Part 1/3 : Travelling for an Activity

Welcome to the first instalment of my 3-part series, Travelling for X, where I explore ways to redefine your travel experiences. If you’re feeling a bit jaded as a traveler, and maybe throwing a dart at a map isn’t sparking the same excitement it once did, it might be time to try a different approach. Instead of focusing on where to go, ask yourself: What’s one thing I’d love to try that I can’t do from where I am right now?

Volunteering Abroad

For me, in my mid-twenties, the answer was farming. This led me to seek out volunteer opportunities on farms through platforms like helpx. I ended up working on a rice and cherry farm in rural Japan and a pig farm in Tasmania, Australia in exchange for accommodation and meals. In Tasmania, we even had the added bonus of a farm Jeep to explore the stunning surroundings on our days off. While longer stays (think two weeks or more) are generally encouraged for these kinds of experiences, don’t let that deter you if you’re unsure or short on time. Many hosts are flexible and open to discussing shorter stays—it’s all about finding the right fit. I signed up for helpx’s premier membership, which costs around 20 Euros for two years (remarkably, the same price I paid a decade ago!), which gives you access to host reviews and contact information.

Over my two-year membership, I used helpx for various experiences beyond farming—like finding hostel work in Taiwan and helping to build an Airbnb in Oban, Scotland. These opportunities took me to places I might not have considered otherwise and allowed me to connect with locals and fellow travellers in ways that I felt were more meaningful than simply visiting a popular destination for a nice photo.

Following Your Interest

Taking a course

Over the years, I’m not ashamed to admit that I have cycled through quite a few interests. For a while, I dreamed of becoming an artisan—a carpenter quietly shaping wood into something beautiful in a cosy garage workshop. To dip my toes into this craft, I spent a couple of months shadowing a local carpenter here in Singapore. That experience only deepened my fascination, so I decided to take the plunge and sign up for a one-week furniture-making course I’d been eyeing for ages.

The course was held at Williams and Cleal, a charming woodworking school nestled in Somerset, England, and just a short drive to the Quantock Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). If you’ve ever considered learning woodworking, I can’t recommend them enough. The owners, Jane and Justin, are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their craft, and it shows in how well-run the school and the course are. I had initially planned to return for their longer course, but life had other plans (which I won’t delve into here).

Learning something new

Fast forward to 2024, I decided to deepen my knowledge of freediving—a sport I had briefly explored in Cebu. After researching potential destinations and realising that I might visit Mexico, I connected the dots and began looking into freediving certification courses there. Tulum quickly emerged as the ideal choice. Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, it offers unparalleled access to cenotes with crystal-clear water and consistent temperatures year-round, making it a haven for freedivers.

Tulum is also home to several reputable freediving schools, but for beginners like me seeking a safe and structured learning experience, Cenote Freediving by Matthieu Duvault stood out. Matt, a Canadian national record holder and Molchanovs instructor trainer, has designed a comprehensive 3-day course that blends theory, pool practice, and cenote dives. His methodical approach ensures that students progress at their own pace while building a solid foundation in freediving techniques.

My husband initially struggled with mastering the Frenzel equalisation technique—a common hurdle for beginner freedivers aiming to descend deeper. Matt patiently guided my husband through the process, breaking down the mechanics of Frenzel equalisation and providing targeted exercises to build muscle awareness and control. Over the course of 3 days, my husband overcame this challenge and successfully mastered Frenzel, unlocking his potential to dive deeper with comfort and safety. Each session concluded with personalised feedback, including video reviews of our dives, which highlighted areas for improvement and celebrated progress. This structured approach not only helped refine our techniques but boosted our confidence underwater greatly.

What began as a skill-building endeavor quickly became one of the highlights of our trip to the Yucatán Peninsula. The course opened doors to explore breathtaking cenotes like Kaan Luum and El Pit which we would have otherwise missed.

Any Activity Can Be a Good Reason For a Trip!

Any activity, from celebrating a friend's milestone and taking a dance class to seeking the quiet wonder of a starlit sky, can be the catalyst for an extraordinary journey. When you center your travels around the experiences you crave, you open yourself to unexpected discoveries. This approach allows your interests to shape your path, creating a travel experience that is most likely to resonate with you on a deeper, more personal level.