My route back to North America – after my recent change of plans – has been a long one. First, upon leaving Thailand, I had to make a stop in Bali and after a few interesting days there, I had to fly to Singapore. The reason for all of this bouncing around had nothing to do with some absurd flight route that was offered by some budget airline for some bargain basement fare. I actually needed to stop in Bali and Singapore before returning home.
So, after having spent the past week in Singapore, I am supposed to fly out tomorrow morning. My ticket is for a series of flights that will eventually land me in Cancun, Mexico, where I plan to spend a few days back in Playa del Carmen before finally returning to Florida.
However, it appears as if my journey back to North America is not going to be so easy as I just received an email notification that the first leg of my flight – Singapore to Tokyo – has been delayed. Not only has it been delayed but I will now almost certainly miss my connecting flight to Houston as a result. And not only will I miss my flight to Houston, but the only other available flight out of Tokyo tomorrow (on United or Continental) is a flight to Honolulu, from where there are no other available flights to the mainland for at least 36 hours.
So the point is, you may not hear from me for a long, long time. Or, I might become Hawaii’s newest resident and invite you all to a housewarming party next weekend.
Anyway, I must say that I found it quite interesting that as soon as I learned that my flight plans had begun to unravel, the first thought that entered my head was “I should write a post about this.” And then, as I began to write this post, starting off with a detailed account of my recent whereabouts, something else quite interesting occurred to me.
I spend much of my time writing about the places I’ve been, the places I currently am and the places I plan to be in the future, but I have no idea where most of you are right now. What kind of relationship is this?
Of course, many of you have your own blogs and so I do know the whereabouts of quite a few of you, however, I’d love to know where all of you are. I just think it’s time we get to know each other better.
I’m well aware that trying to keep track of everyone’s location on planet Earth is a near impossible task, especially considering that I can barely keep track of my own location (I inexplicably informed a friend last week that I was in Brunei instead of Bali), but I want to give it a try. I do believe that at least knowing this tiny bit of information will help strengthen our relationship. Don’t you?
So, to all of my readers, all of you whom I appreciate even more than my favorite Indian curries…let’s get it on.
Where are you in the world? Be as specific or vague as you wish…country, city, continent ….planet.
And keep an eye out for that invitation! I’m thinking the white sands of Hanauma Bay on Oahu would be a good place to get the party started.
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Hello Earl,
i stumbled across your blog yesterday while i was looking for a travel blog that is honest in narratives.
i mean i don’t want all the fancy stories, i want the not-so-fancy ones as well and your blog has provided that thus far.
I am in Lagos, Nigeria. i don’t know if you have been to Nigeria before, so many exciting places to go. When you come, please visit Inagbe Resort in Lagos, or you can just visit Calabar, in River state. so many beautiful sights there.
i am planning my vacation to the US later in the year. i am trying to plan a budget vacation. I have been to Orlando and dallas.
i found Dallas extremely boring and i found Orlando to be everything Dallas wasn’t. Orlando was FUN!, FUN and FUN but it was expensive.
i want to visit NYC but everything online suggests it is an expensive city…..any advice?
I found your blog by reading about N Korea. I’m from Sacramento California. I love to travel too. Last summer I did an Alaskan cruise with Norwegian and a 2015 Bahamas cruise (Norwegian also). I did a one yr stint living in Oklahoma while I was a high school senior ( now that I think about that, I should have given it a chance. I was so miserable while there). Anyway as I’m here at work in a Chinese restaurant, I’m dreaming of the next vacation, like Laos, my birth country. I am glad I found your blog. You’re an inspiration.
Hello Earl! I just started reading your blog today and I can’t stop. I’m from South India. Have you ever been to the Kerala back waters? Its an amazing place, sorry if I missed that part. If you ever plan on returning, we can surely meet up.
Hey Adarsh – Yes indeed, I have been to the backwaters a couple of times. Beautiful part of the world of course!
Rufus Sprague
November 13, 2016 at 4:20 am - Reply
A few things stuck out to me in this post. You love what you do, therefore you are having the time of your life. My wife and I recently took an early retirement and moved back her hometown in a rural village in Fujian, China. It’s been 3 weeks and I am wondering why we didn’t do it earlier.
I am writing a post everyday on my blog about my experiences here. Check it out if you are on the train or bus, it’s a good read. I can be found at fatgwailo.com
Hi Earl! You’ll notice I’m just new to your blog, but I already find it very interesting and useful. I want to start a travel blog myself, just in planning phase as I’ve just visited a few countries but you never know! Writing from Costa Rica (I’m from here) so if you’re here in the future, you already know I’ll buy you a beer for sure (unless I’m already traveling)!
Dear Earl,
I’m a loyal fan of your posts and of course they enlighten me for my own travel experiences.
Right now I’m in Spain (my country) before have been visited Uzbekistan and Myanmmar. I’am dreaming into my new destine as I would probably visit Vietnam and Camboya in few months.
Kind regards and looking fordward more news about your experiences.
Hi Earl,
Merry Christmas!
I’m a wee bit late in adding a comment but I have been sitting in my office in a very wet and windy Glasgow (Scotland) reading your blog and dreaming of far flung adventures.
I have a daughter of 10 years who a spirit of adventure so we are introducing her to her own beautiful country first – we visited Orkney during the summer where we spent a week on amazing white sand beaches and visiting prehistoric villages. I think she caught the travel bug as soon as we stepped on the ferry from the mainland.
I hope to introduce her to Thailand in the next couple of years – for now Scotland and all her beauty are captivating her. Next stop skiing in the Cairngorms and maybe bagging a Munro or 2.
Travel safe.
Hi Earl! Discovered your blog not long ago and have been hooked to it ever since. Travelling is such an incredible concept to me. I have never been on a plane somewhere and the furthest I’ve traveled by car is 5 hours. Money and work have always gotten in the way.
About to start a better paying job that will allow me to save 50% of my pay – so travel here I come!!! Any suggestions on where I should go first?
I’m living on The Gold Coast in QLD Australia! If you’re ever down under, I would love to grab a bite with you and listen to your stories!
Thanks! Emily.
Wandering Earl
August 24, 2015 at 11:56 pm - Reply
Hey Emily – Thanks for commenting! And to be honest, I would recommend going to the places that excite you most. If you close your eyes and think about travel, which destinations jump out at you and make you want to fly there right now? That’s where you should go 🙂
Hi Earl!
I found your blog several years back upon preparing for a three week stint in India. I randomly remembered it today, and thought I’d revisit to see what you’ve been up to. All that said, I came across this post and thought I’d offer to buy you lunch should you ever find yourself in Nashville, TN. All the best to you!
It was wonderful, though I don’t think three weeks was a long enough trip! I would love to go back someday, though Thailand is currently #1 on my travel destination list.
hey when was that we are hitting the beach? did i miss the big date?!
love this connecting idea. i live in corvallis oregon. i love to travel. have been moslty bicycling touring but not only. enjoy it all.
San Francisco for the last year. Been working and saving money, leaving for Barcelona in April, and plan to travel to wherever things take me after that. Hope to be on the road again for at least 6 months, but, if things feel right, possibly much longer. see ya around one of these days maybe!
Hi Earl!
The next time you’re stopping by Singapore for a few days or so, beep me up!! I would love to meet you in person! So yup, I’m from this small little red dot in the world where you’ve been – Singapore (Sg). I’ll be exploring Sabah for 3weeks in end October 2014. Where will you be? =)
Cheers; Lia
Wandering Earl
October 26, 2014 at 8:30 am - Reply
Hey Lia – Sounds good, I shall let you know the next time I’m heading that way!
I am from Alaska, but am currently traveling in Ireland. I have just begun one year of travel and am excited about the possibilities for the year!
I will also be running a website while traveling: Our Planet’s Many Faces (www.ourplanetsmanyfaces.com). It will be focussed on sharing cultural and local stories as I travel. I’ve only just started the site, but all feedback is welcome.
I look forward to reading more of your stories from your travels.
Hey Earl,
I really love your work and your lifestyle. I am a college student in Chennai ,TN, India. I love travelling just as much as you and would start as soon as i graduate and get my parents off my back :D.
All the best 🙂 cheers.
Hi Earl,
I just discovered your blog and am enjoying it very much. Thanks for putting it out there! I love traveling & hope to do more of it soon. I live on a little farm in New Wilmington, PA. It’s about an hour drive north of Pittsburgh. If you’re ever in this corner of the world (haha!) feel free to stop by. 🙂
Also, I read your recent post about the dengue fever; I’m wishing you a quick, and complete recovery!
~ All the best to you, as you continue your work & travels!
Wandering Earl
August 19, 2014 at 11:02 pm - Reply
Hey Joanna – Thank you for the message and I shall let you know if I ever end up in your area! It’s not my normal area to visit while in the US but I am always looking for new experiences!
I’m so fascinated by your stories and experiences that you’ve decided to share with the rest of us! My hometown would be a city just outside of Toronto. However, I’ve recently made the move from Canada to Florida. A year working and enjoying what the sunshine state has to offer! This is my first adventure on my own, but I’ve promised myself it won’t be my last. Nothing excites me more than the thought of travelling. Thank you for inspiring me through the tough times of wondering alone.
I’m from Philippines. i can sense that your a humble person while reading your blog.
I love your blog! Hope you can visit our country too, we have 7,100 islands here to explore. May God Bless you everyday 🙂
Keep sharing!
I have always wanted to travel, and after reading through your website, and your books I have focus and confidence 🙂 I am currently in California, but in 2 weeks I am leaving for Vientiane, Laos where I have a position teaching kindergarten for the next school year (I am a new teacher here in CA). I plan to travel in South East Asia on the vacations, and hopefully to India, (I have never been!) next summer. After that I will either stay for another year before moving on to another country, or just move on. I love your video posts! and cannot wait for more! Please keep in touch I would love to travel with you some day. And my doors all always open in Lao or where ever l’ll be if you are heading that way!
Hey Lisa – Congratulations on the upcoming life change! I’m sure it will be a positive move for you and that you’ll have such a rewarding experience in that part of the world. It would be great to travel with you and meet up somewhere and if I do make it to Laos again at some point, I shall let you know!
My name is Mikaila, I’m from New Zealand and currently living on a small island called Tubuai in French Polynesia. I just found and read your book today and I think it’s brilliant! A lot of it actually lines up with what I decided about 2 days ago, but it has definitely given me a push in the right direction.
In 2 weeks I head back to Auckland, New Zealand to do a course in teaching English for 3 months, then to France for 2 years to learn French. Once I’m fluent enough I plan to attend university there (which is incredibly cheap and comes with an accommodation benefit even for international students) and get a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education. One or two years of my study will be spent on exchange, and twice a year during holidays I will cross a country / activity off my bucket list like seeing the Northern Lights in Norway, Listening to live Jazz music in New Orleans, volunteering at an orphanage in Vietnam and in China with Giant Pandas. After this I plan to spend 2 years teaching in Australia, followed by 2 years in India and a minimum of 5 years somewhere in Africa. I’ve always wanted to buy a house somewhere in South America, so I imagine that that will be next. Of coarse plans change, but I couldn’t imagine living a better life. It means I can accomplish everything I’ve ever dreamed of since I was about 6 years old. I keep on realizing how lucky and happy I am 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experiences and happy traveling!
Hey Mikaila – That all sounds like an incredible plan 🙂 I’m sure it will change and it will probably change significantly based upon the experiences you have and the people you meet along the way but the most important thing is understanding that whatever your goals, you can make them happen. Seems like you’ve figured that out!
