Interview completed on March 11, 2016

We wanted a name that incorporated the way we travel. We have always thought of travel as a very personal experience, different for everybody regardless of where you go or what you see there. As people who are interested in slow travel, in delving into a culture, and experiencing it through a very intimate lens, we felt that the words “Bespoke” and “Traveler” were the best way to describe how we travel and what we write about. “Bespoke” means “custom-made” or “tailored” and we believe that travelers should be fully involved in the ways in which they experience their destinations. 

Read my interview with Bespoke Traveler!  Check out the links in the interview for more interesting articles on their website.  Make sure you check out their website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channel!

TCK: How specifically do you think travel changes people?  How has it changed you?

BT: Travel can be a transformative force, if we allow it to be. It changes our perception of ourselves and our world. It can expand our horizons and destroy long held beliefs. For us, it has increased our empathy, helped us learn to roll with the punches, allowed us to communicate beyond language barriers, made us embrace the beautiful complexity of nature as well as ourselves, and taught us to beware of the singular point of view.

TCK: Did you have travel experience before you started the organization?

BT: Yes. We have been exploring since we were babes in the woods.

TCK: What are your top three favorite places in the world?  And, why?

BT: Lake Como, Italy for its serene, calming beauty. South Africa for its entanglement of wilderness and multicultural history. Zion National Park, Utah, USA for Angel’s Landing and the Virgin River Narrows trails.

TCK: You have quite an extensive library of published material.  How do you find the time to travel to all these different locations and manage to write/photograph the material?

BT: Stories can be found everywhere. The tricky part is not to trip while jotting them down.

TCK: How do you fund your travel?  Is it mainly through book sales?  Contributions?  Monthly membership?

BT: Our travels are funded through a variety of means: book sales, publication in other magazines and journals, generous contributions from donors, and sponsored collaborations with businesses. For the latter, we always make sure to indicate this when it appears on our website.

TCK: Do you often work with other authors/photographers for content?

BT: We are always open to interesting partnerships. In the past we have hosted guest bloggers on our site who have written about various topics from graffiti art to New Orleans and Algarve, Portugal.

TCK: What are your greatest challenges with maintaining your content and keeping the material fresh?

BT: Adjusting the writing schedule to our travel itineraries and having the patience to root out a meaningful story are probably the greatest challenges.

TCK: Do you experience writer’s block?

BT: They have pills for that now, don’t they?  Just Kidding.

TCK: You’ve received several awards for your work.  Which meant the most to you and why?

BT: Awards are wonderful to receive, but the most meaningful aspect of our work is when a reader tells us how inspiring our stories were to their personal lives.

TCK: What does travel mean for you?

BT: Travel is an opportunity to be curious. Travel does not only have to mean taking a plane to a far off destination or going on a “Round The World” expedition, or trekking through uninhabitable regions. One can do a lot of exploring in one’s own backyard and discover the extraordinary in the ordinary.

TCK: What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own travel-based website?

BT: Our best advice would be to lay a good foundation for the website first. It is better to know what your unique voice and perspective on travel is before-hand, so that the website can best reflect that.

Here’s my newest interview with Jon and Jo!  They’re an English couple who sold everything and began what they call “land sailing”.  Read about their experiences and advice in this Q&A.

Be sure to follow them on Twitter and their blog to find out where they go next!

Interview conducted on February 20, 2016.

“When we tell people what we are doing with our lives we get one of two responses. Either they think we’re crazy and irresponsible or they love the idea and think we’re very brave. I’m not sure that we’re actually either one entirely, perhaps a little of both. We’re just us doing what we want to do together. It wouldn’t work for everyone and we wouldn’t dream of suggesting that we are something special. We are just living our lives in this moment in our own way and enjoying those moments.”

TCK: What caused you to begin your journey? Do you remember the exact moment?  

