- Home
- Travel Author Profile
Shannon Osztonits
Travel Author
Shanon Osztonits is a gypsy soul at heart. Her penchant for delicious words is just as strong as her desire for uncovering hidden gems across the globe. A true creative at heart, new cultures, landscapes and people inspires her daily being.
Shanon loves translating the beauty and magnificence of our world onto paper just as much as she loves painting a new canvas. Cities like Renaissance-rich Florence, or parts of the world where living in a sarong and bikini all day sets her heart ablaze.
Shanon called Southeast Asia home for six years, and the region's spirituality is something she carries close to her heart. She is also a qualified reiki practitioner; so you best believe her casa is lined in crystals. Apart from traveling, Shanon is a true foodie through and through — some say the two go hand-in-hand!
When not gallivanting around the world, you’ll find Shannon in her kitchen cooking up recipes inspired by the places she's been to, or from the latest episode of Top Chef.
How did you get into travel
With an educational background in Journalism, writing has always been my first love. It’s a career path I, undoubtedly, knew I would follow. Back then when magazines were all the rage, I had my heart set on entering the realms of Conde Nast and the likes. But that was 2011, and although #magazinesarenotdead, the digital era took over.
I've had a desire to travel and explore the world as much as I love to write, and my travel writing career began when living abroad in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2018 — which I called home for six years. I had the opportunity to write for a major publication in the Southeast Asian scene (TripCanvas), which jolted my travel writing career. I’ve been crafting travel love stories ever since.
Shannon's unique travel experience
Sri Lanka remains one of the most magical destinations I've been lucky enough to explore. Spending one month in this tropical piece of paradise, every part of a new day led to something spectacular… Exploring exotic spice gardens; the train journey between Colombo and Ella; eating meals as gorgeous elephants roamed the streets (I’m a HUGE animal advocate); watching shooting stars and cooking home meals in treehouses; hopping from one beach town to the next to snorkel; motorbiking along the open roads; catching crazy tuktuks (which should have been a bus to get from A to B); and of course, moving and grooving under the sunshine in my dear Arugum Bay. One of my best memories was when a local fisherman invited us back to his home in the jungle for dinner with his family. It’s etched in my heart as as one of the most special places in the world.