Well your blog has provided me hours upon hours of entertainment the last week or so, and not only have you majorly inspired what I want to do with my life (I had already wanted to be a long-term traveler, but you have shown me the path from the dream to reality), but you have also (hopefully!) gotten me the knowledge I need to get hired on to a cruise ship! I bought your ebook, studied it intensively and applied to every single cruise line listed in the book (a fun 8 hour project!) 😀 I live in Denver, but hopefully not for long! Drop by and say hello sometime if you end up here!
Oi!! I’m Marianna, 17 years old, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I’m at that time at my life that i have to decide what i wanna do. I love travelling and learning new languages. For my age, I can say that i have already travelled a lot. I’ll probably study International Relations in college, but Tourism have always been my dream. The problem with tourism is: what i’ll work with? Do you have any sugestions of what career should i follow?
Hey Marianna – That’s not something I can tell you 🙂 You have to figure it out! You have to think about what you are interested in, what excites you, what your goals are in life and then take all of that and figure out what career fits those ideas the best. You’ll get there, just takes some time to really understand what you would love doing in life.
I live in Montréal, Canada, and I’m a French Canadian. I’ve been travelling A LOT since I’m 18 years but now I decided to move to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, with myboyfriend and our dauther (she’s 6). Why? Just can’t stand the cold anymore 🙂 and looking for a new aventure. Also, I want to learn Spanish. I like your blog.
Hey Earl,
My name is Matthew. I’m currently (and not for too long, because I have a serious case of itchy feet disease) in a small and laid back city called Porto Novo in a small West African country called Benin. And the planet is still earth :). If I could I would travel to other planets too :).
You have a really great and very inspiring travel blog. Just keep up with being awesomely inspiring!
hey earl! presently I am located in long island, new york. I graduate college next month and I have a solo trip planned to south america for over an year starting this june. I would like to start my own travel blog just like yours and would love to get some tips and advices from you. Happy traveling 🙂
Hello! I was introduced to your blog by a fellow exchange student friend – today! (And you can imagine how much time I’ve spent since I’ve started *.*) I’m currently in France and I’m originally from the U.S., though I plan on studying abroad more before traveling freely without restrictions. This has to be one of the most interesting blogs I’ve ever read – kudos for your lifestyle and I hope I can join you in the future!
Hey Mel – Thanks for that and I look forward to interacting with you some more on the site and perhaps running into you out there during your own travels!
Hi Earl! I love your blog – Thanks for your amazing stories. I am just setting out on my world adventure, and reading your blog and all the crazy adventures you’ve had really pulls my ideas and travel plans into the realm of possibility, rather than existing on the shores of Neverland. Did you imagine when you posted this blog that strangers on the internet would still be sharing there location 3 years later? In my mind you are still in Hawaii, partying on the white sands. So, a little late (I’ve never been one for punctuality), I’m from Adelaide, Australia, currently in Ávila, Spain and on my way to Marrakesh, Morocco in the hopes of becoming Indiana Jones. Adios Amigo!
Wandering Earl
February 28, 2014 at 11:36 am - Reply
Hey Rachel – To be honest, I never really thought about it. I wrote the post and left it at that, but I am thrilled that comments are still being left to this day! Enjoy Morocco!
Sarah Ariffin
February 22, 2014 at 12:58 pm - Reply
Hi Earl,
I’m Sarah from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I’ve been following your blog for a very long time and have always been wowed by your writing and travel experiences (well, you must be hearing this for thousands of time :)) and finally after so many years of denying my passion in travel, I finally have the guts to have a travel blog on my own focusing on Malaysia.
It would be great if you could share some blogging tips for a newbie like me especially in how to bring some wow factors in the blog and eventually attract like minded friends to visit and read.
Hi Earl, I usually only follow blogs without commenting but just had to let you know I’m in Geelong Victoria my home town. As you have lived in Melbourne you will know where it is. I’m curious to know if you like sport and if so did you go to any footy games? A very typical Melbournian question I know lol.
Wandering Earl
February 17, 2014 at 12:02 pm - Reply
Hey Audrey – Yes, I definitely know Geelong and have been there several times 🙂 And I’ve also seen a few footy games at the MCG over the years…always a great experience of course!
I’ve been stalking your blog for a while, I came across your site whilst trying to get a list of the best travel blogs out there so that I could have something to aspire to with my own blog. Anyway, this post seemed like a great opportunity to introduce myself, and of course state my current location which is Vancouver, BC. You’re writing is awesome, and I look forward to reading more of it!
Wandering Earl
February 5, 2014 at 5:57 am - Reply
Hey Caroline – Welcome to the site and thanks for the introduction! I look forward to interacting some more and watching your own blog grow as well!!
hey Earl, stumbleupon your site! very interesting blogs. I am from the island of Yap, Micronesia. Bet you’ve never heard of it! A haven for manta diving! I wish i have the money to travel like you do.
Wandering Earl
December 5, 2013 at 1:14 pm - Reply
Hey Alvin – You are right, I have not heard of Yap unfortunately 🙂
Sounds like a great plan, Alejandro – especially the trans-siberian! I’m a NYC expat living in Bangkok and love Chang Mai. Try the Khao Soi (chicken on the bone w/noodles) when you’re there.
I’m Alejandro, in Madrid, Spain. Next year I’m going to start traveling without any kind of time restrictions. I’ll start with Ireland, get to Russia, where i’ll take the trans-siberian, down through Mongolia, China, and into the province of Chiang May, Thailand, where I’ll have to try that delicious Pad Thai, then somehow get even further down to Australia and New Zealand, then French Polynesia, America, Iceland and then for all those European countries that i might have missed in the first round. And that´s just the beginning…
I want to say I really enjoy all of your blog posts, and they’ve been really helpful. As you may know, there’s not such a strong backpacking tradition in Spain (there’s none whatsoever) as there might be in other most northern european countries, but it’s something I wanted to do, it’s the perfect time to do it, and I’m doing it no matter what!!
I’ve seen that guide you’ve written on how to work on board of a cruise ship, and I know i’ll be buying it in the near future! and for that price… what a great deal!!
I’ve also noticed that you haven’t been to Russia yet… maybe i’ll get there first! haha!!
Anyway, your blog is full of great tips from you and those who comment on each post, and full of amazing stories!! Keep up the good work!!
And as for me I’m also thinking the white sands of Hanauma Bay on Oahu would be a great place to get the party started too!!
Enjoy life!, Enjoy travel!!,
Have a nice day!
Wandering Earl
November 26, 2013 at 9:59 pm - Reply
Hola Alejandro – Sounds like quite an amazing trip you have ahead of you and I’m glad that you’ve found the site useful as well!
If you ever have any questions as you continue to plan your upcoming adventure, please let me know and I’d be more than happy to assist as best I can. Perhaps I’ll see you on Oahu 🙂
Hi Earl!
I’m Kara from Astoria, Queens, New York City. I have been on the road traveling with my husband for 7 months. We are currently in Jaipur, India. I found your blog 2 days ago while researching Palolem Beach as we will be in Goa in a couple of weeks. We are so excited now after reading your posts about it!
Love the blog – very informative & helpful!
Kara
Wandering Earl
November 12, 2013 at 5:52 pm - Reply
Hey Kara – All I can say is…have a wonderful time in Palolem (it’s very hard not to)!
Hi Earl,
I find myself reading a lot in this blog, lately. I haven’t traveled much but would love to do. Currently, I’m living at Bangalore and I’m from Pondicherry, India. I’d be happy to meet you in person.
Thanks a lot.
Hi Earl. I’m Roch, and I’m from the Philippines. I found your blog by typing these simple key words on Google: “how to live life traveling.” I have read several other entries related to this topic but your blog struck me the most. I felt so inspired not to do the same – like be a nomad traveler – but to travel as much as I can as much as possible. My initial goal would be to travel all around Asia first then start to inch my way outside. Thank you for your honesty in writing your experiences. I have one question though: Don’t you have a family who you want to bring in your travels? Personally, I think traveling alone is okay. As you said, you’re never alone because you meet other people anyway. However, I bet that traveling with your family (parents, wife, kids, etc.) would be more awesome. Thanks again and kudos to this blog. I already subscribed to it! 🙂
Wandering Earl
November 12, 2013 at 5:13 pm - Reply
Hey Roch – Welcome to the site! As for family, they do come and visit me a couple of times per year. So do many of my friends. And it is always excellent experiences traveling with them! But apart from that, I’m almost never alone…there are so many people, locals and fellow travelers, to meet everywhere that I am always around interesting people all the time!
I know this post is old, but I think it fits with my theme that I am writing about on my blog. We left Bali at the end of September. Flew to KL. I went to TBEX in Dublin, flew back to KL. We went to Singapore for a week to dog sit. Back to KL. Back down to Singapore for the ITB Asia travel show. Then, we flew to Dubai and Doha for a week on our way to London. I sit in London now, 5 weeks into this stretch of travel. On Saturday we go to Dublin for one night, and then to see family in Limerick before flying to Jordan. We were supposed to spend two weeks in Jordan and Israel but are absolutely exhausted and ready to head back to our new adopted home of Bali, so we are spending only 3 nights in Jordan, enough to see Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. Then back to KL to get our visa and off to Bali, exactly 8 weeks after we left. This is the life of a blogger trying to make it in the business of blogging, but I can’t wait to unpack the bag again in Bali, and stay put for at least two months maybe more. Yep, that’s where I am now…
I´ve already sent you some emails and you have been helping me out with some info! Don´t get cosy..soon enough I´ll have more questions! 😛
My name is Rafael van Oppen Ardanaz and I live, for the moment, in Santander, Spain. It´s totally up North next to the Basque Country. I plan to start moving around very soon! My father is Dutch and my mother Spanish. That explains the weird double surname.
I hope to lead a life like yours but am still in a moment where doubt assaults my mind constantly. My blog is young to say the least and is about to get a make-up session by a friend who believes more in this blog idea than I do…! I hope that the appearance helps the text!
Wandering Earl
October 30, 2013 at 7:24 am - Reply
Hey Rafa – Great to read your introduction and I shall look forward to more of your emails!
Hello Earl,
I am in Indianapolis, In. My backpacking journey has not behind just yet due to college, but my big Sis’ and I will be hiking all of Hoosier national forest to Kentucky and urban backpacking our way back home during my 2014 summer break. Can’t wait to start exploring all the different cultures, whether they be the next town or the next country. Well, good luck with your adventure and peace.
P.S. what advise could you give to a first timer about what to pack, what to expect and how many miles to expect to hike everyday?
Wandering Earl
October 30, 2013 at 7:09 am - Reply
Hey Griffin – Thanks for the introduction and your trip around the forest sounds interesting to me. But I’m not too sure how to pack or how many miles to hike for that kind of adventure as I usually don’t go off on such long hikes myself. My only advice would be to pack as light as possible…you will be very thankful you did once you start moving around.
Hello Earl,
Thanks for the reply and the advise:). I am looking forward to seeing/reading more of your adventures. Thanks again, good luck and peace,
Griffin
I looked at the date you posted this, 3/17/2011 and I looked at your last reply to a comment, it was just a few days ago. That is amazing!
Your blog is amazing, I’ll write you a loop:
while (the Sun rises in the East)
{
print(“I like your stories.”);
print(“I like your writing.”);
print(I like your blog.”);
}
🙂 Really, I like your blog that much!
