Meet the Nomads – Roy of The Riding Dutchman

Roy is a college graduate who’s passionate with travelling and experiencing various cultures. I got to meet Roy online when he blogged about his trip to the Philippines.

You’ll find a lot of travel inspiration in Roy’s blog as he shares his perspectives about various places he’s been to.

Get to know Roy more and visit his blog at The Riding Dutchman.

Here’s my short interview with Roy.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“When I was on an internship for five months in Malaysia I was given the wonderful opportunity of AirAsia flights. Because travel was so cheap in this area of the world, me and my room-mates flew out almost every weekend, going on Friday night and returning on a Sunday night. I started getting familiar with new cultures while also getting pulled into the Malay lifestyle. I’ll never let go of this experience and I’m always looking for more.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“When I was on a ferry to Pulau Langkawi in Malaysia, the engines caught fire. All of a sudden, the boat stopped and we could smell it everywhere. People were already putting on life jackets as the captain and his crew made way to the back.

The fire was put out, the captain came back with a dirty face and we continued our journey to Langkawi. I know that for some there might be more horrible experiences and trust me, I had my share. But the truth is that I have had a ferry-phobia from birth and being on a ferry while it catches fire doesn’t really contribute to my calmness.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“I have so many! It’s really hard to claim one as ‘the best’. The one that has changed me the most however was when I went to Tayabas in The Philippines and stayed with locals. They have shown me around the area which involves parts of nature so untouched I wouldn’t even want to write about it! The way these people live in the most beautiful region on the planet makes me both depressed and euphoric at the same time. It has given me an indescribable feeling that I think you can only find if you open your mind and let go of your fears of unknown territories.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“Travel is one realization after another. The most important thing is to let go of what we know, let go of our comfort zone and don’t be afraid. Once you open your mind to opportunities, other cultures and other people, you get so much in return. One experience after another; some good, some bad, but always a new story to add to our list that contributed to our personal growth.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“It’s the simple things. What keeps me going is not some life changing perspective, it’s actually very basic. It’s the taste of foreign food, the photography of sights other than I know. It’s the feeling of exploring places many people don’t go to and above all, it’s the feeling of a plane taking off. That last one is honestly the best feeling in the world! In the end, it’s all about experiences. Knowing that I can add another experience to my list. This doesn’t just limit itself to travelling, but to everything in life!”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Best question ever! Also really hard to answer haha. Here in Holland, we have a TV show called ‘Waar is de Mol?’ (Where is De Mol?). It’s about a presenter, Johnny de Mol, who takes Dutch celebrities to their favourite places in the world. Here he asks them personal and intimate questions as to why these places mean so much. Whenever I watch it, I always think how I would love to be on that show someday, showing everyone in Holland why Kuala Lumpur changed my life and what’s so amazing about it.”

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?

“The Philippines. It’s really diverse and still so untouched! There is beautiful nature everywhere and the differences between the islands are enormous. You could be chilling in the fresh mountain air in Baguio one day the next you’re taking a horse ride up a volcano. I have to say that Kuala Lumpur comes pretty close as well, but the differences between this city and The Philippines are too big. KL is a vibrant city filled with amazing nightlife, architecture and history. Kuala Lumpur offers me something called freedom. No matter where in the world I am, the personal freedom to do whatever I want to do is never as big as it is in Kuala Lumpur. So it’s really hard to choose between these two, it always depends on my mood!”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“Don’t be afraid! Just set the first step, you’d be surprised how uncalled for you fear was. Don’t limit yourself to your own comfort zone and always try to get as much out of life as possible. In Latin it’s called carpe diem. Don’t wave at opportunities as they pass by, grab them with both hands, hang them over your shoulder and take them on a trip!”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“Taking a car, a friend and just drove away from Rotterdam. We went south for destination Paris, but ended up in some cities along the highway and never made it passed Antwerp. Funniest day ever, we kind of got lost in the city, drove around in rush hour, parked at central station, had dinner and drove back.”

What do you think about yourself?

“Not to be corny lol, but I consider myself very adventurous and I always hope to inspire people to be more adventurous themselves. That’s me in a nutshell.”

“My blog is about inspiring people to travel more, to get them out of their comfort zones and have amazing experiences! It’s also about travel reflection, what are tips for current and starting travelers and what should you or shouldn’t you do in certain locations.” – Roy of The Riding Dutchman

Editor’s Note: All pics provided by Roy

Next: Paul Xymon Garcia of Walk Fly Pinoy. Previously: Angel Juarez of Lakwatsero. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.