Meet the Nomads: Barbara Weibel

Barbara’s story is indeed fascinating. She stayed in the corporate world for a long time until she decided to call it quits to travel the world.

She reminds me of a saying “never give up”, because most people that I know that are on the same age bracket as Barbara have just accepted their” fate” and just lived with it.

I’m a firm believer that it has never been too late to pursue something that will make living worthwhile and Barbara’s account on every experiences that she encounter make me believe more on my dream to travel.

Get to know her more and be inspired. Visit Barbara at Hole in the Donut

Here’s Flip’s short interview with Barbara.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“I’ve often thought that my passion for travel must be in some way genetic, since I cannot remember a single trip or experience that definitively ignited it. My parents were hard-working middle-class Midwesterners who did not have the disposable income required to travel. I remember only three vacations with my parents (Washington D.C, Wisconsin Dells, and Kentucky), and one train trip with my grandmother to Colorado, yet from the moment I was old enough to travel independently I was hitting the road for lengthy periods.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“My travels are almost always positive; I can count on one hand the negative experiences. Unfortunately, the worst one happened here in my own country, in Hawaii. I was camping on Kauai and my tent was slashed with a razor in the middle of the night while I was sound asleep. My purse and backpack were snatched and long gone before I was fully awake. I lost everything: money, identification, credit cards, glasses (I’m blind without them), camera, passport, plane tickets, phone…everything. This happened a year after 9/11 and it was virtually impossible to get a hotel room without ID or credit card. Still, I managed to get through it with the help of some very kind Hawaiians, and it made me a much smarter traveler. I learned some very valuable lessons, including to never keep all my money in one place and to always trust my gut. I had a strong sense that I should not have chosen that particular campground, yet I stayed there because I wanted to wake up to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. I’ve never again ignored my instincts, which is one of the greatest tools any traveler can have.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

There are so many! But, forced to pick one it would have to be my most recent visit to Nepal, where a Yoga guru and his family in Pokhara “adopted” me as their “didi” – older sister – and included me in the brother/sister tika ceremony during the Hindu Festival of Tihar.

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“I am constantly amazed that so few Americans travel overseas. The question I am most often asked by my fellow countrymen is, “Aren’t you afraid?” There seems to be a pervasive belief in America that the world is full of terrorists and travel outside the borders of our country is dangerous. I’ve always believed that people everywhere are more alike than different, that we share the same hopes and fears, and my travels have confirmed this. Whenever possible, I tell people that there is nothing to fear.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“For me, long-term travel is not a leisure activity; it’s a career, albeit one that brings me a great deal of joy. Although most people think I have a glamorous life, the reality is that it’s hard work. My days are spent seeing sites, meeting people, conducting interviews, making notes and taking photographs. The real work begins each evening, when I download and catalog the 200+ photos I take each day, do background research, answer the hundreds of emails I get each week, meet my social media obligations (Facebook, twitter, etc.), produce videos, and write articles for my blog and other online publications. I often exist on two or three hours of sleep a night. My insatiable curiosity plays a big role in keeping me on the road. I love immersing into other cultures; learning about their customs, religions, foods, and viewpoints; and then writing about these experiences. I’ve also come to believe that the better we know one another, the less likely we are to want to kill one another, and if I my experiences and writing helps ease the fear of others, I will have in some small way contributed to society.”

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?

“Pico Iyer, definitely. Aside from the fact that he’s a mesmerizing travel writer, I’d love to spend days discussing his spiritual and life views.”

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?

“Had you asked me that question six months ago I would have found it impossible to answer. There have been many places that I loved (Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Thailand), but I could never choose any one place as my favorite. However, from the moment I set foot in Nepal this past year, it became my favorite place on the face of the planet. Aside from its stunning scenery, Nepal offers fascinating historical sites, trekking for all levels of fitness, wonderfully welcoming people, and extremely affordable prices.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“Educate yourself about the various scams in the countries you plan to visit prior to leaving, but don’t allow the information to make you fearful. Forewarned is forearmed. I have long relied on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum for this information.

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“Doing the chicken dance at a nudist park.”

What do you think about yourself?

“I’m a good person who tries to help others whenever possible. I try to live in non-judgment and see the best in people. I’m happy most of the time. And I think I’m a pretty decent writer and photographer.”

“Hole In The Donut is an intensely personal travelogue that documents my transition from corporate life to the life of a perpetual traveler who is discovering the world, one culture at a time.”- Barbara Weibel

All Pics are from Barbara

Next: Ayngelina Brogan of Bacon is Magic. Previously: Earl Baron of Wandering Earl. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.