Jaclynn’s wandering spirit has brought her from the lush greenery of South America to the craters of Indonesia. Despite working at a full-time job, Jaclynn spends any time outside of work travelling. Currently she's taken some time off to properly experience long term travel before she heads back to the rat race again. The Occasional Traveller is a platform dedicated to inspire deskbound wanderlusters like herself to remember to take that time off and get away.
Who is Jaclynn Seah?
I'm a travel lover.
What inspired you to start The Occasional Traveller?
I was working long hours in my previous job and realised one year I had too many vacation days leftover - I had somehow forgotten to travel that year. I started the blog as a reminder to myself. A reminder to take time out for myself, no matter how busy I am, there is always a way to make the time for adventures. Now, I hope it inspires others who are in the same circumstance as me to travel more.
What does travelling mean to you?
Travel is about new adventures and seeing new things. It has shown me how small and limited my worldview is. Travel is about constantly learning and being able to consider varied viewpoints. You become more open minded and tolerant as you step out from the confines of your daily life, and you definitely appreciate things that you tend to take for granted.
I love not knowing what adventures lie ahead and the stories I end up making. The best part is meeting new friends and seeing completely amazing parts of the world.
Would you identify yourself as a modern nomad?
I'm not sure I consider myself a nomad, it implies that I have a moving home but I’ve come to realise that despite all my travels, my home is still rooted in Singapore. This is an unchanging part of my identity. Definitely modern in that I can't imagine traveling without my apps and the internet to guide me - losing my phone on one of my trips was one of my lowest points, more so than the fact that I lost my drivers license and credit cards with it. I had to get myself a new phone the very next day because I couldn't imagine continuing my trip without it!
A person or incident that changed you the most?
Going on my first solo trip on 2011 and my subsequent solo travels has definitely changed the way I view travel - I think it's made me more comfortable in asserting my own likes. I’ve become less timid since then, more adaptable and spontaneous to receiving the unexpected.
Famous last words?
"Well let's see what happens!" I try not to jinx myself too much so that's one of the safer things i can say out loud when things are looking dicey!
We are inspired by Jaclynn’s determination to make the time for her passion, and are proud to have her as Fieldtesters, a group of inspiring friends that regularly test MATTER products in their workplace and trails to help us improve durability and design. Jaclynn is wearing The Lounge Lunghi + Philippines Teal, Size 1.
Michaela Trimble is a travel journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. She finds inspiration in the open road and comfort in the unknown.
What motivates and inspires you every day?
I love the idea of movement. Staying on the road fascinates me. I’m constantly inspired and uninhibited from the routine of a traditional day to day schedule, which makes my writing more fluid and insightful. When I’m on the go, I’m meeting countless new people, having new awakenings and experiences in strange new places. I find comfort in this unknown realm, and when I’m in this space, I’m at my most motivated and inspired.
You’ve traveled to so many places for work and leisure. Where did this taste for world wandering come from?
My friends tease me, because when I’m traveling I always say, “I could live here for a while.” And I really do feel that way about so many places. I love the world we live in and find infinite beauty in different cultures and ways of life. I think I get this from my childhood. My mother’s job required us to move around often, and by the time I was leaving for college, I already grew adept to the coming and going, the hellos and goodbyes. It felt natural to continue this into adulthood: I still crave the initial feeling of stepping into a place that I’ve never been.
What are your 5 must-haves when you travel?
Aside from technical items like my computer and camera, the five things I can’t leave for a trip without are my notebook and pen, my sleeping mask, a scarf, a good book and a set of headphones.
I’m constantly asking questions and interviewing new people, and while it may seem easier to jot down my notes in my iPhone, I yield a much more thoughtful detail of the events with my notebook and pen. After traveling so much, I’ve also mastered the art of falling asleep anywhere, anytime, and the sleeping mask really lends to that. I can make it become nighttime at any time of the day. The headphones help, too. They cancel out noise and let me listen to my favorite tunes. A scarf is a helpful item to have: You never know when it can get cold on the run. And I always have a great book. I remember subtle details of trips based on the songs I hear and the books I read.
We are inspired by Michaela’s sense of adventure and travel, and are proud to have her as a Fieldtester, a group of inspiring friends that regularly test MATTER products in their workplace and trails to help us improve durability and design. Michaela wears The Sideswept Dhoti + Trikora, Size 2 and BHALKA GREY: Silk Cotton Handprinted Scarf.
