{"id":23487,"date":"2017-05-25T13:38:02","date_gmt":"2017-05-25T17:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superstarblogging.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=23487"},"modified":"2023-10-09T01:37:53","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T05:37:53","slug":"superstar-interviews-six-backpacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/superstarblogging.nomadicmatt.com\/superstar-interviews-six-backpacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Superstar Interviews: Six Backpacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each week we feature an interview with\u00a0a member of the Superstar Blogging community. These interviews highlight the ups\u00a0and downs\u00a0faced on the road to success, illuminating\u00a0helpful tips and tricks along the way. If you want to get inspired and succeed in the world of travel blogging, video, writing, or photography then consider these interviews must-read material! This week we are featuring Lisa from the Travel Photography course.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tell us about yourself! <\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi I\u2019m Lisa, 43, from Australia. I\u2019ve been married to my husband Steve for 18 years and we have four daughters. We\u2019re a traveling family with a blog called Six Backpacks<\/a> \u2013 six<\/em> because there are six of us in our family and backpacks<\/em> because that\u2019s how we like to travel the world: by backpacking!<\/p>\n

We boxed up all of our belongings, rented out our house (and our pets), and boarded a plane on December 19, 2016 for an entire year of travel. Steve literally stretched out his holidays and long service leave, I quit my job, and our children aged 16, 15, 13, and 11 years have taken school on the road via Distance Education.<\/p>\n

My professional background is in marketing and communications, but I have always been a passionate journal writer, photographer, and person who wants to make a difference in the world. So, when we started traveling overseas as a family back in 2012, I created the blog to document and share our adventures and giving.<\/p>\n

\"Six<\/p>\n

How did you get started traveling? What inspired your wanderlust?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inspiration came on our 8-week honeymoon back in 1999 while backpacking throughout South East Asia (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia). It was in Vietnam as a newly married couple that we pledged another promise: that if we ever had children we would take them to Vietnam. Why? Because we loved the place, its people, and its beautiful land and culture.<\/p>\n

And we keep our promises! So after raising four daughters under the age of five (the crazy years!) we travelled to Vietnam when our youngest was six so she could carry her own backpack! That first overseas travel adventure together in Vietnam over five weeks was mind-blowingly awesome and from that adventure on it drew a line in the sand: our family are intrepid backpackers for life.<\/p>\n

We traveled down the narrow country from north to south on overnight trains and buses, staying in city rooms and rural homestays. We had fundraised money to help out an orphanage and another NGO working with children impacted by the effects of Agent Orange. It was the first time we truly bonded as a family and I\u2019ve never been able to forgot this amazing experience.<\/p>\n

It was in Hoi An at the Sunflower Hotel where we met an English couple and their three boys (all similar ages to our girls) who were on an 11-month RTW trip. I\u2019d never met a family doing long and slow travel like this with their kids before. I was curious and with the limited time we spent with them traveling down to Saigon, I realized that the seed of our own RTW started to take root.<\/p>\n

Our RTW trip was five years in the making, but I will never forget the feeling of that first inkling that our family could possibly have that kind of travel experience too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are some of your favorite places you’ve been to?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There have been many but here are just three:<\/p>\n

Myanmar<\/strong> \u2013 Landing in Myanmar (Burma) in 2013 and walking around the streets of Yangon (formerly Rangoon) felt like being in an ant colony. It was both fascinating and confronting with gothic looking high rise apartments strangled in a mess of black cables, people, cars and lopsided fast moving buses traveling in every direction, walking along broken concrete footpaths and jumping over gaping holes. The former capital had seen better days. But we loved that about the place: it was real and raw. The weather was a sweltering hotpot that constantly caused havoc on the electricity grid as well as my kids\u2019 brains.<\/p>\n

A highlight was visiting Yangon\u2019s 2,500-year old Buddhist Shwedagon Temple that enshrines Buddha\u2019s hair. The shape of the temple was attractive for the eye to follow all the way around and up to its stupa covered in thousands of diamonds. All around us was reflections of pure gold!<\/p>\n

Riding ebikes to the temples in and around the Old Bagan; climbing up steep temple steps of Shwesandaw Pagoda at sunset and sitting there on the ledge contemplating life and ensuring the kids didn\u2019t lean too far over the edge.<\/p>\n

India<\/strong> \u2013 We travelled and stayed with an Indian doctor, Dr. Moses, in rural Buldana (Maharashtra state) for nine weeks which was one of the most rewarding experiences as a backpacking family and one of the toughest. Our time here certainly opened our eyes to the inequity that exists in the world and the inequality that women and girls endure living in rural villages. I was fortunate to speak at a village on International Women\u2019s Day which was translated to the women and young girls. The theme: we are all human, we are all the same, and all we want is the best for our children. My daughter saved a street pup, and we raised him for 8 weeks and gave him to a loving Indian family who love pets.<\/p>\n

