Earl left home in 1999 with $1500 in his bank account and the idea of taking a three month backpacking trip through SE Asia. That same trip has yet to end and has involved endless adventures. Earl doesn’t collect stamps in his passport; instead he focuses on human interactions and … Read More
This is the last installment of my mammoth series about the Indian Pacific train, which is part of an 11,000km train journey I took across Australia – and back again. My mission: to see if spending eight days on a train could inspire boredom. So far, no luck. Let’s see … Read More
Join me 2/3 of the way through my 11,000 km journey taking Indian Pacific train across Australia and back – all to see if I can get bored.
Chris Backe is the blogger behind Chris in South Korea, which focuses on travel and life in Korea. Chris has visited at least one new place, event, or festival every week since he arrived in Korea back in March 2008. Please enjoy this week-in-the-life of Chris, living in South Korea … Read More
So far in my 11,000km journey by train across Australia and back, I’ve been aboard the Indian Pacific for three nights since getting on in Sydney. We’ve stopped in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook, and Kalgoorlie. Today, I arrive at my halfway point and destination of sorts: Perth. This post was … Read More
I had but a mere 24 hours (26 to be exact) to enjoy Perth, between getting off the Indian Pacific train from Sydney, and getting right back on it the following day to return to my point of origin. “Why aren’t you staying in Perth for longer?” was a question … Read More
After years of working 70-80 hours per week at jobs that paid the bills but brought no joy, a serious illness made Barbara Weibel realize she felt like the proverbial “hole in the donut” – solid on the outside but empty on the inside. After recovering her health, she walked … Read More
At this point in the Indian Pacific series, I’m four days into my epic 11,000 km journey across Australia (and back), and have spent the last two nights aboard the Indian Pacific, traveling from Sydney to Perth (and back). Today we’re checking out Cook and Kalgoorlie. Learn about my grand … Read More
Thus far in this series, I’ve set the stage for my epic 11,000km train journey, boarded the Indian Pacific train in Sydney, explored my digs, and settled in for the night. I will wake up to Broken Hill. This post was originally published in 2011. It has since been updated … Read More
Johnny Ward (OneStep4Ward) had his life planned out – study finance, graduate, spend a year abroad, move to London, become an investment banker, get rich and drive a Ferrari. He got stuck on the abroad part. Since graduating in 2006 Johnny has lived, worked, volunteered, studied and backpacked through 50 … Read More
My reasons for taking the Indian Pacific train across Australia in the way that I did are not why most normal folk would have. In reflecting on my three-day adventure riding The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide, I was surprised at how quickly the time passed. I had figured that, … Read More
Happy Holidays everybody! 2010 has been quite a year for me, having visited nine countries in a whirlwind of travel. I made this short video as a summary of my “this was 2010” travel adventures and “e-Christmas Card” of sorts! This post was originally published in 2010. It has since … Read More
Globetrottergirls are Dani and Jess, a German-American travel writer and aspiring photographer who left their adopted home in London in April 2010 to become location independent, working on a freelance basis for their UK-based employers. They started their journey in the United States where they traveled 70 days through California, … Read More
What makes you a traveler? Not always such an easy question to answer. The longer I travel, the more confused I have become about what “travel” is, and what makes you a “traveler”. And depending on who you talk to, it can be quite a touchy subject, full of egotism … Read More
Breaking up while traveling – this is not an easy task….trust me. There are heaps of articles about survival tips for couples on the road. The stress of travel can take a toll on a relationship, accelerate the natural evolution of a relationship, or even force two people to stay … Read More
Tim Leffel chucked his music business career and took three trips around the world with his now-wife in the mid-90s. He taught English in Turkey and Korea and began a career as a travel writer. He settled down to have a child and wrote the popular budget travel guide The … Read More
What is your favourite place in the world? Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I was asked what my favourite place in the world is…. Despite being asked this question so often, I rarely have a concise reply. Instead the answer is usually a shoddily constructed response, … Read More
