Rolf chats with the Times Online about vagabonding

Over at the Times Online, Rolf takes part in an interview where he discusses how to keep busy on the road, how to finance your travels, and how to find your way out of the backpacker’s bubble.

Of course, it’s not an article about Rolf unless he’s called the “Jack Kerouac of the Internet Age” at least a couple times. Thankfully, this interview qualifies. Here are a couple excerpts:

On how to overcome the lull that often hits travelers around the three-month mark:

Sometimes travel can seem a bit stale and dull; what was a fresh experience three months ago loses its novelty and quickly puts you back into your comfort zone.

The classic example is found in the backpackers’ circuit and hostel scene, which is too often equated to independent travel and can indeed, be very exciting when you first get into it. Although I have nothing against hanging out with travellers from all kinds of nationalities, some people spend an entire gap year and never leave this little bubble. But, unless you leave this comfort zone and give yourself the opportunity to find more independent and authentic experiences, you might get a bit bored with it. After all, travel should be a departure from the home routine of hanging out with the same people in the same places.

The easy rule to avoid boredom is to try something different. For example, to challenge yourself to interact only with local people for a week; maybe move to a place that is so far way from the backpacker circuit that you cannot fall back into it. Taking interest and learning a bit of the local language also helps.

On funding your long-term travels:

Vagabonding is an attitude that should start before the trip itself – looking for routes, researching locations and daydreaming will make your travels more vivid. It is easy to have a negative attitude towards work. But, if you relate it to earning your travels, you create a positive connection between working and realising your dream.

Much more here.