One day I plan on writing a book about the inspiring life of Dr. Moses, who was once an untouchable himself, and the way rural Buldana works.<\/p>\n

Spain<\/strong> \u2013 We arrived into Malaga, Spain on Good Friday and the next day Easter Saturday was a bullfight at the historic bullfighting arena. We were unsure if we should attend, but we bought tickets on the proviso that if any one of us felt uncomfortable with the bullfight we would leave. Our two eldest daughters attended and we did depart before the demise of the third bull.<\/p>\n

The bullfight was one of those experiences that provided an insight into the Spanish culture and allowed us to better understand the current debate between pro and anti-groups: is it cultural art form or blood sport?<\/p>\n

I have enjoyed everything (except the bullfighting) about Spain \u2013 from the cuisine of the tapas and vino blanco or Sangria, to the art museums and historic palaces and forts. We swam in the Mediterranean, rode bikes and hired cars to explore the Andalusian cities and countryside of Ronda, Cordoba, Seville, and Gibraltar (even though it\u2019s UK land).<\/p>\n

\"Six<\/p>\n

What have been the best and worst foods you’ve had abroad? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Best has to be the Spanish Mediterranean diet and tapas \u2013 the sheer variety and abundance of tapas in Andalusia (southern Spain) is simply and wonderfully tasty! The fresh fruit and vegetables that we buy at the local markets here are great too with loads of olives, olive oil, bread, and plant-based foods being consumed on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Worst has got to be India. Everything is spicy even when it\u2019s not! We lived in rural Buldana, India for 9 weeks and my youngest really couldn\u2019t adapt her palate to the spicy dishes so her options were severely restricted and repetitive (once she found something that she did enjoy). We found the food options very limiting with no variety there especially fresh fruit and vegetables. There\u2019s only so much yellow dahl or palak paneer one can consume in a lifetime and I think we reached the Guinness Book of Records on those!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What challenges do you face traveling with a family? What tips\/suggestions do you have for other traveling parents?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The biggest challenge is finding time for ourselves and making friendships along the backpacking road. We are with each other 24\/7 which we were not used to back home. When we arrive into a new country or city we force ourselves to get out and walk the streets and get lost so that we have to start learning how to get back home. Once confident, the kids are able to get out and about on their own. I take regular coffee dates with myself, or with one of the kids which is extra special one on one time.<\/p>\n

My daughters are all sporty types, so when we\u2019re travelling so much throughout the year they\u2019re not playing sports. So we have joined local gyms and they\u2019re loving the exercise. We all do lots of walking too but the kids tire of this if we do too much.<\/p>\n

The biggest challenge by far is the kids meeting\/making friends similar ages. It\u2019s not an easy task especially when they\u2019re the social type and they do feel lonely at times and stuck with us a lot. But they continue to connect with their friends back home via social media which has been great to relieve their feelings of alienation. Next we are going to try Workaway.com where we volunteer as a family at English language schools. We are heading to Morocco in July and August to volunteer at the British Language Academy and we know we will meet lots of students there who are keen to communicate in English so I think the girls will be able to connect with other young people there which will be fantastic.<\/p>\n

\"Six<\/p>\n

Have you had any misadventures on the road?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have been lucky to not have had any major misadventures as a family on the road. But the reality is how can you not have the odd mishap when traveling with kids! Of course there have been stomach bugs and projectile vomiting (at a train station in Hanoi!), a perforated eardrum on an overnight bus in mountainous Myanmar, blisters on jungle hikes in Kampot, fingers slammed in a taxi car door in Kuala Lumpur, and more recently a missed flight by two of the kids from Gatwick London (which ended up being the most expensive flight from Spain to England in the history of travel!)<\/p>\n

We have left things behind and had luggage issues with a drone from Delhi to Moscow and cried about them. We\u2019ve experienced scams \u2013 like in Delhi when my husband was in the middle of the \u2018poo on the shoe\u2019 scam. I was in a taxi scam at Delhi again (must not be our city) when traveling solo, but got out of that one by contacting our embassy! But nothing major so far (touch wood).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What struggles have you had during your blogging career? How have you overcome them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve struggled with inspiration and consistency when we\u2019ve returned home after an overseas adventure to be greeted with the reality of normality: work, school, cleaning, cooking and driving four children everywhere.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve overcome this by booking another trip ASAP.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Traveling with kids, making sure they do their schoolwork, AND blogging sounds like a handful. What strategies do you employ to stay organized and on task?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is a handful! But that\u2019s the nature of my life (lol) I like to be kept busy and under the pump.<\/p>\n

The strategies I use to stay organised and on top of everything while we\u2019re travelling is not unlike the one\u2019s I use at home really. We have our disagreements, and our slamming of doors and arguments, and the dropping of bottom lips when certain kids don\u2019t get what they want. To tell you the truth I\u2019d rather be managing hissy fits and teen rage on the road rather than at home!<\/p>\n

