Meet Janaline

Hallo Moscow!!!
Hallo Moscow!!!

I’m a woman who’s completely addicted to travelling and seeing the world. You could say I was born with the travel bug—it’s the kind of itch that never quite goes away. The thrill of adventure is something I think about constantly, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love exploring new places and have so much fun sharing my travel stories and photos so you can see why this life calls to me. I’ve been travelling and working my way around the world for more than a decade now and have had some truly unforgettable experiences along the way.

When you live in a country, you get to experience it from a totally different perspective than the average tourist. It’s the people, the rhythm of daily life, and all the little unpredictable, often crazy moments that make it so interesting.

One of the biggest misconceptions about travel is that you need a pile of money to take big trips. That’s simply not true. You don’t have to be wealthy or earn a high salary—you just have to choose travel over “stuff.”

I got to have a Cormorant on my arm!!!
I got to have a Cormorant on my arm!!!

My first job abroad was in the Bahamas and Caribbean on a cruise ship. I swam with stingrays at Stingray City and rode a moped down the Mexican coast of Cozumel. I fell for New York and Charleston—would go back in a heartbeat. Then came a move to England, where I lived all over the place. Bath was my favourite, though I eventually settled in Cambridge.

I backpacked through Spain and Portugal, with a sunny pit stop in Majorca. I fell in love with Barcelona—the art, the people, and definitely the seafood paella. Granada took my breath away, and I had a little too much port in Porto.

I had a snowball fight next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and stuffed myself with chocolate crêpes. Took a break in Egypt and watched the sunrise over the Valley of the Kings and Queens from a hot air balloon. I zipped through Vietnamese traffic on my bright yellow Honda Cub and soaked up the sun for a while. In Cambodia, I got lost exploring Angkor Wat while sipping iced café sữa đá.

On my way to Japan, I stopped in South Korea to taste kimchi. I wandered the quiet streets of Kyoto hoping to catch a glimpse of geisha and attended a solemn memorial in Hiroshima. I lived in the desert of the UAE for a while—yes, I rode a camel—and filled up on baklava in Turkey before walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem at Christmas.

Me in front of the East Glorius Gates we just walked through to enter the Forbidden City.
Me in front of the East Glorius Gates we just walked through to enter the Forbidden City.

I spent two years living in Russia, where I developed a respect for good vodka, wandered St. Petersburg during the magical “White Nights,” and learned to walk confidently on snow and ice. I walked the Great Wall of China after cruising down the Yangtze River during my China odyssey.

Then South America called. I lived and worked for a while in the street-art-filled Santiago, Chile, and stood knee-deep in snow in the Andes Mountains.

Chinese Calligraphy artist at work
My name written in beautiful caligraphy art

I eventually moved back and worked as a travel agent in Cape Town before returning to teaching English. That path took me to Shanghai, China, where I lived for three years, and then on to Vancouver, Canada, where I became a certified Art Therapist.

Now, I run my own online practice, Healing Art Journey, offering therapeutic art sessions and creative resources for healing, self-expression, and growth. It’s a new kind of journey—one that goes inward—and I’m excited to share more of it here alongside the places I’ve seen.

My challenge to you:

Pick one place you’ve been dreaming about. Choose a date within the next nine months—and buy the plane ticket. Right now. Once it’s booked, you’re committed. The rest will fall into place.

Get excited. Make the promise to yourself: Do this every year.

Your future self will thank you.

Winter Cycling through the streets of Shanghai
Winter Cycling through the streets of Shanghai on a shared bike

©Janaline Smalman  – All rights reserved,

All material contained within this blog, whether photographic or written is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without prior approval and permission granted by the author, is strictly prohibited.  Excerpts and links to photography may be used, provided that © Janaline Smalman is credited, such that it directly refers to and reflects the original source and material content.

