Archive for interview

Interview with Savannah Grace

Savannah in Metz, France

1) Who are you? Tell us something about you.

 

Hi, my name is Savannah Grace, I was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I’m the youngest member of a very adventurous family. At age 14 I was pulled out of school to travel the world before returning home 4 years later to graduate from high school. Now 22, I’ve traveled to nearly 100 countries and have just completed my first book “Sihpromatum – I Grew My Boobs in China.” I’m currently living with my Dutch partner in The Netherlands, where I continue to write and travel.

 

2) What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)

 

This question has always been one of the hardest to answer. After nearly 100 countries and over 500 cities, it is impossible for me to pick a favourite. How can I choose amongst trekking the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal and seeing the sun rise over Mt. Everest, snorkeling with the colourful fish in the Maldives and sun tanning on the soft white sand, canoeing through the tangled jungles of Suriname with parrots flying overhead, riding atop camels through endless mountains of sugary sand dunes across the Sahara desert in Mauritania and experiencing the historical genius of pyramids in Sudan or the beautiful architecture of any European village, town or city.

There are so many places I could mention that I feel guilty not listing them all! Though, I will choose a few examples.

A favourite place, other than my bed, is Yangshuo, China. It was one of the very first places I ever travelled so maybe I was easily impressed, but I still think it was amazing. It was just so beautiful and I was blown away by the different culture and unique landscape.

One city that left a big impact on me was Mets, France. It was by accident that we stayed there but I went at night when it was a complete winter wonderland, snow falling with its huge cathedral lit by glowing street lights. Actually, I think almost any village and town in Europe is worth seeing with their cobblestone streets, spectacular cathedral and the generally old, detailed architecture where each and every house is different.

Istanbul is a thriving city where cultures and history merge together. It’s also very modern and built around some amazing history. I could go on and on. My top countries are: Nepal, for its gorgeous mountains trekking and people; Mongolia, especially its countryside for its horses and extremely friendly people; Surinam for its jungles and multicultural atmosphere; Switzerland and its villages and great skiing; Canada’s amazing nature with waterfalls, mountains and lakes; China’s beautiful authenticity and villages; Italy’s amazing history and artwork; Maldives priceless islands blue waters and white beaches, plus many, many more!

Savannah in Metz, France

Savannah in Metz, France

 

3) If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

 

I think I would go somewhere in Asia. I just love how Asia is so friendly and beautiful. You can be comfortable and wear any kind of clothing, eat fresh, flavourful food, interact with the locals and have an adventure at the same time.

I have yet to discover South East Asia and have heard amazing things about the Philippines and the people there. Also Thailand has some amazing sights and beaches which I’d love to see.

One of the only places I wanted to go before I caught the travel bug was Japan, so I am amazed that I have not yet been there. I grew up with lots of Japanese ESL students living in our house so I would love to go visit them. They are such incredible people!! Surpringly my next trips are not any of these places. My next destinations are Austria in January, Guinea in February and then Italy this summer.

 

4) What do you love the most about your home country?

 

Canada is such a huge country that I still have yet to explore most of it. I love how it is such a liberal country with so many rights and freedoms. I feel like Canada has everything.

Because Canada is so big, I will sum my feeling up with Vancouver, my home city. It’s very multicultural, stunning, outdoorsy, friendly and modern. I especially love how 20 minutes can take you from watching the seals play in the glistening ocean to the top of a breathtaking, snowy mountain. I truly feel it is one of the best places on earth. But hey, maybe I am slightly biased.

My parents had a local tour company before we started to travel so I was able to experience many of the highlights and great activities in my area. Having seen a large part of the world now I can really appreciate the diversity of activities and nature available around Vancouver and especially Canada as a whole.

 

5) How travel changes you?

 

Before I left I was becoming more and more of a spoilt brat, living in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the world. If it weren’t for traveling I would have continued down that road for sure, naïve to the privileges and opportunities I have as a Canadian. I would have been negligent of the reality poverty plays in this world and continued to take everything I had for granted.

