15 Highlights From Eight Years On The Road
Three weeks ago, I celebrated my eight-year anniversary of existence on the road. On the warm morn of July 26, 2006, I left domicile for a year-long trip around the world. I didn’t provide until eighteen months later.
I thought I’d live happy going dorsum to cubicle life when I returned. I’d pose my MBA to practiced use, promote renewable energy, as well as caput downwards the path toward the American dream (job, wife, house, retirement, etc.). But the minute I sat dorsum downwards inwards that cubicle, I realized office piece of work wasn’t for me, as well as a few months later, I was dorsum on the route facing an uncertain future.
Now, 8 years later, my life is 1 I never would conduct hold imagined when I waved good-bye to my parents. I never fifty-fifty dreamed that I’d live a published author, blogger, as well as life-long traveler.
As I motion into my 9th twelvemonth of existence a nomad, I wanted to percentage some of the defining moments I’ve experienced on the road:
Living on an isle inwards Thailand
When I was start inwards Thailand inwards 2006, my friend told me to bring together her inwards Ko Lipe, a hidden paradise agency to a greater extent than beautiful than the touristy Ko Phi Phi I was on. So I made the then-long journeying (now y'all tin conduct hold a speedboat) as well as stepped onto an isle that I’d come upward to telephone phone home. On the agency over, I met a cranky Irishman, an English linguistic communication couple, as well as a High German couple. I expected to remain on the isle 3 days. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 calendar month later, I was tearfully waving my grouping good-bye every bit I boarded the boat dorsum to the mainland. We had all go wrapped upward inwards our ain version of The Beach, never wanting to acquire out an isle devoid of paved roads as well as tourists, where our days were total of eating Thai food, learning the language, befriending the locals, reading, relaxing, as well as snorkeling every corner of the island.
While I’ve since grown apart from most of the people whose companionship I enjoyed on the isle (though the English linguistic communication duo as well as I remain incredibly close), the calendar month I spent on Ko Lipe remains my greatest retentivity from all my travels.
Teaching inwards Bangkok
Wanting to remain inwards Asia longer as well as needing coin to extend my trip, inwards early 2007 I decided I’d motion to Bangkok, larn Thai, as well as teach English. I didn’t know anyone. I had no thought how to acquire a job. I had never moved somewhere before. I spent my start calendar week inwards the metropolis playing Warcraft past times myself inwards betwixt interviews. I call upward existence bored a lot, wondering if I could actually arrive inwards this novel environment.
But every bit they say, it’s ever darkest earlier the dawn, as well as but every bit I was thinking I’d made the incorrect decision, a friend from domicile gave me the refer of somebody living inwards the city. My friend’s friend as well as I met for drinks, as well as he introduced me to the expat social scene inwards the city. Shortly after, I got a chore as well as a lady friend as well as began to produce a life inwards Bangkok. I learned to conduct hold aid of myself as well as alive on my own.
The months I spent at that spot helped me go independent as well as showed me I could start a life anywhere.
Moving to Taipei
In many ways, moving to Taipei inwards 2009 was a failure: I met a daughter who dumped me correct after I decided to acquire a long-term visa to remain alongside her, I got the influenza that never went away as well as lost virtually xv pounds, I had a chore I hated, as well as I never thrived the agency I did inwards Bangkok. But it was also a huge success because it was during that fourth dimension that I decided to produce my spider web log to a greater extent than than but a hobby as well as focus on making it a resources for travelers. Those were the months that I started turning my year-old blog, whose original go was to maintain my friends updated on what I was doing, into the travel resource it is today.
I mightiness non conduct hold thrived inwards Taipei, but I’m also non sure, had I non moved there, that this spider web log would fifty-fifty exist. I’d in all likelihood yet live an English linguistic communication instructor inwards Bangkok.
Playing poker inwards Amsterdam
During my start trip to Amsterdam inwards 2006, I walked into a casino to play poker. I befriended another players, and, after heading to Barcelona a few days later, decided to wing dorsum to Amsterdam — I missed it likewise much to remain away. For the adjacent 3 months, I played poker every twenty-four hours alongside these guys. They showed me the city, introduced me to Dutch culture, as well as became my start international friends. It was the start fourth dimension I actually connected alongside locals, and, when I finally had to leave, I thanked them for opening me upward to novel experiences as well as told them I’d reckon them the adjacent year. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few months later, I learned our friend Greg was shot spell people tried to rob his house. Greg was the 1 who start invited me into the group. I never got to actually give thanks him, but I’ll ever call upward his influence on my life.
