Meet Content Creator, Zory Shahanska
If you're looking for more color on your grid, look no further than @ZoryMory
I met this week’s newsletter guest some hundreds of miles out to sea during the middle of a snowstorm as our cruise neared the Southern Ocean and Antarctica Peninsula. She enthusiastically introducer herself: “My name is Zory” as she began an inspiring, inquisitive conversation. Up until this point, most folks onboard had given a sleepy nod or a rushed wave in between bouts of seasickness so I was pleasantly surprised about how open she was to join us in a coffee nook overlooking the swells of the Drake Passage.
As the conversation evolved, I was thrilled to hear about her career as a content creator and that she was also genuinely interested in my role as a writer (this isn’t always the case). We swapped wanderlust tales and forgot all about the storm outside as we began nurturing a friendship.
In this newsletter, Zornitsa Shahanska (Zory) discusses color as an imperative theme in her work, and that’s exactly what our time together was—colorful, animated and full of life in every way. Her passion for travel is really contagious—from our IRL meeting to her vibrant IG grid—and even after growing up in Bulgaria, living in Thailand, and sojourning to countries that aren’t on most people’s radar (more on that below), it’s clear that Zory’s still as excited about the career she chose in travel as the first day she started. She’s far from jaded and reminds me of the innocence of arriving in a destination and all the magic it entails.
Below, Zory sheds light on some of her favorite destinations including San Francisco, where she now calls home.
I hope she’ll remind you that no matter how many countries you’ve been to, or how many bucket list trips you’ve taken, there’s always so much more of the world to see, and sometimes the most impactful trips are those to a repeat destination.
How would you describe the content you currently create?
My style has definitely changed and evolved; at least I hope so because that’s always a good thing. Early on, Instagram was all about photos, aesthetic single posts but there is only so much story you can tell through one photo. When that changed we started doing carousels, then videos… all of these new formats are pushing creators to expand on how they tell stories.
I’d like to think that the common denominator throughout my whole creative career is color. I love color; it carries emotion so well; it helps to immerse the audience and bring a smile to people’s face. I believe that color can really make us feel things. If I had to describe my style, it’s colorful, fun and playful.
What about travel brings you the most joy?
There’s so many aspects of travel that I love. That feeling you get when you land in a new destination: you’ve never been there before, you know that you have so much to learn and to experience. That feeling you can’t get through anything else. I also love food so exploring a new culture through food is something that brings me a lot of joy. Last but not least, architecture—I love walking around a new city seeing how the old and new coexist.
You lived in Thailand for a year—what about the destination made it so appealing to place roots there?
Thailand will forever have a special place in my heart. I first visited when I was much younger and backpacking. It was pre-internet (there was internet but we weren’t really using it like today). We would arrive in a new place with a book or maybe a page torn from a travel book—we’d have no reservations but things would always pan out and we’d always have so much fun. I think that’s because Thailand is very welcoming to travelers and that is something that I adore. I always tell people, “If you’ve never been to Asia, Thailand is a fantastic first country to start your Asia exploration in.”
What are three must-do experiences for a first-time visitor to Thailand?
You should definitely spend a few days in Bangkok, which I know is a big, urban center, so it’s not for everyone but it’s very important to see the splendor of the old days—the palace and the temples are really breathtaking. Then you can go to the new shopping malls to see how advanced and modern Thailand can be; I really love that coexistence of the old and the new.
After Bangkok, go north to a city called Chiang Mai (I lived in Chiang Mai). It’s the second biggest city but feels much slower in comparison to Bangkok and is very close to the jungle. There’s also a university in the city so a lot of young people are doing cool stuff.
If you love the beach, head south to one of the smaller islands to really see how diverse Thailand is.
What is a destination that you feel is significantly underrated and why should readers reconsider it?
Uzbekistan. This is a country that is still really under the radar, which is so rare in our day and age. It’s so safe, so beautiful—the architecture that is left from the old days and Silk Road is astonishing. It is not overcrowded with tourists so local people are very excited to welcome you. There are pretty much no western brand hotels so you’re staying in these family-run bed and breakfasts, you get to spend time with the locals and it’s very affordable. It’s waiting for you!
What is the biggest challenge of conveying a destination's true beauty or authentic feel in your content?
Travel is very personal; it is not one-size fits all. What I find beautiful and worth my time when traveling might not be the best fit for someone else.
