(and yes, there’s a flip side coming soon)

Travelling around South America with my husband for 3 months was one of the best things I’ve ever done, but that doesn’t mean I loved everything about it. In fact, there were a few things I really didn’t enjoy.

Looking out at the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina

Losing my routine

I am a routine girly. I love my little life. I’ve spent years testing and tweaking my days to create a rhythm that works for me. Travelling changes the rhythm and I struggle to adapt to it.

So now I’m learning to build a new kind of routine on the road, for circus life. Instead of forcing it, I’m letting the new version arrive slowly—tentpole by tentpole.

The mystery of what’s underfoot

I love water. Ocean, lake, river, wild swimming—I’m all in. Cold dip? Delightful. Warmer seas? Even better, because my husband gets in too.

But I draw the line at murky lake edges filled with sticks, leaves, and whatever lurks beneath. I have an irrational fear I call stick snake. I’ll spot something floating, shriek “STICK SNAKE!” and then have to do a whole mental reset before entering the water. Once I’m in, I’m fine. But until then… I’m on high alert.

Should I get hypnotherapy for this? Possibly. Will I? Unlikely.

Making time for a dip during a hike near Volcano Osorno

Running low on water

This was the closest my husband and I came to falling out. We were in a campervan, driving through Patagonia (an absolute dream come true), but when our water tank started getting low, I spiraled. I could not rest. I could not shut up. I needed a tap.

Turns out, nothing activates my inner panic gremlin quite like the thought of being without clean water. I like to think I’m a calm traveller, but this unlocked a new level of stress.

Not cooking

I really missed cooking. I always knew I loved it, but I didn’t realise how I used cooking as a check out and reflective time in my day. Cooking is a creative outlet, and a time to pause.

Plus, I like choosing what I eat. Constantly outsourcing that choice just wasn’t it for me.

I didn’t miss washing up!

Sharing snacks

This was an unexpected struggle. At home, my husband and I don’t share snacks. On the road? Suddenly they became communal.

I was halfway through a bag of crisps when he looked at me and said, “Save some for me.”

Excuse me, what? Share???

As an only child, I never learned the sacred art of shared snacks. I tried. I really did. But honestly? It’s not for me. Get your own snacks.

SNACKS!

My brain went to mush

We didn’t bring laptops—just phones and Kindles. I thought I’d love it. And I did… for about two weeks. Then my brain came roaring back, bursting with new ideas. And no outlet.

Luckily, I had the Notes app and an actual notebook. I filled both with plans and sparks and ramblings.

People talk about travel being enriching, and it is. But no one tells you what to do with your enriched brain when you’re not working. I wasn’t bored, but I was itching to ‘work’ again.

After years of complaining about having to work for money, I was humbled to realise: I actually enjoy working. I like thinking, building, creating. Problem-solving, decision making.

I get now why people start businesses while full time travelling. Or go back to study. That brain energy needs something to do.

There will absolutely be a Part Two: ‘What I Loved About Travelling,’ but if you've ever travelled and felt a bit weird for not loving everything - you're not alone, and you don’t have to apologise for it.

Travel is always worth it, just bring your own snacks.

What I didn’t like about travelling