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 Nomadic Matt of Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site. Matt is a 20-something vagabond who got hooked on travel after a trip to Thailand in 2005. In 2006, he quit his job and left his native Boston on a trip around the world that still hasn’t ended. In the process, he’s become one of the most well-known travel bloggers on the Web.
1. How do you define the word “traveler,” and why would you consider yourself one?
A traveler is someone who leaves their house to explore the world and learn about it.
2. What has been your favorite travel experience thus far?
Favorite? I don’t know if I could pick just one. That would be like picking your favorite country or favorite child. It’s hard to say what moment I like the best. Every day has been awesome.
3. How about your proudest travel moment?
That would be when I hiked the Grand Canyon. That was a lot of work and I was very out of shape at the time, so I’m extra proud I did it.
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?
Everyone has a travel mishap. I think if you don’t, you didn’t really travel. I view mishaps as interesting stories for later. I don’t judge a country based on one thing alone. I’ve learned to take them in stride.
5. Name one thing you can’t travel without.
My iPod. I can’t live without music.
6. Name one thing you wish you COULD travel without.
I don’t know. I take everything I need and nothing more, so everything gets used.
7. What do you think has been the biggest thing you’ve learned while traveling (about yourself, a destination, a culture, travel itself)?
Changes in personality and understanding usually happen gradually. They happen over time and you don’t notice them as you sort of assume they have always been there. I’m not the same person I was when I started in 2006, but I can’t point to one thing that changed who I’ve been. It’s been a bunch of things over time.
8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I’d live a lot of places really. I couldn’t stay in one place. I’d split my time between Paris or Amsterdam, and in the winter I’d go live on the beaches of Thailand. I like too many places to only live in one.
9. Name one place you’d like to see or one experience you’d like to have before you die.
It’s hard to pick just one thing. As a traveler, all places and experiences appeal to you. There’s always this and that. I’d say the top three would be to explore East Africa, visit Antartica, and spend a lot of time in Bhutan.
10. If there was one thing you wish somebody would have told you before you started traveling, what would it be?
It’s not as expensive, hard, or scary as you think it is. People have been doing it for ages. You’ll be fine.
Visit Matt’s site: Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site
Follow Matt on Twitter: @nomadicmatt
“Like” Matt on Facebook: Nomadic Matt’s Fan Page
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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.
Great blog!
I really like Matt’s response to #10.
If there was one thing you wish somebody would have told you before you started traveling, what would it be?
It’s not as expensive, hard, or scary as you think it is. People have been doing it for ages. You’ll be fine.
That’s a great answer for these people who create reasons not to travel.
Thanks for stopping by! And I agree, Matt’s answer to #10 was short and sweet, but spot-on.
Matt would be pleased to know that Bhutan is AMAZING…
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