About Me

Hello, and Welcome to My Blog!

Who Am I?

My name is Mia, and as you could have guessed, I’m a travel enthusiast. From trekking the jungles of Vietnam to walking around Paris to hiking up the soaring mountains of British Columbia, I have accumulated my fair share of travel experiences.

I’ve traveled to over 20 countries, including:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cambodia
• Canada
• Ecuador
• England
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Japan
• Mexico
• The Netherlands
• Portugal
• Scotland
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Türkiye
• United States of America
• Vietnam

With this blog, I intend to share my favorite spots around the world with you. From my self-guided walking tours to my ultimate travel itineraries, I hope this blog will serve as a guide as you embark on your own adventures around the globe!

My Past Trips

So, how did I first get into traveling?

I had a very fortunate childhood. While my parents aren’t rich, they had enough disposable income to take us on occasional family trips.

Specifically, since my mother is Japanese, we would visit Japan every year or two. Some of my greatest childhood memories stemmed from those trips.

Additionally, being from Vancouver, many of my friends and classmates were also second-generation Canadians, with family in China, India, Serbia, etc. Hearing about their trips and travels ignited an early wanderlust inside of me, which only grew with time.

I was therefore ecstatic when I got to go to a few additional destinations with my family, including Hawaii, Mexico, and Las Vegas. Some highlights from those trips include hiking up a volcano in Maui, visiting Chichén Itzá in Mexico, and exploring Zion National Park.

Throughout my adolescence, I consistently prioritized traveling over pretty much everything else. I had various part-time jobs, and all that money went into saving for trips I hadn’t even planned yet.

My University Years

As I entered university, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue as a career. So, I chose (what I think) is one of the most fascinating subjects: behavioral neuroscience.

Then, in the summer of 2017, I embarked on my first solo trip. What was initially going to be a short 2-week vacation to France and Spain quickly turned to 5 weeks… and it was incredible. It was my first encounter with Europe, with stops in France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Switzerland.

I was on a super tight budget during this trip. Consequently, I opted out of the paid attractions and instead chose to walk around the cities, soaking in the history, culture, and views. This was when my love for self-guided walking tours first materialized.

The following year, I took classes throughout the entire summer, and it was unbearable. Not only because I had no mental break from academia, but I felt stifled and confined. I knew I had to travel again the following year.

Thus emerged my 2-month solo backpacking trip around Asia in May and June of 2019. The destinations included Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, and Hawaii. With my wanderlust temporarily sated, I was prepared to complete my final year of university.

My Choice to Start a Travel Blog

It may seem bizarre for a neuroscience major to pursue travel blogging.

While I loved studying behavioral neuroscience, one important thing that I learned during my degree was that I do not want to become a neuroscientist. And, with a science degree, your options are typically limited to grad school or med school. So, the big question remained: what was I going to do after university?

I wasn’t sure.

But, when I spent an entire anxiety-ridden summer in class rather than on the road, I found my escape through travel blogs and travel vlogs. As I binged on YouTube videos and websites, a question started popping up in my head.

What if I became a travel blogger? What if I had just found a career path where I could help others travel the world on foot?

That’s when I decided to pursue travel blogging, with the goals to:

• Share how to confidently explore a city on foot (via my self-guided walking tours!).
• Help travelers get the most of their limited vacation through my travel itineraries.
• Provide my tried-and-true tips and tricks for traveling and hiking.

Fun Facts About Me

• I love to go bouldering and rock climbing! My goal for the upcoming summer is to learn how to multi-pitch climb.
• I’m a huge horror movie fanatic, and I especially love the films by Ari Aster, Wes Craven, and Ti West.
• Antarctica became a bucket-list destination after I watched AVP (Aliens vs. Predator) as a child.
• When I was 6, I wanted to become a pirate (because of Pirates of the Caribbean).
• I’m currently training to run a marathon (wish me luck!).

What’s Next?

Since I’ve graduated university, I’ve been able to live in Japan for a year, go on a multi-month backpacking trip around Europe, and take a road trip across Canada. And, it’s all thanks to you!

Next, I’d love to backpack the west coast of South America. After that… you’ll just have to follow along to find out 🙂

In the meantime, I recommend checking out my self-guided walking tours and travel itineraries!