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

  5. I’m jealous of all the places you’ve been to but I’ve only just (3 years) started my life as a traveler so hopefully I’ll have lots more to experience in the coming years. As a side note the mozambican in me is telling you to get yourself across the border to Mozambique. You’ll love it! the beaches in Innhambane or at Ponta D’ouro are just absurdly gorgeous.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • You will see, the more you travel the more places you hear of that you want to go and see. Back in South Africa now and now going to try the whole work and then save up and travel thing. Its time that I explore South Africa and make my way up to the rest of Africa so will definitely make a point of going to Mozambique. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. LOVE the hat Janaline! Glad you’ve made the trade (travel vs stuff) so I can see the world through your eyes. I’m still hung up on trying to do both I guess. I keep trying to find a way to travel through my job.
    How was the cruise ship???
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Welcome to my journey Jill. I must admit working on the cruise ship was definitely not all sunshine and roses. My favourite part was getting to explore the islands and seeing everything the Caribbean has to offer. I would not choose to work on a cruise ship again and unfortunately my time on it has spoiled cruising for me.
      Back in South Africa now and now going to try the whole work and then save up and travel thing. I know its going to be hard but looking forward to not living out of a suitcase for a while.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • I can see how it would spoil it for you. I thought it might be nice to take a cruise just to see what it’s like to NOT be working while I’m on a boat!
        I know what you mean about living out of a suitcase. I’m always so glad to get home just to be surrounded by all my familiar stuff! Right now I’m limited to only 15 kg on the helcopters which wouldn’t be THAT bad except that I have to bring my work boots and heavy jacket. Those 2 things alone take up almost half my weight allowance!
        It’s a good thing they’ll do laundry every day if you want! Hope to hell they don’t lose anything. It’s hard being out there for 30 days and can’t just run to the store if you need something.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  9. I love your philosophy!! I have done so little traveling in my life_something always coming up, etc.–and have decided that I am going to make it more of a priority. I have decided on Paris next fall. I can hardly wait! Thank you for the inspiration and for taking a look at my blog! Safe, happy travels to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Hi Janaline – Thanks for following my little start up blog. Its always encouraging for new starters like us. I love your advice about buying the plane tickets straightaway! Too much gets in the way otherwise!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  12. Hey girl… Where are you at now? Imma be in Japan in November hitting up some geocache locs and shooting pix. Would love to connect and break bread together.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. You had me at hello!!….You’re so awesome….
    Very impressive. Envious of all your journey and I love your writing.
    Hopefully one day I can achieved what you have achieved.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Thank you for visiting my blog and following! your journey so far sounds amazing…not many people live their dreams….glad that you do! Hope your journey takes you to many many more exciting lands and cultures.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. Wow, you really get around! I’m totally with you on needing to live somewhere to get to know all of the little oddities! Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking a ton of posts 🙂 Linda.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Hi Janaline!! Loved your blog. We both have been bitten by the worm of travelling, and I do not want a cure. I have been travelling from long time now, recently thought why not pen down all my travel tales . Glad to be following you on your journey.

    Cheers
    Aanchal

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. I think you really need to get out more!
    Only joking of course… Just look forward to seeing what you get up to through your incredible blog.
    Also to thank you so much for taking tbd time to visit my own.
    Happy travels my new friend
    Kind Regards
    Bob

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  34. You must be an amazingly strong and brave girl to undertake all those adventures! I’m green with envy:) I’d love to travel all over the world. How do you find work in all these places?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  35. Thanks for visiting my blog recently, as your visit led me back to you. Your worldwide travels are an inspiration to stay engaged and in awe as we travel, wherever the roads take us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  41. Wow! Your life sounds like a wonderful adventure. I would be content if I were able to travel to even a fraction of the places you have been.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  42. Hi Janaline. Thanks for following our blog. Our goal is to entertain and give useful tips about wherever we are. I hope when you were in Santiago you were able to visit Valparaiso and see the street art. Cheers.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Bob Mills Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.