What may start off as imagination can sometimes lead to the incredible real-life story that will stir the soul for many years after. The dream of leaving everything behind and travelling is something that strikes us all at some point. It is common because it so easy in our society to find yourself obsessed with your domestic certainties that all of a sudden you question why you wanted them all in the first place. I was there and I took the plunge. It was courageous in some ways but I am certainly not a big risk-taker. I didn’t run to the hills and grow my veggies but I did move to the other side of the world and start again!

It all started as a what-if conversation and a map. A dream became a departure date and a plan emerged along the way…

I headed from Portugal to Australia and found many things were different. I also found, just as I noticed from other travel through Europe, Asia and Africa, that at the heart of it all, we all share many similar traits and joy from magic moments. The question sometimes for you, if you’re interested in taking the plunge to another part of the world, is not where but when?

The best experiences come from situations and not the distance or places you travel. I was lucky to have learnt travel for travels sake at a young age. This is why I still love camping above nearly all other forms of travel, as it becomes easier to choose what to do and see based on the moment and you become all the more rich for it.

I have been blessed from this philosophy. I met Paul travelling and we realised that we shared many dreams and at the heart of it all, we looked for adventure within our normal lives and normal life within adventure. For some, we are crazy. Even our family sometimes question our plans or look more concerned than inspired at some of our tales of adventure, but it is all how you look at life. We chose a life where we made trips- big, small, or just an outing if our life can only spare this. By adopting adventure, I have found you can do something in a day that you will remember forever.

Australia has been the perfect place for me to live. I even feel a bit “Aussie.” There is something about the openness. The clear and amazing blue water along the coastline matched by the vast landscape of the outback with its dramatic red earth and old mountain every so often to break up the nothingness. The people are shaped by the land as much as the other way round. At first, they don’t give away too much; in good time, they share a lot and are generous beyond your expectations! It is always hard for me to give travel advice beyond this as everyone’s experience and favourite place will be individual. My experience has always been dive in, be prepared for some hard work but give yourself some time to find the gems and the experience you wanted. Get behind the wheel, the wing- get cold, get warm, get hungry, get scared, get curious!

Sofia Machado is from Portugal and is now living in Australia. She is a dreamer, a hopeless romantic and an unsettled traveller. Also a blogger, an adventure seeker and a free spirit!