Today we are interviewing Kat from Kat’s Gone Global.

Hi Kat, could you tell us all a little bit about yourself?

I’m Kat from Kat’s Gone Global.

I started a travel blog because travelling is my hobby and passion in life, I wish I started documenting my travels sooner! I launched my blog on the 8^th June 2017 so I’ve only been up and running for a short while.

Over the last thirteen years I’ve either been to 40 countries or 38 countries depending on how you count the UK. I like to think 40 countries! Although I will have Luxemburg and Slovenia added by the end of 2017.

Kat in Cambridge, UK

Where is home for you?

Perth (Australia) and London are currently my two homes and I might make Melbourne my third home one day.

Where in the world are you right now?

London, hoping August gives us a bit of sun!

How long have you been travelling?

I have been travelling since I was born. My family lived in the country so the travelling adventures started with road trips and then when I got older my parents would surprise me with plane tickets to visit friends or family. Later when my dad moved aboard it turned into family adventures in exotic countries.

A very tough question, but what is your favourite country?

That is a tough question! I am going to say Australia just because it’s my home.

What was your least favourite place? Why?

I liked and disliked Ha Long Bay. It was beautiful and I am glad I went but I was disappointed, not only was it overcrowded but heavily polluted. I just felt so bad that tourism had ruined the beautiful bay!

Sunset over Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

What is the strangest journey that you have taken?

I wouldn’t say that this is a strange journey but an eye-opening experience travelling in South East Asia. We were travelling from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, we arrived at the travel company which took us on a minivan to the bus station (literally 2 mins away). Forward a couple of hours the bus arrives at the Vietnamese boarder, the bus driver starts rounding up our passports and then kicks us off the bus to go through boarder control.

Walk through, get back on the bus, still no passports back and then taken to this random tin shed. Still no passports, no idea what’s going and finally get taken back on the bus to go through another passport control, reunited with our passports!

Finally get to Phnom Penh which I had no idea the bus was going via. Kicked off the bus again to another travel agent, turns out the delays means we missed our connections. The group continuing on were all told you have two hours to wander around by this time we were starved… Go to the café next door and next thing you know they are rounding us all back up to get on a tuk tuk as we can now make our connection.

Did you make the bus?

Yes we made it to a bus station but, the bus were put on was stuffed full. We wait and wait they keep loading this bus with more and more stuff then finally we are off. For about the first three hours of this journey we were listening to music blasting, think Gangnam but Cambodian style.

About 11pm the bus finally arrives at Siem Reap and instead of dropping us off at a bus station we were left on the side of the road. Getting off the bus we are tackled by tuk tuk drivers all trying to get us to take their services. Our tuk tuk driver never showed up, we had no idea what to do, where to go and stumbled across a lovely driver that rescued us. He Called our hostel and our tuk tuk driver came and found us.

What has been the best experience that you have had whilst travelling?

My favourite experience would have to be in 2010 when my dad took the family to Tanzania on Safari through the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Plains. It was childhood dream coming true! Seeing the big cats, elephants, hippopotamus and all the other wonderful animals.

Serengeti Plains

What is the scariest encounter that you have had whilst travelling?

When I was in Istanbul my friends and I went to this restaurant for lunch. Everything was all good until I decided to go to the ladies and this guy cornered me in the bathroom. He wouldn’t let me leave until I took photos with him as he was obsessed with my bleach blonde hair I had at the time. It was an uncomfortable experience being cornered and then he followed my every move until I left the restaurant.

What is your number one ‘bucket list’ item that you haven’t yet done?

My bucket list basically contains all of South and Central America. I plan on starting my adventures there in 2019.

Can you recommend a book that’s great to read whilst on holiday?

My favourite book to read if you are travelling to Greece or just want a good read would be The Girl Under the Olive Tree by Leah Fleming. Fantastic book!

Do you have a favourite app for travel?

It’s kind of duo app and product. My new travel card Monzo has a great app and it’s an amazing travel card. It sends you notifications of what you spend helping you keep track of budgets and great rates on money exchange.

What is your best tip for anyone about to go travelling?

If you aren’t a traveller, then listen to travellers’ or local’s advice. It’s great to give tips about your last holiday but a true traveller or local will tell you so much more than the tourist spots.

Where are you going to go to next?

I always head to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh and after that I will be heading to Belfast, Rome, Scotland again, Luxemburg and Slovenia.

Thankyou Kat, its great to hear about people’s experiences from all over the world, and have a look at the rest of the interviews on Traveling Sam.

Kat is an Australian expat living in London, providing useful tips to those looking to travel on a budget or for weekend getaways. She has been to over 40 countries (while still working a 9-5!) and breaks down the highlights from each destination.

You can read more from Kat through her Blog, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.