I think the answer to that is to get to know creators—to follow people who we appreciate on a human level and that we identify with—that way we can really trust their recommendations. If our values align, for a lot of things in life, chance are we’re going to enjoy the same experiences.
Is there a trend in travel you’re currently watching?
The rise of the boutique hotel—small hotels that give you a personalized experience. I like when these hotels hire an architect who really channels the city or destination. That way, even if you decide to sleep-in at the hotel, you’re still kind of immersed in the destination rather than feeling FOMO that you’re not out. I think travelers are really looking for that personal touch and I’m all for it.
What is a trip or destination you're dreaming of taking?
I really want to do a grand safari where you see the Great Migration; I think it will look straight out of a Disney movie (I grew up loving the Lion King).
Where can we find you when you’re not traveling?
Home is San Francisco. You’ll probably find me zigzagging the streets with my camera—it’s one of my favorite things to do as San Francisco has gorgeous architecture, the city is built so consistently, and it’s a joy to explore it by foot.
You can spend a whole day just in Golden Gate Park. If you’re there, definitely stop by the de Young Museum and the Conservatory of Flowers. I love the Japanese Tea Garden during cherry blossom season (March or April), and the San Francisco Botanical Garden early in January when the magnolia trees are blooming.
Outside of that, North Beach and Chinatown are two neighborhoods that are right next to each other; they have a lot of history and good food. If it’s open, the Golden Gate Bakery in Chinatown has delicious egg tarts and while you’re in the area, you should also stop by the Fortune Cookie Factory (they originated in San Francisco which I had no idea prior to moving here). I love the shop, it’s in a little, narrow alley that smells divine as you’re walking towards it—freshly baked cookies—and you can customize your own fortunes which is a great gift.
In North Beach, there is a place called Stella Pastry, it’s a really unassuming, old shop that has my favorite cake in the world: The Sacripantina (sponge soaked cake with rum and zabaione cream).
Tony’s Pizza has delicious Italian food and if you don’t feel like waiting there, to-go slices are just as good.
The Italian Homemade Company is another little place, perfect for when you’re exploring the city and you don’t want to spend too much time in a restaurant but you want to have a good meal. They make their pasta fresh and their sauces are excellent.
Because you’re in San Francisco, you’ll want to have some good Mexican food. My favorite for tacos is Pancho Villa in the Mission. I recommend you go during the week when they have a taco happy hour with hard-to-beat prices.
For a burrito, La Taqueria is hands down my favorite. Their burritos are made without rice and they grill the burrito for a crispy finish.
If you want to see the Golden Gate Bridge (a must!) I love doing the hike down to Marshall’s Beach. It’s a very easy hike then once you’re down on the beach, you basically walk toward the bridge. My only advice is to check the tide—you don’t want to go during high tide because the beach is very narrow. Plan to visit during low tide.
If you want to spend an afternoon shopping, go to Fillmore Street—you’ll find a ton of boutiques, mostly small to medium sized brands, local California brands, coffee shops, bookstores and restaurants.
The other area that I like that is considered quite touristy but I truly enjoy it is the Haight-Ashbury, which is a neighborhood with a lot of history from the ‘60s, the Summer of Love, and Jimi Hendrix. Naturally, you’ll find vinyl shops, vintage stores, murals, independent, hip boutiques and I love this area because it has its own vibe that’s very unique yet very San Francisco.
Tidbits from around town:
I was on another podcast, this time speaking about hospitality trends and tips for working with top-tier media. Listen to it here.
This thought-provoking quote from A Year In Provence that made me want to organize an apartment social ASAP to infuse country living mentality to my urban dwelling — “Neighbors, we have found, take on an importance in the country that they don't begin to have in cities. You can live for years in an apartment in London or New York and barely speak to the people who live six inches away from you on the other side of a wall. In the country, separated from the next house though you may be by hundreds of yards, your neighbors are part of your life, and you are part of theirs.”
Boston friends! Run don’t walk to Moon Bar—the creative cocktail bar opened last October and I took too long to get there. The menu emphasizes the unique (pisco-based martinis, butternut squash and mezcal) but they also master the classics.
Recent work:
Herring, Cleaning + Cold Plunging: Chef Emma Bengtsson On What Wellness Means to Her
This Newport Hotel Pays Homage To Its Gilded Past With New Whisky Room
This Spacious Samsonite Carry-on Is My Secret to Getting 3 Weeks of Clothes in 1 Bag