Quick facts about me: I live in Belltown, Seattle. I think I love traveling. I say I think because I haven’t traveled much. I just imagine how wonderful it’ll be to explore the world, to look at the same Sun from different angles, to watch the same Moon from different angles, and to be amazed. I haven’t traveled much so I indulge in reading blogs about traveling and lately, reading your blogs and others’, I keep thinking, “One day, reading about it won’t be enough.”
One day, when you come to visit Seattle, please let me tag along on one of your trips. And if you bring lots of your stories about the different Suns and Moons you’ve seen, I’ll cheerfully exchange my sofa for them (sofa because I live in a studio) 🙂
Wandering Earl
October 15, 2013 at 6:19 am - Reply
Hey Crystal – That is a deal! See you in Seattle 🙂
Hi Earl! I am a new reader who stumbled on your blog while I was googling Eastern Europe (currently travelling the region for the last couple of weeks – in Romania now). Will be heading back to Singapore soon, which is where I am from!
Thanks for your insightful and quirky posts! Hope to see you in Singapore for your fourth visit- there’s lots of hidden finds yet to be discovered! 🙂
I just found your blog and am very much enjoying your adventures. I live in Oviedo, FL just east of Orlando. I love to travel and have been to Vancouver, Canada, Cancun, Mexico, Jamaica, Abaco and Nassau, Bahamas. Hopefully this time next year I will living in Nagasaki, Japan. Be safe in your travels my friend!
Wandering Earl
September 28, 2013 at 12:23 pm - Reply
Hey Jodi – Welcome to the site and seems like your travels are off to a great start! Let us know how it goes with your plans for Japan and if you ever have any questions, just send them my way!
I don’t know when you’ll see this, so I’ll post my vague travel plans for up until the new year! I arrived in London on a plane from Brazil last week, 14 more days traveling round the UK, then off to Ireland until November/December when I’ll go to Turkey for a month. Not too sure after the new year – I have a 6 month stopgap until my flight back to Brazil in June, and connecting flight to Argentina, just in time for my 19th birthday.
All I know is this time next year, after a whirlwind (and as of yet unplanned) tour of South America until October, I will hopefully be in Portugal. Maybe. Australia is also sounding nice!
I am from Duhok in Iraqi Kurdistan. I would like to invite you to visit Kurdistan again, a lot has changed since you last visited in 2011. There are better restaurants and much better hotels now. As you may know Erbil has been voted the 2014 Tourist Capital of the Middle East.
I just found tour blog checking out Condor airlines because my daughter is traveling with them and I did knot know it. We lived an exciting traveling time during our younger years, by motorhome, single engine planes, etc. Due to my husband’s health issues we are not traveling much now, but I bookmarked your blog and I will follow you with my thoughts! Enjoy the experiences and write about them.
Hi Earl!
My name is Austin, I’m from a city called Bakersfield in central California, where I have been at a crossroads since I graduated high school. One of my closest friends is from Zimbabwe, and he spent most of high school filling my head with stories of “the Bush” and visiting his family all over Africa and India, the latter of which has held an irresistible mystique for me since an early age. Unfortunately, I come from a very traditional American family, the likes of whom cannot seem to understand my inability to commit to getting my education while talking of wanting to travel and experience everything else there is to offer. Because I have been having to fund what little college I have under my belt from my own pocket with no help from anyone else other than good old Uncle Sam (who ties more strings to you than a puppeteer to a marionette), I now find myself staying my hand for fear that I will not be able to manage traveling while paying off school debt. I have been devouring your site and the information you have so graciously provided (truly, I don’t know why it has taken me so long to find you, but I am so grateful I have) and would just ask for any advice you would give to someone who longs to get out and stop living the conformist life of the same dreary day-to-day that seems so appealing to my peers.
Hope this post finds you well!
Sincerely, Scared-to-cut-ties-to-the-normal
If I may, as a fellow Californian who was sick and unhappy of the same mundane routine, working 2 jobs to pay off my own debt, but was scared to cut off ties like you, all I can say is do it. Get out of Bakersfield and go travel. You and I both know that you won’t be missing out on anything in Bakersfield if you go travel for a bit. At the very least, set a goal with a definitive timeline to save some money for a 2 week trip to India or Africa or both. Or maybe, while you’re going to school and working, spend some time to get a TESOL/ TEFL certificate and teach english abroad to help fund your travels. If you teach in Korea or Japan, you could potentially make enough money to travel and pay off your debt. Do not let the debt hinder you from traveling. If you can’t pay it off within a year, chances are you’re not going to be paying it off for awhile. So you might as well save some money with each paycheck to a travel fund and travel sooner than later.
To give you an idea, a month ago, I was supposed to get on a plane back to California after a two week trip to Hong Kong and Bangkok. I went as far as checking my bags, going through security, and standing at the boarding gate. I decided not to get on that plane, for fear of knowing that I would return to the same mundane routine; but more so, the fear of regret that I had finally had a chance to travel and an opportunity live abroad and did not take a chance on myself to make it work. It has been the most empowering decision I’ve made in years.
Take a chance on yourself Austin, cause I know exactly what you are talking about and was in your place for the last 3 years. There is never going to be a perfect time or dollar amount of money to do it. Guys like Earl and many others started out where we did. There is a community of expats and travelers alike around the world willing to help you and provide you resources. In fact, you are more than welcome to reach out to me if you would like.
Start now, set a goal, and do it. You won’t be disappointed.
Earl – Thank you for doing what you do and keeping the dream alive. Not only is this one of the more entertaining and resourceful blogs out there, but also one of the more inspiring.
Hiya! I found your blog today (google search for “travel blogs” -> Elliott’s list -> you) . I’m a born and raised Texan… probably will die here too. But in the meantime, I want to travel the world… specifically Europe. My recent trip to Germany has only made me want to travel more…. and I’m researching opportunities for travel.
Lovin’ your blog so far, enjoy your humor and perspective.
Hey Earl. Have you seen anyone use one of the Android translators such as Jibigo? Have you used one yourself? I am the dedicated geek, and want to know if one of these would be worth the money.
I’m Mimi and I’m from a small town in the suburbs of Chicago, where I currently am and have been for virtually my whole life. Of course, considering I’m fourteen, that’s not exactly a huge shocker, but hopefully I’ll get opportunities to travel when I get a few more years under my belt. I’m quite a fan of your blog, by the way. Lots of great information and potential destinations. How is Romania?
Well, 2 years ago your travel plans were changing and you asked where your readers were. Not sure if you’re still interested, but my sweet hubby and I have just finished up 5 months of cruising Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on our sailboat. We have been traveling full-time by RV and sailboat for almost six years, and we are now at a crossroads. We may return to our RV for the summer months and visit the western US states, all of which we love. Or we may stay aboard our boat here in Puerto Vallarta for the summer and then do some inland travel in Mexico when it gets excruciatingly hot in July — to Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Puebla, San Miguel de Allende and Taxco. Not sure at this point, but wherever we go we’ll be posting pretty pics and fun stories on our blog, for sure!!
Hey Emily – I’m always interested! And congrats on your 5 months of sailing, must have been unreal 🙂 Keep us updated as to what you do decide in the end!
Hi Earl!
I’m Sebastian, from Romania;
I just found your blog and I’ve read about half of it over the week-end… I reckon I’ll read all of it this week. 🙂 Your posts are great and they have been more than helpful in answering the questions I had. I’ve always dreamed of travelling the world, hiking through nature a lot and experiencing as many things as I can, and now it seems it is easier than I thought.
I’m currently studying for a BA in Physics and then I was thinking of getting an MA in Earth Sciences and Oceanography, mostly because it seemed like an interesting field that could involve a lot of travel. Do you know if there are jobs in this field available or if those degrees would increase my chances of getting a decent job on a cruise ship? Have you had any worthwhile jobs on other ships besides cruise liners?
Hey Sebastian – Welcome to the site! What I normally say is that you should study something that you truly love because at the end of the day, you can turn almost any knowledge and skill set into a job overseas. I know of one person who studied Oceanography and Deep Sea Environments and has been offered jobs in the Caribbean… the point being that once you have your degree, you just need to network with other people until you find the perfect position somewhere out there in the world. As for cruise ships, that degree won’t help directly as cruise ships are more service oriented but there are also plenty of research ships out there in the world that I imagine need people with that kind of knowledge.
The point is…there are plenty of opportunities for those who are willing to put in a little effort to find them!
AAAHH!!!! You’re in Playa now!? I guess it’ll be quite a while until I get to meet you in person… 😛
I’m currently in Monterrey, but in July I will be headed for Tasmania! I hope to get a lot of travel done over there.
How easy is it to get around Australia? and maybe the rest of Oceania?
Hey Lalo – Australia is a bit expensive to travel around but sometimes you can find good deals on flights or you can find others who want to drive somewhere and split the costs. Buses exist as well but are not terribly cheap and the distances are very big between many places. I would look at flights and hope you can find a few great deals that will allow you to cover a bit of ground.
Hi Earl,
I’m in Neenah, Wisconsin – not far from Green Bay and Oshkosh. When reading about your flights and layovers, it had me thinking those layovers would be perfect couchsurfing opportunities! I’m excited to be hosting a retired professor from Norway this summer when he comes to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-in, and in September hosting a couple from Belgium. If you ever make it to this area of the country you are most welcome to be a guest in my home! I’m trying to make friends around the world, and travel via housesitting (I’ love Hectic Travels blog – they were just in Wisconsin housitting) or couchsurfing. Thanks again for the blog! ~ Sharon
I’ve been reading your website for a while now, checking out travelblogs since my boyfriend and I are leaving for a trip of about 18 months going from India, South-East-Asia to Australia and New-Zealand. I love your style, the info is great…: it’s hard to stop reading 🙂 I’ve so far lived in Sevilla, Spain for 6 months studying in 2005-2006, did a 3 month internship in Lima, Peru and travelled around Peru for about 2 months in 2007-2008. My boyfriend and I travelled through South-America for 8 months in 2010-2011. In 198 days we’re leaving again and there will have been 835 days in between trips to save up! Ofcourse I’ve already made the website 😉
Currently: living in Leuven, Belgium!
Enjoy reading your stories: keep up the good work and thanks for sharing!
Diew
Wandering Earl
February 27, 2013 at 12:56 pm - Reply
Thanks for the comment Diew (and for reading the site) and that’s always good to hear when someone is about to head off on a long-term adventure, especially when it includes India, my favorite country!
Hi Earl/Derek,
I’m from Singapore and I’ve been reading your blog to nurture my travel passion. Finally, things are coming to places and I will (hopefully) be in South Africa, Europe, and NYC this year.
Love your inspiring South Africa posts and kudos to your mom (helping me a lot in planning the trip!). Maybe she should start guess-writing more! I’d love to join your South Africa tour too but maybe it’s too wishful since my travel timing will be June/July.. Still be hopeful though!
Thanks a lot and keep travelling!
Wandering Earl
February 27, 2013 at 11:53 am - Reply
Hey Kami – Welcome to the site! And that’s excellent that you’ll be starting your own adventure soon…that’s a nice variety of destinations you’ll be visiting for sure. Do let us know how your trip goes!
Hi, Earl!
I’m in Afghanistan, although I’ll be in Korea in a few months. I only just discovered your blog and I love your passion for travel, I look forward to your future posts.
Wandering Earl
January 21, 2013 at 3:05 am - Reply
Hey Cat – Welcome to the site, it’s great to have you reading all the way from Afghanistan!!
