Syifa Adriana

First video from Tunisia: https://youtu.be/bL3uBwZOuBU

TUNISIA 🇹🇳 – Country number 35!
What a surreal accomplishment to hit number 35. It’s true that I don’t usually submit to or follow “counting countries,” especially when travelling on a weaker passport and making YouTube videos. I’ve always preferred to focus on one country at a time.
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I flew out of Rabat, Morocco, to Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, a small wedge in North Africa at 3 a.m. It was such an inconvenient time to fly, but that’s the reality with budget airlines. I didn’t know what to expect, but was so relieved to find myself in a much more “secular” environment compared to other countries in the region. Thankfully, there was very little catcalling, and as a female solo traveller, that felt like an immense privilege. The people were so open and lovely too!
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I was brought to Sidi Bou Said by @chaimaallaguii , and the afternoon sun was casting such a romantic, wonderful light over the town, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it, considering I’d planned my trip to Tunisia as a last-minute holiday. Clearly, that didn’t work out as planned, I still ended up vlogging and filming two to three videos for YouTube. I’ve been sharing my travels since 2016, so arriving in a new country and not capturing anything is a mental discipline and an exercise I’m clearly not very good at. 😂

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4 days ago | [YT] | 567

Syifa Adriana

It’s my 8th year since I renounced Islam and became an ex-Muslim. To say life has become lighter is an understatement. There are still so many suppressed thoughts and emotions stored in my body that I’m working through, as they sometimes come out of the woodwork when triggered by something emotionally connected to my past.

Travelling to & editing videos from Northern Morocco has been tremendously difficult for me. There were many moments from these travels that instantly brought me back to my childhood and the emotional attachment I had during the first 20-something-odd years of my life. Leaving Islam at the age of 25 means I’m still working through some of the trauma and reconstructing my core identity.

I’ll be honest, I have so many disagreements with the religion as a whole that I can be triggered by simply seeing its physical symbols or any religious attachment to it. This often makes visiting Islamic nations or Muslim-majority countries emotionally harder for me, because I know the backbone of this religion so deeply.

Fully questioning it felt impossible growing up in a majority-Muslim country. Once you start doubting, you’re asked to pray to seek solace and comfort, or you're brought to a preacher to “discuss” your doubts. There were so many apologetic answers given whenever critical questions were posed, answers that deviated from the blunt truth. It was simply an isolating process, but ultimately rewarding.

The seed of doubt was always there, but admitting the honest truth, that once all the spiritual aspects were stripped away, I simply didn’t believe, was incredibly hard.

Of course, there are good aspects to religion, like any other, but I don’t believe you need religion to tell you how to be good. I know it provides comfort and a sense of belonging for many, but leaving Islam taught me what it really means to pursue my own path despite the immense pushback from loved ones.

Travelling alone gave me that sense of home when I couldn’t find safety in the country I was born in. It wasn’t until I started listening to other female ex-Muslims speak openly in 2017 that I realised I wasn’t alone and that gave me the courage to be fully honest with myself.

I know this writing will hurt some of my loved ones, but I think this writing helps me voice the difficult journey, and it may help some of you going through the same thing.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 734

Syifa Adriana

WHERE EUROPE MEETS AFRICA: https://youtu.be/qWtBeQkEHRQ
I’m now home from my 4–5 weeks of North Africa travel until summer, and it’s good to be back in a familiar setting. I felt there were so many hurdles, physically and emotionally, in the first few weeks: being sick on the road, extreme period pains, vomiting on the bus, and constant lightheadedness.

I was struggling with the extreme heat despite trying to maintain my hydration, but I was also trying to accept the fact that my body was hinting for me to slow down and rest some more.
I was so close to quitting, as I felt it may be the burnout that’s been lingering over the last few years. Maybe it’s a good time for a sabbatical? Not sure. I still have a burning desire, but just need to take longer breaks in between.

The first episode was filmed in Tangier, inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s CNN documentary Parts Unknown I watched back in 2016. So to be able to be in the same place years later was surreal. The idea of this place in Morocco is that it’s at the northern tip of Africa, so close to Europe (hey, you can see Spain from here!) and only separated by the Strait of Gibraltar.

But my goodness, I was struggling with the level of catcalling I experienced constantly when walking alone. It broke me down after a few days of it happening non-stop while I was still adjusting. It slowed me down, and I remember being on a call with Dave, saying that I just wanted to feel invisible.

But NO! I wouldn’t be defeated by this. After a good night’s sleep, I took my time slowly to film and show up, trying to block out unnecessary attention but still open to potential, unexpected interactions and it did, wonderfully.

Oh Tangier, you were wild yet charming at the same time!

