Why the Scottish Highlands?
Usually, when I travel, I love going off the beaten track. The first time I ventured overseas, I went to Ethiopia, Turkey, and Georgia. That trip was so wildly different from anything I’d experienced before, it left a lasting impression on who I am today. I’m truly grateful for the stories and experiences I get to share over dinner now.
Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to visit 33 countries* around the world—which is pretty good considering I started travelling in my 20s and live on an island continent in the southern hemisphere.
Last year, I had such a special time in Japan for my birthday. Lark was 7 months old, I was about to return to work after maternity leave, and we wanted to make the most of the free time we had left. So we thought, why not Japan for our birthdays? The Aussie dollar was strong against the yen, I adore Japanese culture, it’s incredibly baby-friendly and easy to travel around—and to top it off, that’s where RaRa proposed. I was completely surprised.
This year, when I thought about how I wanted to spend my birthday, the idea of visiting places I’d never been before made me literally jump around the room. While I still love going off the beaten path, I also like to enjoy my holidays—and now that I have a little chicken nugget to consider, the top priorities are baby-friendly and relatively safe.
I also tend to avoid places that are “hot” right now—and I don’t mean temperature (I love a good tropical island). I mean trendy, viral, cult fave, all-the-rage destinations. For me, part of the joy of travel is coming home with unusual stories and unheard tales. That said, it did feel like every Australian visited Japan in 2024. Cue: “Ohhh how good was thaaaat?”
Like many people, I try to live with purpose and make choices that feel meaningful to me.
I’m fond of a good whisky. I find castles whimsical and soaked in history. I love how a good legend—like the Loch Ness Monster—can completely capture the imagination. There is nothing more awe-inspiring than nature, and I’ve heard the Scottish Highlands are pure magic. Honestly, who doesn’t love a good Scottish accent?
Plus, Edinburgh is the birthplace of the Fringe Festival—and as a huge arts lover who’s volunteered at the Sydney Fringe over the years, that just adds to the appeal.
Do I hope to see someone earnestly wearing a kilt? Yes.
Do I hope to hear bagpipes in the morning? You betcha.
Will I hear Mel Gibson’s voice in my head when I think of William Wallace’s “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”? Naturally.
Will I try haggis? How else will I understand what it actually is?
One of my favourite questions to ask people is: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at work? I’m hopeful that if you work in a castle, at the oldest distillery in Scotland, or near old Nessie, you’ll have some delightfully devilish tales I can share over dinner when I return.
*If you’re curious, here’s the list of countries I’ve visited so far, in alphabetical order: Australia, Belize, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czechia, England, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vietnam, Wales.