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.

I love these guys! Sustainable long-term travel is a tough business. But Jon and Kach of Two Monkeys Travel have devised a formula that makes its seem so darn easy to work and live a life of global travel.  On the road since 2013, the Two Monkeys really put their money where their mouth is. With incredibly detailed, and actionable advice, Jon and Kach inspire others, such as myself, to just get out there and do it. If working abroad and putting some miles on your shoes is your goal, they are the ones to follow. Also, check out their new project #backpackerteacher that promotes travel and volunteer opportunities. These guys are awesome!

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

We are Jon and Kach, the long-term travelers behind Two Monkeys Travel. We met on the road and have been travelling for just over two years now. Our aim is to find new and exciting ways to create a sustainable and successful life of travel, while helping and inspiring others who want to do the same. I (Jon) first travelled at a young age in Africa, as my father worked in Kenya and Malawi, so I had a very lucky start. Kach started her first overseas traveling when she finished university and moved to the Middle East to start work, from there she was able to travel to places like Jordan, Kurdistan,

What inspired you to give up a “normal” life and commit to traveling and working abroad as a lifestyle?

I don’t like to think of myself as a ‘classic case of’ anything, but having spent 6 years at university on two different courses and tried two different careers, it was clear that I wasn’t going to find a life that suited me behind a desk, in an office or in any situation that fixed me in one place, despite having a great job in an architects’ practice with amazing employers. In autumn 2011, I went to visit my sister in Barcelona; my first time outside of the UK in four years and it re-lit something in me that had gone dormant for a while – I suddenly remembered how much I loved new places and people, I even missed my flight and stayed for a few more days! It was another 18 months until I made a complete break and flew to Bangkok, but that was the beginning.

You guys have been traveling since 2013, and have become some serious experts on working abroad to fund your travels.  What are some of the jobs you’ve done, and which is your favorite?

We’ve done a lot of different jobs along the way, from hostel work, waiting tables, massage therapy and Yoga classes, not to mention the obvious – TEFL teaching. My personal favourite is teaching Yoga. Every yoga class is like a meditation session for me, which combined with guiding a group of students into a completely meditative state and seeing the benefits they feel as they sink into relaxation, gives me a huge sense of calm.

What job or skill would you recommend for someone just starting out on their own long-term travel adventure?

This really depends on the individual, as I would never recommend forcing yourself into something you don’t enjoy. The one-size-fits-all solution is usually TEFL teaching; getting a certificate is quick, painless and relatively cheap, plus it’s useful in most non-English speaking countries. If it doesn’t feel like a passion for you though, I strongly advise taking a good look at everything you enjoy most in your life and trying to find a product or service that can come out of that, otherwise, you’ll forever be bouncing from one job or money making scheme to the next, just like I did back home!

You guys have visited and worked in a crazy number of countries.  Which destination do you suggest is best for someone just starting out, and who wants to work abroad?

Asia is most people’s starting point, particularly for teaching English; living costs are low, demand is high and so are the salaries. We taught in Vietnam and to be honest, life was easy and you could make good money on minimal working hours. TEFL gives you that first step into working abroad. If you want to do the same in somewhere like South America, then it can be a little more challenging, as demand is lower and therefore salaries too. We found that we had to focus more on our massage skills to earn good money in Peru.

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

1. We write everything down, every last cent that we spend. That way it’s easy to see where the wastage is.
2. We separate our money into different envelopes and categories, so we know how much we have for each expense.
3. We think long term. Day to day thinking burns money. It’s great to be spontaneous but if you want to sustain your travels, or even better earn and save, then you need some kind of plan.

You recently started a project called the #BackpackerTeacher, tell us a bit about it.

It’s a new project that Kach started, with the goal of promoting backpacking and volunteer English teaching around the Philippines. By creating networks of schools and volunteer teachers, we hope to encourage more people to travel, whilst giving back to communities at the same time. We also follow a very strict policy – No one should have to pay to volunteer their time and skills!

How can we get involved?

