Fellow Swedish travel blogger and fantastic photographer Daniela of Discovering The Planet nominated me for the Liebster Award. This is a fun online chain award passed on from blogger to blogger to learn more about them as well as to discover new travel blogging voices to follow. While the initial thread was started in Swedish, since I blog here in English, I will share my own answers here in English (use the “Swedish” translate button above) and then I’ll pass them on to more Swedish travel bloggers.

1. How do you like to travel and why?

Slowly. Meaning I don’t feel the need to rush around, hit every single attraction, and pose in front of them too. Travel for me is a lot about the people of a place, the culture and lifestyles that fuel a place as well as the traditions they are keeping alive and their relationship to local food. Of course I won’t miss a key sight or a natural wonder if I’m in proximity. But the focus of my travels tend to be more cultural. I enjoy traveling solo as well as on more relaxing trips with my family. Very small groups (less than 6 people) also work for me.

2. Tell me about a destination that you think is underestimated and that more people should discover!

I absolutely enjoy the Balkans. I’ve been to Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, and Bulgaria and I can’t wait to return to explore Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania. Besides tremendous value for money, its people are some of the most down-to-earth and welcoming I’ve ever met.

3. What three big cities do you like the most and why?

I actually do something which I call city personalities. I often associate human characteristics with cities I visit. I have a mad crush on Edinburgh, Scotland which I describe as a moody gentleman. If I were to ever move back to the US, I’ll probably consider Washington DC because I absolutely love that city. London feels like a fourth home for me after Lagos (Nigeria), Stockholm (Sweden), and Baltimore (USA). I also love Vancouver and the laidback vibe of the city. I’m probably way past “three” at this point.

4. What three countries do you think have the most delicious food?

That combination of sweet basil, chili, and garlic trumps all other flavours so I would have to say the countries of Southeast Asia have the very best food (Thailand and Cambodia). I would really love to get to Malaysia someday and explore its culinary scene as well as dig into chili crab in Singapore.

5. Is there any place you never want to go back to, and if so, why?

I always give places a second chance. Luxembourg was where I had a racially-motivated experience that has stuck with me but that doesn’t mean I won’t return and give Luxembourg another chance.

6. What languages do you speak, and how does it affect your choice of destination?

Besides English, I speak Swedish and Yoruba. But I secretly wish I spoke French, Italian (which I was learning for a while), and Japanese. If I could rub a magic lamp and ask a genie for a wish, it would be to speak every single language in the world.

7. Tell me about a meeting with someone that led to something unexpected!

I don’t even know where to start with this one because I’ve met so many wonderful people throughout my journeys that have led me to one unexpected surprise or the other. So I’ll have to say meeting my Swedish husband who uprooted me from the US to start a new life here in Sweden.

8. Have you ever made a fool of yourself culturally? Do share!

Before heading to Scotland a long time ago on my very first trip to the country, a colleague of mine who’d spent two years at the University of Edinburgh asked if I could bring him back some brown sauce from a chippy.

Somehow, I’d subconsciously disregarded the ‘a’.

And, thus began the full day arduous search along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh for a restaurant called Chippy’s. I even walked into a fish-n-chips restaurant, saw the brown sauce he was talking about, looked around and said to myself, “But this isn’t Chippy’s” and placed an order for some deep fried, breaded haddock and greasy chips.

Defeated, I arrived back to the States to uncontrollable laughter.  “A chippy is slang for a ‘fish-n-chips’ joint!’ he cackled.

I had practically walked past at least six chippys, had ironically had lunch at one, and had looked at the brown sauce saying to myself, “….but this isn’t Chippy’s!”

9. Tell me about a time when you challenged yourself and did something that you normally won’t dare to.

I try to challenge myself as much as I can and within reason. One of my most memorable experiences was hiking the Inca Trail for four days to reach Macchu Picchu in Peru. I have climbed the Sydney Harbour bridge in Australia, gone black-water rafting in New Zealand, trekked through jungles in Fiji, and tried many adventurous activities. I personally draw my own line at skydiving and bunge-jumping. Unless that’s the only ultimatum I get to reach my children and family, I don’t need to.

10. If money wasn’t an issue – where and how would you go there?

If I were a billionaire without any money issues, I’d first go to the North Pole and Antarctica. Maybe circumnavigate all the remote Arctic islands. Then I will spend at least one year island-hopping around the South Pacific with my family – from Vanuatu to Tonga and Papua New Guinea. I might move my family’s home base every couple of years, though we will keep very little material possessions and allow ourselves to travel business class as the only little luxury.

11. Where are you traveling next?

Heading to Inverness, Scotland to speak at the Social Travel Summit (STS) conference. I love Scotland and always look forward to going back to that country. I’ve started planning out travels for 2017 and next year is already shaping up to be one of my most exciting years in travel.

At least on paper.

The Liebster Awards now go to…

Passing Daniela’s questions on -> Here are five fellow bloggers and power women in Sweden I’m nominating to share some insights into their travel habits.

Linda Hörnfelt – Better Bloggers / La Linda Blog – Linda is the powerhouse behind Better Bloggers which is raising the standards and professionalism of blogging across the board in Sweden.

Sara Rönne – Tränings glädje -Sara is the blogger behind the outdoor and destination-based training blog which is inspiring me to move more.

Sandra Carpenter – 59 North – Sandra is a travel writer, editor, and stage actor based in Stockholm.

Jeanette Seflin – Jeanette Seflin – Jeanette is a portrait and travel photographer based in Stockholm who just got back from the country of Georgia with some amazing photos.

Ida Thunberg – Att resa med barn – Ida is a journalist and family travel blogger about to set off on a round-the-world trip.

Questions in Swedish below / in English above

1. Hur reser du helst och varför?
2. Berätta om ett resmål som du tycker är underskattat och som fler borde upptäcka!
3. Vilka tre storstäder gillar du mest och varför?
4. Vilka tre länder har den godaste maten enligt dig?
5. Finns det något ställe du aldrig vill resa tillbaka till och i så fall varför?
6. Vilka språk pratar du, och hur påverkar det dina val av resmål?
7. Berätta om ett möte med människor som ledde till något oväntat!
8. Har du någon gång gjort bort dig kulturellt? Berätta!
9. Berätta om ett tillfälle när du utmanat dig själv och gjort något som du egentligen inte vågade!
10. Om du hade obegränsat med pengar – vart och hur skulle du resa då?
11. Vart går nästa resa?