World Wide Kate

Interviews

This page will contain interviews with people I meet along my journey who are also exploring the world! Mind you, these are their answers! I’m not editing them so take what the English guys say lightly… Enjoy :)

 

Name: Kate Stice

Age: 22
Hometown: Atlanta, GA, USA
Other places lived: Tallahassee, FL and Leysin, Switzerland (6 week study abroad summer 2006)
Occupation: Wannabe professional explorer
Education: Florida State University
Time on the road this trip: 5 months
# of people traveling with: Technically 0 but I met up with people along the way
Places visited: New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Russia, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Belgium
Reason for travel: Make shift Grad School (the grad school of LIFE)
Other countries visited during lifetime: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, Mexico, Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands
Favorite city (and why): Barcelona, Spain- the food, the language, the architecture, the nightlife- what’s not to love?!
Favorite hostel: Gilligan’s in Cairns, Australia… Base in Queenstown, NZ… Paradise Cove in Mykonos, Greece… Budget Backpackers in Edinburgh, Scotland… Ars Hostel in Krakow, Poland…
Favorite bar: Any of the hostel rooms in which we drank… The back porch we had at Gilligan’s was an amazing time.  I had a lot of fun at The Kro’s Nest in Beijing but that might be bias.
Favorite restaurant: Cafe Odeon in Lagos, Portugal was delicious… Star Dog stands in Moscow were amazing… Ferg Burger in Queenstown, NZ, is everything I ever hoped for… Botafumeiro in Barcelona was probably the best fancy meal I’ve had in my life.
Loudest hostel: JumpInn Hostel in Krakow, Poland
Quietest hostel: Any of the YHAs in NZ, any hostel in Egypt, JumpInn Hostel (it managed to be both the loudest and the quietest- this is not a good thing!), the YHA in Oslo, Norway
Favorite food on the road: Candy? Sweden has really good yogurt with granola to mix in sold in all the convenience shops, Greggs in the UK is tasty and cheap, I bought an apple from a guy with a cart and a fancy apple peeler in Istanbul, the grilled cheeses with different choices for fillings found all over NZ were pretty tasty, gyros in Greece are an obvious choice…
Favorite new food: Stardogs!
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Sangria
Favorite activity: Anything that had you up and moving- loved NZ for the bungy jumping, canyon swinging and sky diving… Surfing in Portugal was cool… Rafting the Tully River in Cairns…  Going to zoos in any country… The Beijing Amusement Park was pretty awesome…
Favorite tour: Sydney Opera House was pretty interesting… The Cadburry Factory in Dunedin, NZ…
Favorite museum: Any of the ones that turned into zoos when you least expected, Lenin’s mausoleum
Best thing to do for free: Walking the Bus Tour routes
Scariest moment: Not having a place to stay for the night in Bergen, Norway, when I realized my train ticket was for the following day
Most beautiful place: Bergen, Norway… Wellington, NZ- the ferry ride over to Picton… Killarney Park in Killarney, Ireland…
Best weather: Spain, Portugal, Russia, Greece
Best photo opportunity: all of Bergan, Norway… the Milford Sound outside of Queenstown, NZ
Cheapest country: Egypt, Istanbul, China
Best bang for your buck: Beer tours (if they give tokens to you for your free beer check with the Asians since a lot of them aren’t drinking and they’ll give you their tokens!)
Cheapest internet: It was free at my hostels in Japan, Russia, Turkey, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Glasgow (but not in Edinburgh, Scotland), Spain
Most expensive internet: NZ, England, Australia, Greece
Average spent on internet a week: Depended on the Free Status.. but over the course of the trip I wouldn’t be surprised if I spent over $300 on the internet
Weirdest custom: Kisses on the cheek to greet someone in Belgium (even if you don’t know the person)
Best looking guys/girls: Guys: England, Girls: Spain
Most expensive city: London
Most expensive country: Ireland, Scotland, England, Norway, Denmark
Earliest morning: Starting out for the airport at 3AM
Latest night: Nights that run into mornings…
Place you would live if you could: Queenstown, NZ… Edinburgh, Scotland… Lagos, Portugal…
Best accent: Scottish
Nationality you ran across the most: Australian
Nationality you ran into the least: Russian, Swiss, people from Africa (aside from South Africans- they are everywhere!)
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: 133

