On 8 May 2016, Feet Do Travel was born.
We chose to launch on Sir David Attenborough’s 90th birthday, because if you are going to start something centred around the natural world, conservation, travel, and curiosity, it might as well be on a day that honours someone inspirational.
Now, as Sir David celebrates his 100th year, we are marking a milestone of our own—10 years of Feet Do Travel.
A lot has changed in a decade.
The country we live in.
The way we travel.
How we write.
What we care about.
And the world of travel blogging itself, algorithms, platforms, and now AI, has shifted more times than we can count.
This is not just a look back. It is a reflection on a lifetime of travel, and 10 years of documenting it through blogging while building a life abroad.
If you are planning your own travels or considering building a life around travel, and creating a life you don't need to escape from, this is what a lifetime of travel and 10 years of running a travel blog, has taught us.
We chose to launch on Sir David Attenborough’s 90th birthday, because if you are going to start something centred around the natural world, conservation, travel, and curiosity, it might as well be on a day that honours someone inspirational.
Now, as Sir David celebrates his 100th year, we are marking a milestone of our own—10 years of Feet Do Travel.
A lot has changed in a decade.
The country we live in.
The way we travel.
How we write.
What we care about.
And the world of travel blogging itself, algorithms, platforms, and now AI, has shifted more times than we can count.
This is not just a look back. It is a reflection on a lifetime of travel, and 10 years of documenting it through blogging while building a life abroad.
If you are planning your own travels or considering building a life around travel, and creating a life you don't need to escape from, this is what a lifetime of travel and 10 years of running a travel blog, has taught us.
You can make your dream a reality
Over the past decade, Feet Do Travel has covered:
This builds on years of travel before the blog existed, from backpacking trips and working abroad to cruises, diving holidays, and long-haul journeys across multiple continents.
Why Feet Do Travel Started
Travel had been part of our lives long before Feet Do Travel, whether that was living in Australia, backpacking across Asia, or taking everything from budget trips to luxury tours and a caribbean cruise to diving holidays.
- Long-term travel across Southeast Asia
- Living abroad in the Philippines and Indonesia
- Scuba diving destinations and marine life experiences
- Wildlife encounters, from orangutans in Borneo to manta rays in Indonesia
- Cultural travel across Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand
- Sustainable and low-impact travel practices
This builds on years of travel before the blog existed, from backpacking trips and working abroad to cruises, diving holidays, and long-haul journeys across multiple continents.
Why Feet Do Travel Started
Travel had been part of our lives long before Feet Do Travel, whether that was living in Australia, backpacking across Asia, or taking everything from budget trips to luxury tours and a caribbean cruise to diving holidays.
Feet Do Travel began as a way to share our experiences with others planning their own journeys. Years of travel journals, long emails home, and thousands of photographs had already documented our adventures, we simply turned it into something useful that others could use for inspiration and information.
At the time, we were living in the UK with a plan that felt both exciting and slightly reckless: sell everything and build a life somewhere far from familiar.
Sy had a dream of becoming a scuba diving instructor, which he went on to achieve.
Feet Do Travel was my side of that plan. A passion project, but also a hope that one day it could generate an income.
That part, as many will know, is far from simple.
At the time, we were living in the UK with a plan that felt both exciting and slightly reckless: sell everything and build a life somewhere far from familiar.
Sy had a dream of becoming a scuba diving instructor, which he went on to achieve.
Feet Do Travel was my side of that plan. A passion project, but also a hope that one day it could generate an income.
That part, as many will know, is far from simple.
The Reality of Travel Blogging (Then and Now)
Turning a blog into a business has never been easy, and it has not become easier with time.
Back in 2016, Pinterest drove traffic, blog comments mattered, and social media felt more manageable. Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape is entirely different.
TikTok, podcasts, ever-changing algorithms, and AI-generated content have reshaped how people find and consume travel information.
Keeping up can feel relentless.
Money does not come quickly in travel blogging, and it certainly does not come easily. It takes persistence, consistency, and years of showing up, often with little return in the beginning.
Burnout is real.
Turning a blog into a business has never been easy, and it has not become easier with time.
Back in 2016, Pinterest drove traffic, blog comments mattered, and social media felt more manageable. Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape is entirely different.
TikTok, podcasts, ever-changing algorithms, and AI-generated content have reshaped how people find and consume travel information.
Keeping up can feel relentless.
