VEERA Papinoja is an interesting character.
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For starters, she can't drive a car but has a licence to drive a reindeer.
She was born and grew up in Finland, but says she has no real attachment to her homeland.
She is most at home in roof-top bars sipping cocktails, but equally so in the quiet rolling countryside of Goulburn – where she studied on exchange for six months as a teenager.
Another thing, she travels the world for a living.
In the boundless realms of the World Wide Web, Veera (who goes by Veera Bianca online) creates guides, shares her experiences and inspires others to take the leap from the 9-5 working week to explore the world.
At 26, she can say with confidence she is living the dream.
In an interview with the Post last week, Veera attributed her success to a fateful six months at Goulburn High School in 2006.
“I was supposed to go to the beach with two surfer brothers but at the last minute it didn’t happen and I was offered a place in Goulburn,” she recalled.
“The first I heard of it I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come but I ended up staying for six months. While I was here I started writing a travel blog for friends and family at home to know what I was up to.
“I always liked writing but didn’t think I was any good at it. But, the nature of this place inspired me to write stories and poems for readers in Finland.
“I came back in 2008 and 2010 and during that time the blog kept getting more readers. Soon I started working with new companies and doing freelance writing.
“Now, all I do is travel the world and write, because of my time here.”
Since that time, Veera has travelled to more than 40 countries and has a follower base of thousands online. Now, she’s undergoing a total restructure to keep up with changing audience demands.
Veera has effectively reset her blog to write in English as opposed to in Finnish and, in partnership with a fellow travel-bug, has developed smartphone travel app CreateTrips.
In her new role as CreateTrips community lead, she has spent the last two weeks in Goulburn on a mission to write a CreateTrip guide on Sydney and Canberra. She also hopes to write one for Goulburn.
“Goulburn is the most home that I have. I love it here. I have a very busy life and so I love coming back and having that time with nature,” she said.
While she’s here she doesn’t have a set plan, but to “chill and write”.
To keep up with Veera’s adventures, find her on Instagram @veerabianca.
Alternatively, see her website wanderlustexpert.com.
To download CreateTrips, head to createtrips.com.