INDICATORS F
or several years now, I’ve had the strongest desire to live my dream: exploring the world on an indefi nite journey. So, on 4 September
2018, I hopped onto a plane and left SA on a quest to do just that. At the time, I’d travelled to 21 countries but felt the need to continue exploring, specifi cally throughout Central and South America. My big trip started in the breath-taking Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic and since then, I’ve spent just under two months in Mexico and am currently in Guatemala. There’s no better way to explore
a country than backpacking, right? Embarking on an indefi nite trip is all about welcoming randomness. That makes a journey even more adventurous. I have no solid plan for where I’ll go and what I’ll do during my travels. The plan is simply to start in Central America and gradually work my way south. The fact that I don’t
have a set plan makes this journey even more special and exciting for me. I love the feeling of not knowing what’s to come and not scheduling beforehand. It’s a thrill I can’t put into words. I’m generally a person who prefers to plan ahead for trips, but honestly, how do you plan for a whole year!? Backpacking requires you to be fl exible with your time, which helps a great deal in
BACKPACKING REQUIRES YOU TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR TIME, WHICH HELPS A GREAT DEAL IN SAVING COSTS WHILE ON THE GO. SO, YOLO!
saving costs while on the go. So, yolo! When I think of adjectives I could use to describe myself, “non- conformist” is top of the list. After high school, many of us go to university for an average of four or fi ve years. Well, my time there totalled nine years. No, I didn’t specialise in medicine: I bagged three diff erent qualifi cations, all in the construction and property sector. I started my fi rst corporate job in 2017 and a part of me died every moment I was at work. I felt restricted in an offi ce space. With hardly any leave days available to me, I couldn’t spend enough time doing what I love most – which, of course, is travelling. The fi rst three months of my journey were really rewarding and taught me a lot about myself. Firstly, I have to admit, prior to booking my fl ight to the Dominican Republic, I didn’t even know the country existed. Now I can’t express just how much beauty the country has to off er. It has the most scenic beaches I’ve ever seen, my favourite being Playa Bonita in Las Terrenas. Mexico was everything I expected it to be and more, and I had the opportunity to visit Chichén Itzá, which is one o f the New Seven Wonders of the World. Travel has changed my
perspective on life. I’m a happier and better person when on the move. And I’m living my dream – now. Life’s too short to only start living it once you’ve retired!
TAKING ON THE GREAT OUTDOORS
ONCE THE TRAVEL BUG BITES, THERE’S NO TURNING BACK, WRITES DINEO ZONKE MADUNA, WHO IS LIVING HER DREAM ONE COUNTRY AT A TIME
Dineo Zonke is a South African travel blogger and
professional photographer. She’s currently on a mission to travel throughout Central and South America.
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IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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