Traveler Tuesday – Johanna of Lifestyle Fifty

Fun, feisty, funky, and over fifty, Johanna of Lifestyle Fifty has lived in 11 different countries and travelled to many more with her geologist husband and two (now) grown-up children. She and her husband continue to travel as ‘old fogies'. I'm totally jealous, last year Johanna was lucky enough to be asked to blog about a 104 night Princess Cruises world cruise – that is a dream trip for me!

Let’s meet travel blogger Johanna!

[1] When and how did you become a traveler?
I was 18 when I set off on a ferry, with my back pack and guitar, and waived the White Cliffs of Dover goodbye as I headed off to work as a groom for a showjumping family in Belgium. Prior to that, I’d never ever wanted to leave Devon in England, where I’d grown up, but setting off alone for the Continent gave me my first travel wings, and set the travel bug in motion. I married a geologist and together we’ve lived in 11 different countries and travelled to many more.

[2] What kind of traveler do you define yourself as?

My days of adventure travel, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, white water rafting, trekking in Nepal are over, and I suppose these days I’d define myself as more of a luxury traveller, but I really enjoy cultural travel and hiking. However, I’m also happy to backpack and camp (glamping if possible!) I really enjoy sitting around a campfire with a cold beer after a long walk with friends or family but I also really love sitting beside a sparkling blue swimming pool in beautiful tropical gardens with a long cold cocktail, after a day’s sightseeing, at a luxurious resort somewhere like Bali! So I’m a bit of a mixed traveller but not an adrenaline junkie.

[3] What do you love most about travelling?

I love the freedom it gives you. I love the idea that there will be different things to do and see, and different people to meet. I love the feeling that anything’s possible and there’s no daily routine. I also love how travelling wrestles me from my comfort zone and opens my eyes to new things and I return home refreshed and renewed, often feeling more confident about myself and my abilities too. Most of all I love making memories to treasure for the rest of my life.

[4] What do you dislike about travelling?

I dislike long waits and long queues at airports. I’m always a bit nervous about who I might sit next to on a plane on long haul flights if I’m travelling alone.

[5] Why should people travel?

When you travel you have a vaster sense of possibility about the world and your life. Your horizons broaden. You begin to think more ambitiously about life. Travelling snaps you out of comfort ruts too and increases your confidence. It also makes you realise that although human beings mostly all want and hope for the same basic things, there is never a ‘one size fits all’ solution to anything, and travelling helps you understand and appreciate diversity.

[6] What famous person would you like to travel with?

Michael Palin

[7] Travel essentials – 3 things you always travel with.

MacBook Air. Samsung Galaxy phone (with built-in camera). Small medical kit.

[8] If you’re a foodie, what's your favorite food city? Do you have a restaurant recommendation?

I love Thai and Malaysian food, so Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur would be high on the list as food cities for me.

[9] What's one location on your bucket list?

I’d love to visit the Norwegian fjords.

[10] Do you have a piece of advice for bloggers starting out?

Don’t compare yourselves to other bloggers, but applaud the unique perspective you bring to your blog and through your own individuality be helpful to your readers. Create useful, chat-worthy content that is likely to be shared. Help other bloggers with your time and knowledge and share other people’s content as much as you share your own.

Johanna's Lightning Round of Favorites

Airport: Broome, Australia (so quaint and tiny)

Mode of Transportation: Train

City or Country: Tallin, Estonia (for architecture and history) and Raiatea, French Polynesia (tropical paradise)

Travel Gear: Small suitcase with wheels, and smallish carry-on day pack rucksack.

Travel snack: Egg mayonnaise sandwich – or if I’m somewhere tropical then a fresh mango, please.

Book: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Movie: Les Miserables (makes me cry every time)

Song: Money for Nothing, Dire Straits (I’m dancing already).

Thanks Johanna!

You can keep up with Johanna on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and of course on her blog. Johana also runs another blog ZigZag Magazine about the remote state of Western Australia – ZigaZag, which you can also find on Facebook. Wherever you catch her, I am sure you will enjoy her travel adventures!

How about you? What would you like to know about Johanna?

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