Money does not come quickly in travel blogging, and it certainly does not come easily. It takes persistence, consistency, and years of showing up, often with little return in the beginning.
Burnout is real.
The pressure to keep posting, engaging, sharing, and staying visible in an already saturated space can feel relentless. Building a brand in a world full of bloggers means constantly adapting, learning, and continuing, even when motivation dips.
It can be rewarding, but also exhausting. Trends come and go faster than you can keep up.
The travel industry itself has changed dramatically, with search behaviour and content consumption evolving faster than ever. Many travel blogs launched in the 2010s no longer exist today.
And yet, one of the most valuable parts of blogging has been the people.
Through this journey, I have built connections that have lasted years. Friends who were once just names on a screen are now part of our real lives. We have watched each other’s journeys evolve, from moving countries, changing careers, and building new lives across the world.
Sy diving with Mantas, Indonesia
Building a Life We Never Planned
We never knew where we would end up.
After 18 months travelling through Southeast Asia, which were filled with wildlife encounters, diving, and unforgettable experiences, Sy accepted a job as a dive instructor in the Philippines.
That decision changed everything.
In Moalboal, Cebu, we found the opportunity to stay. To build something more permanent. To create not just a home, but a business aligned with how we wanted to live, inspired by the places we had travelled.
Moalboal Eco Lodge was born from that idea—an eco-conscious space built from the ground up.
It was finished two days before the world shut down.
We never knew where we would end up.
After 18 months travelling through Southeast Asia, which were filled with wildlife encounters, diving, and unforgettable experiences, Sy accepted a job as a dive instructor in the Philippines.
That decision changed everything.
In Moalboal, Cebu, we found the opportunity to stay. To build something more permanent. To create not just a home, but a business aligned with how we wanted to live, inspired by the places we had travelled.
Moalboal Eco Lodge was born from that idea—an eco-conscious space built from the ground up.
It was finished two days before the world shut down.
Moalboal Eco Lodge - our passion project
The Years That Tested Us
The pandemic years were, simply put, brutal.
No guests. No travel. No momentum.
With borders closed for over two years in the Philippines, not only did our brand new business (into which we had invested everything) not have any guests, there was little point in writing about travel when no one could go anywhere.
Somewhere in that period, I lost my motivation to write altogether; my mojo was gone, and it did not return quickly.
Then came super typhoon Odette, the third largest in the Philippines’ history, it destroyed half of our environmentally friendly business before anyone had the chance to enjoy it. We had to rebuild …somehow.
Even when travel resumed, it took time to find the rhythm to write again. To feel inspired. To want to share experiences in the way I once had.
But slowly, it came back.
The pandemic years were, simply put, brutal.
No guests. No travel. No momentum.
With borders closed for over two years in the Philippines, not only did our brand new business (into which we had invested everything) not have any guests, there was little point in writing about travel when no one could go anywhere.
Somewhere in that period, I lost my motivation to write altogether; my mojo was gone, and it did not return quickly.
Then came super typhoon Odette, the third largest in the Philippines’ history, it destroyed half of our environmentally friendly business before anyone had the chance to enjoy it. We had to rebuild …somehow.
Even when travel resumed, it took time to find the rhythm to write again. To feel inspired. To want to share experiences in the way I once had.
But slowly, it came back.
Finding Our Way Back to Travel (and Writing)
Japan changed that.
Our recent travels reignited everything: the curiosity, the storytelling, and the drive to share useful, experience-based travel content. The kind that helps people understand a destination, not just tick it off a list.
This time, though, something is different.
There is less focus on chasing algorithms or keeping up with every new platform, and more focus on creating genuinely helpful content based on real experience.
Japan changed that.
Our recent travels reignited everything: the curiosity, the storytelling, and the drive to share useful, experience-based travel content. The kind that helps people understand a destination, not just tick it off a list.
This time, though, something is different.
There is less focus on chasing algorithms or keeping up with every new platform, and more focus on creating genuinely helpful content based on real experience.
Slow travel is where the magic happens
Living in destinations affected by overtourism, environmental pressures, and shifts in climate can reshape your perspective.
Sustainable travel is no longer a trend—it is part of everyday life.
We have also learned that slow travel wins.
Slowing down allows you to absorb a place properly—to understand the culture, notice the details, and appreciate what makes it unique beyond the surface. It moves travel away from checklists and towards real experiences.
