Cubicles? 9 to 5? Not for Megan of Mapping Megan. With over 37 countries under their belt, Megan, along with her husband Mike, are avid adventurers who’ve made the world their office. Professional travelers, and professional adrenaline junkies, they have broken what’s conventional, and now live a location independent lifestyle. They are on a mission to put some miles on all corners of the globe, and lucky for us, we get to follow along and join them on their journey…

Tell me about Mapping Megan.  Who are you guys, what you’re all about, and how long have you been on the road.

I am a 27 year old travel addict from Australia, an outdoor adventure enthusiast and adrenalin junkie with an incurable disease called “the travel bug”. My husband Mike (from America) is equally as afflicted, and after having met by chance after having climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, we kept meeting up around the world, finally married in a destination wedding in Hawaii in 2013, and have been traveling the world ever since!

I have a degree in both journalism and law, though what it ultimately came down to was my passion for traveling and writing overtook my desire to sit in a corner office. I am now a professional travel blogger, my office ranging from villas in the Galapagos Islands, to beaches on the Great Barrier Reef, bungalows overlooking volcanoes in Costa Rica, and everywhere in-between! My blog, Mapping Megan is a travel resource, which brings you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe. We’re on a mission to inspire people from all around the world to get out there and travel, and we do this through inspiring stories, video, photography, travel tips and advice, all listed on our blog.

Aiming for something different, above the regular travel blog experience, the homepage of our blog is an interactive Google map where you can click on the country you want to learn more about and pull up blog posts based on location. You could spend hours on that thing zooming in and out and getting lost in some of the greatest destinations from around the world! 

What inspired you to travel and ultimately create a lifestyle of sustained travel?  

The travel bug bit during my Gap year – I took 12 months to work as a boarding school assistant in the UK, and spend the 17 weeks of school holidays to travel and explore Europe. It was the adventure, excitement and the escape of monotony for me. This trip made me realize I wanted to see the world in living colour as opposed to watching it on a television screen. I wanted to actually feel, taste and experience the world instead of settling for the version I was reading in books.

It’s a completely different experience to journey to the Pyramids of Giza than to watch it on a History Channel documentary. It’s a completely different emotion to watch the sun set over the African Plains while on safari than it is to see someone else’s photo and think “wow!”

I quickly realized that this (travel) was the life for me! 

Have you ever thought about returning to a “normal” life and giving up a life on the road?

We have no doubt that eventually we will settle down; in fact we recently arrived in Australia and plan to set up a permanent home base here from which to launch our future travels.

Though as the last sentence implies, just because we’re likely to set up a home base, doesn’t mean that our travels will come to an end. Full time travel, for sure – it’s fantastic while it lasts, though the lack of routine and stability is something we have begun to crave after a few years of being continually on the go.

You mentioned on your blog that traveling has given you “ a more well rounded education” than university.  What are some lessons you’ve learned?

I have learned so much from traveling the world – so much about both myself, and about the world and the people in it.

1. Myself;

Travel has taught me so much about myself – and I truly believe it’s the best way to discover your true self.  I think that travel has seen me develop into a better person and for that I’m truly thankful.  I can’t imagine the person I would be today if it weren’t for the experiences and life lessons I have learned while on the road.

Because of traveling I like to think I am a grounded, well-rounded person, able to accept and listen to all points of view, appreciative of all world cultures. Travel taught me how to survive by myself; to become street smart.

It taught me that kindness exists in the world, and that strange cultures should be explored and not judged. It continually teaches me new skills, and has opened my mind to new perspectives on history and politics. Because of travel I will forever be curious, and forever be intrigued by different cultural norms, and forever have a thirst for world knowledge and new experiences.

2. People;

Travel has taught me that people are all the same. We all have our own unique customs and cultures, our own opinions and beliefs, and different ways of going about our day, however the one thing travel has taught me about people is that no matter which part of the world we hail from, we’re all the same. All human I mean.

I think that for this reason, if more people traveled, the world would be a better place. We’re all just human beings coexisting in the same world. Despite our differences, we’re all still people, and I think that we often forget that when faced with conflict.

You guys have been on the road since 2007, and one of the biggest question that comes to mind is – How do you afford it?

Right now we are lucky to have worked our blog to a point where it generates an income via advertising and freelance work, so we can work online while we are traveling, and our only expenses are that of travel! There are also many different hacks and organizations which allow you to travel at a very low price, i.e. house-sitting, couch surfing or home exchange for free accommodation, some volunteer placements will offer room and board, and work programs through companies like WorkAway allow you to work for a family, live with them, and have a few days off per week to explore your new land.

These are all fantastic ways you can make your dollar go further when traveling abroad.

In the beginning we saved by cutting costs and sacrificing unnecessary luxuries, however it was hard work and determination, which saw me, actually earn the money required to continue to travel. After my gap year in the UK in 2007 was over I wasn’t happy accepting that “reality” meant I couldn’t travel any more.  I worked incredibly hard to make my dream of seeing the world MY reality.  I did the “normal” thing to do and started University after my year away; however while studying full time I also juggled multiple full time jobs. Before I knew it, I was working two full time jobs while also studying full time.  This meant that during University semesters I was working 16-20 hour days. 

Volunteering in Kenya – quality travel experiences over counting countries

What are three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while traveling?

As much as possible we try to (1) Travel during the off-season, and this really helps. Each destination has a peak season, and this is when travel is most expensive, so traveling off peak is a great way to stay on budget while abroad.

We also largely plan and undertake all of our travel ourselves, i.e. not joining expensive group tours when it’s just as easy to rock up and enjoy the experience yourself. I.e. we recently did a glacier hike across Matanuska Glacier in Alaska – we found the directions ourselves, drove in a rental, paid the $20 entrance fee and then ran off and explored on our own. This approach is not only cheaper than having paid for a guide; it’s also a lot more fun as you have more freedom and flexibility with your schedule.

(3) Use public transport. Nowadays we generally rent a car as this is often cheaper for exploring a country and traveling long distances, though if you’re in and around the one spot, take public transport over taxis. While it is admittedly a lot faster to catch a can, keep in mind it will cost you a lot more than if you were to use public transport like the bud or the light rail. Check out more of our tips for saving money while abroad.  

As self professed Adrenaline Junkies I bet you have some incredibly thrilling stories.  What is your most memorable adventure that, to this day, still gives you the goose bumps?

Sandboarding in Huacahina, Peru, is definitely an adventure that stands out. I mean, you haven’t known adventure until you have zipped down a 300-foot sand dune headfirst, screaming for your life, eating sand the entire way down. And you definitely haven’t known adventure until you have strapped yourself into a sand buggy and flown through “Everest of the Desert” at high speeds, clutching your seatbelt until your knuckles turn white!!

This was one of the most thrilling experiences of our life, and you can check out our GoPro footage on the blog.

And what is the most dangerous situation you guys found yourselves in, and how did you get yourselves out of it?

We have been lucky to have never really found ourselves in a dangerous situation, and I think this comes down to really planning out our travel and making sure we’re behaving appropriately in foreign environments so to not put ourselves in harms way.

As a young female traveler before having met Mike, the biggest danger for me was finding myself in a dangerous situation after having consumed too much alcohol. Abuse of alcohol makes my list of the 5 biggest mistakes made while traveling – and I think it’s something we’ve all done before, drank to excess while partying in a new country. Though getting drunk abroad can often be a recipe for disaster.

I mean, you’re in a foreign country, potentially with little knowledge of the local language, customs and laws, with people you may have only just met, and it’s very likely that after a few drinks you’ll have no idea where you’re staying. Dangerous. Check out my post on “advice for getting drunk abroad” for more on the topic.

What tips can you give for others who want to get off the beaten path, and find that once in a lifetime experience?

Embrace slow travel, and immerse yourself into each new destination as much as possible. Interact with the locals; ask your hotel concierge about hidden local gems which tourists generally don’t go – really experience each new destination as much as you can and as you believe a local would.

We found a phenomenal secluded beach, for instance in the Galapagos Islands. We chose to experience the Galapagos by land, and set ourselves up for a week in an apartment on San Cristobal. Most tourists opt for a cruise, which includes a lot of island hopping, but we really wanted to get to know one island over the course of a week instead of 20 in that same amount of time.

The locals told us of this amazing spot, we paid $3 for a cab ride there, and spent the next 3 days snorkeling with the most unbelievable wildlife – sea lions and sea turtles came right up to your face, and the best part, there were 0 tourists to share the experience with.

If you could offer one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

Travel with common sense and make sure you’re heading abroad with a certain sense of street smarts about you. I know, I know, we’re living in a world where common sense isn’t so common anymore!! But I very much believe that the biggest tip to keeping yourself safe abroad is having street smarts.

For instance, make sure you’re aware of your surroundings, don’t travel and throw your valuables around for everyone to see. Always travel with a card from your hotel so you have the address handy if you need to get back, don’t walk down strange, dark alleys, leave a copy of your itinerary with someone you trust, have an emergency stash of cash etc, and above all, always trust your gut. If your gut is telling you that something’s off, or you should get outta there, TRUST IT and remove yourself from the situation. Common sense stuff.

Your one essential piece of travel gear you can’t leave home without?

Smartphone. It’s such an essential item because it pretty much doubles as anything you could ever imagine. Need a calculator? Pull out the Smartphone. Need a camera? Smartphone. Social media, communication, currency converters, language apps – there are so many helpful tools that are found in the one device.

Where are you now, and where will the road take you next?