 

I am an entirely different person as a result of travel. I sometimes shudder, to think what my life would have been without it. I learned so much about the world, people, cultures, history and most importantly myself and my family. I discovered my strengths, pushed myself to achieve goals I considered impossible and learned that dreams are worth following! This is a world full of possibilities.

 

I learned to appreciate and be grateful for the things I have, which is something I try not to lose. I realized that I don’t NEED all those things I thought I needed before I left. People are nice everywhere in the world, and we all have the same basic wants and needs. A world considered to be wrought with hunger, despair, corruption and danger turned out to be one full of love, family values and respect. Ironically, it seems that the less people have the more willing they are to share.

Savannah having a family travel dinner in Guinea Bissau, West Africa

Savannah having a family travel dinner in Guinea Bissau, West Africa

Interview with my sweet Mica Senyorita

No boyfriend, no problem

I don’t even remember when and why we started talking with Mica. I just remember that she was always nice to me and I got a message from her just after I posted I was going to Asia in late September 2011. She persisted I should visit the Philippines too when going to be close and I agreed. We met, we spent a few days together in Manila, attended the crazy Captain Morgan party with some hot models, and then we explored beautiful Batad rice terraces and Mica’s home place.

And you know what? We both happened to have a T-shirt with the same ”no boyfriend, no problem” on it 😀

No boyfriend, no problem

No boyfriend, no problem

 

I love this girl and she is one of my best friends since we met back in November 2011. One of the examples that proves meeting new people when traveling is WORTH IT!

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

Mabuhay! I am Mica Rodriguez, a twenty-something blogger from the
Philippines. I love eating, traveling and making films. It is a dream of mine to
do movies while traveling. I will do my best to turn that dream into reality
soon. I do maintain a number of blogs (two of which are senyorita.net and
micamyx.com). I also write for a local tabloid in the Philippines.

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (each one of them)

This is hard! Do I have to pick one only? If that’s the case, I’d choose
Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao. I am mesmerized on how this place is
mysterious yet beautiful at the same time. They have mountains, volcanoes,
cold and hot springs, white and black beach, a sunken cemetery – all in one
island!

My favorite city would be London. I love everything about it except the
cost of living. I stayed there for a few weeks and my love for travel and
performing arts became more intense after that trip.

Of course, my favorite country is the PHILIPPINES. I would love to visit India,
Spain and explore more of the United Kingdom.

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Spain. I heard that Spanish people are passionate and artistic. I want to learn
how to dance Flamenco too!

Mica and me jumping in Batad rice terraces

Mica and me jumping in Batad rice terraces

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

I love the food, the beaches, the variation of culture and the people.

5. How travel changes you?

Travel pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. Being an obedient and
sheltered kid way back when I was still studying in Pangasinan, I’ve always
thought that I couldn’t travel on my own. It also transformed me into a risk
taker and worry less (especially on the financial aspect LOL). I’ve met a lot
of people from different walks of life and learned from each one of them.
Traveling keeps me inspired and happy that I am living my life.

 

A lot of love, Mica and thanks for the answers 🙂 Missing you!

Alex

Interview with Arne Van Schoors I met in Argentina and Chile many times

Arne in Chacarita, Buenos Aires

Life can be really fun sometimes. I never thought something like that would be possible, but it was. Asking me what I mean? Well, meeting with Arne!

First, I saw Arne looking kind of desperate in Rio Gallegos, Argentina waiting for the same bus to Ushuaia. We didn’t talk there even though we were both travelling solo. Then I spotted him with some more guys in Ushuaia a few days later walking along one of the streets in the city centre. Afterwards, he was staying in the same house with me and more Couchsurfing guests in Puerto Natales in Chile (no, thankfully that time there was no sex and Couchsurfing issue). Then, we met by accident when hiking Torres del Paine when I made friends with his friends – yes, the same guys he was with in Ushuaia! Later on, we met again a few more times. Back to Argentina, we met again by accident with Arne and his friends one night in El Calafate among hundreds of people who came to the live concert. The following day we met again in Perito Moreno glacier where we decided it was enough of weird unplanned meetings already to finally start talking more 😀 And also that it was nice to watch sunset above the glacier getting frozen together:) Then, a few days after, we spent some time together in El Chalten. We were supposed to cross our paths with Arne again in Chile, but because of bad weather we both changed our plans so it never happened.

