The Middle East

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ABU DHABI – WHERE THE OLD RESIDES PEACEFULLY BESIDE THE NEW

ABU DHABI – WHERE THE OLD RESIDES PEACEFULLY BESIDE THE NEW

Apr 15, 2018

As many may already know, the Islamic religion dictates everything from the way people worship to what they eat, wear and drink. Although the culture of the UAE is inextricably linked to Islam, Abu Dhabi is a truly shining example of Islam's commitment to hospitality...

MY EXPERIENCE WITH MUSLIMS IN DUBAI

MY EXPERIENCE WITH MUSLIMS IN DUBAI

Apr 4, 2017

Today, as I'm sure you're well aware, we are currently living in a world that is screaming constant social alienation and hatred to people that have particular religious beliefs. It's an extremely disheartening and deeply concerning climate that we're faced with, that finding positive stories...

DUBAI, THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT

DUBAI, THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT

Jul 11, 2016

Dubai is such an overwhelming place; a city in the middle of the desert with overlapping roadways, the highest building in the world and temperature that makes you sweat as soon as you hit the outside air. In the eyes of someone who has never...

Girl in red beanie looking at camera with mountains in the distance

Welcome to Travel for Difference!
Inside the mind of a compassionate, eco-conscious, environmental activist! Standing up for things that matter and inspiring you along the way. Come and join me ♡

