7 Unexpected Travel Lessons: Kindness to Seagull Bandits
Berlin TV Tower
Lessons I Learned in Seven Months of Travel
Back last October I made the decision to overcome my fear of flying and to set off on a journey that would take me far beyond the borders of routine and my local postcode with twelve different adventures.
My dream of exploring had been held back for years, that decision was made to just do it!
The Monthly Travel Challenge was born where I made a commitment to myself to immerse into one new cultural experience every month, whether this is nationally or internationally.
1. People Are Kinder Than You Think
Before I left, I heard all the stereotypes, even French friends told me about rude Parisians, frosty Europeans, language barriers. The truth? People everywhere I have been, have been really kind.
From strangers on French trains translating announcements, to a bakery in Montmartre rewarding my very broken French with a bonus croissant.
All I had to do was try to connect.
2. Travelling Light = Travelling Free
Packing everything into one backpack felt impossible at first. Now? Less gear. More freedom. Better travel.
No checked luggage. No back pain. Just the essentials: my Leica M6, M11, two lenses, and Urth filters. Even personal care got lighter with solid products like AKT London and Nord fragrance balm, no liquids, no fuss and healthier with no nasties.
3. Travel Builds Real Confidence
Each trip forced me into something new, solo flights, foreign cities, unfamiliar foods and .
By June, I was confidently navigating Marrakesh with no phone signal and no stress. By June, I was flying solo, maybe a little nervous before getting to the airport but that quickly disappeared.
And now? Fear fades and confidence grows, I’m planning two weeks alone in Japan and genuinely looking forward to it.
4. Don’t Underestimate the Beach
I used to dismiss beach holidays. Now I actually really enjoy them.
Turns out, nothing recharges me like floating in the sea after a long photo walk, last time I was in St. Ives in Cornwall it was a very sunning and I had got 18,00 steps in, so needed to cool down and relax. Getting to the beach and jumping straight in the sea was the perfect way to end the day.
Top tip, they may not feel like a thick town but Dock and Bay quick-dry towels repel sand and fit easily in my bag, another small fix that made a big difference.
5. Travel Fatigue Is Real and Avoidable
I packed my early trips in the year tight, every hour planned, early flights, no downtime.
The result? Burnout. I’ve learned to slow the pace: take four days instead of three, plan time to wander without the camera, and stop trying to “do it all.”
A slower pace doesn’t mean seeing less. It means experiencing more.
6. Beware of the Seagulls
Sounds funny until you lose your bacon and avocado with chilli jam bagel to a dive-bombing gull on the Dorset coast.
I’m still wounded over this and dread to think how I’d feel if it was an Mr. Whippy Ice Cream Cone, but lesson learned the hard (and hungry) way.
7. Get Serious About Shoes
I love white Superga 2750s, but they are not long duration walking shoes and get dirty quickly when out on trips. I dread to think how many I’ve ruined and how many blister pads I’ve brought after a full day of walking.
Comfort is key. Especially when it’s carrying your entire adventure and being in pain when your exploring more new area’s isn’t fun.
Enter Tropicfeel Sunset shoes: light, breathable, waterproof, and space saving which is perfect for light travel. They’ve handled cities, hikes, and beaches without complaint.
Hassan II Mosque with Atlantic Ocean waves
Durdle door
Final thoughts: Looking Ahead
Six months ago, I set off to Paris with a follow up plan to go to València the next month. I wanted to stay two months ahead with the booking which I’ve managed to do in order to keep me looking forward to the challenge and not quitting.
I’ve just come back from the coastlines of Dorset and I’m following the herds of British bank holiday weekends to Cornwall at the end of August to have some beach time and soak up the sun, swim in the sea, explore hidden areas and have some extremely good seafood.
The rest of the year is looking like the following will happen:
September and October combined: Italy, Rome for 6 days with a day trip to Sardinia
November: Spain, Malaga for a week with a day trip to Seville
December: Tour of Japan for 14 days
Travel has become less about ticking off places and more about peeling back layers of myself. The next six months aren’t just destinations on a map, they’re opportunities to go deeper, take more risks, and find new parts of the world and myself I didn’t know existed.
I want stories to tell people.
I’d Love to Hear From You
What’s the most surprising thing you learned while travelling? Drop it in the comments below.