My Travel Interview For Corrupt Fake Travel Blogger Site

This is a travel blog interview I did last month for a corrupt fake travel blogger site. For legal reasons I cannot and won’t name it (or them, or he or she) but as they were fake, I though I’d post it here instead! With a few new photos!

Can you share a memorable travel experience that had a significant impact on your life? What made it so special?

Yes, I can share a lot of memorable experiences which had a significant impact on my life. In fact, everything you ever do impacts your life. Judging their significance is up for debate.

“How many special people change?” – Noel Gallagher.

Probably in reality the most significant would be my first ever backpacking trip abroad without my family. The icebreaker and groundbreaker. This was in April 1991 to The Netherlands and was with Kilmaine Primary School. I knew my school colleagues, but the trip was so liberalising for me. I could explore new places away from my family home. It changed my method of thought. There’s a world outside your childhood bedroom, and it’s not just kicking football down the local park (in my case “The Linnyar” (Linear) in the Northern Irish seaside city of Bangor.

It was special as it was the first trip away from family. A few months later came my second trip – to Guysmere in Castlerock in Northern Ireland. After that, came the chance to oyster world make yours.

“I don’t know what tune the orchestra played but it went by me sickly and sentimental ” – Neil Finn.

Have you ever encountered any unexpected challenges or obstacles while traveling? How did you handle them?

Yes everyday. Anyone that hasn’t is living a fake life. There’s no way to handle them other than face them and get through them. Gloss over the excrement and polish the turds, even if they still don’t shine.

“Everyday is all there is; in my some kind of bliss” – Kylie Minogue.

How has traveling influenced your perspective on different cultures and societies? Can you share an example of a cultural experience that left a lasting impression on you?

Again, everyone, everybody, everywhere and everything we see or do can affect or influence you.

One example was seeing a buck eejit backpacking Germany eating in DickMonalds, drinking in RatsBux, spending Euro currency and watching The X Files on DVD. The lad should’ve stayed in Chicago.

“Culture sucks down words. Itemise loathing, and feed yourself smiles” – Manic Street Preachers.

How do you balance the desire to explore new places with the environmental impact of travel? Are there any sustainable travel practices you follow?

I don’t balance it because nobody else cared. In India, wacaday locals threw my litter out of a train window. I won’t do it, but it’s their culture. Anyone claiming greenliness, eco-friendliness or environment-saving is probably excrementing you. Do your own thing, wear jeans to weddings. Anyone who claims to be environmental has never been in a car or eaten out of a plastic box. Maybe some jungle tribes can still claim it.

“Take what you need and be on your way, oh and stop crying your heart out” – Oasis.

Traveling can sometimes lead to personal growth and self-discovery. Can you describe how travel has influenced your personal development or changed your perspective on life?

“Ain’t it funny how your new life didn’t change things. You’re still the same old girl you used to be” – The Eagles.

I’m older in age and less wiser. I look and feel older but I can’t help think we are all more intelligent and wisdomic when we are 17. I feel I knew much more aged 17 than I do now, I forgot most of it. We forget things and travel makes us see a lot of things we don’t really need. Perhaps the farmers are the most intelligent people on earth. Even cows in fields have routines. Who needs to backpack Bangladesh when you have a field full of goats?

Traveling can sometimes lead to personal challenges and moments of self-discovery. Can you share an experience where you stepped out of your comfort zone while traveling and what you gained from it?

I never really had a comfort zone apart from sitting in a cafe or down the pub. I felt comfort there, so perhaps travel does help escape that. I suppose booking a trip to Antarctica away in 2010 was a step out of that comfort zone as you couldn’t just leave the ship and go down the pub or a cafe. We did have tea and coffee on board and a bar though! I think I learned to enjoy freedom while you have it so I’d suggest booking a cruise, oh and make sure there are no phones, internet or Wi-Fi. Thankfully I went on a boat and with a group of us and nobody even had a cleverphone on board!

“It’s only comfort calling late” – Placebo.

What do you believe is the most underestimated or underrated aspect of travel that more people should experience or appreciate?

Share things with other people! Taking photos, recording it, writing about it, blogging etc. telling people and sharing! Those are the most underestimated parts of travel. Those who don’t do it are selfish and arrogant as they keep everything to themselves and do not share with others. When they die, nothing is passed on, their wisdom, knowledge and memories die with them. Sharing is best. Share photos, memories, videos, chats, beliefs, experiences and opinions. If you don’t, your travels die with you and are rendered useless to anyone except selfish you.

You have been no benefit to humankind.

“Just find a feeling, pass it on” – The Coral.

Travel can sometimes challenge our comfort zones. Can you recall a time when you faced a fear or discomfort during your travels and how you overcame it?

Yes again it has happened a lot and a similar question to what I already wrote. As an extra idea – moving alone to a new town or city where you don’t know anybody is a good place to start.

“There goes the fear. You turn around and life’s passed you by” – The Doves.

Have you ever traveled to a place that drastically differed from your expectations, either positively or negatively? What contributed to this difference?

Again this happens all the time. I usually blame the media excrement for it as they lie and spread fake news. One example would definitely be the USA. The media portray this as some kind of dream life with fake themeparks like Disneyland and wannabe restaurants like DickMonalds and Burglar Queen. The reality is it’s an arrogant place with gunlaw, a lack of freedom, gang warfare, daily shootings, racism, terrorism and Netflix shows promoting serial killers. USA is the most extreme example of this so obviously I’d recommend avoiding it. Or if you want to tick it off – get in and out quickly.

“Another scapegoat falls to climb” – R.E.M.

Do you have any travel-related goals for the future? Are there any specific places you’d like to revisit or explore further?

Yes of course. Getting married and having children is the main one. I run travel blogs in various niches and I write books about whackpacking. I’d like to write 20 more books, hundreds more blogs and visit as many real countries that I can count. I’ve been to 220 recognised countries so far but there are many more on my recognised list. In terms of revisits, I only really want to revisit Northern Ireland, England and Poland as those are my favourite three countries so far. Though I would probably like to return to Taiwan again someday.