Big Blogger Interview: Nomadic Matt

Next up in our Big Blogger Interview series, is fountain of travel knowledge, Nomadic Matt. An expert at helping you ‘travel better, cheaper, longer’, he has travelled far and wide, from Panama to Portugal, Belize to Vanuatu, and shares his experiences on nomadicmatt.com. He’s certainly a busy-bee, but we managed to catch him to answer a few quick questions…

The aim of your website is to inspire others to travel. Who is your inspiration?

Indiana Jones. He has some amazing adventures.

You claim that you are ‘a really good cook’. What’s your signature dish, and where did you learn to make it? Fancy proving it and inviting us to dinner?

I make a great eggplant parmigiana as well as a tomato/olive/basil salad that goes great with a piece of toasted bread.  And if you pay for the groceries, I’ll cook them.

Not so long ago you revealed your plans to become ‘semi-nomadic Matt’. After over six years of travelling, you’re now about to spend six months in Sweden, the longest you’ll have stayed in one place for over half a decade! How are you feeling about this shift in lifestyle?

I have mixed feelings about it. I am still trying to work through them. I’m happy about it but also sad to not be travelling as much. I don’t know how long I’ll last though. I’m not good at staying put.

Why Sweden? Apart from the beautiful women of course…

What other reason would be there to move somewhere? But if I had to pick, it would be the very friendly locals, beautiful scenery, and beautiful historic city. The quality of life here is great.

Having been a solo-traveller for so long, do you think you could handle travelling long-term with a group of friends or a partner?

I don’t know. I would have to do that to know.

Image by Michael Cavén

What have been your lowest and highest points of the last six years?

The high point is the last 6 years. There have not really been any ‘low’ points. Maybe coming home and realising how boring it is and how much I’ve outgrown it?

Your trip to Thailand in 2005 was a pivotal moment – where do you think you would be today if you hadn’t made that trip?

Who can say what the future would have held?

During various interviews and on your own site, you’ve expressed the desire to visit Bhutan. What is it that fascinates you so about the country and when do you hope to get there?

I hope to get there as soon as I can. I am just fascinating by the simple way of life and the countryside looks breathtaking.

Politics is your second love after travel. How thoroughly do you research the history and politics of a place before you arrive? Is it vital?

I read up constantly. I’m currently reading “A Concise History of Sweden.” You can’t know why people are the way they are without knowing where they came from.

We know where you’re going to be in the near future – what are your predictions for nomadicmatt.com over the next few years?

I can’t say what the future holds but I know I would like to start running tours next year. But who knows? I am always making plans I don’t follow through with.

We’re sure there are excellent things to come. A big thanks to Nomadic Matt! Don’t forget to check out his site to keep up to date with all things travel.

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