MEET MARTHA
Hello!
I’m Martha, your friendly neighborhood backpacker and aspiring travel guru. My journey began back in university when I realised that while travel books were great, they didn’t quite capture the magic of exploring the world or answer the many questions I had about how to start and plan my own journeys. So, after graduating and spending 2 years working in the NHS during Covid-19, I decided to book a flight, pick up a camera and start documenting my adventures.
Fast forward five years, and voila! Here I am with this website - my little corner of the internet dedicated to all things travel - starting with South East Asia, and lots more to come. A space full of travel guides, tips, and vlogs, Ready Steady Backpack is designed to make your travel planning process easier (and way more fun). Whether you’re wondering what to pack or hunting for the best places to explore, I've got your back. Let’s turn those "I wish I could travel" thoughts into "I just booked my ticket!" moments.
See you on the next adventure,
Martha x
The Evolution of
Ready Steady Backpack
September 2019
After finishing the enjoyable (but exhausting) experience of university, I decided that I would pack my bags and jet off to Thailand. I know what you are thinking…how cliché? I bet she wants to go and ‘find herself’ right? Well, I was prepared to use that excuse to avoid settling into a 9-5 lifelong career. So I excitedly jumped into planning my trip from my university bedroom in rainy Wales. Endless hours of scrolling, swiping and scribbling ensued, always leaving me thinking ‘am I forgetting something?’. Well, if I was, it was okay because 2020 soon came around and the country entered a national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
September 2022
Two years later, after returning from an unbelievable group trip to Pakistan, I resumed my travel planning. I was still having a hard time navigating my way through the whole ‘how to plan your backpacking trip’ thing and so I ended up improvising. In all honesty, I didn’t know where to start; should I book my flights first? What visa do I need? Oh but where am I going to stay? And what travel insurance do I need? My blank A5 notebook soon turned into a complete mess which I liked to call ‘organised chaos’.
November 2022 - Youtube Channel Launches
Planning a backpacking trip should be exciting, fun and most importantly, straightforward (for the most part). I thought, why not use my love for filming, editing and journaling to mash together the best resources for others to plan their trip. So when I left the UK in November 2022, I set out to capture the most raw, unfiltered insight into life on the go and created the Ready Steady Backpack Youtube Channel as a platform to share this.
January 2024
Over a year goes by as I travel through South East Asia, and I eventually settle in Australia and take the opportunity to work and rebuild my funds, With more time on my hands, I decided to begin moving all of my journals, diaries, inside tips and tricks onto a platform that can be read rather than watched. And so here I present to you the Ready Steady Backpack Website!
Want to explore my travel guides?
Follow my travels on Instagram for fun and exciting reels!