Beyond the Perfect Feed: Inside the Real Adventures of Travel Blogger Sigrid Rijckoort

In our previous conversation with Sigrid Rijckoort (@sigridofthesun), we explored her journey from a Belgian professional to a flourishing travel creator. Now, she's taking us deeper into the realities of life on the road – from culture shocks in Gambia to altitude sickness in Peru. 

As the creative force behind Travel Reasons continues to inspire wanderlust in her growing audience, she opens up about the destinations that have challenged, changed, and charmed her along the way.

Image Credit:Travel Reasons

Image Credit:Travel Reasons

Image Credit:@sigridofthesun

Part 2 -The Journey From Culture Shock to Cultural Connection

Which destination did you visit that took you most out of your comfort zone?

I think I have to say the most shocking for me was Gambia in Africa. The first time I visited Africa, I visited South Africa. But South Africa is so modern, and Gambia was like back to basics. Even though we were staying in a wonderful hotel it still felt a little basic. 

People were also different from what I’m used to. They were super nice, but like openly nice, which I’m not used to as a Belgian person. They came so close to you and always wanted to talk. 

We saw a lot of poverty as well. People living in poor conditions, children running and pushing each other to get some money or food from us when we did activities. That was quite shocking for me because it was openly in your face that people are living like this. 

Peru was also quite a challenge because the altitude made me sick, so I ended up in the hospital. That was a different kind of challenge. 

They’re both wonderful countries. They’re beautiful, but they were challenging for me. 

And what is your favorite place that you’ve visited?

My favorite place by far has been Mexico. The food, the people, the culture, the things you can do there… You have everything from the mountains to the seaside. It’s such a warm, welcoming country, and I really love it. I feel at home. 

But I won’t say it’s the most beautiful country I’ve visited. The most beautiful country I visited is South Africa because of the nature and the animals. It’s incredible. I also think it’s a good destination for everybody, whether you’re an adventurer or you prefer comfort and luxury, South Africa is always a good idea. There’s so much to see and to do, so I really recommend going there. 

If I can pick one more, I have to say Jordan. It’s less familiar, but it’s getting popular right now. It’s so beautiful there and there’s a hidden gem everywhere. It’s also quite cheap to travel there. People are so friendly, they welcome you warmly, and nobody tries to sell you anything. They’re genuinely happy that you’re there and that tourism is evolving.

This is all such great advice for anybody looking for their next travel destination. I’d also love to know what is at the top of your travel bucket list.

The highest on my bucket list is not so popular, but it’s Uganda. I think it’s number one right now because of the gorillas you can visit. It’s something I would love to see in my life, because I travel to countries not just for the beauty of it, but for the experiences. That is something you can only do there, I think.

Image Credit:@sigridofthesun

Image Credit:@sigridofthesun

Image Credit:@sigridofthesun

Image Credit:@sigridofthesun

What does a normal day look like for you when you’re working and traveling?

I prefer to work until 2 or 3 in the afternoon and then relax. Then I’ll shoot some sunsets and go to dinner. Then it’s time to post because I almost never post during the day. Stories I try to do, which can get super chaotic sometimes because I do them “on the road.” But most of the time, it’s in the evening because people are most active in the evening depending on the timezone.

I also find it important to just enjoy the places, because I used to never be satisfied with the content I filmed. I always wanted to have more. But nowadays I just check that I have the stuff that I need and be a little less strict on myself and enjoy the places too. 

Otherwise it’s a pity if you’re in a beautiful place and not even enjoying the beaches. When people ask, “Yeah, what did you do?” and you just say you took pictures the whole time, it would be sad.

What would you tell your younger self about pursuing dreams that seem unconventional?

I post about this sometimes, and recently, I thought about it. I would tell my younger self to have faith that everything will work out because I was (and still am) a bit of an anxious person, worrying about the future. I do it too much sometimes. 

I would tell her don’t worry, it will be okay and follow your heart because sometimes I follow my mind too much doing what I thought was good for me. And also be more present and feel what you feel. It’s kind of cliche, but it’s what brought me to where I am today. 

If I took every person’s opinion into account I would be nowhere. I wouldn’t have started traveling or the blog and I wouldn’t have this life. So don’t listen to other people’s opinions too much. 

Of course, you have to listen to the people who care about you, but people can be selfish, even those in your environment, and they don’t like too much change. They’re often thinking out of fear for themselves when they discourage you. 

When you’re young, it can be hard to acknowledge this, but you can’t let it hold you back. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Live your dream and try to make it work. We only know that we have one life—maybe we have more—but in this lifetime, make the best of it and try to follow your dreams, even if they may not seem realistic to some people. Your dreams are valid, so just go for it and make your inner child happy. 

I think that’s the most important thing to share with the readers. 

The Unconventional Path to Travel Success

Through Sigrid's candid reflections on her travels from the challenging moments in Gambia to the soul-stirring beauty of Mexico, we get a glimpse of what makes a life of travel both demanding and deeply rewarding. Her emphasis on balancing content creation with genuine experience serves as a masterclass for aspiring creators. 

As she continues to share her adventures around the world, Sigrid reminds us that the most meaningful journeys are about making the most of the adventure and staying true to yourself along the way.

You can find Sigrid on Instagram @sigridofthesun and her blog, Travel Reasons .