It’s about living and loving life with La Vida Viva!

 

La Vida Viva

La Vida VivaWSGT’s next Travel Influencers are Daniel and Amanda of La Vida Viva. They’re out exploring and hoping to inspire you to do the same!

1.)Where was the first place that you traveled that made you think WOW—travel is amazing (think history book come to life or …..)

Cambodia. I travelled solo just before Daniel and I got married and visited Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. Before visiting Cambodia, I had no idea about the genocide that took place only 40 years ago. I loved travelling for the exploration and adventure but that day I realised how valuable it was for teaching me about the history of our world. 

2.)If you had unlimited resources, where would you go and what would you do?

Ain’t that the dream! First, Daniel would deck out a 4WD and we’d do an overland tour across the entire world. Our goal is actually to become social entrepreneurs and start a business that can impact a significant social issue in a country. So if we had unlimited resources, we’d do that in every country around the world. Guess we’d have to visit every country too then!

3.)What were you afraid to do and how did you find the courage to overcome it?

Walking away from what is pretty much a dream job for any young lawyer. I had a great boss, team, salary and working hours. The only way I could have done that is with faith knowing that my career doesn’t define me and that travelling is more than worth it.

La Vida Viva

4.)What apps do you use regularly that make your life easier?

Trail Wallet is fantastic for keeping track of all of our spending as it allows you to log different currencies and different categories. It’s a dream for someone who is very budget meticulous about tracking spending like me! MAPS.ME has been a massive lifesaver on the road and I am so grateful that I was a born into a time with technology to have at my disposal.

5.)What place do you wish more people have seen?

Western Australia. Daniel and I are must be some of the biggest advocates of WA but seriously, people don’t know what they’re missing out when they come to Australia and leave out the best part. Our beaches are out of this world and we have so many outdoor activities. Even Aussies are missing out on it!

La Vida Viva

6.) Best advice you have been given and by whom?

Not so much advice as a reminder to live in the now. “Yes! Go for it! Don’t worry about that other stuff – you can always have kids and do those other things later. What you guys are doing is amazing and I wish I had done it when I was young.” When my auntie told me this, I realised that I never want to be someone who looks back at my life wishing that I had done more when I was young.

7.)When were you surprised by the kindness of strangers on a trip?

We were strolling through Salento in Colombia and wanted to sit down in this little bar with live music. The bar was full and as we looked around for seats, an older Colombian couple invited us to sit with them. That turned into a great night of conversation and they invited us out for lunch with their family the next day. They picked us up, drove us to their favourite Colombian restaurant, shouted us lunch and then drove us around to nearby towns for sightseeing and coffee. We ended up adopting them as our Colombian parents and that day still remains one of the highlights of 2016. We still keep in contact with them and just like parents, they’re always liking and commenting on our stuff, it’s adorable. 

La Vida Vida

8.)What inspired you to travel for extended periods of time or live in a new country?

I quickly got addicted to travelling at a young age and never got enough on short trips. I wanted to travel without a set end date or fixed itinerary – I wanted freedom and flexibility to enjoy a country for as long as I pleased. So the only way to really do that is just travel for a while and see how you go. I think the notion of breaking routine and societal pressures and expectations of what is “normal” also helped to fuel my desire for long term travel. 

9.)I travel because….

Our earth is beautifully and wonderfully created and I cannot help but want to see every part of it. As a Christian, I have a desire to explore and see all of God’s handiwork. Venturing outside of my bubble and comfort zone opens my eyes and heart to global issues and my own privilege. The lessons I have learned and my self-growth have been immense, thanks to the opportunity to travel.

La Vida Viva

For up-and-coming travel writers Daniel and Amanda recommend: Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing.

We’re Daniel and Amanda. Adventure travellers, thrifty backpackers, travel writers, photographers and vloggers. We’re out exploring and hope to inspire you to do the same.

For us, it’s about living and loving life – whatever that looks like for you. We know that not every person has the means and the time to travel the way we do, we just want to inspire you to go somewhere you haven’t been and explore a little wider. And hopefully our website will help you to do just that!

Our style of travelling is what a friend of ours dubbed ‘middle-class backpacking’. Our aim is to travel on a budget and to keep costs as low as possible without compromising too many of the things we love such as good food, a comfy bed and a hot shower. There’s just some things you can’t give up!

On our site, you’ll find photos, videos and writing to spark your desire to explore this beautifully created earth. We’ll share our adventures, stories, honest reviews and practical tips. Although we are by no means experts, we share from our experiences, mistakes and successes so that you can make the most out of your travels, time and money.

Keep up-to-date with Daniel and Amanda through their:

Blog

Youtube

Instagram

Pinterest

Facebook

Our next Travel Influencer interview will be up in a week, follow the series here.

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Caitlyn O'Brien

Caitlyn is a 26-year-old Canadian with a passion for travel, futbol, and more recently kayaking in her new Patagonian home: Futaleufú. She teaches English at a local school and loves turning her daily experiences into stories.

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