Welcome…
If you have found your way onto my website, firstly welcome and secondly I’d like to share a personal thank you for visiting, however you may have found your way here.
If you are reading this now you are probably either a) a friend or relative that feels they should support my writing endeavours as they are starting out, or b) a fellow lover of global galivanting in search of some guidance, inspiration or just to learn a bit more about other parts of the world and other people’s stories as I am. However you found yourself here, I am appreciative nevertheless.
A bit more about me and this blog:
I have just finished my journalism degree and have decided that 2019 shall be a year of great personal growth. For this reason I have ventured beyond my bubble of ordinariness back home and am pursuing something far greater than myself in the form of travel- to embrace the cliche of leaving your life behind in order to learn and evolve, become a more interesting, well rounded human etc. etc.
The word and name of my blog, correspondence came to me very late in the process while I was trying to find something appropriate for this website (one that I felt was simple, memorable and most importantly didn’t make me cringe.)
I wanted to create something more than just an online portfolio and to find a name and concept that captured in essence what I was trying to do- Create a platform to share stories from around the world that are a step beyond your usual travel tips, delving deeply into the places that I find myself in.
I’m incredibly inspired by the work of foreign correspondents and other people who have made travel their way of life. In a way every action and interaction is some kind of correspondence between people and things and communication is such a huge part of being a journalist- The stories you tell rely heavily on your ability to connect with people and to convey aspects of their lives and characters.
Correspondence aims to capture this sharing of ideas and beliefs and also relates to the fact that in this ever globalised world we are all so much more alike and connected than we might think.
Being a journalist is about bridging gaps between people, places and ideas and sharing that with an audience- exposing people to things outside their ordinary, helping people learn, think and expand their perspectives while documenting the world we all live in- the beautiful, the strange and the not so palatable.
I hope that staying grounded in my goal to become a story teller in whatever form that takes will give me some direction and make me a better writer as I pursue these kinds of stories: This is my platform to share my learnings, photographs and interviews with the people I encounter on the way as well as looking into some social issues a particular community might face through the eyes of local people and experts.
Chasing Freedom…
I know that at this point in time I am young. I am single. I am healthy. I have no cat or potted succulent to wilt away in my absence or boyfriend to dump before my journey and I am probably as technically free as I will ever be in my life- something that I cannot take for granted for a second considering what hurdles will inevitably be thrown my way in the future.
I know right now that my name is Marina, I am half Serbian and half Australian. I was born in Ireland and spent some time in my childhood in the UK before spending the rest of my life up till now living on the northern beaches in Sydney.
I have a sister named Lola, uncontrollable blonde, curly hair, an addiction to peanut butter and a phobia of the grinch.
I love art, yoga, healthy food and the occasional chant but will giggle if you wave bells in my face and call it sound healing.
Why solo travel?
I became addicted to the idea of travelling after spending 2 months solo in India- something that seemed to concern a lot of people and yet turned out to be one of the most empowering things I could have done.
I fell in love with myself after struggling (and still sometimes struggling) for a very long time, a hippie under a mango tree in Goa, and the philosophy of living life outside your comfort zone- with freedom, curiosity, passion and vigour, savouring all the little details, joys, accidents, screw ups and random stories in the process.
(An old hippie man I met at the Anjuna flea market also told me/knew/ mysteriously prophesised that I was a writer and that I needed to create something like this to inspire other people to travel- So when weird, psychic, guardian angel people that have untraceable accents and resemble a barnacley person from Pirates of the Caribbean appear in your life you’ve gotta listen to what they have to say…)
So if you can relate to any of these things… or are even remotely interested in my journey, or if you want to follow my travels, photographs, stories and tips for navigating the world as a solo female traveller (or non- solo or non- female traveller) please give me a follow or a like or a subscribe or comment to say hi, wherever you see fit. It would definitely be most appreciated and I’d love to hear from you.
– Marina xx
To collaborate with me or for enquiries relating to freelance work and content creation please contact me here or send me an email at marina.trajkovich@gmail.com
I would also love to invite other aspiring or established travel writers, journalists, photographers and creatives to reach out with ideas and work to be featured on my website.
There is power in the sharing of ideas and through creative networks we can create stronger work as well as supportive ties with like minded people to encourage and inspire others in the process.