Hi Earl,
i have only just come across you blog several days ago and cant stop reading it now. im currently located in Tasmania, which is a tiny island at the bottom of
Australia. in March i begin my travels of around the world starting of with 6 months working in Apia, Samoa setting up surf life saving over there.
Dave
Wandering Earl
January 11, 2013 at 1:18 pm - Reply
Hey Dave – Welcome to the site and your upcoming travels sound quite nice as not many people get to start off in Samoa! Should be an excellent experience over there. In the meantime, I hope your final month and a half in Tasmania goes well and of course, I wish you safe adventures ahead!
Hi! I came across your site back in January of this year and was planning my get away trip to San Francisco, CA in June. I had my bus ticket (it was a lot cheaper and more scenic!), $1200, and 8 days until showtime and then my plans had to be put on hold. It was very discouraging and I lost all hope that I’ll ever be able to see the world. However, the new year is fast approaching and I started thinking of trying again. I don’t know if I want to have a life of travel, but I at least want to take a year and give it a go. According to this site, it’s definitely possible. I think I’m rambling…… Anyway, I just want to say that I’ve visited this site today for the first time in a long time and that I am re-inspired to plan a new trip, whether it’s San Francisco or Dublin. So thank you!
Oh, and I’m from the wonderful city of Boston, MA.
My name is Anne, and I just discovered your blog and too say it is awesome would kind of be an understatement. Your stories are amazing!! I follow so many other travel blogs, and have been running my own fledgling travel blog in preparation for all of the traveling and exploring I hope to accomplish in my life!
Currently, I’m just a freshman in college at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, although I will be returning to my home in New Hampshire for winter break in less than a week!
Best of luck with your travels, I will most definitely continue to read all of your fascinating stories!
Anne
Wandering Earl
December 10, 2012 at 10:02 am - Reply
Hey Anne – Thanks for visiting the site and I hope you have a great break back home in NH! If you ever have any questions about anything you read or travel in general, just let me know…
Heya Earl! Glad to meet another long-term traveller…I’ve been on since 2008, and had to deal with a lot of the same issues that you did…the first thing my family said to me when I left was “what are you going to do about health insurance?!?” At the time I didn’t know, but after a lot of trips to see doctors all over the world, I think I’m in better hands overseas than anywhere I’ve been in the US, whew!
I’ve semi-settled in El Salvador after looking for home in more than 50 countries and I can’t help but notice that you visited here, but there’s no info on your site about it? I take it that you didn’t go up in the fighter jet and go through arial manouevers with him? Or see the Lucha Libre where you can get up to the ring and nearly get involved? Or rapel into the crater of an active volcano? Climb down the face of a 40 meter waterfall? Taste some of the world’s best coffee? I could go on and on, but if you missed any of this, you might want to head back this way again…let me know and I’ll show you around 🙂
Wandering Earl
November 16, 2012 at 12:52 pm - Reply
Hey Kelli – Nice to meet you too and while I did do some of the things you mentioned in El Salvador, I did not do all of them. And I just didn’t have time to write about that country yet…I’ll get to it eventually! And if I do make it back there, I shall look forward to you showing me some more of what that country has to offer 🙂
Hi Earl –
Your probably newest reader is currently stuck, sick, in the tiny central western Australian nowhere town of Portland. Reading for inspiration of more exotic destinations to come.
Hey Cam – Hopefully you’ll be in those exotic locations soon enough! And thank you for being a new reader of the site 🙂
Roberto Cortés Vázquez
November 6, 2012 at 2:07 pm - Reply
I just found your blog searching for places to visit when in Cozumel, I’m heading there to do my first Ironman but I have some extra days just after to relax! I found your trip from Izamal to Tixkokob really interesting, hope I can make it! Ah, I’m from Monterrey and you are more than welcome up here at northern México, places I recommend: Cuatro Ciénegas, Parras Coahuila, and Real de Catorce. Have you read ‘Travels with Herodotus’ by Ryszard Kapuściński?!
I’ve been reading extensively through your site the past couple days and absolutely love all the valuable insights, and enthralling stories, you’ve shared with your readers. I’m currently located in Izmir, Turkey, right on the Aegean Sea, teaching English at a private school. I noticed you’ve been to Istanbul quite a few times – I highly recommend checking out the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey sometime. Breathtaking scenery with the blue seas and tall, green mountains. Quick question: I was reading through a few of your old blog posts and read the one in which you mention teaching conversational English in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I’ve been thinking of doing a similar thing in Izmir since there’s a large University within close range to my apartment. I’ll be doing it on my own and was curious how small you kept your class sizes? I’d like to make them big enough to make it worth my time, but small enough to make the experience valuable for each student. Thanks for your help and enjoy India!
Hey Paul – I limited my class size to 8 students but always preferred to have around 5 if possible. This seemed like the ideal amount to actually hold a class that everyone benefited from while still providing enough income for me to survive.
i’m brazilian and live in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but spent some time living abroad already – 1 year in Barcelona, 3 months in Florida, 3 months in Buenos Aires…. but I’m currently getting the travelling bug and wishing to live a nomadic life for a while! I work in online advertising, in strategic planning, and although I quite like what I do, I always feel like I’m missing out on something… and I know it is travelling.
Your blog is really inspiring and I’m thinking about planning it for real, this time!
found your blog thru NYT and am loving it!
Hey Diana – Welcome to the site and you should think about traveling for real this time! Perhaps there is a way to take your work on the road with you and do it as you travel? Just start thinking creatively and you’ll find a solution I’m sure.
Currently writing from Dekalb, IL, haven’t been able to travel yet unfortunately /: but soon I hope! Quick question, with all the traveling you do, is a language barrier ever an issue? and if so, how do you resolve it?
Hey Lexis – I’ve never really encountered any major problems with language. These days, in just about every corner of the world, there are people who speak English to some degree and in many cases, to a much better degree that you probably imagine! So between that and learning some of the local language, as well as the use of body language, you won’t have a problem while traveling.
Came across your blog and really enjoy reading all your stories! I live in West Michigan and really enjoy traveling. Growing up, my parents weren’t able to take us places that we couldn’t drive to so our summer vacations were always road trips. When I was younger I was mad that we weren’t headed to Florida like I thought every other family was. Now, I realize all the amazing things I was able to see that were right outside my back door.
I really enjoy traveling within the US and getting to discover the cultural differences within my own country. Sometimes I am so shocked with how different things can be without even leaving the country (or the state line sometimes!). I don’t think it matters if you travel near or far, but just keeping an open mind and really taking the time to see and take in everything that is around you.
Hey Cindy – I couldn’t agree more! Having that open mind makes all the difference and even if one’s idea of travel is taking the bus to next town, there is still plenty to be experienced and learned!
After months and months of contemplation, I must admit, your blog is exactly what I’ve been longing to come across for that extra push to go see the world. Within the last four months I have been seriously considering moving to Australia but have been held back by (God forbid I say it) fear. As a 22 year old girl who has never left Los Angeles, never been on an airplane, does not own a passport let alone a visa, and has never even lived outside of mom & dads house (geez typing all of this really makes me seem pretty square now doesn’t it haha) I have finally decided, come Monday (two days from now), I WILL purchase that one way ticket to Australia. Seeing as I intend to live on my own, the financial aspect has really been my biggest concern. It was the article in regards to being able to afford travel which brought me to this site to begin with, and with that, I must thank you so much for the comfort you have brought to me. I am about to embrace a journey that is completely unknown and foreign to me. I intend on purchasing your book for even further inspiration (and to hopefully refrain me from outbursts on a plane when I experience turbulence for the first time 😉 ) ANYWAY, just wanted to drop by and say thank you. I really admire you in following your dreams and I wish you an absolutely amazing journey with whatever you decide next. Maybe I’ll catch ya teaching in India or indulging in all the beauty Bali has to offer (those are my next two aspirations after this first step 🙂 )
Best of luck!
xo
Paige
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page – Saint Augustine
Hey Paige – Thank you for the comment and welcome to the site! Seems like you’re quite set on making your journey to Australia and I’m sure that will be quite a rewarding experience for you. Australia was the first place I ever went on my own (when I studied there for a semester) and it absolutely changed my life.
Well I backpacked for 6 months or so across India on my motorbike that I christened “Beauty in Red’ and now am home for a while in Mumbai. Its monsoons here in India and I like sitting home with a nice book and cup of coffee when its pouring outside. As compared to getting drenched riding the highways. Trying to get some speaking engagements regarding travelling, following your dreams and being your boss and the likes. And also thinking of getting a ESL cert. Before I hit the road again in few months
Been through your site and its awesome. Its been a pleasure to come across your site. Bookmarked!
Tantiana Yolanda
September 10, 2012 at 10:07 am - Reply
I live in city in outskirt of Jakarta called Tangerang in the province of Banten, Indonesia. The city’s name is not pronounced like the fruit Tangerine, though :p
Felt so lucky I stumbled upon your blog and have been reading it ever since. I love it! It’s such an inspiration. Last month, I had a quick solo trip in Hungary-Germany-Czech Republic and it was awesome! I hope in the near future I’ll be able to do another trip.
Thank you!
I’m in New Orleans, Louisiana. Thanks to your advice, I’ve recently visited 8 countries and am planning on taking a trip to SE Asia in a few months. I want to thank you and let you know you have totally inspired me. I’ve started my own blog at femmebionic.com. It’s mostly women-centered, but men are definitely welcome to swing by.
I just reached your site last week and I’m amazed, it’s so cool that there are people like you who lives life in such an extraordinary way, sometimes I want to leave everything behind and start a nomad life like you.
Oh by the way I’m Komazo from Aguascalientes, Mexico, you should come to Aguascalientes in April-May to the “Feria de San Marcos” it’s not like any “Feria or Fair” you have seen.
I travel as much as I can but almost all has been short trips, I’m tied by the job :/ but I’ve been in almost all mexican states, my country as you may know has almost everything 🙂 and as international traveller I’ve been in Cuba and the last year I took the backpack and started a trip that crossed Costa Rica from shore to shore then went to Panama (you gotta go to Bocas del Toro) and finally the Colombian carribean including the Tayrona Park, I think that has been the travel I’ve most enjoyed because it was all backpack style, no reservations, no itinerary, we just wandered it was great. I will be backpacking in Europe in one month but I will be more tied due to my short time of vacations :/
I hope you are doing good and keep sharing such great posts about travelling.
Hi Earl!
Absolutely massive fan of your website and makes for great procrastination in the office!
I currently live in Luxembourg and have done for the past 13 years but also study in Aberdeen, Scotland. As I write this, I am stuck at a desk in a bank as part of a summer internship…nauseating is the only word I can find to describe it. I graduate next June and thereafter, I’m doing exactly what you’re doing and seeing the world, every last inch. There’s no set plan…just pitch up somewhere and hope for the best. Once this desk job is done, I will have saved enough money to live comfortably for a good long while.
Reading your updates have motivated me even more to graduate and travel. Proverbial hat goes off to you sir.
Safe travels!
Hey Callum – Thanks for that comment and even if your current job is nauseating, at least you know that the end is near! And that makes it all worth it in the end as the moment your adventure begins is going to be one of the most memorable moments of your life! No set plan is the way to go…just take the first step and let the story unfold!
HI earl!