Almost 48 hours after boarding The Ghan on Day One in Darwin, stopping in Alice Springs on Day Two, and with only a few hours to go to Adelaide, I was surprised to wake up and discover that we were still very much in the Australian outback on this three-day journey … Read More
Traveling around the world was a vision for Akila and Patrick that turned from a three-month trip to a multi-year lifestyle. Akila writes for online magazines and blogs and is working on a novel, while Patrick consults for his software design firm doing software architecture and grant writing. They left … Read More
On day two of my three-day epic journey on The Ghan, I awoke from my slumber and gazed out the window. One of my favourite things about overnight train travel is laying in bed and watching the sun rise over the moving landscape. And today was no exception. The earth … Read More
One of my motivations in returning to Australia for a few months has been to experience the world-class multi-day train journeys that venture through some of the most uninhabitable parts of this sunburned country. And The Ghan train is one of those world-class trains, also reputed to be one of … Read More
I met Andy Hayes in Edinburgh, having known him online for a while. Andy is a location independent entrepreneur with an interesting approach to working and travelling. First of all, he maintains a home base somewhere in the world (it changes from time to time). Next, he works on a … Read More
“Watch out for crocs,” was the advice of a friend ringing in my ears as I slipped off the steps and onto the rocky beach in Darwin, Australia. I knew better than to swim in the ocean (rife with box jellyfish, salt-water crocodiles, and other lethal delights), but I figured … Read More
Jamie is an Aussie and a former aerospace engineer. He’s lived in Europe as well as Honduras (teaching at a bilingual high-school), where he fell in love with Central America. Jess is an archaeologist from Los Angeles who, as part of her studies, worked on sites in Chile and Guatemala. … Read More
“So we have a bit of a hill to climb to get there,” was my only introduction to our imminent journey over Mamore Gap in Donegal. We were headed to my friend’s country home town for some boozy birthday celebrations, but having just arrived in Ireland I was still getting my … Read More
Give a pint of blood…and get a pint of Guinness! That there, my friends, sums up Ireland quite nicely (tongue in cheek). This article was originally published in 2010, and has since been updated for accuracy of links and formatting. Ireland: The Booze Ireland seems to be a nation of … Read More
Stephanie and John recently traveled quite unconventionally; they criss-crossed the States (and a bit of Canada) for three months in a replica of National Lampoon’s Wagon Queen Family Truckster! They slept in vacation rentals under the sponsorship of HomeAway .com, and awoke most mornings to crowds of nostalgic fans ogling … Read More
Arriving in Ireland, I stepped off the ferry in Belfast with exactly ₤2.29 in coins and no bills. I only had one night in Northern Ireland before heading to a friend’s place near Derry (where Euros are the prevailing currency), and I was determined to make the best use of … Read More
International Train Travel – I could think of no better way to get from A to B. Here’s why. This post was originally published in 2010, and has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. I’ve started reading The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas by Paul … Read More
Marcello (also known as the Wandering Trader) has always taken extended vacations, but eventually he decided to get away from it all more permanently and left for Sicily. He now travels the world by spending 2-5 months by creating a base and then taking weekend excursions to all the tourist … Read More
Having spent 10 days in Scotland, I’m intrigued. Scotland – like so many other places – is now on my list of destinations to return to, and experience slowly. Here are some of the highlights: This post was originally published in 2010. It has since been updated for accuracy of … Read More
The Pub is an institution in England, and English pub culture is a real thing. And nothing illustrates this better than my encounter with The Pub Dog.
Craig and Linda Martin have been traveling around the world full time since February 2006. The middle of 2010 finds these two Kiwis on the tracks between Berlin, Germany and Utrecht, Holland while they work on their company, Indie Travel Media Ltd producing websites like the award-winning Indie Travel Podcast. Please … Read More
Having spent a little over three weeks in England, here are some of the adventures I had in London, Hampshire, Avebury, Winchester, York, and Whitby.