Feet Do Travel has always leaned in that direction, but now it comes from lived experience.
Sustainable travel is no longer a trend—it is part of everyday life.
We have also learned that slow travel wins.
Slowing down allows you to absorb a place properly—to understand the culture, notice the details, and appreciate what makes it unique beyond the surface. It moves travel away from checklists and towards real experiences.
Feet Do Travel has always leaned in that direction, but now it comes from lived experience.
Pianamo, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
The Moments That Shaped Us
Not every travel memory is easy, but the difficult ones often leave the deepest mark.
Those moments change you.
After the earthquake, we felt more capable. Less fragile.
When the typhoon came, there was no panic, only preparation. We handled the aftermath one step at a time.
It was hard. Very hard.
But those experiences built resilience in a way comfortable travel never could.
Not every travel memory is easy, but the difficult ones often leave the deepest mark.
- We have been stranded at sea—twice.
- We lived through the earthquake on Gili Air.
- We experienced a super typhoon in December 2021 that left everything around us unrecognisable.
Those moments change you.
After the earthquake, we felt more capable. Less fragile.
When the typhoon came, there was no panic, only preparation. We handled the aftermath one step at a time.
It was hard. Very hard.
But those experiences built resilience in a way comfortable travel never could.
Orangutan in Malaysian Borneo
Not all defining moments come from challenges; many come from stillness and awe.
We have spent hours in the Bornean jungle watching orangutans feed and interact, completely absorbed in their world. Beneath the surface, we have hovered weightless as manta rays glided overhead, powerful yet effortless, their eyes turning to observe us as much as we observed them.
We learnt that not everything we see online reflects reality.
We have spent hours in the Bornean jungle watching orangutans feed and interact, completely absorbed in their world. Beneath the surface, we have hovered weightless as manta rays glided overhead, powerful yet effortless, their eyes turning to observe us as much as we observed them.
We learnt that not everything we see online reflects reality.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Places made popular through Instagram often come with crowds, rushed experiences, and at times, behaviour that does not respect the destination. Visiting them can still be worthwhile, but only when expectations are realistic.
Some of the most meaningful experiences have come from stepping away from those well-worn paths and carving out our own. Those are the moments that stay with you longest.
Then there are the temples, each distinct in style and atmosphere. From the bold, intricate designs across Thailand to the ancient symmetry of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and Borobudur in Indonesia.
These moments are a reminder of how diverse the world really is.
Some of the most meaningful experiences have come from stepping away from those well-worn paths and carving out our own. Those are the moments that stay with you longest.
Then there are the temples, each distinct in style and atmosphere. From the bold, intricate designs across Thailand to the ancient symmetry of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and Borobudur in Indonesia.
These moments are a reminder of how diverse the world really is.
Borneo - where our story begun
Places That Became Part of Us
A simple diving holiday to Mabul, Borneo changed our lives, it became the catalyst for everything that followed. Sitting on a small island, surrounded by palm trees and ocean, we felt a rare sense of stillness. It was there, while still living our 9-to-5 lives, that we turned to each other and said, “I want a life like this.”
So we made it happen. It is where our new life started after leaving the UK, and where Sy became a Divemaster.
A simple diving holiday to Mabul, Borneo changed our lives, it became the catalyst for everything that followed. Sitting on a small island, surrounded by palm trees and ocean, we felt a rare sense of stillness. It was there, while still living our 9-to-5 lives, that we turned to each other and said, “I want a life like this.”
So we made it happen. It is where our new life started after leaving the UK, and where Sy became a Divemaster.
Volunteering at Giii Air Cat Clinic
Gili Air will also always hold a special place in our story.
From a holiday destination we visited for our wedding anniversary, it became a place we fell in love with and felt compelled to make our home. It was where Sy moved from Divemaster to instructor—turning a long-held dream into reality. An island without motorised vehicles, where life moved at a slower pace, and community mattered.
It was also where something shifted for me.
Volunteering at the cat spay and neuter clinics opened a door I had not expected. I have always loved animals, but also found it difficult to face suffering. Being involved, even in a small way, forced me to confront that. It changed me.
Today, in Moalboal, I regularly take dogs to local clinics and dedicate time to improving their lives. It is not something I would have imagined 10 years ago, but it has become an important part of who I am.
From a holiday destination we visited for our wedding anniversary, it became a place we fell in love with and felt compelled to make our home. It was where Sy moved from Divemaster to instructor—turning a long-held dream into reality. An island without motorised vehicles, where life moved at a slower pace, and community mattered.
