Lindsay Hogg

http://thetravellerworldguide.com

Home: Ontario, Canada

Age: 25

Quote: “There is only so long you can talk about your dreams of traveling before you have to stop talking about it and actually do it.”

How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful? I found out about Vagabonding online while browsing through travel blogs. Vagabonding really helps you look at life in the bigger picture. It is hard to take that first step, leaving your job, friends, family and the daily schedule so may people become accustomed to. Vagabonding encourages you to make the most of your life. The world will not stop if you quit your job and leave for a few months or longer. There is only so long you can talk about your dreams of traveling before you have to stop talking about it and actually do it. Rolf encourages you to experience the world on your own terms and he is an inspiration to many.

What is your job or source of travel funding for this journey? I have been saving for about a year now which will ultimately fund my travels. I have also started a travel website/blog which I hope to make some extra funds off of while on the road, but I am not dependent on it.

Do you plan to work on the road? If the opportunity to work for a short period of time comes up I will take it, but I don’t plan to. I have been looking into volunteering as an English teacher in Nepal for a month at a monastery.

What was the reaction of your friends/family/colleagues as you planned your trip? Friends are jealous, others on the road are excited because I will be meeting up with most of them. My mother understands that I need to do this, but is stressed out/worried. My father is concerned, but a little more relaxed about it. He is helping me take all the precautions necessary and has a wealth of helpful information. He actually dropped out of school when he was younger and hiked across Canada. Colleagues were upset that I was leaving, but they understood that it was an opportunity I had to take. They were happy I was leaving for such an exciting reason rather than another job. My clients were all very supportive as well. I really liked my job, but this is something I have been wanting to do for a long time now.

Any tips or lessons learned from the travel-preparation process? Don’t accumulate so much ’stuff’. It was a lot of work trying to sell all my furniture and other things. Lugging books to used book stores and garbage bags of clothes and other miscellaneous items to Salvation Army. I just had SO much crap that I didn’t use, wear or read that I kept just for the sake of keeping.

How long do you hope to spend on the road? I hope to spend about 10 months.

Which destinations do you hope to visit? Venezuela, maybe Ecuador, Peru, Chile… I wanted to see the Antarctic but I don’t think it is in the budget. That may have to be a different trip all on its own. After South America, I will head to Korea/Vietnam or Cambodia to meet my best friend who is teaching English in Asia. Where I meet her will depend on when I decide to leave Chile. We will travel for a few weeks in Cambodia and Thailand together. She will head back home and I will continue travelling through Asia, and hopefully see China, Nepal, maybe Mongolia and Japan. I was also offered a villa in Fiji from someone at work and was hoping to make it there, but that will depend on how much money I have left.

Which experiences are you most looking forward to? I like outdoors activities such as white water rafting and scuba diving, so I am really looking forward to those. I plan on getting my full scuba license while on the road and going skydiving for the first time. I am not only pumped to see my best friend who I haven’t seen in a year, but also to meet new people. And lastly, I am very excited to tour the wineries in Chile and see the more local/rural life.

What are you packing for the journey? I plan on having my travel backpack with basic clothing, a mini pharmacy, sleeping bag, towel, my computer/camera gear (including plug converters and surge protector), basic shower items, solar alarm clock, compass and photo copies of all my important ID’s and information (in the case that my wallet or bag gets stolen, I will have copies tucked away somewhere else).

Do you have any worries or concerns about the journey? Safety is really my only concern due to being a female and traveling alone for parts of my trip. I am obviously scared and nervous and excited all at once, but I am going to take all the precautions I can. No matter how much you prepare yourself, stuff happens so if I miss a flight or something is stolen, there is nothing more I can do but deal with it. Thus, I try not to stress about these things, I just try to be as cautious as I can.  I am a little upset to be missing some things at home. There is nothing better than Canadian summers – camping, cottaging, white water rafing with my friends. My sister will also be having a baby in June so I will miss the official arrival of my new niece or nephew.

How can we best follow your adventures? Through the column “On the Road” posted on my website. I have begun sharing my preparations already and I am still working on finding my voice. Humour is a big part of my life and I hopefully I will be able to incorporate that into the written version of my adventures.

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at casestudies@vagabonding.net and tell us a little about yourself.