Hi, my name is Beti.
i’m an outdoor lover living in a big city. Welcome to my world!
FINDING A JOB JUST TO SEE THE BIG WORLD!
From a dishwasher in the middle of nowhere to a corporate job in Milan
I grew up in Gdynia, a city by the Baltic Sea in Poland, where my love for travel began. During my student years, I took on all kinds of summer jobs. I started in the U.S., washing dishes and working as a housekeeper in a cute pink uniform somewhere in Michigan. Then came a stint in a plastic bucket factory in the middle of the Nevada desert—while also waitressing in a casino restaurant. Later, I served Japanese food at a teppanyaki restaurant in Cyprus and worked at an Italian restaurant in London, where I picked up more Italian than English.
After graduating in 2008, I moved to Italy and landed my first corporate job in finance at a well-known company in Milan—the fashion capital. It felt like a dream come true. Well, almost. I never really enjoyed the job, but my love for Italy—its stunning scenery, charming men, and perfect pizza—was stronger than my dissatisfaction with corporate life. So, I stayed.
MOVING TO ASIA
Not love at first sight
In 2013, I left my stable life in Italy and bought a one-way ticket to Asia. I spent six years in Singapore and have been living in Tokyo since 2019. Asia wasn’t love at first sight—oh, how I missed Italy’s beautiful squares—but over time, it grew on me. I slowly stopped comparing and started noticing the beauty around me. There’s something about the lack of pavements, the mix of chili and ginger spices, motorbike rides through rice fields, evergreen palms, and the happy faces of people who often own little more than a smile. Now, I can hardly imagine living far from it all.
My beginnings in Tokyo weren’t easy either. Just as I started to embrace the chaos of Southeast Asia, I moved to a different planet—commonly known as Japan. The culture shock, language barrier, and overwhelming concrete megacity of Tokyo were a real challenge at first. But with time, I learned how to navigate it all, appreciate its depth, and ultimately fall in love with Japan as well <3
My deep love for outdoor adventures across Asia
To balance out my city life, I sought peace in nature through extensive travels across Asia. I went trekking in Nepal several times, visited the magical island of Bali on countless occasions, discovered the underwater world while diving in remote parts of Sabah, West Papua as well as Okinawa, and explored jungles and beaches throughout most Southeast Asian countries. Malaysia became my weekend getaway, as it was just around the corner. I’ve climbed Mount Fuji three times and walked all its official hiking trails. I spent weeks road-tripping in a campervan through Australia’s Outback and the glacial lake regions of New Zealand.
Inspiring others to travel more adventurously
I’ve organized many trips for family and friends who often came to visit me. Over the years, the number of visitors kept growing—more aunties (usually more adventurous than the uncles!) and friends who returned year after year—which got me thinking about starting a travel blog, or maybe even organizing my own tours professionally. Our trips were often hot and humid, the food sometimes too spicy, but no one ever complained. In fact, everyone fell in love with this part of the world and appreciated the authentic experience. Most importantly, we’re still a happy family and a close group of friends. That made me realize I might actually be good at inspiring people to step out of their comfort zones—and, more than anything, it brought me real joy.
NEPAL - WHERE betiful world WAS BORN
Corporate life in Singapore and my prolonged stay in Nepal
The idea of starting a travel blog and organizing tours professionally was always in the back of my mind. But life in Singapore was too expensive to quit my finance job—and the view from my office window was just too good. In short, I had plenty of excuses and not enough courage to leave the safety of the corporate world to do what I really love: inspiring others to explore the world and creating authentic travel experiences.
If it hadn’t been for the pandemic taking over the world, I probably would’ve ended up in another corporate job in Tokyo. But life took an unexpected turn. In March 2020 I went for trekking in Nepal—my favorite place on Earth. What was supposed to be a one-month adventure turned into an eight-month Nepal 2020 lifetime experience, thanks to closed borders. That journey changed my priorities. It’s where I finally slowed down, sat still, and understood what a happy life really means. And it’s where betiful world was born.
WHAT'S MY PURPOSE?
I want to inspire you to travel better, embrace more adventurous choices & set out into the world well prepared!
If you’re well prepared, exploring the world it’s easier than you think—and usually absolutely safe! Whether it’s solo trekking in Nepal or climbing Mount Fuji, the key is to be ready.
By sharing my knowledge and tips, I want you to fully enjoy your journey. Over the years, I’ve met many people disappointed with their travel experiences—unprepared for outdoor adventures or unaware of better, hidden alternatives. It always made me a little sad, because I’ve always found joy in the trips I planned myself. So I decided to do something about it—and that’s how this blog was born.
Crowded places, bad timing, missing the right gear—small things can spoil a trip. betiful world is a collection of true stories and practical advice to help you make better choices and travel with confidence.
WHAT MAKES betiful world SPECIAL? WHY YOU SHOULD STICK AROUND?
Most travel blogs I’ve come across are written from the perspective of a temporary observer—a tourist or traveler. betiful world is a bit different. I’ve been living in Asia for 12 years—6 years in Singapore and 6 years in Tokyo.
At betiful world, you’ll only read about places I know well—destinations that have left a mark on me, countries I’ve lived in or visited many times. You’ll get real local insights and practical information to help you plan your travel adventures with ease. betiful world isn’t about ticking off a never-ending bucket list. Instead, it’s about making the right travel choices to make every minute of your journey truly memorable. If you’re looking for local travel advice from a trusted source, you’ve come to the right place.
betiful world TRANSFORMING INTO MY DREAM JOB
After spending years exploring every corner of Tokyo, I started working as a tour guide in Japan’s capital—it came very naturally. I’ve also traveled across Japan with both small and large groups of tourists, mostly Polish and a few Italian.
My biggest project so far—and the one closest to my heart—has been designing and leading my own Japan tours from scratch, in partnership with Polish travel initiative Superfemka Projekt. We specialize in small-group, nature-focused, off-the-beaten-path tours for women, offering a more authentic side of Japan. These experiences—rich in nature and outdoor activities—align perfectly with my way of travelling.
HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH betiful world?
If it is your first time at betiful world, you are probably looking for some travel inspiration or advice. Then, take a look at the dedicated dedicated country pages. If you have a travel-related question about a specific destination mentioned in my blog posts, or if you want to share your experience and thoughts, please comment directly on the blog post—I’ll be happy to respond.
If you’re interested in collaborating, would like support planning your travels in Japan or just want to say hello, please feel free to drop me a line at hello@betifulworld.com or use the contact form on the contact me page.
