Traveler Tuesday – Tom of The Travelling Tom

Tom of The Traveling Tom is a self-prescribed travel addict who is a fantastic resource for learning how to become an ESL teacher to fund your addiction. I really like his gear reviews, they are thoughtful and well done. He's a bit of an expert when it comes to backpacking too!

Let’s meet travel blogger Tom!

[1] When and how did you become a traveler?
I became a traveler in November 2012, when I left England to go to Australia on a working holiday visa. I’d always wanted to go to Australia and I finally worked up the courage to go by myself. I loved every minute of it and I have been travelling or living abroad nearly every year since.

[2] What kind of traveler do you define yourself as?
I would say I’m a slow traveller. I’m not a fan of going to a country and only seeing a few places. I want to see as many places in the country as I can. That way I get a better feel for the culture and the beauty of the place as a whole. I’m also not much of a planner. I normally just show up to a new city and start wandering in whatever direction I like. I find it the best way to explore a new city.

[3] What do you love most about traveling?
I love the freedom it gives me. I often feel like I’m trapped in certain areas. Travelling allows me to explore places that I’ve always been curious about. I’ve always been inquisitive and loved exploring. As a child, I would always go exploring the woods near my house. Travelling has allowed me to tap into this childlike curious that I don’t want to lose touch with.

[4] What do you dislike about traveling?
I’m not a fan of the length of time it can take to get somewhere. This is perfectly fine if you’re driving, as you can stop the car when and where you please. However, if you’re on a plane or train, it feels like you’re trapped until you reach your destination. It’s slightly better on planes, due to the onboard entertainment on long-haul flights. But, long-distance train journeys can drag!

[5] Why should people travel?
Quite simply, because travelling is in our DNA. We are nomadic as a species. To be curious about the world and want to travel is simply natural. The world is more interconnected than ever before, it’s never been easier to travel. To not do so, would be a crime!

[6] What famous person would you like to travel with?
I would love to travel with Sean Connery. He would be an interesting person to have around. He must have a lot of interesting stories. I can’t envision him running out of anecdotes. It would be great to pick his brain during a road trip too.

[7] Travel essentials – 3 things you always travel with
I always take my iPad with me. It’s more practical than my laptop. After nearly getting pickpocketed a few times while living in Barcelona, I always take my Bobby anti-theft backpack to keep my valuables safe. The last one is my refillable water bottle. I hate buying bottled water, as it’s bad for the environment.

[8] If you’re a foodie, what's your favorite food city? Do you have a restaurant recommendation?
Melbourne is the perfect city if you’re a foodie. Due to the influx of immigrants, there is cuisine from almost every corner of the globe. I don’t have a specific recommendation, as I went to a lot of different places while I lived there. I would head to certain areas and streets though. Lygon Street, Brunswick Street, and Fitzroy are excellent places to find great cafes and restaurants.

[9] What's one location on your bucket list?
I really want to visit Norway. The landscape looks familiar to New Zealand and I absolutely loved it there. Every photo I’ve seen of Norway has been spectacular. Plus, I want to see the Northern Lights as well. Norway would be the ideal place to do so!

[10] Do you have a piece of advice for bloggers starting out?
Persistence is key. It can be disheartening at first when your blog has hardly any visitors. But, if you keep working at it day after day, you will start to see improvements. There’s no such thing as an overnight success, there is a lot of hard work involved. It’s worth it in the long run though!

Tom's Lightning Round of Favorites

Airport: Changi Airport
Mode of Transportation: Car
City or Country: New Zealand
Travel Gear: Bobby anti-theft backpack
Travel snack: Panini
Book: Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoevsky
Movie: Jurassic Park
Song: The Less I Know The Better – Tame Impala

Thanks Tom!

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

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

Like it? PIN it!