You should visit Tibet and take bunch of pictures of the people and culture there. I am a Tibetan born and raised in Nepal and later moved to the US. I have always wanted to see Tibet but have never been able to do so because of work and college… :'(
I would love it if you could visit Tibet. Pretty Please…
Good luck and Have fun in all your future trips 🙂
Tashi Delek Angu! I would be very interested in going to Tibet and I’ve tried but the two times I was about to go, China changed the rules and stopped letting foreigners visit. So I will have to try again the next time I have a chance and hopefully I will make it there soon! I have no doubt that it will be one of the most fascinating places I’ll have visited. Thank you for visiting the site!!
Hey earl love your website. Im from santa cruz california but curently in budepest. Still in school so i only really travel when i have time off, been in europe for two months so far this summer, but plan on an extended trip once i graduate.
Hey Joel – Great to hear from you and I hope you’re enjoying yourself in Budapest! I’m not too far away, living in Bucharest at the moment, so if you ever make it this way, just let me know!
Hello from Santa Barbara, California! I just found your site a few days ago and can’t stop thinking about it; very inspiring! I’ve never travelled outside of the US and Europe, and your Welcome to India tour looks like an ideal place to start! So tempted to take a semester off of school and join in. If not this one I hope you continue in the future. 🙂
I’m in the Loire Valley, France and just blew an hour on your blog. New reader, couldn’t help myself. Time well spent but now I should actually do some work!
Hi like your blog a lot! I contacted you, I need a dentist and wonder what country would be the best to go to to combine it with a vacation? I see you liked Romania a lot. The East European countries have very good dentists. So, I thought I might go there.
Hey David – There are dozens of places that would be good for dental work. So far I’ve had work done in Mexico and India and have found the quality in both to be excellent.
I discovered your blog about a year ago upon my return to my home in NYC from India. Now, I’m in Singapore for work. I’ll likely be in Hungary and the Czech Republic in the fall. Perhaps a visit to Romania is in order? 🙂
Also, if any S’pore fans of Earl are reading this, email me! I’d love to grab a bowl of laksa.
I’m really enjoying my time in Germany. I’ve spent enough time here for Germany to become my second home. For how I ended up in Tübingen, I applied for an internship program that had internships in other countries and since I could speak German, I ended up in Germany. I just happened to be placed in Tübingen to work at the town hall’s IT department but it’s a really nice town and I love it here. If you ever make it here you should try to see the Stocherkahnrennen (Punt Race) it’s really fun and interesting to watch.
Hi Earl – if you are ever passing by Stuttgart in Germany, do let us know 🙂 We have a comfortable couch and a lot of excellent German beer, which we are happy to share!
Very much enjoying reading your blog and hope to get a chance to meet you one day!
Love reading about your travels, the missus and I packed our bags about 6 months ago to travel the world with no end date. Your website and lifestyle were a big inspiration, so thank you.
We have traveled through Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and now in China for a couple months. Probably off to Chile after that and then the rest of South America. Leaving all our woes, debts and responsibilities behind to travel was the best thing we ever did. It seemed almost impossible at the time, but now seems impossible not to!
The name comes from Sancho Panza, his final words being, “Don’t let it end like this, tell them I said something”, a fitting quote to suggest doing something great with your life methinks.
Hey Tyrhone – Thanks for commenting and that’s wonderful that you’re out there in the world, joining the nomadic travels 🙂 And that’s no problem about the link, I’ll be sure to check out your site.
If you ever make it to Eastern Europe, do let me know as I’ll be based out of Romania for a while it seems. Safe travels!
I’m in Canberra, Australia. Just returned home from traveling to Las Vegas, Universal Studios Orlando, Paris, Barcelona, Vienna, Prague back to Disney World, Las Vegas and back home.
I travel to the US a couple of times a year and have also been to Yiwu in China, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Fiji, New Zealand ( that’s cheating – I was born there) and a few other places that have slipped my mind at the moment.
Loving your blog by the way, interesting stuff.
Hi Earl, I’m Noel. I’ve spent 7 years travelling/working/living around Europe, the Middle East and South America. Recently got back to my hometown. So, welcome to Miri, a small coastal city on the Borneo island.
Hey Noel – Borneo is on the radar for my next trip to Asia. I’m not sure when it will be exactly, but it will happen within the next year I’m sure. Glad to hear from another long term traveler!
Hey Earl, I may be heading off again next year. But do let me know if you are heading this way and hopefully I will still be here to show you around. Btw, your site has been an inspiration. Thanks.
Hey Michael – Make sure you let me know how your trip goes in the end and as always, let me know if any other questions arise! In the meantime, enjoy being in Yosemite, a place I have yet to visit myself.
Hi Earl,
Glad that i found your site, i found it on my friend’s wall on FB, and i like to read your stories :), anyway,,i’m Uwan from Batam, Indonesia, its small island nearby Singapore. I yet travel to many countries but i do love to read travel stories.it’s bring my imagination to somewhere i don’t know about.
always take good care and stay safe 🙂
Cheers,
Hey Uwan! It’s great to have you here and I hope all is well out there in Batam! I’ve never been to that island but now you have me curious…I just might have to visit the next time I’m in that area 🙂
You are always welcome here Earl:)
Batam is in Kepulauan Riau, Batam itself is not really great place to visit as it’s industrial Area, but Batam surrounding with beautiful islands, like Bintan, Natuna, Lingga, Anambas, and other small islands..
let me know if you wanna visit Batam 🙂
Greetings Earl! I am in a small town in southern Ontario Canada, about 1hr from the Michigan border! Have you travelled Canada much? I havent really been anywhere in the world….yet. Other than living in Alberta Canada for 3yrs, I havent ventured out of Ontario much. Furthest I’ve been is a trip to FL with my family when I was young. so needless to say I am ITCHING to travel. Just graduated college for travel & tourism infact. 🙂
Welcome Junelle! I’ve been to Canada many times but only to the eastern part of the country – Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. I know I need to see more and I would love to get out west at some point. So I guess now that you’ve graduated you have some travel ahead of you??
I am Serene, currently living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But my mind always has a way of bringing me far far away. I daydream a lot – of crafting a beach-doll house, of building a wall tall book shelf, of writing a story, of happy memories I had with friends, of movie I watched last night, of opening up a small cafe that is decorated with postcards from all around the world, of traveling round-the-world, of working abroad, and the list goes on 🙂
I enjoy reading your blog. I think it is very genuine and uplifting! Wherever you’re now, have a blast!
Hey Serene – Welcome and I appreciate you reading the blog! Seems like you have a few dreams of your own for this life and I hope that you are taking steps towards some of them…that’s the only way to accomplish those goals. I would be first in line if you had a cafe with postcards from around the world 🙂
Hello! This is my first time to your site and I am definitely getting sucked in. I am home sick from work today and foresee spending many hours on here. 🙂 My husband and I quit our jobs, ditched our apartment, and left our cat with his parents back in 2010 to travel around the world. Hands down one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. We spent about 11 months and traveled through 18 countries. We are back in the States now but that itch to travel certainly doesn’t go away. Coming across stories and websites like these only ignites the feeling that we need to go away again and see even more! While many people have lots of fears about travel, I found that I was way more comfortable than I anticipated and the experience really reconnected me with the kindness of the human spirit. Some of my best memories came from trusting complete strangers as they befriended us and opened their lives and homes to us. We live in Chicago, so if you are ever passing through let us know and we’ll show you some traveler’s hospitality! Continued good luck with your travels.
Hey Christine – Thanks for the invitation! I’ve actually never been to Chicago so I should visit that city at some point 🙂
And I know the feeling of wanting to get back on the road again. That’s what happens once you have a taste, or in your case a bit taste, of the traveling lifestyle. And I’m glad that you found the human interactions you had to be so rewarding as well. That has always been the best part of my travels, no matter what country I’m visiting.
and just as i was about to close my laptop and go back to the real world where my near 2 week pile of washing awaits me, i stumbled across your blog! I have now spent most of my day, absolutely absorbed by your experiences and needless to say, i still have no clean socks. When youre in high school i think one of the most common questions your faced with is what do you want to do with your life? Everyone would respond with their desired career path or some with their dreams of having a family etc etc but me? all i could ever come up with was that i just wanted to travel. im 21 now and the idea of buying a house and settling down in one place forever still seems freakin absurd to me so i packed up and randomly moved halfway across my country to a state i had never visited. I guess it was just to get the ball rolling. My next move is ideally going to be overseas.. the problem with this plan up until now has been that im yet to find a travel partner who has the same free spirit as me. Everyone i meet is so bogged down in whats happening here, on this tiny little patch of the planet that we live on and they either cant or simply just dont want to see the world the way i do. Anyway i have no idea where i will go first when i do head off overseas and even less of an idea about where i will end but i do know that its gonna be the best thing i ever do with my life. And thanks to you i think i finally have the courage to say screw finding a travel buddy, IM the one that wants to do this, so im just gonna go and do it! There is literally nothing holding me back except for that little ‘but what if’ voice in the back of my head and ive decided that from now im just gonna tell him to shut the hell up. Its so refreshing to see somebody living my dream and i cant wait to read more about what youre getting upto!
Anyway considering i am commenting on this particular post i suppose i had better tell you where i am. Im sitting in my house about half an hour east of Perths city. I moved here 3 months ago from Adelaide and i just love it! Despite my strong ambition to get out of Australia, i will say that i find myself regularly reflecting on what an incredibly beautiful country i live in here. Youve obviously been to Australia quite a few times so im interested to know what is your favourite part to visit?
Hey Taysia – Thanks for the comment and I think you’re on the right track for sure! There is nothing stopping you from achieving your travel goals and if finding a travel partner is all that’s left, well, it seems that you’ve realized it’s not so important after all. Just as you made the move to Western Australia on your own (I assume), so too can you make the move to some overseas traveling!
As for Australia, I love it all and would have to agree that you do live in one amazing country! Melbourne has always been my favorite city (I’m biased because I studied there for a semester back during my uni days) but I also love Byron Bay, the Daintree Rainforest and especially Broome. But I’m also an Adelaide fan and was there on my last trip to Australia…had a great time of course. Adelaide is the perfect size city for me.
I really enjoyed Perth as well and found myself wondering what it would be like to live in Fremantle for a while. Too many wonderful places in your country.
Hello, Earl! I am a humble Kentuckian in school in downtown Chicago for a few years. Like Catherine, I plan to set sail to anywhere and everywhere once I finally graduate. I doubt I could travel as extensively as you do, but I know I need to at least try it and see where it takes me. I could not being happy wandering the Earth forever, but I am sure that if I don’t give it a try, I will always regret it. There just isn’t enough excitement and adventure in my average American lifestyle. I am so appreciative of your blog, it has really opened my eyes and made my nomadic dreams seem more tangible. I just found it tonight, but I’ll definitely be catching up on old posts and following new ones. Thanks for sharing your life with the world and good luck to all of your future travels!!
-Sean
Hey Sean – Welcome to the site and I really think you have the best attitude towards travel! Even if you think you might enjoy exploring this world a little, you owe it to yourself to get out there and try. There’s no reason at all to have travel on your list of regrets later on in life.
And if you have any questions as you read through the posts, just send me an email through the Contact link above!
Italia Martínez
February 29, 2012 at 10:55 am - Reply
Hi, Earl! A friend of mine told me about your blog a few days ago, so I’ve just read some of your entries and I have to tell you that I think its amazing what you’re doing and your lifestyle is starting to inspire me.
My name is Italia, I’m from Irapuato, México, I go to university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, but right now I’m doing my semester abroad in Florence, Italy. I’m studying third year of Digital Art and Animation, but I’ve been having a lot of doubts about it, I’m not sure if that’s what I want to do anymore.