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  • HELLO BALOO 🐻 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed so many WILD animals throughout my time on this Earth, but as a Jungle Book lover, this has got to be one of my faves! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With just 200 (ish) sloth bears left in Nepal, I’m so grateful that this guy decided to show his face. I mean, just look at that droopy lip... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you Baloo, I’m totally obsessed with you 😭 I’ll treasure this moment forever ♥️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ PS. I have a new blog post up about how to be an animal-friendly traveller, link is in my bio 💫
  • I’ve gone from wanting to take photos of everything and anything, to recently craving the opposite... Yep 🤷🏼‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There‘s so much beauty in photography and preserving wonderful memories, but I’ve had the sudden urge to take travel 100% back to its roots; for the beautiful human connection, learning about other cultures, reconnecting with nature and broadening my horizons. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t get me wrong, those things have ALWAYS been the most important aspects to me, but sometimes the need to share gets in the way. Having technology and an expensive camera is such a privilege, even more so when it becomes your job... But finding a balance between absorbing and creating is so important to me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I will ALWAYS love photography (I ain’t going anywhere), but I’ve also learnt how vital it is to put the camera down and just live fully and deeply in the present. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Basically what I’m saying is, I want to spend far less time seeing the world through a lens and more time seeing it with my own eyes. I want to stop worrying about the things that aren’t important and start giving my utmost of attention, and I’m so very excited about it ♥️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Over to you, would you still travel if you couldn’t take any photos or share it on social media? What about if you couldn’t tell anyone about it? Think about the reasons you travel and then let’s discuss! ✨
  • Happy dancing in my @organicbasics 💃🏼 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A daily reminder from me to you: Although our future on this planet is looking rather bleak, please don’t forget to enjoy what we have in the present... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Find a balance between being a powerful activist, and a happy, thriving human being. Be passionate and strong when it’s needed, but be content and lively when it’s not. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Being endlessly sad and fearful (although very understandable) isn’t what the world needs... It needs more people who have come alive 💫 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So go outside, watch every sunset, turn off your phone, and enjoy this incredible planet we are so lucky to call home. Fight for our future and for all who are currently suffering, but make sure you look after your own wellbeing and live in the present too... Life is too beautiful to do anything but 🌎 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ PS. If you are in need of some new basics, @organicbasics is one of the most ethical, sustainable and TRANSPARENT brands I’ve ever encountered. Their practices are above and beyond ♥️ #gifted
  • A RALLYING HYPOCRITE ✊🏼 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The biggest comment I’ve seen in response to the #globalclimatestrike, is that all of those who rallied are “a bunch of hypocrites”... And today I’m here to own it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I rallied on Friday along with millions of other hypocrites and I couldn’t be any more proud ❤️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I still fly, I still burn fossil fuels in my everyday life (as we ALL do), I still have slip ups with my plastic consumption... And I’m still a member of this messy, destructive society. AKA - I’m not living off the grid in a far away forest 🤷🏼‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But regardless of what anyone might say, you don’t need to obtain any level of perfection in order to demand a better future. We are living in a system that makes being kind to the planet literally impossible... Wanting world leaders to change that system and make it easier for us ALL (not just those with privilege) really isn’t too much to ask, right? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m a hypocrite, you’re a hypocrite, WE’RE ALL HYPOCRITES. So let’s move past the finger pointing 🙏🏼 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ No matter whether you rallied on Friday or if you’re just doing what you can within your means, PLEASE be proud of your efforts and continue doing your best! Progress over perfection friends - we need all hypocrites on deck 🌎
  • Tomorrow - September 20th - is the global climate strike... And I can’t be there 😭 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don’t need to explain myself, but just know that I would be there if I could 💔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Instead of getting down in the dumps, I’m going to make the most of tomorrow by contacting government officials, talking about it with anyone (and everyone) I can, spreading the word on social media, supporting those in the march, using #globalclimatestrike to help gain traction, and doing EVERYTHING I can to get involved from afar. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ No matter if you’re unable to join, or if protesting just isn’t for you, remember that you can help this movement grow from wherever in the world you may be. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The future of all living things depends on it, so raise your fists (the kind way ✊🏼) and fight the good fight, however that may look to you... We got this friends 🌎♥️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (UPDATE: THE STARS ALIGNED AND I MADE IT TO THE STRIKE! But this post is still very relevant to all those who couldn’t/can’t in the future 🙏🏼)
  • HERE’S WHAT I LEARNT LAST WEEK: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🏔 There are thought to be 100,000 uncharted mountains under the sea... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌞 My new life mission is to see as many sunrises and sunsets as possible. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ❓”Why” is THE most important question you will ever ask yourself. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🦛 A quarter of a female hippo’s weight is the contents of her stomach... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🤯 There are more lifeforms living on your skin than there are people on the planet. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💔 Construction site workers are 6X more likely to die of suicide than through a workplace accident. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🙅🏼‍♀️ Spending less time on social media is SO good for my mental health. I urge you to give it a try! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What did YOU learn last week? Learnings inspired by @ethicallykate as always 💫
  • Magic moments with the world’s most beautiful deer 🦌 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Wildlife photography is an aspect of my life that I find deeply fulfilling; it reminds me of how lucky I am to share this Earth with so many diverse species, how privileged I am to be able to capture such special moments, and how vital it is that I do my part to protect and preserve what I can. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Wildlife photography is what fills my heart and drives me to be creative. I’d love to know what it is that fills yours... 🥰
  • AMAZON FIRES, VEGANISM AND PRIVILEGE 💭 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Over the last few days, social media has been hammered with one particular call to action in regards to saving the Amazon rainforest... “Go Vegan”. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve written about this before, but it’s important to say it again... Before you speak about the topic of food, you have to (and I mean really REALLY have to) recognize the privilege you have in being able to pick and choose what you put on your plate. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don’t eat meat and I eat locally grown + seasonal food because I’m privileged enough to have the time, money, health, location, ability (etc) to make that decision. But for millions, food isn’t a matter of choice, it’s a matter of access. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There’s literally an entire system based on racism, inequality, exploitation and white supremacy blocking people from having the choice (among other things), and screaming that their actions are killing the planet isn’t going to help. Words matter, action matters, but finger pointing isn’t it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Encouraging people to reduce their impact is incredible (don’t get me wrong here, it IS important) but it’s only effective if you clearly put “IF YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND ACCESS TO” somewhere in the mix. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our activism NEEDS to focus on dismantling the factors that cause there to be barriers, otherwise I’m afraid it’s totally missing the point. Remember, THINK HOLISTICALLY! Nothing is black and white, and there’s a bucket load of systematic and structural issues that need to be addressed first and foremost. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are privileged enough to be conscious of what you eat, by all means do what you can and I will be right there with you. But please don’t belittle people without taking other circumstances into account (or just don’t do it at all)... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s harmful, unethical and deeply ineffective in this messy long-term fight. Keep being kind and let’s get to work ♥️
  • Pondering life... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I like to think that if this wise monkey could speak our language, he would tell us to “stop trying to find the forest and just enjoy the trees” 🌳 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Trying to calm my overthinking mind isn’t always an easy task, but through difficult times I’ve learnt how to always move forward with a very full (but privileged) heart. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ No matter whether you’re anxious about the climate crisis, dealing with personal struggles, or just trying to figure out life... Always remember that when life throws dirt at you, you have the ability to turn it into a garden 🌸 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Take a deep breath, step outside, look up at the stars, and fill your heart with love. I’ve got this, you’ve got this, we’ve all bloody got this ♥️
  • HERE’S WHAT I’VE LEARNED THIS WEEK: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ♥️ We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐅 India’s tiger population has doubled in the last 12 years - a #wildlifeconservation win! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐢 Sea turtles can hold their breath for up to 7 hours. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💪🏼 I am strong; so much stronger than I often believe myself to be. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌳 Ethiopia has planted 2.6 BILLION trees in just over 2 months! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌊 Oysters are the natural cleaners of the sea! One oyster alone can filter toxic chemicals and pollutants from more than 200 liters of water per day. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🙏🏼 The world is filled with nice people, if you can’t find one... Be one. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What did you learn this week? Learnings inspired by @ethicallykate as always 💫
  • BEING A RESPECTFUL TOURIST 🌎 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A reminder from me to you... Take the time to learn about other cultures WITHOUT putting your views into the mix. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Open your mind, remove your ideologies and strip it right back to the core. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Even if it makes you uncomfortable, even if it’s totally different to everything you’ve been taught in the past, and ESPECIALLY if there are aspects that you don’t necessarily agree with... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In order to connect, you need to understand. Listen, learn and ALWAYS be kind. Diversity is the most beautiful thing, you just need to open your heart to see it ♥️
  • Animals will teach you one BIG valuable lesson: LIVE IN THE PRESENT! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ From climate change to my personal life, overthinking is basically my middle name... But observing animals encourages me to throw all of that away 🌱 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ They don’t dwell on the past or fret about the future, they just live simply and deeply in the present. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sometimes I think so hard about life that I forget to live it... But hey, I’m working on it, and I hope you will too ♥️

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