Travelling across the world by road, learning to drive a double-decker bus and changing careers may sound challenging to some people but Shauna Bradley has done them all and isn't finished yet.

Shauna Bradley.

Born and bred in Galway City, Shauna Bradley is a self-confessed "road freak" who grew up riding a bicycle around town as her parents didn't own a car. Through the years, she progressed to a moped, and then on to a motorcycle before buying her first car when she was 22 years old. She now works as a driving instructor, helping people in Galway learn to drive and to get that elusive driving licence.

Shauna career path began in Paddy Power Bookmakers in Eyre Square, where she stayed for eight years. Although she enjoyed her time working there, she had become bored and complacent and decided it was time for a change. As the real estate market has always been something she was interested in, she decided to try working in auctioneering.

Shauna began her auctioneering work at the height of the housing boom in Ireland and soon realised that it wasn't the job she had expected.

"I became disillusioned very quickly, as it became clear that the major developers were the ones making money and the ordinary punter, such as the first time buyer, was getting screwed. I was coming up to the age of thirty and I started to re-evaluate where I was and what I wanted. The relationship that I was in at the time had become stale and I really wanted out of Galway, so I just took a chance and booked a one way flight to Spain!"

The trip to Spain was to become the first stop on Shauna's world tour. Over the next 18 months, she worked her away across 22 countries from Europe to Australia and back to America, travelling only by land where possible.

"I travelled mostly using buses, trains and cars. At some stages, I had to use airplanes, such as when I couldn't get a visa to enter Syria. I travelled on my own but I was never really on my own, wherever you went you met different people and travelled with them for a few days. I spent three months in India and I think that was my favourite place on the trip. It was so primitive, like going back 50 years.

"In Australia, they are always trying to move camper vans from the South to the North. They let you take the van for free, so I thought it would be a great way to see the coast. I was expecting a small van but ended up with an eight-berther! Thankfully it didn't take long to get used to and it was definitely one of the most memorable parts of my travels!"

After travelling through Australia, Shauna saw in the new Millennium in New York before returning to London, where she decided to stay for a few months. After arriving, she started looking for her next career and soon settled on an unusual choice: bus driving!

"There were a lot of garages looking for drivers at the time and they were training people to get their licences, so I said I would give it a go. I did about two hours training a day and then sat my test in a double-decker! The lads in the garage had bets on whether I would pass or not but luckily I did! It was good craic and I stayed until the following Christmas when I decided to return home. I had met a man in London, so I brought him with me and it worked out great!"