Right, I would never think I could keep meeting the same people for around a month across 2 countries! Unbelievable how it can sound, we never took a photo together 🙁

Btw Arne writes about some of his trips in his mother tongue on Genblogt.

Arne in Chacarita, Buenos Aires

Arne in Chacarita, Buenos Aires

 

 

Let’s find out more about this interesting guy:

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

To start with a cliché: it’s hard to define myself. Probably I’m a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’. I started working at a very young age and at the age of 25 I finally went to college, where I studied to become a professional educator. But before I went back to school, I travelled together with my brother and a friend through the Indian Himalaya on Royal Enfield motorcycles to cross the highest motorable roads in the world. A lack of experience with motorcycles and all the ungentle contacts with the asphalt during this two-month travel (8 crashes), made this trip an unbelievable odyssey and probably the craziest thing I ever did. On the road I saw how beautiful and powerful this planet is.

Apparently, this whole adventure triggered a sleeping traveller inside me who wanted to discover this planet, I travelled to Croatia and Bosnia, crossed the Caucasian Mountain Range from Armenia to Iran and fell in love with the beautiful Tunisia.
Meanwhile, working with refugees in my home country, I had the idea of making a movie about those people who are living in difficult circumstances and during two years I could call myself a director slash fundraiser. Leading a team of more than fifty people with a small budget was probably the biggest challenge so far in my life. Luckily the result received positive response in my city and province and the first three screenings where all sold out. The movie was titled On the Road referring to the ones who are not accepted in their home country nor in their guest country and because of that unable to find a place they can call home. But unconsciously also to my favorite author Jack Kerouac.
But my biggest childhood dream didn’t come true yet. Since years I was dreaming of crossing the Americas from south to north and during two years I did everything (worked as educator, ICT-teacher, bartender) to get all the money together to explore the other side of the Atlantic. I applied for a press card so I could start to work as a freelance journalist during my trip and write about all my adventures. Finally January this year, I travelled from Uruguay to Tierra del Fuego and from there all the way up to Canada. After 143 days I had more than 26000 km (16000 miles) under the belt, I crossed 15 countries and lost 6 kilos of body weight. Absolutely the journey of my life.

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)

 

My favorite place is my apartment, I live in the city of Ghent in the Million Quarter (Miljoenenkwartier) on three high. I have a fantastic view of this green and beautiful neighborhood, built in the Interbellum. The apartment I live was built in 1929 on the former grounds of the World Fair in Ghent in 1913. This green lung surrounded with green parks with a nice view through the windows of my apartment on the corner of the street is my daily part of joy. If I go out, this tremendous city gives me all I need to be happy: good friends around, nice bars with live music and the best shops for quality food or a pleasant chat very close by.

Although I love my city, I fell in love pretty recently with Toronto, Ontario. A vibrating city filled with culture, nice bars, trolleys and some great people who live there. In a perfect world I would have my summer residence there and in winter time I would spend my time in Seville, Spain to enjoy the tapas, the narrow streets and the great atmosphere of Andalucía.

The country I have a crush on is Colombia, I only spend short time there, but I heard great stories about the Caribbean coasts and the old cities around there. I had fabulous days in Medellin and Cali. Living in the motherland of Marquez and salsa and floating in a boat on the Amazon makes the illusion of my personal paradise there even bigger. But maybe it’s only illusion, like I said it’s a crush, not really love… I really like travelling in remote areas but to live I will prefer to keep my good ol’ western life. After one month of great encounters in the States, from Texas to Louisiana and further heading north to Tennessee, I really fell in love bit by bit with the Southern way. The ones that complete the stage as a good second and third: France and Canada!

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Alaska! My first plan of my journey across the Americas had Alaska as the final destination, because I was running out of money and lack of time, I had to skip that part. Only one person responsible for my love for Alaska is Jack London, who wrote beautiful books about the life over there. It’s the same thing as people enjoying looking at the sea, just like that Alaska is a metaphor of the end of the world, and sitting on the edge can be pretty relaxing, sitting on the sideline of life.

