People Who Travel: Alexis from Belfort, France

PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL: ALEXIS FROM BELFORT, FRANCE

This week’s travel influencer is Alexis, 29 years old from Belfort, France. He decided to study abroad in Sweden in 2007, and ultimately caught the travel bug and hasn’t stopped travelling since. He’s studied and work in several countries such as Australia, Greece, Guadeloupe, Thailand, India, and Indonesia.

Until last August, he was in charge of Digital Marketing for a travel agency based in Bali and is currently in Nepal on his six-month backpacking trip. Read more on his story below 

1) NUMBER OF COUNTRIES VISITED

28 and counting 

2) AGE AND FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP YOU TOOK

I think I was 14 or 15 years old. I went to London for 2 weeks for a summer English class.

3) FAVORITE AIRLINE

It’s got to be Emirates because they are the only one who ever upgraded me in business class. That flight from Dubai to Bangkok was just amazing: champagne, big seat, great food. But even in coach class, Emirates flights are always comfortable and smooth. Plus, you make stopover in Dubai or Doha which are fun airports to wander around.

4) FAVORITE COUNTRY AND WHY

I will pick India but Indonesia is almost at the same level. Why? More than the historical palaces of Rajasthan, the tasty spices of Kerala or the outlandish beauty of Ladakh, I fell in love with Human. It was not love at first sight but after a few months, I managed to understand this density of life. There are so many stories, destinies… Billions! And it fed me in a spiritual way.

I put the way I was seeing life in another perspective while in India for 18 months. India changed me, I realized I could live for others and not only for me there. Once you’ve done India, you’ve done pretty much everything. And I guess I love Indonesia that much thanks to the life lessons I could learn in India because Indonesia is all about sharing with people.

In the crater of Kawa ljen – Java, Indonesia

5) FAVORITE CITY AND WHY

Melbourne. I was born and raised in a very small village so I’m not too fond of big cities. Melbourne is just the right size for me. And I guess it’s got it all: historic and cultural places to visit but it is also a modern city at the same time. You can walk along the river and chill in the parks. There are some good restaurants and good nightlife. So yeah, I like the vibe of this city! Plus, if I lived there, I could attend the Australian Open every year 

6) FAVORITE CUISINE

I could eat sushi every day but if we talk about cuisine and not only one dish, I would pick Greek cuisine – Mediterranean food has tasty and juicy vegetables and also because of the herbs used to cook it. I like the way they cook the meat as well. Pita gyros and Greek salad with heaps of feta! Yummy!!! Vietnamese cuisine would be a close second though 

7) HOTEL, HOSTEL, OR AIRBNB?

I used to go for hostel when I was a student because that was the cheaper option. Now, I’m more into hotels because I like to have my privacy and I really need to be able to rest sometimes. But I have recently met more and more people who use AirBnB to find both accommodation and travel experiences so I will look into it for my next trips.

8) MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

That’s such a tough one. I like to say that every experience is unique and valuable in its own way. God… I’d rather do a Top 5 here! I’ll go for the Baliem Valley Festival in Western Papua. This festival is hold once a year in August and all villages from the district of Wamena come to perform tribal and traditional songs and dances to tell about Papua culture. It was such a lively event. It lasted 3 days and the performances were absolutely incredible. I like to see people proud of where they are from and highlighting their culture. And I can’t choose one so I have to tell about living with Mentawai people for 10 days in the jungle of Siberut. They are an animist tribe who have such an interesting way to interact with nature and spirits.

Artist from Baliem Valley Festival

Mentawai tribe

9) MOST CHALLENGING TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

My trekking in Lapland, Sweden was one of the most challenging experience, back in 2008. We left for 5 days carrying our own food and tents. There was nothing on the way. It was the first time I found myself in the situation I had to carry 20 kg all day long, walking 7 or 8 hours a day, not being able to sleep in a cosy bed, feeding myself rather than eating, showering in freezing rivers.

It was physically fine but I struggled mentally because of the lack of comfort. You can ask the four friends who were with me: I complained all day long. But it was a defining experience because the reward of this trip was outstanding landscapes and I took a lot of pride to walk the 100 km between Abisko and Kiruna. I learnt how to live without the comfort we have at home and it makes my traveler life much easier nowadays.

10) BEST TRAVEL ACTIVITY

Wandering around the streets and seeing people in their daily life, chatting with them, having tea, taking a good shot.

ATV trekkin’ around Corfu Island – Greece

11) FAVORITE TRAVEL SOUVENIR

Handicraft. I don’t have a house at the moment but I already have the decoration. Unfortunately, when you travel with a backpack it’s hard to bring back big piece of handicraft.

12) MOST LIKED INSTAGRAM PIC

It’s a picture I took in a market in Orchha, Maddhya Pradesh, India and it shows the colorful powders we throw at each other during Holi festival. It got so many likes because Lonely Planet regramed it 

Colors!

13) FAVORITE TRAVEL PICTURE TAKEN

Another tough call! I love portraits of people. I will choose the picture of this old lady I took in a tribal village of Orissa in India. She touched my heart. I was with friends and our guide and she heard we were speaking in English. So she called us in her native language because she was curious to know what we were doing here as she was blind and could not see we were travelers.

Only our guide could speak this language so he explained her and she started talking about her life. I could not understand anything but the emotion she had in her voice was beautiful and somehow dramatic. So I decided to take a picture of her. I like this picture because she is very natural as she sadly cannot see I am taking the picture but I guess it translates the emotion well on the pic.

Listening to this woman’s story in India

14) FUTURE TRAVEL PLANS

Right now, I’m in Nepal and next month I’ll be in India. I’ll be going back to some places I do love in Rajasthan and then heading to Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival which I’m sure is going to be fabulous.

The first few months of 2017 will be dedicated to traveling as well: Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Iran if everything goes as planned. I have never been in this part of the world so I’m really excited because I have spent most of the last 3 years in Asia.

Breathing marine air in La Pointe des Chateaux, Guadeloupe

15) BUCKET LIST

I have never been to South America so that’s definitely on my bucket list: Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico… I would love to visit some islands of the Pacific Ocean such as Vanuatu, Tahiti or Wallis and Futuna. And I have always been attracted by Russia for some reasons.

16) YOUR TRAVEL INFLUENCER AND WHY

Her name is Emma and she is coming from Sweden. She was helping Erasmus students to integrate in Göteborg. I met her at a party in 2007 or 2008 and she talked the whole night about her trips in Asia. At that time, I was impressed that someone could travel alone in all these countries.

Emma is a very good story teller and she has so many anecdotes. I remember her flat was full of souvenirs from her trips. I guess she inspired me a lot and showed me it was possible to discover all these amazing places 

17) FAVORITE TRAVEL QUOTE

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”As I am not working at the moment and won’t be until mid-2017, I got to choose that one hahaha

Follow Alexis on his instagram, he has quite a collection of amazing photography from all his travels! –> @un.enfant.du.monde

If you would like to be featured as a Travel Influencer, please send me an email – mick@trotterhop.com !