This post was originally published in 2010. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. In the last few months, I’ve had occasion to connect with a handful of people who I’ve initially met on-line, developed relationships with over varying periods of time, and then met in … Read More
About 6 months ago, Taylor and Rachel made the decision to leave their big, important corporate jobs in sunny San Francisco and travel for 6-12 months through Central and South America and Europe. They set some loose goals to learn Spanish, play guitar, and give thought to life’s most important … Read More
I must confess. One of the reasons I wanted to take a day trip to Carcassonne had very little to do with the place itself, or my knowledge of this medieval walled city with a formidable history and a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. No. It had to … Read More
David Thompson is an International travel writer and prolific traveler who has been writing professionally since 1996. California raised, he co-founded a collegiate Solar Racing Team which designed & built a solar car from scratch. Since then, he’s been adventuring all over the world and sharing his words of wisdom … Read More
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it. Just look at that view,” I said, in awe of the vista we were driving by in the south of France. “Yup. I’m sure it’s nice. I’ll take your word for it,” muttered Mum between clenched teeth, eyes tightly closed while squeezing the … Read More
Travel doesn’t always go as planned. That’s what Stephanie Lee discovered in Egypt. Stephanie Lee was born in Malaysia, and has lived in three different countries. She spent her childhood in Kuala Lumpur, and later moved to San Francisco during her teenage years. She then went on to study architecture … Read More
My time in Paris (as with many European destinations for this short period of my travels) was short and sweet. I would hazard a guess that you could spend the better part of a lifetime exploring the various nooks and crannies of Paris. But in as little as five days, … Read More
I recently spent almost a week in southern Germany. I didn’t see any major towns, nor did I attend many tourist attractions. And although I imagine I’ll return to Germany someday, I won’t on this particular trip. And I’m not sorry about it. This post was originally published in 2010. … Read More
I have fallen – head over heels – in love with Spain. My three weeks spent there flew by, and I know I will return to this country. In fact, I’m on a mission to return to Spain as soon as I can, and to stay as long as I … Read More
George, Drew, David (picture: left to right), and Jamie operate a community and online store for active people, LiveOutThere (currently debunked). Jamie, the chief adventurer, recently summited Mt Everest for the second time and the entire team went along for the trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp. After spending a … Read More
2018 Update with gigs across Europe! With programs like Vaughan town you volunteer for free accommodation; it’s one of the most fulfilling cultural experiences I’ve had. Read on for the full scoop!
His name was Toro Bravo, and although I’m not sure exactly what he said, very little was lost in translation. This post was originally published in 2010. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. As I walked through the narrow cobblestone streets of Alcala (a town … Read More
Jason Demant and Sharon Duckworth (Life After Cubes) quit their Silicon Valley jobs last year to travel throughout Asia. Initially planning on a 1-year career break, they quickly realized that wasn’t going to cut it. So while traveling, they’re also trying to build an online business to keep their travel … Read More
Martijn Reintjes and his girlfriend rented out their home in Holland for the year and left for Central America (including Honduras) and the Caribbean. She wanted to follow her dream of volunteering as a child psychologist and Martijn decided to turn his game design studio in a location independent enterprise. … Read More
Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg embarked in October 2009 on a journey to visit almost every country in Africa. Their mission: to dispel the idea that Africa is only about conflict, disease and famine. They’re meeting with farmers, workers, NGO’s, and governments to tell stories of hope and success in … Read More
“We’re going to WHAT?!” a fellow hiker said in disbelief when we looked at the massive volcanic crater of Mount Tarawera that we would shortly descend into – and back out of – in the next few hours. I could hardly believe my own eyes, but you know me: I’m … Read More
Having written enthusiastically about living at Mana Retreat Centre and learning the art of meditation, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Mana Retreat Centre and its unbelievably beautiful vistas! Please enjoy this video that encapsulates the beauty and energy of Mana Retreat Centre and the Corormandel peninsula in … Read More
Ben is an engineer by trade but an adventurer by necessity. He’s terrible at speaking foreign languages but loves to do so. Being on two wheels is where he’s most at home while traveling the world. Please enjoy this week-in-the-life of Ben motorcycling through South America. This post was originally published … Read More
Sister Shalom, a short woman clad in Buddhist robes and headdress, is standing silently in front of a candle as we walk into her garden on this dark night and take our places across from her. Her bright eyes and mouth are only the surface expression of her smile, which … Read More
Shortly after I arrived in New Zealand, a number of people who knew of my passion for hiking and mountaineering told me it was worth my while to hike the 19km Tongariro Alpine Crossing – one of the best day hikes in New Zealand.Yup. They were right. This post was … Read More
Dina is originally from Java, Indonesia and Ryan is from Ontario, Canada. (Like me), they got tired of the 9-5 routine in Ontario, feeling weighed down by “stuff”. So they sold or gave away most of their possessions, and hit the road with only a couple of backpacks and each … Read More
For the last month, I’ve been working in trade for my accommodation at a little piece of paradise in New Zealand: It’s called Mana Retreat. I’ve just left (ready for my next adventure), and I’m already working out how and when I will come back. This post was originally published … Read More
Maori culture: While visiting Rotorua (both as part of shooting the tv show – as well as subsequent visits when staying with friends), I had the opportunity to visit two Maori villages and cultural shows. One was Tamaki Maori Village, and the other was Mitai Maori Village. Both were very … Read More
Kirsty left Canada in 2001 and has been traveling, working, and volunteering abroad ever since. Of the past two years, she has spent 11 months doing disaster relief work in Bangladesh, Haiti, and Indonesia. Please enjoy a week-in-the-life of Kirsty as she returns to Haiti to volunteer her time with … Read More
After a week of shooting the tv show Alive in Rotorua, we bade Heather of Destination Rotorua goodbye, but she still had a trick up her sleeve. She sent us to Waitomo for an “adventure” of unknown – and epic – proportions. This post was originally published in 2010. It … Read More
As I mentioned in my week-in-the-life of shooting a tv show post, one of the adventures we got to experience was a half day at Agroventures (now known as Velocity Valley). It’s best described as an adult playground, with a collection of fun activities that will get the adrenalin pumping. … Read More
2010: Having created the popular week-in-the-life series, I’ve not yet written about a week in my own full-time traveling life. The week profiled here is far from my average week, but was enough of a full-on adventure that I thought you might enjoy it. As a quick introduction, I was … Read More
We really had no idea what lay in store for us when we were driven to Kaitiaki Adventures headquarters for the day. This post was originally published in 2010. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. Our small television crew of three were cordially received by … Read More
White Island has been New Zealand’s most active volcanic site for decades. I visited in 2010 and wrote this article and posted this video. Condolences to the victims’ families and friends from the December 2019 eruption.
