Marc Hall
@lifewentthatway.bsky.social
On a mission to help you travel the world with a little inspiration and real advice without the BS | NZ based published author/travel writer/dog lover who you will find on Papamoa Beach
Writes at www.lifewentthatway.com and on Substack.
Writes at www.lifewentthatway.com and on Substack.
When I left home at 19 to travel the world on my own in the late 90s it wasn't a big deal.
My sister did the same a few years earlier.
We 'solo' travelled long before it became a 'thing'. Without phones or tech.
You do you, but it's nothing new.
My sister did the same a few years earlier.
We 'solo' travelled long before it became a 'thing'. Without phones or tech.
You do you, but it's nothing new.
June 21, 2025 at 10:14 AM
When I left home at 19 to travel the world on my own in the late 90s it wasn't a big deal.
My sister did the same a few years earlier.
We 'solo' travelled long before it became a 'thing'. Without phones or tech.
You do you, but it's nothing new.
My sister did the same a few years earlier.
We 'solo' travelled long before it became a 'thing'. Without phones or tech.
You do you, but it's nothing new.
Travelling won't 'change your life'.
But the people you meet along the way might.
But the people you meet along the way might.
June 18, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Travelling won't 'change your life'.
But the people you meet along the way might.
But the people you meet along the way might.
Greetings from my 'hidden gem' and 'golden sandy beach'
It's stunning and I love living five minutes walk away.
But guess what?
Google filtered the F out of my original photo and made it look like this.
Like most travel photos you see online.
It's stunning and I love living five minutes walk away.
But guess what?
Google filtered the F out of my original photo and made it look like this.
Like most travel photos you see online.
June 15, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Greetings from my 'hidden gem' and 'golden sandy beach'
It's stunning and I love living five minutes walk away.
But guess what?
Google filtered the F out of my original photo and made it look like this.
Like most travel photos you see online.
It's stunning and I love living five minutes walk away.
But guess what?
Google filtered the F out of my original photo and made it look like this.
Like most travel photos you see online.
If you expect to 'find yourself' when you travel then you're setting yourself up to be disappointed.
What a load of sh*t.
You, your problems and everything else gets on the plane with you.
It's just a different environment to figure your life stuff out.
That's the reality.
What a load of sh*t.
You, your problems and everything else gets on the plane with you.
It's just a different environment to figure your life stuff out.
That's the reality.
June 14, 2025 at 5:18 AM
If you expect to 'find yourself' when you travel then you're setting yourself up to be disappointed.
What a load of sh*t.
You, your problems and everything else gets on the plane with you.
It's just a different environment to figure your life stuff out.
That's the reality.
What a load of sh*t.
You, your problems and everything else gets on the plane with you.
It's just a different environment to figure your life stuff out.
That's the reality.
Arguing over 50 cents with a market vendor in Vietnam doesn't make you a 'money savvy' traveller.
It makes you look like a dick.
It makes you look like a dick.
June 13, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Arguing over 50 cents with a market vendor in Vietnam doesn't make you a 'money savvy' traveller.
It makes you look like a dick.
It makes you look like a dick.
Long term travel isn't always the dream you think it is.
And it's not for everyone.
It's a full-time gig with no routine and little support when you really need it.
Read the fine print.
And it's not for everyone.
It's a full-time gig with no routine and little support when you really need it.
Read the fine print.
June 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Long term travel isn't always the dream you think it is.
And it's not for everyone.
It's a full-time gig with no routine and little support when you really need it.
Read the fine print.
And it's not for everyone.
It's a full-time gig with no routine and little support when you really need it.
Read the fine print.
5000 people got off a cruise ship in my hometown today.
I saw the same yesterday.
Not once did I look at any of them and think:
'Are you a traveller or tourist?'
Get my drift? Such a ridiculous debate.
I saw the same yesterday.
Not once did I look at any of them and think:
'Are you a traveller or tourist?'
Get my drift? Such a ridiculous debate.