You can check out our Facebook page and website – http://backpackerteacher.twomonkeystravelgroup.com/ to keep an eye out for projects in your area or an area where you would like to volunteer. We’re still in the final stages of organization, but we hope to announce our first volunteer opportunity very soon!

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

The simplest but most important change has been that now we are traveling with goals and ambitions, unlike when we first left and were simply looking for excitement and new experiences in whatever form they came!

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

I’m one of those guys who isn’t completely happy without a knife; just a little one, for cutting pieces of fruit, string, using as a screwdriver or any number of other things. I just like knowing I have some kind of useful tool with me for any situation. I had a great pocket multi tool that my brother gave me, but it was ‘lost’ in customs in Riyadh!

So what’s next for the Two Monkeys? Where will the road take you next?

We’ll be heading north from Costa Rica to Nicaragua in about a month or so, then we’re meeting Kach’s mother in Colombia for her first backpacking trip, before traveling south to Brazil, Argentina and finally, Antarctica!

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

Do what you enjoy and don’t fall into the same traps and patterns that you might be trying to leave behind. A job you don’t enjoy is still a job you don’t enjoy when you’re in another country. Aside from that, for a life of travel you need skills that can be used all over the world to provide any type of income

About the Two Monkeys

Kach Medina and Jonathan Howe are working-on-the-road couple from the Philippines and UK. Having each decided to quit their jobs and set off around South East Asia to start their new lives, neither imagined they would end up traveling the world with someone they met in a backpackers’ bar in Laos.  But that’s what happened!  They are both certified Tantra Yoga Teachers, Ayurveda Massage Therapists and TEFL Certified Teachers. Working wherever and whenever they want! Travelling since April 2013 and currently exploring South America. their next major travel goal- Antartica via Argentina

Visit their blog twomonkeystravelgroup.com and get to know them on Facebook and Twitter!

The post Adventure Series: The Two Monkeys Travel Group appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Sustainable travel is a tough business. But Kach and Jon of Two Monkeys Travel have devised a formula that makes its seem so darn easy to work and sustain a life of global travel.  On the road since 2013, the Two Monkeys really put their money where their mouth is. With incredibly detailed, and actionable advice, Kach and Jon inspire others, such as myself, to just get out there and do it. Lucky for us, they’ve allowed us to share some of their best kept secrets…This is Part 2 of their Funding and Sustaining a Life of Travel Series.  You can find Part 1 here -How to Fund and Sustain a Life of Travel Part 1

Fund and Sustain a Life of Travel Part 2

Planning to buy this Combi– Arequipa, Peru

Option 1 – Work THEN Travel – The road most traveled

This is what Jon and I were doing before we met each other and it seems to be the way most travelers start.  He spent 6 months preparing and saving for his big move to South East Asia.  It’s a lot to ask yourself to stay in a job and a life that you already know you want to leave behind, but booking your flight makes it all the more bearable!  Because of this, he was able to fulfill his dream of traveling around SE Asia (Cambodia-Thailand-Laos-Vietnam) by motorbike with one of his best friends from home, Seb.

Jon with Seb on their South East Asia motorbike adventure

I lived and worked in the Middle East for 4 years and although I had been traveling short-term from time to time, I knew the time was approaching when I would finally quit for good.  So after four years of full time corporate work in Kuwait and Kurdistan, Iraq I had enough savings to travel for three months in South East Asia and live in Vietnam for another 3 months before finally getting a job!

Kach with Lory in Kuwait – after a Musical show

Option 2 – Overseas working – Become an Expat!

Moving around a lot is great, but if you really want to get to know a place and its’ people, nothing beats living there and there is always work if you know where to look.  After 3 months of traveling around South East Asia, Jon and Seb’s travel funds were diminishing and the motorbikes were suffering some serious issues; the main one being that they were shit!  So they set off on the three day ride from Laos to Hanoi, Vietnam in hope of finding work.  Luckily they had already prepared for this situation before leaving the UK.  Both had completed a 150 hour TEFL teacher training course so that they could have some kind of income almost anywhere in the world.  As things turned out, Hanoi is actually heaven for native English speakers looking to make good money.  Teaching jobs there pay $20-30 per hour and living costs are some of the cheapest in the world.   Jon landed a job teaching kids for 20 hours a week and rented a huge house with 3 guys; Seb, the half-French Cumbrian; a mysterious yet disturbing Swede named Martin; and Eachan, a 19 year old Geordie who realized Vietnam was loads better than the army…It was interesting…..

