TRAVEL TUESDAYS: INTERVIEW WITH SAM OF NOMADIC SAMUEL

This week we would like to introduce Samuel Jeffery of Nomadic Samuel. Sam is the wizard behind the curtain pulling the strings of Nomadic Samuel cultural travel blog. He’s also the lesser half of Backpacking Travel Blog which he runs with his wife Audrey Bergner of That Backpacker. You can connect with Samuel on his YouTube travel channel and on Google+.

1. What inspires you to travel, and how would you define the word ‘traveler’?

When I was in University, I met many International students through various student groups I had joined and as a tutor.  I decided as soon as I finished my degree that I would try teaching English overseas with the plan of backpacking afterward.

It is difficult for me to pinpoint one exact thing that inspires me to travel.  Moreover, my travel preferences and reasons for being on the road have changed over the years.  What inspires me the most these days is having the opportunity to experience new cultures, food and to make new friends.

2. How do you afford your travels?

From 2006 until 2013 I alternated between teaching English in South Korea and backpacking.  All of my savings from teaching were spent on travel until the well (my bank account) ran dry.  Recently, I’ve shifted from teaching to earning money online with my blogs, freelance activities and marketing skills.  It has been a difficult transition because in the past I always had very distinct phases in my life – work or travel.  Nowadays, I’m combining both work and travel and I’ve yet to find the right balance between the two.

3. Where was your first international trip and how old were you?

I won’t count my first trip to the US as my first international trip, since (at the time) I didn’t even need to carry a passport.  Thus, heading to Asia and visiting Japan and Korea was my first real foray overseas way back in 2003.  At the time I was in my early 20s and still in University.  That short trip definitely had a distinct impact on my life, as I met many other backpackers (for the first time) soaking up their stories of adventures overseas at the hostel I was staying at in Seoul.  I realized at that time I wanted to swap my suitcase for a backpack and travel for an extended period of time.

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

My favorite country, hand down, is India.  There was a point in time back in 2011 where my desire and passion for travel started to wane.  I was temple-d out.  Visiting India was exactly what I needed to rekindle my enthusiasm for being on the road.  Traveling in India is sensory overload.  I’ve never experienced so many random events and encounters in my entire life.  The experiences I accumulated while traveling in India for 2 months would be the equivalent of traveling 12 to 15 months in other parts of the world.  I seriously can’t wait to go back!

I’ve never been to a country that I wouldn’t potentially consider revisiting; however, my time spent in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei was slightly underwhelming.  Firstly, I found it outrageously expensive compared to other destinations in Southeast Asia rivaling even Singapore!  Secondly, there simply isn’t a lot of attractions or things to do.  The most interesting landmark was visiting Kampong Ayer (the water stilt village).

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

Visiting the Taj Mahal made me realize that not every famous landmark or wonder of the world is as impressive as advertised.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed visiting; however, when I think back to other experiences I had in India it simply doesn’t compare favorably.  If I had to choose between revisiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar versus going back to the Taj Mahal I would choose the Golden Temple 10 times out of 10.

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

When I lived in South Korea I was once peeling a banana when a co-worker (Korean teacher) yanked it out of my hand and ended up peeling it for me.  Apparently, there is only one correct way to peel fruit in Korea and it varies for each different kind of fruit.  Prior to this experience I never thought of ‘how I peeled fruit’ or thought that it ought to be done a certain way.  It was one of those hilarious moments that I’ll never forget.

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

The one thing that has completely changed in my travels over the years is that I no longer collect anything.  My nomadic lifestyle doesn’t allow me to accumulate extras in my backpack without it becoming a serious burden.

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

My laptop and camera!  I would cry if I didn’t have those along with me 😉

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

I started my blog after realizing that many of the stories, photos and videos I was creating weren’t be shared with family and friends.  I decided I wanted to create a platform where I could share all of that and – over time – I realized I wanted to share it with a larger audience.

My name isn’t exactly the most original 😉  Samuel is my first name and Nomadic was the best way I could desribe my lifestyle at the time.  I didn’t realize so many other bloggers were ‘Nomadic “insert name”’ as I probably would have chosen something different.

10. What has been your biggest challenge as a traveler? 

My biggest challenge by far has been trying to combine both travel and blogging and remain sane in the process.  In the past, I used to ‘just travel’ while my bank account savings from teaching in South Korea dwindled down.  These days, trying to make it as a professional blogger, has meant that I spend many more hours behind a computer than in the past.  Sometimes I hate it as I just want to go outside and play; however, it has allowed me to continue traveling indefinitely, which is something I truly appreciate.  The solution I’ve come up with, whenever possible, is to stay somewhere longer.  Lingering allows me to slowly explore a particular city/region without getting too far behind on work.

11. Which destination has personally impacted you the most?

In recent months it has been Turkey.  With hardly any travel experience in Europe and the Middle East, coming and spending several weeks in Istanbul was the perfect introduction.  I indulged in sweets (Turkish Delights and Baklava), visited mosques and marveled at the architecture and pace of life in this fascinating city.

Traveler Toss-ups

Backpack or suitcase?  Backpack

Window or aisle?  Window (short flights)  Aisle (long flights)

Solo or group?  Solo

Tapas or sushi?  Sushi

Beach or mountains?  Mountains

Be sure to follow along in Sam’s nomadic adventures:

Visit Sam’s site: Nomadic Samuel
Follow Sam on Twitter: @nomadicsamuel
Follow Sam on Facebook: Nomadic Samuel