JW: There wasn’t a specific moment or a single reason that prompted us to start our little adventure but a gradual feeling that built up over a long period of time. Our three sons had all left home, unfortunately as we miss them like crazy, and we found ourselves living in a family house with no family. Our lives hadn’t changed but we felt a nagging sense of ‘there must be more to life’ creeping up on us. We were both 53 and the realisation that we had potentially another 14 years at work stretching ahead of us caused us to sit down and discuss what we wanted from life and what was important to the both of us. We realised that we weren’t sure what we wanted but that we did want to get into a position where we could decide. So we made the decision to sell the house and get rid of the majority of our possessions. We felt that if put ourselves into a position where we were renting a property with minimal furniture and clothes then we could make a fair decision on the future.

It took nine months to clear out virtually everything that we’d gathered over the previous 30 years and we found ourselves in a tiny 2 bed rental property in Maidstone. Still working but now in a position to take any path we chose. Unfortunately a serious illness in the family arose and it was another few months before we were ready to make that decision.

The exact moment was 11am on Sunday March 15th 2015 when we both agreed that we just wanted a little adventure and had a real window of opportunity in our lives. We decided we’d leave work, get rid of the remaining stuff, and go travelling. No destinations were decided but we both resigned the next day and put notice in on the rented house.

TCK: When did your journey start and where have you been so far?

JW: Once we’d resigned and started the process we both drew up a list of places that we’d like to visit and compared notes. Amazingly the lists were identical so we decided we’d go to Australia and New Zealand as they were the furthest places and potentially the most expensive to reach. Also we realised that the past 18 months had been quite stressful and that the next two could be really hectic so we decided to spend our first three months just relaxing in a few locations across Europe before we started the trip down under.

We left England on June 1st 2015 and spent our first month just south of Nijmegen in Holland in a quite little village called Groesbeek. The plan was to sit back and do a lot of not very much. It didn’t quite work out like that as we got into some serious cycling and developed a new social life with some reconnected old friends and our new Dutch hosts. It was exactly what we needed and we absolutely loved our new lives. From there we went to Bavaria in Southern Germany for another month in a tiny village outside Munich, where we just walked and talked and read books and hung around in beer gardens. Brilliant again. Our last European month was across in Austria in a tiny remote village called Vochera. We really planned to spend time just finalising our Australian plans and doing nothing but again it didn’t turn out like that.

The family that we stayed with took us in completely and our month was filled with family parties, barbeques, concerts, day trips, local shows, and getting to know vast numbers of family and friends. It was one of the most wonderful times of our lives and we became part of the family. Words can’t describe just how kind and welcoming our hosts Eva and Othmar were, we’ll be good friends forever now.

So from there, we had a few days back in the UK before flying to Perth and a three month tour of Australia followed by three months in New Zealand.

TCK: What were you most afraid of beforehand?

JW: Our biggest fear was that of missing our three boys so much that it might spoil our little adventure. We are a close family and although they were all unbelievably supportive you just don’t know how you will feel until you have left and are actually in that situation. Luckily it is just so easy now to keep in touch via Skype and Whatsapp and of course through our blog. Apart from that we had no worries whatsoever, we are a fairly laid-back couple and fairly well organised so as long as we were together we knew we’d be fine.

TCK: What were you most excited about beforehand?

JW: Strangely we didn’t get overly excited about anything at all. This may have been due to the vast number of things we had to do and plan for before we left but as I said earlier we’re fairly level-headed and take most things in our stride.

TCK: How do you keep in touch with your family?  Is it difficult at some destinations?

JW: We made a big decision right at the beginning that we would not have phone contracts when we left. We don’t like the idea of being contactable 24 hours a day, and I personally think being online constantly is unhealthy and makes you lose sight of where you are and what you’re doing. We decided that we’d use maps to get around when necessary and if we needed information we would be completely old-fashioned and actually ask someone. You know, speak to a local. So many travellers walk around with their faces in their phones missing everything and everyone around them. That was not what we wanted. As long as our accommodation had Wifi we could email and blog etc in the evenings. Simple and sociable.

TCK: What were your favorite places so far and why?  