We have just recently landed in Australia, and will be setting up a home base in Canberra to explore the rest of the country as well as New Zealand and the Asia Pacific. As an Australian myself I’ve quickly come to learn from my travels that the rest of the world views our country as an exotic land which they can’t wait to explore. Yet to date I’ve been so quick to jump on a plane to explore the other side of the world before exploring my own!

I think that’s generally the case that we love to explore the rest of the world before discovering the gems that are located right here in our own backyard. So for the next year at least we have decided to dedicate our time to local travel, and find out what Australia has to offer! Between the Great Barrier Reef, desert safari’s in the Outback, swimming with whale sharks in Western Australia and some of the best secluded beaches in the world I don’t think we’ll find ourselves bored! 

Do you have any final advice for others who wish to follow in your footsteps? 

Just go!! Sounds like straightforward advice right? You would be surprised by how many people don’t travel or live the life of their dreams because of fear, the unknown, or just never getting around to it. I try to live by the notion that twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do. I personally don’t want to look back and wonder where my life went.

More often than not the only thing, which is holding you back, is you. So just go!

About Mapping Megan

Megan is an Australian Journalist, and the founder and Senior Editor of Mapping Megan – an award-winning adventure travel blog bringing you the latest in adventure travel from all over the globe.

With the main aim of inspiring others to embark on their own worldwide adventure, Megan and husband Mike believe travel has the potential to inspire change in people, and in turn inspire change in the world. They embraced travel as a lifestyle in 2007, and are dedicated to documenting their journey and observations through entertaining, candid articles and brilliant photography.

Adrenalin junkies and incredibly active travellers, from mountain biking the most dangerous road in the world (Bolivia), to skydiving over the Swiss Alps and summiting Mt Kilimanjaro, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey:

Website: http://www.mappingmegan.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mappingmegan

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mappingmegan

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNxC7EOd0dyOoHcSm4u7zHA?feature=mhee

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mappingmegan

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mappingmegan

The post Adventure Series: Mapping Megan appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

A true traveling virtuoso, Andrew Walton of Escape Velocity is a scholar of long-term travel. A prolific writer, adventurer, a polyglot and expert chess player (seriously. Top 10% in the world!), Andrew is our generation’s most interesting man in the world! Overcoming his own adversity to build life his way, Andrew shows us that a challenge is just a necessary precursor to triumph. Through his remarkably succinct guides and actionable strategies, a life on the road is realistic for just about anybody. So, if living a life of travel is your goal, I highly recommend you get to know him and his blog.

Tell us a little about Andrew Walton.  Who are you, what are you all about, you’re first introduction to traveling, and how long you’ve been blazing your adventure?

I make traveler happen. That is: I show people how to design a travel lifestyle. I cover all the nitty-gritty “how to” stuff that every traveler has to tackle whether they want to relax on the beach in Bali or explore the fjords of Norway. And while you’ll find some destination guides to some exotic locations, my main focus has always been about getting more people on the road to blaze their adventure.

I’ve almost always traveled thanks to the summer road trips my family would take when I was a child. I’d also lived in another city for a while, spent 3 months in Europe, and had my fair share of adventures within Canada, but it was 2 years ago that I started full time international travel.

Traveling as a lifestyle is an aspiration for many.  What inspired you to buck the trend of a “normal” life, and become a long-term traveler?  

I did it out of perceived necessity actually. I had suffered from some major health complications that saw me not speak for 2-2.5 years and basically unable to use my arms. In fact, I’m still only able to type these words using a strange workaround I came up with.

Anyway, I was almost out of money, having not made an income for such a long time. Even if I could have physically finished my university degree, I couldn’t have afforded it.

So, seeing the end was near (of my cash I mean), I did the only thing that made sense to me at the time: Move somewhere cheaper!

It wasn’t only desperation though. It was also opportunity. As a 20-something who had already lost several years to injury and dropped out of university, I wasn’t going to make a big splash with a conventional career path. I decided my best option was to blaze my own trail and build the life I wanted the only way possible – my way.

For most, money is the biggest hurdle to traveling long-term. How do you afford staying on the road as long as you have?

Well first of all, staying on the road means making money on the road.

Therefore, I think there’s one critical mind shift we need to make.Most of us have a preconceived notion that travel should have certain levels of comfort, luxury, freedom from responsibility and so on. Luxury vacations may be like this. Long term travel isn’t.

Long term travel is actually more like a typical career path. You don’t start as the CEO. You work your way up, taking some bumps along the way but also learning the necessary skills to one day become CEO, or a top manager, or a leading expert in your field.

So the simple truth is that if you haven’t inherited a fortune or have a remote job that can fund your dream trip, you’re going to go through some growing pains.

This should be either surprising or worrying, as it’s exactly the same as learning literally any skill on earth. If you don’t want to learn anatomy, you probably should seek a career in medicine.

If you don’t want to learn how to make money on the road (and are okay with that fact that it’s a process), don’t become a long-term traveler.

You offer an amazing guidebook titled “101 ways to earn money while on traveling”, would you be able give us a peek of one piece of actionable advice, and where can we get the full guide?

The big problem most people face is they feel like they have no ideas. Heck, you could read the entire list of 101 ideas in my guide and feel like you can’t do any of them.

That’s rather unlikely.

The real block is psychological. We ask ourselves “what can I do” and question our own worthiness rather than asking “what does that person need?”

So my best technique is to do exactly this. Start asking the people you know 2 things:

• What they’re currently working on (work projects, hobbies, personal goals…)
• What their biggest challenge with this thing is.

Literally every person has an answer to this. So by doing this you’ll start to see what is needed. Sometimes you’ll even see how you can help. This bypasses the whole “I can’t do that” objection.

Think of it this way: When a friend comes to you for advice or help, you are probably thrilled to give it. You don’t question whether you’re the best candidate for the task – you just help.

The other, juicy tactical stuff like where to actually look for work is covered in the guide, which you can read here.

What are three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while traveling?

• Travel slowly: You’ll experience more and spend less. It’s a no-brainer!
• Focus on Big Wins, Ignore Minutiae: Not buying a drink when you go to a restaurant isn’t going to save your budget if your travel style requires eating out 3x a day. 

Likewise, using any one of 19 insanely affordable forms of accommodation has way more impact than minutiae like skipping a bus ride, not buying souvenirs to send to friends, or taking out 2x as much cash to cut down on ATM fees. 

Intercity or international transportation is often another big win – do it less or do it cheaper to reap the rewards.
• Consciously focus on career growth on the road: There’s a limit to how much a person can cut back – both literally as well as from a practical standpoint. Therefore to stay on budget and allow ourselves more freedom, we should also be focused on increasing our income on the road. 

Concretely, I make sure that every day I do at least one thing that will contribute to my future, whether that’s connecting with important people on LinkedIn, doing an interview, or emailing new prospects.

Lets talk Languages!  As a self-professed lover of learning different languages,  what advice can you give for travelers who wish to immerse themselves and quickly learn new vocabulary?  

I’d suggest a very straightforward, 2-pronged approach:

• To start speaking, you want to learn complete phrases, not isolated words. You have no hope of recalling a bunch of isolated words to form sentences on the fly, especially when just starting out. 

My best suggestion: Create a small introduction or biography of yourself – all the things you would likely tell someone you meet for the first time. Where you’re from, where you work, what you enjoy in your free time, why you’re here etc.

Do this in your native tongue first, and then translate it into your target language.

You can find a native speaker on a site like http://livemocha.com/ or Google “language exchange” to correct your bio and help you with pronunciation.

This is by far the most effective thing you can do at the start because you’ll use it in basically every single conversation you ever have, and it immediately gets you using the language.

Do this, and it will become painfully obvious what other phrases you need when you start getting practical experience. You’ll end up thinking “Damn, I really need to know how to say that.” Write this phrase down somewhere so you can look it up later.

Second, you need to be able to understand what people say in response. For this you need to know a ton of words, because every person has their own go-to vocabulary.

To learn massive amounts of words, I like to create paper flashcards organized by theme for this (transportation, food, body parts etc). Because unlike electronic flash cards, this gives me unlimited customization options for exercises.

But for those who don’t want to carry around a bunch of paper, Anki SRS is an excellent program, as is the website Memrise.com.

Both these programs use a concept called spaced repetition, which basically mean repeating a word and refreshing your memory just before you forget. It’s extremely effective.

The only thing I’d add is: try to add as much relevance as you can to each word you learn. Put them into sentences and really imagine the scene in which you use the word. Our minds aren’t designed to remember random groups of letters, but they’re excellent at recognizing images.

Maybe I’ve hinted at this: but try to make your language learning as relevant and fun as possible. As much as you may want to wax poetic on high-energy astrophysics, mastering your personal bio will be far more rewarding at the outset!

If you could offer only one safety/survival tip, what would it be?

Have good health insurance.

The most common physical danger for travelers is traffic accidents – just as if you were staying at home.

In fact, if you’re not going into a known war zone or an area where tourists are specifically targeted, the biggest dangers you face are typically the same as in your hometown.

That’s not to say all countries (and regions within a country) are equally safe – they’re not, but look at it this way:

Would you flash your fancy camera and wads of cash in a questionable neighborhood in your hometown?

Would you get rip-roaringly drunk in an unfamiliar part of town without any plans to get home?

Would you hang out in random back alleys with poor lighting and little/no foot traffic?

If so, you’re increasing the risks you take – and it has nothing to do with the fact that you’re traveling.

If you avoid judgmental blunders, about the only thing you should need is good health insurance in case something does go wrong, especially if you’re in a region where medical standards aren’t the same as in developed nations.

