I created the “Travellers’ Tales” section to give other travellers an opportunity to talk about their travels on my blog. Today I would like to introduce you to Zoë, an Australian travel blogger based in the USA . She blogs at Duende By Madam Zozo.
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.
Hi, I’m Zoë (a.k.a. Madam ZoZo) an Australian expat currently living in the U.S.A., who is passionate about travel and pursuing new experiences. I’m a graphic designer and I find cultural travel to be the most powerful fuel for my creativity. Duende by Madam ZoZo is where I share inspiration for cultural travellers and creative souls—a collection of duende (Spanish for soul and inspiration) that I find in my globetrotting adventures.
My earliest travel memory is a family trip to New Zealand when I was about seven years old. My father was a speedway driver and was invited to compete there over a number of locations. We travelled along with him from Auckland to Christchurch exploring along the way.
Recently my husband and I took a road trip around California, mostly exploring the wonderful National Parks of the region. We visited Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, along with some more urban explorations in LA, Palm Springs and San Francisco.
Yosemite
As much as my designer-self absolutely loved the mid-century architecture of Palm Springs, I have to say that the best part was getting to see the incredible diversity of California. From the scorching depths of Death Valley to the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada; towering Giant Sequoias to Santa Monica Beach. It’s truly amazing how much variety you can experience in a relatively small area.
That is the impossible question, isn’t it? I always come back to Vietnam though. I loved every aspect of Vietnam including the divine cuisine, friendly people, Indochine architecture, lush landscapes, fascinating archaeological sites and traditional textiles. It is truly a great all-round destination.
These days it’s my homeland, Australia. We only get back on average once a year and the longer I am away, the more I look at my home with fresh eyes. I’ve acquired an entirely new appreciation for what is unique and utterly amazing about it.
Visit our most unique natural wonders from the Great Barrier Reef to Uluru. Spend time sipping coffee and seeking street art in Melbourne’s laneways, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, swim our golden sand beaches, get yourself invited to a true backyard BBQ and cuddle up to some our cutest (and most feared) creatures.
My husband accompanies me almost everywhere these days and he is a great travel companion because we share such diverse interests and a willingness to try new things. We could go from museum hopping and eating at Michelin-star restaurants in a big city one day, to climbing volcanoes and sleeping in tents another.
A good camera. I don’t buy many souvenirs, my mementos are mostly the photos I capture.
Do your research but also travel with an open mind. Talk to a local. Ask questions liberally and don’t expect the answers to all be rosy or to align with your preconceptions. Travel is a great teacher if you let it be.
I’d love to visit the countries of my ancestors. I’ve been researching my family tree for almost 30 years and my roots are in Ireland, Germany and Lebanon.
The best places to find me are on my blog Duende by Madam ZoZo and on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
Thank you, Zoe , for sharing your fascinating adventures 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.
Who will I feature next? I’ve got an exciting line-up ahead. Make sure you subscribe to the free newsletter so you don’t miss out on some exciting travel tales.
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.