JW: We both love places with character and personality and although Australia is a pretty modern country we loved Fremantle on the west coast and Manly on the east. Both had so much history and charm but weren’t too in-your-face. Also, the whole of Tasmania was a real surprise. The scenery took our breath away and a couple of the driving trips there were spectacular. The whole of the South Island of New Zealand is awe-inspiring but if we had to choose a single location it would have to be Wanaka where we immediately felt at home and could have stayed forever.

TCK: How do you think you have changed?  

JW: Many people told us when we left that the whole travelling experience would change us but I think to be honest that it has really just re-affirmed our views and what we want from life. We’ve become more relaxed, if that’s possible, and don’t let anything worry us anymore. We’ve learnt that life throws surprises at you constantly and it’s no good gnashing your teeth and getting stressed, you may as well just roll with it and enjoy the ride. That’s what we’re trying to do. We told each other when we left that we should be like the Yes-Man and never decline an offer or say No to anything as that could be an experience missed. So far we’ve nodded and said Ok and done some incredible things that perhaps previously we wouldn’t have agreed to.

TCK: I know you said that you used Airbnb in Europe, but what other accommodations have you used?  Does it change from location to location?  

JW: We try to use Airbnb everywhere as we love the hosting experience so much. Hotels are so soul-less and hostels are really aimed at the 18-25 age-group I think. We’re currently on our 30th Airbnb I think, easy to lose count, and it really is the people that make it so special. I keep telling everyone that travelling is about people not places and that it’s the moments on the way that you remember forever rather than a tick list of countries. Well our moments are full of shared time with our hosts and so many of them have become good friends along the way. We can’t always get an Airbnb place everywhere, especially if we’re only staying a single night, so we have stayed in a few motels and hostels but really just for places to rest our heads. Occasionally we feel that we need a hotel to properly visit somewhere. In Sydney for example we got a small hotel centrally that enabled us to do the tourist things for a day or two before moving further out to an Airbnb for a longer time.

TCK: What are a few of your favorite memories thus far?

JW: All of the best moments of our trip so far have been shared with new friends and people we’ve met along the way. There have been so many that it’s tough to pick any out but a couple really shine for both of us. A boat trip and dive on the Great Barrier Reef was just one of the most wonderful days we’ve ever spent. It surpassed our expectations and the experience of snorkeling in the ocean around the Reef will never be forgotten. The other really special memory was Christmas Day. We decided to do an overnight trip out on Milford Sound. The weather was perfect, we canoed and swam off the boat, had a wonderful Christmas dinner, and loved every single minute. However the one moment we treasure was the following morning. We were first up on the boat and sat up on deck as the sun rose all alone just watching the world come alive all around. So special and so unique. We will never ever forget that.

TCK: Is there an end date for your journey?  If so, how long do you think it will be until you journey somewhere again?

JW: When we began our little trip we decided that we would do it a stage at a time and not think about what came next until halfway through each stage. So we had no idea what was happening after March this year until mid-November when we talked about what we should do next. We decided to go again on JWalking 2 and that will last until December now. We’ll discuss what happens next sometime in late summer. We are very serious about enjoying the moment that we’re in and the place that we currently live and don’t ever want to be in the situation where we are forever thinking ‘what’s next, where are we going’. So no end date ……………….. for now.

TCK: Can you explain how you came up with the term “land sailing”?  Personally, I think it’s very clever!

JW: Ha, I’d love to say that it was all our idea and that we’re so clever but that wouldn’t be totally true. We were in Fremantle in a Map shop (I love maps and can’t ever pass a map shop without exploring it) and we bought a map of New Zealand. Got talking to the nice lady at the till as she asked if we were tourists. Now we always hated being called tourists and didn’t really feel like travellers or backpackers and explained this to her. She said ‘so what are you then? Grey Nomads?’. We explained that we were slow travellers who knew where we were going and just wanted to take our time and enjoy the ride. ‘So you’re Land Sailors then?’ she asked. ‘We are now’. Loved the expression as it perfectly describes our attitudes to travel and the way that we’re moving and planning our route. So it’s all thanks to Liz in the Map and Chart shop in Fremantle.

TCK: What three pieces of advice would you give to someone (or a couple) who wanted to do what you are doing right now?  (Or general advice regarding land sailing).  