How have you evolved as a traveler from when you first started to how you are now?

I’d compare my growth as a traveler to conventional career growth.

That is, starting at the bottom of the corporate ladder and working your way up.

At the beginning of my travel career I was an extreme budget traveler. I had almost no money and no income. Needless to say I had to stretch every dollar as far as possible.

Sometimes my budget would be as low a $2 a day – and that happened in Paris, not southeast Asia.

Now a lot of people see this and think “that’s horrible, I would never do that!”

And yet we see a ton of people go through grueling internships to become doctors or lawyers or accountants and don’t blink an eye.

I didn’t do extreme budget travel because I wanted to be an extreme budget traveler, any more than an aspiring lawyer shuffling papers for several years with horribly long hours and pitiful compensation is doing it because this is the work they want to do for the next 40 years.

I did it because it’s a stepping stone to higher quality travel. It’s just that I started with travel where most people start by thinking “I need more money!”

Today, I’ve gotten to the point in my location-independent career where I can afford to think about maximizing experience instead of pinching pennies.

So the big difference between then is now is that I’ve gone from “What do I need to do to survive today?” all the way to “what do I want to create today?” and “how can I give back?”

What is the one essential piece of travel gear you must have on your adventurers?

A water bottle! Not having water when you need some can range from a minor nuisance to downright dangerous.

What kind of trouble are you getting yourself into at the moment, and where will the road take you next?

Right now I’m working on my Russian in Saint Petersburg, and my next adventure is actually having my parents coming to see me here in Russia for a month. We haven’t seen each other in 2 years, so it’s been fairly difficult to plan beyond that to be honest.

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to live a life of travel?

When all else is said and done, your ability to live a life of travel will come down to your ability to build a career on the road.

All the other info we might find: Looking for cheap accommodation, getting through the airport quicker, what to see/do/eat in a destination – all that’s a distraction if we haven’t got a handle on funding the thing.

And I use the word career intentionally. Starting out it’s fine to do whatever it takes: bar tending, working in a hostel, teaching English, or anything else. But in order to maximize our experience we need to have some sort of growth over time.

All that being said, the best way of doing this is getting out there and doing it. Save up enough to travel for 6 months and go. You are 100x more likely to find ways to fund your travel dreams when you’re on the road than by being a bedroom philosopher.

Fortune always favors those who do. If you want to live a life of travel, the fastest way is to start traveling.

About Escape Velocity

Hi, I’m Andrew. Traveling, learning languages, and entrepreneurship are my passions. Join me on my adventure around the globe and get my best tips, tricks, and techniques that you can use on your own journey.

I’ve been traveling the world since 2013, and there’s no sign of slowing down. For me, travel isn’t all about monuments and museums. It’s not about resorts or luxury. For me, it’s the ultimate adventure!

So while I truly enjoyed the surf & sun of Hawai’i, Grand Cayman, and Thailand – you’re just as likely to find me in Russia, Finland – and someday soon a bunch of countries ending in “-stan.”

I consider this a necessary step to understanding both the world I live in and myself

Website: http://ajwalton.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajwaltontravel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajwaltontravel

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ajwalton12

The post Adventure Series: Escape Velocity appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Scuba diving, caving, rock climbing, mountain trekking, the list goes on and on. Gian and Sheila, aka Team Sweetie of Adrenaline Romance, kicks it into high gear in search of the quintessential adventure. It’s amazing that they are also killer foodies, because who has time to eat while belly crawling through the crevices of Elephant Cave, or rappelling down the cliff face of Kiokong Crag. This awesome couple shows us that working full time is no excuse to not live a life of adventure! Throw away all your preconceptions of the Philippines, cause you’ll never see it the same way again after getting to know these two….

Tell us a little about Adrenaline Romance. Who is Team Sweetie, and what are you all about?

Team Sweetie is Gian and Sheila. We are sweethearts who love and constantly seek adventures, new places, and awesome experiences. At heart, we are rock climbers, mountaineers, scuba divers, trekkers, and backpackers.

We document and compile all our sojourns in our blog Adrenaline Romance. It is a photoblog that contains our experiences as well as tips, itineraries, and other useful information for those who want to go adventuring in the Philippines.

From rock climbing to scuba diving, you guys are obviously on a search for the ultimate rush. How did you get into that, and what was the inspiration?

Our time in this world is temporary. We want to live a full, accomplished, and exciting life. For us, the idea of getting into an adrenaline high, witnessing indescribably beautiful places and unique cultures, and understanding our place in nature is the key to acquiring that life.

We don’t want to be stuck in worry, stress, and uncertainty; life is simply too short and too grand to be stuck in a rut.

How do you find the balance between working and adventuring?

We work full time five days a week, but that is not an excuse to shelf our adventures. We found out that we could strike a balance between our careers and adventures by thoroughly planning our sojourns—budgets, itineraries, activities, contacts, and more.

For example, each year, we get a number of vacation leaves. Early in the year, we distribute our leaves to coincide with holidays and rest days so we’ll have longer trips.

How do you guys prepare yourselves to take on all your life-threatening activities? And what sort of preparation should someone new to adventure travel do?

Well, it all depends on the activities we take. For instance, in mountaineering, we research about the mountain we plan to climb, acquire top-quality gear, update ourselves of the weather and micro-climate, exercise our leg and shoulder muscles, and more. In backpacking, we research about the place we’re traveling to, find out the best activities and sites to visit, book our accommodations in advance, etc.

But for more life-threatening activities, we get the proper training and certifications so we know what we are doing. That requires some sort of investment of money, time, and effort. As scuba divers, for example, we underwent a PADI Open Water Diver course and earned a license. Having that training makes diving safer and more enjoyable for us. In rock climbing, we have coaches who teach us rope work as well as climbing techniques and safety protocols.

Entering into the world of adventuring is fun, yes, but you have to understand the responsibility of doing so. Thorough preparation and acquiring the right skills and gear for your chosen activity are crucial for safety and fun.

What are the best places for someone who wants to go adventuring?

We would recommend novice adventurers checking out their immediate locality first. That is the easiest, cheapest, and, in many cases, safest way to venture out into the world of adventuring. Thus, novices can start hiking on a nearby hill in or mountain near the city. Or they can take their first steps in rock climbing in their local indoor climbing gym.

If you are asking for specific places, oh boy, there are just so many “best” places in the Philippines. Indeed, our country is so full of adventuring venues that it’s hard to enumerate them all. To name a few, there is Cantabaco and Poog in Cebu for rock climbing, Kiokong White Rock Wall for vertical bivouac, Apo Island for scuba diving, and more. The list goes on.

As committed adventurers, you guys probably have no end of exciting stories! What is one of the craziest situations you guys got yourselves caught up in and how did you get yourself out of it?

Oh, we have a whole lot of exciting, funny, and life-changing stories that are forever etched in our minds! One of those stories was our first multi-pitch climb. In layman’s terms, this activity involves climbing an extremely tall cliff in segments; each segment is called a pitch. By tall, we’re talking about hundreds of feet off the ground.

The pitches were easy enough to climb, but the extreme height was something that was new to us. In fact, we could not even see the ground from where we were. The thought of slipping and falling down a 250-foot cliff, even if we’re using safety equipment, was absolutely terrifying. Sheila let her nervousness get hold of her, and she panicked right at the top of the 3rd pitch! Even though the route was easy, she could not move a muscle! We had to haul her to the belay ledge, which was just a step above from where she was dangling.

Our dilemma didn’t end there. Hauling her took a lot of time, and it was already dark when we started abseiling down. Just imagine rappelling in the darkness—we didn’t know if the rope got stuck, or where we can anchor ourselves at the lower pitches. Yes, we were groping in the dark at hundreds of feet off the ground! Thankfully, we had a safe touchdown.

That was one hair-raising adventure that taught us never to give in to panic.

And what was your most memorable adventure?

Our most memorable trip was our most recent sojourn, which is a vertical bivouac adventure in Quezon, Bukidnon offered by Adventure Technology Outfitters. This activity involves a 5-hour rope ascent using the single rope technique on a sheer and monstrous vertical cliff that is around 500 feet high. We spent the night on a tiny, rocky ledge 480 feet off the ground with a deep abyss just in front of our feet! Then in the morning, we rappelled down that immense height to be back on solid ground.

It was an honor to be part of this adventure because this is the only one of its kind in the Philippines and, possibly, Southeast Asia. And we were among the very first clients who were able to successfully undertake such adventure.

If you could offer only one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

We couldn’t emphasize enough the importance of preparation. Yes, it’s cliche; but as responsible adventurers, we abide by the old Boy Scout motto of “Be prepared.” Having the right exercise, gear, training, and mindset makes adventuring safer and more enjoyable.

In addition, remember that in all outdoor adventures, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature. We won’t succeed if we underestimate or show the slightest disrespect to her.

How have you both evolved from when you first started, to becoming the epic adventurers you are now?

Even before we met, we already had our share of adventures. However, fate, if there’s such a thing, was kind to us one weekend in April 2012 when we first met at the local crag in Cantabaco. We can truly sense the passion and spirit of adventuring within each other even though we barely knew one another at that time. Needless to say, we instantly clicked, one thing led to another, then we became sweethearts who share the same passion.

We evolved into better adventurers and travelers by taking into heart the lessons of each destination, activity, mishap, and triumph. If you read our blog, Adrenaline Romance, you would notice that we include the lessons we learned in each post.

What is the one essential piece of travel gear that you guys can’t leave home without?

