TRAVEL TUESDAYS: INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN OF THE TRAVEL RAMBLE

This week we would like to introduce Martin of The Travel Ramble. Martin is the creator and self titled editor in chief of the Travel Ramble. His blog is an irreverent and non serious look at travel. His posts range from stories about his most awkward plane journey to defending the hose’s in South East Asian toilets. Every post is in line with his favorite travel quote and the sites unofficial motto “You can take an ass traveling but he won’t come back a horse”.

1. What inspires you to travel, and how would you define the word ‘traveler’?
The word traveler is one that I’m not too comfortable with. Especially when calling myself it. I see it like any pop star calling themselves artists, when really they are just song and dance men.  I guess a traveler in its most basic definition is someone who doesn’t have a fixed abode for a long period of time.

What inspires me to travel is reading, pictures, movies and a sense of restlessness. Sometimes you’ll see something or read something and it will just be in the back of my mind. Then I will get a restless feeling and before I know it I have a plane ticket in my hand to that place.

2. How do you afford your travels?

Unfortunately the way most people do…. Working. In fact working is probably the root cause of my restlessness.  Responsibility will do that to you.

3. Where has been your favorite destination? Where has been your least favorite?

My most memorable destination was trekking in the Himalayas in Kashmir. We stayed in this little hut. Didn’t wash for about three days. Entertained ourselves by making shadow puppets with a flashlight – I made an awesome one which looked like a gorilla in a fez.  It rained like hell. The toilets were horrific. But any complaint we had just melted away when we were out trekking. The mountains just left us standing there in awe, sucking in the fresh air as we gormlessly stared at the snow lined peaks. Mother Nature really is the best architect.

My least favourite is the Taj Mahal. I was expecting this transformative experience but I ended up walking away feeling like it was just a really nice building.

4. Have you ever had high hopes for a destination, tour, etc., only to be disappointed in the end? Or any travel mishaps?

I am probably one of the worst travelers in the world. My trips are filled with mishaps and mistakes. I managed to alienate a large portion of Canada when I travelled it. I kept hearing girls calling each other bitches. I thought this was just the standard way people spoke to each other. So after I would have a few drinks I would be all like “Wassssup bitches”. These nights would followed by mornings of apologizing. In both French and English.

5. What’s the funniest or weirdest cultural idiosyncrasy you’ve either witnessed or experienced?

My favourite idiosyncrasy is in India is; they’ll always say “possible, but not possible”.  You’re left in the weird situation of going “So can I do this” To  which they reply “possible but not possible” You’re left in this sort of conversational grey area of constantly not knowing what’s possible.

6. What keepsake do you have to get at all your destinations?

I have made a collage of all the loose money I had from my first big trip. It accounted for like a fiver but for some reason it filled a massive picture frame.

7. How about the one thing you cannot travel without?

My iPod. Music and travel go hand in hand for me. In fact certain songs have come to define Cities and regions.

8. Why did you begin blogging? And how did you come up with your blog name?

I began blogging in an attempt to cure my itchy feet. I thought writing about travelling would soothe that itch. It hasn’t quite worked out as I had planned.

My blogs name sort of came naturally. I wanted my blog to be an informal, irreverent take on travel. I also love the saying “you’re rambling on, now” when people tell really long stories that go nowhere. So, calling my blog “the Travel Ramble” just seemed like the perfect fit.

 9. Do you have favorite travel blogs that you read regularly?

I’m a big fan of the Expeditioner. It has some pretty funny posts and I love the writing style of the whole team over there. I also like the first person story telling fell of yourlifeisatrip is something that I respond to. Another one is JohnnyVagabond. He doesn’t post as regularly as others but when he does the craft in which he writes with is just amazing. Sometimes after reading his posts I want to throw my laptop out the window because I will never be that good

10. How has travel changed you?

It definitely made me more confident. I realized that there is nothing wrong with approaching people with questions. The worst they can do is ignore you. That can be pretty empowering.

11. What’s your travel style?

For me now, it’s random bouts of travel. My blog will never generate enough traffic for me to be a digital nomad nor does my tongue have enough grace for me to become a full time travel writer. So I’m destined to a life being stuck behind a desk, waiting until I have enough money to release myself back into the big wide world.

12. What’s next? (Any new trips or future travel plans?)

There’s some debate about this with my girlfriend. She’s demanding Prague while I’m throwing Barcelona into the equation.  I’ll stay strong until I upset in some way. Then I’ll book Prague in a shameless attempt to get back into her good graces.

Traveler Toss-ups

Backpack or suitcase? Definitely a backpack. They’re far more functional; need a pillow….use your backpack. Need somewhere to sit…use your backpack. They are the Swiss army knife of luggage.

Window or aisle? Aisle. I’m socially inept and having to ask someone to if I can get past them is a social minefield I’m not equipped for. Also my most awkward experience on a plane took place in a window seat.

Solo or group? Can duo be an answer? As a solo traveler sometimes it can get a bit on the lonely side so I always try to rope a friend into a trip. Usually they refuse and I’m left flying solo… (Sobs)

Tapas or sushi? Easily Tapas.  There’s a part of me that has always wanted to be Spanish.

Beach or mountains? A really hard one. It’s like choosing between Coke and Pepsi. I may state a preference but I will pretty much take whatever is on offer at the time. I’ll probably go with mountain.

 

Want to learn more about Martin and his travel rambles?

Visit Martin’s site: The Travel Ramble
Follow Martin on Twitter: @MartinNolan7
“Join” Martin’s Travel Ramble Community on Google+: The Travel Ramble