No, don’t become a sex-pat!

I, on the other hand, didn’t have any teaching certificates and wasn’t considered a native speaker in Vietnam, so it took me a few months to find teaching work, but once I landed my first job the flood gates just opened for me.  Also, since I have a good deal of marketing and administrative experience, I was also able to find freelance work.

Although we both had full time jobs as well as other part time jobs to help us save for our next big backpacking adventure through India, we still found time to take short trips away.  In seven months we rode a motorbike around North Vietnam for a week; spent a week in Laos; had a luxury cruise in Halong Bay and even treated ourselves to 4 and 5 Star hotel breaks in Hanoi and Ninh Binh!

By the time we left Hanoi, we had enough savings to travel to Singapore, India, The Maldives, UK and South America over 6 months.  And we were hardly sticking to a tight budget – the odd 5 star hotel managed to sneak itself into our India trip!

Our 5 star hotel in New Delhi, India

Option 3 – Work WHILE Traveling – Truly Mobile Travelers!

While living the expat life in Vietnam was an amazing (and quite profitable!) we both knew that in order to achieve that next level of financial freedom and mobility we needed to invest in some new skills that allowed us to work on the move.

Of course this would have to be something we enjoyed as well as providing a solid source of income to top up our pockets now and then.

Jon at Shri Kali Ashram, Goa, India

I had practiced Yoga in the Middle East and later completed a month long intensive Tantra Yoga course in Thailand, whilst Jon had practiced Tai Chi in the UK and Yoga in Hanoi.  Our decision to become qualified Yoga teachers was the main motivation to travel to India, where we studied traditional Tantra Yoga with Shri Kali Ashram in South Goa.

Jon’s yoga class in Ollantaytambo, Peru

Towards the end of our India trip, we also visited Rishikesh in the North West, where we found Dr Vinod Kumar, qualified Doctor (MD), Ayurvedic Doctor and founder of the Ayuskama centre, where we studied to become Ayurveda Massage Therapists.  Between us we specialize in Marma Point therapy, Pre and Post Natal and Childcare massage therapy

Business card in Arequipa, Peru

With these new skills we could now be truly mobile, practicing our interests and passions whilst funding our travels around the world.

Option 4 – Volunteering and Work Exchange – Stretch your budget…and your travels.

You won’t be able to save money or even earn it through this route, but you can definitely extend your budget, and consequently your travels, by working a few hours a day in exchange for your bed and at least one meal a day.  This is most often in hostels but you can also find more interesting jobs with eco-projects or charitable organizations.

Bowl of Compassion, Bodh Gaya, India

We have both volunteered teaching English in Cambodia and Laos and I worked in a Hostel on Koh Pah Ngan, Thailand.  We also worked 4 hours a night in a beach restaurant in India for two meals a day and worked in a Hostal in Ollantaytambo, Peru for a month so we could learn Spanish and visit Machu Picchu.  We also used this as an opportunity to meet massage clients and host Yoga classes!

Waiters at Duck n Chill – for FREE yummy food!

Duck n Chill. Agonda Beach where we worked at the bar at night!

However, BEWARE of anyone asking you to pay any kind of fee in order to volunteer.  We don’t believe in paying to donate our time, effort and skills to a good cause, but volunteer work has become so popular and accessible (thanks internet!) that many have taken advantage by charging extortionate fees for a ‘rewarding experience’.  Unfortunately it’s quite common for very little of this money to go to the people who actually need it.

