Christy Woodrow and her partner Scott Calafiore have been touring the world for almost a decade now. They have a successful adventure travel blog which they started in 2009. The blog, Ordinary Traveler, chronicles their journeys and inspires others to live an adventurous life. It provides holiday ideas and other useful travel tips for the ones with limited vacation time. In the blog, you will also find a remarkable collection of high quality photos from Christy and Scott's past travels.
Read on to know more about this globetrotting couple.
How would you like to define yourself as a traveller? What is your travel style?
We are definite outdoor adventuerers. We call our blog an adventure travel blog, but we don't like to do hard-core adventure activities like bungee jumping. We love anything that involves water, especially surfing, kayaking, and snorkeling. If there's a hike to a viewpoint, we want to explore it and if there is a gorgeous beach nearby, that's where you will find us.
'Ordinary Traveler' is going to turn five this September? How passionate are you about your blog in its fifth year?
We actually just celebrated our 5-year anniversary on the first of August! We are currently working on a post with our top travel blogging lessons over the past 5 years. We are still very passionate about creating the best possible content for our readers on both the blog and on social media. We have definitely gone through ups and downs in the past 5 years, but I don't anticipate that we will quit blogging anytime soon. We have some amazing upcoming trips and partnerships, so there's plenty to look forward to in the coming months.
You are an avid surfer and so is Scott. You have surfed all over the world, but if you have to choose one favourite surfing spot, which one would it be and why?
I always say my favorite surfing spot is our home break. I know it so well and the other surfers - for the most part - are fun to be around. We've been to some breaks where people take surfing way too seriously. We're out there to have fun - it's not a competition.
Your blog has some remarkable pictures of your travels. Which has been your favourite destination for photography so far?
Mauritius was a stunning destination - especially during sunrise and sunset. Tropical islands in general seem to be our favorite places to photograph.
You seem to be big on adventure, beach and nature holidays. How about city breaks?
Yeah, we don't get too excited about cities, but there are some stunning cities in Europe that we have enjoyed. Antwerp, Dusseldorf, and Bologna are a few of our favorites.
"Travelling through Australia felt like we hadn't left the United States." What factors evoked such a feeling - culture, people, landscape or anything else?
I'm not sure exactly. It's tough to pin point. The beaches have a similar feel to San Diego beaches and we found a plethora of health food options - just like we would in most places in The States.
From Yellowstone National Park to East Coast of Australia, you have been on a number of road trips in different parts of the world. What do you look out for in a road trip?
Stunning landscapes! My favorite part of a road trip is stopping every ten minutes to take photos of another gorgeous vista. I'm not a fan of sitting in the car for long distances without a break, so this is the perfect kind of road trip for me.
Why do you think Mauritius is not well-known in the USA as a beach destination?
I think it definitely has to do with the flight time. The Caribbean and Hawaii are both really close and there are so many islands to explore. Most people have very limited vacation time in the USA, so traveling for 1 or 2 days just to get to a destination is not that appealing.
"In my twenties, the only thing I cared about was how much my bag weighed. Now, in my thirties, I carefully consider what goes into my suitcase". How else have you evolved as a traveller?
I am horrible at packing light now! Between camera gear, other electonics, and clothing, I feel like there is so much that I need to bring for a work trip. I also no longer find much joy in flying. Long haul flights never used to bother me and now I can't wait for them to be over!
You have extensively travelled across Nepal. Recently, this Himalayan country was struck by a devastating earthquake that destroyed some of the most popular historic sites there. How big a loss you think it is for the tourism industry as well as for Nepal lovers?
It's extremely sad and my heart goes out to everyone in Nepal. Nepalese people are some of the kindest souls I have ever met. It's unfortunate that travelers have cancelled trips to Nepal after the earthquake. Friends of mine have said they don't want to put more strain on their limited resources, but Nepal relies greatly on tourism so it really is a double-edged sword.
This interview with Christy is a part of Travel Trolley's ongoing 'Best of the Travel Bloggers' series. We are interviewing and showcasing popular travel bloggers who encourage and inspire people to travel. Check out all the bloggers we have interviewed and showcased and learn about their interesting experiences, adventures, travel stories as well as useful holiday tips.
