Before I went on my RTW travels, I could be often found stalking other travel blogs but what really interested me was the person behind the witticisms of their writing. Who are they? Are they real? Are they fit? So hence, for a long time coming, I wanted to do some travel blogging interviews and crack them open for their rawness inspiration of travel inside. Think Michael Parkinson.
This week’s interview is no other than the most professional travel blogger around. He’s fallen in love with the Jurassic Coast as his many walks there will show you, he’s very well connected and he just seems to travel everywhere at the drop of a hat! This flirty guy, who I met at the World Travel Market, has many girls swooning after him as he regales his travels whilst buying you that jagerbomb and he’s about to hit the road yet again and perhaps his journeytom travels will soon become couply as he’s about to tie the knot this year (congrats dude). Without much further ado, I give you tom of journeytom!
- Name – Tom
2. Twitter: @journeytom
3. Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/journeytom
4. Blog URL: journeytom.com
5. Where are you originally from and where are you now?
I’m originally from Dorset in the UK it was a great place to grow up and has an amazing stretch of coastline. I still live here now and love it just as much as ever. I tell the world about how great Dorset is especially now the Jurassic Coast is England’s only Natural World Heritage site. (Check out his photo blogs on it, it’s great!)
6. Describe yourself in 3 words.
Pretty fly whiteguy
7. Tell us about your blog. What makes your blog unique from all the other bloggers out there?
My blog covers mainly Europe as I travel there a lot but also Asia and the USA. Travel and seeing the world has been my passion since I was just a little kid. I love the blogging community and really enjoying writing and interacting with all the other great bloggers out there. I guess my uniqueness is my take on the experience of a journey I literally take travel to the bare minimum and enjoy every place for what it is.
8. Why did you start writing a blog? And did you find it easy to set up?
In the past I had written some destination guides for other sites. I really enjoyed it and thought I’d start my own blog. I found it fairly easy to set up but its time consuming and you need to be open minded to learning lots quickly!
9. If you had to travel with 3 other travel bloggers who would they be?
Hmmm hard one I’d go for Lefi aka The Runaway guide https://twitter.com/TheRunawayGuide
I love the fact he left home at 16 and just hit the road
I’d also like to do a little trip with the sundayfundayz they did my favourite travel video of 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD2l1fpWJeo
https://twitter.com/sundayfundayz
And the last one I’d pick Emma Sparks as we share the same insane love for Michael Palin. (Ed Note: Unrequited love?)
https://twitter.com/Emma_Sparks
10. What’s the best advice you can give for new bloggers?
Do it, have fun, network and get to tweet ups!
11. Other than a job, what’s the easiest way to make money for travels?
Depends if you have a sexy enough body to sell! 😉 (Ed Note: So you go one US Dollar?)
There is no easy way to make money but I’d say sell those expensive TV’s and gadgets and downgrade. Whilst we all rely on modern technology we don’t need the most expensive!
12. Where have you been in the world? And which was the best, worst, funniest, most random and scariest?
I done a lot of Europe, Asia and Australia plus most of Florida.
Best place is a hard one I’m not sure I can pick. I have lots of best places for lots of different reasons.
Worst – I don’t really have a worst, I enjoy every place I visit for what it is but to be honest I didn’t really like Patong in Phuket 6 hours there was more than enough for me. (Ed Note: I lasted 2 hours)
Funniest place – Walt Disney World is pretty funny when you think of it, it’s all so fake. I thought I’d hate but walked around with a permanent smile on my face.
Most Random – Playing Frisbee underneath the HSBC building in Hong Kong at 2am whilst the security guards look on perplexed
Scariest – is having a knife pulled on me at Sydney Central train station. (Ed Note: Wow!)
13. Naughtiest experience on your travels?
I can’t tell you I’m afraid. I keep my cards close to my chest and as they say a Gentlemen never tells. (Ed Note: i.e he’s getting married and doesn’t want his fiance to find out!)
14. Luggage or Backpack?
Both – it really depends where I am going and what type of trip I’m doing
15. Top 3 items that you would save from your backpack if it was about to be sunk in shark infested waters?
Camera, Wallet and passport I could replace everything else
16. Skydiving or Bungee Jumping?
I’ve not done either! I thought they were both quite expensive so I spent my money on other stuff. I’d like to try both though. (Ed Note: I recommend Bungee Jumping!)
17. Best travel idol (aside from me, of course) that you would want to sit next to on the plane?
Michael Palin – I love him just a little bit
18. What’s your party trick to show to other backpackers in hostels?
I like to play a bit of guitar and get the party started. I can’t sing though so I persuade others to do that
19. Hostel, Guesthouse, Hotel or Couchsurf?
Either hostel or guesthouses. I prefer spending my money at independently run places. Obviously I stay in a hotel every now and then but the vibe just isn’t the same
20. Day Trip, Backpack or live? UK, Australia or Vietnam?
Day Trip – UK
Backpack – Vietnam
Live – Australia
21. Lonely Planet or Rough Guide?
100% Lonely Planet – I love the history of the brand and have read a great book about how Tony and Maureen Wheeler set the company up. I collect the books and pride of place in my collection is a second edition of South East Asia on a Shoestring, I’ve yet to find a first edition copy yet.
22. Will you go out with me, a sexy, tall, dark and handsome god?
I will go out for a drink with you and help you find someone who also thinks you’re a sexy tall, dark, and handsome god unfortunately I don’t think this haha 😉 (Ed Note: I’m absolutely devastated)
23. Did you find love on your travels?
Yeah Chicken Satay!! The stuffs amazing I eat it every week
24. Would you go on I’m a Celebrity and eat pig’s testicles?
If I became a celeb I would go for it its quite a cool show compared to some of the other reality crap
25. And possibly, the most important question…Neighbours or Home and Away?!
I watched Neighbours as a kid but I actually watch Home and Away these days! It’s has a few sexy surfer chicks enjoying the beach lifestyle. Summer Bay looks like a cool place to live.
26. Which 3 songs have you played the most on your ipod on your travels?
Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better
Incubus – Wish you were here
Notwist – One with the freaks
27. You travelled on your own, how did that go for you and did you find it easy to make new friends on the road?
To be honest it was a little difficult at first but once you get into the swing of things it was easy to meet new friends. I am quite an outgoing, flirtatious person and will talk to anyone though! (Ed Note: he’s pretty flirty)
28. What are your next travel plans?
I am not sure exactly where is next but I am off to New York, Nevada and California in September 2013.
29. What’s the best advice you can give to first time travellers?
Don’t sit in a hostel bar and surf the net! Forget the free wifi and actually interact with the people around you. There’s nothing more I hate than rocking up at a hostel to see everyone glued to a screen checking emails, facebook and chatting with people from back home. (Ed Note: I hear ya brother!)
30. Finally, tell us a funny travel story…
I was with my granddad and had a 12 hour delay at Turin airport once, I was only about 15. It was pretty crappy and overnight so everyone was trying to get some sleep. Not my granddad though he stuck on a Navy Lark tape (funny radio comedy check it out) and proceed to laugh out loud and nudge me every time he loved a joke. I found his laughter pretty infectious so we were both there giggling at 3am in the morning whilst getting dirty looks off all the other grumpy passengers!
Whilst a little funny story it did teach me a valuable lesson when it comes to travel. Enjoy everything. I sat there in the airport watching my granddad constantly laugh oblivious to the delay whilst other people moaned and groaned and pulled faces. Enjoy it all, everything is part of the experience!
Thanks Tom for doing this interview! If you would like to know more about his journeys, click here
If you would like to have an interview, please drop an email to rexyedventures@gmail.com and we’ll get you featured on here!
