The Travel Blog by TravelPod

Nicole Boys is quite knowledgeable on all kinds of exotic locales from South Africa to the Galapagos Islands. She’s been active in the TravelPod forums for the past few months. It’s been great getting to know her, and I wanted to know more, so I asked her some more questions about herself:

Why did you become a Local Expert?

My friends often call me the ’fountain of all knowledge’. No I don’t know everything but I do have the ability to store copious amount of information about random things. The thing is I like helping people out and giving advice to people who have never traveled to the places I have been before. I am used to friends asking me about how to find cheap accommodation, which night bus to take or even which bar in the city I can recommend for a good night out – and they live in London! So, I thought why not be able to recommend things to people that are coming to London for the first time.

What are the best and worst things about living in London?

London to me can never be boring there are so many things to see and do. I love the cosmopolitan feel, the fact that you can walk around the City and get lost in the small lanes only to find something you never knew was there. I think the best thing about being in London is to every now and then act like a tourist – visit historical places, take in a show, sit by a roaring fire in a cozy pub or just meander around the countless markets.

If I think about the worst thing about living in London, it plays havoc with my hay fever during the summer months. I am also not such a huge fan of travelling on the underground for long periods of time but do love the mixture of people that all group together. You can take in all sense of fashion without feeling like you are staring as no one really cares what they look like – in London you can be what you want to be.

What are the top five or 10 things for travelers to do in London or outside of London?

I am not sure you can limit the things to do in London to just the top 5 or top 10. However, I believe you haven’t been to London if you haven’t:

1. Explored London from the River Thames. Whether it is a boat cruise from Embankment to Greenwich, or a cycle ride from Waterloo to Rotherhithe or just simply soaking in the atmosphere anywhere along the south bank.

2. Viewed the many art galleries. From the sometimes way out exhibits at the Tate Modern to classics at the National Gallery.

3. Strolled around the London Borough Market. With mountains of fresh produce you can stock up on cheeses, cakes, jams and delicacies.

4. Watched a theatrical show. It doesn’t have to be the most popular or expensive show to feel you have been a part of the west end. The excitement of just attending even if you have to pick up those binoculars to actually see the stage is a thrill in itself.

5. Stood in front of Buckingham Palace. Everyone is fascinated with the Royal Family so this is a definite must – watching the changing of the guards or even exploring the palace itself.

6. Indulged in a high tea at either the Dorchester, Savoy, Ritz or Browns Hotels

7. Taken a photo of yourself on the Greenwich Meridian after you have taken in the views across London or star gazed at the Greenwich Observatory.

8 Caught a train out to Windsor Castle or Hampton Court.

9. Joined that social scene at one of the trendy bars and nightclubs in Soho.

10. Photographed Houses of Parliament and Big Ben during the day and at night.

What are some of your best and worst travel experiences?

Some of my best experiences – reaching the top of Dead Woman’s Pass on the Inca Trail, snorkelling with sea lion pups in the Galapagos, joining in the dancing at the Rio Carnival, driving a campervan through the outback in Australia, watching the land crab migration in Cuba and going back to my home country – South Africa – to just relax in quite surroundings of the African bush.

My worst travel experience would be catching the train from Luxor to Cairo and then being hassled constantly in the Cairo market that I never even got a chance to buy anything – very frustrating.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment was realising that I was stuck in a rut and needed to make some big changes in my life. When I quit my job after 6 years in the City and decided the best way to make some big changes was to embark on a 15 month trip, I had mixed reactions. Friends and family supported me and thought I was brave to venture off on my own. Colleagues at work wished me luck on ‘finding myself’. Obviously the words of a non-traveller – I didn’t go off on my trip to find myself but rather remind myself of who I was, what I valued in life and to get away from the pressure I had been putting on myself. It took me three months on the road before I felt myself starting to relax. I was proud of myself for making the decision that lead to a wonderful 15 months of experiences.

Another accomplishment (which may not be such a big one) was putting myself out of my comfort zone and abseiling 100m into a dark cave in New Zealand. I hate the sensation of not feeling my feet firmly on the ground – but I did it with a big smile on my face.

Where are you planning on traveling in the future?

This is a tough question as there are so many places I would like to see. I would like to climb Kilimanjaro next year although I am a bit put off by the way the last celebrity hike has made it a must on everyone’s checklist.

What do you do with most of your time?

During the day I am a sales and marketing manager for an Ayurvedic company. Working in the Health and Beauty sector is a new industry for me and I enjoy finding out new things and of course having the opportunity to try out new products and treatments.

In my spare time I focus on being creative. I occasionally write feature articles for the SA Promo Magazine’s Travel section and I have an online shop on Etsy where I sew to order African themed tablecloths and placemats as well as my photographs.

What’s a typical day like for you?

My typical day involves the usual admin stuff of working life, thinking of new marketing ideas, interacting with others on social networking sites and lately sprinting down the hill to get my train on time. I have only been working for the past 2 months since getting back from my 15 month trip so now that I feel like I am in a routine again I will be adding, swimming, yoga and Spanish classes to my list every week.

What’s your favourite part of the TravelPod forum?

Reading everyone’s thoughts and ideas. The longer you are on the forum the more you feel like you get to know people but I do always wonder if people have an online and offline persona! Is that really you…?