{"id":10503,"date":"2021-03-10T10:32:19","date_gmt":"2021-03-10T10:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiqets-blog-staging.local\/life-of-a-travel-blogger\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T09:28:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T09:28:31","slug":"life-of-a-travel-blogger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/life-of-a-travel-blogger\/","title":{"rendered":"Wonder What the Life of a Travel Blogger Looks Like? Meet Emily at Wander-Lush","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2013 This post was written by Becky Wicks \u2013<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australian-born Emily is the talented writer and photographer behind Wander-Lush, a successful blog grown from her love of travel, culture and photography. From showing up at the wrong airport, to uncovering the best places to eat in Tbilisi (where she’s based!), to social enterprise in Southeast Asia and surviving the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, we get the lowdown from Emily on the life of a travel blogger in 2021. Be warned, this post will make your feet itch!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-Fabrika.
Tbilisi Fabrika by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What made you decide to start a blog? Were you always traveling?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I worked in the media in Australia and always wanted to have my own project or \u2018space\u2019. I love every aspect of content creation, from research to design, and I wanted an outlet to share something entirely of my own creation. That\u2019s the control freak in me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blogging seemed like a natural fit, but I didn\u2019t know anything about photography, SEO, social media or how to run a business. I had a few false starts and ended up getting pretty frustrated with myself. When my partner and I decided to move to Chiang Mai in 2015, it felt like the perfect time to have a real go at blogging, so I dived in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started off by documenting topics I\u2019m passionate about: textiles, cultural traditions, markets, festivals. For the first few years it was very much a hobby as I was always working full-time on something else. I\u2019m glad it happened that way \u2013 it forced me to take things slowly and to learn as I went. I had no expectations whatsoever so when my website started to gain a following, it came as a nice surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please share a few fun facts about yourself that most people don’t know about you.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a massive homebody and a creature of habit, so it\u2019s funny that I wound up doing what I do. In many ways travel doesn\u2019t gel with my personality at all, so it\u2019s a process!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-Sameba.
Tbilisi Sameba by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What was the first big trip you went on?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I was very fortunate to travel a lot with my parents and sister when I was younger, mainly around Australia and the Pacific but also to the US and Europe. My first big trip without my family was to New York for a study excursion when I was an undergrad studying art history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it was a big trip through Southeast Asia that really kickstarted my passion for travel and planted the seed of wanting to live abroad. My partner and I did the classic \u2018Banana Pancake Trail\u2019 through Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. I fell in love with textiles and weaving and social enterprise. That inspired me to do my Masters degree in Communication for Social Change, and I eventually went on to live and work in all four countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was my life before travel writing and my path out of Australia, which eventually led me to blogging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the best thing about living in Tbilisi?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tbilisi is one of those cities where you can walk the same streets a million times and still find something new and unexpected. I love photography, so living in a place where I can roam around with my camera a couple of afternoons a week is one of the things I value most about being based here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Tbilisi (and Georgia) has always been a bridge between different cultures and religions, the mix of influences in the architecture, culture, food and everything else is very intriguing. When I first visited, I wrote this big list of things to do in Tbilisi<\/a>, and I find myself having to constantly add to the article as new things pop up. It\u2019s hard to keep up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a wonderful energy and sense of forward momentum in Tbilisi that\u2019s hard to describe, but it feeds my creativity. Georgians are renowned for their hospitality and I love the sense of community here as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

There\u2019s a wonderful energy and sense of forward momentum in Tbilisi that\u2019s hard to describe, but it feeds my creativity.<\/p>\nEmily @ Wander-Lush<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

\n
\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-orange.
Tbilisi oranges by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What do you enjoy doing the most in Tbilisi? Can you please give us some local foodie recommendations?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m happiest when I\u2019m walking around with my camera in hand, exploring the nooks and crannies of an old neighbourhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eating is also a highlight! Georgian cuisine is hugely underrated \u2013 the fresh produce here is unreal (you haven\u2019t really had tomatoes until you\u2019ve had Georgian tomatoes), and the heavy use of spices such as fenugreek and adjika makes everything so tasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people know Khinkali<\/em> (\u2018soup dumplings\u2019) and Khachapuri<\/em> (\u2018cheese bread\u2019), but there\u2019s a whole world of food beyond those two dishes. Regional specialties are my favourites \u2013 I especially love Megrelian food from western Georgia, which uses a lot of adjika and cornmeal. One of my favourite dishes is Kharcho<\/em>, a rich beef \u2018stew\u2019 with walnuts that\u2019s usually served with Elarji<\/em>, a cheesy cornmeal. Mapshalia is a little no-frills restaurant in Tbilisi that specialises in these dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of my other go-to restaurants are Salobie Bia, Keto & Kote, Amo Rame for great Khinkali<\/em>, Shavi Lomi and Shemomechama. The Georgian word Shemomechama means something along the lines of \u2018I accidentally ate the whole thing\u2019 \u2013 that pretty much sums up Tbilisi\u2019s food scene!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find lots more recommendations in my Tbilisi restaurant and food guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s your funniest memory of travelling so far?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

