The Altruistic Traveller
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Cambodia
    • Colombia
    • Europe
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Mexico
    • Nepal
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
  • Travel Resources
    • What is Responsible Tourism
    • How to be a Sustainable Traveller
    • What is Community-based Tourism
    • Responsible Volunteering
    • The Rise of Impact Travel
    • Ethical Animal Encounters
    • The Importance of Fair Trade
    • Responsible Travel Websites
    • Sustainable Tourism Podcasts
    • Travel Insurance (that covers COVID-19)
  • About Me
    • The Altruistic Traveller Story
    • Personal Stories
    • Podcast Interviews
  • Media
    • Featured In
    • Work with me
    • Submit a Guest Blog Post
    • Book a Podcast Interview
  • Support
  • Contact Me

The Altruistic Traveller

Banner
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Cambodia
    • Colombia
    • Europe
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Mexico
    • Nepal
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
  • Travel Resources
    • What is Responsible Tourism
    • How to be a Sustainable Traveller
    • What is Community-based Tourism
    • Responsible Volunteering
    • The Rise of Impact Travel
    • Ethical Animal Encounters
    • The Importance of Fair Trade
    • Responsible Travel Websites
    • Sustainable Tourism Podcasts
    • Travel Insurance (that covers COVID-19)
  • About Me
    • The Altruistic Traveller Story
    • Personal Stories
    • Podcast Interviews
  • Media
    • Featured In
    • Work with me
    • Submit a Guest Blog Post
    • Book a Podcast Interview
  • Support
  • Contact Me

The Story

by Bianca Caruana October 7, 2018October 7, 2018

This story is my hope to inspire others to include altruism in their travels. We are much more capable of changing the world than we realise.

It first started on a short journey through Northern India in 2012. I had travelled many times before, stood at the foot of the Eiffel tower; gazed at the beauty of the Colusseum; basked on the white sand beaches of Mykonos, however it was in 2012 that I experienced a journey of a different kind, a journey that opened my eyes to the contrast of the world that we live in. Experiencing life in the developing world was a huge divergence to the world I had known, but for some reason this gave me a remarkable feeling of worldliness and intrigued me in a way I had never been intrigued before. You become grounded when you are surrounded by a community that are not rich in possession, but so rich in joy and gratitude. It’s a remarkable contrast from a world so rich in possession yet deficient in gratitude.

I always felt very privileged to live in the developed world. I often thought about the opportunities I was provided and always felt that I should use those opportunities to give something back to the world that has provided me with so much. I knew I loved to travel, and I knew that I wanted to make a difference to the lives of others, so one day I began to look into ways that I could combine the two and came up with this journey. It took a long while to put my thoughts into actions, with a full time job, study, hobbies and being a girl that is scarcely unoccupied the idea of embarking on such a long journey seemed so far out of reach. However as with any dream, if you believe in it enough, work hard enough, and make some sacrifices, it will eventually come true.

My travels through India

Anyone who is passionate about pursuing a journey knows the sacrifices you can take to make it happen. My Dad looked at me with bewildered eyes when I mentioned at nearly thirty I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Malaysia and wasn’t really sure when I was going to come home. You feel like that one little fish that is swimming in the opposite direction of his fellow school members, but that’s the sacrifice you are willing to make.

So the purpose of this journey, as you may have gathered, is to spend a year abroad, focusing on ways that we can incorporate altruism into our travels. I want to meet people from far away cultures, I want to share their stories of hope and love and everything in between. I want to immerse myself into the unknown and let the universe, and a lonely planet travel book, guide me from one destination to the next sharing stories of goodwill throughout the globe.

I hope in some way this story inspires you, educates you or encourages you to go on your own altruistic journey, or at the very least perhaps pursue a passion of your own.

I’ll end with this Mark Twain quote, because no travel blog is complete without a Mark Twain quote 🙂

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

Where I’ve Been

I’ve been to 41 countries so far

Share
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinRedditStumbleuponEmail

About Bianca

About Bianca

The Altruistic Traveller

I am a freelance journalist, blogger & podcast host specialising in stories that ignite thoughts surrounding compassion, ethics and the happiness of all beings. I travel the world as a digital nomad with the aim to promote ethical values and give a voice to those who are making the world a better place.

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Linkedin Spotify

This Travel Insurance Covers COVID-19

incurance-that-covers-covid-19

House Sit & Travel The World

trusted-housesitters

The best undies for zero-waste travel

Responsible Travel (Virtually) with I Like Local

I-like-local

JOIN THE IMPACT TRAVEL ALLIANCE MEDIA NETWORK

Are you a travel blogger / photographer / creative specialising in sustainable travel? Join the ITA media network.

Volunteer Remotely with the nomads giving back! volunteer matching program

volunteer-matching

Find Ethical Food Venues

fair-food-forager

The Wanderluster’s Mind Podcast

Listen to my latest podcast interview with Abby Lewtas, speaking about responsible tourism and accessing inner wisdom.
TWM - Social Bianca TAT

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

FOLLOW ME

Tweets

My latest for @WorldFootprints: #Bali battles a plastic ocean while eagerly awaiting economic respite https://t.co/U58sE849me #WarOnWaste

08-Feb-2021

Reply Retweet Favorite
I am micro-investing with Raiz. If you join using this link, we will both get $5 when you use my invite code: https://t.co/mTmv1jg3zt

08-Feb-2021

Reply Retweet Favorite
#ShareTheMeal is the world's first app against hunger. ShareTheMeal now: https://t.co/NzAr8tq5gd

07-Feb-2021

Reply Retweet Favorite
Could you be the co-founder of a sustainable fashion social enterprise supporting women in rural regions of Uganda?… https://t.co/4eNUAT965D

07-Feb-2021

Reply Retweet Favorite
Travel Without Leaving Your City: Learning Refugees' Stories through Food https://t.co/wbdVPEWkqh @impacttravelall… https://t.co/Ohtgj4IlrU

04-Feb-2021

Reply Retweet Favorite

LATEST TRAVEL TIPS

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Soundcloud
  • Spotify
  • RSS

@2021 - The Altruistic Traveller. Developed by Cybernite Technologies.
The Altruistic Traveller uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running, and allows us to keep the content free for readers like you.
This website uses cookies. To learn more or opt-out please visit our Privacy Policy.


Back To Top