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As I am thumbing my way across the Central Asian republics, I made a very much welcome discovery by typing “hitching to Dushanbe” in Google. What I found was a bit puzzling, at first: I would have never thought that a volatile, hazardous and utterly non-scientific art such as hitching a ride … Read more »
Hitching a ride was, is and always will be evoking images of young, reckless, crazy travel. It is for adventurers, because you do not know who will pick you up and when you will arrive at your destination. And it is indeed for adventurous drivers too: our imagination is so full of hideous stories based on this phenomenon that, before you would pick up that random guy standing at the crossroad, you would … Read more »
Cost/day: $200
Chartering a boat isn’t cheap. If you are lucky and know the right people you could however, get a job as crew, stewarding, cooking or being a deck hand if you don’t have sailing qualifications. If you are not working then watch out for hidden costs such as moorings, docking, water and tips for the crew which may not be included in the bill.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen lately?
Can you imagine being woken up at a hostel at 7:30am to chop fire wood or complete your chores before breakfast?
Chore detail had fizzled-out before 2009 when I hostel hopped for several months; spending anywhere from three nights to two weeks at various places. Personally, I enjoyed seeking out the odd ones, like old prisons or sailing ships. But what I discovered recently was, that same year the … Read more »
Cost/day:$10
The Caribbean isn’t really that cheap. However, if you’re creative and have some skills, anything is possible. Most of my money went on beer and bus tickets.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen lately?
Three men waving a live lobster, barracuda pizza and and an Ugly Man competition.
Travel is like life, amplified. Your senses are heightened, experiences are vivid, and time becomes your biggest asset. In that spirit, you can watch the inspirational video by Casey Neistat.
The story in the video was that Nike hired Casey to make a promotional film. Instead of doing the job, Casey took the money, enlisted a buddy, and did a round-the-world trip. Personally, I think the prank aspect is being played up for street … Read more »
When we’re away from home, it’s tempting to cut loose and forget our inhibitions. A recent piece in The Guardian UK points out the dangers in partying: Vang Vieng, Laos: the world’s most unlikely party town.
The article explores how the small Lao town has blown up into a hotspot on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail. While revenues and amenities have increased, safety measures have not. … Read more »
Cost/day: $0.8/day
Guyana isn’t really that cheap. However, if you’re creative and have some skills, anything is possible. I worked at Dadanawa Cattle Ranch for two and a half months in exchange for food and board. Most of my money went towards toiletries, insect repellant and beer. Being frugal was easy because the nearest town was 4 hours drive over rough savannah roads away.
When you think of places you’ve visited, do you remember the sights–or the people? In this article, it was the latter that made the lasting impression: I couch-surfed across America.
The vivid and quirky cast of Couchsurfing hosts the writer encounters provide enough fodder for its own TV sitcom. An excerpt:
Bill, our host in Duluth, described himself in his profile as a Zamboni operator and freelance detective. In … Read more »
A common lament I hear is, “I’d love to travel. But it’s just too expensive.” How much money do you really need to travel year-round? Would you need $50,000 year? Maybe $100,000?
Nora Dunn from The Professional Hobo answered that question in her classic article: Travel full-time for less than $14,000. In many first-world cities, that money wouldn’t even cover … Read more »