I’ve embarked on a Travel Blogger Q&A Series – These are the amazing people that travel the world and share their stories on their blogs. Through this series, I aim to share a better understanding of travel bloggers apart from their blogs – a little more on the personal side of travel! Join me in this interview with Nic, one half of KIC Travels!
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Travel Blogger Q&A Series – KIC Travels
I’m Nic, half of Kic Travels. Originally from the UK, I’ve been travelling with my husband around Central and South America for the past 6 months. Sadly our trip will be coming to an end in the next few weeks (pass the tissues), but we have exciting things planned for the next few months including a move to Australia!
What is your earliest travel memory?
My earliest travel memory is playing on the beach in Exmouth, Devon, where I spent most of my childhood summer holidays. Whilst on holiday I remember that I was always allowed an ice-cream a day from the ice cream van. Subconsciously I still feel entitled to this… but when we’re travelling for 6 months it’s probably not the healthiest rule!
Have you ever cried at the airport?
Yes, always on the way home. I’ve had a few big adventures abroad and at the end I’ve found saying goodbye to the friends I’ve made really difficult. After doing Camp America 8 years ago I remember crying most of the way home. More recently I spent 6 months working in Zambia and I definitely shed a tear at the airport on the way back from there. I knew that most of my Zambian friends (and pets) I would never see again.
What’s your travel style?
Backpacking, scrimping and saving, cramming into local chicken buses and walking everywhere else… yeh we’re currently those people.
What is your favourite city?
It has to be Newcastle in the north of England. It’s where I went to University and where I met my husband so we have so many great memories.
What is the weirdest thing you carry while travelling?
My husband is pretty ruthless with packing so I don’t get away with bringing anything too weird. For the last 3 months, however, we have been lugging around 3kg of coffee that we bought in Colombia… it might not be that weird but it’s most definitely heavy!
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done on holiday?
You might argue that some of the self-guided hikes we have done are more adventurous, but for me the most “out of my comfort zone” I’ve felt recently was whilst rafting in Banos, Ecuador. I’d never been rafting before. We were given a 10 minute zero to hero lesson and then before we knew it we were bombing down Class IV rapids! Unfortunately our boat flipped on one of the first rapids and I got caught underneath the boat. After a small panic I was lured back into the boat and did get to the end of the rapids. Did I enjoy it? In hindsight, yes, but at the time I would have said no!
What do you collect when travelling?
Scarves – I just love them!
If you could time travel, which era and area would you choose?
I loved visiting the Galapagos recently, but how cool would it have been to be one of the first to visit the Islands on the HMS Beagle in 1835! Imagine how mind-blowing seeing those Giant Turtles would have been!
Which is your favourite international meal?
Has to be a Pad Thai! Just the way they whip it up on the streets of Bangkok.
What do you miss most about home when you travel?
My own bed with my comfy pillows and childhood cuddly toys (yes I’m married and still have a cuddly toy).
How does travel make you feel?
Free, humble and often very privileged.
Where is the best party scene?
I’ve travelled to so many places but no where will beat Newcastle for parties for me. Where else in the world can you head out to a trebles bar in the middle of winter wearing a mini skirt, crop top and heals?
Favourite travel related book?
I’ve read a lot recently, but nothing can beat Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. It’s so beautifully written and heart warming.
Worst piece of travel advice you’ve received?
“6 months is too long, you won’t enjoy travelling for that long”… well at the end of our 6 month adventure I can safely say we’ve had an absolute ball!
What’s your ritual when you get to a new destination?
After finding somewhere to stay I head straight out to explore a place by foot. Sometimes I even put my trainers on and run around a place. Just wandering the streets is a great way to get your bearings on a place and absorbs the atmosphere.
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Thanks for featuring us! Was great to work together.
Absolutely loved this interview!
Nice interview. I could relate to many things. I collect magnets when I travel 🙂
Me too! Also it’s cheap and easy to get for family & friends!
“Cramming into chicken buses” is something I can totally relate to… super fun interviews, I’ve really liked reading along and getting to know the people behind the screens too. It’s so hard sometimes to remember that there are real people like me doing this whole travel blogging adventure too!
Definitely agree, that’s my aim. Too often we see travel guides and to-do/to-see travel bloggers so I wanted to delve a little deeper!
