Meet Lyra

Hey there, thanks for stopping by! I’m Lyra Kowalska, the new voice and adventurer behind this travel blog.

I’m a Polish-American who’s been living out of a backpack for the better part of 7 years. These days, my home base is the wonderfully chaotic city of Bangkok, Thailand, which is also where I met my incredible partner and co-pilot on this journey, Alex.

My own love affair with travel began on a shoestring backpacking trip through Eastern Europe in 2018. I’d only planned to visit family in Poland, but one cheap train ticket led to another. That trip taught me that the best moments often aren’t in the guidebook, and I was hooked. One of my first photo essays, capturing the street life of Hanoi, was recognized by a major travel publication, which gave me the confidence to believe this passion could be something more.

Since then, my travels have taken me deep into Southeast Asia, across the diverse landscapes of Europe, and on unforgettable journeys through parts of South America.

But it hasn’t all been perfect Instagram moments. I’ve been stranded for days by a monsoon in the Philippines, navigated a lost passport crisis in Colombia, and had my fair share of questionable street food, travel scams, and missed connections that turned into chaotic adventures of their own.

It hasn’t always been easy, but over the years I’ve been blessed with some truly amazing experiences, including:

• Trekking through the multi-colored mountains of Peru’s Rainbow Valley,

• Witnessing the surreal ‘blue fire’ phenomenon at Ijen volcano in Java,

• Learning to scuba dive and swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines,

• Getting lost for days in the ancient, rose-red city of Petra in Jordan,

• Learning to cook from a local family in a Vietnamese homestay,

• Trying fried tarantulas in Cambodia (and mostly surviving!),

• Watching the sunrise over thousands of temples in Bagan, Myanmar,

• And visiting timeless world monuments like Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, and the Colosseum in Rome.

In 2023, I challenged myself to spend a full year exploring just three countries, truly trying to live like a local in each one. I learned that slow travel is my sweet spot, and it’s absolutely possible to have rich experiences on a modest budget, often under $40/day.

I truly hope my travel blog can help and inspire you in your own journeys as well!

Let’s Collaborate

GoReviewTrip reaches up to 350,000 passionate travelers per month, connecting with a highly engaged and important travel demographic.

Let’s collaborate to create authentic, story-driven content that connects your brand with this dedicated audience. My goal is to craft unique and fresh travel narratives from around the world that will help you promote your destination, hotel, or product in a meaningful way.

My Commitment to Authenticity

I believe in real experiences. I personally handle all of the writing and photography on this website. This means no AI-generated content or stock photos—just genuine stories and visuals from my own adventures. When I recommend something, it’s because I’ve tried it and truly believe in its value for my readers.

As an experienced photographer and storyteller, I specialize in capturing the unique character of a destination or experience.

A Legacy of Trust

I’m proud to continue the legacy of a blog whose work has been featured by major names in the travel industry, such as Travel + Leisure and BBC Travel.

The brand’s content has reached over 20 million views on platforms like UNILAD Adventure and Must Do Travels. We have a successful history of partnering with top-tier hotels, tourism boards, and respected equipment brands.

Your brand could be next! If you share a passion for authentic travel, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch using the form below.