After settling down for far too long, Becky Ances and her husband Ryan decided to abandon their comfortable life for the unexpected in China. They initially signed up to be English teachers for 6 months but enjoyed it so much they extended it for a year. Please enjoy a week-in-the-life … Read More
This post hails to you on my first full day in Auckland, New Zealand. You may recall that I was here just a few weeks ago, which – in part – explains why I’m back, and how I planned a year of travel in the last two weeks. This post … Read More
While I was visiting Canberra, my friend (also a Nora) and I wandered by a derelict collection of tents and temporary-looking dwellings in front of the old parliament building. “This is an odd spot for a campground,” I commented. “It’s not a campground,” Nora said. “It’s the Australian Aboriginal Tent … Read More
Kia Ora from New Zealand! (“Kia ora” means hello, goodbye, thanks, you’re welcome, ta, have a nice day, pleasure to meet you, and just about any other friendly expression you can think of in the native New Zealand language and culture of Maori). Actually to be fair, by the time … Read More
How young is too young to travel? This reader question comes pertains to how young is too young for the sort of full-time travel lifestyle I live. I don’t think there’s clear-cut answer that applies across the board, as each answer is dependent on a certain degree of context. Here’s … Read More
Sherry has been blogging about her travels on Ottsworld for 3 ½ years. She quit her corporate job and traveled (primarily solo) around the world to over 23 countries, armed with her camera. Recently she spent the last year living in Vietnam experiencing the ups and downs of expat life … Read More
Canberra (pronounced more like “Can-bra” with the emphasis on the “can”), gets a bad rap. “Why would you want to go to Canberra?” was a question I had to answer more than once about visiting Australia’s capital city. Most of the people asking this question were Aussies themselves. For many … Read More
My visit to Sydney and the nearby Blue Mountains was beautifully rounded out by staying with some friends just outside of the city. And aside from a chance encounter – or rather encounters (37 in total) – with some nasty spiders, all was beautiful. First, we took advantage of a gorgeous … Read More
Russell Slater is a freelance journalist currently hopping on a bus, eating a baguette and listening to his walkman. It’s no surprise then that he likes writing about travel, food and music. He is a regular contributor to Uruguay Now, Brazzil, Matador Travel and A Different League, writes occasionally for … Read More
While enjoying Sydney, I decided to explore the 10km coastal Manly Scenic Walkway. And no…the walk isn’t particularly masculine in nature…Manly is the name of the Sydney suburb where the walk begins. This article was originally published in 2010 and has since been updated for accuracy of content and links … Read More
If you want a comprehensive guide to seeing Sydney Australia, this post is not going to be very fulfilling. But if you would like to enjoy some random observations from Sydney and tips I have from roaming the streets of Sydney for almost a week, then please, feel free to … Read More
I was given a free copy of Surviving Paradise: One Year on a Disappearing Island for review, and I’m very thankful for it. I love travelogues in general, and this one is written absolutely beautifully and strikes a few chords within me. Read on to learn more about Surviving Paradise … Read More
Saben and Lin are two twenty-somethings backpacking around the world on a tight budget. Leaving the cube farm and the class room (respectively) they left with a vague plan and a small savings account that has turned into an adventure crossing 5 continents and over 20 countries. You can check … Read More
Walkabout Woes in Australia: We’re barely into 2010, and I can already see that it will be an interesting year. Coming into the year, I’ve had a few reservations – not the least of which is an agenda that entails us basing ourselves in Australia for another year; one that … Read More
After 10 years in the Internet industry, veteran web designer Kelly Hale and developer Mike Schimanowsky sold all their worldly belongings, bid farewell to friends and family, packed a laptop, and traded in the daily 9-5 for a life of nomadic freelancing and travel. Having just completed their first year … Read More
Kelly stumbled on to some words to live by the other day, and I think they’re worth sharing. Both poignant and even humourous, these Ten Rules for Being Human are good ones. See also: 12 Life Lessons Learned From 12 Years of Travel This post was originally published in 2010. … Read More
As I sit in the remaining days of 2009, reflecting upon days past and planning for days to come, I realize that this year has seen quite a few adventures! It all started roughly a year ago, when we decided to give the gift of pumpkin pies to as many … Read More
Merry Christmas everybody! While people back home in Canada are playing in the snow, I’m playing with snakes here in Australia. Go figure. I’m dreaming of a brown Christmas…because it certainly isn’t white here. This post was originally published in 2009. It has since been updated for accuracy of links … Read More
Kim Wright of Cutting Edge Law lived a nomadic life through her entire adulthood, with well over 40 addresses to her name. There were always good, rational reasons for the moves – bigger houses, new jobs, divorces, etc. A happy empty-nester since 2003, Kim has seen a total of 16 … Read More
I was recently contacted by a high school teacher in Western Australia, who said her year nine class was doing a project on the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, and having found my own diary entries on the ordeal, asked if I would be kind enough to read and respond to their … Read More
As a writer living abroad, I’ve been burnt by a lack of support – both professional and moral – from friends and family. Here are lessons learned about support.