Haha love that Newcastle is your best place to party! Also 100% relate to missing the comfort of your own bed when travelling! I used to be able to sleep anywhere, but now I can really tell the difference when I’ve been travelling for a while!
Yes, personally, only when I get back to my bed do I realize how much I missed the comfort of my bedroom and bed!
I feel the same and have the same thinking about many things. Your shots are cool too, well done 🙂
I live heading out to walk around the area as soon as I drop my bags at the accomidation! Totally agree that my bed is what I miss most when traveling. Great interview!
I’ve done that a few times, locate a grocery store, restaurant, bar nearby!
what a fun series idea! And I absolutely love that she collects scarves. I’ve never thought about doing that, but its such a fun keepsake!
It definitely is, and it can be used in so many different (useful) ways!
Nice interview. To carry lots of coffee on backpacking is the weirdest thing I have ever heard 😀
First time I’m hearing of someone who collects scarves when travelling 😀 I collect fridge magnets of the flag and map of the country I’m at. I also collect Hard Rock Cafe bottle openers because I love the splash of colours!
Fridge magnets are awesome!
Cool to read about other travellers! Keep the good work up!
Thanks Per!
This is so fun, and even though no one asked me, I immediately began to answer these questions to myself 😉
That’s cool! Email me your answers on info@helloyeshi@gmail.com and I will publish them!
Great series! I enjoy reading about other travellers and learning about the places they enjoy, it helps to add more places to the list!
I agree, I love reading about other’s experiences!
Nice interview, Yeshi! I’ve done white-water rafting as a teen in Australia and we got a 20 min crash course from our Kiwi guide. Our rapids were class 3/4 and we learnt how to paddle immediately lol. At one point, we were submerged for 3secs but it felt like 3 hours lol. Guide said he didn’t tell us that would happen to not make us panic. It was an exhilarating experience that I did as an adventurous teen. Would I do it again now? No ma’am! Lol..but I’m happy I had that experience.
Exhilarating and scary! So great to hear about your experience Kemi!
Scarves is such a neat thing to collect!! never thought of that! I am loving hearing all theese interviews!! what fun!
So glad you’re enjoying them! Scarves are so versatile to collect!
I loved reading this! It’s fun to hear the more personal side of a blogger. I can’t imagine doing class IV rapids without ever having rafted before!! Yikes!! I really love that home is still their favorite place, I feel the same way. Doesn’t matter how many cool places I travel to, Virginia will always have my heart!
I feel the same way about my city, Durban – not that other cities aren’t great! Glad you’re loving the series!
Great interview, with lots of interesting and creative questions! Haha I can’t believe somebody said that six months is too long to travel – we just did a year and can’t wait to get going again!
That’s what you get when people who have little knowledge about long term travel give advice! There should never be a time limit on travel!
The last response is exactly what I do also. Every time I move or travel I either walk around or take public transport to see the area. I would love to travel for 6 months lol. Im going to the Philippines for 2 months and people say thats too long lol.
I’m also prone to exploring a bit before settling down!
you’ll enjoy PH mate 🙂
inspiring couple, inspiring answers. Thank you for sharing
Great read – if you’re going to carry anything around it may aswell be coffee 😂😂😂
Or tea! – in my case!
amazing. You had a great outdoor experience. I love camping and trekking and it looks like you found the perfect place. The view is stunning..
Running with your trainers on is such a brilliant piece of advice I would say. I am more nervous in foreign lands. I forget that no land is foreign instead it’s just the people who are foreign. Enjoyed reading it !
I love this thought!
AH, i travel with my boyfriend and we have our share of ups and downs too. You guys are so relatable. I hope the best for your future plans
Thanks for all, Very nice blog. i will be back
nice post 🙂 keep it coming 🙂
Interesting story. Enjoyed reading how this young couple is traveling.
GREAT POST 👌
We do Disney World. But I would love to venture out to Iceland, Africa, and japan!
I felt exactly the same after I did camp America! Great interview 😩
I am new to blogging but so excited to get started and to share my travel stories with all. I adore traveling and have a real passion for it. I loved your blog and have started following you to keep up with your adventures 🙂 x
Blogging is fun and hard work! I hope I was able to inspire you! Good luck!
Thank you for sharing your love of traveling. We have just started our blog and have discovered it is a huge learning process!
You will learn something new all the time – I am still learning too. Glad you found some inspiration here!
Thanks for dropping a comment!