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.
If you’re looking to read blog posts about specific destinations, click the country of your interest below to go to it’s blog page and get country-specific reviews and thoughts.
Sometimes I write posts where I give insider information on certain cities I’ve visited, which may be more along the lines of places to go, how to save money, etc. If that’s your main interest, check out this compilation of posts.
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.
Nine Reasons You Should NOT Come To New Zealand. (Hint – They Aren’t What You Think They Are.)
Heather Markel, Writer, Speaker, Photographer, Traveler, Business Strategist
It’s always a good idea to learn about a place before you go for the first time.
It seems like everyone wants to come to New Zealand these days. With good reason! But, you should be aware that, for some, this is not the country for you. Here are nine reasons why you might not want to come here:
Beautiful flowers in bloom at Rolands Wood.
Copyright, 2020. Heather Markel.
1. You Enjoy Suing People
Back home in America lawsuits are second nature to our culture. You could sue someone for looking at you the wrong way, if you can prove what the wrong way is. Over here? Nope. People just don’t sue each other, and often laugh at mention of lawsuits. If you enjoy making federal cases of everything you can, this is not the right place for you.
2. You Can’t Live Without Concrete, Air Pollution, And Plastic Bags
If your dream place has concrete, lots of dumpsters, the waft of decaying garbage in the air and you hate scenic views, definitely don’t come to New Zealand. It’s surrounded by water, full of blooming nature and amazing scenery. You won’t enjoy it. They’ve also done away with plastic bags in grocery stores. You’ll have to get used to carrying a cloth bag everywhere you go, or paying for paper bags. If that sounds too overwhelming, definitely go someplace else.
Just another typical New Zealand view you might get bored of if you don’t like great scenery.
3. You Can’t Handle Women Being In Charge
The leader of the country is a woman, Jacinda Ardern. (Love her!) Her opponent in the upcoming elections is another woman. Women rule here, literally. So, if you can’t deal with that, it’s another good reason not to come here.
4. Cannibis Isn’t Legal
But it might be next week after the vote. Fingers crossed.
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
5. Coffee Shops Close Early
If you were hoping for an outdoor, 24-hour caffeine experience, you won’t find it here. Work-life balance is a part of the culture, and your caffeine-addiction will suffer after 4pm.
6. You’re Lazy And A Couch Potato
People in New Zealand are active and do lots of exercise. You might feel a lot of pressure to get off your ass and take a walk. If you don’t like that kind of pressure, don’t come, because all the walks involve a steep uphill, somewhere, and it will leave you huffing and puffing. You might even lose weight.
7. You Enjoy Sleeping To The Cacophony Of Traffic And Awaking To The Beep Of Your Alarm Clock
Most places in New Zealand are surrounded by nature and you may miss the loud honking and sirens you’re accustomed to when you go to sleep. Morning birds are very loud and usually on a different schedule than your alarm clock. You might find this all so annoying you won’t enjoy your visit to New Zealand.
8. You Hate Cows
Avoid New Zealand at all costs if you don’t like cows! I think there may be more cows than people. They are everywhere. It’s like there was a Global Cow Conference (GCC) and they all voted to move to New Zealand and graze on the rolling green hills. There’s even a town called Bulls which makes every cow pun possi-bull.
9. You Enjoy Calling People And Hanging Up Without Leaving A Message
All the fun of prank phone calls will be removed by how nice people are here. Most of the time, if people have a missed call on their phone, and no voicemail, they’ll call the number back to see what you need. Their politeness will ruin your mischievous ways.
New Zealand isn’t right for everyone. But, for those who come, you will feel incredibly blessed to spend time here. Whether for the scenery, the nature, or the people, it’s a glorious experience!
![Could taking time away from work be one of the smartest decisions you make for your career and your life?
In this episode of How to Travel Full-Time, I explore why intentional time away, including a career break, sabbatical, or travel reset, may become an important part of the future of work.
Inspired by the Harvard Business School Managing the Future of Work episode, "Why Time Away May Be the Future of Work," this conversation looks at how longer careers, workplace burnout, artificial intelligence, and rapid professional change are challenging the traditional idea that we should work continuously until retirement.
