Kaydia Tomlinson keeps the tradition of travel alive
Published:Saturday | April 16, 2022 | 12:06 AMKrysta Anderson/ Staff Reporter
Live a life that inspires you. That’s one code travel enthusiast Kaydia Tomlinson lives by, and she encourages others to embrace the liberating concept with open arms.
The blogger started posting her adventures under the moniker Travel with Kadz in January of last year. And although she embarked on the journey amid the global pandemic, she began penning her thoughts with pre-COVID outings, working her way to protocol-driven environments and beyond.
“Some of my content is from a pre-COVID Jamaica. This allowed me time to go on more trips and create more memories. It has been pretty easy, as Jamaica has a lot of outdoor activities, like hiking, even though I am not a hiker, and resorts to visit,” she explained to Saturday Living.
Her love for adventure began at a tender age. Tomlinson vividly recalled being her mother’s handbag, travelling here, there, and everywhere. Today, inspired by this timeless family tradition, Tomlinson decided to keep the practice alive by embarking on her adventure.
She was constantly greeted by the encouraging refrain of documenting her travel for others to see, but the creative never considered creating a platform dedicated to self-expression and destination information. “People kept saying ‘Kaydia, you always go to these nice places. People need to see what you’re up to and get inspired to go as well.’ It took me a while to get on board, mainly because I knew it required putting myself out there,” she told Saturday Living.
Given her bubbly and effervescent personality, anyone would think that she was made to do this. But introversion kicked into high gear, threatening to steal her joy. Once she jumped over that hurdle, she transformed her fear into excitement.
“I love trying new things and going to new places, exploring Jamaica and the world. My journey has been extremely rewarding. I have had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, all over the world, on my social media platform.”
With her social media family and friends querying the different destinations she would visit, it was only fitting that she start a travel page and take everyone on tour with her. “I decided to share my experiences to expand my Instagram family so that they can continue to live vicariously through me and my page could encourage international travel to Jamaica; safely of course, since we were in a pandemic. It was also important for me to share from my lens and offer a view of how I see Jamaica and the world.”
So far, internationally, Tomlinson has visited Cuba, Trinidad, Mexico, Spain, France, Canada, and several cities in the United States of America. She is looking forward to adding new countries like South Africa and Ghana to her list. Her travel essentials outside of Jamaica include her passport, a body of water, a pool or beach - so a swimsuit is a must-pack, cell phone, tripod or selfie stick, and a waterproof pouch.
The feedback since inception has been phenomenal, with many acknowledging how joyful and free she is in her photos and how much that happiness inspires them. “The journey has also allowed me to partner with some of my fellow local travel bloggers and explore different parts of the island. We are passionate about finding beautiful, hidden gems across the island. Getting to meet new people and connect about travel and other shared interests has been a blessing,” she added.
Grateful for the support from family, friends, and her beloved, she is also aware of the critics, since that is hard to avoid on social media. She stays her course, providing authenticity with each adventure. Losing her mother to cancer a few years ago has only fuelled her intent on living, not taking time or life for granted in the process.
“I try to connect with my travel family by sharing the reality - people connect with authenticity. It’s not always roses and sunshine, and luxury. “Travel at times is my way of escaping. My adventures help to keep me going and be positive while I continue to mourn the loss of my mother, having a keen understanding that my time here on earth is very limited and I need to focus on my passions,” she said.
She hopes to inspire others to experience life and do away with limitations, prioritising happiness and priceless moments that are meant to be cherished. “It’s difficult as we go along in our daily lives, and get caught up in those demands. But, if you want to do something, go after it. It is very much possible. Don’t put off what you can do now. It’s absolutely cliched, but tomorrow is not promised. My number one motto is ‘Cherish the moments, they eventually become memories’,” she added.