ABOUT
WELCOME
I’m Haylee, a shy solo female traveller in my early 30s who’s explored more than 40 countries (and counting).
What you might be surprised to learn is that I spent the first 19 years of my life being painfully shy. I was too nervous to speak to new people and often lacked the confidence to leave my house to socialise with friends let alone to leave the country to make friends with strangers!
Despite this, Id always had a deep desire to explore the world solo a seemingly wild aspiration for someone who felt anxious at the thought of having to initiate conversation with someone Id never met, right?
But I did it and solo travel changed my life!
Fast forward to today...
Through Away with Wonder, I help shy people like you and I to travel solo and gain the confidence to connect with new people abroad.
I do this by sharing my own experiences, practical tips, detailed itineraries, and step-by-step guides all written with you in mind. As a fellow shy person, I’m here to support you every step of the journey.
MY STORY
As a once painfully shy person, it was a surprise to those who knew me that after leaving high school much of my life took place overseas.
At 19-years-old, I moved from Perth, Australia to New York where I studied and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Writing and Rhetoric.
After graduating, I spent the next five years (before Covid-19) exploring as much of the world as I could: I backpacked through Europe; I completed an internship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; I made a spontaneous move to London following what shouldve been a 7-week trip; and I spent a short time living in Melbourne, Australia.
While I don’t travel as frequently these days, I’ve managed to find a balance between working a 9-to-5 and still exploring the world.
THE BLOG JOURNEY
This little space of mine has existed in the digital world since I moved the to USA for college back in 2012. It started as an outlet for writing about my travels and experience living abroad, which were mostly just cringey diary entries that have been sent back to drafts for my eyes only.
After a spruce-up in late 2023, the blog became Away with Wonder, a name chosen to reflect the curiosity I have for exploring unfamiliar places and rediscovering destinations I’ve visited before. Instead of the diary-style posts of the past, it has transitioned into a space where I share tips, guides and itineraries, as well as reviews and summaries of group tours I’ve taken to help other solo adventurers plan their trips.
More than anything, I want for this blog to be a resource for people who are shy and feel intimidated by travelling solo. I want my experience, as someone who was incredibly shy, to show other people that shyness doesnt have to hold you back. In fact, theres so much opportunity for growth when you travel solo, if you can just find the courage to book that ticket, embrace discomfort and go!
MY TRAVELS
Over the years, I’ve made memories and had experiences around the world.
I’ve been stuck in a polar vortex in Upstate New York. I’ve swam with Whale Sharks in Western Australia. Ive been covered from head-to-toe in colourful dust during Holi celebrations in India. Ive remembered to pack my favourite tea on every single trip. I blistered my feet so badly running down stairs in Santorini that I couldn’t walk for two days. I’ve camped in the Serengeti with no barriers between the animals and my tent.
Ive gone beyond my comfort zone to make new friends in hotels and group tours, even though I was once too shy to speak to strangers. I’ve mastered the art of getting on the tube during peak hour while living in London.And, I’ve lived on four different continents and travelled to over 40 countries (majority of them solo).
continents visited
0
countries travelled
0
cities lived
0
group tours taken
0
Everywhere I've been so far...
* = Places I’ve lived
AFRICA
AFRICA
Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, Kenya
Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, Kenya
ASIA
ASIA
Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia*, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia*, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
CARIBBEAN
CARIBBEAN
The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
CENTRAL AMERICA
CENTRAL AMERICA
Mexico
Mexico
EUROPE
EUROPE
Albania, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England* and Northern Ireland), Vatican City
Albania, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, England*, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican City
MIDDLE EAST
MIDDLE EAST
Jordan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
Jordan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA
Canada, United States of America*
Canada, United States of America*
OCEANIA
OCEANIA
Australia*
Australia*
MY LIFE BEYOND TRAVEL
Alongside travel being a huge part of my life, I’m also a Melbourne Breakfast tea addict, a dog mum to a Golden Retriever, a cat mum to a Ragdoll, a waterer of more plants than I can count, and a 9-to-5 marketing professional.