The right footwear. Once your feet give out, you’re done for. That’s why we don’t go into shorcuts when it comes to footwear; we are very meticulous on the quality and features of shoes, sandals, and related items.

We have trekking shoes, rock climbing shoes, aqua shoes, trekking sandals, and more; a pair for each activity.

Where are you now, and what cliff or mountain will you guys be exploring next?

We have plans to climb a number of rock crags in the country. Also, a few friends and us are planning to climb Mt. Guiting-Guiting in Romblon, one of the most difficult mountains in the Philippines, next year. We also want to explore a few dive sites these coming months, but the weather is not cooperating.

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to get out there and Blaze their own adventure?

Live your life with fiery passion and drive. As you get older, you’ll regret not taking the risk and not following your heart to travel to new places, explore new cultures, and live a life of exciting adventures. Don’t wait until you get to a point in life when you want to go adventuring but your body or health is hindering you to do so. The best time for you to live your life to the fullest is now!

The beautiful real world is out there, not in your office, in your smartphone screens, or in the bar.

About Adrenaline Romance

Team Sweetie consists of Gian and Sheila, a loving boyfriend-and-girlfriend team of adventure junkies who are eternally thirsty for the next adrenaline rush.During weekdays, Gian works as a content writer for a company that specializes in search engine optimization. Although writing is one of his passions (he fantasizes writing his own novel someday), he hopes to someday save enough money to start a few businesses such as bed-and-breakfast, adventure tour operation, and peasant restaurant that will readily cater to fellow adventurers

Weeknights find Sheila working as a copy-editor for a market research company. Sweet, simple, and motherly, no one, at first glance, would believe that on weekends, she becomes a die-hard fanatic of mountaineering, rock climbing, wall climbing, caving, and a host of other adventure sports. Sheila hopes to travel around the world in search for the ultimate adrenaline lust.

Website: http://adrenalineromance.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdrenalineRomance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdrenalnRomance/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/adrenaline_romance/

The post Adventure Series: Adrenaline Romance appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Miriam of adventurousmiriam.com. A full time travel blogger and freelance copywriter, her eponymously named blog is a testament to her commitment to making travel a huge part of her life. She is fiercely dedicated to wresting as much as she’s able to out of her travels and grabbing the bull by the horns, so to speak, by pushing the limits of each destination to discover the most rare and memorable of experiences. A true adventurer with more stories than I’m able to uncover here, so definitely read her blog,  get to know her, and be sure to ask her how she snuck into Bolivia!

Tell us a little about Adventurous Miriam.  Who are you, what are you all about, and you’re first introduction to traveling?

Haay, everyone. So glad to be here. I’m Miriam and I’m a fearless adventurer (sort of). I went on my first backpacking trip when I was 23 and it made a huge impact on me. Since then I haven’t been able to stop exploring (not that I’ve tried), and today it is a fundamental part of my life.

Clearly traveling is a huge part of your life. I think the term you used was “Fulltime travel obsessive”.  What was your inspiration to live a life of travel and experience life on such a grand scale?

Well. Traveling is the one thing that makes me feel like I’m living life to the fullest. And that’s essential to me. Traveling inspires me to do new things and never settle for less. It gives me perspective, and I feel I’m a better person because of it. It wasn’t until last summer that I decided to become a freelancer and be able to travel whenever I wanted. It’s the best decisions I’ve made.

Money is generally what holds most people back from seeking adventure.  Do you think this is a good reason and how do you fund your own adventures?

It’s a good reason, yes. But traveling is not as expensive as most people think. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to take a trip – not even to the Maldives! With the right research, it’s totally possible to travel without breaking the bank. Personally, I fund my travels through copywriting and this blog.

What are your three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while on the road?

Although I’m not religiously budgeting, I manage to cut my costs by following these simple steps:

1. Research. I read blogs, check for free things to do and plan at least 1 month in advance whenever possible.
2. Timing. Traveling during low season can help save a lot!
3. Local knowledge. I always ask locals for advice on restaurants, sights and fun experiences.

I can see you’re one hell of an adventurer!  What is your philosophy on maximizing your experiences and getting the most out of your travels?

Thanks for that! I make sure to push my limits and challenge myself all the time. That way I always try something new and live life to the fullest.

What’s one of the craziest/dangerous situations you’ve experienced and how did you get yourself out of it?

That would probably be when I sneaked into Bolivia. But that’s a story for another time.

If you could offer only one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

Research, research, research. I always read up on safety and scams before visiting a new destination. I also make sure to inform my family of my whereabouts. So far, that has kept me out of harm’s way.

So, I got to ask, only because I’m addicted to the sweets myself and by your own admission you have a “sweet tooth like a 5-year old.”  What’s the most awesome dessert you’ve EVER tried anywhere?

Ha, that’s a tough one. Well, there’s no denying that Danes make the absolute fiercest cakes of all time. I’ve had deserts in many countries, but Danish strawberry tart with pastry cream, marzipan and chocolate à HELLO, AMAZINGNESS ON A PLATE. It just doesn’t get any better than that (hence my addiction).

How have you evolved as a traveler from when you first started to how you are now?

It has definitely made me more independent. Traveling has taught me so much about myself and the world we live in. Solo travel in particular has been a learning experience and I’ve become stronger mentally and learned to trust my instincts. Funny enough, it’s something I had never imagined myself doing. EV-ER. But here I am, traveling solo ^^.

Lets talk about gear.  What is the one essential piece of travel gear you must have on your adventurers, and why?

That would be my camera! I absolutely luuve my Canon, and I never leave home without it. Some might say that I experience too much through the lens (aherm, husband), but taking photos is a real passion of mine and it helps perpetuate everything I see and do.

Of all the destinations you’ve been to, what was your most memorable experience?

Uyuni, Bolivia. Definitely. Visiting the salt flats in the rainy season and experiencing how the ground turned into one giant mirror was nothing short of mind blowing.

Where are you now, and where will your adventures take you next?

Right now I’m in Denmark, but I’m leaving for the Balkans in a week. I will be traipsing around Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro in June, which I’m super excited about since this is a whole new region for me.

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to live a life of travel?

Sure I do. Dear travel lovers and hoping-to-be adventurers: Traveling really is the only thing you buy that makes you richer, so make sure to go for it. Live a life with no regrets. It might seem scary or impossible at first, but anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

About Adventurous Miriam

Freelance copywriter. Fulltime travel obsessive

In 2006, I went for a six month backpacking trip through Asia and it changed me. Since then I’ve traveled extensively in Latin America and returned to my beloved Southeast Asia every chance I get.

I live in Denmark with my husband Thomas, and he’s usually the one I travel with. Plus he’s cute and I like him. When we’re not roaming the world together, I travel alone or with Pernille, my trusty travel wingwoman.

Website: http://adventurousmiriam.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventurousmiriam

Instagram: https://instagram.com/adventurousmiriam/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Adventurousmiri

The post Adventure Series: Adventurous Miriam appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Who needs maps? Certainly not these two! Traveling couple Jack and Jenn, of Whoneedsmaps.com, get lost as a profession. With a healthy dose of spontaneity and fearlessness (and maybe a little bit of trepidation!), this adventuring couple takes every opportunity to hit the road and get into a whole mess of misadventures – ask them about their mice fetus shots – seriously. Both hailing from opposite sides of the Pacific, Jack and Jenn have managed to balance life, travel and their relationship. They show us that if you want it bad enough, all you have to do is just go and get it!

Tell us a little about Who Needs Maps.  Who are you, what you’re all about, and you’re first introduction to traveling?

Who Needs Maps is all about an Aussie and an American trying to make a long distance relationship work through travel. We write about experiences, tips and tricks as a travelling couple, and how we travel to keep the relationship going! We both have internationals families that boast traveling, so we have started early thanks to them!

Being able to live a life of travel is a dream for most, how do you guys balance your work and school life with your love of traveling? 

Right now, we both work full time, but we maximize our weekends, study abroad programs, vacation days we were given. We both relocated to each respected countries allowing us to work and travel around Australia and America. So now with Jacks American Visa we are traveling around California. It’s like we say, you don’t always need a plane to travel!

Currently you both live in different parts of the world, Jack from Australia and Jenn being from the U.S,  how do you guys make it work as a traveling couple?

Currently we are both together in America, but it’s been back and forth for the most part of this relationship. Apart from both relocating to each others countries we meet in the middle to travel together. We just recently backpacked Southeast Asia together, which was incredible! Also, lots and lots and lots of trust and communication. It takes a lot of dedication but it can be magical when it works.

Flying back and forth between Australia and U.S, along with your trips, can certainly get expensive,  how do you guys afford all your awesome adventures or misadventures as it where?

Flying Australia to America is so expensive so we found it cheaper to relocate to each respective homes or just travel. Hey, were still young! We both work full time now, but when I lived in Australia we both worked as much as we could so that when I had to leave, we could travel. Money should never hold you back from traveling, because there are many ways to work abroad (or trade services-working at a hostel for a free stay.).

I love the idea of having two perspectives for every destination, the fearless and the fearful.  Surely there are times when one doesn’t want to do something the other does.  How do you deal with conflict as a traveling couple?

I am the scared one, the one that always gets sick, the one that is so conscious about everything. Jack helps me be a better person and fight through my fears, for the most part. He pushes me to do things I normally wouldn’t which is a good trait. We have learned to compromise-there has to be a bit of give and take in order to make it work. We fight, we bicker, but at the end of the day we are lucky to be together and traveling together since we are usually apart. We aren’t always blessed with time since we are constantly apart; so a little fight just gets put behind us, we kiss, and make up. We are traveling the world, a little fight can’t sop us.

