Love of Travel Series – Meet Marysia from “My Travel Affairs”

For this installment of our “Love of Travel” series, we wanted to introduce you to Marysia from My Travel Affairs.  Originally from Poland, she has been traveling solo for years and loves exploring lesser known places around the world.  It took her a while to figure out her passion.  She studied to be a lawyer eventually she got a degree in fashion design.  Traveling on again and off again, she realized her love for travel and decided to make that her living! We were able to catch up with Marysia to ask her a couple of questions about her love affair with travel.

Where are you based right now?

I thought we gonna start from easy questions, ha ha ha!  To be honest I do not live anywhere, a few years ago I gave up my apartment in the big city and I’m constantly on the go. When I’m back in Poland where I come from, I keep my base between the city where I went to school, and my parent’s house in the countryside.

Tell us when the travel bug bit you and what trip made you fall in love with travel?

That is easy peasy. I can give you a specific date. In February 2008 I was on the plane from Bangkok to Vienna. That trip made me fall for travel after spending a couple of months in Asia between Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Even though it is not my favourite region, now I’m a bit more jaded traveller and I prefer the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. But back then the sense of freedom, adventure and total indulgence in travel got me so badly that I will stay infected till end of my days, no doubt.

We love seeing people mark off their “Bucket List” items. We see on your site that you have marked off quite a bit. Which was your favorite item marked off so far?

I loved all of those things so it is a toughie, but I think I would have to decide between visiting Easter Island and entering Lebanon with an Israeli stamp in my passport. Easter Island was an amazing, very unique place not visited by many travelers (exactly how I like places I visit to be) but frankly who can say that they entered Lebanon with an Israeli stamp? Not many people around, and it is always a great story to say at the parties and dates so it must be a winner. Ha ha ha!

What’s one item on your list that you haven’t marked off yet that you look forward to the most?

Helping to build schools in Africa and diving in the Great Barrier Reef! For two different reasons. Africa for making a little change in some community so the change can continue even when I leave. It is not the money you spend, it is about making an impact. That is my modest opinion. And the Reef, I love deep diving and let’s be honest it is like a Holy Grail for divers 🙂

What destination truly surpassed your expectations?

I know I’m bragging constantly about Benin being a great country, but it really is, one of my best trips ever. Amazing people! Iran was a spectacular places as well. I have expected that people will be hospitable and welcoming, but as I said many times on my trip. ‘Those Iranians are just too nice!’ and they really are!”

This one may be a tough one. Which adventure do you prefer? Skiing, Scuba, or Paragliding and why?

Guys, that is not fair! How can I choose between such great activities! I will go for diving, skiing I love and paragliding was superb. But I’m new to paragliding, so need to try it few more times 🙂

I felt for diving from a first minute underwater, it was something I have never experienced before and it was cool! My instructor said that I’m natural. Not really sure about it, as it take me a great deal of effort to train myself to be calm. I talk fast, I walk fast and being so calm and slow was and still is a challenge for me. And I think combining something that is so much fun with working on my character a bit, believe me, my mum would pay millions to any diving school when I was younger if she knew it can have such an effect, ha ha ha!

What advice would you give to someone thinking about traveling solo?

As cliche as it sounds, just go for it. I know that many people say they can’t travel alone, they need someone to share the excitement etc. But to know yourself you have to try yourself. I love traveling solo, I think I’m more aware, more observant, I soak it up more. Traveling solo gives opportunities to interact with locals you will never have in a group or a couple. Going alone lets you prove yourself, going alone let you know yourself better. Going
alone is a challenge but when you make it there is no bigger satisfaction in the world, at least for me 🙂

** All photos were kindly provided by My Travel Affairs.

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We would like to thank Marysia from “My Travel Affairs” for sharing her love of travel with us.  We wish her all the best in her upcoming travels!  Be sure to check out her website for great travel stories, photographs, and inspiration at http://www.mytravelaffairs.com.

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