Last summer I had the opportunity to spend 3 months in Orlando where I worked at Walt Disney World. While I was there, I realized that I love meeting people from all around the world because when I talk to them it’s like I’m visiting that country, I found fascinating that, while I was there, thanks to the international environment, I was able to speak spanish, english and french in just one day, so I realized that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in front of a computer (Even though I find 3D animation really fun). So, when I went back to Mexico, I started to plan my semester abroad in Italy, this is my first time in Europe so it’s a whole new experience for me. I am now learning italian, and on June I’m heading to France to practice my french 🙂 I’m going back to Mexico on August, and I want to start learning portuguese because next summer I want to go to Brazil to teach english or spanish. My parents are supporting me with all of this, but they keep telling me that I should concentrate more on my career, not only them, also my friends. Sometimes I think they’re right, sometimes I think that I should do what makes me happy, that is, traveling, and learning languages, but whenever I think about doing it, I feel really scare and think “No, that’s crazy, I should stick to the ‘plan'” (graduate, work on what I study, stay in Mexico…) but that sounds boring haha, I’m going to graduate but I don’t think I’m going to end up doing what I’ve been studying for. I bet that you had that same fear when you started traveling, how did you overcome that fear?
I’m going to continue reading your blog, so I can get more inspiration and to get rid of my fear 🙂 Have a nice day! and Thank you!
Hey Earl, I am a sophmore college student hoping to be able to live the life youre living one day. I attend The Ohio State University and after I graduate I plan on puting the diploma in the back seat and traveling all over. My friends and family think Im nuts but I think its just fear.. fear of something more out there that most don’t want to dive into. As for me, I like reading blogs like this so I can be better prepared when I do start my never ending journey. Have a great day!
Hey Catherine – It’s great to hear from you and I would tend to agree about your family and friends’ reactions. It’s difficult for people to envision a lifestyle that doesn’t fit the normal pattern and as we all know, we tend to fear what we aren’t familiar with. But my guess is that once you get out there and start traveling, once they see how happy you are achieving your goals and that you are able to survive out there in the world, they will come around and begin to offer their support…that’s what happened with me 🙂
Hey! I found your website linked to some other travel blogs I read. It’s been interesting to read about your cruise ship experiences… I’m heading out to work on private Yachts this spring!
Ps. I’m in Calgary, Alberta, Canada!
Hey Dana – Welcome! And I think the private yacht idea is a great one…I’ve met many people who have done the same thing and they have all loved the experience. It’s not a bad way to travel/work/network/enjoy life!
Hi Earl!
I found your blog on stumbleupon this evening and can’t help but keep reading. I’m 25 and have been to 30 countries. About two years ago I decided I was “stuck” at home (Michigan, USA). After a bit of research and a visa application, I bought a one way ticket to Australia. Only then did I tell all my loved ones I was leaving. I’ve been living in Sydney for a year and a half now and truly believe this is where my home was always meant to be. It just takes that one big scary step. Thank you for sharing your stories and encouraging your readers to share their stories in the comments. If you ever need a place to stay in Sydney, you’re welcome here.
Hey Melanie – Thank you for the invitation 🙂 I love how people mention that first, scary step being the most difficult part of achieving one’s travel goals. I will forever believe that as well because, if we really want to travel, things always seem to fall into place once that first step is taken. Sure, it might take some hard work and a few moments of uncertainty, but it doesn’t take long to realize that our crazy travel goals really aren’t so crazy after all!
Kathryn Egnew
February 22, 2012 at 1:55 pm - Reply
And 4 hours after discovery(stumbleupon of course)…i’m still on your site!
I’m writing this from Taunusstein Germany where i will be living and going to school for the next 6 months. Your site is; i’m sure you hear this all the time, inspiring!! All my life I have loved to travel and experience new places and cultures. After the school year I plan to go to Italy and Croatia and then head back to Idaho for Junior year of high school! Then off on my next adventure: teaching soccer in Ghana for 6 weeks! My goal in life is to not only visit, but spend quality time in every country in the world. Everyone says I am crazy but your blog and all the fantastic tips in it along with my determination, it will happen 🙂 so thank you for your knowledge and for fueling my desire(even more)!
Welcome to the site Kathryn! That’s quite a lot of traveling and overseas experiences you have lined up and yes, it will happen if you’re determined to achieve your goals…and don’t worry about being labeled ‘crazy’. Every long term traveler has been labeled that (or worse) at some point, but we keep on going anyway 🙂
Rebecca Tripp
February 13, 2012 at 2:22 pm - Reply
Hi! I just came across your blog through stumbleupon and I must say I find it very entertaining and most of all, inspiring! I have been all over America (almost all 50 states, with the exception of Alaska, where I will be visiting this summer, and Oregon and Washington) and I hope to travel more of the world. I have also been to London, Paris, and Aruba- pretty touristy destinations- and your blog has reinforced my desire to go into the back-country and experience more authentic culture. This coming winter break (I’m a college student) I hope to be in Thailand teaching English. Anyways, I am writing this from Milwaukee, Wisconsin 🙂
Hey Rebecca – Thanks for visiting and it seems like you have more of the US covered than most people! I certainly haven’t been to that many states myself. And that’s great that you’re thinking of a trip to Thailand over the winter break…that country is never a bad option at all 🙂
Brian DiMaggio
February 12, 2012 at 12:36 am - Reply
Hey Earl!
I’m in Canton, Georgia it’s in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, it’s a pretty small town. I stumbled upon your webpage a few days ago while looking for ways to afford traveling. I’ve always been interested in traveling, but the other day I had somewhat of an epiphany and decided before I settle down I want to be a nomad for quite some time. I’m about to get a standard two-year associates degree, and can’t decide if I would like to go to a university first, or begin my travels first. I don’t really have any money saved up but I’m also not in debt, So I can’t determine if traveling is a good idea. I’m not certified in teaching either,but I did read about your English classes you created at that university. I’m looking into things such as couchsurfing and tripping.com, and figured I could just fly to a country and walk from place to place, and take cheap forms of transportation. I mean we are human beings were meant to walk right? Plus it leaves extra time to think and take it all in. What do you think? I just want to experience the world for what it really is, not just what I see on t.v. or read about. Gain knowledge, maybe spread some of mine, along with some happiness and of course lend a helping hand to those in need along the way! Hope your having a great time in Romania, try and stay warm!
Hey Brian – Welcome and thank you for sharing your story! And I see nothing wrong at all with your plan. Traveling without a set itinerary is a great way to travel and if you’re in no rush, why not walk around and just see where the road leads. If you really want to experience the world first-hand, then there’s nothing stopping you from achieving that goal.
And the thing is, once you start, you never know where you’ll end up, so as long as you keep an open-mind and are flexible, your travels will almost certainly lead you to new opportunities that will take your life in a new, and rewarding, direction!
Hi Earl!
My friend showed me your website two days ago and I have been on it all day every since! My friend Bridget and I want to travel just like you when we are done with college. Before I go to college I want to hike to Machu Picchu with National geogrpahic and once I’m in college my sister and I want to hike the appalachient trail. I have a lot of other plans like living in New Zeland for awhile but anyways, reading your blog has really made me want to go through with all of those plans. I live in Rochester New York and I really like reading about every where you have been!
Have fun!
Welcome to the site Ellie!! And I think it’s excellent that you’ve already come up with some travel ideas that you wish to accomplish. Just stay focused and you’ll get there. One look at a photo of Macchu Picchu or of a glacier in New Zealand every now and then should be enough to keep you motivated to achieve such goals! There’s nothing stopping you 🙂
Hi Earl!
It sure is amazing to read about your travel experiences. Through you I get to travel a bit 😀
Oh I am currently in New Delhi, India!
It i really is interesting to read about India on your blog. Brings in a fresh perspective to things that are usually considered routine by us, such as the driving and the trains.
Hope you have a safe trip.
Why do people like India so much? I have seen the videos of extreme poverty, and pollution there. It seems like it would be depressing.
Wandering Earl
February 28, 2013 at 11:37 am - Reply
Hey David – You need to go there and find out 🙂 Despite the poverty (which doesn’t automatically mean that people are unhappy – that’s just a western idea) and the pollution and chaos, there is no other country on the planet that gives you an opportunity to see, taste, smell, hear things every single day that you have never before experienced.
David
February 28, 2013 at 1:53 pm
There are places in Mexico I would like to go to..but I hesitate because of danger. Not only crime, but disease that we don’t have here. I saw your outbreak of “Seafood Fever”, then the part where you were stricken with worms. I do hope you have recovered Earl. My interest is hot springs. Mexico has lots of them. I went to Mexico and had my teeth done. Los Algodones, and it was very good. Very reasonable price also. I could NEVER have afforded what I had done in the ‘States.The aggresive vendors there made me uneasy. I remember when I was in the USN and went to Olongapo City, Phillippines. Also- supporting myself while gone on my $1000 a month SS check. These are my fears. Thank you for your reply.
Wandering Earl
March 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm
Hey David – Well, I’m in Mexico right now and loving it, along with the other several thousand people in Playa del Carmen 🙂 As for my seafood poisoning, that actually happens just about as often in Europe and the US as in India…it was a random thing that had nothing to do with the restaurant or how the fish was cooked. It’s actually quite common all over the world. And I think the more you get out there and travel, the more you’ll see that most of what we worry about proves to be nothing worth worrying about in the end!
Greetings from Tampa, Florida where it’s a balmy 80 degrees today.. Stumbled upon your site today and all I can say is WOW.. good for you.. i’m hitting the road but a but closer than Romania..I’m taking on New Orleans, baby.. have done alot of traveling outside the USA and yes, it’s quite the thrill..
glad to have found the site and will look into ways of getting the word out and hopefully find you some more $$ supporters!!!
Hey Lynne – Fine, rub it in…you just enjoy your 80 degree temperature over there while I waddle through snow and can’t feel my face here in Romania 🙂
New Orleans should be quite a trip! Sometimes we don’t have to go too far from home to enjoy rewarding travel experiences…I’ve never made it there myself but have always wanted to go.
And I appreciate you helping spread the word about the site. That does mean a lot to me. Safe travels to New Orleans!
Hi, thanks so much for spending the time and putting all your wealth of experience and insight online!
I am in frozen (yet beautiful) upstate NY and your enthusiasm is a ray of sunshine reminding me to get in touch with adventure and discovery wherever it can be found. I am very fortunate to have a great job and the ability to save up, so thanks for giving me an inspiring goal to travel, the realization that anything is possible, and gratitude for the fantastic world and day we’ve been given. Amazing stuff.
Hey Rosemary – Welcome to the site & if it makes you feel better, I’m currently in Bucharest, Romania where it is -1 F 🙂
But I really appreciate your nice words and I certainly look forward to hopefully interacting with you some more on this site. Good luck with surviving your winter over there!
hey buddy, love your website…stumbled across from disrupting the rabblement…and i’m on a bit of a trip meself…not sure for how long…currently in lima, peru…and addicted to the freedom, all the best 🙂
Hey Brian – Great to hear from you and I hope all is going well down there in Lima! That freedom sure can be addicting…luckily, with some creativity and determination, you can find ways to continue traveling as long you want!
I just came across your website, and I love it! I’m currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda. I’ll be there until May, then traveling in southeast Asia next summer!