It was also where something shifted for me.
Volunteering at the cat spay and neuter clinics opened a door I had not expected. I have always loved animals, but also found it difficult to face suffering. Being involved, even in a small way, forced me to confront that. It changed me.
Today, in Moalboal, I regularly take dogs to local clinics and dedicate time to improving their lives. It is not something I would have imagined 10 years ago, but it has become an important part of who I am.
Sunrise at Borobodur Temple, Indonesia
What 10 Years of Travel Has Taught Us
Travel is not just about where you go. It is about how it changes you.
Plans rarely unfold as expected.
Careers evolve.
Priorities shift.
And travel is not always life-changing—and that is okay.
What started as a travel blog became a life abroad, a business, a community, and a completely different version of the future we once imagined.
Travel is not just about where you go. It is about how it changes you.
Plans rarely unfold as expected.
Careers evolve.
Priorities shift.
And travel is not always life-changing—and that is okay.
What started as a travel blog became a life abroad, a business, a community, and a completely different version of the future we once imagined.
Komodo Dragon in Komodo, Indonesia
Key Lessons from a Decade of Travel
Travel rarely goes to plan—and that is often where the best experiences come from.
Slow travel offers more depth than fast itineraries
Not every destination benefits from more tourism
Building a travel blog takes consistency, not quick wins
Social media trends change, but useful content lasts
Some places should be protected, not promoted
Travel is a privilege, and how we do it matters more than ticking off a list
Difficult moments shape us more than easy ones (even if we still prefer the easy ones)
You do not need to see everything to have a meaningful experience
Travel rarely goes to plan—and that is often where the best experiences come from.
Slow travel offers more depth than fast itineraries
Not every destination benefits from more tourism
Building a travel blog takes consistency, not quick wins
Social media trends change, but useful content lasts
Some places should be protected, not promoted
Travel is a privilege, and how we do it matters more than ticking off a list
Difficult moments shape us more than easy ones (even if we still prefer the easy ones)
You do not need to see everything to have a meaningful experience
What’s Next for Feet Do Travel
Ten years in, Feet Do Travel feels less like a project and more like a reflection of our lifestyle.
The next chapter is not about doing more; it is about doing it better.
Sharing travel experiences that are thoughtful, practical, and grounded in real experience.
Continuing a commitment to responsible and sustainable travel.
Creating honest content without chasing every trend.
Content that helps others explore the world in a way that is meaningful, and mindful.
Ten years in, Feet Do Travel feels less like a project and more like a reflection of our lifestyle.
The next chapter is not about doing more; it is about doing it better.
Sharing travel experiences that are thoughtful, practical, and grounded in real experience.
Continuing a commitment to responsible and sustainable travel.
Creating honest content without chasing every trend.
Content that helps others explore the world in a way that is meaningful, and mindful.
We've chased a thousand sunsets (or more)
Final Thoughts
Looking back, nothing about this journey has been straightforward. Or easy, it has actually been the most challenging of our lives.
But that is the point.
The best parts of travel, and of building something over time, rarely follow a clear plan. They come from taking opportunities, adapting when things go wrong, and continuing even when motivation dips.
Creating your own path often leads to more meaningful travel than following someone else’s
Ten years ago, Feet Do Travel was just an idea—built on a lifetime of travel that came long before it.
We’ve chased a thousand sunsets, faced challenges we never expected, and built a life we once only talked about.
Now, it is a decade of experiences, lessons, challenges, and moments that have shaped not only how we travel—but how we live.
Looking back, nothing about this journey has been straightforward. Or easy, it has actually been the most challenging of our lives.
But that is the point.
The best parts of travel, and of building something over time, rarely follow a clear plan. They come from taking opportunities, adapting when things go wrong, and continuing even when motivation dips.
Creating your own path often leads to more meaningful travel than following someone else’s
Ten years ago, Feet Do Travel was just an idea—built on a lifetime of travel that came long before it.
We’ve chased a thousand sunsets, faced challenges we never expected, and built a life we once only talked about.
Now, it is a decade of experiences, lessons, challenges, and moments that have shaped not only how we travel—but how we live.
If you’re looking to work with experienced, long-term travellers who care about meaningful and responsible travel, you can visit our Work With Us page to see if we’re a good fit.
