Welcome to Gypsy Wednesday! Every Wednesday, I strive to highlight all the juicy morsels related to travel and beyond.
All the travel aficionados have seen clips or full episodes of Word Travels, the successful OLN show devoted to travel writing and traveling. One half of the team is Julia Dimon, an accomplished travel writer and CBC broadcaster. The other half is miles apart from that spectrum. Robin Esrock was a regular guy, driving his scooter to work when the universe plopped a question in his lap. He answered that question with a sharp wit and love of extreme adventure. Kind of like a wallet crafted from duct tape and mulberry paper, Robin manages to buck assumptions on what success means.
Famous Robin jump
Q: For those new to the travel world, tell us how your illustrious career started?
A: About six years ago, I was driving to work on a scooter I’d bought for the summer. A car didn’t see me approaching, pulled across an intersection, and I slammed right into it. The result was a broken kneecap, and $20,000 from the insurance company. Once I was healed up, I decided to take a year off and backpack to all the places I’d ever wanted to see on a round the world ticket. I built a blog for friends and family, and set off. Just before though, I pitched the local newspaper, The Vancouver Sun, a column, and they bought it! On my return 12 months later, I had pitched other editors, and decided to make a go of it as a fully fledged travel writer.
Q: How did you work up the nerve to propose that first story to The Vancouver Sun? That would frighten most people.
A: What’s the worse that can happen – they say no? Then you’re no better off than where you started. I’ve never had a problem asking or pitching people. Selling people on my ideas is a different story! A friend of mine used to say: “The world belongs to those who ask”, and I always believed him.
Q: Your blog is a tribute to Hunter S. Thompson. Why are you so attracted to his persona and tell us about the most gonzo experience you had during your travels? One that would make Hunter proud.
A: Gonzo simply means putting yourself in the story, as a central component of the action. It inspired me when I was studying journalism, a lot more than quasi-objective news reporting. Hunter S. Thompson was a madman, but a brilliant madman, and a genius writer. His personality was driven to take things over the top. Many people don’t know he was also a travel writer, reporting from South and Central America for a while. When I decided to visit 24 countries in one year, everyone I said I was crazy. Modern Gonzo seemed like an apt match for my journey. A gonzo experience? Hoo, there’s been many. Like the time I held a saltwater crocodile by its tale in the middle of a crocodile den? Or the time I drank fermented horse milk with a Mongolian chieftain. Or the time I got set on fire by this crazy “fire doctor” in Taiwan. Or the time I did 14 extreme sports in 14 days. Or the time I ended up climbing an erupting volcano. Or the time I pissed at gunpoint on the Russian border. Or the time…there’s been a lot times. Just about every Report I file on my website has a gonzo moment…
Nabbing piranha in Brazil
Q: On the business side of travel, your tales have been published in numerous newspapers/periodicals and now Word Travels is currently launching its third season. How do you keep humble and real in this job?
A: After five years of hard travel, it can be difficult to keep things in perspective. My one year of living dangerously turned into a career. Like anything you’re passionate about, when it becomes a job, with all the responsibilities and expectations that come with it, the dynamic changes. I get a lot of feedback from people who read my stuff, watch my Youtube clips, see my TV show. And they’re always quick to remind me how lucky I am to be here. It keeps me humble. You’ve got to care about the things you do. Admittedly, I care less about museums than say, skydiving. But while curiosity killed the cat, he also turned into a great travel writer. The easiest way for me to remain inspired is to meet anybody and tell them what I do, at home or on the road.
Q: Okay, quick list from a man who’s been around the world 5 times. Best city? Best meal? Best country? Best extreme sport you tried? Best illness that you suffered?
A: Subjectively, as these things go:
Best City: Buenos Aires
Best Meal: Nasi kander in Malaysia
Best Country: Brazil
Best Extreme Sport: Canyon Swinging in New Zealand
Best Illness: The botfly of Belize. Look it up, but keep a barf bag handy.
Q: Finally, how can people make the most of their travel experience, whether travel writer or not?
A: Leave your comfort zone, even if it’s for a couple hours. You’ll laugh, or you’ll cry, but you’ll make memories, that’s for sure. Listen to and trust the little voice in your gut, it’s usually right. Smile, even when you’re scared, and especially at strangers, even if they’ve got guns. Stop wondering whether you made the right decision, that will drive you crazy! Wherever you are, is where you’re supposed to be.
Viva la Andes!
During The Vancouver Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show, I had the opportunity to see Robin Esrock speak. He relayed the serendipitous beginnings of his career and addressed with raw honesty the landscape of modern travel writing in the age of blogs and Twitter. Stay tuned for a future post on that engaging talk. Meanwhile, here’s a taste!
To contact Robin Esrock, find him on Twitter or his website Modern Gonzo.
Photos: courtesy of Modern Gonzo
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
@Andi – Me too! LOVED BA. But, Salvador is a hot second. Robin is inspirational. He’s actually in Havana right now!
PS BA is my fave city in the world as well!
Fantastic interview! Robin you’re very inspirational!!! Keep traveling the world and sharing your stories. The world needs you. :)
@ayngelina – There ya go! Downloading from the road is a stellar idea. I lack cable too, thank mercy for torrentz. :)
Am I the only person who doesn’t know this guy? Alas I didnt have cable and used rabbit ears for television so that’s my excuse. His show looks awesome, downloading from the road now.
@Dave – Yup. Good call on that. Robin is a cunning linguist, fab writer, lover of life.. good combo to meet up with in a bar. :)
Great, someone else to add to the list of ‘awesome people that I’d love to meet in a bar one day’. You certainly wouldn’t walk away bored, that’s for sure. Great stories, great life.
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