We are Steff & Ells, a couple of eco-warriors on a mission to show the world that you can still travel and leave only footprints. We met in 2009 but have been together as a couple since 2017 when our paths crossed again, at the right time. We both loved traveling, Steff has been inspired throughout her life by her aunt who was an avid traveler and I trained with the Army so I’ve been never been tied to the idea of staying in one place.
One of our favorite stand-out journeys has to be New Zealand. We lived there for a year in a tiny little van that we renovated ourselves with second-hand wood and explored the North and South Island. Living and traveling in our van meant that we didn’t have to check into a different hotel at each destination and we could cook our own food, which made it a lot more sustainable. Everything is so green and lush in New Zealand, the air is so clean and overall the vibe is just like home to us. One of our best moments was after climbing to the top of Roy’s Peak in the South Island and just taking in those views – it felt so unreal.
On our last trip, we spent a good 6 weeks travelling India, and you can travel quite sustainably there. India is among the world’s largest train network so it’s super easy to get around. We did face a lot of challenges in India in terms of trying to be sustainable but as a country, they are definitely improving by trying to be greener. We did a really cool tour on the backwaters of Alleppey with an eco-friendly company – they use the traditional kayaks so no pollution involved. Ensure you have a reusable water bottle when travelling India as most hotels have water stations that you can refill with – BUT, have enough to see you through the whole day to prevent you from buying plastic water bottles. We found the best food in the south of India, and it’s super easy to find vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Our backpack consists of reusable water bottles, coffee cups, bamboo drinking straws, reusable toiletries, and packing cubes to utilise space and reduce weight. These are the basics but we’ve got some exciting new goodies on the way from @bambuubrush at the end of the month. We’ve traveled together for the past 3 years and it’s been absolutely incredible. People often say that when you live together you really get to know your partner, but I’d say travel with your partner instead – get out of your comfort zones, get sh*t scared, see the world and embrace those magical moments together.
It was travelling that really opened our eyes up to the climate crisis, so if we could encourage the world to do anything, it would be to travel – although do it sensibly. But don’t just go green with a reusable water bottle and think that’s enough, make an impact on your travels. Educate others to be sustainable, help communities, participate in clean-ups etc. And then come home and do the same; sign petitions, protest, educate the young, and the old, write letters to the government and big corporations to get them to do more. Imagine if everyone did that?
BY STEFF AND ELLS (IG @WEAREWANDERINGTRAVEL)
http://www.wearewanderingtravel.com/
