The Amazing Life of a Travel Blogger
Meet Gigi. Traveller, explorer and down right awesome woman!
My friends call me Gigi. I guess I’m a bit of a wanderer. I grew up in a tight-knit family here in Melbourne with parents who fostered in us a love and passion for travel from a very early age. We were lucky enough to see most of Australia as kids. Growing up, that passion continued and I went to Japan on exchange as a 15 year old. It was my first solo trip and a grand adventure. The beginning of what I now realize is an adoration for being in a foreign land and a sense of unbridled freedom - exploring new cultures, learning new languages, and the thrill of feeling outside my comfort zone. A love affair with adventure. I did what most Australians do after uni, and travelled around Europe for six months before living and working in London for a couple of years. Returning home for a bit, I then quit my job again (my poor parents!) to travel around South America for another six months. Returning home to Melbourne for a short minute, I quickly accepted a corporate marketing role in banking and moved to Sydney in 2006. Although i stayed for seven years, I still had a burning desire to live in New York City. Having visited pretty consistently from the age of 21, I was addicted to the energy there. I knew I needed to one day make it my home. In 2012 when a promised-transfer to our NYC office kept getting delayed, I decided to quit my job and move to the US on my own accord. Stopping in California to visit some friends on the way, I fell in love with LA instead. The city I once found ugly, soulless and frustrating to navigate (as a tourist), ended up being everything but. A happy, sunny, and opportunistic place to live, LA offered up love and adventure with wild abandon. The creative energy was addictive. There is something to be said for living between three amazing energy forces - the ocean, the mountains and the desert – I was completely hooked.
Since then, for the past four years, I have lived on and off in California (between LA and Santa Barbara). I have also done short stints living in Berlin, Mexico, NYC and Tel Aviv. I sublet rooms here and there, I stay with friends and I pretty much live out of a suitcase - but I couldn't be happier. I am the happiest when I am out and about meeting new people, eating good food, hunting down good coffee and being surrounded by nature. I love the random things that happen when travelling and the far-too-frequent serendipitous moments.
How did and what made you start your blog?
When I arrived in the US I only had a tourist visa, this meant that every three months I had to leave the country. Often that meant booking the cheapest plane ticket I could find to escape the US for a couple of weeks. I ended up in all sorts of weird and wonderful places and many compromising, often hilarious situations. Friends started putting pressure on me to share my travel stories, photos and recommendations. Having always loved travel, and having always been pretty attached to a camera, I decided I should. A good way to bring together all the random scribblings in my notebooks, emails and spreadsheets into one central place that could be shared. So I started ‘It's Beautiful Here.’ A place to share the beautiful things I find along the way. I try to travel more like a local and less like a tourist, and I love finding interesting and inspiring local people in each city to feature in our ‘Spotlight Series’. I am by no means a professional writer, and I am certainly no expert photographer, but I don’t pretend to be either, that was never my intention. ‘It’s Beautiful Here’ is simply a true and authentic account of my travels, and hopefully sometimes even the tiniest source of travel inspiration for anyone who happens upon it.
What does a normal day entail for you?
That's a good question! I’m not really one for routine. When I am travelling, it normally involves me zipping all over town trying to get to all the places I have read about before my trip - places to eat, good coffee spots, awesome hotels, farmers markets, design and architecture, and out into nature - taking a lot of pics along the way. I walk everywhere, either that or I rent a city bike and ride instead. It always involves at least one coffee a day, often two, and I’ll normally sit in that particular cafe for at least 1-2 hours, catching up on emails, meeting locals, updating my city guides or doing my daily Instagram posts. I also try to keep in touch with friends and family back home. And I always try to fit in something active - a hike, yoga or a swim.
When I am home, it’s much the same. I spend a lot of time working out of cafes (and drinking too much coffee), checking out new places in town, meeting people, catching up on writing, and researching my next destination.
Do you have anything you keep by or around you to inspire you creatively?