Name: Tamahin Mehanni

Age: 25
Hometown: Rauma, Finland
Other places lived: Zaragoza, Spain
Occupation: Student (last year, fingers crossed)
Education: Master’s in Engineering, Tampere University of Technology (sad, I know)
Time on the road this trip: Only a week, dammit!!
# of people traveling with: Friend from Finland, called Mikko
Places visited: Barcelona, San Sebastian, Zaragoza
Reason for travel: Visiting old friends!!
Other countries visited during lifetime: Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, UK…maybe more, can’t remember
Favorite city (and why): Hmm…tough one, have to say Barcelona. Weather’s always nice, beach, good nightlife…
Favorite hostel: Sant Jordi Alberg, Barcelona
Hostel with the best bar connections: Above
Favorite bar: All with cool, calm, atmosphere
Favorite restaurant: Can’t remember the name, but in Paris
Loudest hostel: Loads
Quietest hostel: Mambo Tango, Barcelona
Favorite food on the road: Everything goes
Favorite new food: Bull’s tale, Sevilla
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Bacardi and coke, always!
Favorite activity: Discovering new things, or people!
Favorite tour: Tour in Vatican, crazy amount of information!
Favorite museum: Louvre, Paris
Best thing to do for free: Football in the park courts (Football means soccer, right? ;)
Scariest moment: In Ibiza, lost, drunk, no phone nor money, no idea of the name of my hostel, no idea where it was etc. but somehow managed…
Most beautiful place: La Alhambra, Granada
Best weather: Malaga, Spain
Best photo opportunity: Loads, everywhere
Cheapest country: Spain
Best bang for your buck: Chupitos (shots) in La Cucaracha, Zaragoza, if in Zaragoza this is a must!
Average spent on internet a week: Always use free Wi-Fi in Cafes
Weirdest custom: Burning Fallas in Valencia
Best looking guys/girls: Italy
Most expensive city: London
Most expensive country: Sweden/UK
Earliest morning: Loads in Spain
Latest night: Spain also, during Fiesta de Pilar
Place you would live if you could: Australia or South-America
Best accent: Love the South-American accent in Spanish!! Irish in English
Nationality you ran across the most: Traveling, Aussies!
Nationality you ran into the least: Other Scandinavians…why is that?

 Name: Jocelyn Andrew Karpy

Age: 22
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Other places lived: Tallahassee, FL. Leysin, Switz. Philadelphia, PA. Florence, Italy. Cairns, Aust. Chocowinity, NC. Arlington, VA. Washington D.C.  (I assume you wanted a completely comprehensive list?)
Occupation: Hotel Manager in Training, non-professional explorer.
Education: Florida State University
Time on the road this trip: 3 weeks
# of people traveling with: 30
Places visited: 3
Reason for travel: Education, curiosity
Other countries visited during lifetime: Canada, Mexico, BVI, Switz, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, UK, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Australia, aannnd the lovely US of A
Favorite city (and why): Edinburgh, Scotland. I was there around Halloween and it was amazing (Harry Potter, Frankenstein, Rocky Horror Picture Show). Awesome hostels, lots of backpackers and adventurous people to meet. Edinburgh Castle and the lowlands of Scotland- I love nature
Favorite hostel: Budget Backpackers, Edinburgh
Hostel with the best bar connections: Balmers, Interlaken, Switzerland. Can’t really beat Metro Bar in the basement
Favorite bar: Ever???? Wow. Um. Blue Parrot in Cancun, Mexico
Favorite restaurant: Ever? This is serious. I don’t have one.
Loudest hostel: Issac’s, Dublin, Ireland
Quietest hostel: That one in Vienna, Austria…Padlock or Keylock..THE PASSAGE. Lame.
Favorite food on the road: Pb and honey sandwich
Favorite new food: Kebab- fallafel
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Gin and tonic, all beer
Favorite activity: Exploring everything, bungy jumping
Favorite tour: The free one that came with Budget Backpackers in Edinburgh or any tour given by Geoff in Cairns
Favorite museum: Dali in Figueres Spain
Best thing to do for free: Sit in parks, appreciate nature
Scariest moment: Oh well, anytime getting lost while drunk and alone. That hostile shoe from spanish punks on a train in Barcelona.
Most beautiful place: The beach at Trinity Park at sunrise in Cairns, Australia, with the best company
Best weather: Mexico…Aculpoco
Best photo opportunity: Killarney, Ireland. Anywhere with green grass and sheep
Cheapest country: Um….None.
Best bang for your buck: Pub crawlsss!!!! Meet people, get free drinks, romp around hammered and with other people. Totally safe
Cheapest internet: The free internet in my room at Cairns Student Lodge
Most expensive internet: Can’t really remember…I feel like Balmer’s in Interlaken, Switzerland, had the most insane prices for everything though
Average spent on internet a week: Prob about 20Euro while traveling
Weirdest custom: Getting hit on outright in Italy ALWAYS. Italian men are repulsive.
Best looking guys/girls: Aust- boys, girls- um US i hope
Most expensive city: Any city in Switzerland…Zurich or Interlaken I’d say, I mean even Bern was unnecessary
Most expensive country: Duh, Switz
Earliest morning: The kind when the night never ended. Probably the morning I went skydiving after a 2-happy hour and too long regular bar hour night at Metro Bar in Interlaken
Latest night: Into morning
Place you would live if you could: Scotland…Anywhere. Or Aust.
Best accent: Oh gosh…Australian so friendly. Close to Brits though
Nationality you ran across the most: Australians
Nationality you ran into the least: Anyone African. I met like one African person who was like 1/2 African too. Not South Africans either, just general Africans
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: trip to Aust? Poss like 40 to 50 I think

