1. Who are you?

Who are any of us? How do we define the nature of our existence?

Actually, my name is Brett Cannon, and I grew up in country South Australia in a time before the internet as we know it.

2. Why did you start the Cynical Traveller?

I was living in Japan, and a friend of mine had a very successful and very funny website; the Tokyo Times. Overcome with jealousy, I reasoned (incorrectly) that it couldn’t be too hard to write something funny once a week.

Most importantly, I had a job as an English teacher in a public high school; a job that entailed about 12 minutes a week of actual work. The Cynical Traveller was invented mainly as something to prevent me from chewing off my own arm in boredom.

2. How many countries have you been to?

About 30 I think. Sounds impressive, but you only have to walk 20 metres in Europe and you’ve already been to three countries.

3. Are you a real traveller or just a tourist?

Oh, I’m most definitely a tourist, but “The Cynical Tourist” just didn’t sound quite as punchy.

4. Are you really as cynical as you appear?

Well, I’m certainly a rather cynical person, but not quite to the extent depicted in this site. Mostly it’s a persona I put on in an attempt to appear funny.

5. If you hate travelling so much, why do you do it?

To see the worst the world has to offer?

Actually, I love travelling and I’d spend my whole life doing it if it wasn’t so damn expensive.

6. Why do you hate Harajuku so much?

I don’t actually. I’m not quite as in love with it as other people, but I think it’s quite a funky and interesting place.

That being said, it’s becoming less so the more people write about it and the more Westerners that go there (and yes, I’m aware of the hypocrisy of that comment).