What are three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while on the road?

1. Include flights in your budget price- so the flight was $100 for 10 days of vacation, add $10 to your daily budget that way you know you didn’t go over because you didn’t include the biggest expenditure.
2. Always eat local food. It’s cheaper, tastes delicious and the locals know how to prepare their food well (and better than western food).
3. Overnight busses are great because you not only get to a destination without wasting a day but you also save a night of paying for accommodation.

What is your strategy to really dig into a culture and get everything you can out of each destination?

WALK- you never know how much you can see, run into, find, smell, taste if you just walk everywhere. If you do tours and touristy stuff, yeah, you see what everyone else is seeing but when you walk you see everything! We found some amazing museums, parks and restaurants just by walking. We could spend a whole week walking in a new city and discover beyond lonely planet books.

What’s one of the craziest/dangerous situations you’ve experience and how did you get yourselves out of it?

We are really lucky we haven’t been in too many dangerous situations, more unfortunate one, but thankfully nothing we couldn’t manage. I have told this story many times, but it still blows my mind that it happened. I got stitches in Vietnam because an air con panel fell on my face while I was in bed. No adventuring, no crazy drunken stunt. Just in bed and unlucky. We made sure we had a good travel insurance, went to the hospital to check it out, and put scar cream to avoid a scar. It worked out pretty well but it just shows you have to be prepared for anything!

If you guys could offer only one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

Avoid air con panels haha, I’m only kidding! Bring a good medical kit because you never know what can happen. It is better to be over prepared than under because if you end up stuck in china with a cold asking a pharmacist to help, chances are they may not understand you. Just be prepared for the worst and pack a good kit.

How have you both evolved as travelers from when you first started to how you are now?

With our parents, we had the comfort of the “everything paid for” trip or the resort hotels, but to be honest, we cant stand resorts and hotels. We hate when people are like “oh we were in Thailnd and our hotel was amazing” because then they just stay at the hotel. We like many places that force us out of the hotel so that way we can see the country. The Hilton is nice but it’s not culture or visiting a country. So I think backpacking has really changed our outlook on traveling. We do treat ourselves to a nicer hotel once in a while but that means more like breakfast included or warm showers! We have changed to learn to appreciate the country we are exploring.

We all have a favorite piece of gear that we absolutely MUST bring on our adventures.  What is your one essential piece of travel gear, and why?

We both bought the Guerilla Backpack for our travels. This was hands down the best thing we bought when we traveled! It had a detachable day pack, a rain cover, adjustable straps, and top, bottom, and side loading. It was such a great purchase and we would recommend it to anyone.

Another item we love is our GoPro. I think it’s a given because we used it so often to take pictures, film our adventures, and use it underwater. It was seriously one of the best purchases we made when we traveled!

Of all the destinations you’ve been to, what was your most memorable experience?

Vietnam was our favorite country and we would love to explore more of it if we ever had the chance. It was filled with culture, delicious food, adventure, stitches, and beautiful nature. We couldn’t have asked for a better time.

Where are you now, and where will your adventures take you next? 

We are now taking the time to explore the U.S as Jack has his visa here. So road tripping in California, camping, maybe New York eventually? Who knows! But we both will be in France and London in August! We are going to a family wedding but we are also secretly hoping to go on some wine and cheese tours

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to live a life of travel?

Just do it. You will always have an excuse to say no- I don’t have enough money, I cant quit my job, none of my friends want to come with me. There will be excuses forever, but the best time is now because you don’t have many ties to stay. Just go. Money will come, work abroad, meet people there. It will work out and it will be a decision you will never regret.

About Who Needs Maps

We are Jack and Jenn from Who Needs Maps. We are a long distance couple, from America and Australia, so why not meet in the middle and use travel as an excuse! We are thrill seekers, food lovers, world travelers, adventure finders, misadventure attracters, and a fun loving couple who just wants to explore the world together. We hope to inspire, inform and entertain people through our experiences and stories! Embrace the fun, enjoy the craziness, and let’s take on the world together! Happy travels

Website: http://www.whoneedsmaps.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whoneedsmapstravel

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/whoneedsmaps/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Who_Needs_Maps

The post Adventure Series: Who Needs Maps appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Beach loving, sandal toting experts of all things Costa Rica, Samantha and Yeison is the amazing couple behind Mytanfeet.com. Don’t let their tan feet fool you though, this couple is anything but laid back! World adventurers and digital nomads, they’re not afraid to get rugged and swashbuckle their way down the road less traveled.  Their blog is a compendium of insightful and inspirational articles that can motivate anyone to get off their butts and live a life of travel.   They’ve done it, they’ve seen it, and they’re still doing it.

Tell us a little about My Tan Feet.  Who are you guys, what are you all about, and your first introduction to traveling?

Hi, we are Samantha and Yeison. I am American and Yeison is Costa Rican and we have been living at the beach in Costa Rica since 2012. Our blog talks about all our travels but we focus predominantly on Costa Rica, sharing everything about traveling and living in the country. I was first introduced to traveling on my first international trip when I was 18 to my family’s country, Taiwan. I didn’t travel again until I graduated college at 22 when I met Yeison and we started traveling to see each other since we were long distance.

What was your inspiration to throw caution to the wind, and embark on a digital nomadic lifestyle?

We had met a couple other guys in our town that worked online and when we learned that it was possible, we decided to go for it. At that time we had just finished working at a hotel and were given a great financial opportunity to take some time off to begin a new project.

You guys have quite the romantic love story!  How did your travels bring you both together, and more importantly help you stay together?

I went to Central America to volunteer with a non profit organization and Yeison was actually one of my group leaders! So travel is the core of our relationship and it’s the only reason why we met. I had to go back to the US to finish school and Yeison unfortunately at that time didn’t have a US visa which meant I flew down to Costa Rica every few months during breaks for the next two years. Seattle to Costa Rica is not always a easy flight so we also met in other countries.

What advice can you give for couples who are also planning on adventuring together?

Don’t go into it thinking it’s going to be like a honeymoon 24/7. Even if you aren’t backpackers, traveling is tough. Things don’t always go as planned and it’s up to you and your partner to figure things out together in a healthy, smart way. It definitely teaches you a lot about the other person and yourself so be prepared. But have fun, love every second of it and soak it all in.

How do you guys fund all your adventures?

We saved up a lot before I moved down and we were given a nice financial window for a little bit. But now we fund our travels entirely through our website and the internet.

What are your three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while traveling?

Don’t eat at the touristy places. Walk at least half a mile away and prices are much lower. We keep a spreadsheet of our expenses so we can keep track while we’re on the road. It’s always different when you “think” you spent so and so amount of money versus actually seeing it on paper. Then never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. There have been several times when we just get off the bus or plane or wherever and we’re starving. Instead of going to eat, we go to the supermarket which is a bad idea. We buy way too much and then end up not eating it all and wasting it and money. Bad idea.

This is probably going to be the toughest question in the bunch!  But what is one thing about Costa Rica I need to add to my bucket list?

Hmm you are right that is tough! It really depends on what you want to do but if there’s anything about Costa Rica I always recommend to people is to explore beyond the touristic areas. If you go to a popular beach or area, try to go at a time when there’s not a lot of people like very early in the morning. It gives you a different perspective and Costa Rica is pretty touristy so you an get the place all to yourself. Go to a town that’s not exactly on the radar and ask the locals where the best spots are. There are so many hidden gems in the country that many tourists don’t visit.

What’s one of the craziest/dangerous situations you both have experienced and how did you get yourselves out of it?

Hmm luckily we have not run into anything very crazy or dangerous on our travels. Yeison however has, he was robbed at gunpoint once when he was traveling around Costa Rica. Luckily he had a friend who used to be in the Nicaraguan army with him and they were able to safely get away and call the police.

If you could offer only one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

Do not be naive. I’m not saying be a pessimist and think everyone is out to hurt you or that people are bad but don’t be naive. If you feel like something is not right or if someone is being sketchy, don’t take any chances. Trust your gut, trust yourself and don’t put yourself into a situation you could have prevented.

How have you both evolved as travelers from when you first started to how you are now?

We’re both pickier I think. Before 4, 5 years ago we would’ve been the happiest campers staying at a crappy hostel but now, we prefer our private rooms and are willing to pay a little bit extra for something cleaner and nicer. We’re not luxury travelers by any means but I think now we just know what we like and what our boundaries are.

Lets talk about gear.  What is one essential piece of travel gear you must have on your adventurers, and why?

Besides electronics, a waterproof backpack. At least where we have traveled to and the time of year, we’ve run into some pretty hefty rainstorms and we once lost a brand new camera because our backpack wasn’t waterproof when we got unexpectedly caught in a rainstorm. It wasn’t very fun.

Where are you both now, and where will your adventures take you next?

We’re in Costa Rica, specifically on the North Pacific beach and we actually don’t have much planned for the rest of the year. I’m planning on going back home in Washington to visit my family and go to a friend’s wedding. Other than that, we’re settled in Costa Rica

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to live a life of travel?

Honestly, just do it. There will be excuses for everything and anything and I made the biggest decision of my life to move to Costa Rica when I was 23. I didn’t really think about it, I just went because if I sat down and started coming up with pros and cons I probably would have psyched myself out. But it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I don’t think anyone could travel full time for the rest of your life but even if you want to go for a month, two, or 6, just start planning it out now. You can talk about it all your life but it won’t mean anything until you start putting your plan in motion. Adventure is out there and sometimes you gotta go find it.