JW: The biggest and hardest decision we had to make in all of this adventure was the initial one to just change our lives. After that each step seemed fairly simple. Some people have said how lucky we are to be doing this but it’s not luck, anyone can do this. It’s all a matter of priorities. If you’re priority is a nice big car and a huge house and 5 star all inclusive holidays then that’s fine, but ours are different. We don’t want or need any of that so we’ve made the decision to have a little adventure. The luckiest thing we have is that we both want the same thing. So my biggest piece of advice to any couple thinking about leaving the rat race and land sailing is to be totally honest with each other about your dream, hopes and fears. It won’t work if one of you isn’t 100% on board.

Secondly, I really think planning is the key. Both where and when you are going but also the financial side of things. It’s boring but sensible budget planning, or SFM as we call it (Strict Fiscal Monitoring sounds like something seriously important), is key. It isn’t a holiday and we aren’t throwing our money around. It’s our life now and we’re living in all of these places and we know exactly what we’re spending and what we have left.

Thirdly, always try and say Yes to new experiences. Be open to any offers and suggestions and you just never know where you’ll end up (within reason of course). Our hosts in Rotorua asked us a couple of weeks ago if we’d like to come swimming with them in a Maori mud pool in the pouring rain?  Obviously it was a great big Yes and we had the most magical time in an incredible hot spring in the rain in the shade of the mountains. Unforgettable.

Make sure you follow JWalking on Twitter here and their blog here!

Wondering what it’s like to volunteer abroad in Uganda?  Read my new interview with Jess Hutchings on CulturewithTravel.com!

Jess didn’t know why exactly she wanted to go to Uganda, but she was definitely excited.  She was excited for the unknown, but didn’t know what to expect.  Her father had traveled to Africa when he was younger, so perhaps a little of her desire was to follow in his footsteps.  In her high school years, Jess participated in a student ambassadors program in Japan, but this experience, she said, couldn’t have prepared her for the foreign culture in Uganda.

Read the full article here!

Follow me on this blog or on Twitter for more articles!

Check out my new interview on Courtney Greene!  She is studying abroad for her full degree in Ireland.  Thanks, Voy Abroad and Courtney Greene for your time and energy!

“I’d be a fool to not try Ireland,” she said.  “If I don’t like it, I’ll stay for a year.” It was a great comfort to her that her family was only about an hour train ride away.  In addition to her cousin going to the same school and in the same year, this provided a safety net, just in case she felt homesick.  Fortunately, she said it never came to that point and has never regretted her decision to move across the Atlantic.  

Read the full article here on Voy.gs.

Follow me on this blog or on Twitter for more articles coming soon!

Check out my guest post on jessicalipowski.com! Interview with Fernanda on her experiences and advice from studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence.  Thanks to both Fernanda and Jessica for your time and energy!

Fernanda is studying linguistics, with an emphasis in ESL teaching, at San Diego State University. She moved to the United States when she was 18 and, since then, her life has been full of wonderful opportunities. She’s had the chance to live in other countries and learn everything that comes with that experience: the language, the culture, the people, etc. She has been forever changed by it and cannot wait for her next international experience.

Click here for the full article!

Follow me here or on Twitter for new articles and more!

Several interviews with friends and colleagues who have studied abroad for an extended amount of time.   Follow me here or on Facebook or Twitter for more news, events, and stories on tourism, travel, studying abroad, economic development, sustainable tourism, and international business!

Originally published on Voy Study Abroad on September 23, 2015

As I turned the corner, there he sat.  His dead stare rendered me unable to move, unable to breathe.  I froze as I tried to remember what the guide instructed us to do in this situation.  I remembered nothing — my mind was as empty as the space between us.  I noticed another set of eyes, and another, and another. The main figure was completely visible from where I stood, able to thrust forward at any moment.  The others were hidden in trees.  Feeling my heartbeat from every part of my body, I slowly stepped back.  He remained a statue.