 

Name: Drew Hillery / Brendan Batt

Age: 23 / 23
Hometown: New Orleans / New Orleans
Other places lived: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Los Angeles Ca / Baton Rouge
Occupation: Sales / Student
Education: Alabama/ LSU. Bachelor
Time on the road this trip:18 days
# of people traveling with: 1
Places visited: Meneral Vody Russia , Moscow Russia
Reason for travel: Glacier climb / epic snowboard
Other countries visited during lifetime: too many to name
Favorite city (and why): New Orleans , We shouldnt have to explain
Favorite hostel: Only one was Napoleon in Moscow
 Favorite bar: Gritz Bar, New Orleans, LA
Favorite food on the road: beef jerky
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Gin and Tonic
Favorite activity: Surfing / glacier climbing
Favorite tour: London castle
 Best thing to do for free:  Russian hookers
 Scariest moment: dropping down the Mt.Elbrus Summit ridge on a snowboard @18,510 ft
Most beautiful place: summit of Mt. Elbrus
Best weather: LA, Cali
Best photo opportunity: Summit of Mt. Elbrus
Cheapest country: Georgia
Best bang for your buck: Drinking vodka outside the Kremlin in Moscow
Best looking guys/girls: Moscow
Most expensive city: Moscow
Earliest morning: summit day 2 AM- 5pm next day for summit
Latest night: all night in Moscow
Nationality you ran across the most: Russian

 

Name: Pierre Piton

Age: 21
Hometown: Aarhus, Denmark
Occupation: Student, Bartender and private business owner.
Education: Aarhus School of Business (Grad)
Time on the road this trip: 10 days
# of people traveling with: 3 others
Places visited: Krakow and Berlin
Reason for travel: cheap beer.
Other countries visited during lifetime: uh.. A lot…
Favorite bar: Irish Mbassy
Favorite restaurant: Irish Mbassy
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Beer
Favorite activity: Dancing
Scariest moment: arrested in Krakow, corrupt cops.
Cheapest country: Poland
Best bang for your buck: miniature golf and cheap good beer,
Average spent on internet a week: 0
Best looking guys/girls: Kate Stice of course :)
Most expensive city: Berlin
Most expensive country: Germany
Place you would live if you could: Jamaica
Nationality you ran across the most: Americans
Nationality you ran into the least: French
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: 7

 