December 31, 2024 at 10:26 AM
5000 people got off a cruise ship in my hometown today.
I saw the same yesterday.
Not once did I look at any of them and think:
'Are you a traveller or tourist?'
Get my drift? Such a ridiculous debate.
I saw the same yesterday.
Not once did I look at any of them and think:
'Are you a traveller or tourist?'
Get my drift? Such a ridiculous debate.
New Year is a time to reflect for me.
- Not to make resolutions
- Not to make promises
- Certainly not to make a list
It's a time to reflect and see how I changed.
That's where the truth lies.
Good or bad, it's a place to start.
Let's win 2025,team 🙏
- Not to make resolutions
- Not to make promises
- Certainly not to make a list
It's a time to reflect and see how I changed.
That's where the truth lies.
Good or bad, it's a place to start.
Let's win 2025,team 🙏
December 31, 2024 at 9:36 AM
New Year is a time to reflect for me.
- Not to make resolutions
- Not to make promises
- Certainly not to make a list
It's a time to reflect and see how I changed.
That's where the truth lies.
Good or bad, it's a place to start.
Let's win 2025,team 🙏
- Not to make resolutions
- Not to make promises
- Certainly not to make a list
It's a time to reflect and see how I changed.
That's where the truth lies.
Good or bad, it's a place to start.
