How I Travel

Matt Reznik has been travelling with Jacada since 2013. He chatted to Michelle Allen about his love for immersive and authentic experiences, the importance of having an open mind and his latest adventure across the Caucasus, visiting the countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

What does adventure mean to you and has this changed over time?

For me, adventure is not just about a destination, but the journey to get there. It shouldn’t revolve around a travel bucket list, it’s about being fully present and absorbing the whole experience and not missing out on the real essence of travel.

During my travels I’ve discovered that the more you meet people from other parts of the world, the more you realise we have far more similarities than differences.

Tell us about some of the highlights of your trip to the Caucasus.

The Caucasus is a phenomenal part of the world. Narrowing my highlights down is challenging as every part of my journey offered something special. Meeting with residents of villages, towns and rural areas added an authenticity to my experience, leaving me feeling a sense of connection, even after returning home.

I began my trip in Azerbaijan. One of my most memorable experiences was dining with a family who showed me how to make kebabs in the traditional azeri way. A couple of the younger family members spoke a small amount of English so with the help of my guide, we were able to communicate. They asked about my job, my life in general and then asked if I played tennis, which in Azerbaijan is actually table tennis. After we’d finished eating, I was taken upstairs to a table and we began to play whilst some of the family watched, they were pretty impressed by my skills. It was an unusual and heartwarming bonding experience and despite the language barrier, for the most part, I felt like I was part of the family for that slice of time.

My next stop was Georgia during the history-making UEFA Euro Football Championship; it was their first time qualifying so it was a huge deal. On the day of the match, we were at the home of a local winemaker in the rural surroundings of Tbilisi for a wine-tasting and dinner. He invited us to stay to watch the match with him, and a lot of other people who I could only assume were neighbours and families. With virtually nobody speaking English other than my guide, we all gathered around a table and portable screen to enjoy a supra (lavish family-style dinner) with toasts being made and a lot of wine consumed. Despite the loss of the game, it was amazing to experience the passion, national pride and community spirit.

From Georgia, I moved overland to Armenia where we worked our way from the border to Yerevan. En route, we stopped to meet a honeymaker and his wife, who currently maintain approximately 300 hives across the country, having inherited only two from his grandfather. Being a business person myself, I was impressed by their entrepreneurship as they explained how they had invented an app that controls the hives remotely, and has an investment and revenue-sharing option. The couple did an excellent job explaining the honey-making process, the hierarchy of the hive and the breeding of queen bees. I was then invited to see the hives and, as someone with an irrational fear of bees, the realisation that I was about to be surrounded by a large number of them was somewhat terrifying. Despite that, I was adorned in the bee suit and handed the smoker to make the bees more docile, all the while the beekeeper was checking the honeycomb wearing no gloves. This couple’s passion was infections and you can’t help but feel that energy.

What do you look for when planning your travels?

The Caucasus was not a destination that I had ever thought about exploring. Not for any reason other than having little awareness of the area or knowing whether the logistics of visiting such a place were even possible. It wasn’t until speaking with Jack, following Jacada’s launch into the Caucasus, that I thought ‘What the heck? Let's do it!’

There was an extraordinary variety of experiences to be had and the region offers such a great combination of modern and ancient history, different cultures and incredible landscapes – all of which I have an avid interest in – and amazing people. When you're going into people's homes instead of restaurants to share meals, you're experiencing more local hospitality.

Who inspires your adventures?

The late Anthony Bourdain said about travel, “The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” No truer words can be said about my recent trip.

If there was anyone who embodied the spirit of travel and adventure, being open-minded and willing to build bridges between people from different cultures and backgrounds, it was Bourdain. He’s someone I look to for inspiration around travel and the importance of being open to trying new things, meeting people and being willing to see more of the similarities than the differences.

Bourdain believed in connecting with people over food, and that was true about my experiences in the Caucasus. I felt the most connections while sharing stories over meals and wine.

What do you find enriching about solo travel experiences?

While it's nice to travel with somebody, I find I can really get under the skin of a country when I travel alone. Over time I’ve realised it leads to greater connections with guides and experiences that are more tailored to you and your interests.

You’re often more open to meeting and interacting with new people. I am not an extrovert, however when travelling I transform into a different persona. When you travel by yourself, and this is something I noticed when I took my first trip with Jacada back in 2013, if you don’t talk to people you can easily spend your whole trip sitting and eating meals alone. Engaging with those around you introduces other perspectives and thoughts from fellow travellers and locals, something easily lost in day-to-day life.

You touched on guides, how did they enrich your journey through the Caucasus?

Jacada connected me with guides who gave me access to experiences that I would not have otherwise encountered.

My guide in Georgia, Tamara, stands out as one of the best guides I've ever had. She was so knowledgeable and had such great energy. She was an example of how somebody's passion can elevate the whole experience. She knows everything about Georgia, and she knows everyone in Georgia, and everybody knows her. She could make anybody fall in love with the country. We keep in touch and I hope to see her again at some point when I travel elsewhere in Georgia.

What would you say to fellow travellers who are considering a visit to the Caucasus?

It’s important to get out of your own head and dive in with a spirit of adventure. Embrace the hospitality of the people and be prepared for the language barrier. The alphabets are ancient and bear little resemblance to many European languages and you grow an appreciation for how important those are to the identity of the peoples of the Caucasus.

Most importantly, go in with an open mind and an open heart. Enrich your experience with an openness to conversing with people. They're going to want to ask you questions, some may seem personal, it’s not to offend but out of curiosity to learn more about the Western culture, just like we are keen to learn about theirs.

Where’s next on your travel list?

Everyone's been asking me that and I don't honestly know. At this point, it’s a long list.

I have a love for Southeast Asia and have previously visited Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. It would be great to head back out there to explore Vietnam and Cambodia, both of which I have a particular interest in, especially from a historical point of view. Japan is a slightly different side of Asia I’d like to explore.

I would like to see more of Central Asia, maybe Mongolia as I know Jacada recently added this to their portfolio. Having said that, I’d like to go back to Georgia next year and see the western part of the country. A few people I encountered on my trip recommended the west as it’s a completely different type of experience.