Meet the Nomads: Lisa Egle

Meet Lisa Egle, the driver of the most famous bus online… the Chicky Bus. It’s not really a bus but a blog of this awesome traveller.

Lisa is an inspiration to all ladies out there who are still afraid to travel by themselves. Lisa braved a lot of odds to live the adventures that she has always dreamed of since she was a kid. She’s just short of two continents and maybe in a couple of years time she could step her foot on all seven continents.

Follow Lisa and check out her blog at Chicky Bus. You may opt to start with this link on her Chicky Bus story…

Here’s Flip’s short interview with Lisa.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“It may have begun when I was a kid with an inquisitive nature and a fascination for maps, globes and ancient history. Or perhaps it was back when I was a business traveler, before I became an ESL teacher. After my trips, I would rent a car and explore small towns in whichever state I happened to be in.

But I think it actually happened when I was on a group tour in Egypt. One day, a friend and I went off on our own, opting to go horseback riding in a local village. I loved the sense of freedom I felt from getting off the beaten path; it was truly exhilarating and something I remember to this day. So perhaps it was in that moment that I was bitten by the (independent) travel bug. I’ve never recovered, by the way, and that’s a good thing!”

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

“When I was trapped in a laundromat/Internet cafe in a sketchy/abandoned section of Rome late at night, fearing possible sexual assault. My plan was to pick up things I’d left in storage (hiking boots, a piece of the Berlin Wall, etc.), to do some laundry and to take a taxi to the airport. I had an early flight so it made sense not to get a room. It got late fast and all of a sudden, it was just me and the owner, an immigrant from Bangladesh, who kept saying, “I like you,” and his cousin, who looked intimidating as he stood blocking the door.

I knew that I had to do whatever it took to get outside—even though the streets were empty and dodgy. I accepted their invitation to go drinking, insisted on getting my things from storage and once out the door, I figured out what to do when I miraculously spotted some female travelers in the distance. I told the guys that I wanted to get a cigarette from them, grabbed my bag and ran as fast as I could. The girls helped me escape and to get a cab to the airport, where I ended up sleeping on the floor. As uncomfortable as it was there, I was happy to be safe.”

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

“That’s a toss-up between hiking to Machu Picchu in Peru and going on a safari in South Africa. Both of them were peak travel experiences that were truly incredible.

I hiked the entire Inca Trail for several days and then, the final morning, watched the sun rise over the “Lost City of the Incas.” It was beautiful, mystical and magical and I’ll never forget the intense energy I felt there. South Africa was equally as wonderful, though, but in a different way. There’s nothing quite like being in the bush and seeing elephants, giraffes, rhinos, buffalo, etc. I loved all the animals I saw, but the zebras and lions stand out in my mind the most.”

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

“I’ve been pretty amazed that people around the world are as good as they are at separating their views of a country’s government versus its citizens. For a few years after 9/11/01, I didn’t feel super comfortable traveling. I didn’t know what to expect because many people were unhappy with President Bush for a number of reasons.

To my surprise, when I traveled to China and South Africa, as well as other countries, the vast majority of people I met treated me well. They somehow were able to connect with me as an individual while acknowledging the government separately.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“Travel is one of my greatest passions—something that is incredibly exciting and gratifying on so many levels. Each time I go, I discover something new about the world and myself. I have met some amazing people along the way, many of whom are still friends of mine. And I’ve had awesome experiences, which have made me who I am. I think that knowing that every single trip is different and rewarding in its own way keeps me going.”

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?

“Can I answer this with a historical figure who is somewhat of a celebrity today? If so, then I’d say Sir Ernest Shackleton, who attempted to cross the Antarctic continent in 1915 but had to regroup and instead save his crew when his boat was crushed by ice. It turned out to be a brutal journey, but he pulled it off. And so, I admire and respect him as an explorer, adventurer and leader.

Where would I want us to go? To Antarctica, of course.

I’d want to do the trip in two parts: first, as close to the way he did it as possible (in an open boat, etc.), but just for a few days; and then, the modern way, with a fancy boat and high-tech equipment. Imagine the conversations we would have and the blog posts I’d write!”

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

“That’s really hard to answer because there are so many that I like! OK…I’ll try, but I need a few categories.

In terms of big cities, I would have to say Istanbul is my favorite. It’s one of the most interesting and exciting places I’ve been to. I love how East meets West there. As for nature, I think Ecuador is a possible winner. I saw some of the most beautiful and surreal landscapes there, with velvety green hills and trees with bark that resembles baklava, as well as misty volcanoes and hot springs. ”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“Get a sleep sheet (some call it a ‘sack’) and a hypoallergenic pillowcase. If you’re traveling low-budget, as I do, these can help tremendously if you find yourself in a hostel or low-budget hotel whose beds/pillows are iffy in any way. And don’t forget those earplugs! You will surely need them at some point.”

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

“When I was in South Africa, I was on safari with two families and their children (ages: 11, 8, 5 and 3). The kids liked to create skits about silly situations and at one point, I joined in. I wrote one, which they acted out for their parents, and later, we turned it into a video. The plot involved children in a language class who weren’t paying attention. Years later, married, they found themselves in a town where—you guessed it—that language was spoken. Of course, there were several misadventures (including drinking cow’s blood) that were a direct result of not having been good students.

We had so much fun making it and watching it. We actually hurt our stomachs from laughing so hard!”

What do you think about yourself?

“Fun question! I’m very inquisitive and interested in people and other cultures. I’m also very open to a wide range of ideas and situations. And so, I tend to meet the locals and to find myself in a variety of unique and sometimes trippy situations—like watching a family’s maid get her tooth yanked out by a Jordanian dentist and meeting a hermit in Lebanon.”

“Chicky Bus is not really about chicken buses, but more about ‘getting off the beaten path and into the moment…and to a place of self-discovery.’ The reason for that concept is quite simple: it’s exactly how I approach travel and so, it is my travel philosophy.

It’s also the name, by the way, of one of the stories in the book I’m writing (travel memoirs). It’s a fun tale of misadventure on a chicken bus in Central America in which a friend and I met cheese smugglers, a soon-to-be illegal immigrant who proposed (to me) and some other ‘characters.’ While many of the stories in the book are humorous, quite a few are serious and a bit deep. I hope to finish it and look for a publisher this year.” – Lisa Egle

Next: Matthew Long of Landlopers. Previously: Jeannie Mark of Nomadic Chick. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.