My funniest travel moments usually involve something getting lost in translation or a cultural faux pas, always on my part. But the one that stands out was a classic mistake every traveller makes at least once in their life: Showing up for a flight at the wrong airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the new Istanbul airport that got me in the end. Luckily I realised my mistake early enough to still make my flight, but it was a comedy of errors \u2013 the airport WIFI was out so I couldn\u2019t get online, I didn\u2019t have enough cash for another shuttle fare, and things just got worse from there! I can laugh about it now but at the time it was very stressful.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-view-2.
Tbilisi by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How does collaborating with brands affect your content, and what has been your favourite brand to work with so far?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m very selective about the brands I collaborate with. I\u2019ve been lucky enough to work with a number of like-minded companies in recent years \u2013 those partnerships have allowed me to go places and do things I might not have been able to otherwise, which allows me to create better content for my readers. At the end of the day, that\u2019s the most important thing to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A big part of my philosophy is to promote responsible tourism, lesser-visited destinations and small businesses. One company I recently worked with that shares these values is Sarajevo Funky Tours, a boutique travel company that uses travel and cultural immersion as a tool to overcome prejudice and broaden perspectives. They showed me around Bosnia and Herzegovina and were an absolute joy to work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you travel blogging full time? If so, what are the biggest challenges in the life of a travel blogger in the COVID-19 pandemic?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I also work as a freelance writer and manage social media for a small fair trade company, so while I\u2019m not technically blogging full-time, it makes up for about 80% of what I do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The past 12 months have been hugely challenging in every sense of the word \u2013 financially, emotionally, physically. I think one of the biggest issues is figuring out how to navigate the travel space in a responsible and sensitive way. Staying relevant at a time when travel is understandably the last thing on most people\u2019s minds isn\u2019t easy, and I\u2019ve had to figure out how to keep in touch and engaged with my readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being in Georgia has made things a lot easier in that respect, as a lot of my readers are passionate about this region and happy just to see photos of my socially distanced walks around town!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Putting your own spin on something is one thing, but mis-representing a place doesn\u2019t serve anyone well.<\/p>\nEmily @ Wander-Lush<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-houses.
Tbilisi houses by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What tips do you have for maintaining a great blog and online presence on the go?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Organisation and going into a trip with a solid plan are crucial. I try to do as much research in advance as possible and have systems for keeping up with things like organising\/backing up photos while I\u2019m travelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I still find it difficult to balance the enjoyment of travel and work responsibilities. I\u2019ve found it\u2019s best to schedule \u2018off days\u2019 where I zone out and focus completely on work. I have to travel a lot slower as a result, but I generally prefer to spend longer periods in one place rather than dash around, so that suits me just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What has been your experience of the online travel community?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m very grateful to have made lots of online connections over the years that have translated into genuine real-world friendships. Travel blogging can be a very solitary and sometimes isolating pursuit, so I value those relationships immensely. My overall experience of the online travel community has been hugely positive \u2013 the past year has been very difficult for a lot of people and in this time of crisis, it was awesome to see the community come together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you find that the travel blogging industry is saturated? What makes you stand out from other travel bloggers?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In a way, yes \u2013 but I also think everyone has their own perspective and their own take on things. I try to be honest and candid in my writing. I\u2019m always making mistakes and learning, and blogging is part of that journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope my focus on cultural travel helps me stand out, as it\u2019s not a topic many sites focus on.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-food.
Tbilisi food by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What have you missed about travelling the most in the past year?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The thing I\u2019ve missed most is that feeling of being upended and forced out of my comfort zone. I find many aspects of travel quite challenging \u2013 especially logistics \u2013 and I miss pushing myself in that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you think that most travel bloggers and influencers portray an idealistic way of travelling that is far from reality? How do you try to keep it real?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes I do think that\u2019s the case, whether intentional or not. I\u2019m quite a private person so I don\u2019t always feel comfortable sharing the nitty gritty that goes on behind the scenes and I can see how things can wind up looking idealistic when those more unglamourous aspects of travel don\u2019t make the cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most professional bloggers I know are very aware of this issue and are actively trying to improve this, particularly when it relates to ethics in blogging. Putting your own spin on something is one thing, but mis-representing a place doesn\u2019t serve anyone well.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-city.
Tbilisi city views by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What would be your three top tips for someone to grow on social media, especially Instagram?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Social media and especially Instagram has never been a huge focus for me. At the end of the day it\u2019s an algorithm that doesn\u2019t necessarily value authenticity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistency is important, so I would say that developing a system should be a priority. Picking your metrics can also help with staying focused \u2013 I don\u2019t have a huge following and I don\u2019t particularly want or need one, but my audience is quite engaged and that\u2019s what matters most to me. Thirdly, I would say finding your own voice is critical rather than just emulating what other people are doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s painful being so close to so many countries I\u2019m itching to visit and yet not being able to just jump on a train. I\u2019m looking forward to exploring more of the former USSR countries when I can, especially the Baltics.
If I had to pick one place, though, it would probably be Vietnam \u2013 I haven\u2019t been back for a couple of years now and I\u2019m long overdue to catch up with friends. As much as I love Georgian food, I do miss pho<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Emily-Lush-Tbilisi-courtyard.
Tbilisi courtyard by Emily Lush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Which travel bloggers or other influencers inspire you the most?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of bloggers I admire and draw inspiration from. I\u2019ve been following \u2018Megan & Aram<\/a>\u2019 and \u2018Kami and the Rest of the World<\/a>\u2019 for years now \u2013 both write about unusual destinations and have inspired me to travel off the beaten track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The Common Wanderer<\/a>\u2019 is another favourite of mine \u2013 their photography is incredible.

Take a look at Emily\u2019s Wander-Lush blog<\/a> for inspiration on the life of a travel blogger, and how you too might travel to live. Don\u2019t miss her popular posts on the Top Caucasus Experiences<\/a>, and the perfect 2-6 week Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan itinerary<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Want more inspiration during lockdown?<\/strong> Take a look at how to support local museums and attractions, and more of our most recent posts<\/a>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ever wanted to know more about the life of a travel blogger? Find out how traveling changes you, and more from Emily at Wander-Lush!<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":39,"featured_media":10504,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,54],"tags":[26,28,27],"class_list":["post-10503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-guides","category-travel-tips","tag-amsterdam","tag-europe","tag-the-netherlands"],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10503"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20782,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10503\/revisions\/20782"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}