Visiting Africa
Going on safari inwards Africa had been a life-long goal of mine, as well as the weeks I spent exploring the southern component of the continent inwards 2012 were everything I had hoped they would be: wildlife all around me, stars lighting upward the black sky, fiery savannah sunsets, as well as raw as well as beautiful nature. The sights, the can-do mental attitude of the locals, the wildlife, the nutrient — Africa was improve than I had imagined. It was raw, unfiltered, as well as is burned into my soul.
That continent really is magic.
Hiking the Tongariro Crossing
One of the most famous hikes inwards the world, New Zealand’s Tongariro Crossing mightiness live recognizable to those who dearest The Lord of the Rings every bit the location of Mount Doom. Tackling this 22km hike was going to live a challenge, every bit I’m non a fast hiker as well as I was out of kind at the time. I started early inwards the morning, befriended a swain hiker along the way, as well as together nosotros barely made it every bit the in conclusion of the buses dorsum into town pulled away. It was harder than I expected at parts, but I made it, as well as that twenty-four hours inwards 2010 was the most rewarding I had inwards New Zealand.
Learning to scuba dive
Learning to dive inwards Republic of the Fiji Islands was 1 of the scariest moments of my life — I almost died doing it. During my 3rd dive, my partner kicked the regulator out of my oral fissure spell nosotros were below the surface looking at coral. I acted rapidly as well as breathed out, grabbing the 2nd regulator inwards a panic every bit my dive instructor leapt (or bolted similar a fish) towards me. I stayed there, breathing heavily spell I tried to calm downwards as well as managed to swim for a few to a greater extent than minutes earlier ascending to the surface.
It was a scary minute (and my dive partner never did tell she was sorry!), but it didn’t ruin my dearest of the ocean. I got to reckon a whole novel side to life on this planet, as well as I’ve been hooked ever since.
Throwing tomatoes at La Tomatina
Throwing tomatoes inwards Kingdom of Spain was just every bit fun every bit it sounds. Waking upward early, riding the train, drinking sangria, as well as pegging people for an hr alongside tomatoes was a once-in-a-lifetime experience (as in, after doing it once, I’m OK non doing it again). But I owe everything to the Nest Hostel inwards Valencia. Their policy during the festival stated that y'all needed to remain for at to the lowest degree a week, as well as our piddling grouping of hostel guests became similar a family. Surrounded past times the same people inwards the hostel, y'all got to know everyone inwards a agency that ordinarily doesn’t happen. But that identify unit of measurement became fifty-fifty tighter every bit the 5 others inwards my dorm room as well as I bonded throughout the week. We striking it off similar nosotros had known each other for years (which many people assumed since nosotros were thence close). After the festival, nosotros kept traveling together, and, 5 years afterwards after that fateful calendar week inwards 2009, nosotros all remain incredibly unopen as well as connected.
Surviving Oktoberfest
When nosotros were planning our trip inwards 2011, my friend Matt as well as I decided 5 days should live long plenty to experience Oktoberfest. We were seriously false — a duo of days is enough, as well as past times twenty-four hours 3, nosotros were waving the white flag. We somehow managed to ability on, and, dressed inwards lederhosen, nosotros ticked a life-long goal off of both of our lists. It was incredibly fun, as well as I met some wonderful Germans, ran into friends I already knew, as well as learned that after iv steins inwards a row, I will go past times out at a table.
Discovering Eastern Europe
When people inquire me where they should enter Europe that’s a flake out of the way, I recommend 3 countries: Bulgaria, Romania, as well as Ukraine. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few years ago, I backpacked through these countries as well as cruel deeply inwards dearest alongside all of them (especially Ukraine). They were a novel experience: more rustic, less touristy, seemingly yet 20 years inwards the past, as well as overall, a completely dissimilar feeling than Western Europe. They were challenging to navigate — I had to pantomime inwards Ukraine to acquire around. They were super cheap. The people were friendly as well as welcoming. One of my best memories is drinking alongside some Ukrainians who alone knew the give-and-take “cheers.” We couldn’t communicate, but nosotros bonded over many shots of vodka.