Name: Michael Boyle

Age: 21
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Other places lived: Tallahassee, FL
Occupation: Student
Education: Florida State University
Time on the road this trip: 2 months
# of people traveling with: 35
Places visited: Australia
Reason for travel: study abroad
Other countries visited during lifetime: Dominican Republic, Bahamas, U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Honduras.
Favorite city (and why): New York, the lifestyle there.
Favorite hostel: Byron Bay YHA hostel
Favorite bar: Gilligan’s? (Cairns, Australia)
Favorite food on the road:beer
Favorite new food: Australian beer
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Victoria Bitter
Favorite activity: Sleeping
Favorite tour: Sydney bus tour
Favorite museum: Museum of Beer
Best thing to do for free: sleep on a park bench
Scariest moment: realizing I lost my wallet, phone, and key.
Most beautiful place: Byron Bay
Best weather: Byron Bay in the Fall (Spring for the U.S?)
Best photo opportunity: Surfing in Byron Bay
Cheapest country: Mexico
Best bang for your buck: Hostels
Cheapest internet: its the same at all the internet cafes in Australia
Most expensive internet: Park Place Hotel in Sydney
Average spent on internet a week: couple of hours
Weirdest custom: looking right instead of left when crossing the street
Best looking guys/girls: Irish girls
Most expensive city: Sydney
Most expensive country: Australia
Earliest morning: Waking up after a 15 hour flight and having the worst jet lag imaginable
Latest night: traveling from Brisbane to Sydney, Sydney to LA, then LA to Miami. 2 day trip
Place you would live if you could: Byron Bay, Australia
Best accent: Irish
Nationality you ran across the most: Australian
Nationality you ran into the least: Swiss
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: 20-30

 

Name: Hana Tasic

Age: 20
Hometown: Toronto, ON, Canada
Other places lived: Koprivnica, Croatia & Nis, Serbia
Occupation: Student and physiotherapy assistant
Education: finished 2 years of undergraduate business studies at York University
Time on the road this trip: 3 weeks
# of people traveling with: 1
Places visited: Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Poros
Reason for travel: pleasure
Other countries visited during this lifetime: Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, France, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Cuba, USA
Favorite city (and why): Paris, France - it has great energy
Favorite hostel: Camping Roma (Rome), or Paradise Beach (Mykonos)
Hostel with the best bar connections: Paradise Beach in Mykonos
Favorite bar: the one at Camping Roma
Favorite restaurant: forgot the name, but somewhere in Heraklion, Crete where our cute hostel owner directed us :)
Loudest hostel: Paradise Beach
Quietest hostel: Hotel Rea, Heraklion
Favorite food on the road: gyros
Favorite new food: yogurt and honey
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Gordon’s Space
Favorite activity: swimming
Favorite tour: the one around Santorini - volcano, hot springs, the sunset in Oia we missed
Favorite museum: didn’t do any museums on this trip
Best thing to do for free: soak up the sun
Scariest moment: being stalked by an Athenian waiter - we were actually paranoid he would find us on every island even when I lied about our whereabouts
Most beautiful place: Oia, Santorini
Best weather: all over Greece
Best photo opportunity: Oia, Santorini
Best bang for your buck: 2 gyros & 2 waters for 5 euros in Poros
Cheapest internet: Heraklion
Most expensive internet: Anny Hotel, Santorini
Average spent on internet a week: approx. 10 euro
Weirdest custom: not so much weird, but fun - free rakija (alcohol) and dessert after every meal in Heraklion
Best looking guys/girls: Rome, Italy
Most expensive city: Paris, France
Most expensive country:
Earliest morning: waking up to catch the 7 a.m. flight from Heraklion to Athens after spending most of our night on a boat full of Italian sailors. Sounds appealing, but was quite disappointing.
Latest night: there was that all-nighter we pulled before Mykonos…
Place you would live if you could: in Greece? Heraklion, Crete
Best accent: Australian
Nationality you ran across the most: Australians
Nationality you ran into the least: Canadians
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: about 10

 

