Traveler Tuesday – Lisa of Rebellious Tourist

I grew up military living all over the world and outside of military and diplomatic families, didn't realize that there were people in other families around the world who had parents whose careers led them around the globe as well. That is the life that Lisa of Rebellious Tourist had. And it seems like I, that kind of childhood gave her a little bit of the travel bug.

Let’s meet Lisa!

[1] When and how did you become a traveler?
It’s my parents’ fault! I’m half-Swedish, half-Filipina, I was born in Stockholm but grew up following my economist dad’s projects in developing countries – we moved almost every year between countries in Southeast Asia and Africa. As an adult, I settled in the UK, but I still need a regular dose of travel to soothe my itchy feet.

[2] What kind of traveler do you define yourself as?
The term ‘flashpacker’ probably fits, though I’d never use it myself! I have a full-time job, so my travels are short-term but long-haul. I try to see as much of the world as I can in 20-something days of annual leave.

[3] Which country do you come from/call home?
I call London home. I’ve lived here for 16 years and it’s the most culturally diverse city in the world, so these are my people.

[4] What do you crave from home when you are traveling?
My sofa and TV, if anything! I’m constantly on the move when I’m travelling, and I sometimes wish I could spend a day doing nothing without feeling like I’m wasting time.

[5] Tell us about your blog
People talk about ‘travellers’ vs ‘tourists,’ as if the latter is a dirty word and it’s not ‘real’ travel unless you’ve quit your job to go backpacking for several years. Bloggers can be competitive, but we should be inspiring people to travel with however much time they can spare. Rebellious Tourist is all about big itineraries on short timescales. It’s still a young blog, but I’m working on lots of ideas and recommendations, the trip plans that resulted from weeks of research, and the things I learned the hard way – the ‘must-see’ and ‘could have skipped’ places.

[6] What do you love most about traveling?
It sounds cheesy, but it’s the thrill of the unknown – you can research a place to pieces, but you still have no idea how it feels until you’re there. It’s as if it wakes up the senses – you’re forced to be alert and take everything in.

[7] What do you dislike about traveling?
The expense, the many hours in airports, and those days when you’re so tired of being alert that you find yourself eating a big mac in McDonald’s just because it’s familiar.

[8] How do you prepare for a trip?
Lots of research – I’ll write an exhaustively detailed itinerary, lists of restaurant, bar and activity recommendations, a packing list and estimated budget in a Google spreadsheet. Download maps of my destinations. Print flight info, and save any hotel and transport bookings to my phone. Pack the night before and probably get far too little sleep.

[9] You have won the lottery, now tell us where you want to live.
Four months of the year in London, three months in Barcelona, three months in Buenos Aires, one (summer) month in Chicago, and one month in Cebu in the Philippines.

[10] Travel essentials – 3 things you always travel with.
My camera, my Kindle and my Clarity credit card (no foreign exchange fees!).

[11] What is your favorite article of clothing?
Uniqlo legging jeans, perfect for staying comfy on long-haul flights without looking scruffy.

[12] Your single most treasured personal possession.
My EU passport.

[13] Do you have a piece of advice for bloggers starting out?
It's easy to obsess over traffic stats, but the important thing is to keep writing great content. Create a blog that you would want to read. Facebook groups are brilliant to get to know other bloggers and learn from the experts, but remember there are many different ways to succeed – you don’t have to aim for a particular number of re-pins, for example, just because someone else is.

[14] What are three other blogs that inspire you?
These are not travel blogs, but I was addicted to Love My Dress before my wedding last year, as it’s built a strong community around inspirational content; and Brain Pickings is consistently thought-provoking. I also like Legal Nomads, which has lots of great advice about travel blogging.

[15] Your favorite travel resource on the web?
Skyscanner is invaluable for flight searches, and TripAdvisor forums are helpful for up-to-date advice when I’m planning a trip.

Lisa's Lightning Round of Favorites

Airport: Singapore
Mode of Transportation: Walking
Window or aisle: Window
City: London
Country: Spain
Travel Gear: Osprey bags
Travel snack: Crisps (one of the great joys of landing in a new country is seeing what flavours they have!)
Book: I have a different favourite every month, but right now it’s ‘The Humans’ by Matt Haig
Movie: Ocean’s Eleven
Song: ‘As We Ran’ by the National Parks
Quote: ‘Take everything with a sense of humour’ – my dad

Thanks, Lisa!

You can keep up with Lisa on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and of course on her blog. Wherever you catch her, I am sure you will enjoy her adventures!

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