Shine's Tentacle Trails

Hey, I’m Shine

Why I Started “Shine’s Tentacle Trails”

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I started this blog because I wanted more than just a camera roll full of pretty pictures. I wanted a place to tell the stories behind them – the little moments, the awkward mishaps, the local food that changed my life and the unexpected kindness of strangers in a new place.

I was born in Vietnam and now live in Australia so my life is kind of a mix of rice paper rolls and road trips. I travel to both cities and rural towns – one day I’ am’m taking photos of architecture, the next I’m knee-deep in nature, grinning at cows.

This isn’t a luxury travel blog. It’s not 100% budget either. It’s just… real. Sometimes I splurge. Sometimes I sleep in a weird place because it was cheap. But I always try to make the most of it and I always eat well.

Here you’ll find:

  • 📸 Beautiful scenery (because I’m obsessed)
  • 🥢 Food worth traveling for
  • ✈️ Tips from someone still figuring it out but happy to share
  • 💬 Honest moments that don’t always make it to Instagram

I hope this blog helps you plan your next adventure, laugh a little, and feel like you’re not alone – whether you’re on a solo trip or just dreaming of one.

Thanks for being here. Now let’s float around the world together – half scenery, half snacks, full vibes 🪼💚

Get to know me

The first place I travelled to

It was a family trip to Sapa, a dreamy mountain town in Vietnam. My young brain couldn’t believe places this pretty actually existed — fog dancing over the rice terraces, the cool air, the bright colours of the local markets. That trip planted a tiny wanderlust seed in me… and I knew I’d go chasing places like that again.

Why “Shine’s Tentacle Trails”

I have a deep, possibly irrational, love for jellyfish. They’re floaty, weirdly elegant, and a little mysterious – basically how I aspire to travel through life. Also, my boyfriend Turtle calls me Jellyfish. So this blog is my way of floating through the world – leaving a little shimmer everywhere I go.

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset, always. There’s something about watching the sky wind down – it feels like a daily hug from the universe. There’s something peaceful – almost healing – about it. It’s a little sad, knowing the dark is coming… but also kind of beautiful. Like a soft goodbye at the end of the day. A quiet reminder that not everything has to be bright to be meaningful.

One Travel Goal I’m Manifesting?

I’ve never seen the aurora in real life, but it’s one of those “bucket list with tears in your eyes” kind of dreams. One day, I’ll be standing under that dancing sky, probably crying, probably freezing and probably eating a snack because that’s who I am.