Name: Niki Kerimova

Age: 20
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Other places lived: Azerbaijan, Russia
Occupation: Student
Education: Still in Uni…York and Centennial
Time on the road this trip: 3 weeks
# of people traveling with: 1
Places visited: Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete and Poros
Reason for travel: Pleasure
Other countries visited during this lifetime: Italy, Malta, Ukraine, Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Russia, Georgia and USA
Favorite city: to live in, definitely NYC. The energy there is unbelievable and I feel as if I’m in a movie. To visit, Rome. It is absolutely gorgeous, from the architecture to the fashion to the people.
Favorite hostel: Camping Roma or Paradise Beach in Mykonos. Mainly because of the really fun memories but Camping Roma had better accommodations
Hostel with the best bar connections: Paradise Beach by far! Paradise Club itself is awesome
Favorite bar:…my favourite club was probably Cavo Paradiso in Mykonos
Favorite Restaurant: Peri something in Heraklion in Crete. Not only is is beautiful and cheap, but you also get free dessert and shots.
Loudest hostel: Paradise…
Quietest hostel: Hotel Rea in Heraklion
Favorite food on the road: GYROS!!!
Favorite new food: Yogurt with honey
Favorite drink: Gordon’s Space!
Favorite activity:…does tanning count?
Favorite tour: the boat excursion in Santorini
Best thing to do for free: tan?
Scariest moment: being stalked by a guy from Athens for 3 weeks…and I wasn’t even the one being stalked.
Most beautiful place: Obviously Santorini is gorgeous but I think Poros is absolutely breathtaking
Best weather: GREECE!
Best photo opportunity: the Acropolis
Cheapest country: Morocco
Best bang for your buck: 2 Gyros and 2 bottles of water for 5 euros in Poros
Cheapest internet: Heraklion
Average spent on internet a week: somewhere around 5 euros
Weirdest custom: I don’t know about weirdest but free alcohol and dessert in Crete is certainly the best custom
Best looking guys/girls: Rome, by far. Everyone looks like they stepped off the pages of a magazine
Most expensive city: Rome once again. We paid 15 euros for a salad once there
Most expensive country: Spain was surprisingly expensive
Earliest morning: 5:30 in Crete to catch our plane, which we almost missed because the alarm didn’t go off
Latest night: well my last night in Poros, I didn’t go to bed at all. But I’d say 8am in Mykonos
Place you would live if you could: Heraklion in Crete
Best accent: Italian of course
Nationality you ran across the most: Aussies and Italians
Nationality you ran into the least: French
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip:8

 

Name: Jeppe Weber Egholm

Age: 24
Hometown: Copenhagen
Other places lived: Rosario Argentina
Occupation: Student
Education: Zahle Seminarium, Pert of UCC (University College Copenhagen)
Months on the road this trip: 1 and a half
# of people traveling with: 2
Places visited: Skt. Petersborg, Moscow, Yekatarinborg, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Ulan Bator, Beijing, Shanghai
Reason for travel: Vacation
Other countries visited during this lifetime: 27 countries
Favorite city (and why): Buenos Aires- Design, People
Hostel with the best bar connections: MellowYellow in Rio
Favorite bar: Vega Copenhagen
Favorite food on the road: The Lokal
Favorite new food: Anything new
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Argentine Red Wine
Favorite activity: Biking

 

Name: Lara Willis

Age: 19
Hometown: Brighton, UK
Occupation: Student well nearly!
Education: Going to UWE, Bristol
Months on the road this trip: 5
# of people traveling with: 2
Places visited: Fiji, Oz, NZ, The Cook Islands
Reason for travel: See different cultures, take time away from home life, school etc
Other countries visited during this lifetime: 7+ I think!
Favorite hostel: Wake Up, Sydney, Aus, or Northern Greenhouse, Cairns, Aus
Hostel with the best bar connections: Wake Up! Sydney, Aus
Favorite bar: World Bar in Queenstown, NZ, because of the teapot cocktails!
Favorite restaurant: Does Fergburger in Queenstown, NZ, count?!
Loudest hostel: Where to begin!?
Quietest hostel: Tom’s Guest Cottage, Aitutaki, Cook Islands, it was just us and a creepy pervy man!
Favorite food on the road: Rice and sweet chilli sauce! haha
Favorite new food: Local catch in Aitutaki (I never ate fish before!)
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Cosmo
Favorite activity: Skydive!
Favorite tour: Magic Bus, because Kate was on it! haha!
Favorite museum: Cadbury’s Chocolate Factory, Dunedin, NZ, obviously!
Scariest moment: Skydiving
Most beautiful place: Lake Mackenzie, Whitehaven Beach, too many to mention!
Cheapest internet: Global Gossip Internet Cafes and even that wasn’t cheap!
Most expensive internet: The Cook Islands $1 for 5 minutes! er NO!
Weirdest custom: Kava drinking its muddy water!
Earliest morning: Watching sunrise from Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Latest night: Queenstown, NZ, not going into details there’s no need!
Best accent: Mine! haha no umm any I’m a sucker for accents!
Nationality you ran across the most: English!
Nationality you ran into the least: Australian and I went to Oz!
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: Too many, but I love them all, the question is how many I’m gonna see again!

