Meet Jin

I am a strong believer in fully understanding the why and the who behind anything and everything. So take a peek into the life and times of one-half of Chickenfeet Travels in the format of an acrostic of my full name, Junxiu Lu. Eight qualities that summarises who I am and what is important to me.

J is for Jaded

One of my closest friends nicknamed me “Jaded Jin.” It was his first time in Asia, and he was impressed by everything. I was the human form of “jaded” and lacked enthusiasm. Do not get me wrong, I live and die for travel and my company, but I am (self-proclaimed) one of the most fortunate people in the world, so I have seen and experienced so many things that it takes a lot to make my jaw drop. Pair that with the fact that I am generally a super chill, give zero clucks type of person, I come off as unimpressed but on the inside, I get those fuzzy feelings on a daily basis because I live for small intangible wins like random acts of kindness and patience, sunshine and moving clouds. 

This matters to you because when you travel with Chickenfeet Travels, know that you will never be brought to a place that is a spectacle out of nothing.

U is for Underwater

Underwater is where I would rather be, specifically, tropical oceans; unspecifically, I prefer to be near the ocean and salty air. My background lies in marine biology and geology (I studied fish and rocks.) I vividly remember Shark Week circa 2000, where they showed a videographer jump onto a dead whale to film a great white shark feeding, and right then and there, I decided I wanted to study and save sharks. The obsession with the ocean and sharks eventually evolved to saving the whole planet single-handedly, and then to influencing and inspiring everyone to save the planet. This was my final form and my goal is to inspire people to save the planet through Chickenfeet Travels. It’s important that you also know that I am a certified dive instructor since 2009 with a guesstimated 1500 dives, primarily in Asia mostly but also in Africa, the Caribbean, and Australia.

This matters to you because when you dive with Chickenfeet Travels, know that you will be diving in unbelievable places, experiencing the best with operations that do their part in protecting the largest (71% of the Earth’s surface) and arguably the most important part of Earth and its inhabitants. 

N is for Non-conformist

I have lived an unconventional life. By the age of 9, I had lived in 3 countries. I have lived as a minority and then became part of a majority, and my formative years were spent under the guidance of my artsy fartsy aunt, who was frequently mistaken for my teen mom. It has always been relatively easy for me to “fit in,” but I have mostly felt like I do not quite belong. There is a German word, Fernweh, meaning “feeling homesick for a place you have never been to,” that’s probably the closest way to describe my general feelings. All of this is critical to developing my non-conformist antics, which always drove me to embrace the different, the weird, the overlooked, the forgotten, and the underdogs. 

This matters to you because when you travel with Chickenfeet Travels, know that you are choosing to allow the thrill of a new place transform and inspire you, just like countless vagabonds before us.

X is for Xenagogy 

My vocabulary is not great enough to know this word, so I used Google Machine to find it. Xenogogy is just a fancy word for guidebook. I have essentially been “non-stop” slow-traveling since 2006, interrupted rudely by 3 years of university and 3 years of working for a pseudo-travel start-up with loose holiday time rules. And it *only* took me until May 2019 to realise that I am definitely the most well-travelled enviro and socially conscious person of everyone I consider close to me, despite technically being a “professional traveller” with a positive impact travel company, all my closest friends using me as their go-to for advice. I mean, who really knows, and it's not a competition either way when I really break it down, I have been #blessed (sorry, no better word for it) to travel the world, and I want to show it off in a way that gives back to these incredible communities. 

This matters to you because when you read anything on Chickenfeet Travels’ website, you will always be learning about people, places, and things that have been thoroughly researched and/or experienced.

I is for Impact

Every single thing you do has an impact. Jane Goodall says it best: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and youhave to decide what kind of difference youwant to make.”Remember this because it only takes one person with an “insane” idea to change the world. Every day, we can do a bit better. And when you know more, you do more. “When you know better, you do better.” (Maya Angelou). And this could arguably be more important while we are visitors to someone else’s country. 

This matters to you because when you explore with Chickenfeet Travels, know that you are going to places and meeting and learning from people who have had a significant impact on your life, who live to show the beauty of their world, and strive to share meaningful experiences.

U is for Uncomfortable

I thrive in all things awkward and uncomfortable. Let’s be honest, when you explore, you are generally pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Foreign lands have different foods, cultures, histories, and people. When I explore the world, I am on a mostly self-induced tight budget because I love the challenge of spending as little money as possible on “everyday comforts.” BUT (and a very big but), I am always ready to bleed money for an experience (especially one that supports animals, the environment, and a social cause.) I’ve slept in bed-bug-infested hostels and have traveled from point A to B in the cheapest way possible, so you never have to. Being uncomfortable has opened up unexpected (see below) encounters that culminate into every adventure you see on Chickenfeet. I slow travelled uncomfortably to learn as much as possible; and pair it with my hereditary need for efficiency without sacrificing quality, you get a well designed holiday that maximises your time, money, and experience.

This matters to you because when you go on an adventure with Chickenfeet Travels, know that you will get the better (and our biased “best”) version of a place with as little hassle and, most importantly, not missing out on a moment while on your adventure.

L is for Listen

I listen to my gut and follow my instincts. I listen to the most experienced people because they know all the secrets, legends, and stories. I listen (mostly eavesdrop) to randoms because I want to go to places not talked about. I listen to learn because when you learn, you change, grow, evolve, and the world becomes a better place. I travel because the people and the places I haven’t met/been to yet intrigue me. I ask deep and meaningful questions to listen and to absorb knowledge and local intel. 

"Are you a seeker? Seeker of truth? I'm more of a chaser, really." (Newt Scamander, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)

This matters to you because when you go on an adventure with Chickenfeet Travels know that you will learn something new, especially if you are actively trying not too.

U is for Unexpected

I am the luckiest person to quite literally have been travelling for more than a decade straight. With all this time and experience, a lot of unexpected and magical things have happened and it is thanks to the guides and people that I have met along the way And most of them have now become the guides that will be taking care of you on your Chickenfeet Travels adventure.

This matters to you because when you travel with Chickenfeet Travels, know that you will get all the adventure without ever leaving with a “I wish I had known about that” feeling. 

Junxiu Lu, that’s my name, these are the things I stand for, and these are just some of the reason why you should travel with Chickenfeet Travels.