Keith will definitely mesmerize you with his writing. He writes with passion and soul that you could literally feel whatever he’s feeling at the moment he’s writing his post.
Here’s an excerpt from Keith’s blog.
“It might sound over-dramatic, but there is drama in a man finding the key to a cell that for years he’s called life. Time will be the storyteller of what lies beyond these familiar confines. But I am awake. I am clear-eyed and brimming. I am the me I wanted to be. I am holding the key. Come along with me.”
Pic by Keith
Get to know him more and visit him at Traveling Savage
Here’s Flip’s short interview with Keith.
How did you discover your passion for travelling?
“I was a late bloomer when it came to actually traveling – I was 21 when I went on my first flight – but I was always interested in seeing the lands beyond the USA. I think I realized my passion for travel when my wife (then girlfriend) and I took a two week vacation to Europe in 2004. We buzzed from London to Cinque Terre to Venice to Munich to Bonn to Bruges. It was a whirlwind trip, but when we got home we immediately started imagining our next trip.”
What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?
“On my first trip to Europe in January 2003, I came down with a cold the night before I flew out of Chicago. By the time I landed in Dublin it had worsened and I was feeling awful. I soldiered through ten days of illness, doing my best to enjoy the experience, before I cut my trip short and flew home from Glasgow. It took me two weeks to recover at my parents’ place after I returned. It was easily my worst travel experience because it dulled my enjoyment of the trip and I missed out on England and Belgium, which I had originally planned to visit.”
What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?
“Every trip I’ve taken has had one moment or another that could make it the best experience, but I think the most memorable trip – to this point – was a six week trip I took in 2006. My wife and I spent three weeks each in Scotland and Spain, and the trip really cemented my love of Scotland.”
Pic by Keith
What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?
“The best part of traveling is doing it with someone you care about and with whom you can share the experience. Traveling binds people closer together, and having just traveled solo for the first time in almost eight years I deeply felt the absence of long-time traveling companion and wife, Sarah.”
What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?
“I’m a curious person and I love the process of learning. I think you’ll find that people who never want to stop learning are also avid travelers as the two activities go hand-in-hand. But I understand there are a lot of people who aren’t able to travel, but wish to. There was a long time that I couldn’t travel because I was saving money and planning my career switch, and I lived vicariously through other writers’ blogs while I waited. I hope my blog can serve the same purpose for others and be a resource to them as they plan their travels.”
This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?
“Tough question, and I might give a different answer depending on the day of the week, but I’ll say Robert Louis Stevenson. Not only was he a Scot, he was also an eminent travel writer and storyteller. In his lifetime during the 19th century, he traveled around Europe, across the United States, and across the Pacific to Samoa. I think I could a thing or two from him.”
Pic by Keith
Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?
“Scotland. I love its history, music, natural beauty and landscapes, people, and climate. To be honest, I can’t really think of anything I don’t like about it.”
What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?
“Go where your heart is telling you to go and do your best to eliminate expectations. It’s okay to romanticize a destination, but bringing expectations with you will only hurt the experience. You will notice only when they aren’t being met.”
What do you think about yourself?
“I’m a kid at heart and a hopeless romantic. I’m also a dreamer working tirelessly to prevent those dreams from getting away from me.”
“Traveling Savage is a blog and site dedicated to exploring and providing ideas and information for having meaningful experiences in Scotland. Readers experience a diverse array of content on Traveling Savage, including travel narratives, travel tips, reviews of gear and books, inspirational photos, and poetry, unified by a single authoritative voice.” – Keith Savage
Next: Amanda Villaruel of Backpacking Tips Asia. Previously: Marcelo Arrambide of The Wandering Trader. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.
i really enjoy Keith’s blog
Nice getting to know more about other nomads. Interesting Q&A.