Take the Trip, Change your Life
Interview with A World to Travel
We know where you come from…could you tell us where are you heading to? Which are your plans for the future in terms of travelling?
Because of my job as a writer, I can work on the road. Next stop is Milan to cover a luxury spa for a fascinating new travel blog. I will always travel. It is when I feel most alive.
What do you think of travelling with a purpose or meaning in mind? What do you look for when travelling long term?
I used to travel very spontaneously. Once, on a whim, I flew from India to Japan with no plan and no booked accommodation. After landing in Tokyo, I bought a Lonely Planet guidebook at the airport gift shop to find a place to stay that night! My goal was simple - to cover as much ground as possible and absorb, absorb, absorb. I found it easy to land in a new place and set up camp. That was what got me fired up - fighting the insipidness of the daily grind. Each person, each restaurant, each museum and every small town allowed me to take in more and more beauty. To travel in this way, all you need is energy and to be resourceful.
Fast-forward to the present day and my objective is now focused on documenting travel experiences. For this reason, each destination has a different purpose.
How do you fund your travels? Have you found a job or income source that allows you to be on the road full time? Tell us what you do for a living.
My friends used to think I had an incredibly rich family that sent me wherever I wanted to go. The truth is, hard work, saving and finding jobs abroad filled my pockets. I was employed by large corporations such as American Express in Australia and Commercial Union Assurance in England. I even managed a hostel in Earl’s Court during my stay in London.
Today, I travel on assignment through my copywriting company:
Did your job, studies, volunteering experiences or other projects help you to travel the world? Where have you been thanks to those? If so, tell us a bit about those experiences.
Some of my best memories are from when I was living in the foothills of the Himalayas. I was a volunteer English teacher at a public school in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was hard living, but the children melted my heart daily. We all did karate together at 6AM every morning and then climbed the 300+ stairs to the top of Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) before class. The monkeys stole my breakfast on more than one occasion—warning: do not bring fruit!
Learning to meditate under the tutelage of a traditional Vedic monk enabled me to travel through India on a volunteer mission to preserve Sanskrit writings and ancient art—much of which is vanishing at an alarming rate. We documented sacred ceremonies and rituals through written content and photography. The opportunity to have front row seats and backstage passes to the magical, mystical side of this incredible country will never be forgotten.
University studies took me to Edinburgh, Scotland where I completed the research for my International Business degree. My classmate and I were on a mission to find the Holy Grail and spent several weekends at Rosslyn Chapel—the sanctuary is gorgeous and whatever is buried in the underground chambers is indeed charging the stone walls with vibrations. I later finished a Master’s degree in Copenhagen, Denmark where I spent many years.
Then there was that time when I had to pick grapes on a winery in Australia when my van (kombi) broke down…
What would you recommend to someone who wants to follow your steps? Which kind of training or studies is necessary? Would an investment be needed in the first place? Please, give 3 pieces of advice (you wish to have known before starting) of what to do and what to avoid in order to succeed.
- I had a chance to finish my degrees while on the road, but that is not always easy as there are A LOT of distractions. Finishing some type of education BEFORE travelling can open many doors.
- Do as much of the visa preparation BEFORE you leave. They will always ask for that particular document that you don’t have with you ;) Make copies of all your most important documents and keep them safe. I always travel with a credit card. I never use it, but it gives me a feeling of security. I know I am never stuck anywhere.
- Try to stay in touch with those you care about. I sometimes disappeared for months on end without making any contact—my poor parents!
What does a perfect day in your life looks like? Do you follow any particular routine?
I really love coffee. I am one of those people who believe that there is definitely too much blood in the caffeine stream. My hot java keeps me company while I check emails from clients, or new jobs that have come in. Before I get into the workload, I meditate. This clears my mind, leaving space for fresh ideas. I try to exercise as much as possible, but my livelihood is computer-based and thus plenty of tush-time is inevitable. I meet with clients regularly in various cafes and offices around the city and we spend hours brainstorming and laughing.
Where do you come from originally and where do you call home now? Can you give us some local tips we cannot find in a guidebook but you highly recommend about your hometown?
Winnipeg, Canada, where I was born, is a friendly place. People smile, say hello and are always ready for a chat. Even the provincial license plate reads, ‘Friendly Manitoba.’ The latest project that I am excited about is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which I visited recently.
I have called many places home in the last 2 decades and I find aspects of all of them rolled up in the beautiful city of Montreal, Canada where my base is now.
Do you read, write, draw, listen to music, sing, watch movies or do something else while travelling? How do you interact with technology these days and which gadgets you definitely take with you everywhere? What is your favorite book? And movie?
Read, Read, Read! I am also a museum nut. I used to skydive and scuba, but after witnessing a few accidents, I now opt for hiking and shopping. My favorite way to explore a new city is to go on a bicycle tour with a group. You really get to see the city up close and personal. Many guides love to disclose secret spaces and unidentifiable smells. Biking in the back streets of Bangkok and along the Berlin wall have been my favorites so far. I like to take other wacky tours like the Halloween tour of Stonehenge where they took us in behind the gates and told us existential stories of events that have apparently taken place around the area.
As far as gadget go, I cannot travel without my laptop, phone and camera. I am now also addicted to my Nexus 7 tablet for reading e-books.
Autobiography of a Yogi, my favorite book, came to me right before I went to Kolkata, India and visited the home of the author who is one of the greatest spiritual figures of our time.
The question of a favorite movie always stumps me because I have so many. Being a lover of dialogue, I am always 100% engrossed in any Woody Allen film. I will watch Patch Adams with Robin Williams again and again to reinforce the lesson that rules do not always apply when improving the quality of life.
Do you keep a bucket list? Which are your (craziest) dreams? Where are your favorite destinations on earth? (feel free to add any other information you would like to share with our readers here).
I have weak wrists, but I may still try to fulfill the dream of riding a mechanical bull anyway.
After living in Scandinavia for so long and using it as a hub to explore Europe and Asia, I am now excited to discover places on this side of the pond such as Cuba, Jamaica and Costa Rica. Turkey is also a place that attracts me. I do believe that going back to a place you have already been can present such different experiences that it feels as though you have never been there. During my first visit to Amsterdam, I spent 3 solid days in the red-light district. It wasn’t until I went back several years later that I was exposed to the Van Gogh museum and some of the city’s other extraordinary intellectual offerings. The lively city squares are also a great place to walk, especially near Max Euwe Plein where you can watch the chess players at the outdoor over-sized chessboard.
I want to keep learning and going to places that inspire me to ‘give everything that comes my way back to the world in an improved state.’
More solo travel also interests me. 'When you travel alone you meet loads of great people. When you travel in pairs, you meet a few great people and if you travel with 3 or more you will only meet each other.'
Kim Nightingale
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