One of Jon’s yoga class in Ollantaytambo, Peru

 About the Authors

Kach Medina and Jonathan Howe are working-on-the-road couple from the Philippines and UK. Having each decided to quit their jobs and set off around South East Asia to start their new lives, neither imagined they would end up traveling the world with someone they met in a backpackers’ bar in Laos.  But that’s what happened!  They are both certified Tantra Yoga Teachers, Ayurveda Massage Therapists and TEFL Certified Teachers. Working wherever and whenever they want! Travelling since April 2013 and currently exploring South America. their next major travel goal- Antartica via Argentina

 

Visit them at www.twomonkeystravelgroup.com

Drop by their Facebook page and get to know them!

Follow them on Twitter

Join the Twomonkeys Facebook Group

 

The post Fund and Sustain a Life of Global Travel Part 2 appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Sustainable travel is a tough business. But Kach and Jon of Two Monkeys Travel have devised a formula that makes its seem so darn easy to work and travel.  On the road since 2013, the Two Monkeys really put their money where their mouth is. With incredibly detailed, and actionable advice, Kach and Jon inspire others, such as myself, to just get out there and do it. Lucky for us, they’ve allowed us to share some of their best kept secrets…

How to Fund and Sustain a Life of Travel

For most of us nowadays, the world is a fairly accessible place. Cheap deals on flights and accommodation, thanks largely to online competition, as well as the massive growth in information available to anyone with an internet connection, means more of us are seeing more of the world than ever before.  As long as you have a job and can save a little money each month, you can fund that once-in-a-lifetime backpacking experience to SE Asia, India, South America, Africa…the list goes on!

Unfortunately though, all good things must come to an end.  You’ve had your fun, escaped the ‘real world’ for a year or two and now it’s time to get back to reality; build a career; buy a car; get married; buy a house; put babies in the house…Your own preferably.  Don’t steal babies! So that’s it – work and invest and raise miniature versions of yourself and do all of the things that you’re supposed to do up until retirement age.  If you’ve looked after your health then you can get straight back to having fun again.  Go wild!  Grow your own vegetables; play golf; join some kind of committee; maybe go on nudist holidays when nobody you know is looking.  It’s gonna be crazy!

But what if you don’t want to wait until the age of 65 to enjoy all these wonders that life has to offer?  What if you want to join the naked-vegetable-golf-committee right now?!  Well, you know what, you can!

There are many ways that you can fund a life of continuous travel and if you’re prepared to stay somewhere longer, actually build up savings as well!

Firstly, here’s everything we’ve done to earn money since leaving our jobs and up until leaving Vietnam.

Beatles Ashram, Rishikesh, India

Here’s our story: Jon is from the United Kingdom and I’m from the Philippines.  We both have completely different cultural, work and financial backgrounds.

Jon had already been saving for 6 months before he quit his job in the UK and flew to South East Asia.  His savings only lasted for 3 months though as he did a motorbike trip through Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam; which used up most of his traveling funds.

In my case, my traveling funds came from my last 3 paychecks I received while working in Kurdistan, Iraq. I quit from my job and initially planned to travel for 3 to 6 months, one month of which was with my younger siblings.  I paid for everything, which put quite a dent in my finances as well!

When I decided to follow Jon to Hanoi, Vietnam, he had already found a job, a house and had 2 motorbikes but his bank savings were suffering.  By that time I had been traveling for 3 months and still had enough savings, from working in Kuwait and Iraq, to survive for a month or two, however I didn’t intend to touch them as it was invested in my mutual funds in the Philippines.

Now for the important stuff – How we managed to save and sustain our finances in Hanoi, Vietnam upon choosing this long-term traveling lifestyle.