Let's win 2025,team 🙏
Sunday Evening Sunsets 🌊
December 8, 2024 at 9:55 AM
Sunday Evening Sunsets 🌊
37. Time goes fast on the road. Learn to slow down
38. When you get ripped off, move on quickly
39. If your motivation for travel is for likes and shares, you're doing it wrong
40. Don't get upset when you lose touch with people at home. They don't get it.
38. When you get ripped off, move on quickly
39. If your motivation for travel is for likes and shares, you're doing it wrong
40. Don't get upset when you lose touch with people at home. They don't get it.
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
37. Time goes fast on the road. Learn to slow down
38. When you get ripped off, move on quickly
39. If your motivation for travel is for likes and shares, you're doing it wrong
40. Don't get upset when you lose touch with people at home. They don't get it.
38. When you get ripped off, move on quickly
39. If your motivation for travel is for likes and shares, you're doing it wrong
40. Don't get upset when you lose touch with people at home. They don't get it.
33. Shopping in local supermarkets is a tourist experience in itself
34. Learn to pack light. If you don't, you will be forced to
35. It's ok to be homesick. Just don't let it go on for too long
36. Put your friend network to good use. Knowing someone local is awesome
34. Learn to pack light. If you don't, you will be forced to
35. It's ok to be homesick. Just don't let it go on for too long
36. Put your friend network to good use. Knowing someone local is awesome
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
33. Shopping in local supermarkets is a tourist experience in itself
34. Learn to pack light. If you don't, you will be forced to
35. It's ok to be homesick. Just don't let it go on for too long
36. Put your friend network to good use. Knowing someone local is awesome
34. Learn to pack light. If you don't, you will be forced to
35. It's ok to be homesick. Just don't let it go on for too long
36. Put your friend network to good use. Knowing someone local is awesome
29. Hostels and the backpacker crowd are still the best source of travel knowledge
30. Keep a journal or voice notes - you'll wish you had
31. Understand bartering is a skill. Practice it often and have fun with it.
32. Take public transportation at every opportunity
30. Keep a journal or voice notes - you'll wish you had
31. Understand bartering is a skill. Practice it often and have fun with it.
32. Take public transportation at every opportunity
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
29. Hostels and the backpacker crowd are still the best source of travel knowledge
30. Keep a journal or voice notes - you'll wish you had
31. Understand bartering is a skill. Practice it often and have fun with it.
32. Take public transportation at every opportunity
30. Keep a journal or voice notes - you'll wish you had
31. Understand bartering is a skill. Practice it often and have fun with it.
32. Take public transportation at every opportunity
26. The 'Tourist vs Traveler' argument is total BS. The locals don't care who you are
27. No one cares about your job at home. People take you at face value.
28. Most offers of help and advice come from a good place
27. No one cares about your job at home. People take you at face value.
28. Most offers of help and advice come from a good place
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
26. The 'Tourist vs Traveler' argument is total BS. The locals don't care who you are
27. No one cares about your job at home. People take you at face value.
28. Most offers of help and advice come from a good place
27. No one cares about your job at home. People take you at face value.
28. Most offers of help and advice come from a good place
21. Discussing religion and politics with strangers isn't too smart
22. Neither is being the blind drunk tourist
23. Keep in touch with family at every opportunity
24. Take lots of photos (but only share a few)
25. Try as many types of food as possible
22. Neither is being the blind drunk tourist
23. Keep in touch with family at every opportunity
24. Take lots of photos (but only share a few)
25. Try as many types of food as possible
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
21. Discussing religion and politics with strangers isn't too smart
22. Neither is being the blind drunk tourist
23. Keep in touch with family at every opportunity
24. Take lots of photos (but only share a few)
25. Try as many types of food as possible
22. Neither is being the blind drunk tourist
23. Keep in touch with family at every opportunity
24. Take lots of photos (but only share a few)
25. Try as many types of food as possible
17. Ask permission to take photos when appropriate
18. Don't feel guilty about being a tourist. You being there helps put food on the table
19. Music is a global language
20. Local scams are everywhere, you just have to learn about them
18. Don't feel guilty about being a tourist. You being there helps put food on the table
19. Music is a global language
20. Local scams are everywhere, you just have to learn about them
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
17. Ask permission to take photos when appropriate
18. Don't feel guilty about being a tourist. You being there helps put food on the table
19. Music is a global language
20. Local scams are everywhere, you just have to learn about them
18. Don't feel guilty about being a tourist. You being there helps put food on the table
19. Music is a global language
20. Local scams are everywhere, you just have to learn about them
12. Researching local etiquette is a smart thing to do
13. Telling locals how things are better at home isn't
14. You will fall in love dozens of times
15. And probably have your heart broken just as much
16. Most of the world is still a cash society. Have it available
13. Telling locals how things are better at home isn't
14. You will fall in love dozens of times
15. And probably have your heart broken just as much
16. Most of the world is still a cash society. Have it available
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
12. Researching local etiquette is a smart thing to do
13. Telling locals how things are better at home isn't
14. You will fall in love dozens of times
15. And probably have your heart broken just as much
16. Most of the world is still a cash society. Have it available
13. Telling locals how things are better at home isn't
14. You will fall in love dozens of times
15. And probably have your heart broken just as much
16. Most of the world is still a cash society. Have it available
7. You stick out no matter how hard you try to blend in
8. Your values are challenged wherever you go. Accept it and move on.
9. Learning one or two words of a language opens more doors than you think
10. Buy a Sim (or Esim) card
11. If it feels dodgy it probably is
8. Your values are challenged wherever you go. Accept it and move on.
9. Learning one or two words of a language opens more doors than you think
10. Buy a Sim (or Esim) card
11. If it feels dodgy it probably is
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
7. You stick out no matter how hard you try to blend in
8. Your values are challenged wherever you go. Accept it and move on.
9. Learning one or two words of a language opens more doors than you think
10. Buy a Sim (or Esim) card
11. If it feels dodgy it probably is
8. Your values are challenged wherever you go. Accept it and move on.
9. Learning one or two words of a language opens more doors than you think
10. Buy a Sim (or Esim) card
11. If it feels dodgy it probably is
1. Your assumptions about the world will be wrong
2. People at home probably won't notice you have gone.
3. You have more in common with other cultures than you think
4. Everyone makes assumptions about you too
5. Friends are easy to make
6. But hard to keep
2. People at home probably won't notice you have gone.
3. You have more in common with other cultures than you think
4. Everyone makes assumptions about you too
5. Friends are easy to make
6. But hard to keep
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
1. Your assumptions about the world will be wrong
2. People at home probably won't notice you have gone.
3. You have more in common with other cultures than you think
4. Everyone makes assumptions about you too
5. Friends are easy to make
6. But hard to keep
2. People at home probably won't notice you have gone.
3. You have more in common with other cultures than you think
4. Everyone makes assumptions about you too
5. Friends are easy to make
6. But hard to keep
47 Things I Learned After 10 Years Solo Travelling the World 🌎
Spoiler: It's not what you expect.