Time regained its rhythm as I slid silently through the threshold of the visitor center at the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  I gasped for air.  Oxygen filled my lungs and brain, and I finally realized what had happened.  The animal I locked eyes with was a male baboon.  When they said we would see “wildlife” on safari, I did not truly comprehend that the animals were wild, untamed, and free to roam where they please until this heart-stopping moment. There was no barrier between us.

My first trip to Africa was spent in Tanzania. You hear stories about what is within the continent, but all the articles and journals in the world cannot really prepare you for the experience of actually being there.  The trip was the focus of a class through Boston University, studying the tourism industry and development strategies of the country.  Even after the 300-page preparation of studies, articles, and other academic works, none of us thirty-five students were ready for the journey we had in store.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park, National Geographic, and even Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” music video can all set the scene, but the surprising scope of physical beauty and wildlife hits you like a ton of bricks.  On our first day of safari, many of us were silent, trying desperately to take it all in.  By the second and third day, however, it was very much like the Lion King song “I Just Can’t Wait to be King”– “Everybody look left”… a herd of zebra and wildebeest migrating along with our 4WD vehicle; “Everybody look right”… lions, hippos, elephants lounging casually, merely a few feet away.  After the initial shock and awe, we were able to truly appreciate and enjoy the harmonious nature of the wildlife.

The ecosystem of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where a large part of our safari took place, is the definition of the circle of life.  Not only is there an incredibly high degree of biodiversity of flora and fauna, but the pastoralists called Maasai also live amongst the wildlife.  We were fortunate enough to be able to visit one of the Maasai villages during our trip and their way of life was a huge eye-opener to all of us.  These semi-nomadic peoples reside in small communes with their livestock under cow dung-covered huts.  Since witnessing their village, I will no longer worry about my phone dying, the train breaking down, or waiting five minutes for the waiter to take my drink order.  Although we view these things as essential to our daily lives, I’d venture to say that having to walk an entire day to find water or hoping that an elephant doesn’t decide that today is the day it will charge over the village are much more important concerns.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel or study in Tanzania, I suggest you take it!  There was something new, something exhilarating, and something amazing each and every day.  From the breath-taking view on the top of the Ngorongoro Crater to the close proximity of the wildlife, you are able to feel and see such a different life than your own.

Without completely knowing what will happen next, sometimes you just have to close your eyes, cross your fingers, and jump.

Fear and uncertainty are essential parts of traveling and studying abroad.  I find that fear and excitement are similar feelings–it’s just a matter of how you allow yourself to experience your heart racing from the rush of adrenalin.  You will not fully appreciate or enjoy a new continent, country, or city unless you are at least a little afraid or anxious to travel there.  Harness the fear and transform it into thrill.  We all have the ability to decide how to channel the emotion.  Which will you choose to embrace?

Originally published on Voy Study Abroad on July 23, 2015

The Pomada is the signature drink of Menorca.  On the surface, it’s just gin and lemon soda splashed on ice.  But, if you dig a little deeper, it’s a perfect symbol for the island itself. The gin used in the cocktail is from an 18th Century recipe and concocted with a curious addition: wine alcohol.  After the beautifully balanced liquor is poured over rocks, the bubbly, tart tang of lemon Fanta is splashed on top.  Because this glass-bottled version of the brand is not offered in the US, it makes for a new and exotic experience for the taste buds. This drink has been incorporated into the island’s traditions for more than two hundred years.  A sea of yellow bottles can be seen during the Sant Joan festival in Ciutadella where the horses run in the city streets, galloping through the excited, terrified, and electric crowds.  A drink can be just a drink, but if you look a little closer and ask questions, it can be a representation of the past and the present–intoxicating, refreshing, alluring, alive.

My first study abroad experience unfolded off the coast of Spain on the island of Menorca.  The purpose of the program was to learn about the archaeology, cultural heritage management, and aspects of tourism on the island.  For those of you thinking, “Wait, I thought it was Mayorca?!”, you are close: Menorca is one of four major Balearic Islands.  Mallorca (pronounced “Mah-york-a”) is the largest island with the capital of Palma, Menorca is the medium-sized island where I studied, Ibiza is the small party island, and the smallest island is Formentera.  Menorca is unique amongst the islands because of its Biosphere Reserve designation from the United Nations.  This title provides unique challenges and opportunities for tourism, preservation, and economic development.