612 comments

  1. Hope you and your camera are enjoying a cuppa tea and biscuits (cookies). Thanks for liking my posts and following my blog. You have an impressive adventurous life. Wish you all the best and keep us posted about your travels, London bridge and maybe meeting the Royals or something…….. :). Looking forward to new posts. Charu

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    • Thanks Charu. You have such a positive outlook on life and the fact that you always embrace goodness in everybody you meet is such a wonderful trait! Looking forward to experiencing the beauty of this world with you!

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  3. Thanks for stopping by and liking my recent blog post. I will enjoy exploring your blog as well. I like to check out the blog links WordPress provides for people who’ve stopped by. I’ve met many interesting people with a wide variety of hobbies.

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  5. Thanks for stopping by my blog and bringing me back to yours! Nice, clean layout, beautiful pics and plenty of adventures for me to catch up on. 🙂

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  6. Hi Jana! Thanks for visiting my blog and liking a couple of posts. I hope you’ll visit again soon!

    I love the photos of you posted above! So cheerful and upbeat and just happy!!! Blessings, Robyn

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  7. Love the blog! Your enthusiasm for travel is infectious and inspirational! I will be following your journey from now on 😀

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    • Also I thought I’d add that I went to university in Bath and I agree it is certainly one of the most beautiful places in England. So many people only visit London when they come to the UK and they are missing out on so much!

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    • Thank you and welcome to my journey Ben! I have found that the UK has so many beautiful places to visit and see that it is hard to choose where to. But I agree Bath should definitely be on everybody’s list when touring the UK!

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  11. Hii!! Would you mind being a guest blogger for my blog throughthelanes.wordpress.com from time to time. you can blog about anything you like, travels, food, fashion, graffiti anything! would love to hear from you! 🙂

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    • Thanks for the compliment of wanting to post some of my stories but at the moment I am only posting on my own blog. I am trying to capture all my adventures and experiences that I have had while traveling so not going to do any guests posts at the moment. Thanks.

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  14. I have only read your About and I’m already very jealous. Yet I’m happy to see there’s another ‘Jana’ out there seeing the world! I haven’t left the country yet!

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  15. Hey Janaline !
    Thank you for the like on my picture 🙂
    Must say, u have an awesome blog out here! Traveling with a camera- that sounds so much like me! High-5 girl !
    Btw, are u planning to travel to India anytime soon?
    Do ping me whenever u do, I would love to host you 🙂

    Cheers!
    Geet

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    • Thanks Geet! I see that you also travel with your camera in hand, always nice to meet like-minded people! India is on my bucket-list and when I do get the chance to visit I will definitely let you know, thanks!!

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      • It would be lovely to have u here Janaline 🙂
        Do let me know. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time here in India.
        Also, in India there’s a saying ” Atithi Devo Bhav” which means our guests are like God. We love to host.

        So glad to connect with u.
        Stay Awesome.

        -G

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  18. I found your blog through Toemail. Love it! I also love Charleston (went there for the first time this year) and wrote a post about it. Following you now. Thanks for everything. — Ann

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  19. I love your blogs, your photos are very beautiful. I’ll be back… I also have a second blog on old pictures.
    piallat.wordpress.com
    SENSUALITE | La beauté à l’état pure

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  20. Hi Janaline. Thanks for all the likes and the follow. I hope you enjoy the stories of our journeys, both inner and outer. You’ve done so much travelling you know what it’s like, how it changes you, in a good way. Happy travels, and thanks for travelling with us.
    Cheers
    Alison

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    • I definitely agree with you Alison, traveling has changed me and in a very good way. I have more empathy and understanding of different people and cultures. It has opened up a whole new world of strange smells, tastes, sounds, people and places for me. It is a continuous self exploration as well. I am enjoying traveling with you and glad you have joined me on my journey as well!

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  21. Our “to do” list is long… (very long!) and yes Italy is definitely on it, in fact e had intended to go this year…
    Sadly Life got in the way as we’ve had a lot of very large house expenditures (much needed renovations and a whole new heating system) in recent years and changes in work so derailed the former plan to go to Italy this year. Instead we have choosen to put it off for a time when things are less busy and the savings account has recovered a bit more. 🙂 It’s still VERY high on the list though!

