If you want to see every post I’ve written, starting with the most recent, this is the place to start!
I’ve been traveling the globe solo, and many of my posts share thoughts and resources specifically for other solo travelers. If you’re a fellow solo traveler, or you’re thinking about solo travel, this is a collection you will find of interest.
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In 2020, I was traveling in New Zealand as the coronavirus pandemic brewed, and, got stuck there. If you want to read about what this time was like and traveling during this time, check out this page.
At the heart of international travel is learning about the many different cultures and ways of being around the world. The posts compiled on this page speak, specifically, about the cultural observations I’ve had.
Many of my blog posts are about things I’ve discovered about myself or about being, while I’ve traveled. If you’d like to focus on posts that only have self-discovery themes, click the button below.
Walking Barefoot To Experience The Essence of New Zealand Culture
Heather Markel, Writer, Speaker, Photographer, Traveler, Business Strategist
A big part of travel, in my opinion, is observing and trying local traditions that are different than your own. Flowing across continents, I’ve eaten foods I’ve never heard of, tried new herbs, spoken new languages, worn different clothing, and even learned a few dances and tried strange alcohols.
Now in New Zealand, I’ve mentioned in a couple of previous posts that I have been first shocked, then gotten used to, New Zealanders walking barefoot, all over the place. Before coming here, I associated bare feet with poverty or living in a rural tribe. Here, It’s got nothing to do with either. Kids and adults do it in supermarkets, on the street, on nature trails, everywhere!
Woman walking with one shoe in Peru.
Photograph by Heather Markel, Copyright 2020
Speaking with many kiwis, I’ve come to understand it’s about a connection to nature. As a New York City gal, I grew up walking on pavement with shards of glass from broken car windows or discarded evidence of a night of debauchery. So walking barefoot has never been enticing, to me. Whenever I’ve watched other people do it, I cringe with each of their steps, worrying they’ll happen on glass or a nail or something painful.
“The ground became my shoes.”
In New Zealand, barefoot walking starts very young, so, by the time you’re an adult, you’ve literally got thick skin, or so I’m told. I took a trip to Russell recently and ran into a man walking up a trail barefoot with his girlfriend, who wore shoes. I of course started a conversation with him and learned he was prepping his feet for summer, during which time he won’t be wearing his shoes at all. In fact, he said, he plans to be at the beach a lot, and wants to avoid carrying his shoes all toegether. He’s getting his feet ready for all kinds of terrain. His girlfriend did not share his love of barefoot walking.
The posh main street of Russell, New Zealand.
Photograph by Heather Markel, Copyright 2020
I came away from the conversation feeling impulsive. I’ve been thinking about a pair of “barefoot shoes” to train my feet. But, I mean, “when in Rome.” So, when I got back to the main road, I couldn’t resist! I removed my shoes. I walked down the main street of Russell, with bare feet. The effect was delectably sensual.
First, I felt like I was a little kid doing something I shouldn’t, and yet, I knew I wouldn’t get in trouble. I mean, I was walking down the main street of town with NAKED FEET! All my foot skin was hanging out for everyone to see!
Once the initial mischievous feeling subsided, I began, quite literally, to notice what I felt. The pavement was the perfect temperature and I noticed the heat, the sensation of the ground, and a lovely energy coming up through my feet. I felt, well, completely elated. My feet were naked, and it didn’t bother anyone. Most importantly, it didn’t bother me. My feet felt better naked than trying to mold themselves to shoes. It reminded me of life – trying to fit myself into the wrong life, for so many years, and then releasing myself to be the best version of myself. This act of removing my shoes rekindled a grand sense of freedom. I’m so used to feeling surfaces with my hands that feeling them with my feet was like awakening a part of my body I had forgotten about. It was like the moment of eureka I’ve had when studying a foreign language and realizing I’ve begun thinking in it with no intentional effort.
Even when I reached the parking lot, I braved the gravel. I expected to shriek in pain, but it was only mildly painful. I could have put my shoes on but instead, I challenged myself to make it all the way to the car in bare feet. Once inside the car, I never wanted to put my shoes back on. When I did, it was with great disappointment.
Since this wonderful beginning, I’ve found myself needing to remove my shoes each day. First, on the walk from Paihia to Opua, I walked barefoot along the beach, even on the shells of discarded crustaceans. Then, on a walk to the Te Wairere waterfalls, I braved naked feet along the trail, covered with dirt and trees, and grass. The more I walked, the more I realized I didn’t need to worry about the stones in my shoes. The stones had become my shoes.