 

Name: Emily Adams

Age: 19
Hometown: Haywards Heath/Brighton, England
Occupation: Client Services Administrator (lol), potential media mogul
Education: General schooling and college - no uni for me!
Months on the road this trip: 4 & a half
# of people traveling with: 2
Places visited: Fiji, Australia, NZ, Cook Islands
Reason for travel: Wanna see as many places as possible, and meet amazing people
Other countries visited during this lifetime: Various places in the US, various in Europe, St Lucia, and erm Malta?!
Favorite city (and why): Queenstown/Christchurch - Queenstown was just plain amazing, but both were mainly because of the people I met
Favorite hostel: Beachouse in Fiji (There were quite a few really!!)
Hostel with the best bar connections: Base Hostels [throughout NZ and Aus] generally, but not always at all good, wake up!
Favorite bar: None really, totally depended on who you were with. World Bar in Queenstown, NZ, was good though.
Favorite restaurant: haha Honey Pot Cafe in Christchurch, NZ!! good times.
Loudest hostel: Magnums in Airlie Beach
Quietest hostel: Tom’s Beach Cottage on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands! It was creepy!
Favorite food on the road: Fruit, sandwiches - odd bit of chocolate.
Favorite new food: Mushrooms - not exactly new food, just less fussy now!
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Cosmopolitans of course, and Pimms but we had none of that while away!
Favorite activity: Skydiving, socialising (lol)
Favorite tour: Magic Bus NZ!
Favorite museum: Does the Cadbury Factory in Dunedin count?
Best thing to do for free: Laugh
Most beautiful place: NZ generally, Fiji too
Best weather: Fiji & Aus. everywhere really! Good weather followed us, even when it got cold!
Best photo opportunity: Sunrise on Sydney Harbour Bridge, Glacier hike in NZ
Cheapest country: Fiji
Best bang for your buck: Package deal on east coast Aus! Inc. Whitsundays, Fraser Island etc etc!
Cheapest internet: Free internet at a hostel in Cairns
Most expensive internet: In the Cook Islands. Anything from NZ$6 to over NZ$10!!
Average spent on internet a week: Depends on place, weather and stuff to do. Anything from no internet, to WAY too much!
Best looking guys/girls: That’s a secret
Most expensive country: Australia?!
Earliest morning: 6am? I think that depends more on how much sleep you get! Like getting up at 8am with 1 hour sleep!
Latest night: read the above
Place you would live if you could: Dunno yet, Sydney maybe, NZ
Best accent: Kiwi
Nationality you ran across the most: Brits lol, and Norwegian
Nationality you ran into the least: Korean
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: Do you expect me to count Kate? A lot!

 

Name: Sasha Kimel

Age: 24
Hometown: Santa Cruz, Califoria
Other places lived: Vancouver, Singapore, Kyoto, Ann Arbor, LA, San Diego
Occupation: PhD student
Education: University of Michigan
Months on the road this trip: 3 months
# of people traveling with: pretty much solo
Places visited: just Japan, unfortunately
Reason for travel: research…and to explore.
Other countries visited during this lifetime: India, Nepal, all of SE Asia, China, Jordan, Israel, most of Europe, Panama, Costa Rica…
Favorite city (and why): hmm, maybe Singapore…it’s surrounded by so many amazing spots.
Favorite hostel: currently Kyoto Bakpak
Hostel with the best bar connections: Mondo Taitu (Bocas del Toro, Panama)…there is a bar in the back with 50 cent beers.
Favorite restaurant: pretty much an restaurant that has veggie dim sum.
Quiestest hostel: Ino’s Place (Sapporo)
Favorite food on the road: anything veggie
Favorite new food: peanut miso and onigiri
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): coffee
Favorite tour: Mr. Desert’s Camel Safari (Rajasthan)
Best thing to do for free: …getting lost
Scariest moment: heading into Borneo’s Jungle with two armed men (it turned out to be bb guns)
Most beautiful place: probably Seidman Valley, Bali, but, the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia are pretty incredible too.
Best weather: I love Singapore’s nights
Best photo opportunity: probably India. Either that or Hue, Vietnam.
Cheapest country: India, definitely
Most expensive city: Stockholm
Earliest morning: 5am
Latest night: 8am
Place you would live if you could: …this is too difficult.
Nationality you ran across the most: English
Nationality you ran into the least: probably American