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    • Yes, unfortunately I have not yet had the opportunity to travel to Italy, but it is definitely very high on my bucket-list! I have heard so many wonderful things about Italy that I cant wait to experience for myself….hopefully soon!

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      • the places we have are icredible indeed…but being italian at the moment is not really the best thing in the world….( just talking like this because of the taxes, burocracy, pressure…)…oh yes, bitter pills, sorry…:)) As tourist you can have fun…i’m sure about this!

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  23. Wow, what an amazing journey… all of it!
    We are more rooted to one spot because of kids, schools, jobs and wider family commitments, but save hard to try and go on as many “adventures” as a family as we possibly can. Great photos, I’m enjoying looking around your blog 🙂

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    • Thanks KiwiDutch! I am quite privileged to be able to travel around so much before I find a little place in the sunshine to settle! I hope that all the “adventures” you do get to go on are wonderful and sure they are as you get to share them with your wonderful family!

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  24. Wow! What an amazing blog! What an amazing life! I must admit, I’m a wee bit jealous of all your travels! It is a BIG world out there, so many places to go, so many things to see! I’m looking forward to seeing more of your journeys! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and deciding to follow me on my journey! I consider it an honor to have you follow along!
    Hope you have a beautiful day! Thanks again!
    Becky

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  26. What a life!!! Surely exciting! All your photos with stretched arms just show how much you love life and enjoy the places you visit.. Thanks by the way for dropping by my blogsite! And happy traveling!

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  31. WOW. Looking forward to learning from you about travel; my goal is to get out of the country every other year, but am shooting for more. Sometimes, I make it happen once a year, but it is a true hobby and joy. Enjoy!

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    • Hi Laura, always lovely to meet a kindred spirit, welcome to my journey! Having traveling as your hobby is one of the best ways to do it!! Its a great adventure and you get to experinece so many different things when you leave the comfoprt of your own country and go somewhere strange and new!

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  34. Love your blog! through your previous comments I figured out you teach english as a foreign language, just wanted to know what are the qualifications required for it? I am doing my majors in Psychology, is it possible for me to live the nomadic life, I dont mind teaching English, infact love english quite a lot!

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    • Thanks Mohana! Yes I teach english as a foreign language and do get to travel the world that way!! All you need to do is a CELTA or TEFL course which takes about a month and after that you will be good to go!! Good luck!! If you love traveling and would like a hassle free way of moving to different countries and always getting a job this is definitely the way to go!!

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  35. Thanks for visiting my blog. You sound like you are having a wonderful time travelling the world. Looking forward to seeing more of your blog.

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    • Thanks Barbara!! I am having a great time and do enjoy traveling and exploring each place I go to!! Every place offers a different experience and is a strange and wonderful challenge for me!

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  36. You have the same attitude as my Pauline. We were in N.Z. and I advised her to go to England to see her ageing mother. She went via China, Mongolia and Russia. Another trip was to India she Rode a push-bike a camel and floated down the Ganges on a raft. My work kept me travelling now I am retired Pauline keeps me always on the move. I do not mind, as you are aware, travel is fantastic.

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    • Thank you Sarah for the compliment of nominating me for this award!! I am so glad that my blog has an impact on people and inspire people. The more people I can inspire to travel, the better!!

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  40. Hi Janaline, and thank you for the follow! Your adventurous spirit shines through your blog – who knows, maybe you’ll get to the Pacific Northwest in America someday. In any case, happy & smooth travels.

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    • Thank you very much!! Glad that I am able to convey some of my adventurous spirit through my writing and photographs! I love exploring the world!! I hope to make it to North America within the next 3 years….that is if all goes according to plan!!

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    • Thank you Jolandi for the compliment of nominating me for this award!! I feel so honored being nominated for 3 awards this past week….so glad that my blog has an impact on people and inspire people. The more people I can inspire to travel the better!!

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