Here is a list of perfect gifts for the traveler in your life. From small items to expensive technology, there’s something to fit any price range. I didn’t just pick each item out of thin air though: there is a method to my madness. I either own it (and love … Read More
Attempting to avoid Canadian winters at all costs, Chris & Cathy decided in 2004 that traveling and teaching would be an ideal way to immerse themselves in foreign cultures and not merely pass through them, staring wide-eyed from a bus. They quit their jobs, sold their house, put everything remaining … Read More
When Audrey Scott and Daniel Noll left their stable lives and jobs to travel around the world in December 2006, they expected to be on the road for 12 months. Over two and a half years later they are barely halfway there; exploration takes time. You may find them on … Read More
When a fellow travel blogger recently wrote about fire spinning in Thailand, I realized while I was reading it that I have been amiss with you, dear readers. You see, I have blatantly (and unintentionally) kept you in the dark about a new part of my own life; a hobby … Read More
Enjoying a piece of the world famous Great Ocean Walk at Cape Otway, I happen to find myself camping on night two in a little spot that wasn’t idyllic. As a former paddock, cows had trampled through not so long ago, as was evidenced by the dried out cow patties … Read More
Having lived in London (England) all her life, Rosie has traveled extensively through America, Europe, Asia & Africa as a solo female visiting some 32 countries. She met her partner (Paul) on a singles holiday (the one & only package she ever took!). After Rosie’s 33 years in retail banking … Read More
This is a review of Imagine: A Vagabond Story, by Grant Lingel. While his backpacker antics weren’t my cuppa tea, the vicarious debauchery was fun.
Corbett Barr is an entrepreneur and blogger who has spent the past seven months on a road trip with his wife through Mexico and the Western U.S. and Canada. You can find him at his namesake website where he writes about lifestyle design. Please enjoy a little insight into what … Read More
When I was recently overseas in North America visiting family and friends, things were eerily quiet. Sure – there were sounds of traffic, laughter, and the hum of the city, but there was something inexplicable missing. When I returned to Australia, I realized what was missing: the extraordinary lives and … Read More
America – the No Vacation Nation: I recently read this enlightening bit of information over at Wanderlust and Lipstick: A 2009 survey from Expedia found that 1/3 of employees don’t take all of their vacation time. While this speaks (to a certain degree) to how individuals make personal choices, there … Read More
A clip of conversation with the postmaster at Woods Point: Nora: “We just rolled into town here on the recommendation of a friend of ours. And what a lovely place it is! It’s absolutely charming – I love it. What is the population?” Postmaster: “The population of Woods Point? 37. … Read More
After spending years in corporate America and then being laid off, Brian took the opportunity to jet off to foreign lands instead of picking up the want ads. He traveled around the world, visiting 4 continents, seeing new cultures and making new friends. Below, please enjoy a week-in-the-life of Brian … Read More
In a philosophical conversation with an acquaintance the other day, I was informed that he doesn’t like the way I travel. Not only does he not like it for himself, but he doesn’t like it for me; he feels that full-time travel is an act of withdrawal from the world. … Read More
Friedel and Andrew Grant are Travelling Two: two Canadians who set off in 2006 to travel the world by bicycle. They have been on the road solidly since then, and have cycled through approximately 30 countries so far. Their decision to travel by bicycle is less a function of them … Read More
Airport Musings: Thoughts that Happen During the Longest Trip on Earth This is the story of one girl’s determination to take a large trip without layovers, inexpensively, and somewhat stupidly. Please enjoy my antics. This post was originally published in 2009. It has since been updated for accuracy of links … Read More
My best piece of travel gear seems to be one of the most simple. Yet, it is my bible on the road, going with me absolutely everywhere I go: my Travel Journal. A travel journal can be so much more than a diary of the events of your travels. For … Read More