Debbi Shibuya

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One of the main reasons why some (especially women) tend to shy away from solo travel is because of close friendships cultivated back home.
“I’ll lose touch with my friends and they won’t remember me!”
Um, no. That’s not how it goes. It’s a two-way street, and a friendship doesn’t work unless both of you put in the concentrated effo...

A few days ago, I turned 30.
I’ve never been one to make a big deal out of my birthday, but I thought it would be appropriate to assemble a list of things I’ve learned in the past decade of my life.
The naive, uncertain person I was at age 20 is starkly different from the woman I’ve grown into now, and that was to be expected.
Like others, my 20s were the most pivotal part of my career, self-growth, and maturity. Here are 29 things that I learned in my 20s — one lesson to represent every year...

When I was 13, I wasn’t thinking about traveling the world or being a writer.
At this age, I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. Mid-8th grade through mid-freshman year of high school, my life turned upside down and became something that I felt so far removed from.
In honour of last month (May) being Mental Health Month, I wanted to shed more insight on the stigma behind mental health in relation to travel, success, and life in general.
I’ve found that being open about my struggles has allow...

*FYI - this post may affiliate links, which means we earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them. For the full scoop on what this means, feel free to check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure.
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker may have divided fans across the galaxy, but it still had cool filming locations that left us wanting to jump to Hyperspace in our Millennium Falcons ASAP!
If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to know every single coordinate of...

When I first started getting into freelance writing, I wanted to find a way to stand out from the rest of the world.
But that’s really hard to do, am I right?!
And then my very first official, fancy schmancy lightsaber arrived. Everything fell into place from there, and my tagline is now “SABERing the moment in Sydney” while I hike Australian bushland with my lightsaber in tow.
And you can, too! Here’s a simple guide on how to hike with your lightsaber safely.
Plan out your hike
Most avid hik...

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This year, freelancing and working online has become the new norm. In this article, Debbi Shibuya, shares how you can leverage Fiverr as either a full-time gig or side hustle in order to build experience and gain long-term clients.
Five months ago, I was unemployed and uncertain about my future.
Now, I freelance on the side as a proofreader and copyeditor through Fiverr Pro. In my first month on the platform, I made over $1,000 USD (after the 20% commission was taken out,...

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Here YA contributor Debbi recounts a cliffhanger of a tale chasing puffins in the wild solo while on a road trip in Iceland.
How far would you go to see puffins in the wild? What would you do to see something so unique and unforgettable on your travels? Would you ever risk your life in favor of spotting a few puffins in their natural habitat?
I would risk it all, even if it were unintentional. I suppose Iceland does that to you.
So let me tell you about this one time where ...

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How many of us have had to endure those “oh shit” moments while traveling? You know, those kinds that leave your head spinning where you’re all like “seriously, did that just happen to me?” I know I seem to have them in abundance.
Sit down and get ready for a wild tale of healthcare for tourists in New Zealand.
Last winter, I had quite the misadventure during a hike to Lake Marian, a popular day hike in stunning Fiordland while I was on holiday to New Zealand. About 30 minu...

The only reason I have full use of both of my arms (and am not in debt) today is thanks to New Zealand’s incredible healthcare system.
I’m an avid hiker and have been hiking around the world alone for the past 6 years. However, last winter was the first time I ever scored a major injury.
It was supposed to be a normal hike to the picturesque Lake Marian, about 30 min. drive from Milford Sound. It was a 3-hour return trek through forest and rocky terrain, but definitely not a difficult hike.
C...

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Travel can have a profoundly positive effect on your long-term mental health and wellbeing. However, all the components of long flights, planning, and emergency situations on the road can sometimes take its toll.
Here are some tips on improving your mental wellbeing while travellin...

I lived in Surat Thani, Thailand, the “city of good people,” for 6 months. I’m originally from California, but I’ve been traveling for the past 7 years and haven’t truly “lived” there since 2013. I chose to live in Surat Thani (southern Thailand, also known as the gateway to the famous islands such as Koh Samui) since I applied on a whim to teach English in Thailand. Within a week, I had secured my visa and was on a plane. While the city is quite unknown to many travelers, it has quite a few ...

So, it should go without saying that any travel information shared on this site should be used to plan future travels only. For now, please follow social distancing guidelines. Take care out there, and I’ll see you on the road soon!
When you search “solo travel” in Google, the top articles that appear are always ones promoting it, tour companies (ugh), or encouraging you to just quit your job and travel, thus “glamorizing” it.
Why isn’t there more of an open dialogue on the correlation betwee...

Find out all the solo female travel benefits and why every woman should try the life-changing experience of traveling alone at least once in their lifetime.
In life, traveling is known to provide us with life-changing experiences beyond the capacities of any financial figure.
According to The Wandering RV, internet searches for “female solo travel” have increased at least 62% between 2016-2019. As of 2019, 85% of solo travelers polled by Overseas Adventure Travel were women.
More and more wom...

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Hands down, Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most honourable characters in the Star Wars universe. This Jedi Master adds a bit of light sarcasm and wit to his trainings with both Luke and Anakin Skywalker, which in turn gives him some great dialogue, and some truly quotable moments.
So, in honour of our only hope, below are some of our favourite Obi-Wan Kenobi lines* we’ve assembled! Enjoy.
*Please note that some of these quotes may contain spoilers, so we suggest y...

*FYI - this post may affiliate links, which means we earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them. For the full scoop on what this means, feel free to check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure.
Out of all the characters in the Star Wars universe, Han Solo proves he has the most personality, spunk, humour, and wit. His cocky nature always let him get the last words in while still proving his points. So, in honour of Han and all his epic wit, here are some of our favo...