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2 months ago | [YT] | 388

Syifa Adriana

A throwback to my Mongolia videos: https://youtu.be/zk8xpX0x_6U

The desire to create a series that captures both the motorbike journey and nomadic lifestyle was so strong, I was really hoping something would come together. With the help of @murraybenn (who actually sparked the idea of filming the moving process), it did.

It’s kind of poetic that the last episodes I filmed in Mongolia were all about the idea of home, something I’ve also been searching for myself, while travelling around the UK these past few months.

Filming the nomadic move was hectic, fascinating, hard, and freeing all at once. I started by simply observing and warming up to the family, hoping to become more than just a visitor for a day.

When we arrived, the ger/yurt was already almost fully dismantled. With no translator, I stepped back and quietly watched, not wanting to get in the way as they prepared to move everything in just one day.

Nomadic families move up to four times a year, and it’s a chance to clean each part of the ger, every beautifully painted, functional piece designed for ease of travel. Traditionally, they’d move using yaks; now it’s more often trucks, but that communal spirit still remains.

At one point during filming, I broke down. I felt completely isolated, surrounded by people I couldn’t communicate with and unsure how to bridge the gap. The social walls created by the language barrier were heavy that day, and it hit me hard. That’s the reality of travelling off the beaten path. It’s not always romantic, it’s raw, it’s humbling, and sometimes it’s lonely. But I wouldn’t do it any other way.

This is still one of my favourite episodes to have made. It was emotionally tough, but so worth it, sometimes just finishing something feels like its own kind of reward. So grateful to have witnessed and shared this.

Have you found yourself feeling completely out of your comfort zone while travelling? How did you get through it?

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3 months ago | [YT] | 516

Syifa Adriana

WHEN IT ALL GOT A BIT TOO MUCH…

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/uzcxIVr57fY?si=Ue-ZZ...

The last UK house-hunting video Dave and I created took us to Derbyshire and Cambridgeshire. Initially, we planned two separate episodes. We wanted to revisit Derbyshire, exploring smaller, quieter towns this time. Cambridgeshire interested us for its flatter landscape and drier climate, something quite different from the Northwest we’re used to.
We also thought about filming in West Sussex, close to my best friend and right by the sea, which seemed like a nice, refreshing change.

Honestly, it quickly got overwhelming. Trying to film, travel, and edit every week while Dave managed his full-time job became pretty exhausting. We realised it wasn’t practical to go back to Derbyshire again just to finish filming the episode, so we combined the partial Derbyshire footage with our upcoming trip to Cambridgeshire instead.

As everything was a bit last minute, we only managed to book a single house viewing in Godmanchester, whose name we were intrigued by, and visited another market town called St Ives. Both places felt charming and picturesque, with easy access to Cambridge and London, but somehow we didn’t feel that instant warmth or connection we’d hoped for.

It made us wonder if our impressions were truly our own or if they were clouded by the pressure to film. Were we really experiencing these towns as potential homes, or just through the lens of our cameras?

So, we’ve decided to pause the filming for now. We think it might be better to visit quietly, without cameras, and genuinely see if a place feels like home. Balancing filming our experiences and just living in the moment turned out to be harder than we thought. We’re looking forward to stepping back, reflecting, and hopefully discovering our new home more naturally.

I am excited to be back on the road visiting a completely new continent in a couple of weeks, rekindling my joy for solo travel and trying to find a sense of purpose while documenting it.

Have you ever struggled with documenting life versus just experiencing it fully? I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts!

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4 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 526

Syifa Adriana

TELL ME, WHERE SHOULD I TRAVEL?

I’ve been reflecting a lot and have a bit more clarity about the kind of travels I want to focus on this year. After trying out the UK house-hunting video series, I realised that while it was definitely insightful, I wasn’t feeling the same joy and sense of play that I usually get from filming travel stories. Don’t get me wrong, travel filming can be stressful and I’m definitely a sensitive soul when I’m on the road by myself 😂, but there’s also something so grounding and familiar in it for me. It feels like home.

So, long story short, after a few heart-to-hearts with Dave, I’ve decided to really lean into that part of myself again, solo travel and all the imperfect moments that come with it. I want to bring more consistency to my travel videos on YouTube this year, and I’ll be using all of my income to fully work with Jordan, my part-time editor, to help bring these stories to life.

I’ve booked flights to North Africa( Morocco and Tunisia) for May and June. I’m still in the midst of brainstorming video ideas for that trip. I’ve also been in talks with a few contacts about a potential journey to Syria, and a return to Iran later this autumn, possibly including Jordan (the country!) as well which highlights the Middle East.

And quite unexpectedly, I received an invitation to visit a town in Poland, which I’d love to do once I can apply for the Polish Schengen visa in person here in London. If all goes to plan, that trip would likely happen in July.
And for August, I’d love to explore another Eastern European country and I’d love your suggestions.Where in Eastern Europe would you like me to go and make videos from?

