Wander Sugar

One of my all time favourite travel blogs is ‘My Beautiful Adventures‘ written by the uber-glam Andi Perullo. Andi’s travel adventures are eminently readable, her photographs are absolutely stunning and the site is very pretty to look at indeed. It’s travel candy with some real depth beyond the gloss. Additionally Andi is an inspiration to all girls who’d love to backpack the world without sacrificing their fashion credentials: always immaculate and ever stylish. The site also offers a great template for those who’d love to travel the world without sacrificing their career: Andi holds down a full time job as a Chinese Medicine Doctor in between her jaunts.

I caught up with the woman herself …

1.You always seem to have such beautiful pictures on your website; do you have any tips for how to take great travel photographs?

I always look for a unique shot. Most of the places I travel to have been photographed millions of times, so I try to shoot it in a new way. Having said that, while I think it is important to photograph your journeys, I also think it is important to put down your camera and enjoy the moment. Memories are always better than pictures!

2.Do you have any independent travel commandments? Things that you always do or that are the secret to great independent travel?

I think it is essential to not let fear stop you from travelling solo. I believe that nothing makes you grow more as a person than independent travel and I advocate it to everyone I meet. Enjoy yourself and do not be fearful of the unknown. Being scared is a waste of energy and you will miss out on some of the best experiences of your life. A great way to keep yourself from feeling lonely while on the road is to join Couchsurfing. That way you will have a “friend” in every country you travel to. Also, follow your intuition, which will only get stronger with each trip you take. The only time I did not follow my intuition was in India and I ended up having a horrible experience. I left that experience not so much angry at what had happened, rather angry with myself for not listening to my gut.

3.Have you ever visited a place that instantly felt like ‘home’?

Absolutely! I would move to any of the following cities in a heartbeat: Barcelona, Melbourne, and Buzios (Brasil).

4.Do you have any tips to stay looking good whilst on the road?

I only wear dresses. It is what I most feel comfortable in and it makes me feel instantly chic.

5.Finally, what has been your ultimate travel experience so far?

This question is absolutely impossible to answer! However, some of the special experiences have been learning how to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef, traveling solo in the Amazon Rainforest, sneaking into Cuba illegally, driving across the Outback in a camper van, falling in love in Buenos Aires, and riding an elephant through a fort in India.