welcome to somewherelands.
This is not a Guidebook.
why are the posts here all so strange?
this might be the question ringing in your head after giving this space a once-over, and you WOULD NOT BE wrong.
i seldom write variations of ‘top 10 things to do & see’– mostly because i rarely do them myself- but more importantly, i don’t like feeling shackled by the expectations of having to tick off lists, just so i can come back and tell you the exact same things you can find in all other corners of the internet about a thousand times over.
i want to hop on random public buses and end up in neighbourhoods no one mentions. i want to follow cats down alleyways and get lost with them for hours on end. i want to spend ten days in places most people do a day trip to, and i want to eat from no-name roadside stalls, even when i am in cities with michelin lists.
This is a Passion Project.
as a result, my stories are often honest, messy, and very real, And i have definitely missed plenty of ‘top 10 things to do & SEE’ ALONG THE WAY. so IF YOU’RE scouting for STANDARD LISTS AND ITINERARIES I AM AFRAID I WON’T BE OF MUCH HELP. but-
IF YOU WANT TO follow your curiosity, stumble upon quiet surprises, and create experiences that feel uniquely your own, hey, I THINK I just MIGHT BE ABLE TO show you HOW.
this is not your average dog-eared digital guide.
but also, this is more than just aesthetic escapism for your soul.
the somewherelands story.
when /
i started this space back when i was still caught up in the ‘fast and furious’ of travelling, constantly fluttering around with lists packed cheek to jowl with places to go and things to see, but rarely ever giving any of them the full attention it deserved. my time on the road was always a glorious jumble of museums and temples and buildings and bits; and yet, at the end of each day, it frequently felt like i hadn’t quite seen anything at all.
what /
i want purposeful experiences, and formative moments; and i want a conscious reminder to move a little slower and linger a little longer. after each travel, i hope to come back here and let my words blossom into an assembly of slow stories spun on a whim; relate tales of adventures from improbable places; provide a reading experience for the drifters amongst us who love to lift the lid on things where we’re not supposed to.
how /
after one too many whirlwind odysseys, it became clear that i had to reimagine this space and move away from creating lists & itineraries; as it was a self-imposed obligation that did nothing but keep me etched on the beaten path. i knew that if i wanted to write in a way that would leave fingerprints on your soul, first, i had to make sure that my journeys were leaving fingerprints on mine.
why /
i have crafted this space to bring forth spaces and moments i believe to be enriching, thoughtful, and enjoyable for wandering minds; and while it is not intended to be comprehensive in its experiences nor exhaustive in its lists, my tightly edited collection befits readers and travellers looking for more than just of-the-moment itineraries and tips – perhaps, a little something, to bring some magic to the fore.
this is an unembellished edit of travel stories made from real moments,
nestled in just as much as chaos as they are in slow.
who / (you.)
but lists or stories (or anything else in between) i hope you’ll approach my thoughts as clues pointing you towards your own next adventure – one that will inspire you to relish your mishaps as much as you do your moments.
blend your boundaries, nudge yourself off beaten paths; and enjoy the change of pace as we normalise not checking boxes and ticking lists. by decluttering our days and doing less, sometimes, we end up seeing more.
if you’re not sure where to begin exploring with me, dip your toes with my collection of TRAVEL STORIES penned straight from the heart… or alternatively, dive right in to my TRAVEL IDEAS. i won’t be the most standard guide around town, but i promise you only the most delicious stories about my favourite nooks and crannies around our world.
hello you, my name is shafinah.
and i cannot wait to inspire you to begin your journey somewhere.
FIELD NOTES
if you have wandered with my words and would like to leave a trace, you’re welcome to leave a small gesture behind.
your quiet kindness will go a long way in keeping the corners of this space lit. ♡
