I am sending a big thank you to Sean and Jessica from awanderlustforlife.com

Thanks to them I discovered Liebster and am I now even nominated for the Liebster Blog award! But what is Liebster actually?

The Liebster Blog Award is given to bloggers and the meaning of Liebster (a German word) is sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome. The Liebster award is a great way to recognize up-and-coming bloggers, because through a bunch of questions every nominated blog has to answer you get to know the blogger better. After their nomination they have to nominate other bloggers to do the same and so it keeps on going. Rules:

1. Someone nominates you for the award and asks you to answer 11 questions.
2. You answer the questions.
3. You create 11 new questions and nominate five or more other bloggers to answer them.

Here are the questions ‘A Wanderlust For Life’ asked me:

1. Where are you originally from? And where are you now?

I was born and raised in the Netherlands, but started chasing my travel dreams at the age of 17. Since then I have always been exploring new places,. Currently I am staying in Karpathos, a Greek Dhodhekanisos island, for a bit more than 6 months.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

2. What is your blog about?

That Wanderlust is about an adventurous young woman who wants to inspire people to get out there and see how amazing the world truly is. Get out of your comfort zone and have adventure in your life.

3. Where did your love of travel come from?

My father raised me with his travel stories and post cards as he was traveling a lot for his work. I got bitten by the travel bug myself when I got old enough to join my dad on small business trips. I could always discover the local ways of the country and my dad would bring me to museums and local restaurants for me to try to understand this new country we were in.

My daddy and I many, many years ago 🙂

4. Do you like short or long-term travel?

Long-term! Give me some time to get to know the people, the food, the customs, the lifestyle, the philosophy, the nature, the parties, the economy, and especially to try to make this place feel like home.

Chiapa de Corzo, Mexico

5. What kind of packing style do you have? Carry-on only/large suitcase? Backpack/rolling bag?

A big backpack from The North Face with lots of flags on it! Especially flags from Latin America I must say 🙂 I love that continent.

6. What is your favorite way to travel? Boat, plane, car, train, other?

I love to go on a boat. The movement of the ocean makes me fall in love over and over again with mother nature. So definitely a boat trip for me! However, I also love the feeling an airplane gives me when it takes of from the ground and I feel myself being pushed into my seat. It makes me relax so much! Then I also must admit I love a road-trip, but a train works perfectly fine for me too! Oh, and don’t forget hitch hiking!

Pantanal, Brazil

7. What do you like to do to pass the time while traveling?

I enjoy taking lots of pictures of the daily things happening in the country I am at, but I also enjoy just sitting somewhere, having a local kind of drink and look at what’s happening around me. If I can go diving or surfing in a place, then that’s always high on my to-do list. If I can do any other thing adventurous then this would be second on the list. If there is a great place to eat at, I will need to try it as soon as possible!

8. Do you pick out souvenirs for yourself? What kind?

I somehow always brought shot glasses home. I guess because my father was a true collector of all the Hard Rock glasses. Nowadays I find it a bit too risky to bring these kind of souvenirs in a backpack, but I still enjoy the idea of having a big collection of shot glasses one day! What I prefer more these days are cloths with a text reminding me of the place. I have a lovely T-shirt from Nicaragua that says “Pues si” and it reminds me of my stay there every time I wear it. Or locally easy made jewelry, I love that too!

9. What has been the craziest travel experience for you so far?

I did a massive trip through Latin America last year, starting in Argentina and ending in Mexico. Basically the entire trip was crazy, as I had no idea where I was going and talked myself through the customs a bunch of times. The craziest part must have been my hike to Refugio Frey in Argentina, near the city Bariloche. I had to hitch hike myself up to the start of the trail, with just the advise of a local who told me that it was good-to-do all by myself. As soon as I started walking I felt like a true adventurer and by the time I got up to the highest point of the hike I was so happy I made it – all by myself! That night I slept in a dorm with a bunch of empty sleeping bags surrounding me and I shared a pizza with a rock climber from Hawaii. It was the feeling I got that day, feeling complete and entirely independent, which made it feel crazily amazing.

10. How do you stay in touch with friends and family?

I’m the most horrible person when it comes to staying in touch. I never reply to your message within a few days, let alone within a few hours. So the best thing for my friends and family to do is to follow my travel blog and send me an e-mail occasionally.

Los amigos!

11. What is your biggest travel tip for a new traveler?

Step out of your comfort zone and go to places you don’t know at all. You’ll be amazed with the feeling you get when you can make yourself feel at home somewhere new.

Be wild and explore!

Thank you for taking the time to read my answers! Now it’s my time to nominate bloggers who I’d love to learn more about! I nominate Gina from One Haute Prime, Nicoliene from Ternaround, Liz from Womanlywoman, John from Aardvarksafaris, and Sandra from Stralend Schrijven. Please don’t forget to tag me when you post your answers on your blog through Facebook and Twitter 🙂

1. What was your first blog post about?
2. How do you get inspired to write?
3. What is your most favorite place in the whole wide world?
4. Are you more interested in backpacking or luxury travels?
5. Do you find it nicest to travel alone or accompanied?
6. What was the best thing that ever happened to you while traveling?
7. What was the worst thing that ever happened to you while traveling?
8. If you’d have to immigrate to a place tomorrow, where would you go to?
9. How do you fund your travels?
10. Have you ever felt unsafe abroad?
11. What is your special tip for people who are new to traveling without a tour operator helping them?

About Renate Rigters

Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.

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