Meet the Nomads – Tanya of Magic Travel Blog

I always like discovering new blogs and new ways of travelling without spending tons of money and Magic Travel Blog does it’s job in helping newbie travellers learn tips and tricks that could help them travel cheaply.

Tanya has a background in IT and TEFL teaching and now working remotely and at the same time, doing housesitting gigs in different parts of the world. I first heard about house sitting from my previous Meet the Nomads article when I featured Dalene and Pete Heck of Hecktic Travels.

Magic Travel Blog has tons of information that you will definitely find interesting and extremely helpful.

Get to know more about Tanya and visit her at Magic Travel Blog.

but before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Tanya.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“I lived on a fruit and vegetable farm in the south west of Australia. During fruit and vegetable picking season we would have backpackers of many different nationalities come and stay with us and work on the farm.

From a very early age, around ten years old, I realised that there was more to the world than what was in my backyard, Australia. I spent a lot of time talking with the travellers and learning what was out there beyond my own country.

I probably asked way too many questions but this is how I realised I needed to travel. I needed to see the world and experience what other people experience in other countries.”

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

“Quite a few years ago, I headed to the islands of Thailand with my then boyfriend. We weren’t exactly a happy couple and day after day we fought terribly. All I wanted to do was leave but I couldn’t really so I stuck it out and tried to enjoy my time in Thailand.

I headed back to Thailand a few years later and headed back to those same islands as I wanted to renew my travel memories. I am glad I went back as those islands no longer have bad memories and are fabulous to me now!”

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

“The moment when Andrew and I landed in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2009. We had decided to quit our day jobs, fly to Thailand, complete a TEFL course and get jobs teaching English.

What made this travel experience the best is that we got to experience living in another country together, learning about another culture and the customs that make the country so special.”

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

“That the world is really a massive place and that unless I travel really really quickly, I have hardly any chance to see everything I want to. I can have fun trying though.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“My husband keeps me motivated. Luckily, we view seeing the world very similarly. We both like to travel very slowly and prefer to sit at a sidewalk food stall for an hour eating the local cuisine rather than spending that hour in yet another museum.

We tend to spend one week to four weeks in one location which helps us to not get too tired. Traveling slow like this helps us spend more time living in a new place instead of just being a tourist.

Not missing our family and friends too much was also a main priority for us as when you get tired you tend to start missing your home. We solved this by agreeing to head back to our home country for at least two months per year. Knowing that we will see our family and friends in person also keeps me motivated.”

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?

“Ooh, this would have to be Rick Stein. He seems to be a fantastic person and loves his food probably more than I do but not by much. Thanks to his television show “Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey” I found out about Melaka and Penang and the delicious food that is created there. I would love to join him on one of his food tours of the world!”

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

“Hmm, this is a very tough question. I was first going to write about Melaka in Malaysia as I love the food, culture and history in the city. However, I am now in Taipei, Taiwan and I love this city!

We have been in Taipei now for just over one week now and I have found the city to be amazing. The local people are lovely, the food is delicious and cheap, and the streets are clean and walkable.

The city may be a tad more expensive than most Asian cities but the quality of lifestyle here is not toppable. Well, until I find my next favourite place in the world!”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“Unless you have someone to carry your bags for you, try to pack as light as possible. Even though you may think you will wear those five different pairs of shoes, in reality, you will only wear two pairs. Maybe three at the most. Same goes for the ten tops you have packed.

There is nothing worse than lugging around a massive backpack at two in the morning when you have just spent the last fourteen hours on a night bus!”

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

“Christmas Day 2008 and Andrew and I spent the morning in a lovely bungalow at the snowfields of Zakopane, Poland. I needed to chill the bottle of champagne we bought for Christmas breakfast so I headed out on the balcony to do so. Naked.

Such a thrilling moment going outside into the snow naked on Christmas Day. The champagne chilled in less than ten minutes and I started the day with a bang!”

What do you think about yourself?

“I see myself as someone who always disliked leading the life that I was taught to lead. I spent quite a few years of my adult life working to save money to travel and then coming back to work again to save more money to travel more.

Since I met Andrew, my desire to travel has changed. I think more about how we can afford to see the world long term instead of small four week trips here and there.

I am now an excellent forward planner who is using my late thirties to set my family up for the future which may or may not involve children, travel, or full time employment. Anything could happen after all!”

“Magic Travel Blog is a website Andrew and I set up to share our experiences with other people who want to visit the places we visit and lead similar lives to what we lead.

We write a lot about how to get from one place to another, how to live location independently and why we think eating food from a street stall is better than eating from a five star restaurant.” – Tanya of Magic Travel Blog

Editor’s Note: All pics are provided by Tanya.

Next: Andrew of Magic Travel Blog. Previously: Sam Kynman Cole of Sam’s Playground. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.