4 months ago | [YT] | 79

Syifa Adriana

The first video of my brand new series is now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fNLp3W0mDUY

It is going to be an interesting experience for @davewfilms and I to explore different counties in England. Having lived in a rented home together in the North West for the past 3 years, we hope to buy our very first home.

I’d say it’s been somewhat similar to my usual travel videos where exploration is the main driving factor, with some key differences. I see myself sometimes struggling with forming thoughts, as usually, with travels you learn to appreciate and observe different places and people without ever considering living there permanently.

When merging it with my personal life, I have to start seeing things differently, whether I see myself building a life there rather than just visiting. What aspects of these places resonate with us more than others. The bigger question often lies with how much money is required to buy the ideal home in these future locations.

@davewfilms portrays these experiments as if we are dating a town/place, where we’re approaching it with an open-mind, simply eager to learn and get to know these places. Yet we don’t have to rush to any final decision soon as to whether it’s the right place for us.

Some places we feel more connected to, and some less so. It’s just the start of this exciting journey and I look forward to seeing where it takes us!

Have you ever made a big decision to relocate to somewhere new?

5 months ago | [YT] | 603

Syifa Adriana

ABUNDANCE IN THE MUNDANE

Taking a break from my Mongolia posts to share a January photo dump, a month many dread. Mainly because it sits right after Christmas and New Year, deep in winter, with no major celebrations to look forward to. You’re left with a long, overcast 31 days, hoping to accomplish the first bit of your “new year resolutions”.

Yet, this January felt both familiar and different. There’s been a foggy, a sense of things being up in the air, creatively hazy feeling throughout, like things are stagnant, uncertain, and without clear direction. Yet, I’ve really enjoyed moving through the mundane this time around. The cold wind and snow have been a quiet reminder to slow down.

I came across something recently that stuck with me: *there’s abundance in the mundane.* And it resonates so much with how I’ve been feeling lately.

There’s something comforting about the small, everyday moments, seeing familiar faces over and over again, attending classes with teachers I respect, and simply showing up for myself. I’ve been learning how to hold space for myself and practice expanding that sense of clarity in my head.

January feels like the underdog of months, one most people just want to pass quickly, waiting for spring to bloom. But I think there’s something to be said about its stillness.

It made me think about how often I get frustrated and impatient in these stagnant moments, feeling uninspired, stuck. But I want to remind myself that even in the quiet, in the mundane, there is something quietly rich. There is abundance.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 570

Syifa Adriana

To have a dream and turn travel into a job has been a long journey. Coming from a family that worked hard but had limited opportunities in a country with a weak passport, I’ve had to jump through endless hoops just to access them. Growing up, I thought my path was already decided by my environment. That only made me hungrier. Curiosity pushed me to seek beyond what I knew, beyond what seemed possible.

This photo was taken in Mongolia, on my second day of riding, feeling deeply content and grateful to finally be here. Mongolia only recently introduced an e-visa, which made this trip possible. Before that, I had to go through the ordeal of securing a 30-day Schengen visa, another expensive, frustrating process that drained me before I even got on a plane.

When you have a shitty passport, you don’t take travel for granted. You grab every opportunity like gold, because when travel becomes your job, you work harder not to let it go. You work with what you have, even when it feels unfair.

I know how much my passport limits me. My work revolves around travel, yet I can’t just move on a whim. Every trip demands financial and personal background checks, proving my intentions over and over again. What comes effortlessly to others, who hold powerful passports with freedom of movement, feels like an impossible puzzle for me. I see others hopping between countries effortlessly with no visa struggles, no questioning, no financial background checks.

I won’t lie if there’s resentment, even jealousy, when I see others in the same industry expanding their opportunities without barriers. Meanwhile, I fight for every visa, every entry stamp to tell new stories.

Dave and I recently applied for my UK residency extension, £4000 without a solicitor, just so I can stay for another 2.5 years. People assume that because I’m married to a Brit, I automatically gain citizenship. But no. In three more years, I can apply, pass the required tests, and finally gain the freedom of movement that so many take for granted.

Maybe I sound bitter. Maybe I’m just exhausted from constantly hitting these walls. But I dream of a day when this isn’t part of my story anymore.

Until then, I keep going.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 472

Syifa Adriana

Two videos from my MONGOLIA MOTORCYCLE DIARIES are out now on the channel! 🌍
Have you had a chance to watch them yet? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts, what did you think of the journey so far? 😊

Watch them here:
Episode 1: https://youtu.be/DN4etN5Br6Q?si=VUVil...
Episode 2: https://youtu.be/mFuY7JIG9H0?si=LHFT5...

These were some of the craziest adventures I’ve experienced so far, pushing me to face and overcome some of my biggest fears! I can’t wait to share more with you.

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8 months ago | [YT] | 691