Hi, I’m Nina!
“State the bleedin’ obvious”, as my Dad would say.
I’m a native Londoner and have grown up living and working in the capital. Yes, I’ve been inside Buckingham Palace. No, I don’t know the Queen. I have genuinely been asked before, whilst waist-deep in a hotel pool in Las Vegas no less, whether I knew the Queen because I’m from London. Hate to break it to you non-Brits, but I’m gonna say the vast majority of us do not, in fact, socialise with the royals down the pub.
Ok, a bit of a tangent there. They say you should write how you speak and I am definitely one for a tangent. Sorry, not sorry.
As I’m writing this I’ve not long turned 30 (and I’m not ok with it!) and like most millennials these days I spend the majority of my time attempting to appear organised, in control and like I’ve figured out how to adult. I haven’t. Not a clue what I’m doing. If that sounds familiar then give me a virtual high five!
Newsflash: there is one thing I’ve figured out though.
I am completely OBSESSED with world maps and spend a lot of time searching for flights to places I don’t yet have a plan to visit. Oh, and I’m a pro at saying “yes” to anyone who invites me on a trip somewhere. My bank balance is not amused.
Priority número uno is to explore as much of this planet as possible. If your priorities sound similar, keep reading!
How did I catch the infamous travel bug?
Throwback to 2008 and a school trip to Costa Rica. Yes, you read that right. A SCHOOL TRIP to Central America when I was 18.
If you’ve been to the eco-wonderland that is Costa Rica you’ll already know what I’m about to tell you. If you haven’t, then believe me when I say that this little forested country is completely infected with The Travel Bug. It’s impossible not to catch The Travel Bug in a land so lusciously plant-filled and scattered with sloths, butterflies and spider monkeys. (And actual spiders, but let’s skim over that part because, well, gross).
It’s the one travel bug you don’t need a vaccine for and it’s the one travel bug you actually WANT to catch!
Less than a few hours after hopping off the plane in San Jóse I heard “sloth!” being excitably cried by a fellow school friend. Hanging out at the entrance to INBioparque was a baby sloth, and it may as well have been holding up a “Welcome to paradise” sign. I was instantly hooked. Cue 8 days of Costa Rican dreaminess and I’d firmly become a travel addict.
What happened next?
Fast forward to 2009 and my first full-time job in the ski travel industry, working for a specialist ski travel agent back home in London.
Every season, we sent adventurous snow bunnies off to the mountains to satisfy their inner adrenaline junky. It was my ideal job (ahem… free ski trips anyone?!) but after five years I reluctantly left and started working in financial services.
I know what you’re thinking – clearly I’m bonkers. Why would I leave a job that involved living and breathing travel, for a job in an industry that – let’s face it – didn’t interest me at all?
Two words: more money.
I know, I know. Money shouldn’t be the main focus or goal in life, but when you live in one of the most expensive cities in the world and have an expensive habit of booking a lot of trips, having a half-decent income is a must.
So I’ve spent all my time working in London?
Almost all.
Nine months into a new job in the finance world, living in a cool flat in Greenwich with a roof terrace overlooking Greenwich park (yes, really!), the South Pacific beckoned. I’d discovered that you can swim with humpback whales in a far-off land called Tonga. It’s a teeny tiny country east of Fiji, mostly known for its rugby team and let me tell you: it. is. paradise.
Coconut-laden islands, volunteering as a whale swimming guide and being as far away on the other side of the world as possible. Who could say no?! Certainly not this girl.
So, I eagerly hopped on a plane with 15kg of luggage and waved goodbye to gloomy grey skies for three months. The first month was spent in the Cook Islands and Vanuatu and the last two were in Tonga.
That trip was back in 2014, but it changed me. Firstly, I realised my life-long phobia of spiders had a new competitor: cockroaches. They are revolting. Secondly, I realised that The Travel Bug that I caught in Costa Rica had just become more infectious and much, much harder to shake off.
What can you expect from This Planet by Nina?
Since gallivanting off to palm-tree-paradise I’ve been back working in financial services in London, taking trips when I can and dreaming of exotic locations when I’m at home. My plan is to experience as much of the world as possible, take a gazillion photos, blog about my adventures and bring you all along for the ride!
I’ll be giving you tips on how to balance a home base with travelling and how to fit in world exploration around a 9-5 job.
You don’t need to commit to a full-time travelling lifestyle and you don’t need to become a solo traveller. You don’t need to convert a van to live in and you don’t need to give up your home life, friends and family. You also don’t need to have a ton of money saved in the bank.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of those things and I bow down to anyone who’s brave enough for the full-time travel lifestyle. But that’s not for me (at least not right now). And perhaps that’s not for you either.
So buckle up, get comfy and let’s explore this planet together one trip at a time!
Nina x
