This is the story of a woman who is unapologetically herself. It is the story of someone who travels with her heart open and approaches each day with a true appreciation for the world and its blessings. And all of this overflows into her work, her readers, followers and those lucky enough to have travelled with her. This is the story of Honida Beram.
Her Facebook page can get as many as four million impressions a month. A video of her doing the polar plunge in Antarctica has already hit 2.2 million views. She’s talked cruising with Kochie and the folk from Studio 10. And all this from a mum who lives down the road from me.
It all started on a family holiday
Honida had three kids in three years. Back when the kids were all under the age of ten, Honida (unsurprisingly) needed a break.
“I wanted the easiest family holiday I could think of,” she tells Karryon.
“Cruising looked to be the simplest way to get away. And probably the most economical after looking at how much airfare and hotels and all the other bits cost.”
“And I just had this brainwave and thought ‘I’m going to document our cruising experience’. I didn’t think that anyone would actually read it. And I know it’s very flippant to say, but the rest is history.”
Cruising with Honey was born. But Honida is no mummy blogger. She’s worked in media for over 30 years.
“I worked my way up from writing to subbing to then editing magazines,” she says.
She’s worked for News Corp, AAP, and Fairfax Media, but Cruising with Honey is different.
A successful writer and content creator knows their audience. What do they want? What will benefit them? And Honida answers these questions. And she answers them in such a charming and engaging way, you catch yourself smiling as you tag along on her journeys.
But while Honida respects her readers and works so hard for them, she doesn’t let them colour her story or her voice.
“You can fake it for a little while, but not forever.”
“The reason people follow me on socials and read my blogs is because what I put out is authentic,” she tells Karryon.
“For women especially, it’s so ingrained in us to worry about what people think about us. How we dress, what we look like and how we sound. I’m just myself. And you can’t fake that.
“I’m too old to try to pretend to be something else. I’m just the person I am. And it struck a chord. Because you can fake it for a little while, but not forever.”
When Honida writes, when she live streams, she wants the connection. She wants to bring her readers and followers on the journey with her.
“That’s why it’s called Cruising with Honey,” she says.
“I’m telling a story. People read because I’m giving them a lived experience.
“That’s the only way that you’re going to engage people. It’s all about building a community.”
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing
Cruising with Honey was a side venture for Honida until November 2019, when she quit her day job to pursue the blog full time. This was the same month we started hearing about the outbreak of a virus called COVID-19.
“For the first time in my life I found myself without an income, without a job,” she says.
And she tried to keep the cruising conversation going, but in the face of COVID, it was hard to stay positive.
“I was going to give up and I did a live stream and I was crying my eyes out.”
The response was clear. People wanted the conversation to continue. They needed Honida’s voice and her positivity. And so for a while Cruising with Honey became Conversations with Honey. And Honida interviewed people in the industry and kept the story in motion while we were still.
But cruising came back. And Honida is now busier than ever and her passport is filling fast.
But she’s not taking any of it for granted.
Always saying thank you
People have joked that Honida would go to the opening of an envelope. And rather than being offended, Honda’s response is humbling.
“I go to a lot of events because someone has gone to the effort to email me, to call me and invite me. They want me to join in something. Whether it’s a coffee tasting, or a cruise to Tahiti, I’m grateful for every moment.
“I’m grateful for every meal I’m given because I know someone has gone to the effort of cooking and cleaning and serving. I know how privileged I am.”
Honida didn’t have much opportunity for travel when she was younger. She went from school to uni to work. And then she was married and had three kids in quick succession.
“And then you add a Sydney mortgage to that,” she jokes.
“I’ve been on famil where you get on board and people are complaining from the get go,” Honida says.
“What do they have to whinge about? Do they not understand that millions of people would love this? The Wi Fi’s slow? You don’t like a meal?!”
“Let’s put it in perspective, people. Don’t go to whinge. Don’t be a misery guts; it sets you up for a negative experience. What have you got to be ungrateful for?”
Those who have travelled with Honida will attest that she is constantly saying thank you. That her gratitude is a discipline she practices with intention and focus, allowing it to transform every aspect of her travels. Her appreciation for the beauty of life is palpable, and her appreciation for the people and experiences that have shaped her journey is truly inspiring.
In the words of Whitney: Teach them well and let them lead the way
About three years ago, Honida took her middle daughter, Eden, with her to Papua New Guinea. She was 14.
“We were taken on this exclusive tour and it was the first time my 14 year old had seen poverty. It was the first time my daughter had seen a developing country. It was the first time my daughter had seen children without shoes, and torn clothing, and stained teeth. And people that had walked all day to peddle their wares. The first time my daughter had seen hardship. And I could see her face kind of changing through the day.
“At the end of the day, she was very, very quiet. Like super quiet. And when we got back to the cabin, she just burst into tears. She just collapsed into tears. And she said to me, how can I be coming back to this clean, air conditioned cabin, with food waiting for us, and others don’t have this?
“And it just killed me. I said to her, it’s okay to feel sad. I told her that life wasn’t equal. That this is the reality of millions of people.”
Honida remembers her daughter’s guilt, how she didn’t want to eat anything or have a treat. But Honida taught Eden that rather than feel guilty for what she had, she should be grateful for it. That we’re privileged. It’s what you do with that privilege that matters.
Why it’s still about the family holiday
To have some time with each of her daughters alone is a gift, says Honida. And that’s something that cruising has given her.
“Cruising allowed me to reconnect with my family away from the busyness of life. And the more we cruised as a family, the more we enjoyed ourselves, and discovered more about each other. And discovered more about life really.”
Honida’s biggest goal in life is to be the best role model she can be for her children. And her children are so proud of what she has achieved.
“My children have seen me succeed,” she tells Karryon.
“There was a moment about four years ago and we were at the Easter Show. I’d just reached a milestone in my readership. And we were sitting in the stadium and my eldest daughter asked me how many people were likely sitting in the stadium with us. I said, ‘Oh, I don’t know. 10,000?’. And she said, ‘Mum, do you realise there are more people that follow you than are here now?’
“It was one of those moments I will never forget. And that just cemented in me what an impact I’ve had on my daughters. If they see their mum can do this at the age of 46, then they can do anything.”
“I love what I do. And I can’t do it any other way,” she says.
“If I’ve got this platform, it’s got to be a platform that makes a difference. I live a magical life and I just want to share that magic.”
You can join Honida on her journey across the seas via her website, Facebook or Instagram.