Arne in Lafayette

Arne in Lafayette

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

The happy unconcerned life. We always forget how high our quality of life is in Belgium. A good social system that helps (almost) everybody in time of need, the good working conditions, the beautiful medieval cities with a lot of culture, music, events, sports and always somebody to find to go for a drink. If you want to escape the city you can go to the coast or the Ardennes in the South, away from the rat race and stress. But I doubt I will stay in this country, life is too short to stay all my life on my little hill.

 

5. How travel changes you?

If I can give you one advice: never travel in the hope you will find yourself along the way, let the travel crawl slowly under your skin and try to be aware of everything that happens. Working already for years with very underprivileged people I wasn’t afraid of to meet that dark side of life during my travels. I learned a lot about people, how they deal with their daily problems, but I learned also a lot about myself: how to perceive every day new realities. One day surrounded by friends, you’re blind for everything around you and another day when you feel lonely, the helpless beggar at the corner -who is always there- makes your day by talking to you and giving you attention. In my opinion travelling is a lesson in humility, it teaches me that I’m not the belly button of the world, only an accident waiting to be happen.

 

Arne, thanks a million for these answers, I really enjoyed them and it made me remember all the fun we had with you and guys in Argentina!

Love,

Alex

Interview with Manu of My1stimpressions about her 6-month trip around Africa

Manu at Wanaka lake

Who are you and what is My 1st impressions about?

 

My name is Emanuela but everybody calls me Manu. I am Italian, even though I keep moving around the world since 10 years. So far, I have been living in Norway twice, Denmark, Scotland, London also twice, Australia, Holland; “I am a globetrotter with a gipsy heart”, as someone definied me some time ago.

During my many travels I always wrote lots of notes of the places where I was. I called them “My 1st impressions”, as they were my purest feelings on the spots where I was. I never write anything later, I always write everything wherever I am, in front of a waterfall in Iceland, on a cliff in Scotland, in a neverending valley in New Zealand.

Since last year I decided to share these pages on my blog My 1st impressions, together with the photos I took and keep taking along the road. I love nature, landscapes and unknown places, and I love photography as it’s the only way I can show people the beauty I see around the world.

Everyone has a first impression…

Manu at Wanaka lake

Manu at Wanaka lake

When are you going to visit Africa? Tell us more about your project.

 

In January I will join Vikings Across Africa to start this amazing 6-month journey from Reykjavik to Cape Town, overlanding all Europe and West Africa in a truck together with 15 other crazy people.

It will be the first expedition ever to go from Iceland to South Africa.

 

Which countries?

 

We start this trip in Iceland, then from there we will take the ferry to the Far Oer Isles where we shoud stay for some days, then one more ferry to Denmark.

From Denmark we will continue our trip crossing Germany, France and Spain, and in Gibraltar we will leave Europe to Morocco.

In Marocco we will have the first contact with Africa, we will spend some time in the capital Rabat to get some visas, then Fez, Marrakesh and Casablanca.

After Morocco I think the real adventure in Africa will start. We will head to South, into the desert of Mauritania, then Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, where we wil spend some time relaxing on the beach, Benin, Nigeria and if not possible due to the political situation, we will go around it through Niger and Ciad, to arrive in Camerun. From there we will be heading to Congo and then Angola, Namibia and then all the way down to South Africa.

The route keeps changing as it’ s really subject to the political and burocratic situation of some countries where getting a visa can become a mission impossible at times.

Tour map across Africa

Tour map across Africa

 

What is the main goal of your 6 months there?

 

I don’t have a main goal for this trip. I just want to travel and live this unique experience at the fullest. I am aware I am going to do and to see something unique, that not everybody can do in life. I want to get the most out of this trip and of myself. This is a great chance to unplug with the world and give myself 6 months of unforgettable freedom from everything that in life we consider so essential. When this trip will be finished, I hope to be reacher inside. And there will be some very simple things like hot water or light that will astonish me and that I will appreciate so much more than now and Africa won’t be anymore the country we see on the TV documentary but will be a country with a heart, with amazing people and landscapes and nature and life…this is the real richness I want to pursue during this trip, the awareness of the human being.