About Samantha & Yeison

We’re Yeison and Samantha. We’re on a quest to take our tan feet around the world. Samantha shares her personal experiences as an expat in Costa Rica, Yeison shares what it’s like to travel from a Tico perspective. Together, we share what it’s like to explore the world as a multi-cultural couple seeking out the best travel experiences. Travel is the foundation of our relationship and holds us together. Without it, we wouldn’t be where we are now! We are not millionaires but we live a rich life full of adventures, fun and freedom.  Come join us:

Website: www.mytanfeet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mytanfeetcom

The post Adventure Series: My Tan Feet appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Entrepreneur, prolific writer, digital nomad, and founder of OpenWorld, Danny Flood is living his dream. Did I mention he’s also a committed adventurer? Recently I had the fortune to be introduced to Danny, and once we started chatting I immediately knew he was the real deal; I just had to pick his brain. Lucky for all you guys, Danny is also a super cool dude, and was ecstatic to share his tricks and experience!  A lifestyle creator and not one for conventions, he doesn’t just talk about it, he lives it.  Seriously, we can learn a lot of this guy.   Without further ado, I give you Mr. Danny Flood…

Tell us about OpenWorld Magazine. Who are you, what are you all about, you’re first introduction to traveling, and how long you’ve been on the road.

My name is Danny Flood; I’m the founder and editor of OpenWorld Magazine, host of the OpenWorld Podcast, and author of four books, including “Buy Your Own Island.”

I’ve been a traveling digital nomad since 2009. I became a freelancer after university, increased my skill set and my client base, and then began working remotely while traveling – first to Latin America, then on to South America and beyond. Over 30 countries later, I’m still going wherever I feel like and doing the things I want around the world (currently based in Thailand).

It must have been really tough leaving everything you knew behind.  Was there any hesitation?  If so, how did you overcome that, and what was your inspiration?

Yes, there was definitely a ton of hesitation. I had all kinds of irrational fears holding me back, keeping me in place.

But I knew what I wanted, and I would think about it constantly. I’d go to the park and daydream, my imagination flying away to distant worlds, racking my brain for ways on how I could get there. I had all my goals written down and posted on the wall in my room, all kinds of affirmations, and on and on. This dream of my future fantasy life was like a prayer.

The tipping point came when I realized I wasn’t getting any closer to my goal. I was working harder, but not moving in the direction I wanted. I decided I had to shake up my routine; I had to relocate.

How do you afford staying on the road as long as you have?  Any tricks/advice you can share with us?

When I decided to leave behind my life at home to become a nomad, I was very afraid of what I would do if the money were cut off. So I mitigated that risk by offering a trade with a lady who ran a small guesthouse in Mexico.

I had made a few small trips for a few days to Mexico for surfing, now I decided to turn that it into two months. I designed a WordPress website for her which took me 2 or 3 days to complete, and in exchange I could stay at the guesthouse for free. Saving money like that really helped me to “de-risk” the transition.

Tell me more about being a laptop entrepreneur and what is one lifestyle change we can make right now to set us on the road of being a nomad?

If you don’t have big dreams, then get some. Recently I interviewed an Irish guy, Tony Mangan, who for a long time dreamt of running around the entire world. Finally, at the age of 53, he did it. It took four years but he wanted it so badly that he found ways to make it happen.

That seems to be a common theme amongst the nomads I talk to – if you want something badly enough, you will find a way. I know it sounds a bit cliché but it’s true.

Be mindful of the self-talk you use. Keep a gratitude journal where you write what you are thankful for each day so your thoughts and inner dialogue remain positive.

If you want to implement, write things down. Write down your goals and then write a huge list of possible ways to reach them. This is called “mindstorming.”

Then, you have to have a strong and compelling vision if you’re going to make it happen and push through obstacles. Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he won the award for Mr. Universe, said: “My confidence came from my vision. I imagined myself standing on the podium, holding the trophy, with all of the other competitors looking up to me.”

Have the vision and commitment to see things through to the end. Too many of us go through a cycle where we defeat ourselves: first, we enter the stage of “uninformed optimism.” We are optimistic but we don’t realize what we’re in for. Then we see how hard it is and then we enter the stage of “informed pessimism.” Then our dreams enter the “valley of shadows” where they go to die.

Don’t let this happen to you. Whatever it is you want, want it so badly that you think of it every day. Then take small steps each day, and build off of them.

Making money is also about saving. What are three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while traveling?

“Making money is also about saving.” Great point Carey!

When I went to Southeast Asia for the time, I bought a one-way ticket and committed to traveling as long as I could. I had recurring income coming in from my clients back home, which was enough to travel and live forever, so long as I was smart.

It was at this point that I resolved to get my finances in order. I wanted to be smart and know what I could and couldn’t afford to do. I didn’t want to skimp and be a miser if I could afford to have fun.

The first thing I did was I started tracking my expenses. Every time I spent money on coffee, lunch, whatever – I took out a piece of paper from my pocket and recorded the expense. It was eye opening to see where my money was going and useful because I could set a daily average (or limit) for myself and make projects into the future on a monthly and long-term basis.

After I began doing this, I discovered an app called “Trail Wallet” which is an easier and more technological solution. You pull out the app and type in the expense, and the app records everything for you and shows you your monthly spend, and daily averages.

I don’t do this exercise any more because I’ve gotten better an instinctually calculating my expenses in my head. But it’s a great exercise to build the habit.

Now, I’ve shifted my mindset from saving more to earning more. I use a technique from a video I saw of Marie Forleo where she talks about the Law of Attraction. Every time you spend money on something, say: “There’s plenty more where that came from.”

This puts you in the mindset to set to work to create new streams of income and forms of wealth.

You’ve been on the road for over 4 years now, globetrotting and taking on adventures around the world, what’s the most memorable experience/trip you’ve had, and one that I should absolutely add to my own bucket list?

It’s been such an amazing journey, Carey. Three years ago I trained as a tango dancer in Buenos Aires, where I was living for a while. The romance, the passion, the excitement of dancing the night away in darkly lit milongas.

Rafting down the Amazon, exploring the jungles of Brazil, and partying on her beaches were some other highlights. Riding a motorcycle across Vietnam was a thrilling high where I felt completely free. And riding a bicycle across Baja California, Mexico was amazing – traversing empty open landscapes, being completely alone in such a desolate and majestic place.

Now tell us your craziest story and how you got yourself out of it.

When I quit my first business (working with clients) and began writing my first book, I booked a one-way ticket from North America to the Philippines, in the hope of cutting expenses. I had some savings but after a few months it was running dry, and I didn’t have the client base any more to support me.

I was in Sabah (Malaysia) and just began making friends with locals, and couchsurfing whenever I could. Someone referred me to a jungle camp in the middle of Borneo, and I went there for a few weeks. After that, I was in Kota Kinabalu where I had about $100 left and was living on $5 a day and sleeping what was basically an ironing board, tucked away to the side of a hallway separated by a thin fabric curtain. It was awful, but my manuscript was finished.

To get out of it, I simply hustled, taking work as I went. I got a horrible job at a resort, which at least covered rent and food, then volunteered to help build a global village in central Taiwan. I got hired by a startup while in Ho Chi Minh City but then fired a month later. However, with the book off my chest I managed to pick up a few more freelance clients, publish and promote the book, and open up other income streams.

How have you evolved as a traveler from when you first started to how you are now?

I’m more confident, but also more self-aware. Now that I’ve seen the world it’s much easier to explore my place in it.

I’ve learnt that the differences between humans are rather arbitrary and on a basic level, we’re all the same whether we’re white or black, Christian or Muslim, capitalist or communist. As a result of this I feel that I am never truly alone, even if I travel alone – all the men of the world are my brothers.

I’ve learnt how to dance like an Argentinean, fight like a Thai boxer, drink like the Vietnamese, love like a Brazilian, appreciate food like an Italian, slow down like a Mexican, and so much more. I could go on.

Ok, this is for all the gear lovers out there.  What is the one essential piece of travel gear you must have on your travels?

My laptop! It’s what makes all of this possible; it’s my lifeline.

Where are you in the world at the moment, and where will the road take you next?

I’m in Bangkok, Thailand, heading to Krabi next week for some rock climbing. Then I’ll pass through Malaysia to visit some friends and head to Indonesia for some surfing. No plans yet for after that, but I’d like to spend some time in India this year.

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to live a life of travel?

Take small steps outside of your comfort zone. The more you challenge yourself to take risks (even small ones), the more your sphere of what’s possible expands.

 About Danny Flood

At 28, Danny has traveled to over 30 countries on four continents and done and seen many of the things that he wanted to. He has crossed half of Southeast Asia on a motorcycle. He’s rafted down the Amazon and climbed the tallest mountains of South America. He’s rappelled off waterfalls in the jungle and sailed across the South China Sea. He’s tangoed in the darkly-lit halls of San Telmo, Buenos Aires and fought in Thai boxing matches in Bangkok. Through his many adventures around the world, he has been robbed, fallen from bridges and motorbikes, hugged exotic animals, and nearly died several times in pursuit of his dreams.

Website: www.openworldmag.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworldmagazine

The post Adventure Series: OpenWorld appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Meet Petra and Shaun of The Global Couple, creators of the ultimate bucket list, and experts at living a lifetime in only a weekend (check out their 36 hours series!). I had the pleasure of getting to know this amazing couple who has been putting miles on their shoes when most of us where still learning our ABC’s! Their inspirational articles are fun, easy to navigate, and provide incredibly practical and actionable tips for anyone interested in following their footsteps. They know how to dig down, and get into the heart of any destination all while keeping their relationship strong. Word of warning though, following their blog might give you an incurable case of the wanderlust!

