A Bit About Me

I’m Joanne, a former seafarer, adventurer, and long-time scribbler.

I grew up in the most populous state in Malaysia, surrounded by shopping malls and city life – but I’ve always felt more at home in nature and remote places.

Though I earned a degree in Accounting and Finance, I never worked in the field. Instead, I joined the cruise industry in 2016 – first as crew, then briefly on land – and have spent most of the last decade working at sea across Southeast and East Asia.

When borders closed during the pandemic, I began thinking about how to build something more sustainable. I wanted freedom, time, and work that didn’t rely on trading hours for income.

In 2024, I started this blog between ship contracts. It’s where I share stories from my time working onboard cruise ships, insights from my travels, and reflections on living a simple life with a goal for financial freedom.

Alongside this, I’ve been building Travel Mobile, a practical tool for travellers to find the best eSIM providers, and a not-so-public print-on-demand shop with cruise crew-inspired designs.

I’m still figuring things out, trying different paths, and slowly building toward financial freedom. Writing helps me process it all.

I occasionally climb mountains, miss the books I used to read, and dream about future adventures.