Meet the Nomads – Sabrina Iovino of Just One Way Ticket

Sabrina is the author and the blogger behind one of the newest blogs that I’ve been reading lately, JustOneWayTicket.com. She writes about a lot of helpful insights about the places that she visits. Sab’s writing make you easily relate to her as it’s very conversational and very engaging.

Sab is currently on another long trip this year. She previously traveled for more than a year last 2008 and went back to Germany for a bit last 2010 to work. She left again last 2011 and has been traveling since then. Get to know more about sabrina and follow her adventures at JustOneWayTicket.com.

But before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Sabrina.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“When I was 12 I got a postcard from a friend who went to the Maldives. I was hooked, there were obviously better looking places in the world than Germany and I couldn’t wait to explore them. In 2007 I discovered Couchsurfing and I was amazed, suddenly traveling for a budget seemed to be so easy. So a year later I bought a one way ticket to Hong Kong and traveled around the world for 14 months.

Oh and the Maldives? They were also a part of it. Hell, the most expensive part…”

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

“Taking the cheapest local bus from Cancun to San Christobal (Mexico). I was sitting in the back of the bus, squeezed between 5 Mexican ladies who had all babies on their laps and were breastfeeding them half of the trip. The bus ride took 24 hours and in the end I was full of vomit, breast milk and other things I don’t wanna define…”

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

“Beside skydiving in Mexico, swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines and grilling Marshmallows over lava on a volcano in Guatemala, I would like to say the best travel experiences are the moments where you hang out with locals, experience hospitality from strangers, get inspired by their culture and being thankful to be part of that precious moment.”

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

“That you don’t need many things in life to be happy. If you have nothing, you have nothing to carry and even better, you have nothing to lose.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“What else could I do instead of traveling? Having a full time job, getting a mortgage for a house and looking towards to a decade full of debts? No thanks, that sounds a lot more tiring.”

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?

“Someone who is funny, wise and handsome. Therefore a mix of Steve Carell, Paulo Coelho and this Spanish Model Jon Kortajarena would be great.

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

“I have too many, but if I can chose three, I’d say Boracay for the beaches and the parties, Tokyo for the
food and the fashion and Istanbul, because I’m stuck here since last summer (which means obviously, I really love it!)”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“Don’t plan too much, don’t drink too much and don’t have unprotected sex.”

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

“In India I was trying to use one of the lying cows on the beach as a back rest. That was not a good idea. In Bangkok I climbed on top of an abandoned 50 floor skyscraper. That was actually more insane than silly. Not recommended.”

How do you keep yourself safe on the road?

“I trust my instincts. I mostly have a feeling when a situation turns into a bad one and then it’s time to remove myself as soon as possible.”

What do you think about yourself?

“My mum would say I’m stubborn and cheeky and my dad would probably say I’m good in saving money and accounting. However, mostly I’m happy with myself, I love what I’m doing and I try to appreciate all the things that has happened to me. I’m a lucky girl. Traveling and seeing new places keeps me going. I just wish sometimes I would have started traveling a few years earlier. Time is running so fast. Life is too short and too precious to waste it with things we don’t love.”

“It’s a travel blog. Yes, another travel blog, because there aren’t enough yet. Not very useful as a guide though, it’s more like a collection of photos and stories of my escapades. Please become a fan here.” – Sabrina

Photo Credits: All pics are provided by Sab.

Next: Ian Ord of Where Sidewalks End Previously: Alana Morgan of The Paper Planes Blog For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.