Book review: 'The magic of travel

For Rosa Bertram, formerly the force behind the scenes as editor-in-chief of BEDROCK Magazine, writing a book was no more than a fleeting thought. Yet a few years ago, she was asked by her publisher to capture her travel experiences and personal philosophy on conscious living in a book.

Four years of reflection, growth and change passed before 'The Magic of Travel' was finally published. Despite the changing world and her own evolution into adulthood, the essence of her book remains untouched. The book reflects what travelling can do to you, both in faraway places and close to home. "It can cause culture shock when you step out of a life that was always so normal for you, but also so much freedom," she says. You suddenly have a new arsenal of colours around you that makes you realise that the choices and options in life are actually endless," Rosa explains. Think, for example, about being in less of a hurry, trusting more in what is and living more in the moment. Travelling has helped Rosa organise life in a way that suits her and is not necessarily normal in the place where she grew up.

Rosa's former self, a curious and social explorer, was fuelled by a hunger for experiences and encounters. Now, at a stage in her life where she strives for peace and integration of lessons learned, she seeks a balance between adventure and stability. ''Life is like yin and yang. If you just keep travelling, it is important to find a moment to settle down and find your place,'' Rosa says. ''That is something I am working on now. In an adventurous and individual way. I live a little more in one place now, but I am still camping and undertaking half the week. I may no longer work as an editor-in-chief, but I still work as a writer and I am setting up a skate school. I also still enjoy working behind a bar because I am quite social and want to be among people. I am still finding my way in that too. In the end, everyone just does whatever and so do I.''

Rosa's current identity is partly shaped by her travels in Australian outdoor culture and the warm collective atmosphere in Brazil, as you can read in the book. Her time in Australia taught her a deep-seated love of the outdoors, camping, and the simplicity of happiness, while her experiences in Brazil made her realise the value of collective joy and sharing meals even with limited resources. ''I learn so much from slow collective, Mediterranean, Latin cultures, surely more 'slow down', it's okay, live in the moment. Surely that is something that has balanced me very well. It makes me calm and happy with what is there instead of always wanting something more.''

In the book, Rosa takes the reader through the different aspects of travelling. From the decision to travel to returning home after an unforgettable adventure. She emphasises that these aspects are inseparable, because it is precisely the challenges and difficult moments that enrich us.

So travelling really is not always as much fun as the Instagram pictures would have you believe. During a solo trip through Brazil, for instance, Rosa experienced a botched robbery. Fortunately, it ended with a hissy fit, but it is telling. ''It was a good lesson to be aware that even though people are cheerful and nice, dance in the streets, chat, help with learning Portuguese and time is non-existent, there are also people who, due to poverty, do not turn their hand to a robbery.'' Difficult moments contain lessons that stay with you for a long time.

Rosa's book is not only an account of her own travels, but also a mirror of the insights she has gathered from other travellers and experts. She highlights the words of Nadiem, who made her realise the importance of humility while travelling. "We are lucky to come from the Netherlands or another Western country, where a roof over our heads and food are taken for granted." According to Rosa, it's so nice when you get to countries where you can give something back, whether that's teaching or volunteering. It makes you realise that we really have the luxury and are privileged to be able to travel.

More rest and being outdoors has really become part of my life and who I am. I think the same goes for creating time and being less in a hurry. After all, there are so many more things in life than work and career,'' Rosa shares. Her book is infused with valuable lessons she learnt during her travels around the world.

Her connection with nature remains a common thread in her life, where peace and quiet and the outdoors have become indispensable. ''I just live with the day. That gives a lot of peace of mind. I have also really stuck to that as a lasting lesson. I don't set an alarm clock, I still camp a couple of times a week, I hike and exercise outdoors every day, and I've also been taking care of low fixed expenses and therefore more freedom since then. I don't do a lot of things that cost a lot of money. Similarly, I don't need to earn a lot five days a week. I'm happy with what's there.''

For Rosa, travelling is not always about going far away. You can also absolutely call her for micro-adventures close to home. "In the Netherlands, I really did a lot of camping and I still do it every summer," she says. My mother and I share an old Volkswagen van and if we can, we'll spend a few weeks at Camping de Lakens in the summer. That's such a nice place."

Rosa's favourite locations in the Netherlands are de Lievelinge, Camping Buitenland and Landgoed Energy Up. These are still great places she likes to visit to make memories with friends. She also does a lot of wild camping in the Netherlands (in places where it is allowed).