The Guy Who Flies – Flights and Frustration

We have a seasoned traveller joining us for our Five Travel Questions. The Guy Who Flies is a long term international business traveller who previously spent 17 months living and working in Saudi Arabia. Over the last 15 years he’s taken an international flight almost every month, ideal for our questions then! He currently has over a million unused airmiles. Find out where he might spend them when he tells us about his bucket list and more!

Why do you love travel?
I guess there are numerous reasons why I love travel. For many years I’ve been used to continuously moving from place to place primarily through working for various companies. It has become a normal way of life for me now.

Moving around maintains an interest and stimulation for me. I’m not always seeing and doing the same thing all the time which would risk tedium. Instead I’m always looking forward to the next adventure.

Travel is also in my mind one of the greatest educators you could ever have. We can all read newspapers, websites and watch news channels. Yet it is only once you get out there and experience something first hand that you can understand a people, a place and a culture. We may not like the government or policies of a nation but we sure can love their people.

What destination is top of your bucket list?

Undoubtedly it is the South Pole or at least the Antarctic.

Whilst opinion is divided between 5 and 7 continents I at least was taught in geography that there are seven continents (North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Africa and Antarctica). I’ve made it to 6 of these 7 with only this last one to go. I guess Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living has beaten me to it but I’d like to have seen all 7 if I can. There are penguins there too which is another great reason to go 😉

Where is your most favourite place you have travelled to?

Many places take to my liking. Langkawi for it’s beautiful beaches and settings, Prague for it’s character and beauty. Yet out of everywhere I think I love Queensland in Australia the most. The further north you go (especially the Sunshine Coast) provides wonderful tropical climates in an English speaking world. It is also somewhere I’ve found where the locals are generally easy going and people genuinely smile naturally.

What is your most favourite memory or experience whilst travelling?

It would have to be early November in 2003. I was visiting Melbourne on a long business trip and just happened to be there on one of the biggest sporting weekends in recent history for the city.

On the Friday night I attended an international rules match (compromise of AFL and Gaelic Football) between Australia and Ireland at a near sold out MCG. Then the next day I attended the Melbourne Derby race meeting at Flemington race course. We had hospitality access so there was plenty of merriment that day.

After a day at the races it was a quick return to the hotel for a shower. Then we headed to one of the amazing sporting stadia in Melbourne to watch a 2003 Rugby World Cup match between Australia and Ireland!

Wow, what a weekend. Then to round it off a few days later was Melbourne Cup Day so I attended the big race itself too.

What is your favourite photo from your travels?

I’m still trying to become a better photographer so I keep practising. Whilst I’m far from perfect this image really struck me from last year. It is a picture taken at the Toronto Buskerfest in the heart of the city. It features a costume artist on stilts with a multi-face costume. In a split second decision I decided to crouch down to capture a unique angle and I’m delighted with the results.

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