Q&A with a Travel Editor: Tanya White
We asked Tanya White, one of ESM’s writers and travel editors, to share some of her favorite travel memories with us. Here’s what she had to say.
Optimism and curiosity are driver’s in Tanya’s life as a writer and photographer. She’s a Canadian living in Austin since 2008 and finds joy in sharing travel tips and experiences with others.
What place is at the top of your bucket list?
I’ve got my eye on the Maldives, an archipelago of islands located in the Indian Ocean, towards the west of India. I grew up on a tropical island and cannot get enough of beaches and turquoise waters. I was in Fiji, which is stunning for any ocean-lover, and someone said that Maldives tops it. I want to find out if that’s true.
Out of all the places you’ve traveled, what destination has the best food?
It may not be the best food, but it’s definitely really great food that took me by surprise: Peru.
What’s the most meaningful trip you’ve ever taken?
A river cruise along the Snake and Columbia Rivers in the Pacific Northwest with my mom. My father passed away before they were able to have the adventure and to be there in his place, following these incredible explorers, it was a magical time for both of us.
What’s your favorite souvenir from all your travels?
A skirt that I found in Australia, it’s ornate and jeweled in an Indian style. It makes me feel magical when I wear it.
Out of all the places you’ve visited, what’s your favorite destination?
I can’t pick just one, so I’ll go by the seasons: NYC in the fall, Paris in late spring, Turks & Caicos in winter, and New Mexico mountains in summer.
What’s your best memory/experience from all your travels?
Driving solo through southern France, using an old-school map, and getting stuck in a round-about. There are no north/south/east/west signs, only names of cities listed. I was fussing with my map, trying to figure out which direction was the right one, and I must have gone around that circle half a dozen times.
What’s your favorite airline for travel?
Fiji Airlines has been one of the most welcoming and caring experiences I’ve ever had with an airline.
What do you like about solo travel?
You get to set the pace: be social, don’t be social, do whatever you want, no “group think” or having to ‘go with the flow’ of a broader group. I enjoy letting my instincts curate the journey.
What do you like about group trips?
No thinking required! If it’s an organized group trip, everything is preplanned and laid out. If it’s a group going together, someone will step up and make the calls required to keep everyone moving. It’s nice not to have to make decisions sometimes.
What do you enjoy most about working with EASTside Magazine?
The people. Curious, adventurous, quick to laugh, they’re all just lovely humans, and I enjoy learning about the world through them and with them.
What destination are you off to next?
Maldives is on the list, but what’s actually booked is a two-week cruise around Norway in and out of the fjords. I’m heading out with my mom again, and cruises are really nice for both of us, in that you get to unpack once and wake up every morning somewhere new.
