Who are you and what is your blog about?
I’m Sam, a travel and lifestyle content creator. I started travel blogging in 2011 and haven’t stopped since. I write about and photograph places around the world that I venture to on SomeCallMeAdventurous.com. I also focus on what it’s like to travel as a black woman, a plus-size person, and solo.
What lessons/advice would you give to someone to not make the same mistake you did
Ok here’s 3
- It’s fairly well-known advice, but if you visit a new country, your stomach might not be used to the bacteria in the water, which could make you ill. So obviously just don’t drink any tap water, only buy bottled water, and [note to readers] double check the cap is sealed to make sure it wasn’t refilled to sell again.
In my case, I was duped a bit because there was a plastic seal over the cap, so I thought maybe the cap was loosened by accident, but I’m assuming there was some fancy work done to make it look like it was a fresh, new bottle of water for me to consume. - As well, it would probably be good to stock up on some very strong bug spray and test it first so you know if it will work for your skin, or at least invest in some sort of anti-mosquito clothing or nets to protect yourself.
- Lastly, buy some medication before you travel to help lessen any pain or illnesses you might catch while abroad. Sometimes it’s hard to find what you need in a grocery store, especially when it’s in a different language.
Ok, what’s your best ‘did it for the gram’ story?
Ok so I have many, I had just arrived in London in April 2018 and my legs were on fire. They were covered in red spots and I could barely walk. I was so embarrassed but didn’t want to cancel on my friend I was supposed to meet for afternoon tea, so I hobbled my way there and pushed through the pain. I’d find out later it was an autoimmune disease that was likely caused by my IUD.
On a Southeast Asia trip in 2017, I drank contaminated water and fell ill for a few days. I was also covered in mosquito bites and in such pain. But I needed a gorgeous photo so I pushed through it.
On an Italian vacation in 2019, our last stop was Cinque Terre. The accommodation had bed bugs so we woke up covered in painful bites. We decided to move to a different hotel, but didn’t want to waste our day there, so still went out, even though everything hurt.
What’s some truths you’ve found about travel that no one talks about?
People don’t often talk about the expectations vs reality aspect of travel. You roll up to a country or popular attraction expecting it to be exactly like the professional photos you’ve seen, only to find it doesn’t look anything like it, or the vibe is weird, it’s messy and unkempt, or the weather makes it underwhelming. I think it’s important to be real about what people should expect somewhere so they don’t get their hopes up too much. Especially in this day and age where we CAN actually share real stories about a place that someone can read and at least get some context before they go.
Follow Sam at CallMeAdventurous
SomeCallMeAdventurous.com