The online narratives of travelling vs
the realities: a discussion with Just Yappin'

26th May 2026

 

 

Steele, creator of Just Yappin', and I sat down to discuss our respective moves to Australia and how we found new identities in the process  - you can read the first half of our conversation here. Our discussion lead on to how travelling, and Australia in particular, is presented on social media, and why for the most part, it’s, kind of, bullshit? Let’s unpack: 

 

 

Steele: “Do you think what is presented on social media is the same as your experience or do you think there is quite a lag between the realities? 

 

India: I do think probably in the past year or so it’s starting to change a little bit. But definitely three, four years ago before I came here, it didn't seem to be like that. It was very much like: “day in the life Australia edition: wake up, sunrise, brunch with friends, then I met all these people and blah blah blah." And I'd just be there crying in my shower in my hostel. 

 

I actually think that’s when I decided to make this blog. I was in my hostel room and I didn’t want any of these people to see me crying. So I went to the showers, but it was so quiet in there and echoey that I thought everyone would hear me crying in the shower too, so then I think I had to blast some music to cover it up. I was just going to all these extremes just. to. cry. 

 

So yeah, I think there's a lot of things that people don’t show (maybe this is just me being naive at 22 coming here.)

 

 

India: “What do you feel?”

 

Steele: There's definitely a lag, I definitely feel that. There's just one influencer that I was watching and she kind of warned everyone like it's not easy to get a job, she handed out so many resumes and stuff etc. So it was good to see that. 

 

I feel like you meet so many people, like that part is true, but meeting people that you really click with, that's hard. 

 

India: Maybe my biggest takeaway with the whole how it's presented on social media versus how it is in real life is the fact that two things can be true at the same time. And I think people seem to think it's black and white, like you're having the fucking best time ever or you're hating it.

 

Because when you're over here and you're travelling and you know, you're seeing the most amazing things and experiencing all of these absolutely like ‘up there’ moments, [that] of course, the down moments are going to feel so much more extreme. Whereas when you're back home... and everyday is kind of the same, it’s a bit monotonous [it’s level]. 

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I think that is probably why it does feel more extreme. 

 

Like I said, both feelings can be happening simultaneously. I remember I spoke about this on my blog ages ago, but I went down to the Peninsula, and was just feeling anxious as fuck and I ended up having a panic attack in the public toilet,

 

Obviously that was awful. 

 

But then like an hour later, we were in these rock pools on this beach, just laying there [in the water] and it was pure bliss. Whenever I [need to] think back to a happy moment, I think of that. And they were the same day, a few hours apart. 

 

This is an idea that's probably not grasped that well on social media. It's good and bad, it's amazing and it's awful and that doesn't necessarily mean it's like a negative thing. That's what I try and say with my blog: that yes, I'm trying to be honest and realistic, [but] I probably wouldn't change any of things that have happened because it's all a learning experience. 

 

Steele: [Same]. Just the sense of having two things be true - I go to the pier sometimes just by myself or with Pey, he’s sitting right next to me and like hundreds of people are around me but I felt like so alone at times. Two things can be definitely true at once. I think that's what I'm learning also. I like that.

 

India: Yeah. I think [ultimately] it’s just good to have a form of knowledge before you get yourself into something. Am I cut out for this? It doesn't mean it's gonna be like easy but it also then doesn't mean because it's hard it's automatically bad, if you know what I mean. Just because it's hard doesn't mean it's bad.

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Post-podcast thoughts:

 

 

I've been thinking about our discussion in the weeks following this podcast. I think it's definitely easy to sit there and comment on the narratives presented on social media and why they can be damaging for viewers, however, it's not easy to agree to be part of said narrative. I've certainly contributed, at points, representing something that doesn't show the full picture, for different reasons at different times. 

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To put it frankly, it's easier to post a light-hearted, positive-leaning video, even if your reality is not looking that way at all - partially because content creators think that's what viewers might want to see, but also because it's straight forward. It's more surface level and less vulnerable. Opening up a different side to travelling, or any part of your life for that matter, that's not as easily digestible as other content, is hard.

 

I've been thinking a lot about this balance between oversharing and undersharing online, I'll be discussing these ideas very soon...

 

But for now, follow Steele on socials: