It is an utmost pleasure to feature an interview with Laurence and Jessica Norah, the inspiring travel blogging couple behind Finding the Universe and Independent Travel Cats. In this conversation, we primarily focus on Laurence Norah, the acclaimed travel photographer and visionary founder of Finding the Universe.
Let’s begin this Finding the Universe interview with an incredible travel blogger love story. Laurence, you fell in love with and married another travel blogger! How did this beautiful story unfold? Could you please share with us how you first met Jessica, the creator of the travel blog Independent Travel Cats? We’d love to hear how your relationship evolved from that initial meeting to your first lunch or dinner date together. P.S. I sent Laurence half a page of questions to serve as a guide.
Jessica and I met in Rimini, Italy, a coastal beach town about 2.5 hours drive south of Venice. We were both attending a travel trade conference which had invited around a hundred bloggers to take part in a blogging focused event. So there were workshops, familiarization trips, meetings with travel trade attendees and so on. I was giving a couple of talks on photography, and during one of these talks I noticed that Jessica was a great audience member – she was nodding along and listening attentively. Something that is always nice to see when presenting!
After the talk was done I went up to her to thank her for paying such close attention. I was also, for some reason, convinced we had met at a previous conference, so I kept asking her which conferences she had previously attended. As it turns out, she hadn’t attended any, and she later told me she thought this was some sort of line. Ah, to have such romantic skills at hand. As it was, I was just wrong! I also found out much later in our relationship that she is very attentive at every presentation she sits though, so I wasn’t particularly special in that regard either!
Anyway, we met briefly at the conference, and then following the conference we ended up (at random) on a three day pre-arranged familiarization trip together. It was the two of us and three other people, and we got along very well.
All of this said, at the time, Jess was living in California and I was living in France. After the conference and trip was done, we went our separate ways. But I was curious to know if there might be something more. So, I sent her a fairly reserved British e-mail to ask about maybe there being something more than a friendship we could work on. A couple of months later I flew to California for a quick visit and a couple of months after that we were engaged. The rest, as they say, is history.
Your travel blog name is so intriguing! How did you come up with the genius title Finding the Universe? It sounds like a cosmic adventure just waiting to happen! Tell us more about the story behind the name – did it involve a mystical encounter with intergalactic beings or just a really good cup of coffee?
Thanks! So I’ve always been someone who believes that the first idea you come up with for something is probably the best one. Or at least, worth trying. I thought up my blog name in about ten minutes whilst sitting in a hostel in Australia. I wasn’t thinking about anything like branding or commercial potential or anything like that.
I’ve always thought that the Universe has a way of guiding us in the right direction, and the idea for the name is really about finding that direction. Additionally, my favorite author is Douglas Adams, and his books about a hapless British man’s adventures across time and space have always struck a chord. Plus I love all things space related. So I guess it all just came together into the name.
How incredible! You got to spend your formative years soaking up the sun and ocean breeze living in the Seychelles Islands, a tropical paradise located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It’s like a dream come true! I’m dying to know – when exactly did you live there and what did your parents do to end up in such a magical place? Describe some of the daily wonders of island life in the Seychelles, which I assume included sipping coconut water under swaying palm trees. Can you share with us some of the secret adventures and escapades that transformed your childhood into an envy-inducing tropical tale.
Sure, and yes, it was quite the adventure! My father is actually a ninth generation Seychellois, which is about as far back as records go because the islands weren’t inhabited before that. So he obviously grew up in the islands and lived there the majority of his life. I lived there for a few different time periods, first, until the age of 3, which I don’t really remember.
The main period I do remember was between the ages of around 10 and 15. My parents managed a small hotel on a small island about 60 miles north of the main island. The only thing on the 120 acre island was the hotel, three miles of beach, and a 3 million strong seabird colony. My brother and I were honestly incredibly lucky to have such an incredible child hood.
We went fishing, played in the ocean a lot, took part in treasure hunts with the more adventurous hotel guests, learnt about wildlife, built rafts… it was pretty much the dream to be honest. For anyone looking to visit, we have a guide to spending a week in the Seychelles.
You have an incredible post detailing your near-death experience in Greece. Can you tantalize us with a snippet of your harrowing tale before providing a link to the full story that everyone can read on your website? I’m on the edge of my seat already!
Ha! Well, I’ve always loved the sea and boats, so when I visited Greece back in 2014 and had the opportunity to go on a sailing boat for the day I leapt at it. I’m also always looking for an unusual photography opportunity, and love a challenge. So when the captain offered me a unique vantage point (with the side effect of some peril), I leapt at it!
You can read the full story here: Athens From The Sea, Or, How I Nearly Died.
Now that we’ve ventured into the fascinating world of Greece, let’s dive headfirst into the wild ride that is Greek mythology! Have you ever seen the epic adventure films: Jason and the Argonauts (1963) and Clash of the Titans (1981), or were you too busy living your own life of adventure?
I have seen both of those movies, in fact, they were two of the movies I watched regularly when growing up as we had them on VHS. Which ages me a bit, I know. I always loved watching the skeletons fight the Argonauts, and a flying horse was added to my Christmas wish list. Although sadly yet to be delivered.
Let’s uncover the ultimate truth once and for all with Finding the Universe. Laurence, if you were tasked with selecting between Italy and Greece as the ultimate destination in the world, which country would you choose, and what’s the irresistible allure that calls you to its shores?
So I am not amazing at picking favourites (except when it comes to beaches!), but if I had to choose I would choose Italy. The reason is simply because I have been to Italy many times and have a lot of great memories from traveling there. I’ve only visited Greece a couple of times, and for far too short a time to be able to compare it properly. So Italy for the food, the landscapes, the history, but most of all because I have just had so many great times in the country with people I love.
I can’t believe this! I searched high and low on Finding the Universe for anything about Bali, and not a single blog post popped up unless I’ve slipped up somehow. Have you ever ventured to this tropical hotspot, or is there some kind of secret feud we don’t know about?
No feud, we’ve just somehow not yet been! Neither Jess nor I have been to Bali yet. It’s on the list though, along with a great many other places in the world!
Laurence and Jessica, I have to get some beach advice from both of you. What are the top three best beaches in the world in your opinion? These are the beaches you would love to visit time and time again. Out of these three beaches, which is your favorite one? I’d like to have an answer from both of you.
So I (Laurence) am personally a little bit biased as I grew up in the Seychelles, which is home to what I think are the best beaches in the world. White sands, turquoise waters, very few people.
My personal favourite beach in the world is Anse Intendance on Mahe island in the Seychelles, followed by Anse Lazio on Praslin in the Seychelles. It was traditional in the Seychelles for my family to head to the beach around Christmas time (we didn’t snow, so a white sand beach was the next best thing) and have a BBQ, and if it was to either of these beaches I’d be happy. You can read more about my favourite beaches in the Seychelles here: The 10 Best Seychelles Beaches
Anse Intendance, Mahe Island, Seychelles
From Jessica’s perspective: I am not much of a beach vacation person so no favorite beach comes to mind, but I have enjoyed some stunning beaches in Hawaii, Scotland, Florida, and the Seychelles.
Sandwood Bay, Scotland
Laurence, you have a passion for photography. Can you share more about your travel photography course and what makes it so unique and special?
Sure thing! So I’ve loved photography since my parents kindly gifted me a film Canon SLR camera for my 13th birthday. A Canon AE-1, for those interested in such things. I still have it in fact. It was a hobby for a very long time, and then it became a profession.
I’ve given a lot of talks on photography around the world, including at various conferences, photography shows and photography clubs. I enjoy sharing what I know about photography to help others discover this awesome hobby, and that’s why I created my course.
I wanted to have one single resource that covered everything I know about photography in one place, make it available for a fair price, and include one-on-one feedback from me as part of the learning process. So that’s what I created. It has literally everything I could think of to help anyone master photography, from how a camera works, to how to choose a camera, to composing a great shot, to editing. It also covers more advanced photography techniques, such as HDR, shooting the stars and more. Finally, for those looking to take their hobby to a point where it generates an income, I included details on how to do that.
I really wanted to put everything in one place so there’s no upsell to another course or product, and I keep the course up to date and add new content as I think of it. I also always wanted students to feel they could e-mail me with their questions as they progress, and the course offers lifetime access so folks can take it at their own pace.
I’ve got lots of happy students, many of whom post regularly in the course exclusive Facebook group, and some of whom have gone on to make a successful living as photographers themselves. If anyone has any questions about the course and if it’s right for them, feel free to drop me an e-mail!
With a name like Finding the Universe, I’m sure that you must have captured some stunning images in the night sky – something like a shooting star, a breathtaking full moon, an unforgettable eclipse, or a distant constellation or galaxy like the Milky Way. Could you share a remarkable photo you’ve taken that will leave us in awe?
I will do my best! This shot is of Havasu Falls in Arizona with the milky way above it. It’s a remarkable place to visit but does require a bit of forward planning as it’s a 10 mile hike each way and you have to carry all your gear, including tent and food. And in my case, a tripod and camera setup as well!
Anyway, I wanted to try and capture the awe of the night sky from the desert, against this beautiful waterfall. This shot is a single exposure, and I used a technique called light painting to illuminate the waterfall with my flashlight.
You can read more about visiting Havasu Falls (and see more photos!) in my guide to the Havasu Falls hike.
Laurence, I’d like to learn more about the first camera you purchased with your own money. What model was it and when did you buy it? What was the reason behind buying that specific camera? Did you consider other camera models before making the purchase? Can you share a great photo that you took with this camera, one that you associate closely with it?
I’ve been into photography for a long time, and I jumped on the digital photography train pretty early on, with a series of digital compact cameras, mostly the Canon Ixus line. Sadly, I don’t have many of those photos.
The first camera I consider to be my first “real” camera I bought when I was taking photography a bit more seriously and looking for manual controls was the Canon EOS 400D, also known as the Digital Rebel XTi. That was a full DSLR with interchangeable lenses, full manual controls and so on.
It accompanied me on a year long road trip around Australia, and was my main camera for many years. Here’s a shot from Australia taken on that camera from that trip.
I’ve noticed that you’ve lived in the city of Bath in the UK. What drew you there and what do you love about the place? There’s an interview with the artist Jeff Murray who resides in Bath on this site. It seems like a very creative place to live! Have you ever seen Jeff Murray at a Bath market selling his artwork, which includes striking prints of The Odyssey?
We did live in Bath for a number of years! Prior to living in Bath we lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, and we decided to move to Bath just for a bit of variety. I like to try new places, and neither of us had spent much time in Bath. At the time we also wanted to explore more of the southern parts of England, although we moved to Bath just before Covid so ended up not spending a lot of time exploring! However, we do love the city, the architecture is amazing, it’s a cosy size and there’s lots to see and do. The surrounding countryside is also beautiful for walks. It’s entirely possible that we did see Jeff selling his artwork but I have to be honest and say I don’t specifically recall.
Laurence, or should I say master of Finding the Universe! If you had to pick just one travel-related book for us to devour like a kid in a candy store, what would it be? Maybe it’s a travel adventure book, a trusty Lonely Planet Guide, or maybe something completely out of left field. Give us your best recommendation and tell us why this travel book is worth its weight in gold!
So I am going to go back to an earlier answer and say that my favourite travel related book is the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. The writing is just incredible, the story of Arthur trying to find his way across the universe after losing his home and ability to make good tea is timeless, and I find myself coming back to it again and again. I think there’s a lot in it that we can learn from as travelers: adapting to new situations, dealing with stress, keeping calm and not panicking, and embracing new and wondrous sights.
If you want more conventional travel related books, A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle was the first one Jessica remembers reading and it made her excited to visit France. She also has read a number of Bill Bryson’s books and especially likes his early books on travel, particularly as she is also an American from the Midwest who spent 10 years living in Britain.
Jessica and Laurence, here’s a question for both of you. Where is the most romantic place in the world and what makes it so special? The only catch is you can’t say Paris, France, or the Eiffel Tower.
We would probably go with Venice! Jess and I held a wedding ceremony for friends and family in St. Mark’s Square in Venice (see photos of that here: Our Wedding in Venice, and it’s a city we both love. Sure, it can be crowded, but if you get off the main thoroughfares and get lost down the winding alleys, it’s a remarkable and unique place to visit. It also helps to go in the more off season times and when it’s not super hot!
Let’s see if Finding the Universe can reveal a hidden gem destination! Tell us about a fantastic destination that will completely blow visitors away because of its awesomeness.
Honestly I’m not sure there are too many hidden gems left in the world unless you count outer space! Our philosophy with travel is to try and enjoy everywhere we visit, from small town local museums through to the major sights in the tourist hotspots.
I think if we had to share a destination that we both enjoy visiting that we feel often slips under the radar, it would be the state of New Mexico in the USA. It has amazing food, a lot of history (some of the oldest buildings in the USA!), the world’s largest hot air balloon festival. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico offers incredible landscapes, and lots more. Jessica lived there for a year and we have visited several times.
But really you can find great lesser known places anywhere from small town America to London to rural France to towns in Tanzania, you just have to be open to seeing and doing more than just the checklist sights and social media hyped places.
Jessica, can you tell us a bit about the travel website: Independent Travel Cats? If readers had to choose between Finding the Universe and Independent Travel Cats, which travel website would you recommend, lol?
Our websites are actually quite different and we think they compliment each other quite well. Independent Travel Cats tends to have some very detailed content, Jessica’s background in clinical research means she likes to put a lot of time and effort into sharing as much information as she can. Laurence has admittedly improved in this area with his content since he married Jess! Jess also covers more travel adjacent content, while Laurence has a lot more content focused on photography as well as travel.
We both started our blogs before we met so both have content on some different destinations – for example Laurence spent a year or two traveling and living in Australia and New Zealand and I’ve been to neither of those countries yet.
Finding the Universe: Interview Conclusion
Thank you so much, Laurence and Jessica, for sharing your photography, travel insights, and love story on Greek Gods Paradise. I must say, you’re in an esteemed position. In one of my previous interviews on Greek Gods Paradise, I mentioned after interviewing a renowned travel blogger, I felt I would need to interview actual gods because he had set the bar so high. Now, with both of you here, it feels like that moment has come to life!
Just to let you know, the photo of Laurence with the tortoise taken in Seychelles really gave me some strong Young Hercules vibes, lol.
Love your wedding photos in Venice! Laurence and Jessica, you truly must be the most romantic travel blogger couple in the universe. Wishing you all the best, and I hope our paths cross one day in a universe far, far away…
For all of you who have read this interview, I highly recommend exploring Finding the Universe. There are so many amazing things to discover on this site — be sure to check it out!
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