The story behind the stories
Hi, I’m Shazia.
For years, I travelled whenever I could — exploring new places, crossing boundaries and occasionally finding myself in situations I probably should have thought through a little more carefully.
I wasn’t necessarily the most prepared traveller. I was actually nicknamed the ‘Qatari princess’ when camping through Africa and hired a porter to carry my back when trekking through Borneo.
There was the time I cycled around rice paddy fields with Covid. The time I went camping too afraid to exit my tent because of lions. The time a trip around Saudi Arabia ended with us being escorted to a police station.
And apparently, inappropriate footwear became something of a recurring theme.
But I went.
I took the opportunities. I made the memories. And I collected some incredible stories along the way.
Then my health changed.
Living through topical steroid withdrawal changed my freedom, including something I had always taken for granted — the ability to simply pack a bag, get on a plane and go.
I look back at that part of my life with mixed emotions. There is sadness. I miss that freedom more than I can really put into words. Sometimes I looked at my old photos with a kind of grief – for the freedom I’d had, and for the version of me who could simply decide to go.
But there’s something else too.
I am beyond proud of myself and grateful for the opportunities.
Proud that I put myself first. Proud that I didn’t keep waiting for the perfect time. Proud that when an opportunity came along, more often than not, I said yes.
The time has come to celebrate and share my stories.
Even when saying yes apparently involved depositing money into a random bank account, making some questionable travel decisions, falling into a river or attracting rather more attention from the Saudi police than intended. 😂
Were all my decisions sensible?
Absolutely not.
Would I give the stories back?
Not a chance.
Because one of the biggest things life has taught me is that we really don’t know what’s around the corner.
Our circumstances can change. Our freedom can change. Even our boundaries can change.
So this site isn’t really about ticking countries off a list.
It’s about saying yes to life while you can.
Seize the moment. Take the opportunity. Make the memory. Collect the story.
And sometimes, when you don’t have the right shoes…
you climb barefoot.
Apparently, inappropriate footwear has been a recurring theme in my travels.
I didn’t have the right shoes for this climb. So naturally, I did it barefoot.
Sensible? Probably not. A story? Absolutely.
Looking back, I realise I spent years finding reasons to go, rather than reasons not to.
And I’m incredibly proud of that.
But hey… I made it to the top of the world. ❤️
Live Beyond Your Boundaries 