Frequently Asked Questions

What’s your favorite country / place?

Impossible – there is no number one country. I like everywhere … many dozens of countries are amazing but if pushed here’s a good handful – of my many favourites – in no particular order: India, Yemen, Laos, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mali, Tibet, Colombia, Peru, China, Burma, East Timor, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Guatemala, Georgia, Mexico, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Cuba, Ghana, Togo, etc … and off course stunning, Antarctica.

Why do you travel to these places?

I love history – monuments, ruins, lost cities – and “exotic” cultures and meeting interesting people. I also love nature and stunning landscapes. AND going to remote or ancient places is often like traveling back in time – so I love to time-travel.

Why haven’t you been to the USA?

I will get there. But like other developed Western countries it’s not a priority as the States isn’t changing mega-fast like much of the 3rd world; I want to see the old world before it’s gone.

How many languages do you speak?

English aside, no others fluently; only fragments of a few.

How do you fund your travels?

Mostly teaching English but I want to move more into my passions of art, photography & writing for income.

What future travels do you intend?

I want to revisit many places but areas where I have gaps are most of the Caribbean & Pacific Islands; Central America (2009-10); North America; Central Asia (2011); Central & Southern Africa; chunks of Europe; the Arctic [ ... the Moon ].

Why do you travel?

To have fun, to learn, to experience life.

What are the benefits of this lifestyle?

It’s very liberating – I love the freedom to do whatever whenever, and not be tied to responsibilities, commitments or societal pressures. ALSO: travel is the great teacher and the whole newness of each experience is thrilling and addictive.

What are the down-sides of this lifestyle?

Being away from family and New Zealand is something I’ve gotten used too … being nomadic can get lonely but I’m good at being alone and when I need company I always seem to find friends in strangers.

Don’t you get tired of traveling for so long? How do you cope?

Yes, occasionally. When I’ve done a large road trip moving for many months I find it nice to stop somewhere new and foreign and fun, unpack my bag, and either have an art-creation holiday or work awhile to get into a routine, a slow rut, get restless, get bored and then hit the road refreshed for more intense travels.

When will you stop traveling?

Not sure.

Do you want a family?

Maybe; first I need a woman …

What are you searching for?

Nothing deep: having new, fun experiences, gaining wisdom and knowledge, and off course, checking out the world’s amazing sights – both cultural and natural, that’s my real kick.

Are you crazy?

Possibly …

Additional FAQs – 2011

What’s with “the candy trail …” as a travel site name?

It is a metaphor: about the freedom of travel to find one’s own knowledge while pleasure seeking across the world.

[ I came up with the name in 1996 as a title to a book ( unpublished ) but later applied it to encompass my nomadic, traveling life, starting with my first basic website in 2006. ]

The “trail …” is obviously the journey, the way, the path. And “the candy” is the reward that leads me along the trail: the amazing places – the monuments, the landscapes, the travel experiences of exotic food, sex with strangers, and a host of other crazy & beautiful encounters … And the nicest piece of candy is: what I learn from it all.

Isn’t traveling for so long very expensive? Are you rich or what?

No, I’m not rich. In fact I’m currently poor ( and in China, working to save for my next stage ); as 99% of the money I’ve ever earned, as a teacher of English in foreign countries, has been spent – directly or indirectly – on my travels. Including all my savings from a high-paying-United Nations field job ( in East Timor, 2000-02 ).

No regrets.

As I am making the most of being young, able, and free; and have been to most of the places in the world that I really wanted to experience. I have been living my dream …

Secondly, travel can be expensive in many countries (much of West Africa, for example). But in some Developing World countries (most of South East Asia)  it is also very cheap compared to the Western World. Basically, I don’t own much, and have no kids, mortgage, car, debts, etc, so all the money I do earn goes on travel.

What’s your biggest travel expense?

After paying for the obvious like: occasional flights and overland transportation, accommodation, food and drink, entrance fees, guidebooks, and essentials within my travel kit, I suppose a good chunk of my money evaporates on sex and alcohol.

What’s the point of this blog?

To share my experiences and encourage others to be nomadic or at least to travel to amazing places and enjoy life more in the process of discovering the world and themselves.

It’s also a record of my experiences – for me. And creating this blog gives me something creative to do in my spare time.  It seems the best way I can order, make sense, and come to terms with my vast travel life and my massive image & story archive (of which less than 20% is online); it’s a hobby.

Ever thought about working as a travel guidebook writer/researcher?

Seriously, no. While it sounds great to be paid to travel I believe the reality is more pain than pleasure. A burden that I would not enjoy. Rushing around on their budget and time constraints, checking facts – boring stuff like accommodation prices, opening hours, bus schedules, etc – rushing around instead of doing things at whatever pace the days’ adventure dictates.

I believe travel is about freedom. And doing such a job imposes on that freedom. Because it’s a job and the purpose is based within someone elses’ plan. I travel, for the pure love of travel.