This is the first of my Dare to Live the Dream interviews where I sit down with some fun, fearless females who are, like the name implies, daring to live the dream by leaving everything behind and following their wanderlust.
Click above to listen to a snippet of our interview. We were having a super casual friend brunch at Culina Millcreek in Edmonton. There are multiple voices and the quality isn't amazing, but if you'd like to feel like you're literally at the table with a group of (pharmacist) girlfriends talking about Michelle's impending travel, take a seat, grab a coffee, and join the laughs!
A guide to who's who in the interview...There were five of us altogether, but in this clip, you can essentially only hear three of us- 1st voice: Jamila, 2nd voice + annoying man laugh = me, 3rd voice: Michelle. The waitress also drops by towards the end.
A guide to who's who in the interview...There were five of us altogether, but in this clip, you can essentially only hear three of us- 1st voice: Jamila, 2nd voice + annoying man laugh = me, 3rd voice: Michelle. The waitress also drops by towards the end.
About Michelle
Michelle is a twenty-something colleague and classmate of mine from the University of Alberta Faculty of Pharmacy who recently left her job to depart on an around the world trip in less than one week from today. Michelle was born in Malaysia and migrated to Canada when she was very young-
"the last time I went back was in high school and had huge culture shock; I don't think I valued traveling the way I do now". We most recently travelled to Italy together in the summer of 2012 on a study abroad program. She is both a talented seamstress and yogi who brings puts passion and dedication into everything she does, including travel. Michelle is a shining example of someone who is daring to live the dream.
Her Itinerary
Feb 12-Mar 22: South America
Mar 24-Apr 6: Indonesia (Bali Spirit Festival Mar 31-Apr 5)
Apr 6-12: Vietnam
April 12-16: Thailand Chiang Mai (Songkran Apr 13-15)
April 16-May 2: Thailand Islands
May 3-20ish: Malaysia
May 20-June 3: Australia
June 1-6: Travel to Turkey sometime this week
June 7-13: Turkey
June 14-20: Travel to Greece
June 21-27: Greece
June 28-July 4: Travel to Italy
July 5-11: Italy
July 12-18: Travel to Spain
July 19-25: Spain
July 26-Aug 1: Travel to Portugal
Aug 2-8: Portugal
Aug 9-15: Travel to London and head back home?!
Interview Highlights (November 29, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta)
So let’s get your general plan again, when are you leaving and when are you coming back?
I leave February 12th and I’m going to start off with Rio Carnival in south Brazil, and when I come back, I don’t know yet, I’m hoping the second week of August but it just kinda depends how things play out.
The basis of my trip I guess, what I wanted it to be based on is mostly festivals. So I’m starting with Rio Carnival and then I’m going to the Yoga Spirit Music Festival in Bali (that’s like a 5 day thing) and then after that, there’s the Thailand New Year’s Festival in April. And it’s like this huge day where they have a huge water fight in the street, I guess the idea is to throw bad water away and start the new year fresh.
After that, there’s a couple of other festivals in Europe but it doesn’t really match where I want to go. There’s couple of friends who want to go to the Tomorrowland music festival, a 3 or 4 day huge electronic music festival.
Oh ya, where is that again?
It’s in Belgium. But I dunno if I’m really into that, but it’d be cool to see. But when that takes place, I think I’ll be in Spain.
Are you gonna go to running of the bulls?
I think so…wait let me see (checks itinerary). Spain has a couple of festivals, there’s the bull festival and they also have this tomato festival. The bull festival is July 6-14th so no, I’m going to miss it.
Michelle is a twenty-something colleague and classmate of mine from the University of Alberta Faculty of Pharmacy who recently left her job to depart on an around the world trip in less than one week from today. Michelle was born in Malaysia and migrated to Canada when she was very young-
"the last time I went back was in high school and had huge culture shock; I don't think I valued traveling the way I do now". We most recently travelled to Italy together in the summer of 2012 on a study abroad program. She is both a talented seamstress and yogi who brings puts passion and dedication into everything she does, including travel. Michelle is a shining example of someone who is daring to live the dream.
Her Itinerary
Feb 12-Mar 22: South America
Mar 24-Apr 6: Indonesia (Bali Spirit Festival Mar 31-Apr 5)
Apr 6-12: Vietnam
April 12-16: Thailand Chiang Mai (Songkran Apr 13-15)
April 16-May 2: Thailand Islands
May 3-20ish: Malaysia
May 20-June 3: Australia
June 1-6: Travel to Turkey sometime this week
June 7-13: Turkey
June 14-20: Travel to Greece
June 21-27: Greece
June 28-July 4: Travel to Italy
July 5-11: Italy
July 12-18: Travel to Spain
July 19-25: Spain
July 26-Aug 1: Travel to Portugal
Aug 2-8: Portugal
Aug 9-15: Travel to London and head back home?!
