Questions + Answers

I get emails asking a lot of the same questions, so here is where I'll attempt to answer some of them.

What kind of camera do you use?

I use a Canon G1X at the moment, but many photos on this blog were taken with the Canon G12, G10 or the Powershot A540. I also often use a Superheadz Harinezumi and other fun cameras.

How many countries have you been to?

I have been to 80 countries.

What was your favourite country to visit?

I can't choose just one! My favourite places are all favourites for different reasons. If I had to narrow it down, I would choose Colombia, Japan, Morocco, India, Nicaragua, Russia, Myanmar, Argentina, Slovenia, Cuba, France, and Thailand. My very favourite country in the world, however, is Canada.

What was your least favourite country to visit?

I could never say that I hated a place, or that I would never return (at least, not yet). If I have to answer with one, however, I guess I would say Singapore or Egypt.

When did you start travelling?

I started travelling at only two months old; I come from a family of travellers and one of us is always off wandering the globe. I started seriously travelling at the age of 21, which is also when I did my first solo trip (backpacking through Europe).

How can you afford to travel so much?

I am not going to lie and say that I have done it all on my own. I started travelling in 2006 with no student debts, which meant that all of the money I saved throughout high school and university could go toward travelling. I have had some amazing and high-paying jobs (teaching overseas, working in film) that also allowed me to save up a lot. My parents have been an endless sea of support as well, giving money and/or plane tickets for birthdays and Christmases, and even taking me on trips when they can. In general, I save up a lot (see how I do it here), focus solely on travel, and play the stock market (yes, it's true).

What is your dream destination?

I dream of visiting Tanzania and Botswana for safaris, sailing around the small islands of the South Pacific, talking with the people of Bhutan and Tibet, playing with penguins in Antarctica, and of taking a train along the Silk Road route. I also have this image of the Maldives as being paradise.

When did you realize you wanted to be a lifetime traveller?

I've always known I would travel the world; it's written in my journals from elementary school. From the time I took my first solo adventure in 2006, I was hooked.

What is your dream job?

Ideally, I would find a way to earn money while on the road. I would love to be a freelance writer as well as own a guesthouse on a beach somewhere.

Why is your blog called This Battered Suitcase?

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." -Jack Kerouac

I must have heard the Kerouac quote that my blog title is inspired from and then stored it away; I didn't actively choose the name because of the quote, but it turns out it was quite a nice fit. I love the line, "The road is life." While I rarely ever travel with a suitcase (I use a backpack most of the time), I just love the way those words sound together.

Can I contact you about writing an article for my site?

Absolutely! I'm just now starting to write for other websites and I would love to do more.

Can I contact you about guest blogging?

At this time I am not accepting guest posts.

Can I contact you about advertising?

There is very little advertising on this blog, only the occasional text link. I am open to discussion about advertising, but only if I strongly believe that the ad will be beneficial to readers (i.e. travel related).

See more in my interview with Kisha from Chronicled.
See even more in my interview with the Sole Sisters.
More to come soon. If you have any questions/answers you'd like to see here, please email Brenna at thisbatteredsuitcase@gmail.com