Today’s feature interview is with Amar Hussein, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Gap Year Escape. On his Instagram profile, Amar describes himself as a “7 Continent World Traveller, Editor, Author, Pug Lover and M&M Connoisseur” and today he shares about his irrational fear, three amazing adventures crossed off the bucket list, and the best advice he’s ever received.

Skydiving over the Alps – Photo provided by and used with permission from Amar Hussain

Name and blog:
Amar Hussain at Gap Year Escape

Fun fact about you:
I have an irrational fear of tomato ketchup but will eat tomatoes or have tomato sauce on pizza.

Funner fact:
I quite frequently get stuck in toilets [stalls], normally when the handles break off. This has happened more times than I’d care to admit.

Funnest fact:
I once went in a submarine to 2000ft to explore a petrified ice age coral reef. The best part about it… the submarine was yellow.

What do you think has been essential to your success as a travel blogger?
Being adaptable and always willing to learn and try new things. It’s been a long time since blogging was purely about the writing. If content is king then marketing is certainly queen. You have to constantly stay on top of what is happening in internet marketing to ensure you stay in touch and can get your content and blog in front of people.

What was something that surprised you about blogging?
When I started I never thought about how many doors it would open, the skills I would acquire and most importantly the connections I have made. I wouldn’t have half the friends I do now if it wasn’t for blogging and the world it introduced me to. Blogging has afforded me so many opportunities and been a definitive part of my 20’s.

If you had to describe your blog in 6 words or less, what would you say?
The best thing I’ve ever done.

Who or what inspires you?
Cheesy answer but my parents do for how hard they worked in raising me. Outside of that, I know a lot of entrepreneurs who are doing great things and I look up to them and the work they are doing in creating great businesses.

What is your all-time favorite bucket list item (of yours or someone else’s)?
Tough one, but I would have to say my top three would be going to Antarctica, experiencing zero gravity and cage diving with Great White Sharks. Blessed to say that I have done all three and all were incredible experiences to tick off the bucket list.

The list is never ending and I am constantly adding to it. Despite a trip to the Arctic Circle last year I am still yet to see the Northern Lights. I’m also keen to go on safari in Botswana and also try ice climbing!

If you aren’t doing anything related to travel, what are you doing in your free time?
I don’t travel full-time anymore and use London as a base to do shorter trips. I just got back from snowboarding in France and a entrepreneurs meetup in Portugal. When I’m not working on my travel blog I work on developing my new venture, Suave Grooming, which is a grooming and skin care company for men.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve always been partial to the saying that if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Life, business, blogging, and even travel is a continuing cycle of learning and experimentation and the best way to do this is to surround yourself who you can learn from.

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Readers: Join me in thanking Amar for sharing his time, stories, and advice with us! If you want to learn more about him and the rest of the team, check out Gap Year Escape (links to the usual social media sites are located there).

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