But taking time away is not only about recovering from burnout.
A well-planned travel reset can give you the space to reconnect with yourself, reconsider what you want from your career, and decide what your next chapter should look like.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why the traditional 40-year career model is beginning to crack • How burnout can be information, not personal failure • Why vacations often do not solve deeper dissatisfaction • How travel creates distance, perspective, and clarity • Why taking time away does not have to damage your career • How a travel reset differs from a vacation or permanent full-time travel • What keeps accomplished professionals from taking extended time off • Why time away could become part of a long-term career strategy
If your life looks successful from the outside but no longer feels aligned with the person you have become, this episode is for you.
🎧 Subscribe to this podcast for more conversations about travel resets, extended travel, burnout recovery, career reinvention, midlife transformation, and using travel as a catalyst for personal change.
🌍 Sign up for my upcoming free webinar (https://heatherbegins.com/future-webinar-interest/) , How To Use Travel To Transform Your Life, Even With A Busy Career [https://heatherbegins.com/future-webinar-interest/]
Link to HBR podcast: Click here (https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/podcast/why-time-away-may-be-the-future-of-work)
💬 Question for you: Have you ever considered taking one to six months away from work? What's the biggest thing stopping you?
#TravelReset #CareerBreak #FutureOfWork](https://heatherbegins.com/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png)
Oh yes, this makes me want to go even more. It’s at the top of my bucket list. Thanks for the fun post!
Awh! Those cows look far cuter than our Nguni cows with lethal horns! Even after reading this post I think I might just manage a visit to New Zealand ;-0 Hope to get there one day!
I want to photograph the Nguni cows though!!!!! The cows here are super cute. Yes I think you’ll like it here! ?
Love this! And we are all jealous of New Zealand having such a sensible leader! Great post, put a smile on my face & brought back some lovely memories of that beautiful country.
I know! I of course want to take her back home with me lol. I’m glad this made you smile!!
I have my honeymoon there, 17 years ago. Great place, very relaxing. There was still gridlock in the cities during the rush-hour but that was usually easy to avoid.
Congratulations on the honeymoon!!
Love it! And love your leader too!
I wish she were my leader! I’m just stranded here, luckily!!
Oh you make me long to return! What a perfect place to get “stuck” in a pandemic.
It really is!!
Such a fun post. I don’t know about you but I don’t know if I can live without concrete and environmental issues 🙂 New Zealand looks awesome, I would love to spend more time there. The people are super friendly and it’s just a beautiful country
I know right?!! Been there done that lol. It is a super country and you should definitely get here when things open up!!
hahaha that was brilliant….kinda like Australia….
?
As a kiwi reading this while living in GA America, I can attest that these are very true, also don’t forget to mention that we get 4 weeks holiday pay a year, so that is 4 weeks off paid leave… so if you like working so much this is definitely not the place for you. On top of that you also get public holidays off but if your boss makes you work one then you get paid double and still get a paid day off at some other time which increases you annual time off from 4 weeks to nearly 6 weeks crazy huh. This tends to be considered productive in NZ as they figure that staff who are rested and more relaxed work better when they are working…
More reasons not to get used to. Too logical!! lol. How do you like GA?
Us Kiwi’s aren’t like Australians, wash your mouth out!
Omg I’ve heard about the rivalry between kiwis and Australians lol.
Fantastic post and I am so grateful to call New Zealand my home. There’s a lot to love about being ‘stuck’ back’ here.
You are so right! Can’t wait to see you!!
Thanks Heather,
Just moved to Auckland I completely agree, not a place for those who prefer mad city life with rude people and the threat of being sued.
Cheers
Karl
Welcome!! I mean I’m not sure I’m licensed to welcome you ? but hope you’re enjoying it here so far!
Oh also one thing I forgot to mention if you like cold calling people or harassing people via phone calls they don’t want watch out the telephone companies can fine you they consider unsolicited phone calls or prank calls a nuisance and will fine you money, this does stop extended warranty calls and things of that nature so if you like those calls popping up don’t go getting a NZ cell phone number.