The Travel Blogger behind the Wandering Orange Lauren Metzler discussed her adventures around the world to Clement Dampal II and why she is called the Wandering Orange. Perhaps, she loves the saying, "Travel as much as you can, as far as you can, as long as you can".
THE MISADVENTURES OF A COMIC BOOK ARTIST ABROAD!
1. Tell us something about yourself?
I am a
comic book artist that likes to doodle about my travels abroad! I am originally
from Oregon, where I grew up hiking nearby waterfalls and looking for hidden
fairy homes in the forest. I read A LOT of comic books, and even started
drawing my own. I guess you’d say I was a total NERD! When I graduated from
Uni, I decided to teach English in Thailand and continued drawing comics about
my adventures there. I’ve been drawing comics about my adventures abroad for
over three years now!
2. How and When did the idea of "The Wandering
Orange" come up?
While I was teaching kindergarten to cute little babies
in Thailand, they couldn’t say my name right! So “Lauren” became “Orange” and
has stuck as a nickname ever since!
3. Let’s talk about travel. When was the
first time the "itchy travel bug" bit you?
My grandparents fell in
love and traveled the world together, so I grew up listening to stories about
their adventures. My uncles were born in South America, my auntie in Saipan,
and my dad was born in Africa! My whole life I listened to them tell me stories
about their adventures around the world; swimming with nurse sharks off the
Ivory Coast, collecting sea shells in the Philippines and even living in the
jungles of Brazil. When I grew up, all I wanted was to have that same
indescribable excitement and joy in my life that is Travel. So, during a summer
at Uni, I packed my backpack and headed over to Europe, and did a little bit of
my own soul searching around Italy and France. After that, I kept following my
itchy feet to China, all across the US, the UK, Southeast Asia and now,
Australia!
4. What kind of Traveler are you? A flash-packer, Tourist, Explorer,
etc.?
My mom calls me a little “Trail Blazer” because I like to go where most
people are afraid to go! So I guess I am an Explorer!
5. What inspires you to
travel?
My grandparents and their love for Travel started it all, and now it is
the indescribable moments of excitement and pure wonder that inspires me to
keep traveling. I have an insatiable thirst for adventure, and I am a
Wanderlust Addict! Seriously, I can’t stop! Haha!
6. What do you love most
about traveling? Is it the foods, the culture, the people, the destination?
I
love it all. I love waking up on a hillside in Italy, with the morning sun on
my face and nothing but a backpack and a motorcycle. I love meeting people who
have no material wealth, who live in a tiny village in the jungle of Laos. They
may not own a laptop or an iPhone, but they own the happiest heart and the
brightest smile. I love catching 24 hour trains across unknown countryside with
all the time in the world to reflect and meditate on my life. I love eating
exotic foods that I would have never tried back home, like chicken feet or pigs
brains! I love everything about traveling!
7. Tell us something about your
travel experiences around the world?
Ah! There are so many! Like the time I
went to a secret beach in Sicily that only the locals knew about. My Sicilian
friends told me, “Its where the turtles have the sex on the beach” in broken
English. There was even security meant to keep people out, but all they asked
was where I was from. When I said the US, they smiled and let me through. There
were even old ruins on that beach, and unspoiled white sand for miles and
miles! It was breathtaking.
8. How many countries have you visited so far? What
is your favorite destination?
I have traveled all across China, Thailand, Laos,
Cambodia, Vietnam, England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Spain, Ireland,
Vatican City, The United States and now, Australia! It’s hard to say which one
is my favorite, as I love all of the places I’ve traveled to for different
reasons, but if I had to choose one, it would be Thailand! I spent some time
living on a little farm outside Pai in Northern Thailand. The people there were
like family to me, and every morning I awoke in my little bamboo hut and
meditated while looking out at the mountains and jade green rice paddy fields
below. At sunset we practice Tai Chi, then made a big family dinner of sticky
rice, curries and fruit (all vegetarian of course!) Not a day goes by that I do
not dream about my time there.
So many!