1. Teaching English

Vietnamese New Year Celebration with May School where Jon taught English for 6 months

As posted in Memories of Hanoi, by teaching English we earned from $19 to $25. Jon, having a TEFL Certificate (from the UK) and being a Native English speaker, though without teaching experience, was able to get a 6-month contract with a private language school.  This paid a monthly salary of $1600 to $1800, depending on his working hours, with an extra of contract bonus.  He also took on some extra classes and private students to earn extra cash.  While now here in South America, you can also add yourself to websites which are specifically designed to help students and teachers to connect to each other, like this one, linking travelling teachers to students all over South America – www.englishclassforlatino.com

In my case, a non-native speaker without experience, nor TEFL certificate, it took 3 months to find my first teaching gig.  My first job paid me $17/ class (1 hour and 30 minutes) but I had a sure 30 class course over almost 2 months which paid me at the end of the course. After that, I was able to get a job through a private agency that sends teachers to rural areas in Hanoi, getting paid $20/hour for 10 hours every weekend and $25/hour for 5 hours on Tuesday and Thursday. This teaching job paid me weekly, so we used this money for our monthly bills while Jon’s monthly salary went straight to our 2014 Travel fund!

My students in the public school

Also, there were times that some centres needed a teacher to cover a class which they advertised in TNH or Hanoi Massive.  I once covered a short class for a week, paying $200! They wanted me to work longer but I couldn’t commit knowing that we planned go travelling.

2. Freelancing (Admin Job)

Since we had a high savings target, we had to work more hours to earn more money.  But teaching can be exhausting at times. Luckily though, through an advert on Facebook, Jon was able to get an editing job in an office where his job was to back-check and proofread emails.  At $20/hr and 10hrs/week it was exactly the boost we needed!

Teaching baby yoga!

I was able to get a job at this western-franchised company for children, which I was very sad to leave but I had to.  I developed marketing plans, organized open house events, pricing strategies and taught baby yoga to kids.  This job only paid me $10/hour but I had a fixed 80 hours per month (or $800/ month salary.)  I sometimes worked at night, weekdays or bulk hours on the weekend!  My sister even spent Valentine’s Day with me in the office since I had to work from 9am to 9pm!

3. Private Classes

Private class

This is my favorite, our private classes. Jon was able to get a private class teaching 5 cute Vietnamese kids in their house where he was paid $20/hour and was teaching them twice a week (1hr and 30 minutes per session).  I had two adult private classes.  I was tutoring my first student three times a week on how to pass her Canadian Immigration interview and she paid me $25/class while my other lovely student was working for the government and just wanted me to practice with her and improve her business English.  She also paid me $25/class, 3 times a week!

Crazy schedule on our last 3 months!

In our last 3 months in Hanoi Jon and I weren’t able to see each other as much as before, because our schedule was fully jam-packed with work.  I also had to learn how to drive a motorbike in Hanoi traffic for work, but it was all worth it, we left Hanoi with enough money by just living there and enjoying life for 7 months (9 months for Jon!) but saving for only the last 6 months!

TIPS for Couples

1. Compromise

As a couple, you will both know and learn each other’s spending habits by living together.  In our first month of living together, Jon and I were paying for our own food, drinks and etc. (completely different from the Filipino culture!)  This changed once we started making longer term plans together and we began to share all of our income and expenses; from food, to bills and partying.

2. Save Together

This is how I organize our budget while traveling!

3. Set a Goal and Target

We had a monthly target of travel fund to achieve.  I wrote on the wall and we can clearly see upon waking up in the morning. We tried to live smartly and sometimes frugally.  Whilst saving and with both of us working, we were able to travel to North Vietnam, a week in Laos, holiday trip in Ha Long Bay and a Christmas stay-cation in a 5-star hotel but we were able to leave Hanoi with travel fund to sustain our trip to South America!

Weekend trip in Ninh Binh, Vietnam!

Part 2 coming soon!

 About the Authors

Kach Medina and Jonathan Howe are working-on-the-road couple from the Philippines and UK. Having each decided to quit their jobs and set off around South East Asia to start their new lives, neither imagined they would end up traveling the world with someone they met in a backpackers’ bar in Laos.  But that’s what happened!  They are both certified Tantra Yoga Teachers, Ayurveda Massage Therapists and TEFL Certified Teachers. Working wherever and whenever they want! Travelling since April 2013 and currently exploring South America. their next major travel goal- Antartica via Argentina

Visit them at www.twomonkeystravelgroup.com

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