Interview With Megan Eileen of Bohemian Trails
Please give my readers a background about yourself. What made you want
to start bohemiantrails.com?
I first started Bohemian Trails because I needed a creative outlet. I had spent
the last year and a half working at an international record label here in New
York. Before that I briefly worked for a film magazine and before that I did
fashion marketing in London. As much as I enjoyed working in these art-related
industries, my real passions are writing and travel. Bohemian Trails provides
the perfect balance for me because I get to do both on my own terms.
In all of your travels, in your opinion what country has the best food?
and the worst food?
When I was traveling through Egypt, I had dinner with a local Nubian tribe and
lunch with a family in Luxor. I can honestly say that I’ve never tasted
food quite like the food I ate in these small Egyptian cities. Each dish was
healthy yet unbelievably delicious. I might have to go with England for having
the worst food – although their reputation for having less than stellar
cuisine is not completely fair. I found some really great restaurants while
studying in London. It just took me longer than I would have liked to discover
these hidden treasures.
When you first started traveling, did your family support your decision?
Although I’m hardly a rebel by normal standards, I guess you can say that
I took a different path than my family expected. I’ve always had an itch
to travel and found myself more comfortable in chaotic environments (i.e. I
live in NYC and rarely notice the abnormal anymore). I didn’t find it
appealing to have a steady job at a cubicle and was always jealous when I read
about people who turned their passion for travel into a living. Now I’m
going along that path myself. Luckily, my family is starting to understand how
my mind works and they continue to support my decisions.
If you had to choose one favourite destination, which one would you
chose?
Cochabamba, Bolivia. I went here with a friend of mine back in early 2010. We
stayed with her family and although I knew no Spanish I was still able to semi-communicate
with people. The city is absolutely beautiful and the weather was perfect. I
really enjoyed doing simple things like going out for pizza, browsing the local
markets and eating duck for the first time. It was a tough city to leave and
one I hope I make it back to one day.
What has been the least exciting destination you've traveled to?
Probably Luxembourg. I went here on a really cold and rainy day in the middle
of winter and everything was closed so I spent my whole day wandering from café
to café. It was a relaxing day trip but not quite what I was expecting.
Did you always have a love of travel or did you develop your passion
for traveling as you got older?
I’ll leave you with this story. On my first trip to Disney World, my father
humored me by buying me one of those fake passports they sell for kids at the
souvenir shops. I then went to each country represented at Epcot Center and
had my passport stamped. I’ll never forget the feeling I had that day.
Even though I was still in the state of Florida, it made me that much more determined
to visit these countries for real.
What impact has bohemiantrails.com had on your life?
Bohemian Trails started as a way to express myself during a rough time of my
life. I needed an outlet and this was it. After the first few months, however,
I began engaging with other travel bloggers and writers and found comfort in
feeling part of this welcoming community. It’s been great to collaborate
with other people in the industry and hear positive feedback about the brand.
What has been the most surprising destination you've been to? Meaning,
you had a specific mindset about a certain destination but it was totally a
different experience than you had imagined.
Valparaiso, Chile. I recently spent about a month in Chile and Argentina and
went to Valparaiso simply because it was a short bus ride away from Santiago.
Within minutes of arriving I had fallen in love with everything about this city.
I’m a huge street art fanatic and it was so exciting to see the amazing
art by talented locals who simply did this for fun.
If you had to decide which destination has been the most influential
in your life, which destination would you chose?
Although not the most exotic choice, I would have to say London. I studied abroad
here during college and it was not only my first time traveling internationally
but also my first time having a real job. I took classes and also worked part-time
for a fashion agency. I purposely chose a program not affiliated with my University
so that I could challenge myself to meet new people and get the most out of
my time across the pond. I came back with more direction about where I wanted
to go in life.
What advice would you give to a newbie traveler?
Don’t let the fear of being alone scare you. I’ve had some of my
most rewarding travel experiences as a solo traveler and I wouldn’t trade
those trips for anything. I’d also recommend newbie travelers to ditch
their guidebooks and just get lost. Use your iPhone map only as a last resort.
In 10 years, do you see yourself still traveling or slowing down?
Well I just turned 25 earlier this month so I sure hope I'll still be traveling
in ten years! I think travel and personal growth often go hand in hand and it
doesn't matter when or where you go as long as you go with an open mind.
Thanks Megan for the interview. Please visit Bohemian Trails
Follow Bohemian Trails on Twitter and friend them on FaceBook !