Honestly, I had never heard of the ‘Liebster Blog Awards’ until I was nominated yesterday. But then again, I have not yet set off on my travels and am only a novice in the blogging world!
As soon as I received the comment from Arden at The Friendly Giraffe (love your blog by the way!) nominating me as one of her eleven, I immediately looked it up. The rules seem simple enough and it was a great way for me to discover loads of really awesome blogs, so here we go:
The Rules:
- Share 11 random facts about yourself
- Answer the 11 questions from the person who nominated you
- Nominate 11 new bloggers and ask them 11 questions
My Random Facts:
- I am named after a chicken
- I am an avid believer in the possibility of the existence of Unicorns
- I have a travel buddy called Gerald – he is a mouse
- The first time I flew was a 32 hour flight to New Zealand, aged 21 months
- I am attempting to visit a different country for each year of my life
- I love rainbows
- I REALLY want to go bungee jumping
- I think the ‘Hitch Hikers’ Guide to the Galaxy’ is the best trilogy (of four) ever
- I once bit a teacher
- If I could, I would wear shorts every day
- My motto is: “Smile, and don’t die!” It is the best advice I could give you for life
My 11 answers:
1. When overseas, what measure do you take in order to “blend in”? Do they work?
So far on my travels I have never made an outright effort to blend into the crowd. I don’t mind being different if it is the only way to stay true to who I am. Having said that, before even having left for India I have bought a Salwar Kameez! Just too excited!
2. How important is it for you to learn the language before traveling to a foreign country? Share a funny story of a misunderstanding due to language barriers.
I think it is massively important to make an effort to learn the language of the country you are travelling to, not only beneficial for you, but also out of respect for its inhabitants. I have lived in France for ten years and I know what it is like to have the problem of a language barrier but if you make that effort, you will find that people respect you more and life is a lot easier for everyone.
Once in Greece, a long time ago when I must have been about six, my sister and I asked the bartender if we could use the pool that was attached to the bar: “ναί” he replied (pronounced nay). My sister and I automatically presumed this meant no and returned to our family and friends. It was only later that night, when we were recounting our misfortune that our Dad explained, laughing at us all the while, that ναί actually means yes! We should have learned the basics before we left!
3. If you hop on a plane to celebrate a specific festival, ceremony or holiday – what would it be and where?
Tough one! I think it would either have to be Songkran Water Festival in Thailand (April) or Holi Festival in India (February).
4. List the top 5 places (countries, landmarks, cities, etc) you would recommend everyone visit before they die.
– Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
– The Taj Mahal, Agra, India (next on my list)
– Temples in Cambodia (not particularly Angkor Wat, I like the older, more dilapidated ones)
– The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
– Camden, London, England – My home town
Now, my travels are not that extensive, so I may well want to update these answers at a later date!
5. What’s the “riskiest” travel stunt you’ve ever pulled?
Quite frankly, probably jumping off the old fashioned London buses (the ones with the open back and the pole where the conductor stood) whilst they were still moving.
6. What are the BEST and WORST foods you’ve had while traveling overseas?
I can’t think of anything really bad although I wasn’t keen on ostrich sausages in South Africa. Funny one for best food: Mexican…. In Berlin.
7. Describe your ideal sunset. Where would it be?
My ideal sunset would be at sea, not within sight of land so that I could witness the Green Flash.
8. If you could meet up with any historical figure (poet, politician, activist, singer, etc) in their home country, who would you meet, and why?
Ummm, would probably have to be Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard) because I have always had a fascination with pirates and the women pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read were also part of his crew!
9. What’s the best part of coming home after your travels?
Hugs.
10. What is your favourite inspirational travel quote?
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
11. What are your 5 “must haves” when packing for an overseas adventure?
– Gerald
– Sleeping bag – you never know when you might need it!
– Camera
– Music (iPod or whatever)
– Passport, obviously!
My 11 Question:
- If something could stop you travelling, what would it be?
- If you had to choose one country and stay there, where would you pick?
- What is the strangest thing you have seen whilst travelling?
- If you could re-live one day of your travels, which would it be?
- Have you met someone on your travels that really made an impact on you/your life? Who and where?
- Have you ever been arrested whilst travelling? Or had a major misunderstanding? Please share!
- What has been your most terrifying experience?
- Whether you ever make it there or not, where in the world would you most like to go?
- What got you travelling in the first place?
- Which of your personal attributes comes in most handy when you are on the road?
- If you were a cartoon character, who would you be and why?
My 11 nominees:
– Alli: Alli Blair’s Travel Bug
– Elizabeth: Eat, Pray, Serve
– Lauren : Never Ending Footsteps
– Laura Dekker
– Hayley : From Africa to Equador
– Ailsa : Where’s my backpack ?
– Shannon: A little adrift
– Jenny: JENNYRTW
– Sally and Al: Artemis
– Diana: D travels round
– Carole: Footsteps and photos
Amy the Nomad 
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