Spoiler: It's not what you expect.
November 30, 2024 at 10:08 AM
47 Things I Learned After 10 Years Solo Travelling the World 🌎
Spoiler: It's not what you expect.
Spoiler: It's not what you expect.
How to avoid the travel blues:
Live somewhere you don't want to leave.
Happy Friday from New Zealand! 🌅
Live somewhere you don't want to leave.
Happy Friday from New Zealand! 🌅
November 29, 2024 at 9:45 AM
How to avoid the travel blues:
Live somewhere you don't want to leave.
Happy Friday from New Zealand! 🌅
Live somewhere you don't want to leave.
Happy Friday from New Zealand! 🌅
Once upon a time in Switzerland 🇨🇭
November 25, 2024 at 10:54 AM
Once upon a time in Switzerland 🇨🇭
Papamoa Beach, New Zealand.
Warm summers, mild winters and a cool community.
Come say hi. You'll probably find me down the beach.
Warm summers, mild winters and a cool community.
Come say hi. You'll probably find me down the beach.
November 24, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Papamoa Beach, New Zealand.
Warm summers, mild winters and a cool community.
Come say hi. You'll probably find me down the beach.
Warm summers, mild winters and a cool community.
Come say hi. You'll probably find me down the beach.
Every person who has travelled has been humbled at some point.
Had an "oh f*ck, I had that wrong moment".
This is the real learning.
You don't 'find yourself' - you just come back with a different perspective.
That's what counts.
Had an "oh f*ck, I had that wrong moment".
This is the real learning.
You don't 'find yourself' - you just come back with a different perspective.
That's what counts.
November 24, 2024 at 8:56 PM
Every person who has travelled has been humbled at some point.
Had an "oh f*ck, I had that wrong moment".
This is the real learning.
You don't 'find yourself' - you just come back with a different perspective.
That's what counts.
Had an "oh f*ck, I had that wrong moment".
This is the real learning.
You don't 'find yourself' - you just come back with a different perspective.
That's what counts.
11 Ways You Can Save Money Every Day on Your Travels (What I Do) 🌎
1. Buy lunches, not dinners
2. Compare activity prices
3. Drink in happy hours
4. Use public transport cards
5. Buy city passes
6. Negotiate Airbnb rates
7. Check voucher sites
8. Ask locals where to go
You?
1. Buy lunches, not dinners
2. Compare activity prices
3. Drink in happy hours
4. Use public transport cards
5. Buy city passes
6. Negotiate Airbnb rates
7. Check voucher sites
8. Ask locals where to go
You?
November 23, 2024 at 9:13 AM
11 Ways You Can Save Money Every Day on Your Travels (What I Do) 🌎
1. Buy lunches, not dinners
2. Compare activity prices
3. Drink in happy hours
4. Use public transport cards
5. Buy city passes
6. Negotiate Airbnb rates
7. Check voucher sites
8. Ask locals where to go
You?
1. Buy lunches, not dinners
2. Compare activity prices
3. Drink in happy hours
4. Use public transport cards
5. Buy city passes
6. Negotiate Airbnb rates
7. Check voucher sites
8. Ask locals where to go
You?
Surely I'm not alone when I say visiting a supermarket in a foreign country is just awesome?
November 22, 2024 at 6:43 AM
Surely I'm not alone when I say visiting a supermarket in a foreign country is just awesome?