About Me
Hi there, and welcome to my little corner of the internet!
I’m Anneka, a free spirited travel blogger and modern day hippy originally from Milton Keynes, UK.
I want to inspire you all to travel solo and lead a more eco-friendly life. After many years of being passionate about both, New Shades of Hippy is here to champion all things adventure, travel and sustainability.
So if you’re looking for green living tips, solo travel inspiration, city break guides or lifestyle hacks, then you’re in the right place!
Keep scrolling to find out a little more about me and how New Shades of Hippy began.
BACK TO THE START
As long as I can remember, I’ve been a free spirit. I’ve always loved adventures and being outdoors. When I wasn’t exploring, I was writing about it.
In my late teens, I decided to take my passion for writing further by starting a degree in journalism. But it wasn’t until my second year of uni that my lecturer inspired me to start a blog.
So after a lot of contemplating, New Shades of Hippy was created in April 2012. A place where I could combine my love of writing with my passion for the environment.
For the first few years, I kept my blog as a personal hobby. At that time, I didn’t know anything about running a website or making any kind of business through social media.
After I finished uni and went into the world of work, it quickly dawned on me that I needed more adventure in my life.
THE TRIP THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
So, after nearly two years of saving, I finally left the UK in October 2015 to travel solo. I spent 13 months exploring in Australia, New Zealand, Bali and Thailand.
I walked round the base of Ayers Rock, lived in Melbourne for six months, snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef, skydived in New Zealand and took in the wonders of the Gili Islands, Bali. I also took part in a yoga retreat on Koh Samui and volunteered with elephants in Northern Thailand.
It was the trip that changed my life and the fate of New Shades of Hippy. I began incorporating solo travel into blogging and I soon found I loved it.
WHAT ABOUT NEW SHADES OF HIPPY NOW?
In 2018, I decided to take my humble platform and turn it into a professional blog. Since then, I have been working on improving my skills and content.
It is still very much a new adventure (alongside full-time work) but I hope to keep growing as a blogger and influencer.
Take a look at my latest posts here or see what I’ve been up to on my Instagram.
New Shades of Hippy has turned into something I’m immensely proud of. Join me as I continue exploring the natural wonders of the world.
