WHY DUENDE?

Duende is a Spanish word with no direct English translation. It is soul and inspiration, which has the inexplicable power to evoke an emotional response. It is the thing that makes the hairs on your arms stand up, the chills run down your spine, and could make you smile or maybe even cry. As the great 19th century literary figure, Goethe, once describe it: “A mysterious force that everyone feels and no philosopher has explained.”

ABOUT MADAM ZOZO

Hi! I’m Madam ZoZo, a globetrotting, Australian designer, creative consultant and trail(blaz)ing spouse. I’m passionate about travel, design, culture and sustainability.

Duende is where I document the interesting stories, people, cultures and destinations I come across in my travels and the life they inspire me to create. I hope by sharing them with you, you’ll find some duende of your own!

MY TRAVEL STYLE

You might be wondering about my travel style, in order to determine if this is the right blog for you. So let me share a little about how I travel, my budget and what I want out of the experience:

Independent. For the large part of my travel, I prefer the freedom of exploring independently. I tend to enlist some professional guidance if I’m taking to less charted territory or where language is a significant barrier. I always have a heavy hand in determining where I go and what I do, even when working with a tour company. You can learn more about my trip planning process in this international travel planning guide.

Comfort. I’m not a budget traveller nor backpacker, but certainly not a luxury traveller either. I want to know I’m getting good value, so I can see and experience more for my money. I’m also willing to occasionally sacrifice comfort for a totally unique experience. For example, hiking the Inca Trail or staying in a tribal longhouse in Borneo.

Cultural. For me, travel is about seeing the world from a different perspective and discovering what is unique about a destination, whether it’s the food, music, art, history, landscapes or all of the above. Exploring cultures is a priority for me–it fuels my wanderlust. See some of my tips on diving into cultural travel while minimising culture shock here.

Fast. I’m not a full-time travel blogger. I juggle trips between work and life commitments like most people, which means I need to get the best out of a destination in a minimal amount of time. I don’t have much time for free-wheeling, although that would be nice. Fast travel, as they like to call it in the industry, requires a lot of research and planning. So, if you’re a similarly time-strapped sojourner, there are plenty of 1-10 day travel itineraries on Duende for you.

Couples. My main travel companion is my husband and we are childless by choice. Therefore, you are more likely to find romantic getaways, than family travel advice here on Duende. As a couple we have broad and varied interests, and we endeavour to cover them equally in our travels, so you will find a good mix of things to do in our itineraries and city guides.