Dami Im: I love to travel, but 'amazing' beaches leave me underwhelmed

Since winning X-Factor Australia in 2013, the singer-songwriter and musician has spent much of her life travelling for work and for charity missions. Just don't try to impress her with any old beach.

Brisbane-based singer Dami Im in Bali.

Since winning X-Factor Australia in 2013, the singer-songwriter and musician has spent much of her life travelling for work and for charity missions.

I got my first passport when…

I was around six years old when my cousins and my family went to Phuket for a holiday.

My first holiday memory is…

When we went to Thailand and I had my hair braided. I loved coming back home to Korea and showing off my holiday hair-do. It wasn’t much fun taking them out, though.

I’ve been to so many countries…

I’ve been to too many countries to mention here, either for work (performing, song writing or for Compassion charity), for a holiday and sometimes both. One part of the world that I haven’t been to is Central and South America – I would love to visit one day.

The place that didn’t live up to expectations…

Any other country with a supposedly amazing beach – I always feel underwhelmed as what we have here in Australia surpass any other beaches around the world.

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Dami Im with husbane Noah at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.

My favourite place in Australia is…

I’ve been lucky enough to visit so many towns all around Australia while touring and every place has its own characteristics and beauty. I love Brisbane as that has been my home since I was nine, but I also love going to Melbourne for its coffee and food culture.

The thing about travel I missed most during lockdown is…

I really missed staying in a hotel in another city and the change of scenery. Home is nice, but it was hard to appreciate it when I was stuck in it for so long!

The place I’d rather be right now is…

Somewhere near a beach. Whitsundays, or even the Gold or Sunshine Coast would be great.

The place I’ve visited most often is...

For work I used to fly into Sydney or Melbourne at least once or twice a week. For a quick, easy holiday, the Gold Coast as it's only an hour away from home.

Dami Im in Nashville.

The advice I’d give to young travellers is…

Be curious about different cultures and ways of living. I think you grow and learn so much from travelling.

My holidays are mostly devoted to…

I love learning about their culture and history. Or eating. Probably more eating.

The place that most surprised me was…

Mumbai, India – everything I saw from the traffic to the way people dressed in their traditional outfits affected me deeply. It was such a unique experience and I felt like I was in another world.

The sickest I’ve been on holiday…

After our trip to India to visit my brother, (my husband) Noah and I flew straight to Sweden for my song-writing trip. We were so sick for nearly a week that we both just slept most of the time in Sweden.

Dami Im was blown away by her visit to Mumbai, India.

The souvenir I always buy…

I love buying snacks from different countries.

My go to dish for room service is…

Hot chips or pasta.

My best/weirdest things I’ve eaten while travelling was...

I loved everything I ate in Hanoi, Vietnam. All the street vendors and tiny corner shops served cheap but delicious food.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in…

It’s hard to pick one but I like anywhere with a big bathtub – even if I don’t have time to take a bath it feels luxurious.

The travel tips I’d like to share are…

I try to take a suitcase that’s bigger when I leave, in case I end up needing to bring back more things.

Singer-songwriter Dami Im has released her first book, Dreamer.

Travel has taught me...

That there are so many different cultures around the world and the one I’m familiar with isn’t the only way.

Flights missed?

It’s happened a handful of times but the worst was in Dallas. My manager and I got into Dallas from Sydney and were waiting for the next flight into Florida for a performance when we heard SMS signals on everyone’s phones. It was a cyclone warning and every flight was cancelled. We chased queues all night to get on any flight possible to get out of the city. In the end we were able to board a flight the next morning all the way to Philadelphia, then eventually to our destination.

Passports/visas/wallets/luggage lost?

On that same trip to Florida, I didn’t receive my passport and my visa until the day before! It was extremely stressful to say the least.

Dami Im’s Dreamer (Hachette Australia, $35) is out now.

See also: 

The travel advice that changed Eddie Perfect's life

Backpacking trip that launched Ziggy Alberts' career

Surprising item Amy Shark can’t travel without

Originally published as Dami Im: I love to travel, but 'amazing' beaches leave me underwhelmed