Read the first one, and the second one.
Thank you so very much for thinking of me Nicolette. As per the rules, I answered Nicolette’s ten questions about travel, created a new list of ten questions and awarded other female bloggers.
Go and visit their blogs and please say hi.
This is what Nicolette
was interested in:
What’s one thing you wish you’d discovered about travel years ago?
Travel makes the world smaller, in the most
positive sense. It helps to lose your fear of the unknown and embrace change. This
becomes clearer to me after each trip I take.
I also wish I would have known sooner how to
instantly spot a great restaurant or hotel/B&B. This is very stretchable,
since everyone has different expectations.
Why do you love travel so much, and what do you wish others who don’t
necessarily love it would appreciate more?
Food, restaurants, art, architecture, museums,
mind-blowingly beautiful nature, silence, adventure … it is all out there, and
I have to see it.
Yes, the climate, the food, the smell, the culture,
the mattress and what else there is, are indeed all different to what you are
used to at home, but that is the number one reason to travel. It is so very wonderful
to experience new surroundings, and everybody can learn so much from it.
Genuine interest and
respect for the culture and the people can avoid the one or other gaffe (or at
least mitigate the effects) and let awkward situations end humorous. Not
everyone out there is dangerous, and we all have to trust each other more. If
someone offers a service or wants to sell something we shouldn’t play the
arrogant tourist, but if we aren’t interested deny politely with an open look
on our face. Locals are going to treat us so much better if we are friendly,
and we often might end up having a chat with them and that way learn a bit more
about the country.
Describe a hilarious situation you encountered during travel. What
happened?
As I was camping in the Northern Cape of South
Africa in the Mokala National Park I wanted to take pictures of the night sky.
There was this loud and rumbling thunder, followed by massive lilac
lightning. I had my camera on its tripod at the ready. I knew quite well that
it is not the smartest thing to stand in the pitch dark in the bush. That I was
a fair bit away from the fire didn’t make it any better, but at least I let the
door of my car open just in case I needed to jump in (as if this would work if
an animal would attack). That there is a solar powered electrified fence to
keep the buffalo out, surrounding the camping site also gave me a certain peace
of mind.
I wanted to take snaps but felt a bit uneasy
because as I said it was dark and I was in the bush … you can imagine how it
felt. Out of the complete silence I heard a rustling noise very close to my
right. I quickly looked into that direction and thought that is it, “The
Touristin has been mauled to death by a rhinoceros in Mokala” but then I was so
very relieved that there were only two kangaroos.
I looked at my camera again, to simply proceed with
my business. To then only seconds later think in shock: Hang on, I am not in
Australia but in Africa. What is this? I laughed so hard, since I was obviously
so used to Kangaroos (from my life in Australia) that I forgot where I was.
I switched on my torch, to follow this jumping beige-coloured
duo with my flashlight through the darkness. I could see their eyes whenever
they turned to look back into my direction. They were glowing prominently, like
two sets of rear lights.
The next day a ranger told me they are South
African spring-hares, and they call them African Kangaroo.
What’s your number one savings tip for travel (i.e. miles, booking in
advance, staying at hostels, etc.)?
If I really want to visit a place, I begin to save
up and do that for as long as it takes. Other ideas are:
Sign up for frequent flyer programs. Miles are a
pretty good option, especially if you are a very frequent flyer and often fly
long haul.
Use Skyscanner.
At the beginning of the year, write down the dates
of all bank holidays and turn these into long weekends. Book then the flights
as far as possible in advance.
Describe a difficult moment during travel. How did you overcome it?
I ask for help or advice all the time and made
great experiences with that. I ask for directions, which areas are safe/not
safe. What equipment I need, and what better not to take with me on a trip.
That sort of things ... At the same time I know how important it is to never
rely or depend on others.
I can’t really think of a major difficult
situation, but whatever happens I stay calm and sort things out as good as I
can. It works for me to take the first step first.
Missing your flight, delayed flights, having an
upset tummy and the likes don’t count as difficult right? On many occasions a
problem looks more complicated than it is in the end.
Humour always helps.
How do you approach travel when you’re visiting a destination and don’t
already speak the language (how do you learn the language)?
I wouldn’t learn a language just so that I can visit a place. I travelled to so many countries without speaking the language and survived just with smiles and gestures. English is great and basic things like Good Day and Thank you in the other language help ... a lot. If we look at this year alone I already visited South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, The Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Poland, Finland, Spain and Denmark. Next I am on my way to Morocco. Realistically speaking, who would find the time to learn all these languages and dialects?
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| Bayon temple near Siam Reap Cambodia - Do you speak Khmer? |
Are you a full-time traveller or part-time traveller? How do you make either work for you?
I am a full time travel blogger (and Touristin),
and as you can see from my previous answer I travel as often as I can. I use my
great organisational skills and mix that with my thirst for the unknown. I see
that really everything is possible.
If you had to choose between having more time available for travel or
obtaining additional money for it, which would you pick?
Time is invaluable to me, no one lives forever, and
I try to make the most of every single day. I am well aware that one needs
money to pay for all the adventures.
Where did you have a really memorable travel experience? What made it so
special?
Corsica, France. Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Soussousvlei, Namibia. White Island, an active Marine Volcano in New Zealand.
Chobe National Park, Botswana. Siem Reap, Cambodia. And then, every single trip to South Africa is
memorable. I absolutely love to be close to nature, but also to visit cities,
so I could easily go on and add Paris, London, Copenhagen, Stockholm and San
Francisco and and and to that list.
 |
| Camping in South Africa |
When I visit a place and talk to people from different backgrounds and begin to understand their perceptions, experiences and actions, I know I created a memorable travel experience.
What’s one cultural activity you’d like to try in your upcoming travels?
In
Morocco I would love to learn how to prepare couscous.
--------------------------------
My nominees are
Meredith
from Kaffee und Kuchen
On Twitter @kaffeekuchenco.
Cee
from Ceece’s travels
On Twitter @CeecesTravel.
Rose
from Go Travel bug
On twitter @gotravelbug.
Monica
from Monica Goes
Lauren, blogging at Travel Ground
My questions are:
What
is your favourite vegetarian dish?
What
type of museum do you like to visit?
We
hear all the time that we have to live our dreams. Are you doing it?
What
is the funniest thing you ever experienced?
What
is your most treasured travel souvenir?
Mountains
or ocean?
Who
should play you in the film of your life?
If
your life were a book, what would the title be?
Did
you ever dance under a starry night sky?
Your
perfect vacation involves …
Can’t
wait to hear from you and thank you so much in advance.
From
Berlin with love