I created the “Travellers’ Tales” section earlier this year to give my readers and other travellers an opportunity to talk about their travels. Today I would like to introduce you to Tara Harrison, a travel blogger from Australia. Visit her blog at ShaTara Travel .
I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales” , fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi! My name is Tara and I am one half of the Australian blogging duo at ShaTara Travel. I have been travelling and living overseas with my fiance since 2012, with a brief stop to save some cash in Australia in 2015. We love to be near the ocean when travelling, so give us a beach-side location and we are super happy.
2. What is your earliest travel memory?
Family road trips when I was in primary school. We lived near Melbourne and would often drive the 12 odd hours up to Sydney to visit relatives. We even drove across the Nullabor when we moved to Perth when I was 12. In 2015 I was able to share these memories with my travel partner, Shabir, and that was great fun.
3. Where was your last holiday?
Well, technically I guess it was Koh Tao, Thailand. We are currently back in India, and Thailand was our holiday from our 6-month Indian holiday!
4. What was the best thing you did there?
Snorkelling, because it was free to explore the endless bays and beaches on the Island, and diving because there is nothing like the feeling of being weightless in an underwater wonderland.
5. What was your best holiday ever? Why?
Visiting Perth in 2014 on holidays from our teaching job in China. We hadn’t seen our friends and family for over 2 years so that was a great two weeks.
6. What is your favourite travel destination?
Mexico. I love the Latino vibes, the music, the food, the language, and the beaches! We are itching to get back there.
7. What must one do there?
We loved Puerto Escondido, great food, surf, and Playa Carazillio - a beautiful beach to relax on with a mojito.
8. Who is your favourite travel companion/s?
Well that is obviously Shabir, my fiancé. We have been travelling together almost as long as we have been together. He is my best friend and we have made it through so many problematic scenarios together, including explosive diarrhoea a few times! Haha!
9. Name one item you must have when travelling.
A sarong! I use it as a scarf, a blanket, a curtain, a dress, sun protection, a skirt, a tent, a towel…. The list goes on! I always keep it in my carry-on bag in case I get cold on the plane, and it comes in my handbag literally everywhere else!
10. Your best travel advice?
Stay open to the experience. You are meant to be out of your comfort zone- you aren’t in your home town anymore! Connect with the local people and the culture wherever you can. You’ll create better memories that way, I promise! The most awkward situations become some of the best travel stories anyway 😉
11. The one place you want to visit before you die?
That’s really tough as there are so many! We really need to go to Machu Picchu. But diving in Raja Amput in West Papua is a little less achievable because of the price tag so maybe that should be my “before I die” destination!
12. Your favourite place in South Africa?
My very first overseas trip when I was 19 actually included South Africa. My parents were living in Botswana when they very kindly flew my sister and I over to experience a bit of Africa. We visited Sun City in South Africa, which was an experience! That place is insane, but not my usual travel style that’s for sure. I would love to re-visit South Africa to really experience what the country has to offer, and to connect with some of Shabir’s long lost family.
13. Any embarrassing travel moments?
So many. But pooping in the bed in Mexico when I was sick with a stomach parasite is probably the worst. Unfortunately I was sharing a bed with my partner Shabir, but believe it or not, he had done it the day before so I wasn’t as mortified as I would have been normally, haha!
14. Worst travel experience?
Nothing has been so bad that I wouldn’t do it again!
15. How can people connect with you?
You can follow all of our adventures on
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shataratravel
Twitter https://twitter.com/ShaTaraTravel
Facebook www.facebook.com/shataratravel
Thank you, Tara , for sharing your fascinating travels with us!
I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to "Travellers’ Tales", fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