Hey Jen – Thank you for visiting the site and I hope all is going well out there in Rwanda! I’ve heard some great things about that country as of late so it is definitely on my list of places to visit in the near future. And a visit to SE Asia is not a bad idea either, I’m sure you’ll enjoy that experience very much as it’s hard not to love that part of the world.
Hi Earl I love reading your blog, you have so many cool adventures. I have
just booked my next trip. Off to Japan, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore in August. Awhile to wait before I go but really looking forward to it.
Hey Shaun – That sounds like one hell of a trip and you’ll be on that plane heading over there before you know it. I was just in Singapore again earlier this year and I loved it more than I ever imagined. Nice choice of destinations you have made!
Hey all!
I’m in a city called Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia for 2 days after more than 3 weeks lived working in a small village called Poli-polia. I bet you never been here Earl, rite? 😀
And can’t wait to be in India and Nepal on Januari! YAY!
Enjoy your travels! 😉
Hey Eka – You are correct, I have never been to Kendari. In fact, I’ve never been to Sulawesi 🙂 But I’m just jealous that you’re heading off to India, my favorite country on the planet. Let me know if you have any questions at all before your trip and thank you for leaving a comment on the site!
Hey Angelo – That sounds like quite a setup! Living on the Asian side must be quite a unique experience from others who tend to stick to the European side.
You’re in an amazing spot Angelo! Ciya Sofrasi is one of my top five restaurants in the world. I’m still trying to figure out how to live in Istanbul. 🙂
Mikki,
I hope you’ll consider English teaching as an option. While a difficult adjustment at times, it has certainly taught me heaps about myself so far. Otherwise, have you looked into tourism? Beyond these two, there are plenty of international companies here in Istanbul. I wish you the best of luck in your search and if you have any questions about what it’s like to live here, I’ll provide the most helpful and accurate perspective I can.
Cheers,
Angelo
Paula Chandler
November 3, 2011 at 3:33 am - Reply
I’m an American currently living in Jordan.
I was just wondering, what did you do before you started travelling? I’ve applied for cruise ship jobs but never got any response 🙁
Hey Paula – Thanks for the comment and I hope life is going well over there in Jordan! To answer your question, I actually started traveling just a few months after graduating from university so the only thing I did before traveling was studying. As for working on board cruise ships, it is quite difficult to get a response without knowing exactly what to do. I’m not sure if you had a look at my Cruise Job eBook yet, but it has helped a great deal of people get hired on board ships. But in the end, there are over 20 major cruise lines out there, so if you know how to format your resume properly, there’s always a good chance that one of those cruise lines will get in touch!
Hey Chris – Welcome to the site and that’s great news that you’re soon to head off on your first RTW adventure! And SE Asia should be a perfect region to get started. At least you know that if the money runs low you still have options and don’t have to jump on the next flight home. And do keep us posted with your travels and if we’re ever in the same region, I shall look forward to meeting up!
Hey Earl,
I have to say that you stole my idea. Right now I am in Portland, Oregon finishing my high school experience (with at least four more years to go before this whole “education” thing is done with for a long, long time) but I travel in my dreams, both by day and night. Through my constant “wanderings” in history class over the past few years I’ve amassed a list of things I am resolved to do some time between finishing up college and “growing up” – settling down, getting a job, and other such constraints of adulthood.
I will hike the Triple Crown (Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Appalachian Trails). I will canoe from the headwaters of the Mississippi in Minnesota to its mouth in Louisiana. I will bike from Tarifa, Spain to Tanger Morocco without entertaining the thought of crossing the Mediterranean Sea. I will ride a motorbike from the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa to the North Cape, Norway. All these and more have been carefully traced on a map hanging above my bed; they are the first things I see in the morning and the last at night.
I had even planned on creating a website to document my adventures and allow the world to experience my travels; using a play on words I thought of the URL http://www.wanderingwarren.com
I chanced upon your website by accident when I typed the link of my site-to-be and was redirected to wanderingearl.com. (This similarity might pose a problem later on in life, maybe http://www.whereswarren.com might be a better idea).
How great to be able to read the voyages and ideas of the sojourner I one day might hope to be! I hope that you realize your travels are truly inspiring, I can only hope to one day be able to be as seasoned.
Enjoy your travels, live each day to the fullest, and may one day our paths cross.
Hey Warren – Thanks so much for the comment and welcome to the site! I think that’s a wonderful idea to have those travel ideas posted on your ceiling above your bed. Seems like you’re fully dedicated to making those goals and dreams a reality and so I’m sure that you will do just that. Lots of excellent adventures await you it seems!!
And WheresWarren.com sounds quite good to me 🙂
Thanks again for sharing your story and I certainly do hope that we may meet up somewhere on the road one day…
Hey Earl, I’m relatively new to reading your blog, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it and learning as I go. My hubby and I are planning a trip ourselves and every little bit we learn from experienced travelers is good stuff 🙂
We are in a very small part of Virginia that most people have never heard of; Wise, Virginia. We’re in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains where we have the most incredible season changes I’ve ever witnessed. We’ve lived in Alaska and traveled the U.S. on multiple occasions, and autumn here in the mountains of SWVA is absolutely amazing. I’ll send pictures if you want!
Thank you for such an awesome blog, we have you bookmarked and check in every single day 🙂
Hey Michele – That sure sounds like a beautiful region of the US that you live in! I have not heard of that town but your description sure makes me want to visit at some point 🙂
And thank you so much for following along with the blog and leaving some comments. I always enjoy hearing from readers and learning a little about them as I feel so much more connected to the community when that happens!
Earl, big fan of your site and also your e-book refuse the rat race.. I’m in Sacramento, CA.. I have traveled before to different parts of the world on family vacations or study abroad, but now I want to do what your doing – finding a steady stream of income and travel consistently.. what I get from your travels as this is not a set of rules but rather a mindset.. if you have a mindset of abundance and live life with zest – the money will come and the travel will continue
Hey Ryan – Your comment is spot on. While one does have to work hard to earn money while traveling or to earn money that allows them to travel, the opportunities to do so will generally appear to those who are determined to make it a reality. Keeping an open-mind, interacting with as many people as possible and a willingness to be creative are all factors that can help you reach your goal.
There are a million ways to work and travel at the same and having the right mindset will help you discover them!
And thank you so much for being a fan of the site 🙂
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada 🙂
Planning on traveling to India next year for the first time. And then maybe Nepal! I have always dreamed of traveling the world and your adventures are a huge inspiration to me! I have never been any farther than Boston in my life, so this will be a big step.
Safe travels!
Hey Randi – Thanks for the comment! And that’s awesome that you’re planning to head to India/Nepal….my favorite region of the world 🙂 If you ever have any questions about those countries, just let me know. I could talk/write about India for a year straight without stopping.
And congratulations on your decision to take the step and do some traveling!
Thank you so much Maggie 🙂 And congratulations on your upcoming trip!! I’m glad to see Prague on your itinerary as it’s one of my favorite European cities!!
Wow the people who commented live in some amazing places! I am from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and absolutely love it here. I have lived here my whole life, but can’t wait to start traveling more! Next June/July I’ll be roaming around Europe- that would have been a much more interesting post!
Hey Allison – Well, then you’ll have to comment again once your trip begins next year! I haven’t been to the Twin Cities but can imagine that it’s quite a nice place to live. Of course, even the best places can’t stop us from wanting to travel 🙂
I just found your blog by chance this evening, and what a great find it was! You’re basically living my life’s dream and after reading many of your posts I’m even more inspired to get started.
Much admiration for you, from Montreal Canada 🙂
Hey Emily – Thank you so much for commenting and I’m honestly happy to know that you feel inspired after reading through some of my posts! Please do let me know if you ever have any questions about anything. I’m always more than happy to answer anything. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the summer up there in beautiful Montreal!
I am at Otago University (in Dunedin, New Zealand), sitting in the library surrounded by books daydreaming about the travels I am yet to have. If you are ever down in NZ I will be happy to show you the sites! Later this year I am off to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam for a month – I can’t wait!
Hey Renata – Welcome to the site and I am happy to hear you’re currently thinking about travel! And I actually have a good friend from Dunedin so whenever I do make it to NZ again, I shall be sure to get in touch with you 🙂
Hi Earl,
I’m in Nausori, Fiji where I’ve been a Peace Corps Volunteer for the last two years working at the town council office. I’m heading back to Northern California at the beginning of August… but not without a two month detour through Brisbane, Bali, Java & Vietnam. I’m a newbie to travel but I’m doing it anyway. Read the post on Kuta, Bali. Thanks.. the plan is to go straight to Ubud and avoid the whole southern part of the island. So much to see, so little time. Cheers!
Hey Khrissy – Thanks for commenting and I hope things have been going well for you out there in Fiji! Either way, you’re upcoming ‘detour’ should prove to be quite a good one. Seems like you’ll be covering some excellent destinations. I was actually just talking with my friend earlier today about Java and also Sumatra (another great island in Indonesia) and how we’d love to go back there soon.
And it seems like you have the right attitude to be a traveler – just doing it anyway. All you need to do is get out there and start…from there the rest will fall into place 🙂
Hello Earl! I JUST stumbled across your blog today, as I am feeling the lure of ‘ship life’ grow stronger each day my undergraduate graduation draws closer! I am pleased you have so much information on the topic you’re willing to share 🙂
The closest cruise lines to Oregon (current home-state) seem to only be Alaskan ones, but I’m sure I could use that as a way to start inching around the world, eh? 😉
Hey Neelie – Thank you for the comment! And the best thing about ship life is that you can apply to any cruise line that is located anywhere in the world. They will pay for your flight from your home city to wherever the ship is and just like that you’ll be visiting new lands and getting paid 🙂 You definitely don’t need to limit yourself to cruise lines based near your home town.
If you ever have any questions about ship life at all, feel free to send me an email and I’ll help you out as best I can!
Hey Earl, I just stumbled across your site a few days ago and have been straight up devouring your content since! My wife and I are planning to move to the Riviera Maya (probably either Playa or Akumal) soon so your site has been a great resource and a huge inspiration to us. It’s nice to hear some encouraging words rather than of all the naysayers out there. Since I’m currently stuck in a cubicle in the Midwest your blog is not only a font of information for me but a nice break from the grind. Thanks a ton and please keep up the good work!
PS. We’ll be in Akumal in October so if you’re around maybe we could buy you a beer or a meal
Hey Jason – Welcome to the blog and I appreciate your comment! And of course, that’s great news that you’re considering a move down to this region of Mexico. Akumal is also a great place to consider living, especially if you prefer the fully laid-back, slow pace of life that it offers (not to mention it’s stunning white sand beaches). Hopefully those visions of life in paradise help keep your mind occupied while you remain in a cubicle for now 🙂
And I shall look forward to meeting with you when you arrive to Akumal later in the year. Definitely let me know when you’re headed down here and if you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to ask away!
You are correct sir, visions of paradise are what get me by! I look forward to meeting you and thanks for the reply. I’ll send you an email here soon with some questions, thoughts etc. (as soon as I get them all in coherent form). Thanks again.
Hey Earl, how’s it going? The Ultimate Train Challenge sounds exciting, good luck! Do you think you’ll be back in Playa by the 2nd week of October? Cheers, Jason
Earl
June 29, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Hey Jason – I’m working on my schedule over the next couple of weeks but I think I’ll probably stick around Asia for a while after the trip is over. It would be a shame to travel across the planet by train only to turn around and head back right after 🙂
But I’ll post my plans as soon as I have them. If it does work out that I’m back, I assume you’re heading this way to Playa in October?
Hey Earl!