My feet feel better with no separation from the earth, and even the arthritis in my knees stops bothering me when I discard my shoes. Bizarrely, I feel more stable touching uneven surfaces with my feet than in my shoes. There’s a visceral connection to the people and places of the world whom I’ve watched walk along paths with no shoes. One simple action and I feel simultaneously in one place and yet connected to many others.
The other day I chatted with a new Kiwi friend, Rob. He suggested I should try walking into a pub barefoot. He said that’s the greatest feeling of doing something that seems naughty and against the rules, even though it’s not. I’ve added that activity to my to-do list!
I’m officially in naked-foot-walking-training, and I’m proud of it.
![Your life looks successful from the outside. So why doesn't it feel like yours anymore? If you feel guilty for wanting something different after working so hard to build your career and security, this episode will help you understand what's really happening. Heather explores the quiet identity shift that can make a life that once felt right, feel increasingly uncomfortable, and why gratitude and the desire for change can exist together. Listen to discover what your restlessness may be trying to tell you, and how travel can create the space to reconnect with the person you've become. Ready to explore what comes next? Register for Heather's free webinar, How To Use Travel To Transform Your Life, Even When You Have a Busy Career: [SIGN UP HERE (https://heatherbegins.com/travel-to-transform-your-life/) ]](https://heatherbegins.com/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png)
Hi Heather. I’m from NZ but live overseas and reading your article gave me a wonderful taste of home. I miss being able to walk around barefoot like I could in NZ.
I think one of the advantages of NZ, and something a lot of people might not know, is how safe it is to walk barefoot. It’s so nice knowing you aren’t going to step on something poisonous like a snake, or spider. And there are no hook worms or dangerous bugs or ticks that might bury into your feet!
Wonderful article, I really enjoyed it! And I hope you enjoy many more barefoot adventures.
Yes that is what gave me the courage to try it. But I wasn’t expecting the visceral connection to the land and travel. It is so beautiful. I keep removing my shoes all over the place. ?
So glad this gave you a taste of home and that your home has been so kind to me! I’m going to the All Blacks tomorrow!
I love this, I lived in New Zealand for a while and I was the same. My ex and his friends would often go to the supermarket with no shoes on and it always baffled me. But then when it became normal I found myself doing it. There is a lot research on grounding when you’ve changed time zones it’s good to be barefoot for a while too.
Really? I had no idea about the grounding. Great to know! The barefoot supermarket visits now make me want to do it too!!
I love this! When I first went to Australia & NZ, I found myself embracing barefoot walking & felt so free. Now for some reason, my feet are so sensitive I shy away from it unless I’m on the softest sand. You’ve inspired me to persist…next time I’m in warmer climes, that is! Great post
Glad to provide inspiration! It is a motivating boost that even kiwis have to break their feet in. ??
I remember always being barefoot as a kid but in summer would get prickles from the grass which hurt a lot. Now living in NZ’s largest city I don’t see anyone going bare footed. But you’ve encouraged me to try it – walking around my own property. I bet it feels naughty.
? cool I’m gonna join you. Maybe we can go barefoot to the rugby match? ?
OMG I love being barefoot! Who would have thought our feet could be so tactile!
I started a couple of years ago because I’d read something about how shoes create a barrier between the negative ions in the ground – negative ions help decrease inflammation in the body.
Like you I initially felt “naughty” because I was raised not to leave the house without shoes.
Then my PT training became aware of how much stronger my foot and ankle muscles became.
But best of all, especially on trailwalks, I noticed a greater connection to nature and the a lovely peace that brings.
Love your open-minded to try it Heather and hope you stay a convert!
Oh I’m obsessed! My entire body feels better walking barefoot. I never would have guessed my shoes caused so much trouble! I had a PT that told me never to walk barefoot. Think I will ditch that advice! The connection to nature is amazing!
The way I figure it the human body developed before the need for shoes! Feet are designed to hold us up all by themselves 😉 I encourage all my bootcampers to take off their shoes – funny how some of them are scared of grass and ants!
I think the only place I’ve been where I began to feel my shoes were a bother and it’s easier to walk barefoot, was probably the Maldives! There really was no occasion when I needed shoes on the island!
Oooh you’ve made me want to go there!!
I love this! I used to go barefoot a LOT when I lived in Oz. As you can imagine it’s a little different in Canada but I do get my shoes off in the summer as much as I can.
It’s such a magical experience and to know there won’t be glad under foot is even better!