Who am I?
I am a Malaysian-Swiss (living in Basel, Switzerland), mother of 3 boys who has been to 141 countries and counting (as of March 2024).
Summer 2019 hike on the Hardergrat Trail just before climbing to Suggiture with Lake Brienz in the background
What is the story behind “Travel Muse Family”?
It was a freezing day around Easter 2007 when I met Kenshi, a Japanese traveler who was a fellow roommate in a hostel in Tallinn, Estonia.
After chatting for a while I realized I was talking to a very seasoned traveler and asked him how many countries had he been to. He said 63. I was astonished.
I had only been to around 20 countries then. Immediately out of nowhere, I made a goal to visit 100 countries before 30.
I had no idea how I would ever reach this goal but I am a very determined person.
A dream come true to spend my 30th birthday with the giant tortoises in Seychelles
On the 11th of July 2014, I stepped foot onto my 100th country – Kuwait at the age of 28, alone, pregnant with my first child (it was also during Ramadhan and 48°C).
I am now experiencing a different form of travel sometimes alone with 3 kids in tow.
Ilyas has visited 30 countries across 6 continents at the age of 3.
Noah has visited 22 countries before his second birthday.
Kion has visited 16 countries across 4 continents at the age of 18 months.
The new goal for myself is to visit every country in the world.
Why I travel?
It is not enough for me to hear about an exotic destination or see pictures of them on TV or in the news. There is an itch in me that makes me want to see and experience it all first-hand.
I remember watching Megan McCormick swimming with nurse sharks in Belize on Travel Channel as a teenager in Malaysia. I went to Belize and did the exact same thing in 2012.
My dreams came true after all those years watching National Geographic in 2009 when I did a big African trip and went on safaris in Masai Mara, Serengeti and Kruger.
I watched the contestants of the reality TV show Survivor go on a reward challenge to the Jellyfish Lake in Palau in 2005 and went swimming in that same lake myself in 2014.
I of course couldn’t just take the words of Alexander the Great, Marco Polo and Ibnu Battuta on the beauty and splendor of Samarkand and went to Uzbekistan in 2013 to see it for myself as part of a big trip across the Stans.
You get the picture…
When did I start traveling?
As a child, I was lucky as my parents were able to take us abroad to Australia and Europe a couple of times.
Whilst at University (Warwick and Oxford; 2005 – 2009), I traveled extensively within the UK and throughout Europe and also hitch hiked from England to Morocco (2007).
After my exams in June 2009, I went traveling for six months during which I met Peter, my (half-Dutch, full-Swiss he says) husband in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
What is my travel style?
My travel style has evolved a lot.
As a student in the UK, I have done backpacking, hitch hiking and spent nights in cars, airports, train stations, hostels and more.
I have also done crazy road trips across Europe and with 2 kids under 2 in New Zealand.
Now, as an entrepreneur, I take advantage of my flexible working hours, traveling as much as the kids’ school holidays would allow me, and always make sure I have a good night’s rest somewhere comfortable and sometimes splurge on the odd nights away to some amazing destinations.
A weekend getaway at the Cambrian in Adelboden
I cannot keep still. A week in the Maldives was something we did as part of our honeymoon but one I would not repeat. Perhaps 2 nights is enough.
I like to go out and see things, do things, experience something new which I wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to.
Have I traveled solo?
Of course! I am definitely an advocate for solo travel.
I traveled solo most of the time on my first trip to Japan.
I also went alone but joined two big tour groups during my time in Africa and South America. This was during the 6 months of traveling as a backpacker where I visited 34 countries across 5 continents after my Masters.
More recently since Covid, I have been to Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, etc. on my own.
Where have I been?
I have been to 141 countries so far (last updated March 2024).
You can read more here.
Ittoqotoormiit in East Greenland is the most special place I have ever been to
How do I travel with kids?
Traveling with kids is such a rewarding experience. I am proud to say that it has not stopped me from traveling around the world.
My eldest son visited his 30th country across 6 continents at the age of 3.
Learn more about our adventures here!
I was pregnant with my third child when we visited the Peterhof fountains in St. Petersburg, Russia
What’s next?
As of March 2024, I have trips planned for the South Pacific, Moldova, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC.
Covid has certainly impacted our many travel plans since 2020. We did more hiking in Switzerland and had two big trips in Italy.
