Travel Chat: Keith Savage - The Breakaway Traveller

Keith is one of the most respected travel bloggers out there. His website is home to some of the most honestly written articles which seem to encapsulate the philosophical aspect of travel to a tee. Beyond his website, Keith is known for being voted as the world's hottest blogging hunk, although I'll never give up the claim that he beat me by three votes because of the obvious plastic surgery he used to become so darn attractive. If you want to learn a little bit more about Keith and his adventures around the world, check out his blog and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Q1: We want to know a little bit about you. Who are you? What is your favourite flavour of crisps (potato chips)?

Oh, I'd say I'm a pretty normal dude: grew up in the Midwest of the United States, got a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, worked as a technical writer at a high tech company for close to eight years, got married, bought a house, etc. It's the American Dream, right?

But in some ways it felt like the American Railroad, a prescribed life. I wasn't happy, so my wife and I devised an elaborate escape plan that kicked off with me kicking my job and hitting the road as a travel writer. That happened eight months ago. You'll have to follow along to see how it's all unveiled. In the mean time, read more about me.

I can tell you one secret: salt & vinegar is my favourite flavour of potato chips. Mmm. Stop making me think about them. (ED: I've never understood Salt & Vinegar chips, they make my lips dry)

Q2: What is the one thing you learned while travelling that you have brought home with you?

That success is a happy life. It was an idea I had prior to launching into Travelling Savage and it has been confirmed repeatedly throughout my travels by the people I've met following their dreams.

Q3: What is the one place you haven't been to that you're dying to get to?

I'm not dying to get anywhere right now, but I am excited to visit Vancouver for the annual Travel Bloggers Exchange Conference. I'd also like to visit New Zealand at some point in the near future. I can't get enough of natural grandeur and I'm a total Lord of the Rings nerd. (ED: I'm glad you made the nerd comment so I didn't have to).

Q4: What is your least favourite type of traveller?

I don't have one. I'm not big on focusing on the meta of travelling. I'd rather focus on the places I've travelled to and the people there. There are good and bad people, and every shade in between. It isn't really about ‘travellers’.

Q5: This might be the most important question in the world. How good is the Argentinean ‘asado’?

It's so good I almost converted to being offalatarian. Seriously, chinculines, riñon, ubre, corazón, and mollejas grilled over an open-top barbeque will have you rethinking your comfortable definition of meat. Throw in some more familiar steaks and you've got a meal that will make vegetarians disappear in little puffs of smoke if they get too close. Check out my experience at an Argentine asado for a visitor's point of view. (ED: If you find better barbecue in the world Keith can you please tell me? I'll be on the next flight to wherever it may be).

Q6: Have you ever hidden the fact that you're American while travelling? Not that you should, but have you?

No, I've never hidden that I'm American. In fact, I've never even thought about it or been forced to think about it. Total non-issue. (ED: I never really understood people that would hide their nationality. But I met a guy from Atlanta in Antarctica who wore Canadian maple leafs all over his attire. I told him he should go with Australian flags so that at least everyone wouldn't come to him asking him to apologise about giving Celine Dion and Alanis Moresette to the world. Look, while I have a platform, we're sorry about that, we really are. On another note, we will never apologise for giving you Bryan Adams.)

Q7: Tell us about the first time you stepped off a plane abroad, what did it feel like to know that you weren't in Kansas (or Wisconsin) anymore?

I remember riding the bus from Dublin airport into the city. It struck me that everything was the same and yet a little different, like some alternate universe cocked at a slight angle. Granted, Ireland isn't too different from the States in the context of the globe, but I've had the same feeling in Argentina and throughout Europe. I think the world is mostly alike; it's the small differences that travellers come to cherish.

Q8: You spend a lot of time in Scotland. Be honest with us, do you go there just for the Whiskey?

Yes, of course. I mean NO! What?! No way, hah. That's ridiculous. Ahem, but I do enjoy a malt now and again. One word of advice – and this is important – when referring to Scotch, it's ‘whisky’ not ‘whiskey’. No ‘e’. See, I told you that was important.

Q9: Where was the one place in the world that you remember thinking ‘Wow, I'm actually in...’?

When I visited the Ring of Brodgar, a massive standing stone circle in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, I remember having this really strong meta moment thinking ‘Holy crap, I'm standing in the centre of this ancient monument that we really don't understand how was built’. Celtic mythology has this idea of ‘thin spaces’ and it's believed that ancient people built monuments like the Ring of Brodgar to mark these thin spaces. It's a romantic and mysterious history.

Q10: Your words about finally breaking free from the person who was ‘cowering under the covers’ as you put it on your website are inspiring. What are some of the comfort zones you have learned to break free of thanks to travel?

The past year has been a transformation for me. I've gone from making a nice salary to making essentially nothing. I've had to break free of my fear of destitution to pursue something that makes me happy. Luckily, my wife is holding down the fort as I wouldn't be able to travel the way I am and maintain the same standard of living without her. That said, I've had to become much stronger mentally as I travel solo around the world. It's difficult being away from her for 3-5 weeks at a time. Finally, I've had to stretch the bounds of my natural introversion while on the road just to meet people, hear their stories, and create contacts. It's been a wild eight months!

If you have any questions for Keith use the comments section below.

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