Like the time a friend and I decided to drive all the way to Khao Yai National
Park on a motorbike and camp there for the weekend. When we first arrived, we
set up a tent and then wandered around, deciding on a whim to do a quick trek
around a river in the jungle. Usually people have guides, but being the
stubborn adventurers that we were, we went on our own. I remember asking my
friend if he thought there were any crocodiles in the river. At this point I
was covered in leeches and a bit sore to say the least. He said, “Nah, I don’t
think so” and we continued our trek alone through the jungle! Such idiots! When
we got back down to the main campsite, we checked out where we had been on the
big main campsite map. And right where we were just hiking was a picture of a
BIG CROCODILE!!! We sat there looking at it and shuddering in fear, laughing
nervously about how stupid we had been to not go with a guide! Haha!
10. How
about strangest encounters while traveling?
The strangest encounter I've had
was definitely the time I was hitch hiking around Tasmania and got picked up by
some crazy locals. They were talking about knocking each other’s teeth out so
they wouldn't have to go to work! In the end they were just regular blokes and
pretty sweet. They even dropped us off a bit out of their way so that we could
find another ride!
I've learned that material possessions don’t mean a thing. The imaginary ladder
of success that society tells we have to climb is completely worthless. The
only thing that really matters in Life is following our dreams down whatever
path they may lead, and the people that we meet along the way.
12. Talking
about food, What are the 5 Best Foods you have eaten and why?
Oh man, I could
list about 20! But my Top 5 Favorite Foods while traveling are sushi, dim sum,
sticky rice with mango, prawns on the barbie and laab moo (a pork dish in
Thailand and Laos that is to die for!!!)
13. Where would you like to travel
next month if given the chance?
Any future travel plans? I am traveling to New
Zealand to go hiking and visit Hobbiton…What can I say? I am a huge Lord of the
Rings nerd!
When will that
be if given a chance? I would LOVE to go to the Philippines! I’ve heard so many
wonderful things, and have quite a few friends from there. I am hoping to go on
my Round the World Trip that I am currently saving up for.
15. Give us your top
5 destinations in the Philippines that you would like to visit someday and why?
Puerto Princesa because I want to cruise around the Underground River! I would
also love to swim with the whale sharks in Donsol, trek across the Chocolate
Hills and the Banaue Rice Terraces, and hang out on the beach in Boracay! There
are so many other things I want to do in the Philippines, and probably a lot more
that I haven’t even heard about!
Just Buy the
Ticket! Stop daydreaming and just go! If you don’t have the money, work as an
English teacher or on a cruise ship. Or save up for 6 months and go! Cut out
all the expenses in life that you don’t really need, like that latte you have
every day at Starbucks or going out to the movies, etc. Save as much as you
can, knowing that you will be off on an adventure in 6 months and all those
people that winged at you for not going out will be jealous! Haha! The only
thing that is stopping you from living your dreams is yourself.
17. Share with
us at least three photo souvenirs that you particularly love and tell us the
story behind the shots?
Three of my favorite photos are;
1. Scuba diving in Koh Tao Thailand. I did my whole PADI course there and it was incredible!
1. Scuba diving in Koh Tao Thailand. I did my whole PADI course there and it was incredible!
2. Eating bugs during my trek around the border
of Laos. We hiked through jungle for two days to a little village where they
saw foreigners only two times that year...and we were the second time! They
laughed at me asking why I would pay to walk through the jungle...why didn't I
just buy a car? Still, they were the happiest people I've ever met. Fishing and
living life peacefully as farmers.
3. This photo is of me feeding a little baby
elephant bananas in Chang Mai! I went with my Thai friends on a little day trip
during Song Kran, the biggest water gun fight in the world! That day we rode on
elephants in the jungle, went river rafting, and ate amazing local food in a
little hut on the river. Afterwards we played Song Kran in the city for the
next two days! It was awesome!
Additional photo souvenir: Lauren (Orange) at the Stonehenge.
Follow Lauren Metzler as she wanders around the world with a comic book!
Lauren, we are SO proud of you!! Uncle Jim & Aunt Sheri
ReplyDeleteReally nice pictures. Looks like you guys had an awesome time. I have learned a lot just by reading this article.
ReplyDeleteI am also a traveler and i explore 7 county yet. Thailand was best trip of last year. Bangkok is really a beautiful city. I enjoy your travel experience in Thailand. You just remind me my Thailand tour.
ReplyDeleteOh, i really like Meeting new folks today! Characterization is that the most significant factor to me furthermore.job interview And extremely get to Stephanie Perkins' books presently, they are superb :) loved the interview!
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