Name: Denis Doherty

Age: 21
Hometown: London, England
Other places lived: Dubai, UAE; Melbourne, Australia
Occupation: Aspiring Barman
Education: Ancient of Medieval History, studied at the University of Wales, Swansea
Months on the road this trip: Over 4 months
# of people traveling with: Mostly on my lonesome
Places visited: Japan; Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore with 2 Friends; Australia; New Zealand with 6 friends; Fiji and now back to Australia
Reason for travel: At first to see the world, now to stay away from home
Other countries visited during this lifetime: France; Belgium; Germany; Greece; Spain; USA; UAE
Favorite city (and why): Barcelona, cos it’s one gorgeous city. Architecturally, not sure it can be equaled by any city in the world.
Favorite hostel: Ooh… um… Kyoto J-Hoppers, Japan
Hostel with the best bar connections: Bar? For Drinking right, most sacred act of living?? Nomads Industry in Melbourne.
Favorite bar: Uh… the beach at the Full Moon Party.
Favorite restaurant: Bloody hell! I’m too poor to be eating in restaurants while I travel!!
Loudest hostel: Uh… Beachcomber Island
Quietest hostel: Hiroshima J-Hoppers, Japan
Favorite food on the road: Chips/Fries
Favorite new food: Sushi
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): DVR (Double Vodka Redbull)
Favorite activity: Skydiving, woooooooooooooooo………

Favorite tour: The Mulga Tour from Alice Springs to Uluru, The Olgas and King’s Canyon

Favorite museum: Hiroshima Peace Museum

Best thing to do for free: Sit in a hammock on a beach in Fiji
Scariest moment: Doing a bungy
Most beautiful place: Octopus Resort, Fiji
Best weather: Fiji!
Best photo opportunity: Dolphins swimming by the boat in Milford Sound
Cheapest country: Thailand
Best bang for your buck: Fergburger- Queenstown, NZ
Cheapest Internet: Thailand
Most expensive Internet: Fiji
Average spent on Internet a week: Too much
Weirdest custom: Not liking to book a hostel before I arrive in a new country.
Best looking guys/girls: Thailand
Most expensive city: Sydney
Most expensive country: Australia
Earliest morning: 4am
Latest night: 6.30am
Place you would live if you could: Melbourne - and I am!
Best accent: Australian
Nationality you ran across the most: English
Nationality you ran into the least: Hungarian
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: At least 60

 

Name: Alex Williams

Age: 24
Hometown: London
Other places lived: Nottingham, England (University)
Occupation: Tender Evaluation Officer
Education: MA (Kings College London), BA, (University of Nottingham)
Months on the road this trip: 0.5
# of people traveling with: 0
Places visited: 3 thus far (Tokyo, Perth and WA, Melbourne)
Reason for travel: Work Sabbatical
Other countries visited during this lifetime: 25? At a guess
Favorite city (and why): Riga, Latvia, fun and cheap
Favorite hostel: Funtime Franks, Riga
Hostel with the best bar connections: Flamingoes, Krakow, Poland
Favorite bar: Switch (London)
Favorite restaurant: Pizza Express
Loudest hostel: Nowhere springs to mind
Quietest hostel: YHA Melbourne Metro, like a retirement home
Favorite food on the road: Hot dogs
Favorite new food: Japanese
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Tea
Favorite activity: Walking!!
Favorite tour: MCG Melbourne, Vic
Favorite museum: Nautical Museum, Fremantle, WA
Best thing to do for free: Sit in a park
Most beautiful place: Lisbon
Best weather: Tokyo so far
Best photo opportunity: Tokyo clubbing scene
Cheapest country: Ever? Eastern Europe somewhere
Cheapest internet: Free in several hostels, eg. Tokyo Hostel
Average spent on internet a week: 5 Hours
Weirdest custom: Not crossing the road until green, even if clear (Japan)
Best looking guys/girls: Fremantle, WA
Most expensive city: Melbourne
Most expensive country: Australia
Earliest morning: 6am
Latest night: 7.30am
Best accent: Northern Ireland
Nationality you ran across the most: Irish
Nationality you ran into the least: American
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: 7

