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Our entire team at a Connecto Transfers is a fan of authentic travel, eager for any raw, firsthand accounts of exotic locations (whether they are reachable through the simple convenience of our private transfers or not), which is why we were overjoyed to discover The Candy Trail.
This mesmerizing travel journal is maintained by Michael Robert Powell from New Zealand, who has been on the road for 38 years (as of the time of this article) and lives a permanently nomadic lifestyle in some of the world’s most exotic destinations. With the most recent travel report at The Candy Trail the time of this interview being about the Band-e Amir National Park in Afghanistan, not much more needs to be said about the uniqueness of this project.
What led you to start documenting and writing about your travel adventures, and how did the name "The Candy Trail" come about?
Back in 1991, after 3.5 years of foreign adventures on my first backpacking trip - the post-travel blues hit hard at home, and so maybe to sort my brain out and process the journey, my mother suggested that I write a book ... (finally, to be self-published in 2026-27 as a ‘Crazy Travels’ series).
Some of those experiences included: arrested as a ‘spy’ in Saddam’s Iraq; hitchhiking across the Sahara; caught amid a monster cyclone in Bangladesh; a deadly bus accident in Iran, and more. Then in 2005, those writings evolved into travel blogging and my current website.
‘The Candy Trail’ web name was decided while traveling across Russia. Simply, it was based on the title of my second book, which was a crazy, hedonistic trip across Asia and Africa in 1994-95. And the idea is ‘the trail’ equals the journey, while ‘the candy’ is the reward – the experiences, the pleasures - of travel.
Does your travel model ban air travel, and what level of "travel purism" works for you? Are there any things you wouldn't do on principle while traveling?
Often flying is the only (practical) option, yet I travel overland as much as possible - because it’s amazing to see the world change slowly from region to region, from countryside to city.
For example in my early days, I hitchhiked from London (where I was based during 1989-91) over to India - via Europe, Iran, and Pakistan, followed by a circuit right around India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, before taking my first flight of the entire journey (by returning to England).
This go-overland / return-flight trip is typical of my travels. Big journeys include London overland to Nigeria, via the Sahara; across China and Central Asia to Georgia; Africa: Egypt to South Africa, and also down West Africa from Morocco to Ghana; by rail from Beijing to London, via Mongolia, Russia, Eastern Europe; Yemen to UAE, via Oman; plus various loops around Latin America, Europe, Asia, etc.
Avoiding guided group travel is vital for my sanity - unless there’s zero option, such as traveling to Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, or North Korea, etc.
As far as principles, well, I’m very aware of social global issues but let politics slide, and focus on who I meet, and what I see when I travel.
Furthermore, I’ll never be a mouthpiece for things that I deem nasty, greedy and unethical; I’m not a fan of influencers peddling wasteful – often shallow - luxury travel as the best option; so, you won’t see me plastering my face everywhere and raving about anything for money.
I’ve always traveled at street-level, putting my money into the local economy and into the hands of everyday people, meaning I’ll stay in local hotels or family guesthouses, indulge at simple restaurants, bars, or street stalls. And mostly utilize public buses, taxis, rickshaws, mini-vans, and trains.
Most people don't seem to be ready to travel to very exotic locations, whether due to legitimate difficulties or due to reluctance to step out of their comfort zones. What do you think can be made to change this?
Maybe, a diversity of information sources and/or a wider sense of adventure.
Yes, getting out of one’s comfort zone is the only way to go beyond the ordinary – because there’s plenty of weirdness out there as both experiences and sights. And yes, some journeys are arduous and living conditions tough, and occasionally you encounter someone unpleasant. But mostly, it’s the beauty of human interaction with cool strangers, wild and remote landscapes, unpredictable journeys, and startling ancient places that is enough to stay excited about travel, for me, anyway.
Simply: Stay friendly, optimistic, and curious.
Unfortunately, mainstream media distorts many places as ‘too radical, unsafe, poor, dirty, dangerous’. Yet, that’s only a small fraction of the situation across any country at any time, and with common sense, knowledge, patience and planning, you’ll find things are not as bad as imagined. In fact, most places are wonderful in many lovely and unexpected ways - and rarely ugly like the news. (Yet, I never advise going to active war zones.)