Taking a step back, biosphere reserves are large demonstration areas where development and sustainability are studied through human/nature interaction.  The Serengeti-Ngorongoro in Tanzania, Mount Olympus in Greece, the Maya areas of Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize, and Yellowstone National Park in the US are some better-known reserves.  Menorca is set apart by its stunning example of the ideal Mediterranean island ecosystem with gullies, caves, wetland, dunes, coast, and thousands of species endemic to the island.  Areas such as the Specially Protected Bird Area, Marine Reserve, Natural Park, and the archaeological sites of the Talayotic Culture accent the reserve. The vast majority of the Mediterranean islands do not have all these preserved areas and ruins.  This makes Menorca an exponentially more enjoyable destination than the alternatives as it affords the chance to journey through the past.

Throughout the island, businesses and organizations work together to improve the quality of travel, insure the professionalism of this sector, and optimize the image of Menorca so that it stands out as a desired destination from the competition.  Everyone I met on the island was friendly and hospitable to our entire group.  And now, whenever I speak about Menorca, it’s always positive simply due to its wonderful inhabitants.

Promoting tourism to the island is a win-win situation.  As the main industry on the island, tourism also serves as a multiplier to support other industries including farming, handicrafts, and dairy farming.  Hotels, hostels, public transportation, restaurants, bars, and small business owners are examples of just a few entities that coordinate with these overarching goals.  Many of these businesses are able to thrive only because of tourism.  From exploring the port cities and shops to traversing through Tayalotic sites, tourists are able to participate in numerous activities, especially exploring and enjoying the natural environment around the island.

The entire island is regularly cleaned and maintained in accordance with the local government, the Consell Insular.  You can immerse yourself in the natural environment by cycling, sailing, scuba diving, horseback riding, and even taking a ride in one of several glass-bottom boats (I highly recommend this one!)  From the glass-bottom boat, you can see not only the myriad of sea life that live only on or around Menorca, but also the geologic fault line that plunges into the water and splits the island in two. The fault makes for a perfect, natural harbor so you’ll always see huge cruise liners come right up to the sidewalk as they pass through to other exotic locations throughout the Mediterranean.  It’s incredible!  And in the same way as the harbor is important today, it also held a great deal of significance in the cultural exchange, communication, and development throughout Menorca’s history.

The first settlements on the islands were from the Neolithic Talayotic culture.  Several millennia ago, these people inhabited the islands and built everything out of the plentiful limestone found on the island.  Many of the impressive stone structures were found at our excavation site of Torre d’en Galmés.  The most interesting part about our site was that these stone structures, which were built thousands of years ago, were re-occupied by Muslim settlers beginning in the 10th century.  In one of the houses, there are artifacts from both cultures, one layered right on top of the other.  The history of cultures overlapping and co-existing continues today on the island as many ethnicities live together with a constant injection of tourists.

Farmers markets, city tours, handicrafts, and festivals are all actively promoted to draw visitors to the island.  Because the tourism product as a whole is becoming increasingly enticing, the local government has approved many new regulations so that the island doesn’t become over-run.  For example, one of the restrictions is a two-story limit for hotels.  This effectively freezes the cityscape on the island in its current form so that all people can enjoy the traditional aesthetics for years to come.

Although this sounds like the island would become stagnant due to the ever-expanding regulations, there is always a new breath of culture arriving in the harbor.  Like me, an American undergrad coming to study the ancient culture—I was part of the melting pot of ideas in my own little way.  I observed and experienced the nature, people, and sites so that I could tell others how wonderful it is—like I’m telling you right now.  Everyone travelling abroad to a new place can share stories and experience cultural events with others, but it makes it so much more meaningful when these things are in the context of the destination.  I believe that true appreciation of another culture comes from understanding its history.  So, when you go abroad, try to dig a little deeper and find out more about why things are the way they are at your destination.  I promise it’ll make for a much deeper experience.  And who knows, maybe it’ll start with a Pomada?