Talk time: 1.45pm, Saturday, March 9, 2013
Talk title
: Volunteering on your travels
Speaker’s Name: Macca Sherifi
Company: Gapyear.com
 

Brief Description of Talk:
An introduction into some of the volunteering projects you can do on your travels and how it can benefit you in the future.

Why do you love to travel?
I love experiencing new cultures and societies, trying new cuisines, meeting new people. I love pushing myself to the limit – travelling truly makes me feel alive like nothing else.

Who would be your ideal travel partner and why?
Someone who’s laid-back and relaxed. Someone who wants to do all the cultural things in the day but party long into the night. And they have to love chillies.

What was your favourite destination last year and why?
Last year I went to Bolivia and it was simply stunning. I did a three-day tour of the salt flats and every day we saw something different; the landscapes were like nothing I’ve ever seen before. 

Describe the most unusual situation you’ve found yourself in while travelling?
I once spent the night in hospital with an Australian guy after he’d been stabbed by a ladyboy in Thailand. And he was a complete stranger. I think that qualifies as a really unusual situation.

Name two up-and-coming destinations for 2013. 
Macedonia – it’s a bit like Croatia but a lot cheaper and without all the tourists. Belize – flights to Central America are becoming much cheaper this year and Belize is perfectly positioned to be a popular destination for 2013.

If you could return to any country you’ve been to, where would it be and why?
India – Even though I spent five months there, I still felt like I had a lot left to uncover. I mean, I didn’t even make it down to Kerala! I’d love to go back and explore the south.

What’s the one thing you can’t travel without and why?
I’d say my camera bag – it’s got everything I need in it to have a good time, namely a camera.

Give us an overview of what you’ll be discussing at the TNT Travel Show:
It’s an introduction into some of the volunteering projects you can do on your travels and how it can benefit you in the future.

Who will find your talk relevant?
Everyone aged 17-70. It’s for anyone who has an interest in doing some different on their travels and making a difference to other people’s lives. It’s also for anyone who likes to see a little beardy man up on stage.