Is it possible to combine travel, minimalism, and the effort to save our planet? We asked the most qualified person for this – an inspiring traveler whom you may know from social media under the pseudonym Weef.
Hi Veru, first of all, I want to thank you for finding time for this interview. It probably wasn't easy with your busy schedule. Or am I wrong? Are you constantly working, or do you take a holiday mode during the summer?
As you say, I am currently in full work mode. Summer is the right time to travel. And since I share my trips and tips for them through my blog and videos, I'm not bored. :) Even so, I enjoy it because I do what I love.
When and how was your motto "Fewer things, more experiences" born?
It was born almost four years ago when I started traveling and writing my blog. At that time, I still owned quite a lot of clothes and nonsense. During my travels, I found out that I don't need them for life and I am better off without them. Then one day I said goodbye in a video with this motto and that was it! :)
It is important to be prepared
I assume you don't take any unnecessary things on your travels. However, what would you never leave without?
Definitely without a water bottle, laptop, mobile phone, camera, chargers, wallet, canvas bag, and my own travel cutlery. Actually, you're giving me a great lead, I'm just preparing a video on this topic.
What is the best way to combine travel with a zero-waste and eco-friendly lifestyle? For example, air travel doesn't fit into these concepts very well...
My entire blog and social media are about my journey and how I am getting to know this lifestyle, what suits me, and what doesn't. I am not a prototype of a perfect being levitating on a yoga mat. People sometimes confuse me with that in their imagination. It doesn't work like that. I try to gradually introduce alternatives into my life that make life easier not only for me but also for the planet. But I don't push it too hard.
When it comes to the topic of flying, for example, it's a tricky one. I am currently trying to educate myself in this direction, looking for expert articles, and finding out how it actually is. When it comes to zero-waste, it's not that complicated. You just need to take the necessary equipment with you – a box, a bottle, and so on. Just be prepared.
Which country should we learn from regarding waste management?
Germany, for example, has it more figured out; for instance, the return system for plastic bottles works beautifully there. So why not here...?
Social media is like a fork
You use social media extensively – they certainly have their charm. Do you also perceive their negative aspects? Often in public transport, instead of enjoying the journey itself, we kill time with our noses buried in our phones, and if we don't have at least five Instagram posts from our vacation with at least a double-digit number of hearts, we don't feel good about it...
I use them as a communication channel, but not as a record of everything I do. Maybe that's why I perceive them a little differently. From the beginning, I distinguished between my personal life and social media. Sure, I show a composter at home or how I exercise, but I don't show more, I don't talk about my personal life, I don't show my whole day from morning to night.
Social media is great, it just needs to be handled well. Just like a fork – either you eat well with it, or you poke someone in the eye. That's how it is with everything. I've noticed that social media often makes people feel inferior. In that case, it's better to turn them off and function in reality, within yourself, and live. I myself, for example, stopped checking virtual events right after I get out of bed in the morning. First me, then breakfast, yoga, and then some social world. :)
Do you travel more spontaneously, or do you need to have a clear itinerary in advance?
More spontaneously, which, among other things, will soon be shown during my trip around Europe. For seven days, I have several countries on my list and I will let my fans decide where I go and what I will do. So we'll see! :D
Where are you heading in the near future and which visited place will you definitely return to in the future?
Hungary in a week, then I'm traveling around Europe as I mentioned, and I'll spend the end of the summer discovering the beauties of Slovakia. This time I will spend Christmas in California.
"What if" is a waste of time
Is there anything you would like to say to the readers in conclusion?
Probably just that everyone is the architect of their own happiness and that talking about "what if..." never moved anyone anywhere. Go do things, because there is no time to waste!
Thank you once again, I wish you a beautiful rest of the summer and lots of great experiences!
Who is Weef?
A traveler, blogger, and YouTuber, but also a promoter of minimalism, zero waste, and environmental protection. Veronika Šubrtová is simply a woman of action who does not intend to sit in a corner and just hope for change. In addition to travel tips, she will also introduce you to an eco-friendly menstrual cup or her vermicomposter full of worms without blinking an eye.
