Random Traveller #1

Posted on 08. Apr, 2010 by Kirsty in Meet A Random Traveller

Welcome to round 1 of  ‘Meet a Random Traveller’. Once we hit the road this section will be dedicated to the people we meet along the way but, until then, we shall meet some of the guys and gals who have beat us to it and are already out there doing their thing. So to start us off……..Random Traveller #1.

Shooting like crazy in the mountains of Oman

Who are you?
I’m just an ex-HR officer in his 30s who got fed up with a 9-5 job in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and left his comfort zone to realize his dreams: Travel & Photography.  “Explore, Discover, Learn, Share” is the way I live. I’m a slow traveler, I walk, take my time, immerse in the places I visit. You can find my photography work here: http://canvas-of-light.blogspot.com/ and my travel blog on: http://theworldtrail.blogspot.com/

Don’t you have a home to go to?
I always wonder: What is “home”? I grew up in a country different than the one I was born in and I never felt this feeling of belonging somewhere. I am multicultural, speak 5 languages so I can fit in easily everywhere.  Why did I chose to travel? I was unhappy with the comfortable but very superficial and materialistic life I was living in the U.A.E. There is so much more to see out there, so much to discover and learn. I wanted to explore and share the knowledge. I read about others doing it and asked myself: Why can’t I do it too.  I left my job and gave away all my unnecessary belongings to head into the unknown. That’s what’s exciting!

The island of Koh Samet in Thailand

Where have you been?
I started my journey 7 months ago (September 2009) in Europe. I visited most Western European countries, walked 2000km in Spain, hiked mountains in Iceland, joined the Climate Conference Demo in Copenhaguen, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium.. Then headed to the Gulf (Lebanon, UAE, Oman) and South East Asia. Currently in Bangkok after a month in China.

Where are you heading to?
In a week I’ll head back to the UAE to see my family and will return to Thailand where I’ll probably stay temporarily and work on my photography and blogs in Chiang Mai before I continue traveling. No real plans next.. I usually follow my instincts in the last moment.

A Sunset over the Ocean in Finisterra, the furthest most western tip of Spain.

What’s your favorite place so far?
Of all the countries I visited, my favorite one so far is Iceland. The landscapes, the people, the northern lights all make it such a special place to be. But I should also include the long walk I did in Spain: the “Camino de Santiago” Path. It was a life changing event and a beautiful human experience.

What’s in your bag that you are yet to touch?
I don’t really travel light. I guess I’m more a flashpacker than a backpacker. I do carry a netbook, a heavy camera with different lenses, an ipod and a psp for those long rides. The only thing I have never used in my backpack is actually my small tripod (Gorillapod). I never needed long exposure shots till now. Maybe I should start using that!

Daniel.

A big thanks to Daniel for agreeing to take part in this. Check him out on Twitter at @Eloren

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Tags: Meet a Random Traveller