Travel Inspiration, Solo Travel & Spiritual Journeys

I wasn’t always the woman who travels the world.

I grew up in Serbia feeling a bit like Alice in Wonderland, with a quiet sense that a bigger world was calling me. Even as a child, I felt I was meant for something beyond what I could see around me. I daydreamed about distant places, different cultures, airports, and freedom, and that dream never left me.

From an early age, I was deeply spiritual, believing in possibilities even without proof. I imagined a life that felt impossible at the time: traveling the world.

From Dreaming to Flying the World

I chose to become a flight attendant so that travel could be my way of life. I worked hard, learned English from scratch, and said yes to the first opportunity that brought me closer to my dream. That opportunity took me to Abu Dhabi, not yet as a flight attendant, but I trusted that one step forward was still progress.

Just over a year later, I passed the flight attendant interview, and my life changed forever.

I lived in Abu Dhabi for ten years and spent over eight and a half years traveling the world, visiting more than 50 countries and countless cities. Different time zones, sunsets, cultures, and conversations with strangers shaped not only my adventures, but who I was becoming.

Travel, Healing & Inner Growth

Alongside my travels, I turned inward.

Between flights and layovers, I studied health coaching and nutrition, completed yoga teacher training and sound healing training in Bali, and became certified in Reiki energy healing.

Travel opened the door, and inner work taught me how to walk through it with awareness.

My First Solo Trip to Bali

One of the most transformative experiences of my life was my first solo trip to Bali in 2018. Traveling alone in a foreign country showed me how empowering, safe, and life-changing solo travel can be.

In Bali, I met people who changed the way I see life. Locals and fellow travelers taught me presence, simplicity, and connection.

During this journey, I reflected deeply on the ideas of responsibility, balance, and the consequences of our actions, lessons anyone can relate to, regardless of belief.

Inspired by Eat, Pray, Love, I visited the palm reader made famous in the movie and had the meaningful experience of meeting his son. It felt symbolic, a reminder that following intuition often leads us exactly where we need to be. This journey didn’t just take me to a new destination, it took me deeper into myself.

Since then, I’ve traveled solo to Mexico, Lebanon, Jordan, and beyond, each journey building confidence, trust, and deep self-respect.

Why I Started Wander with Maya

Wander with Maya was born from transformation.

This travel blog is for anyone feeling stuck, burned out, or quietly dreaming of more. It’s for those who want to explore the world on their own terms, whether that means solo travel, spiritual journeys, or simply experiencing life beyond the familiar.

Here, I share real travel stories, solo travel tips, and practical guidance on where to go, where to stay, and how to travel safely and confidently. I believe travel can change your life, because it changed mine.

I’m not louder than you. I’m just one step ahead, and I’ll show you the way.

If you’ve ever felt that pull to explore the world or choose yourself, you’re in the right place.

Welcome.
Maya