Interview Highlights (November 29, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta)
So let’s get your general plan again, when are you leaving and when are you coming back?
I leave February 12th and I’m going to start off with Rio Carnival in south Brazil, and when I come back, I don’t know yet, I’m hoping the second week of August but it just kinda depends how things play out.
The basis of my trip I guess, what I wanted it to be based on is mostly festivals. So I’m starting with Rio Carnival and then I’m going to the Yoga Spirit Music Festival in Bali (that’s like a 5 day thing) and then after that, there’s the Thailand New Year’s Festival in April. And it’s like this huge day where they have a huge water fight in the street, I guess the idea is to throw bad water away and start the new year fresh.
After that, there’s a couple of other festivals in Europe but it doesn’t really match where I want to go. There’s couple of friends who want to go to the Tomorrowland music festival, a 3 or 4 day huge electronic music festival.
Oh ya, where is that again?
It’s in Belgium. But I dunno if I’m really into that, but it’d be cool to see. But when that takes place, I think I’ll be in Spain.
Are you gonna go to running of the bulls?
I think so…wait let me see (checks itinerary). Spain has a couple of festivals, there’s the bull festival and they also have this tomato festival. The bull festival is July 6-14th so no, I’m going to miss it.
So which sections are you are mainly doing solo and which are you meeting up with people?
South America, I’m with a tour. Brasil I’ll be with my old manager. And then, Bali I’ll by myself. Vietnam as well. So I’m kinda worried because my one girlfriend heard that some guy got his arm chopped off because he whipped out his iPhone in Starbucks. It’s crazy there, I hear stories. Initially I wanted to take the overnight train but now I’m just flying everywhere. Thailand I’ll be myself and then hopefully I meet up with my boyfriend in Bangkok and then we’ll take the trains down to the islands. West Malaysia I don’t have family, I have family in Singapore and East Malaysia. Turkey I’ll be by myself, Italy…hopefully I’ll see you there.
What are you going to do about things you want to purchase, are you gonna ship things home or just be like YOLO and eat and drink everything you can?
Ya or when I meet people I’ll give them stuff.
Are you going to do your hair?
I’m going to get a travel-sized curling iron. I don’t think I’ll care about straightening my hair, more just curling.
How do you take guidebooks for an around-the-world trip?
Hopefully I can do a lot more planning before I go and then hopefully, ask the hostels. I wrote out [plans for each place] so I’ll look into it.
Is your boyfriend freaking out?
He’s so scared, did I tell you how he said if I give you $10 000, will you not go on your trip?!
Wishing you the time of your life Michelle, in bocca al lupo (good luck in Italian) and see you in Italy!
South America, I’m with a tour. Brasil I’ll be with my old manager. And then, Bali I’ll by myself. Vietnam as well. So I’m kinda worried because my one girlfriend heard that some guy got his arm chopped off because he whipped out his iPhone in Starbucks. It’s crazy there, I hear stories. Initially I wanted to take the overnight train but now I’m just flying everywhere. Thailand I’ll be myself and then hopefully I meet up with my boyfriend in Bangkok and then we’ll take the trains down to the islands. West Malaysia I don’t have family, I have family in Singapore and East Malaysia. Turkey I’ll be by myself, Italy…hopefully I’ll see you there.
What are you going to do about things you want to purchase, are you gonna ship things home or just be like YOLO and eat and drink everything you can?
Ya or when I meet people I’ll give them stuff.
Are you going to do your hair?
I’m going to get a travel-sized curling iron. I don’t think I’ll care about straightening my hair, more just curling.
How do you take guidebooks for an around-the-world trip?
Hopefully I can do a lot more planning before I go and then hopefully, ask the hostels. I wrote out [plans for each place] so I’ll look into it.
Is your boyfriend freaking out?
He’s so scared, did I tell you how he said if I give you $10 000, will you not go on your trip?!
Wishing you the time of your life Michelle, in bocca al lupo (good luck in Italian) and see you in Italy!
Are you risking it all to follow a life dream? Travelling the world or moving to a new country? If you are and would like to be featured in a Dare to Live the Dream interview, please send me an e-mail. xox.
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