P.S. The reality is that people approach travel differently, and some simply want to be guided and tick boxes and have selfie moments as a holiday blast, with no interest in anything but that, and that’s fine, since all individuals have their strengths and needs.
In contrast, never could I be a scientist, a doctor, a carpenter, a bus driver, or an accountant - simply, others can’t or don’t want to travel endlessly to edgy places like myself, maybe due to a lack of interest or probably because they are too involved with their family and work commitments and their sense of place in the world. And respect to them, that’s what keeps society ticking.
How did you end up meeting your wife in China and how does her community feel about your nomadic lifestyle?
A work colleague set-up a blind date in December 2014, and we clicked immediately, soon traveled together in India, Cambodia, Ukraine, etc, and then married.
Community, well, China is focused on family cohesion, career, material goods, and is quite conformist as a society. But it’s always open to travel (short term) and one’s freedom of choice – way more than Western media presents – and my wife’s family accepts her decisions positively with her marriage to a foreigner and a life of endless aimless travel (but yes, we drop in for visits).
As for living a roaming van life here, there’s thousands of older people also doing it, freely and without hassle and China’s AMAZING for dramatic - remote, wild landscapes, like a blend of the entire planet’s scenery in one country.
What is the one place in the world you would like to revisit, but haven't managed to (yet)?
Antarctica … The first time was during New Year 2003, and I haven’t tried to revisit, yet – but when I do, it will be together with my wife, Wei.
Have you done any collaborations with local tourism boards or other local authorities throughout the world?
No. I’ve never sought or approached anyone about such a venture as of this interview, and I’ve paid my (our) way around the world for nearly 4 decades without any help.
Having said that as I approach age 60, and softening my travel-style (slightly, if you exclude backpacking around Taliban Afghanistan in 2024), I/we could be open to something ‘commercial’ that aligns with our vision.
P.S. Well, not local authorities but China’s biggest vehicle company sponsored my wife a car and a 2-month trip across Tibet, and several other promotional trips in China, including Hainan Island. This package resulted from our van life before the pandemic, and her social media profile brought the company to us.
However, I didn’t/couldn’t do the Tibetan part, since government rules outlawed foreigners traveling Tibet without a guide following the 2008 riots; never mind, I’d backpacked independently across Tibet to Nepal in 1994.
How does your way of traveling translate to Europe with its generally orderly life, infrastructure and monuments? What can a typical traveler do to add a touch of difference to their European trip?
That’s a bit of a challenge – likewise in parts of China, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and most Western countries - as one wants to see the ‘great sights’ – for sure, even if they’re crowded, and/or expensive and manicured. Yet, there are many other fascinating places across most countries.
If you’re self–driving, hitchhiking, or cycling – you’ll find them along the way. If relying on public transport, research places online and ask others as you go, or just roll the dice for direction. For accommodation, stay at local guesthouses (as many AirBnBs are impersonal these days). It really depends on what interests you: Culture? Castles? Food? Hiking? Nightlife? Best to mix in a little of everything (and also add something new).
Finally, have a beer and go anywhere, see what happens.
What's next for The Candy Trail and how do you see it evolving in the future?
Well, my website needs zillions of travel archives uploaded as it only has about 15% of my experience online, and maybe I’ll promote some books as well.
As for geography, currently THE CANDY TRAIL travels in a RV campervan across China, zig-zagging around the southern provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan and having just finished a rugged trip across Qinghai on the Tibetan Plateau, we’re now in the western-most province of Xinjiang.
So, many van life kilometers for the next 6-12 months amid the snowy mountains, grasslands, and deserts of China in Central Asia. Then after that, more backpacking trips in Europe or Africa, or Latin America?
Hard to say, really; no plans ... Just going with the flow.
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We would like to once again express our sincere thanks for sharing these unique insights with us, and we wish Michael and Wei all the best on their journeys!
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Photo credits: Michael Robert Powell, The Candy Trail. Used with author permission.