Tell us a little about the Global Couple.  Who are you guys, what are you all about, and your first introduction to traveling?

We’re Petra and Shaun, two mid-twenties New Zealanders. If we had to put ourselves in a travel category, we would say that we love budget adventure travel with a dash of luxury now and then. We love backpacking through Asia as much as we love wandering around the streets of New York City. We both had an introduction to travelling internationally with our families in our teens, and had both travelled within New Zealand before we met. Our first overseas trip together was to Bali, Indonesia at the tender young age of 19!

Being able to live a life of travel is a luxury for most, how do you guys balance your work with your passion for travel?

Before taking a year off work to travel to the US, Mexico, and Canada in 2014, we balanced working in New Zealand with yearly trips overseas. We took advantage of Petra’s university holidays and our paid holiday leave from work. We’ve also done a heap of New Zealand-based travel which is a lot easier to manage as you don’t have to travel as far – we manage to squeeze a lot into long weekends!

Traveling can certainly get expensive.  How do you guys afford all your awesome adventures?

We work hard and we save hard for our travels. We also set a strict budget for our trips, and do our research before going to a place in terms of expected costs (accommodation, food, etc.). We usually set a daily budget for food (it varies depending on the destination) and try to save money on accommodation and transport by staying in Airbnb rentals or cheap hotels and catching public transport.

Your 36 hours series has to be some of my favorite articles, tell me more about that and the inspiration behind it?

We’ve always loved the New York Times’ 36 hours series – over the years it has given us a lot of inspiration on where to go and what to do, albeit at a slightly more luxurious level than we travel at! So we wanted to create our own 36 hours series for the more budget-conscious traveller who travels like we do. It’s fun sharing our favourite things to do, see, and eat in a place we have visited. We always get asked for tips so we can now just direct people to those articles!

Traveling to new destinations is more than just stepping off a plane and taking photos.  How do you guys really dig into the culture and customs of a destination?

To get to know a new destination, we visit markets and eat local food. Markets are where locals congregate and we love looking through all the different things on display, and they also provide great photo opportunities! We’ve had some hits and misses with trying local food – from awful squid ink pasta in Venice to amazing papaya salad in Thailand. We love trying new things though!

What are three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while backpacking?

1. Eat the free hotel breakfast if it’s on offer and steal food from breakfast – rolls, bananas and so on are always good for lunch!
2. Use a budget tracking app like Trail Wallet to record daily expenditure and see if you’re tracking above or below budget.
3. Eat takeout rather than in a restaurant – and we don’t mean McDonalds! In the US we loved places like Chipotle or Whole Foods, and in Asia it’s easy to get takeaway Pad Thai and the like (although it’s so cheap there that we usually eat in anyway!). In New Zealand (and similar places like Canada and Australia) you can get takeout sandwiches or sushi and save a lot of money that way.

You guys were recently married – Congratulations!   Do you have any advice for couples planning on hitting the road together?

Thank you! Our number one rule is to be patient with each other. Being on the road as a couple can be a stressful experience if you haven’t done it before, and something is bound to go wrong. Don’t stress about the small stuff and just enjoy travelling with the person who you love!

What is one of the craziest situations you guys got yourselves caught up in and how did you get yourself out of it?

We were pulled over by police Bali while driving a rental car and they tried to scam us because we were apparently driving the wrong way down a one-way road (which we weren’t). They were about to take Shaun’s passport and make him appear in court, but we offered them some cash (about $50) and managed to get away safely. It was pretty scary and has put us off renting a car in Bali again!

If you could offer only one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

Don’t be flashy with your stuff. If you’re in a dodgy part of town, sleeping in an airport, or on an overnight bus, put your camera away, don’t wear your expensive watch or your diamond ring, and just be vigilant.

How have you both evolved as travelers from when you first started to how you are now?

Absolutely! When we started travelling we would plan every day down to the half hour (almost!) with a massive list of things to achieve and places to visit, including restaurants and shops, and have every night booked well in advance. Crazy! Now, we still like to do research on a place but we are much more relaxed with what we get done in a day – we just want to embrace a destination and enjoy it rather than running around like headless chickens!

Ok, this is for all the gear lovers out there.  What is the one essential piece of travel gear you must have on your adventurers?

We always carry a Swiss Army knife. It can help you out in all manner of sticky situations – screwing furniture back together, fixing door handles that won’t lock, cutting up your lunch, and of course the all-important bottle opener for when you really need a beer or wine.

You guys have one hell of a Bucket List!  How’s that coming along, and what will you be crossing off this year?

We love setting goals, and our bucket list is one way that we can keep track of what we want to do in our lives, travel-wise. This year we’re planning to be at home in New Zealand, so those exotic overseas goals will have to wait. But we are starting a Spanish class soon, so we can work towards our ‘learn a foreign language’ goal!

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to live a life of travel?

Set goals for saving and you’ll get there! Be brave and take the leap – you won’t regret it.

About the Global Couple

We’re Petra and Shaun, two twenty-something New Zealanders who love travel at home and across the globe. We love road trips, street food, and wandering with no destination in mind!

Our aim is to embrace and understand different cultures, foods, customs, histories, and landscapes. We love learning as much as we can about a place before we go and whilst we’re there. The more we know the more we can appreciate it!

Website: www.theglobalcouple.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theglobalcouple1

Twitter: twitter.com/theglobalcouple

The post Adventure Series: The Global Couple appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

There is traveling, and then there is adventure! And if the latter is what you’re seeking, Antonio and Amanda of the Adventure Junkies might just have your ticket.   They are on a quest to, not only cycle the globe, but to inspire others to turn dream into reality; and to live life to the fullest. For them, adventure is both a mindset and a lifestyle, and they believe, with the right dedication, anyone can do it. Even before starting my own blog, I followed their budget tips religiously. The Adventure Junkies are the real deal, and they do it big! I’m a fan…and you should be too…

Tell me about the Adventure Junkies. Who are you, what you’re all about, how long you’ve been on the road, and your first introduction to traveling.

We are Amanda and Antonio, a couple who decided to turn their travels into a life of adventure. Amanda is 26 and from Vacaville, California. Her first proper introduction to travel came from a month long study abroad program in the Netherlands. Antonio is 31 and from Cádiz, Spain. His first travel was a University Convention in Antibes, in the south of France. After sharing a week with other students from 10 different countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, he knew he had to get out there and explore the world.

We’ve been traveling full time for over two years now but have worked and lived out of our home countries for many years. We believe that traveling is the perfect way to make your life more adventurous. At the moment we are traveling South America by bicycle.

What inspired you to leave the “Normal” life, and cycle the world on an infinite adventure?

Before we even met each other we had been scheming of ways to travel the world long term. We always said having both time and money would be the ultimate freedom. Having a full time job gives you money but doesn’t leave much time to enjoy life to the fullest.

You guys have been on the road for 2 years, how do you afford long-term travel?

Before we started traveling we both had full time jobs. We lived as simply and cut all unnecessary expenses. As traveling for at least a few years was always our goal, it was easy to set savings goals. 

Once we decided to make our travels indefinite we started for looking for ways to support ourselves on the road. In the first year of traveling we became and worked as scuba diving instructors. We would stop off at popular dive destinations like Roatan in Honduras; work for a few months to save up then hit the road again. While it’s a job we love, you are limited to working in locations close to the water.

In the last few months we have put all of our spare time into growing our blog, The Adventure Junkies. After a lot of work we are finally seeing the rewards and the profit that we make from it is currently assisting us in supporting our travels.

You started your adventure with a plan, and have since discarded that itinerary. How has traveling without a plan enriched your travels?

Great question! Throwing the plans out the window gave us a tremendous amount of freedom. We were no longer tied to a calendar or a location. This allows us to stay in a place longer if we enjoy it or keep on moving if we don’t.

You offer some amazingly detailed trip budgets on your blog. What are three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while traveling?

1. Pick a number: For us it’s 10 USD a day/ per person for daily expenses (food & accommodation). I should note that traveling by bicycle is a big reason why we are able to maintain this budget (we don’t pay for buses, stay in small towns, camp often and cook our own meals). This doesn’t mean that you can’t meet this budget as a backpacker but you will have to get creative and carry a tent/ hammock as well as a camping stove (or eat a lot of sandwiches).
2. Avoid those little daily splurges: Beers and coffees fall into this category. They are nice every now and then but can kill your budget if you make it a daily habit.
3. Relax from time to time: If there’s an activity you’ve been dying to do or just need a break from counting dollars, splurge a bit.

There is no guide or book that could recreate your travel experiences. What tips can you give for others who want to get off the beaten path, and find that once in a lifetime experience?

Another great question. Don’t always go along with what the guidebook or other travelers are doing, follow your interests. For us, we love hiking, kayaking and diving so we are always on the look out for places where we can do these activities. Sometimes we take guided tours if we can’t rent the gear we need but we really love going off on our own. 

For example we knew that the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was supposed to be beautiful but we didn’t want to go on the popular Jeep tour. Instead we packed our backpacks with plenty of food, water and our tent and walked on the beach for 4 days exploring the area. It cost us less than 10 bucks a person and was a memorable experience.

With all the adventures you’ve been on what is one of your most memorable experience/trip?

