From abseiling in Mauritius, hiking in the pinnacle forest of Madagascar, paragliding in South Africa, skydiving in Costa Brava, swimming with turtles in the Great Barrier Reef, wildlife watching on the Galapagos Islands to getting up close with a crabeater seal in Antarctica, Nellie Huang loves the adrenaline that comes with extreme sports and has a special interest in outdoor adventures and unknown destinations.
An outgoing lady who strongly believes in pursing her dreams, Nellie has been leading a lifestyle that many envy. Instead of a 9-5 job which she hates, Nellie has carved a niche for herself in travel journalism, earning a living by doing something she is highly passionate about — travelling around the world.
I think the power of travel lies in how it changes perspectives and opens our minds.
A professional travel writer and editor originally from Singapore, Nellie is currently based in Granada, Spain, with her Spanish husband, Alberto Molero. From Antarctica to the Arctic, Alaska to Zimbabwe, Nellie has left her footprints in over 90 countries in all seven continents.
An engineering graduate from Nanyang Technological University, Nellie is also the author of The Adventure Traveller’s Handbook and the creator of WildJunket.com, a travel blog.
Nellie’s travel articles have appeared in numerous publications, including BBC Travel, National Geographic Intelligent Travel, CNN, Travel+Leisure Asia, Wend, Women Adventure Magazine, Food&Travel, International Lifestyle, TNT Magazine, and Explorer, amongst others.
“I love going to a new place, absorbing sights that I’ve never seen before and familiarising myself with unknown smells and senses,” she says.
Formerly a shy and timid girl in school, an exchange programme in Miami during her university days was the turning point that changed her life forever.
Through the exchange programme, Nellie met her husband and began connecting with different people and cultures from around the world.
She was overwhelmed by the openness and friendliness of the Americans, and was surprised by how interactive the American students were in their classes, which differs from the school climate here.
From then on, Nellie’s world changed. She started having faith and confidence in herself. She began to open up to new things, and believed she was capable of doing something big.
“I think the power of travel lies in how it changes perspectives and [opens our minds],” she adds.
That said, Nellie and her Spanish husband had a few close calls with death. Alberto had almost slipped into the flowing lava of an active volcano in Guatemala and they were once stuck in a snow storm with strong winds and hail stones in Iceland.
Though she had experienced the wildest adventures while travelling around the world, becoming a first-time mother in 2015 might be the biggest adventure in Nellie’s life.
“2015 is going to be different for me. I’m really excited though; having a baby is going to be the biggest adventure for me!” she exclaims.
How did you get started in travel writing?
I got bitten by the travel bug when I went to Miami for a study exchange programme back in university. The experience opened my eyes to the world beyond and I got hooked on travelling, meeting people from around the world, and cultural exchanges. After t he semester abroad, I went home to finish my Engineering degree in NTU but I spent my days dreaming of travel – the day after graduation, I packed my bags and headed off to experience the world.
Over the following years, I found odd jobs on the road, as a teacher, translator and administrative staff. With my then boyfriend (current husband), I set up temporary home bases in London and Madrid, while exploring Europe and Africa. On an extended trip to South America, I decided to sign up for a travel guidebook writing course in Guatemala. I did well in that course and was eventually selected to stay on for a few months and work for the company. I then spent the next year or so setting up my blog — WildJunket.com, pitching to magazines and building my portfolio. With sheer will and hard work, I found my way into travel writing, fulfilling my lifetime dream.
It takes a lot of courage to follow your passion. What does it take to follow your dream?
I think the most important thing is faith. You need a lot of courage, but also faith in yourself, to follow your dream and make it a reality. I wanted it so badly and I knew that I could not depend on anyone else but myself to fulfill this dream. I believed in myself and went all out to get it.
What is it about travel that is so attractive for you?
I’m drawn to the idea of newness and change that’s associated with travel. I love going to a new place, absorbing sights that I’ve never seen before and familiarising myself with unknown smells and senses. These days, I especially love visiting forbidden places like North Korea and Palestine, to dispel all the myths surrounding them and learn about these places and their people on the ground rather than in the news. I think the power of travel lies in how it changes perspectives and [opens our minds].
What tips do you have for others interested in getting into travel journalism?
Persevere and don’t give up. It’s not easy getting into travel journalism but it’s very worthwhile if your passion lies in travel and writing. I also think that we Singaporeans have an advantage in that the travel publishing industry in Singapore is not as saturated and it’s slightly easier to get in than the American or British one. I started building my portfolio by pitching to Singaporean magazines and newspapers, then it became much easier to get my pitches accepted into international publications.
If you had to choose only one place in the world to live, where would that be?
I’ve lived in several parts of the world – Miami, London, Madrid, and a village in Tanzania, and they’ve all been very different. Since five years ago, my husband and I have been living in Granada, Spain, where he’s originally from. It’s a small city of around 300,000 people and it’s very quaint and calm, nothing like the big cities we used to live in. After living in big cities, this is just perfect for us as we’re seeking to have a quieter life in a city that’s close to the mountains and countryside.
How many countries have you travelled to? Which are your favourite countries or destinations, and why?
I’ve travelled to over 90 countries on seven continents. Through the years, I have spent months backpacking through South America, volunteering in Tanzania, and exploring Southeast Asia. Some of my most memorable adventures include expedition cruising in Antarctica, overlanding the Silk Road, climbing an active volcano in Iceland, skydiving in Spain, wildlife watching on the Galapagos Islands and paragliding in South Africa.
My favourite destinations include Antarctica – you feel like you’re at the edge of the world – and Madagascar where lemurs roam freely and the natural landscapes are so raw and rugged unlike anywhere else I’ve been.
Tell us some of your most exciting adventures.
I remember climbing up to an active volcano in Guatemala where Alberto almost slipped and fell into the flowing lava – that was a close call! Another time we were hiking on an active volcano (again) in Iceland when we got stuck in a snow storm with strong winds and hail stones pelting down from the sky. Luckily we had a guide with us who brought us down the mountain immediately.
Did travelling change your perspective on life?
Of course! It not only changed my life completely, but also constantly gives me new perspectives on things. Without that first semester abroad, I might be living a conventional life working at a 9-to-5 job I hate!
What do you miss most about your birth country – Singapore?
Food! Oh the glorious food in Singapore is definitely what I miss most. My favourite dishes like chilli crabs, beef horfun, char kway teow and hokkien mee are constantly on my mind. Thankfully I go back home at least once a year and I often stock up on cans of belacan chili while there.
Any plans to have a settled lifestyle?
Funny enough, we just found out that I’m pregnant so I’m definitely going to slow down quite a bit in the first half of 2015. I used to travel at least 70% of the year, spending just 1-2 weeks before my trips in our home base, Granada, but 2015 is going to be different for me. I’m really excited though; having a baby is going to be the biggest adventure for me!
For more information about Nellie Huang’s travel adventures, please visit http://www.wildjunket.com
Travel writer and editor, Nellie Huang