My hubby Steve and I are a solid partnership so we try and employ the same thinking to traveling and parenting like not sweating the small stuff and picking our arguments. We give our children a lot of independence and ownership of their lives and school work \u2013 sometimes it works brilliantly; others times it\u2019s a complete debacle but more of the former than the latter. We have discovered that they are doing much better on the road with their school work than in a mainstream classroom! No distractions. Go figure.<\/p>\n

We carve out a fluid routine of school work in the mornings and action in the afternoon, but we change that up some times to keep evryone fresh. Most days I carve out time to sit with my 5th<\/sup>\u00a0child \u2013 my blog – and write posts and upload pics! I\u2019m always carrying my camera and iPhone whenever we go out and I regularly have strikes of inspiration so I\u2019ve created the habit of jotting the idea down in my Evernote app immediately. I also have a journal where I handwrite notes, even if they\u2019re just words, of what we did and where we went on each day of travel so that when I get to be with the 5th<\/sup>\u00a0child I can look back over these notes which help me recall moments or experiences to write about easier.<\/p>\n

Being older children they are all happily cooking meals and doing the grocery shopping. I\u2019m no longer spending long hours in the kitchen cooking (or at work) as I was back home. The travelling life is a less complicated one for everyone and therefore I have way more time to do the things I love \u2013 blogging, writing, photography. I\u00a0really<\/u>\u00a0don\u2019t want to go back.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

What has been your most recent blogging success?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The increased level of engagement from my blogging followers. And getting off my butt and asking to be interviewed for Blogger Interviews with Chris! Thanks J<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you enjoy the most about blogging?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love the freedom. I can blog anywhere, anytime, anyhow. I\u2019ve blogged in my PJs, on the beach, at 3am when I can\u2019t sleep. It gives me a platform and a voice to express myself and my worldview. Plus, the process of writing is cathartic \u2013 it helps me make sense of life: the people, places and cultures we experience as a family. Travel opens our minds to the very best and the very worst of humanity which can be difficult to digest and understand at times so blogging and writing about these things helps our family process them.<\/p>\n

I love getting feedback from blog followers\/community on how much they enjoyed reading a blog post, or a photograph, or how they learnt something, or their perspective changed. Often I make a call out to assist with a donation or a cause and they\u2019re there willing to assist. I value that someone else in the world has gained something from my blogging.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>What are your blogging goals for 2017?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overall 2017 is about consolidating my blogging platform while I\u2019m away all year exploring and traveling the world with my family.<\/p>\n

My specific action goal is to write each day and post weekly while we\u2019re travelling so that I have the bulk of my RTW content published on the blog so that I can create a book out of it.<\/p>\n

I want to engage more of my social media followers with photos and video so they enjoy reading and then sharing my content.<\/p>\n

My ultimate goal: create an \u201canywhere in the world\u201d business where we assist other family\u2019s on how to travel more, longer, slower, and together, helping to create global citizens out of their children.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to this course, what other resources do you rely on for help\/information? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Nomadic Matt<\/strong> has been awesome in helping me learn more about the art and science of photography and inspiring me to learn more from others in the course.<\/p>\n

Family Adventure Podcast<\/strong> has been central in keeping the travel momentum going from seed to fruition. Listening to other family\u2019s travel stories\/journeys and answering the what, how, why, when, where is simply music to my ears.<\/p>\n

Worldschoolers<\/strong> Facebook group has been an on the road resource for information and inspiration: countries, airfares, accommodation, internet, cost of living, kids reaction to long term travel, education etc. Glad to be part of a group (I\u2019m not the only parent out there) pushing up against the status quo.<\/p>\n

Boots N All<\/strong> has a great checklist we used pre-departure for everything we needed to literally tick off in preparation for departure day.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why do you keep blogging?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love travelling and I love writing. So combine the two and\u2026voila\u2026you get travel blogging! Travel and making a difference is my passion plus journal writing has been my go to gravitational pull so when they come together I\u2019m a very happy human being.<\/p>\n

I love sharing our backpacking adventures of the places, people and experiences we get to see and do as a family. I couldn\u2019t imagine not writing and sharing about these amazing moments.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is one thing you wish you knew when you started blogging?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The time it actually takes to pull a long form blog post together!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

You’re in the photography course. Can you share your favorite photo and tell us the story behind it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This photo was taken in rural Buldana, India of at the slum home of Nikita. We raised money to purchase a sewing machine and a pink bike for 15-year old who is keen on getting herself out of poverty. She is supported by her grandparents but it\u2019s tough living in a tin home with 20 goats and a cow. Providing this for her has the potential to completely change her life circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

What apps do you use that make your blogging career easier when traveling?<\/strong><\/p>\n