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 Ayngelina of Bacon is Magic. At 33, Ayngelina left her job, boyfriend, apartment and friends to travel the world solo.
1. How do you define the word “traveler,” and why would you consider yourself one?
It’s interesting because there is often a debate about traveler vs. tourist, and I think it’s all bullshit. I like to backpack around the world, but I’m not going to look down at you and call you a tourist because you like 5 star hotels or cruising. If you leave your house for another city, country or continent to explore, you are a traveler.
2. What has been your favorite travel experience thus far?
It’s like picking your favourite child, but I’d have to choose my current experience. I started in Mexico and have been traveling the last 8 months overland through Latin America and will stay another 6 months in South America. It’s been the first time I’ve traveled where I had the opportunity to learn the local language beyond a few key phrases.
3. How about your proudest travel moment?
Arriving at the airport to begin this trip. It was an extremely hard decision to decide to travel solo, but ,once I passed through security, I knew I had made the right decision.
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 was robbed once in Vietnam. I had just gotten off a bus from Cambodia and had my passport, money, visa, debit card and DSLR camera in my bag. A motorcycle came by and slashed it off with a knife. It happened so quickly, I was stunned.
Fortunately, people on the street, who did not speak English, waved over some people who did and they took us to the police station and helped us translate the police report into Vietnamese. It ended up being a very positive experience, as strangers waited with us for hours as the police took their time with the report.
Five days later, I had a new passport and my insurance covered the theft. I would love to go back to Vietnam, it’s one of my favorite countries.
5. Name one thing you can’t travel without.
My journal. I’ve kept journals since I was 5, and I write my private, not-suitable-for-my-blog thoughts and adventures there. During my lowest times, writing often helps me work through things.
6. What do you think has been the biggest thing you’ve learned while traveling (about yourself, a destination, a culture, travel itself)?
99% of the world is made up of good people who want to help you. Some people are afraid to travel, and a lot are afraid to travel alone. However, on this trip through Latin America, so many men and women have reached out to me because I was alone. I think I’m more approachable as a solo traveler, and as a woman many people are a bit more protective. In some places that were a bit sketchy, I’ve had women wave me over to sit with them. The world is a place filled with amazing people.
7. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
So tough! I have to say that my heart is really in Latin America and I’d love to find a way to make a living here. That said, I’m incredibly proud to be Canadian, and I think I would really miss Canada.
8. Name one place you’d like to see or one experience you’d like to have before you die.
Mongolia. It was originally on my list of countries for this trip before I decided to focus on Latin America.
9. If there was one thing you wish somebody would have told you before you started traveling, what would it be?
Learn Spanish BEFORE you get to Mexico. I knew nothing when I got to Mexico. I thought there would be more English but not off the resorts. I look back fondly because I had a lot of funny moments bumbling my way through the country, but when you can speak the language you can connect with people on a deeper level. I’m really enjoying my time now because I can crack jokes with locals and answer questions about why I’m 33 with no husband, children and traveling by myself. And explaining that, no, there’s nothing wrong with me!
Visit Ayngelina’s site: Bacon is Magic
Follow Ayngelina on Twitter: @Ayngelina
“Like” Ayngelina on Facebook: Bacon is Magic
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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.
Nice interview! I agree with the tourist/traveler malarky. Why should people care whether anyone is a tourist or traveler? And Vietnam – oh, no. I’m headed there in a couple of months and I know petty theft is a real problem. I’m sorry you fell victim. So far on my travels everywhere is sooo safe I don’t think for one second about being robbed. Here in Sharjah, UAE I leave my computers, wallet full of credit cards, loose cash, everything lying all around when they clean my apartment and of course they never touch anything they’re not supposed to. I’m going to have to be more careful in SE Asia.
@Sabina
The motorcycle thing is pretty common in Saigon, I would have known about it prior if I carried a guidebook!
Ayngelina recently posted..5 Reasons to visit Northern Peru
Great interview with one of our favorite travel bloggers!
The NVR Guys recently posted..This Is a Blog That’s mostly About Being Happy
Thanks! I really like her, too!
LOVE IT!… I think we are on the same level when it comes to how much we love Latin America… as per knowing Spanish, I learned that the hard way, but you pick it up pretty quickly when you have too. I could have got online lessons before or something, but I would have never got around to it anyways.
Yes, the motorcycle highwayman catches unwary travellers often. Glad it turned out so positive for you, but you are that sort of person Ayngelina. Finding the positive in any situation.
Jim recently posted..Twas the Night Before Christmas Africa style!
So sorry to hear about your theft, that must have been a shocking experience! Though glad it turned out positive in the end. You are such an inspiration to many women!!! Keep on traveling chica!
Andi recently posted..Chile- Argentina & Uruguay- Day 1
I adore Ayngelina and am not-so-secretly hoping her journeys lead her right through San Francisco so I have a chance to meet her outside the Internet!
Camels & Chocolate recently posted..Shiny and New
Great choice! Love Ayngelina’s blog–although I’m always hungry after I finish seeing all those great food photos!
Christine recently posted..Behind the photography
I know – me too!
great to learn more about one of our faves and through another fave! ayngelina’s such a straight-shooter and i really love it especially in the case of the traveler/tourist debate. happy to hear the live and let live sentiment. there’s enough “us vs. them” in the world without turning those who love travel on each other, right? just really love her outlook & agree with camels & chocolate above- let’s get her to the bay area
Lorna – the roamantics recently posted..Out of the Mouths of Babes- Travel Lessons
Ayngelina is one of my FAV travel bloggers. I love her even more for the answer she gave to #1!!!!! That is how I feel. Really who cares…as long as they are out there seeing the world!!!
I agree! I hate the whole traveler vs. tourist argument, too. Ayngelina really hits the nail on the head with that answer!
Love your site Ayngelina. Carry on with the fab posts in 2010.
Natalie recently posted..Nevsehir – To the Castle and Back Again
So honest….so humorous….so straight-forward…and I, too, agree that there is nothing wrong with you!
I think we can probably all agree that there’s nothing wrong with Ayngelina!
Well only my mother would truly believe that
Thanks Mom
Ayngelina recently posted..Ten reasons my sister will miss me over the holidays
Great interview with a very interesting traveller Mongolia is high on my list as well… riding along the steppes, living in a yurt… maybe next year.
Happy Christmas,
Sophie
Sophie recently posted..La Befana- witches and Rome’s Christmas Markets
I completely agree with what Ayngelina says regarding your first question. Travel is good and healthy, however you decide to do it!
JoAnna recently posted..Whose War Vietnam
I completely agree, too! As far as I’m concerned, as long as people leave the concrete once in a while and actually venture out a little ways into the wider world, I don’t care how they do it. I travel in all sorts of different ways, so I have no right to judge others on the style that works best for them, whatever it may be!
Great interview. I love Ayngelina! She has such a great spirit. Awesome to always learn more about her.
Caz Makepeace recently posted..y Travel Blog Has No Depth and Backpackers are Young and Naive
Thanks, Caz. I love doing these interviews and getting to learn a bit more about some of my favorite travelers/bloggers. Ayngelina is awesome, and I feel like you can’t help but love her spirit!
Aww great interview, Ayngelina! I actually had no idea you were a beginner beginner in Spanish when you started — or that you had left behind a boyfriend.
Abby recently posted..My favorite photos- “best of” Costa Rica!
Awesome & intriguing interview Ayngelina! Love the honesty in your resposnes!