I was very pleased to have discovered 4 new countries in Central America – Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica in the summer of 2021.
Just before Covid struck we went to India at the end of February 2020. In two weeks, with 3 kids and 3 Cabin Zero bags, we had six internal flights, 10 different hotels, and saw the most beautiful sites. Read more here.
We did a big trip with all 3 kids to Toronto, Mexico, Colombia and Panama when our youngest son was 2.5 months old in the summer of 2018.
There are still too many places and destinations I would like to visit.
This post talks about the bucket list of things I would like to experience.
This post covers the 10 hotels I would like to stay at someday.
Forgive me if this is a rude question, but how do you finance such adventures??
Author
I don’t spend a lot on a normal day. I don’t eat out a lot, nor shop a lot. My priority is really on traveling so I save for that!
Forgive me too if I insist about your support sources. Which company are you working for? Do they pay your trips? Thanks for your response.
Author
they don’t pay for my trips. You can google my name to see what company im working for. Just save a lot and go travel on your own – that is how I’ve always done it!
My apology if I did not read all of your blog as I have just discover.
May I enquire:
1. Do you travel without check in baggage?
2. Yes, packing methods and handling individual airline check in counter.
Utmost TQ
Author
depending on the destination and length of the trip, sometimes no check in baggage and other times yes to check in baggage.
I don’t understand your second question?
Just wanted to say you are an inspiration!
After going through your blog, I just discussed with my friend and decided to plan and cover all the 11 South-East Asian countries in the next 2 years. We’ll be staying in Thailand for this duration for work purpose, so it’s a great opportunity for us now.
We both are earnest travelers and your post further fueled the fire within. Thank you!
Author
Woohoo!!! Your comment made my morning! Thank you for writing. Keep me posted on how both your exploration across South East Asia goes. It will be an amazing and exciting 2 years ahead!
Venture also outside SEA and some other nearby countries like Papua New Guinea while you’re at it! Take up diving too!! That will enrich the traveling experience – visit Sipadan in Borneo, Raja Ampat in West Papua, Tubbataha Reef in Philippines, etc.
Thank you for your suggestions…will surely try to visit those places too!
This year end, we are going to Bali and Gili Islands. We have plan to go for Scuba Diving there, for the first time in our lives! Really excited about it!
Don’t forget to come India
Author
We went to Kerala on our honeymoon and I cannot wait to head back again to see the Taj Mahal and more!
Author
We were in India earlier this year! I hope you’ve seen my recent blog post on our trip.
That’s fantastic. I’ve come across your Greenland visit article — impressive! Would you mind sharing the approximate cost in USD to Greenland? Thank you
Author
Tough to say as we flew to Constable Point by ourselves – I wouldn’t know how much hiring your own private plane would cost.
From Constable Point to Ittoqotoomiit it was about 150usd for the helicopter flight, accommodation you can expect to pay around 200usd per night at the airport hotel.
Some other prices we were quoted as below:
A trip with our local guide to Kap Tobin and the Hot spring. 4500 DKK the same day for your arrival.
A snowmobile trip to Kap Høegh and way back home thought Horsens Fjord. 10500 DKK
5000 DKK for snowmobile transfer from Ittoqqortoormiit to Constable Point, for 2 snowmobile. 5000 DKK
The Guesthouse for 2 night double room 1400 DKK the Guesthouse for 2 night 2 single rooms 2200 DKK
Now you are an inspiration! I’m a wife and mother of two teenage boys and our family has only been to 30 countries while my husband and I keep our day jobs in our home state of Texas. I too save money and vacation time for our trips. Thank you! I’ll keep in touch for more tips.
Author
Helen, your family must be one of the most well-traveled ones in Texas. Well done! Keep it up!! Your boys must be loving the adventure.
Author
Helen, just wanted to say that my brother recently moved to Beaumont, Texas – and we hope to make it to Texas soon enough when the corona pandemic is hopefully over.
Amazing content wani, keep it up. I love the fact that you are travelling with kids and not sponsored which is the case for most of us small family traveler here :D. You have beautiful pictures in the blog, may i know what equipment do you use?
Author
Hi Farah, thank you for your kind comment. Just the standard iphone but I always edit my pictures after – just using the iphone. I used to do it with Lightroom but that felt like too much work. The functions brilliance, contrast, shadow – they are the best ones to play around with.