 

Name: Nial Woodruff

Age: 21
Hometown: Bristol, England
Other places lived: None
Occupation: Electrical Engineer
Education: City of Bristol College
Months on the road this trip: one
# of people traveling with: 6
Places visited: New Zealand
Reason for travel: Holiday
Other countries visited during this lifetime: Most of Europe, Thailand
Favorite city (and why): Bangkok: so busy so much to do and cheap
Favorite hostel: Neptune in Greymouth, NZ
Hostel with the best bar connections: Southern Laughter in Queenstown, NZ
Favorite bar: Minus 5 Degrees in Auckland, NZ
Favorite restaurant: Fergburger- Queenstown, NZ
Loudest hostel: YHA Taupo, NZ, snoring from Germans
Quiestest hostel: Franz Joseph Hostel
Favorite food on the road: Usually ate in restaurants not road kill
Favorite new food: venison burger with Thai plum chutney
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): pure glacier water
Favorite activity: skydive: Taupo, NZ
Favorite tour: Franz Joseph glacier, NZ
Best thing to do for free: Champions League Final: free breakfast
Scariest moment: meeting DJ’s bird
Most beautiful place: NZ
Best weather: North Island, NZ
Best photo opportunity: Milford Sound, NZ
Cheapest country: Thailand
Best bang for your buck: ski lift and sledding in Queenstown
Cheapest internet: Auckland Magic Bus Centre: free

Most expensive internet: Queenstown
Average spent on internet a week: 10 bucks
Weirdest custom: American!
Best looking guys/girls: English guys-Thai girls/North American girls
Most expensive city: Auckland
Most expensive country: NZ
Earliest morning: 6am
Latest night: never slept eventually 12pm
Place you would live if you could: Thailand, or NZ
Best accent: Korean/Japanese
Nationality you ran across the most: English
Nationality you ran into the least: German
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: 25+

 

Name: Will Riddett

Age: 22
Hometown: Norwich, UK
Other places lived: none
Occupation: Shop manager
Education: Exeter Uni
Months on the road this trip: 3
# of people traveling with: 1-6, usually 4
Places visited: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Australian east coast, NZ, Fiji, LA
Reason for travel: To get laid! And see the world
Other countries visited during this lifetime: Most of Europe
Favorite city (and why): Sydney, LA and Bangkok, can’t decide which one!
Favorite hostel: Neptunes in Greymouth, NZ, or Main Beach in Byron Bay, Australia
Hostel with the best bar connections: Bunk in Brisbane
Favorite bar: Gulliver’s in Bangkok
Favorite restaurant: Hard Rock Cafe, Surfer’s Paradise
Favorite food on the road: Subway
Favorite new food: Pig penis
Favorite drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic): Beer
Favorite activity: Shagging, boozing
Favorite tour: Franz Josef
Best thing to do for free: Kiwi experience tour or Auckland
Scariest moment: Turbulence on the plane home caused the oxygen masks to drop down. And when Mark was driving our 4×4 on Fraser island
Most beautiful place: Thailand’s islands
Best weather: Northern Australia
Best photo opportunity: Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Cheapest country: Thailand
Best bang for your buck: Universal Studios, Hollywood
Cheapest internet: Thailand
Most expensive internet: Australia/ Fiji - Fiji’s definitely the worst internet
Average spent on internet a week: US$10
Weirdest custom: Maori
Best looking guys/girls: Thai girls, English guys
Most expensive city: Melbourne
Most expensive country: Australia
Earliest morning: 4 am although didn’t go to bed a lot of nights
Latest night: 3 days without sleep, then 9am
Place you would live if you could: Australia/LA
Best accent: Fiji
Nationality you ran across the most: British/ Canadian
Nationality you ran into the least: Russian
# of friends you’ve added on Facebook because of this trip: 30