Thursday Traveler: Ali Garland

Every Thursday, A Dangerous Business will be shining the spotlight on a world nomad, travel blogger, armchair adventurer, or just someone really cool in the travel world. This week, the traveler is Ali Garland of Ali’s Adventures. Ali is a travel addict who lives and works in Atlanta, but is originally from New Jersey. She started her blog as a way to share her travel experiences and interact with an amazing community of travelers. She is always trying to fit more travel into her life, and her passion has led her to visit all 7 continents before her 30th birthday.

Ali in the Chilean Fjords

1. How do you define the word “traveler,” and why would you consider yourself one?

A traveler is someone who enjoys seeing other parts of the world and exploring other cultures. I consider myself a traveler because I’m addicted to hopping on a plane in search of new sites, foods, and experiences in other parts of the world and experiencing things that are often different from what I’m used to. Everyone has their own way of traveling, but I think the important part is to push beyond your comfort zone and try new things.

2. What has been your favorite travel experience thus far?

Visiting Antarctica in February 2009 was definitely one of my favorite travel experiences. It was such an amazing place to be able to see. It was gorgeous and peaceful, and it was so surreal to have tons of cute penguins right next to me. I was on a lucky zodiac boat on the way back to the cruise ship because a minke whale swam right underneath the 12 of us.

3. How about your proudest travel moment?

I was definitely proud to have made it to Antarctica, but my proudest travel moment has to be March 26, 2010. That was the day I landed in Perth, Australia, marking the 7th and final continent I’ve been to, and it was about 3 months before I turned 30. Even though I had been planning it for months and was already traveling for almost a week when I landed in Perth, I was still amazed I actually accomplished that goal.

In Antarctica

4. Have you had any travel mishaps or bad experiences? If so, have these influenced how you view the place where they happened? Would you go back?

I’ve been pretty lucky so far, haven’t been robbed or gotten any serious illnesses or anything like that. The few minor mishaps I’ve experienced were easily attributed to a single person I encountered which in no way influenced the way I viewed where I was. In fact, those mishaps usually ended up being funny stories to tell later, like when my friend and I were in a cab in Buenos Aires, and the cab hit a motorcycle. Everyone was fine, and we ended up ditching the cab on an exit ramp while the two drivers argued, and we had to try to find another cab. Finding a cab on an exit ramp is not ideal because any passing cab already has passengers. Slight panic in the moment, but hilarious a little while later after an off-duty cabbie took pity on us and drove us to our hotel. I really hope if/when something more major does happen, I won’t blame the place.

5. Name one thing you can’t travel without.

I couldn’t travel without my camera. I really enjoy photography, and looking at pictures from my trips not only helps put me back in that place, but also helps keep me going until it’s time for the next trip. As a close second place, I can’t travel without my Kindle because I enjoy reading and it helps pass the time on a long flight.

6. Name one thing you wish you COULD travel without.

I’ve been a carry-on only traveler for years, so I don’t bring too much beyond the bare necessities anyway. I wear contacts, so having to bring contact solution is a pain, although my wish to travel without it isn’t great enough for me to get laser eye surgery. Before this year, I probably would’ve said I wish I could travel without something to read because books are heavy and take up so much room.

7. What do you think has been the biggest thing you’ve learned while traveling (about yourself, a destination, a culture, travel itself)?

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that I’m stronger than I ever though I was. Traveling, especially solo traveling, has given me confidence and made me realize I’m capable of doing so many things I once thought I couldn’t do. Traveling has helped me overcome fears and awakened ambition I didn’t know I had.  This effect traveling has on me grows with each trip, which is probably a huge part of the addiction.

At Iguaza Falls, on the Argentina side

8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

If I could live anywhere, it would have to be Europe, probably Spain, Germany, or Italy. I love that you can experience so many diverse cultures in such a compact area. I could be living near tapas bars or beer gardens, take a short flight or train ride, and within a couple hours I’d be eating a Greek salad in front of the Acropolis or strolling through tulips and windmills.  To me, living in Europe would be the perfect combination of home stability and the frequent travel that I pretty much need to survive.

9. Name one place you’d like to see or one experience you’d like to have before you die.

Ok, this question is way too hard because there are just so many things to choose from. I have a giant map on my wall with pins in it for places I’ve been and places I want to go, and I’ve given up pinning the places I want to go to because it’s just about everywhere. There’s no way to just mention one, but a few on my list are Easter Island, La Tomatina, the northern lights, Bora Bora, Angkor Wat… ok I’ll stop now.

10. If there was one thing you wish somebody would have told you before you started traveling, what would it be?

I wish someone would’ve told me about long term travel and round the world trips. It just wasn’t on my radar, and it’s not really part of the American culture the way it is in other parts of the world where people graduate from college and set off traveling before they start a career. I’d love to do some kind of long term trip, whether it’s just a few months or a year. It’s a bit harder to pull off at this stage in my life, but I have confidence that one of these days I’ll figure out a way to do it that will work for me.

Visit Ali’s site: Ali’s Adventures
Follow Ali on Twitter: @aliadventures7

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Are you a travel blogger who has something to say on these topics? Do you know of somebody really interesting in the travel universe that you’d like to see interviewed? Speak up! The Thursday Traveler needs some interview subjects.

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