The Journey of Zarja Kambič

 

I am a passionate traveller, journalist, blogger and explorer. Before all this, I worked as a journalist for TV Slovenia and before that for a newspaper company. I always loved to travel and my never-ending wish was to combine my two passions – travelling and journalism. Because of my steady job I could not afford to travel more than couple of weeks a year so I decided to quick the job and start a new lifestyle. I became a traveling journalist! I wanted to travel without any time limitations since I really wished to have enough time to explore and get to know the new cultures, make interviews and write about the people from different parts of the world. That is also the major reason why I decided to change my life and buy a one way ticket to travel to the other part of the world. I didn`t have any particular plan for how long I will be gone. At the end, I stayed three years before coming home again! 

I really wanted something more from my life. I wanted freedom and try out new things, learn new skills and explore new cultures. As I said, traveling was my passion and when I was still working in a steady job, I travelled the majority of Europe, USA , Cuba and Asia. But the wish of having a freedom to really stay at one place as long as I want was simply too big. It was kind of a turning point for me and perfect timing – I still didn`t have a family, I was still young and had enough energy to do it! I knew that if I don`t go now, I will never go. Now that I am doing it, I never want to stop! (laugh)

First I went to Germany, then to Asia and from there I flew to New Zealand, which was, so to say, the main destination. I stayed there for some time.

 

I worked as a volunteer through different organisations, such as Workaway, Woofing etc. It was an amazing experience because the Kiwis are very open and easy-going people. They know how to enjoy their life much more than us and they spend their free time with quality. They are hard working as well, but not obsessed with career. They don`t put a lot of attention on the materialistic things, sometimes you can see people going to the supermarket without shoes on and it is because they like to walk barefoot. I was exploring the culture of Maori when I lived in one of their villages. I also volunteered in a centre for endangered New Zealand birds and it was very interesting. I saw many bird species, the famous Kiwi bird as well. In the centre they also have a professional station where they breed bird babies that are later brought back to the wild environment. As a volunteer I also worked in a coffee bar, hotel reception and I helped with the work in orchards. Besides that. I helped with the organisation of TEDx conference where I met many interesting guests. 

A lot of people think that you need a lot of money to travel but I don`t think so. I still need to learn all the tricks but I travel with a very low budget and it is working. If you hitchhike, help the locals in exchange for the food and accommodation or you use Couchsurfing, you can travel practically for free. The biggest financial burden is usually plane ticket but nowadays you are able to find some cheap fares. If you want to travel low budget you need to organise yourself much sooner and plan more. If I go Couchsurfing or looking for a volunteer job, I usually contact people in advance. I tend to live with the local people so I can experience the culture and take time to get the know the new location. When I travel, I become sort of a "local" and I love it.

 

Once in Tonga I hitchhiked with a group of friends with whom I spent a very nice day on a remote beach on the other side of the island. It got dark and there were no buses anymore. One local guy took us in his car, we were seven people! We sat like sardines, and two were in the truck of the car (laugh). Usually I hitchhike alone and this is already sort of an adventure. You go to new places, you don`t know who is going to stop you and what kind of stories he/she will tell. I have a lot of positive experiences because I hitchhike with my common sense. Since it is a very spontaneous thing I sometimes hitchhiked some locals who took me around, showing me some hidden local places that I would probably never see alone. Sometimes they offered me to stay at their place. Generally those people are very open minded, but it is always necessary to be a bit careful when you hitchhike.  

Yes, it is possible! It is not as literal though. You don`t put the finger up and a boat stops you. You go to the marine and just start to ask people on the boats if they need any help in exchange for sailing with the group. Before the winter many people get to volunteer on the boats in New Zealand, since many Kiwis go to the Pacific where the summer is. With one of my friends we managed to get a boat even though we didn`t have any experiences with this kind of work. You need to be persistent and never give up! But at that time, I already had a ticket for Tonga because I really wanted to go there to swim with the whales, which I loved! I saw many whales in New Zealand already but you can only observe them. In Tonga you can swim with them so I said I will join people on the boat on Fiji. 

I am the first Slovenian that ever did this kind of volunteer work. It is an amazing story! I went to Tonga because it was my personal dream to swim with the whales. The humpback whales come to the Pacific from Antarctic sea to hatch the babies and it is a time when you can swim with them. Tonga is very famous for this. After I got there the locals told me I was too early to swim with them. They told me to go to one island where they might arrive early so I did. I found a centre that offered the tour and I told the worker of the centre how I wish to swim with the animals. He told me the fisherman saw the whales that day and offered me to take me to the sea the next day and try the luck. And since I was so excited I simply asked if they are looking for any extra hands at the centre. I told them I was a journalist, that I speak many languages and have experiences with the work in tourism. After talking to the owner, I got the job even though I was not a biologist or ever worked with whales before. They used me as a photographer, and PR and they thought me to be a guide for swimming with the whales. I took over the job very fast. 

I stayed for the whole season, since that was their requirement. I also decided not to join the boat trip. 

 

It is amazing, simply indescribable. When you look in those animals’ eyes you cannot believe it! Those are 16 meters and weigh 40 tons gentle giants, and if they have a good day they will repeat the moves you make, jump out of the water and behave like a ballerina. The cubs are so cute and curious. The main work of the guides was to tell the tourists about the main reason why the whales are here and that we need to give them piece and don`t intrude. Even if we only observe them from the boat it is already a privilege, and if whales will allow we can swim with them, if not, they will swim away.  

When I travel, I am a journalist. I do a lot of interesting interviews with locals and travellers, make movies and write articles. I have a Facebook, Instagram and Youtube channel called Zarja`s backpack. I am currently working on a website in Slovenian and English language where I will publish all my material. I collect recipes of the food that the locals are making at home (not from the restaurants) and which I have tried. I will also add them to the site.

 

Yes, I came home after three years. In May, I will travel to Alaska, and after that to Canada. I want to find some local people, especially Indian people and locals who breed husky dogs. It is also a time when the bears are waking up and feeding with the almonds, it would be great to see that as well. 

I lived in a very easy going environment for three years and with very laid back people, especially in Tonga. I got used to this kind of lifestyle. I got used to live without drinking water, refrigerator etc. So after I had a layover in London I was already experiencing some culture shock – people everywhere, rush and massive consumerism around me. I started asking myself why do we need so many things? Everything I need I can put in my less than 15 kg backpack. When I returned to Slovenia I saw that people like to complain. You meet so many people around the world that should complain because they have much less, but they don`t. People in Slovenia just don`t see how lucky they are.

 

Because it gives you an open mind, breaks the stereotypes and shows you that uncertainty is not necessary dangerous. When you travel, you get rich. In couple of year you can learn and experience much more then you ever did before. It gives you a chance to become a professional in cross cultural communication and get skilled in adapting to new situations. I recommend it to anyone!