracting in the media and video production space for years, and I was a diligent public servant working policy and strategy roles. While my role had lots of good things
Solo Trip to Peru & Trekking Machu Picchu
For many years, the idea of going on a solo trip to Peru and Machu Picchu was in my heart and on my mind. I would occasionally test my endurance by hiking local trails, check flight prices, refresh my Spanish, and seek advice from friends who had gone on similar journeys. However, anytime I would
Roaming Memories
– a photographic essay by Jessica Papini – “Arnhem”The moment when mild mania creeps up whilst waiting for the next chariot to collect you. Left alone and separated from routine can often lead to deep or nonsensical thoughts, relying on imagination and reflections to help to bide the time. “Finger Animal”Road trips with unlikely, ever-morphing
Finding power in sex and words
The following story contains mature content and is recommended for audiences 16-years and older. The English version is translated from Portuguese – the original text is below. I come from a very religious and traditional state in Brazil. I studied at a Catholic school, where I needed to pray a Hail Mary and an Our Father every
Making life choices unapologetically
“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.” Maya Angelou All over the world, the journey of a woman’s life is predetermined by the patriarchal society we live in – it’s not an opinion, but a fact. This restricted and claustrophobic journey is sadly amplified for
Cycling alone, surrounded by men
“You’re going by yourself?” “Yes.” “Why?” Why not. For months, I’d dreamt about doing my first overnight cycling tour. A bit at a time, I cobbled together a pair of on-sale bike panniers, an inflatable sleeping mat, a cheap, but light, A-frame tent. I was doing longer day-rides. I spent hours looking up potential cycling