I am so honored to have been nominated for the Liebster award. Many thanks to Stacia from Stumble Safari for the nomination!
What is the Liebster Award?
The Liebster Award was created in 2011 by The Global Aussie in order to encourage awareness of new bloggers, and for new bloggers to create connections and gain support within the blogging community.
The award works by the nominator creating engaging and unique questions for their nominees to answer. Then, they must nominate 3 new blogs to answer their questions and create new questions of their own. The nominees must then link back to the Liebster Award Rules page, and answer their questions by December 25. The Global Aussie will actually read all of the questions and answers of every single nominee, and choose a winner for the Liebster Award by the end of the year!
My Nominator
Stacia from Stumble Safari has an amazing travel blog where she writes about where she has been, her own clumsy travel stories, and about animals that she really cares about. We met through Twitter and have been friends supporting each other’s blogs ever since! If you haven’t been following her blog, you need to start reading right away! You can thank me later!
Questions
If you could pick one real-life filming location for a fictional land to visit, what would it be? (ex: any Game of Thrones locations in Spain, Morocco, Iceland…, Lord of the Rings in New Zealand, Harry Potter in England and Scotland, etc.)
New Zealand has been a bucket list travel destination for me since I saw the first movie. I am such a Lord of the Rings nerd that my friends have to tell me to stop referencing the film and/or books. The opportunity to run around Hobbiton and have a pint at the Green Dragon at the end of the day would be the best thing that could happen to me. It will definitely happen within the next few years.
What has been your favorite cultural experience while traveling?
When I was in Japan, I got the chance to attend Miyako Odori, which is a performance put on at the Kyoto University Art Theater every Spring. This show encompasses the four seasons with a stunning music and dance performance by nationally famous geiko and maiko. The performance has been happening for over 140 years. I would recommend anyone traveling to Kyoto in the Spring to buy a ticket and be amazed by this beautiful performance.
Where has been your LEAST favorite destination and why?
My least favorite destination so far has been Cancun, Mexico. While I did enjoy some parts of my trip, it is really too touristy for my taste. My group were basically extorted by the police when we tried to drive to Chichen Itza. We manage to pay less that what he was asking. How do you say no when they have assault rifles? It was mostly a combination of too many tourists and too many locals trying to get our money. I probably won’t go back, though I will visit other parts of Mexico.
If you could pick one Pokemon as a travel companion, who would it be?
I had to check a Pokedex for this one. I would bring Rapidash. Not only could I ride her from one place to another with speeds of up to 150 mph, she could keep me nice and warm as a fire-type. I am always cold, and I’m a horse person. What more do I need?
If you could pick one book to describe your travel style, what would it be and why?
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho. Like Santiago and the Pyramids, I tend to base my travel on what I want to see(maybe not a recurring dream). Then, when I go, I tend to run across a lot of bumps along the way, but everything always works out in the end. Once I have seen what I came to see I am happy to return home to my loved ones with the lessons that I learned along the way.
What song is your go-to on your travel playlist?
Paradise by Coldplay. I really do dream of paradise, and I just really love Coldplay.
Describe the best meal you’ve had on the road. Where and when did you eat it, and what was it?
When I was traveling in Japan we went to a restaurant to try Tonkatsu one night. Tonkatsu is a breaded and fried pork cutlet served with a pile of cabbage and an amazing sauce. I didn’t expect it to be as delicious as it was. I could eat that every day!
Who is one person, real or fictional, that inspired you to travel?
I have been reading books about travel for as long as I can remember. The main characters are always going somewhere with some major end goal. I relate the most to Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit. He is reluctant to leave the comforts of home, but once he does and comes back he is craving another adventure. I am a total homebody, but when if comes to travel, I really crave it. I already mentioned that I am a Lord of the Rings nerd, right?
What travel movie would you like to live out?
It is cliche, but I would say Eat Pray Love. Travel really is a route to self-discovery. We all need to go out and experience new cultures, meet new people, and get out of our comfort zones. That is when you really get to know yourself.
I Nominate
The Earth Travelers
Melissa and Toby of The Earth Travelers have an amazing blog that focuses on sustainable travel. It is so important to be as eco-friendly as possible when you travel, and this blog is an excellent place to learn more about how to do so! Also, they are currently taking a lap around Australia, so you should check out their blog to read more about their adventures!
The Timeless Voyagers
Daniel and Jordan of The Timeless Voyagers share their travel experiences on their blog. Based in South Africa, they share all sorts of wonderful outdoor adventures. From stories about their travels to poems about a hike, their blog is one that you should definitely be reading!
Outside Nomad
Jill and August of Outside Nomad decided to pack up their “normal” lives and travel while blogging about it! Their blog contains so many great posts about everything from travel stories to sustainable travel to van life. This blog is full of useful information and you should be reading it, especially if you are considering leaving your day job to travel the world!
My Questions
If you are walking through the woods and can only photograph one thing while you are there, would you choose an owl sitting high up in a tree, a very old, large tree with lots of character, or a flower/plant that you have never seen before? Why?
What kind of museum do you prefer to visit? (i.e. natural history, art, architectural, historical, etc.)
You are walking through a new city when suddenly a scent catches your attention and you are instantly homesick. What did you smell?
If you could have any job, the kind where it doesn’t feel like work, what would it be and why?
Magic exists, but you can only specialize in one kind of magic based on the elements (earth, air, fire, water), which one would you specialize in and why?
Which technology would you be most interested in? A phone with a battery that never dies, a car that never needs to be refueled, or free wifi everywhere that always has a strong signal?
Nominees, remember to submit your response by December 25, link back to The Global Aussie’s Liebster Award rules, and post your link on the page here to be entered to win the award!
