Jaclynn’s wandering spirit has brought her from the lush greenery of South America to the craters of Indonesia. Despite working at a full-time job, Jaclynn spends any time outside of work travelling. Currently she’s taken some time off to properly experience long-term travel before she heads back to the rat race again. The Occasional Traveller is a platform dedicated to inspire deskbound wanderlusters like herself to remember to take that time off and get away.
WHO IS JACLYNN SEAH?
I’m a travel lover.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START THE OCCASIONAL TRAVELLER?
I was working long hours in my previous job and realised one year I had too many vacation days leftover – I had somehow forgotten to travel that year. I started the blog as a reminder to myself. A reminder to take time out for myself, no matter how busy I am, there is always a way to make the time for adventures. Now, I hope it inspires others who are in the same circumstance as me to travel more.
WHAT DOES TRAVELLING MEAN TO YOU?
Travel is about new adventures and seeing new things. It has shown me how small and limited my worldview is. Travel is about constantly learning and being able to consider varied viewpoints. You become more open-minded and tolerant as you step out from the confines of your daily life, and you definitely appreciate things that you tend to take for granted.
I love not knowing what adventures lie ahead and the stories I end up making. The best part is meeting new friends and seeing completely amazing parts of the world.
WOULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A MODERN NOMAD?
I’m not sure I consider myself a nomad, it implies that I have a moving home but I’ve come to realise that despite all my travels, my home is still rooted in Singapore. This is an unchanging part of my identity. Definitely modern in that I can’t imagine travelling without my apps and the internet to guide me – losing my phone on one of my trips was one of my lowest points, more so than the fact that I lost my driver’s license and credit cards with it. I had to get myself a new phone the very next day because I couldn’t imagine continuing my trip without it!
A PERSON OR INCIDENT THAT CHANGED YOU THE MOST?
Going on my first solo trip on 2011 and my subsequent solo travels has definitely changed the way I view travel – I think it’s made me more comfortable in asserting my own likes. I’ve become less timid since then, more adaptable and spontaneous to receiving the unexpected.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS?
“Well let’s see what happens!” I try not to jinx myself too much, so that’s one of the safer things I can say out loud when things are looking dicey!
We are inspired by Jaclynn’s determination to make the time for her passion, and are proud to have her as Fieldtesters, a group of inspiring friends that regularly test MATTER products in their workplace and trails to help us improve durability and design. Jaclynn is wearing The Lounge Lunghi + Philippines Teal, Size 1.