Lara is a half Spanish, half Irish solo traveller who has been adventuring around the world for the last 6 years, mostly around Asia since it's the most affordable on her tiny budget! She's currently in Australia on a working holiday, living out of her converted Camry. To get a closer look into all of Lara's adventures, be sure to follow her on Instagram and subscribe to her Youtube channel.
Why I Started Travelling
I've always wanted to travel the world, my mum was a great cook, and always created dishes from far and beyond! Making us eat with chopsticks since we were little, eating stuffed Greek peppers, Indian curries, homemade sushi, you name it! So I was introduced to the understanding of the variety, differences and culture from a young age. Add to that, I am half Spanish half Irish, so I also travelled a lot back and forth to see my family. I'm also very curious and want to live life to the fullest! And travelling gave me a huge sense of accomplishment and satisfaction of “ doing something with my life ".
Why do I continue doing it? Because it's like heroin. It's addictive. Who wouldn't want to spend their life basically on holidays?
I Love Travelling In Campervans
I like backpacking a lot, but recently, I've lived in Australia for the last 2 years, and travelling in a campervan is a must, since the country is just ridiculously massive. I mean, if you wanted to do the whole thing (loop around the coast) it's about 25,000 km (half the length of the equator to put it in perspective!) so hitchhiking and other forms of transportation are just out of the question.
I love riding around in a campervan because it's a 2 for 1! It's your free accommodation and your transport! It gives you complete autonomy and freedom to not depend on timetables, buses, weather, or people! I do what I want when I want, and also it's so much cheaper, at least here in Australia, it's the only way to travel. You can also plan less and take more. When I was backpacking Asia, I would travel with just a 40lb bag tops, hand luggage basically, whereas living in a van you can have a couple more things, and not have to constantly be packing a bag. It also allows you to visit all the places that are not accessible by public transport.
I Recently Switched To A Campercar Out Of Necessity
This was a bit crazy. Due to covid, we lost our jobs and weren't able to convert a van. So we decided to convert what we had, a 1992 Toyota Camry. The situation is really what pushed us to do it, but I'm a very creative person and believe where there is a will there is a way! And that everything is possible. Obviously, the standards of comfort diminished living in a car, but I can't complain, I have a house and a method of transportation for 50 quid.
We used mostly recycled materials found in the dump, on the Facebook marketplace for free and on gumtree. A LOT of people throw out perfectly good timber, so we used pallets, scrap MDF boards, and skirting boards to make the bed. We also used recycled door knobs and hinges, etc.
Tips For Living Out Of A Vehicle
Just take it easy, don't sweat the little things, living in a van is different. It's small, it's hot, just accept it. It's not a house, so don't expect it to be like one! Enjoy the experience for what it is, not what it could be.