Connecting on the isle of Ios
Continuing the theme that people produce places, inwards 2010, I decided to see the isle of Ios inwards Greece. At this point, I don’t call upward why I initially decided to go, but I somehow institute myself there. And, every bit alongside Ko Lipe, I ended upward staying longer than planned. A grouping of us on the isle bonded instantly. They had come upward early inwards the flavor to honour piece of work (they all did), as well as I had nowhere inwards detail to go, thence I stayed. We were similar a family, coming together upward for nightly dinners as well as outings around the island. The next year, nosotros all came dorsum as well as picked upward correct where nosotros left off. Even though nosotros are at nowadays spread out around the world, I’m yet inwards contact alongside most of them on a regular basis. Time as well as distance don’t destroy deep friendships.
Discovering Coral Bay
Driving upward the due west coast of Australia, I pulled into a tiny beach town called Coral Bay. It’s a one-street town alongside 1 hotel, 1 bar, as well as 1 supermarket. Most people come upward hither via camper van as well as remain inwards the RV park. This identify is heaven; it’s my beach paradise. The Ningaloo Reef is thence unopen to the shore y'all tin swim to it, the H2O is crystal clear, as well as marine life swims close the shore. I’ve institute my agency to this out-of-the-way finish twice, as well as it’s my favorite identify inwards all of Australia.
Visiting the Galápagos Islands
I knew the Galápagos were beautiful, but everything I had heard virtually them underestimated their beauty. The land, the sea, the sunsets — words can’t depict them. Pictures can. (Lots of pictures.) My fourth dimension spent on the islands tin live summed upward past times my in conclusion night: the boat was moored spell nosotros ate dinner alongside the spotlight on the back. Fish attracted to calorie-free swam inwards the expanse as well as and thence suddenly, seals began to dart dorsum as well as forth. Later, every bit nosotros made our agency dorsum to Santa Cruz to acquire out inwards the morning, dolphins rode our boat’s wake for over 20 minutes, playing as well as jumping inwards the sea. It was breathtaking. Just similar the islands.
Hiking the Grand Canyon
During my cross-country route trip inwards 2006, I fancied myself a hiker (I wasn’t) as well as was determined to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Rising early 1 morning, I drove alongside my hostel dorm mate to the park, stopping to sentry elk graze nearby. After pulling into the parking lot as well as marveling at the view, nosotros escaped the coming tourist compaction as well as became component of the pocket-sized cadre of visitors that go beyond the canyon ridge. We hiked downwards to the base of operations as well as spent a black earlier hiking dorsum up. Along the way, nosotros stopped inwards a current to cool off, as well as nosotros made it to the top of the canyon but inwards fourth dimension for 1 of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen. I distinctly call upward the sense of victory that rushed through me every bit nosotros reached the summit.
YOU!
As a Gemini, I’m fickle. I don’t ofttimes stick alongside things long. But half dozen as well as a one-half years later, hither I am, yet sharing my stories on this site as well as helping others move more. And it’s all because of you. This website, to a greater extent than than whatsoever trip, has changed my life. I’ve met some of my best friends because of it, as well as hosting meet-ups as well as reading your emails inspires me to live improve at everything I do. I wake upward thankful every twenty-four hours that I acquire the chances I have, as well as it’s all because of you.
The in conclusion 8 years conduct hold left me alongside to a greater extent than happy memories than I could ever write downwards inwards 1 spider web log post, as well as spell every retentivity is important, these moments conduct hold defined the in conclusion 8 years as well as led me to where I am today.
To quote my favorite movie, American Beauty:
…but it’s difficult to remain mad when there’s thence much beauty inwards the world. Sometimes I experience similar I’m seeing it all at once, as well as it’s likewise much, my inwardness fills upward similar a balloon that’s virtually to burst…And as well as thence I call upward to relax as well as halt trying to concord on to it, as well as and thence it flows through me similar pelting as well as I can’t experience anything but gratitude for every unmarried minute of my stupid piddling life.
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