Natalie Horton

Natalie exploring the endless orange torii of the Fushimi Inari shine, Kyoto, Japan

When I was eleven years old, I moved with my family from Leicestershire in England to the Wairarapa in New Zealand. We lived there for three years before returning to the UK; following this I always knew I wanted to travel. 

I can think of a million and one reasons to travel, yet the biggest reason for Why I Travel personally has been confidence. I’m not talking about ‘standing up in front of a crowd’ confidence, but an inner confidence. The kind which gives you strength that only comes from getting very, very lost in a country where you don't speak the language, and dealing with the aftermath.

Travel makes you appreciate everything you have. When you see some of the poverty that exists in the world here you can't help but feel very lucky.

Travel gives you the opportunity to meet some wonderful, wacky, inspirational and just plain incredible people.

It leaves you with amazing memories of beautiful places and experiences for the rest of your life. Even if you have some bad experiences (it’s possible!), they end up making the best travel stories.

Travelling for me is a win win situation; I love it, and I wouldn't change a single moment.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover
— Mark Twain

Leicester, England | 29 | Currently Exploring Sheffield, England