Music. I am always surrounded by music. I find this the one thing that inspires me the most. I also love reading other travel and design blogs. And nature, there is almost nothing as satisfying and inspiring as being outdoors in the fresh air. If I’m near a mountain, I’ll hike it. If I am near the ocean, I will swim. Obviously it’s not always possible, but it’s definitely where I am my happiest. Lastly, also Instagram, as crazy as it may sound. I find that Instagram has become my greatest travel research tool. I spend hours trawling through hashtags, trying to find little off-the-beaten track places and things that locals are doing in their city that are lesser known and would make for interesting travels. I find it incredibly inspiring.
What do you love about what you do?
I absolutely love that I am doing what I am most passionate about, travel. I pinch myself everyday that I am lucky enough to be out and about, bouncing to my own beat, travelling where and whenever I want to, meeting new and interesting people, trying new food, learning about new cultures and languages. All the things that make me happy. I really feel that I am living. I feel a huge sense of freedom. Obviously I don't have a lot of the luxuries that come with having a full-time, well-paid corporate job, but I don't miss that at all. I feel I am so much happier and feel so much more fulfilled doing my own thing and really living my life. I can’t put into words how precious what I have here has become to me. I give it all my heart.
What is some advice to someone if they are looking for a career in the creative field?
Be open, take risks and stay positive. Obviously making any big change (creatively or not) will sometimes feel overwhelming or intimidating, but if you have faith in your idea and are truly passionate about what you are doing, you will make it work. I believe that. Talk to as many people as you can. Tap into your networks. And dream big.
What are some of the quirky things you always do when travelling?
Talk to randoms. A lot. I often travel solo and love making new friends wherever I go. I reach out to people I have read about in a city before going, and then hit them up for their local tips and recommendations! I can also be quite forgetful. I have been known to miss flights (often), lose passports (two last year), break the zipper on my bag as I am about to board a flight, drop my phone down a toilet - you get the drift.
Whats an interesting fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I have very strange toes. They are permanently curled over! Someone once commented “oh but that means you must be really good at rock climbing because your toes can grip on to the side of the mountain!” I’d never looked at it like that (nice try).
What creative’s do you look up to?
Ahhh so many. I look up to my housemate Mel in LA (in so many ways) who founded a conscious living platform called The Bharani Effect, but more recently launched a series of Conscious Living City Guides. I look up to Jac from The Broadplace who is passionate about helping people live a higher-grade life. I am constantly delighted by Spanish artist Manuela (of Gang and the Wool in Barcelona) and her creative floral styling. I look up to all my friends who are artists, musicians and actors who have consistently and passionately believed in themselves and their craft enough to try and make their creative dream a reality - despite the constant knockbacks. I feel inspired creatively spending time with my two gorgeous god-daughters, Evie and GG, who have wild and beautiful imaginations. And I also look up to anyone who is pursuing their dream and doing what they truly love. But lastly, and probably mostly, I look up to my two younger sisters who are two of the most creative, kind, driven, smart and stylish women I know. They constantly amaze me and are a continued source of inspiration and support to me. My life would be nothing without them.
What are your top 5 travel tips?
1. Remember your passport! It sounds stupid, but you can’t get far without it (I’ve tried).
2. Use Instagram for your travel research. By trawling through different hashtags, you can really dig deep and find some cool, off-the-beaten track, local favourites in a city before you go.
3. Stay open and don’t plan too much. Roll with the unexpected.
4. Be polite, kind and culturally considerate. I like to learn at least three words of the country’s language I am visiting. I find this the easiest and kindest way to show you are making an effort in a foreign place. And smile.
5. Eat everything. Walk everywhere.
Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird.
Favorite film: Romeo & Juliet (Baz's one).
Favorite food: Good bread (like real-deal sourdough, or a good fruit and nut loaf.) That, or pasta.
Favorite word: Serendipity - because it sounds pretty and really, who doesn't love the idea of a happy coincidence or accident that changes our lives for the better.
Pet hate: Rude people. Traffic. Queuing.
We hope Gigi’s wealth of knowledge and cool experiences has inspired you to go an adventure yourself or even start your own career as a travel blogger! To stay up to date on all of her travels be sure to check out Gigi’s blog and Insta pages! You won’t be disappointed!
Click here for the it’s beautiful here Instagram page
Click here for the it’s beautiful here blog