Interviewed by: Dario Novalić

Photo by: Slobodan Kadić

He is a columnist and journalist of Glas Slavonije. For several years now he has been in Moscow, where he teaches Croatian language at Moscow State University (MGU). Travels a lot, writes and photographs. His column, Travel Svaštarije, is very popular in it's printed and online editions, and his reportings were also recognized by the European Federation of Tourist Journalists from Rome who in 2016 awarded the prestigious award F.E.S.T. for the extraordinary contribution of travel journalism and  tourism development. He stood out with his highly-quality journalistism, travel and publicity work, both in Croatia and abroad. He is a member of the Executive Board of FIJET Croatia (Fédération Internationale des Journalistiques et Ecrivains du Tourisme). 

We talked with Kadić in Virovitica, during the Fra Ma Fu Festival, the Festival of Reports and Reporters. He just came back from Cambodia so our first question was how to overcome the jet lag. He told us that he was able to solve this problem with half the melatonin tablet, but that he needed it only when he came to the destination he was traveling to. When he returns to Croatia, his body is already used to it.

-Those who follow you on your Facebook profile have noticed that you are someone who travels  alot, long,  and often. How many countries have you visited so far?

"I've been around the world, trying to travel as much as possible, discovering the lands that fascinate me, and of course I recommend it to everyone in my columns, because I'm afraid life is too short to see all the things I want.

Are these travels related to your work as a professor?

- They are more related to my journalist work, I'm a journalist all my life. Initially I changed all magazines, I went to the tourist and gastro section, and apart from traveling around the world, I'm writing a lot about gastronomy. My primary occupation is the professor of Croatian Language and Literature.

What are all the destinations visited in the last year?

"I've been to Colombia in South America, the Caribbean islands associated with Colombia. Colombia has three beautiful islands that many people do not know about. I like to explore areas that are less known and write about them. I was in Vietnam, Thailand, and a few days ago I came back from Cambodia.

Do you have a travel plan or you just go when you feel like traveling?

"I just go with it,  but of course I sometimes have to plan, sometimes six months in advance, for airplane tickets that are much cheaper if they buy it earlier and I think a certain part of the trip, like visa, vaccination, has to be planned much earlier.

How do you manage to finance all this travel?

"That is very interesting, I finance myself out of my salary, and recently  I have come to a good response from some airline companies who, seeing my work, give me a much cheaper ticket price.

I like to explore areas that are less known and write about them

Did you manage to find some sponsors, among the media and travel agencies, to cover part or all of the travel expenses?

- No, not in this sense, but I can say that paper I work for help me alot. Therefore, when it comes to travel, everyone can travel for cheap and far, you only need to think smart, open internet and some sites, plan a trip, pack a suitcase and go.

How much money do people from BiH or Croatia need for a trip, for example, to Colombia?

- Let's say that the low-cost ticket can be found for 300 to 350 euros. For a month's stay in Colombia, with a return ticket, around 600-700 euros is enough , if you have a good plan.

How do you prepare for your journey?

- I'm preparing for the journey depending on what country I'm going to. If I'm going to Asia, if it's a dry or humid season, I'm planning clothes, currency, costs per day, what I'll eat, checking the conditions for entry, vaccines, how to get a visa for that country, can you get it free or at the border ...

Despite all this planning, mistakes are still possible. What are the most dramatic ones that happened to you?

- It happened that the trains that were supposed to drive did not drive that season in general, the trains instead of every day were only driving on Monday, so I drove in tuk tuk, buses ... I had to walk 10 kilometers on foot in Asia. Often, lately, my luggage does not come to my destination. For three months I was in the Emirates and Qatar, and you know that there are some problems at the political level between these two countries, which has affected us  who bought tickets a lot earlier. Flights were diverted to Oman or Kuwait, and luggage was often left there too.

What do you recommend travelers planning a trip to a distant destination? What are the tips that they should listen to, and to which you have come to experience, not read them anywhere?

- They need to think well and understand where they are going,  understand the potential dangers, how dangerous the country is or is not. They need to check if they can have jewelry, in Asia you can go with a chain, get back without it. On the streets there are big problems, these are countries with very heavy traffic and frequent theft of passports and money. Money does not have to be much worn,the card is better and safer. Leave the cash for some unexpected situations.

What about Bosnia and Herzegovina, do you plan to visit?

- Bosnia and Herzegovina is an exceptional destination, I'm very sorry that I have not toured it, but here is a promise to myself, and to you, I'd go to Sarajevo again, and explore and re-experience BiH. In BiH I'm interested in everything, not just a gastronomic offer, but also in wine offer, I hear is's getting better and better, and people are very kind. Many people from Croatia go to Sarajevo and everyone says that is a beautiful town and they are always happy to return, and Sarajevans are happy to welcome them.

To break up the prejudices, this year there were more tourists from Croatia than from Arab countries.

"That's really interesting, but I think in general, as far as the migration and arrival of tourists is concerned, people travel much less  than before. That is not the cause of a financial crisis or lack of money,  tourists are feeling less safe in a certain country because people are afraid of traveling, because of terrorism, anti-propaganda and various other things.

What destinations have you heard in BiH yet, and have you not seen and loved to visit them?

- I would love to visit Počitelj, Jablanica always fascinates me, I know there is fine food there. Pyramid, Mostar .. I was in Međugorje a couple of times. BiH is really, I can say, Yugoslavia in the small. It even has the sea.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is an exceptional destination, I'm very sorry that I have not toured it, but here is a promise to myself, and to you, I'd go to Sarajevo again, and explore and re-experience BiH.

How many countries have you visited this year?

- This year I've visited 30 countries. At the moment I have more than 50,000 photos. I believe that everything needs to be photographed, and to my readers I advise that they choose the top 10 photos on their journey and put it in the photo album, because I consider that the digital photo itself nothing.

Where are you writing texts? Flights, waiting rooms, ...

- Everywhere. I even wrote in tuk tuk in Cambodia.

How your bosses at the University understand your desires to travel?

- They are satisfied, I had no problems,I get done with all my professional obligations as agreed, and then, with my luggage I'm off to the airport.

Do you have privileges at airports, given that, after so much travel, you are  friends with some of the employees?

- I have privileges, I regularly go to the business salon for free, I use it all over the world, relax before I travel, have a drink. I think life is much easier when you sit down and sum up your minds before each and every trip.

This year I've visited 30 countries. At the moment I have more than 50,000 photos. 

When did you start to travel?

I started to travel at the beginning of my studies, at the beginning of the nineties. The beauty of travel is immense and fascinating. Every person upgrades themselves by traveling, and I think that those who do not travel have a distinct disadvantage, because some things can not be distinguished as easily as it could after traveling and getting to know different people and cultures.

How many phone numbers do you have, can you recommend a hotel, a taxy,... in some country?

I have a card in every country, and I can definitely recommend a hotel and a taxy in most of the countries I've visited.