Meet the Nomads - Gigi Griffis of GigiGriffis.com

I recently came across a website about a writer/bloggger who travels with her dog. I have never featured anyone yet who travels with their pet in the past. This blog is own by Gigi Griffis. Gigi writes about her travel experiences in various countries, a lot of pet friendly informational post, tons of helpful travel tips and more.

It’s also in her blog where I learned about ESA (Emotional Support Animals) as she’s traveling with one. Click on the link to know more about it.

Join Gigi and Luna’s (her dog) adventure and check out her blog at www.gigigriffs.com.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“I took my first international trip (to Australia) when I was 14 and was immediately intrigued. In fact, only a day or two after I got back from that trip, I booked my next trip: a summer volunteer gig in southern Africa. It was that trip that really solidified my passion for travel. I fell in love with newness and change. I fell in love with the idea that I could change the world and in a much larger way it could change me. And I’ve done my best to travel internationally every year since (missing only a couple years in the last 15).”

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

“Last March, when I was trying to go from Paris to London, I was detained by a particularly nasty immigration officer. I was stuck in a freezing cold space for hours, shuffled in and out of a scary back room, and treated like a criminal for no reason at all. By the end of my interrogation, I was utterly mentally exhausted and fighting off a panic attack. And one of the worst parts? After being incredibly polite to the immigration officer the whole time, she actually smirked at me as she was telling me that I wasn’t going to be allowed into London.”

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

“That’s a tough question. I think the most significant experience I’ve ever had (though I don’t know that “best” is the right word) was when I was volunteering in Thailand. Our little group of volunteers started talking to some of the Thai prostitutes and we decided to take them to dinner. It broke my heart to see how shocked they were that we were treating them like human beings and it broke my heart even more to hear what little they were willing to tell of their stories.”

“These were people who had fallen through the cracks of their society. Men treated them like objects. Tourists treated them like criminals. But what they really were was people. Broken, hurting people, many of whom have horrific pasts full of childhood abuse and terrible poverty.”

“Having dinner with those women changed my life, impacting what charities I donate to (Somaly Mam Foundation), what kind of business I started (a marketing business with a do-good component), and how I see the world.”

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

“Slow down. Love yourself. Love others. Practice gratitude. And take joy in the simple things.

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“I travel slowly, spending a month or two in each place usually, which not only helps me dig deeper into the community and culture of a place, but also helps me avoid travel burnout.”

“That said, what keeps me traveling even through the occasional exhaustion or frustration is simply the promise of something new and beautiful and different around the next corner. I thrive on change, so a switch in scenery every month or two is always more exciting than exhausting.”

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?

“Oprah. She has such a massive impact on the world and for me so much of traveling with a companion is about hearing their stories and finding out what makes them tick. I’d love the chance to hear from Oprah one-on-one.”

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

“I’ve fallen deeply in love with the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. It’s a beautiful valley with 72 waterfalls, steep, imposing cliffs, and views of some of the most famous peaks in Switzerland. (Which is probably why it was the inspiration for Rivendale in Lord of the Rings.)

“A close second would be the Okavongo Delta in Botswana. There’s just something really special about Africa and particularly about that unspoiled, wild river delta.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveler?

“Go slow. Give yourself plenty of time in each place. Give yourself time in between commitments (instead of rushing from the Coliseum to the Vatican, schedule them far enough apart that you can stroll there, have some lunch, and enjoy Rome). It’s easy to travel too fast when you’re starting out and super excited, but you’ll miss a lot if you rush things.”

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

“It’s not really something silly I did (but a hilarious story all the same), but I once had to escape a stoned machete-wielding conspiracy theorist in Belize.

How do you fund your travels?

“For about three years (about 1.25 of which were spent traveling), I owned a small business doing content strategy and copywriting for clients around the world. I could run my business from anywhere, so I have had a fairly consistent freelance income during my travels. This October, I switched to full-time travel and inspirational writing, so I’m hoping that that will similarly support me on the road.”

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

“I stay in nice neighborhoods. I stay aware of my surroundings. And I travel with my small dog, Luna, who helps me blend in (if you’re out walking the dog, people assume you’re a local) and look like a less desirable target (after all, for all they know, she could be a biter).”

What do you think about yourself?

“I’m an adventurer, a writer, and a dreamer. I do my best to live and love with abandon.”