About The Celt and the Arab
What happens when a curious Irish traveller and a Palestinian/Jordanian musician fall in love with exploring the world?
The Celt and the Arab is a travel blog born from a shared belief that travel should be more than ticking destinations off a list. For us, travel is about connection: connection with people, cultures, landscapes, and ideas. It’s about slowing down, travelling responsibly, and understanding the places we visit beyond the surface.
We come from very different parts of the world, but travel brought our paths together and continues to shape our lives. Through this blog, we share stories, honest reflections, and recommendations from our adventures — always with an eye toward ethical and sustainable travel.
How We Met
Like many good travel stories, ours began on the road.
Nikky first arrived in Jordan during what was meant to be a short stop on a longer journey through the Levant. But sometimes travel has other plans. After discovering Amman’s vibrant hip-hop and creative scene, she crossed paths with Abood — an energetic beatboxer deeply embedded in the city’s music community.
We hit it off almost immediately. What began with conversations quickly turned into long evenings exploring Amman’s buzzing cafés, street food spots, and music venues. Before long, the city itself became part of our story.
Our adventures soon expanded beyond Amman. Together we explored some of Jordan’s most incredible places — wandering through the ancient city of Petra, floating in the Dead Sea, and discovering landscapes that felt almost otherworldly.
What started as a shared curiosity for travel and culture gradually turned into something more. Not long after, we planned our first international trip together.
That trip was to Thailand — and it was Abood’s first time leaving Jordan. Experiencing the excitement, culture shock, and wonder of international travel together made it unforgettable. From navigating bustling markets to sampling street food we couldn’t pronounce, the trip sparked a love of adventure that has only grown since.
Since then, travel has remained at the heart of our story. It has taken us across continents, introduced us to incredible people, and constantly reminded us how big — and how connected — our world really is.
This blog is where we share that journey: a Celt and an Arab exploring the world together.
The Celt
Hi, I’m Nikky — the Celtic half of The Celt and the Arab.
If you’ve found your way here, chances are you share the same curiosity that drives me: a love of exploring the world and a desire to do so as thoughtfully and ethically as possible.
Travel has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was lucky to grow up in a family that believed the best education happens beyond your doorstep, so I’ve been wandering this beautiful little planet since before I could walk. As I got older, I made a promise to myself that travel would always remain a core part of my life.
That promise has taken me far — I’ve lived, worked, and studied in more than ten countries and visited many more (honestly, I’ve lost count). Each place, person, and experience has shaped the way I see the world today.
Travel also gave me something even more meaningful: it’s how I met my partner in adventure, Abood — the other half of The Celt and the Arab and my favourite travel companion. Together we explore the world with curiosity, open minds, and a healthy dose of humour.
Through this blog, we hope to share stories, perspectives, and recommendations that inspire you to step outside your comfort zone, travel more consciously, and maybe even book that ticket you’ve been dreaming about.
The Arab
Hey, I’m Abood — the Arab half of The Celt and the Arab.
Unlike Nikky, I didn’t grow up travelling. And honestly before we met, it never seemed like a real possibility for me. My journey with travel began in my twenties, when we planned a trip to Thailand to celebrate our first anniversary together. It was my first time leaving my home country of Jordan and it completely changed how I saw the world. From that moment on, I was hooked.
What I love most about travelling is the people you meet and the cultures you encounter along the way. As an artist and musician, I’m always drawn to creative communities, the street musicians, local galleries, hidden cafés, and the stories behind them.
For me, travel isn’t just about seeing new places; it’s about connection. It’s about discovering how much we share across cultures, while celebrating the differences that make each place unique.
Together, Nikky and I travel as a Celt and an Arab — two different backgrounds, one shared passion for exploring the world. And through this blog, we hope to share that journey with you.