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Tell us about yourself
I am a part-time travel podcast/blogger/journalist a full-time nerd in Silicon Valley.
Why do you travel and look for adventures?
I love to learn new things and nothing exposes you to new experiences and points of view more than travel. Not only do you interact with other cultures but when you find yourself in front of the ticket machine written in a language you don’t know… it is a bit of a puzzle.
What kind of adventures do you look for when you travel?
I love a great variety of things but mostly look for history or wildlife these days. I love a good museum or walking tour. But I also love a great national park, hike or scenic view. Going on safari is addictive also.
What’s your go-to travel hack?
When you book hotels or flights use a meta-search engine, that is a site like TripAdvisor Flights or Kayak that will search a variety of other sites all at once. Full and fair disclosure, I used to the be the engineering director for TripAdvisor flights.
Got any gear you can’t travel without?
My smartphone has my itinerary, and is my communication device. My iPad has my entertainment. My camera (Canon Rebel) helps me capture the photos I will need for my blog but taking photos was what I was doing before my blog.
What destination are you eager to go back to?
Africa. I look forward to my next safari.
How do you stay safe when you’re travelling?
I have an unfair advantage over many people. I am a 6′ 3″ tall white guy so I have to be honest that safety is not my biggest concern. I then rely on my instincts as to who to trust. They have not led me wrong in any serious ways so far. I am not a big drinker which is how a lot of bad travel decisions get made.
What’s the best way to experience a destination like a local?
When I can, I enjoy staying in an apartment, shopping at the local stores and traveling by public transportation. As someone who is an introvert by nature, I have had to learn how to strike up conversations on occasions when I do travel solo. It does not come naturally to me. I like to have a bit of the language which can help lower barriers.
What’s your favourite word in another language?
In Swahili the word for both stranger and guest is mgeni. I like that mind set.
When and where are you next travelling?
I am heading to the Caribbean for a cruise on WindStar from St Martin to the British Virgin Islands.