 

What do you think will be the most difficult for you while there?

 

Luckily I don’t have any idea what it will be the most difficult part of this trip for me. I usually travel alone and love traveling alone, taking my time and making my own choices, so I guess traveling and dealing everyday with 15 people could be tricky sometimes, but it’s a great challenge as well. Some of these people will become great friends and this is also nice and part of the game.

 

Do you have any doubts? E.g. food or anything?

 

Not really. Not regarding the trip. I choose to travel for 6 months in Africa and I think when I decided to do this I was a bit conscious of the fact that it’s not going to be neither easy nor comfortable. I don’t mind. I don’t mind to eat less, to have a bath in a cold river, to sleep on the floor in a tent for months and months. This is Africa. I never thought in life to go to Africa before just because I never really saw myself in this kind of all inclusive luxury packets where you go there surrounded by rich people doing safari and stuff like that and coming back not having even an idea of the real life there. With this trip I will have a chance to go to Africa and live its life fully, with all the troubles and risks that it includes, the real life … and I love that.

At the beginning people made me really scared with the malaria issue and stuff like that, but that’s part of the game. Imagine people dealing with this everyday, without our knowledge and our means. I go there aware of this risks, but also aware of the fact I don’t want to be overtaken by it.

 

How are you getting ready for such a trip?

 

At the moment the occupation I am mostly busy with is taking time and care of my friends that I am going to leave, here in Amsterdam, where I currently live.

That’s the most difficult part as well, as it’s always hard to say goodbye to the amazing people of your life.

For the rest I am slowly realizing this trip will start soon. Very soon. I am almost running out of time and it’s becoming exciting. The most important part of the preparation has to do with the vaccinations, and it’s almost done. 12 vaccinations in total, I should be ok for a while and for a lot of other trips for the upcoming years.

 

How are you going to finance your trip in Africa?

 

I have been working hard and sparing money all year for this trip, minimizing my night outs and fun time. I still had a great time anyway, and with this I also learnt how to have fun with less.

On my website My 1st impressions people can sponsor my trip, by making a small donation either to get a postcard form one of the 20 countries I will be visiting next year or just by contributing with that they want. They are my real sponsors and I love that.

Manu

Manu

 

What are you going to do when the trip finish?

 

No idea! And I love it! I will be on the other side of the planet, in Cape Town, considered by many one of the most amazing towns in the world, and I don’t really think I am going to take a plane the day after the end of the trip to come back to Holland. I will probably hang around there for a while, or maybe keep going … I need to go back to South America again at some stage of my life!

 

Thanks, Manu, for such a great interview. Good luck with those 6 months around Africa.

Love,

Alex

Interview with Edcel of SoloflightEd I met in the Philippines

with Edcel and others in Cebu

I met a lot of interesting people when in the Philippines in November 2011. It was amazing 3 weeks there and I just I spent more time in there, if only visa let me!

Already before I visited, I talked online to some Filipino bloggers and then we met later on there. One of them was Ed, a guy who really knows what he is doing 🙂

with Edcel and others in Cebu

with Edcel and others in Cebu

 

So Ed,

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

My name is Edcel and I blog at soloflightEd.com. I’m currently backpacking in Southeast Asia after I quit my day job of 6 years in the Philippines. I’m living as a digital nomad where I bring my work with me wherever I go. I also enjoy performing headstands and crazy stunts in my travel adventures (oh yeah)

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)

Place – I love the beach! I love the sun.

City – Singapore, it’s very organized.

Country – Aside from my home country Philippines, Cambodia. Very relaxed and the people are genuinely friendly.

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Dubai, I’ll go there. I need to be there.

soloflighted in Hongkong

Soloflighted in Hongkong

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

So many islands, so many beaches, so many places that are waiting to be explored!

 

5. How travel changes you?

It broadens my perception towards life because of being exposed to other places and culture other than my own.

 

Thanks so much for this quick interview, Ed.

Love,

Alex