Our story

Hi, we're Ola & Riza!
And this isn't another travel blog.

It's a space for curious minds, exploring culture layer by layer.
Hi, we're Ola & Riza! A Polish-Turkish couple.
Hi, we're Ola & Riza! A Polish-Turkish couple.

We’re not full-time travelers or influencers. We are two people navigating demanding 9-to-5 tech careers who refuse to believe that a deep, curious engagement with the world is a luxury reserved for sabbaticals. This project is our answer to "the juggle" – our intentional practice of staying curious, learning about the world, and sharing what we find beautiful and worth remembering. Our own story was forged in this same space between worlds. We met through Erasmus, stayed connected through long-distance goodbyes, and eventually chose to build a life together in Dublin. Our daily life is a constant, cross-cultural dialogue between Polish, Turkish, and now Irish cultures – a life full of little negotiations and discoveries that are sometimes messy, but always eye-opening. This is the lived experience that fuels our stories.

Two paths, one curiosity
01.

Two paths, one shared compass

We arrived at this journey from different directions. Ola came with a love for the written word, a journalist's instinct for the narrative thread, and a strategist's need to understand the 'why.' Riza came with an engineer's eye for detail and a photographer's heart for the unspoken feeling of a place. Though our paths were different, our compass was the same: a shared, insatiable curiosity and a love for capturing the stories that lie just beneath the surface.

Life got loud, but wonder stayed
02.

The ache of an un-lived life

Like many, we followed the script. Life got busy. We focused on our demanding tech careers, moved countries, and built a stable life. But the quiet ache of our shared curiosity never faded. It lived in the stacks of history books, the vinyl records we collected, the museum sketches we saved. It was a constant whisper reminding us of the more artful, meaningful life we dreamed of integrating into our everyday.

The birth of On Way Storytellers
03.

A quiet rebellion was born

And so, On Way Storytellers was born. Not as another polished travel blog, but as our quiet rebellion. It is a slow project, built with intention in the margins of our busy lives. It’s our answer to the 'ache' – a space dedicated to the belief that travel, and life itself, reveals its deepest secrets only when we have the courage to slow down, see with new eyes, and ask better questions.

How we balance each other?

We’re wired differently - and that’s our superpower!

Our creative superpower

Together, we shape a space that’s both intellectually deep
and soulfully resonant. It's a fusion of two distinct ways of seeing.

Ola is the planner

Ola is the Architect

With a background in journalism and a love for strategy, she builds the narrative frameworks. She's the one asking "why," digging through the research, and connecting the dots to create a clear, insightful journey. Her brain runs on context, curiosity, and coffee.

Riza is the steady heartbeat

Riza is the Alchemist

An engineer by training with an artist's heart, he transforms that structure into a felt experience. He brings the visual flair, the intuitive connections, and the atmospheric warmth that make a story come alive. He’s the one framing the perfect shot or finding the perfect soundtrack that says what words cannot.

What travel means to us?

Old school blogs
Old school blogs
Our approach
Our approach

Forget the checklist. The real journey starts before you leave. We believe in the power of 'pre-trip immersion' – a slow, intentional dive into the books, films, music, and history that give a place its soul. This practice transforms travel from a series of destinations into a rich, unfolding narrative. It means you arrive not as a stranger, but as a curious companion already in conversation with the story of a place.

On the ground, we trade consumption for connection. This means making thoughtful choices: seeking out ethical wildlife sanctuaries, listening for the less-told stories, and tasting the food that holds cultural memory. We believe profound travel is about context, not just location. It’s not just about where you go, but understanding why it matters – and how it might change you.

Explore our seasons

View all
What is a Season?

This is a mini cultural journey through history, heritage, and personal reflection. Articles unfold every 4 days — for a richer, calmer way to learn and travel.

What is a Season?

Each of our Seasons is our antidote to the endless scroll. It's a curated, digital cultural magazine – a focused deep dive into a single region or theme, designed to build your understanding layer by layer for a richer, calmer way to learn.

The journey doesn't end
when you unpack

Welcome!
This is the heart of "Artful Living": weaving the world into your home.
For us, the journey doesn’t end when we come home.

For us, this isn't just a beautiful idea; it's a daily practice

We believe the most profound souvenirs are not objects that gather dust, but perspectives and stories that are woven into the fabric of daily life. Our home is our living journal: a space where a rug woven by Riza’s grandmother tells a story next to a print from a Berlin gallery, where the scent of incense evokes Granada, and the sound of a vinyl record transports us to Bangkok.

These aren't just decorations; they are daily rituals of connection. They are our practice for living more slowly, with intention and joy, long after a trip is over. It’s a reminder that a meaningful, globally-inspired life is something you build, not just visit."

It's not another travel blog

This is a space for intentional cultural exploration. We are a cultural journey in motion—curated by two expat creatives balancing tech careers with a deep hunger for meaning.
Here’s what that means for you:

Weave wonder into your everyday

Travel inspired, but home-friendly
01.

We believe the journey doesn't end when you unpack. Here, you'll discover how to practice 'Artful Living' – the intentional act of integrating global insights into your daily life. From curated playlists and coffee rituals to our 'Bring it Home' prompts, we share tangible ways to make your home a sanctuary for your stories and keep your curiosity alive, long after the trip is over.

Go beyond the 'where'
to the 'why'

Designed for slow mornings and deeper thinking
02.

Checklists and 'Top 5' lists leave you with information, but not understanding. Our 'Content Seasons' are designed to go beyond the 'Where' and dive deep into the 'Why' – the rich, layered context of art, history, and heritage that gives a place its soul. Here, you'll learn to read the story behind the sight and connect the dots for yourself.

Explore through
a cross-cultural lens

Yours to keep, no strings attached
03.

We don't offer a detached, expert view. As a Polish-Turkish couple living in Ireland, we explore culture from the inside out, through the lens of our own layered identities. Here, you'll find the nuanced perspectives, personal reflections, and honest 'figuring it out' moments that come from a life lived between worlds. It's an invitation to a more authentic conversation about culture.

Leave your email and join this Season’s Series!
We are here for a quiet rebellion

We are not here to impress. We are here to notice, to connect, to learn out loud.

We're building a quiet corner of the internet for stories that move you, not just scroll past you. It's a space for those who believe curiosity is essential, and that understanding is the greatest adventure.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
We’re always happy to hear from thoughtful travelers!
Ready for the journey?

We're On Way - and you're invited!

Explore the stories, collect the Seeds, and let your perspective bloom.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.