We can’t pick just one..sorry. Here are a few… Staying a week on a remote island off the coast of Belize, diving with hammerhead sharks, visiting the Amazon Rainforest, petting Grey Whales in Baja California, hiking to the Lost City in Colombia and kayaking around Espiritu Santo Island.

If you could offer one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

If you are going somewhere remote bring more food and water than you plan on consuming. You never know when a storm will hit or you might become injured…both situations will slow you down, maybe making you stay an extra day on the trail.

How have you guys evolved as travelers from when you first started to how you are now?

In the beginning we wanted to do and see as much as possible. Now we’ve slowed down a lot, taking the time to enjoy life in the countries that we are traveling through.

Your one essential piece of travel gear you can’t live without?

Tough one! Amanda says her camera and Antonio says his notebook. One piece of gear that we both find super useful is our SteriPEN, it’s a UV light water purifier.

Your motto is “don’t dream it, live it”. Do you have any advice for those who wish to get out there and live their dreams of endless adventure?

Take small steps. We didn’t just wake up one day and say hell let’s travel the world forever. We’ve both gone through many tiny steps to lead us to where we are today. Plan short trips, study abroad, learn a new language, try something new for the first time…all these things will build your confidence to take the step out the door. 

One other tip: If you decide traveling isn’t for you the worst thing that could happen is you go back to your old life. Lots of people get caught up in worrying about what will happen to their jobs and personal lives if they leave. Why sit at home worrying your whole life when you can at least give your dreams a go and see how it turns out?

Where are you guys now, and where will the road take you both next?

At the moment we are in a small town called Baeza, in the cloudforest of Ecuador. We took a day off from cycling to rest our legs before climbing a 4000 meter mountain pass. This route will take us to Quito. From there we will spend sometime relaxing and exploring Ecuador’s highest volcanoes while we make our way south to Peru.

We are Antonio Cala and Amanda Zeisset (pronounced Z-ice-et). We travel the world and write about it. Over the past 2 years we have been exploring The Americas by bicycle. What started as a well planned bicycle tour turned into a life changing journey that has led us to pursue an infinite travel adventure lifestyle. We are on a mission to help you live a life of adventure. Our pursuit of adventure has transformed our lives and taken us to incredible places around the world. We live the lives of our dreams and we want to help you do the same.

Website: www.theadventurejunkies.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CyclingElMundo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_AdvJunkies

The post Adventure Series: The Adventure Junkies appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Have you ever imagined being able to whittle your days away while laying on a beach sipping coconuts, with only monkeys for neighbors? Starting from modest roots, much like ourselves, Ryan Biddulph of Blogging From Paradise has upheaved everything conventional and created for himself a personal paradise.  A published author and public speaker, Ryan is the champion for the digital nomad. With an incredible talent for living a life of island hopping and leisure, Ryan shares the “How tos” through his frank and incredibly fun blog.  Personally he has been a huge help for my own blogging strategies. If being free – however you may define it -is your goal, take a moment and connect with Ryan…

Tell us about Blogging From Paradise.  Who are you, what are you all about, you’re first introduction to traveling, and how long you’ve been on the road

My name is Ryan Biddulph and I am a guy who loves freeing me and my audience through traveling. I created Blogging from Paradise to inspire folks to retire to a life of island hopping through smart blogging, as I have done. I was introduced to traveling by flying 23 hours from NYC to Bali. First flight. First international trip. First vacation in 20 years. I do dive into things. I have been traveling the world for 4 years in a row as of now. I just want to free folks. I was a bored, depressed broke ass security guard and now I have created a full time income earning blog, and I created BFP to help struggling travel bloggers to boost their cash flow, so they need not return home to make that paper, if they don’t want to.

It must have been really tough leaving everything you knew behind.  Was there any hesitation?  If so, how did you overcome that, and what was your inspiration?

Nope honestly Carey, it wasn’t, because I outgrew NJ. I was broke. I was depressed. I hated my life there, not because of NJ – not a bad state – but because I wanted to see more of the world, and being bound to the USA didn’t allow me to do that. No hesitation, my wife Kelli booked tickets to Bali, I hopped onto my first flight, on my first trip abroad, halfway across the world, and never looked back. I was inspired to be free, so I did the uncomfortable things to make that freeing life a dream reality.

How do you afford staying on the road as long as you have?  Any tricks/advice you can share with us?

Build a blog that makes some paper Seriously, I’d say, create value and connect with inspired, authority bloggers, to boost your passive and active cash flow. Then, you can visit countries where the exchange rate rocks: Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, India, Nepal, etc, etc. We’re in Bali now. My wife and I eat lunch for 2, for about $5, and it’s a HUGE plate of veggies and proteins, and rice, at a local spot called Warung Warung in Jimbaran, Bali. It does not suck to have 1 USD = 13,000 Ruppiah, just about, as when our flight lands in Bali, and in Thailand, our USD earning net worth jumps like five fold or more, if we’re staying in incredibly cheap places like Chian Mai, Thailand. Generate that full time income through blogging and visit countries with a low cost of living to capitalize on the internet lifestyle.

Tell me more about being a smart blogger and what is one lifestyle change we can make right now to set me on the road of retiring on an island?

Smart blogging is effective blogging. Like, I could publish a run of the mill, 400 word post, which is OK, or I could publish a 5,000 word, in-depth post, targeted to one audience, through keyword selection. Then I can promote the heck out of other inspired bloggers, to grow my network, and said bloggers, more than a few, will promote me, boosting my readership, growing my email list and boosting my book sales on Amazon.

As for that 1 change I’d say, make your love of being free greater than your fear of doing uncomfortable stuff. Right now I publish 1 book weekly along with a 5,000 word post and a podcast. I also run freelance writing and blog coaching businesses and I engage in an aggressive blog commenting campaign. I do the creating and connecting that needs be done to be free, because I love being free more than doing uncomfortable things. I’ll do the legwork to write the kick butt post or to publish an eBook weekly or to make the intimate, strong bond, because it helps me live this awesome, blessed life, on the road, as a full time, pro blogger.

Making money is also about saving.  What are three steadfast rules that you abide by in order to stay on budget while island hopping?

1: Eat local much of the time. Eating local keeps you from busting your budget.

2: Eat at home at least one meal daily. Kelli my wife and I eat tempe with rice, bought from the local store, once daily. With veggies this meal runs us like 3 to 4 bucks, if that.

3: Enjoy what you can for free. Our most stunning experiences on the road were free experiences. Hanging at the beach when the sun goes down, in Koh Lanta, or in Quepos. Or hiking in a national park. Or just strolling around town in Kathmandu. All free, all priceless, and all kept us within our budget.

You’ve been on the road for over 3 years now, globe-trotting and island hopping, what’s the most memorable experience/trip you’ve had, and one that I should absolutely add to my own bucket list?

Wow, this is a tough one. Most memorable trip is probably Savusavu, Fiji, for I’ve never seen a more pristine, pollution-free, drop dead gorgeous land, in my life!

Bucket list add: an African Safari or Patagonia. Tied.

Now tell us your craziest story and how you got yourself out of it

Wow, so many to choose from. 3 weeks ago I fought a spitting cobra in the backyard on the villa grounds in Jimbaran, Bali. I almost checked out after a wicked motorbike accident in Jimbaran 3 years ago, and I was attacked by a wild man in Nepal who bit my arm, and I saw a lizard walk on water in Costa Rica. I also got coked out in Peru, and was in Thailand during the coup.

#1 though, is my illness in India. I fell ill with giardia. I lost 20 pounds in about 10 days. I was rushed to the emergency room, dangerously dehydrated, and I genuinely felt I was dying. It was terrifying but oh so freeing because I saw life as being a zillion times more precious after the event. I am an athletic work out nut, so when I couldn’t walk 30 seconds without losing my breath, ONE MONTH after I first fell ill with the disease, I was humbled too.

Imagine feeling like you were going to puke, at the end of every day, for 10 days. Imagine not being able to hold onto anything because you’re letting go water, on the back end. It was hideous, horrifying, and the sickest I’ve ever been in my whole life. Oh yes, I didn’t eat anything for those 10 days either, other than a half an orange on the first day of my sickness.

I got out of it with a hospital trip for a few days and antibiotics.

If you could offer only one survival/safety tip, what would it be?

Be alert. Look around. Pay attention. Life is kinda crazy on the road sometimes and people who get in trouble are oblivious.

How have you evolved as a traveler from when you first started to how you are now?

I judge less. I love more. I accept more. I am less biased, and more fascinated by different cultures, and I am much more patient these days than I ever, ever was, because you can’t travel and stay sane, by being impatient.

Ok, this is for all the gear lovers out there.  What is the one essential piece of travel gear you must have on your travels?

For me, my laptop. Because gear-wise, I am t shirts and shorts, and flip flops, so simple. But I gotta bring my home office with me.

Where are you in the world at the moment, and where will the road take you next?

Jimbaran, Bali now, and we’ll had back to the US for a month before traveling through Mexico, in about 3 months.

Do you have any final advice for those who wish to live a life of travel?

Go for it! My first time on a plane was 23 hours, and my first trip, Bali. I dove in fully and never looked back. No excuses. Book the flight. Get going!

 About Blogging From Paradise

Hi, I’m Ryan Biddulph. I can help you retire to a life of island hopping through smart blogging. Grab yourself some coconut juice, sit back, relax and take a look around Blogging from Paradise. We do things island style here, so take your time!

Website: www.bloggingfromparadise.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloggingfromparadise

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanbiddulph

The post Adventure Series: Blogging From Paradise appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.