Giving free travel talks—a great way to share the knowledge and ignite others’ travel dreams

As travelers, we often find ourselves talking to friends and strangers alike at parties, at work, wherever, about travel and how to do it right. We evangelize for travel, extolling its opportunities and benefits. We often go on at length about the magic of our favorite places, the addictive high that comes from filling up a passport book, and the thrill of crossing a new border and making new connections. We also find ourselves giving … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Giving free travel talks—a great way to share the knowledge and ignite others’ travel dreams  | March 8, 2015
Category: Adventure Travel, Expat Life, General, Notes from the collective travel mind, Solo Travel, Vagabonding Advice, Youth Travel

An interview with freelance writer Joe Henley

As part of some tips for successful travel and freelance writing, I decided to interview Joe Henley. He is a Canadian freelance writer and death metal singer for Taiwanese band Revilement who has spent the past few years living in Taiwan, and will released his debut novel, “Sons of the Republic”, on American imprint Library Tales Publishing on September 12th 2014.

He’s an example of someone who set out … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (1)  | August 24, 2014
Category: Asia, Expat Life, Lifestyle Design, Travel Writing, Vagabonding Life

Christmas in England: music, food and decoration

In the final entry in my series of posts on the subtle but interesting variations in how European cultures celebrate Christmas, I take a look at one of the finest places to spend the holiday season, England. It’s not just a beautiful country with a joyous approach to the holiday; it’s also the spot where some of the most cherished Christmas traditions originated.

Throughout Europe, the sound of carols spill out from churches great and … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | December 25, 2013
Category: Europe, Expat Life, Food and Drink, General, Notes from the collective travel mind

Thanksgiving overseas: chocolates and rasperry beer in Bruges

Growing up in the Midwest, my Thanksgiving was the traditional spread of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, devoured at a relative’s home in suburban Chicago. But I grew up to be an inveterate traveler and spent the holiday in many places—one of the best was the historic, colorful Belgian city of Bruges.

Several years ago I was serving an internship at the US Embassy in London, and received a four-day weekend as per federal law. … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (1)  | November 28, 2013
Category: Europe, Expat Life, Food and Drink, Notes from the collective travel mind, On The Road, Travel Writing

Motorbiking helps long term vagabonding city dwellers

After I read this article about motorbike travel in Indonesia, I started thinking of my own experiences: I switched the focus from great memories of incredible biking trips around Southeast Asia and India, and I considered my actual situation. I concluded that I could not lead the same comfortable life if it wasn’t for an old rattler of a motorbike I am driving around Penang Island since 2010.

To be honest, when I … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Motorbiking helps long term vagabonding city dwellers  | February 7, 2013
Category: Asia, Expat Life, Notes from the collective travel mind, Simplicity, Vagabonding Advice, Working Abroad

Every country has an underground

It was 2010 and I had been working and traveling in Asia for three years filled to the brim with excitement, discoveries and cultural experiences into the ‘Other’. Time was going slow, and it was a good sign: I learnt that when you start feeling that you have more time than you can handle, it means that you are living your life to the fullest. However, after a while we all need a … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Every country has an underground  | January 17, 2013
Category: Asia, Expat Life, Notes from the collective travel mind, On The Road, Vagabonding Life

Visas: always check before you go

Argentina recently enacted new visa rules, according to this post on The Flight Deal. U.S. citizens must pay a “Reciprocity Fee” of $160. More importantly, this must be paid before entry. If you don’t do this, you’ll be denied entry on arrival. The reciprocity refers to how if Country A charges Country B’s citizens a visa fee, then Country B will do the same to Country … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (1)  | January 14, 2013
Category: Backpacking, Expat Life, Notes from the collective travel mind

Want to travel? Get a degree abroad

Usually, vagabonding starts with a separation from our previous existences made up of obligations, 9 to 5 routines and homely surroundings. After the liberation, always generally, someone storms off to a different corner of the globe, makes experiences, meets people, open his perspectives and spends his hard earned money. And always usually, when this hard earned cash gets low, these “someones” have to face a dire decision: find a way to support themselves … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | December 13, 2012
Category: Expat Life, General, On The Road, Vagabonding Life

Housesitting: the perfect travel job?

Here’s the deal: free housing, living in a beautiful island and some fun work. Oh, and the boss is far away and can’t micromanage you. Sound too good to be true? That’s what Meg and Tony of the Landing Standing blog experienced in their post titled Housesitting in Thailand: live for free in paradise.

Meg described the setup here:

For 4 weeks, we were housesitting … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (4)  | December 4, 2012
Category: Expat Life, Hospitality, Notes from the collective travel mind