I’m loving your blog so so much, huge fan! I’m currently, to my dismay, living in California. I spent last fall in Cairo, Egypt studying abroad and next semester I will be interning in Washington DC. I hope to head back to the Middle East and Africa as soon as I finish my undergrad!
(I know I’m responding to this post a month late but I felt compelled to put a word in)
I hope you’re enjoying Mexico!! You are a huge inspiration man, keep up the good work!!
Thank you so much for the kind comment Kjrstin! It’s always wonderful to know that others find this site inspiring, especially those who are interested in exploring more of this world. Seems like the taste of travel that you enjoyed from your study abroad experience is only the beginning of your adventures 🙂
[…] in March, when I had to suddenly change my plans and return to North America from Singapore, I went ahead and booked a flight with Continental Airlines. Then, due to the earthquake and […]
[…] in March, when I had to suddenly change my plans and return to North America from Singapore, I went ahead and booked a flight with Continental Airlines. Then, due to the earthquake and […]
Hey Shaun – Six weeks! Awesome stuff. And what a way to start off…Auckland & Hawaii. Although, just be careful…you may never make it out of Hawaii. Those islands tend to have that effect on people.
Hi Earl,
I live in Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos got its name from Lagos…Portugal. There are a few similarities between the two places (mostly the abundance of beaches) but there are loads of un-similaries too (Is there even a word like that? :-)) Anyway, have you ever been to Lagos (either one) before?
Hiya Earl, I was in Cambodia during Nov and Dec 2010 then London for a quickie last month and currently trying to find ways to beat the heat in Austin, TX.
Hey Maria – Thank you for commenting! I hope your trip to Cambodia was a rewarding one. Looks like I was right next door in Thailand while you were over there in December.
Good luck with the Austin heat. I’m currently battling the heat down here in Mexico although I’m quite sure it’s a losing battle 🙂
Just arrived back in Atlanta after being in Guatemala last week. Next week it’s El Salvador and the following week is for a quick visit to the Dominican Republic.
I was just thinking about you today Earl because a friend of mind moved to Sayulita. The first time I heard of that town was from reading your blog!
Hola Carlos – Good to hear from you!! I hope you’ve been well. At least your travel itinerary is keeping you busy!
And that’s funny about Sayulita. That was quite a while ago when I mentioned that town so thank you for still following my blog. I’m sure your friend will love it down there as I’ve still yet to hear a negative word about that place. And no matter where I go in the world, Sayulita still remains my favorite place that I’ve ever lived in.
If you ever head back to Mexico in the near future be sure to let me know!
Hey Earl! I’m in London, UK and planning the start of a never ending voyage with my partner. Though I’m sure we’ll end up spending ages in many places.
Hey Zab – Thanks for the comment! Seems like you’re about to begin an exciting new stage in life. I love the term ‘never ending voyage’ as it implies that you’re plan is open and you’re willing to see what new opportunities come your way. And that’s definitely the way to go!
I think it would be nice if all of us who follow Earl in the online world can catch up with him in some place for a — ‘Let’s meet Wandering Earl’ Event 🙂 I don’t know if this is feasible or how to make it happen, but I surely would love to meet Earl and so many of the awesome travel lovers who also are friends of Earl or Follow his travel adventures around the world! Would be good to meet the ‘master’ face to face and get some first hand tips on travel. 🙂 🙂
Hey Beena – That sounds like a good idea to me! I would love to meet everyone as well so perhaps I should start planning an event 🙂 And I’m hardly a master, just a person who has spent a long time traveling. I’m always learning as well so if everyone was to meet up, I’m sure we’d all be able to learn a great deal from each other!
In tantalizing Dorset, England but leaving for south east Asia in 3 days. First Malaysia, then all the way up through Thailand to Chiang Mai. We’re hoping to cross the border by ferry at Satun and get in a spot of island life with dashings of Songkran.
On another note… you can’t leave for America Earl… we promised you drinks…
Hey Andrew – Haha…that you did, and don’t you worry, I won’t forget! Unfortunately, I’m already back in N. America. But seriously, I’m excited for you guys, especially since you’ll be in Thailand for Songkran which is one of my favorite festivals on the planet.
Safe travels to Malaysia and I look forward to those drinks at a later, but hopefully not too much later, date!
I have been reading your blog for a while now… I’m mostly in Copenhagen, Denmark but at the moment I’m travelling in Brazil 🙂 Keep up the great work 🙂
– Line
Hey Line – Well, I haven’t been to either Denmark or Brazil so I now know who to talk to when the time comes for me to visit those countries! I really appreciate you commenting and I hope that you’re having a wonderful time traveling through Brazil right now, which I’m sure you are!
To answer your question I have to ask one myself – where I am physically or mentally? Physically I’m in Romania (Transylvania to be more exact) – it’s where I live, but mentally I’m all over the place. Most of the times I’m in the US (spent 4 glorious summers working and visiting places), but as of yesterday I’m heading in the direction of New Zealand (and if plane tickets weren’t so darn expensive my body would have been able to keep up). I try to squeeze as much traveling I can in my life (studying to be a specialist doctor – final exam this October), but next week I’m heading to the amazing city of Budapest! So all is not lost, although sometimes I feel I’m going insane for not being able to travel as much as I want to (this is not an excuse, unfortunately it’s my reality), but one day I’ll snap, pack a backpack and head out into the world! You and the entire travel blog community make it seem worthwhile! Keep up the amazing work and I’m waiting for that invitation (as well as some tips for cheaper flights) 🙂
Hey Joseph – Haha…I like that a lot and can relate to the difference between physical and mental presence. Hopefully you’re mentally enjoying New Zealand at the moment 🙂 And I assume you’re physically heading to Budapest?! At least you get to do a significant amount of travel it seems, which is quite impressive considering your studies.
Let me know when you fully snap and we’ll meet up somewhere out there!
Hi Earl,
I am in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy (halfway between Venice and Verona) as a Rotary Youth Exchange student for one year. I am from Frisco, Colorado which is nested in the highest of the Rocky Mountains. I ski a lot there. I was actually born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and I go back there for a month at least a month out of every year to be with my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. I am now fluently trilingual with English, Spanish, and Italian and am trying to learn French. After college, I hope to do something more or less along the lines of what you do – travel and write. I actually have my own blog which is a precursor to another, larger blog that I will be launching this summer hopefully.
Muchas gracias Alex! I’ve actually spent a good amount of time in Jalisco, but along the coast, not in Guadalajara. Such a wonderful part of Mexico. And well done with the languages. I’m still working on my espanol! I hope you’re enjoying life in Italy (which I’m sure you are) and I shall look forward to seeing your new blog.
Whenever I go to the beach when I’m in Mexico I either go to Punta Mita (which is halfway between Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita) or Manzanillo (which is actually Colima not Jalisco). Where on the Jalisco coast have you been? I love certain parts of it because its not as Americanized as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, etc. and because I think the food is a lot better on the Pacific coast. I’d just love some grilled marinated fish skewers right now …
@TravelingAlex: I’m definitely familiar with Punta Mita. I took a couple of snorkeling trips out to the protected islands just off the coast from Punta Mita. And sorry, when I said I lived on the Jalisco coast, I actually meant Nayarit. I get those two mixed up every now and then. I spent 3 months in Sayulita and the a month and a half in Chacala, about an hour or so north of Sayulita. Now that is one beautiful, yet quiet place!
Alright, I’ll have to make it up that way next time I’m down there! Do you happen to be planning on visiting Europe at all this spring? If so, will you be in Northern Italy by chance?
Earl
March 24, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Hey Alex – I haven’t made it that far in terms of planning 🙂 I generally plan about a week in advance, although I don’t think I’ll be in Europe at this point as I have some things to take care of here in North America first. However, if I am ever in the general region of Northern Italy, you can bet I will be letting you know!
Hey Jen – At least you’re in a place that is so jam-packed with different cultures. Being in NYC is sometimes like being all over the world at the same time! And I’m happy to hear that Mexico is on your list as that’s where I am right now 🙂
Hi Earl,
I was in China, then I met my fiance and we moved to his homestate, Florida, to get married. We’re plotting our escape, likely back to China, but if we had our way and unlimited funds we’d be everywhere. I don’t really like it here, so I can’t wait to be abroad again.
Good luck with your trip! Well I guess by now you’re home, but hope you’re rested.
Hey Ellis – Quite a difference between China and Florida! Hopefully you’ll be escaping back to the other side of the world soon. I know what it feels like to have that strong urge to be somewhere else!
Hi Earl!
I’m a long time reader of your blog but this is my first comment- how rude of me! Well, by way of an introduction I’m Lily and I’m in Birmingham, England- I’m here at university so right now I’m spending money on paying the bills and wishing I could be spending it on flinging myself across the globe.
Bali… now there’s a new place to dream about!
Hey Lily – Thank you for commenting! And if you’re already dreaming about travel now, there’s no reason why that can’t become a reality in the future 🙂 You’ll get to Bali!
I live at the beach in southeast NC, but will be selling most of my things to become nomadic at the end of May! I’ll be working as a travel trip leader guiding teenagers for the summer and then I’ll be working on a cruise ship for a few months (I can vouch for the effectiveness of your “How To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship” Guide).
Hey Katie – What an incredible summer and end of the year you have lined up! And thank you for vouching for the Guide. I can’t wait to hear about your experiences on board. Let’s see if you become as addicted to ship life as I was 🙂
Wow Earl, exciting stuff!!! I love the way life unfolds!
Well, I was in Egypt and then the revolution came along. We left a few months ago more due to fear of stuff running out than fear of our safety.
We have been in New York, Vermont and Montreal for the 2 months seeing friends and whats not. In around 2 weeks we will go back to Egypt via Berlin as we are thinking of moving there later this year…. See what happens.
Hey Forest – What a shame, as it looks like we’ll just miss each other. I’ll probably head up to New York at some point but probably a month from now or so.
I am happy to hear that you’re headed back to Egypt though, however, I’m not sure you’ll make it out of Berlin. That city has quite a magnetic quality to it that causes many visitors to instantly want to live there!
Earl, I got my visa. As you said, getting a visa in Chiang Mai was a breeze. A little office with no queue’s, one of the better visa application experiences I’ve had (apart of the cost). I’ll be there in April :).
I just found that ad. The Mexico Tourism board should use it:
Now I’m thinking that you are now from where we’d rather be. In the meantime, I’m at Black Canyon Chiang Mai, tipping a coffee in your general direction.
Well, I’m on the other coast of Mexico but I will say, it’s a mighty fine place to spend some time, especially if you’re into perfect white sand beaches 🙂
Glad to hear you now have an India visa in your possession. I shall raise my orange/beetroot juice to that!
Hey Shane – Beirut! Quite a fascinating city, perhaps the most fascinating and complex city I’ve ever visited. I hope you are enjoying yourself over there. If you need a good place to get some blogging/work done, the Saifi Urban Gardens cafe in Gemnayze was my savior!
Hi Earl
Finally someone who feels the same about this bizzarre place. I was there last month and whilst I havent travelled extensively I couldn’t believe there was anywhere as foul as Kuta. Not just the tourist attitude and the ridiculous stalls and shop,s but the filth and dirt around the town as well. The beach was awash with rubbish and you couldn’t wade in the sea without plastic bags wrapping round your legs instantly. I simply don’t understand how this place appeals even to the drunk and lewd brigade. I feel deeply sorry for the locals but am simply amazed that tourism has not completely collapsed already.
James
Hey James – You gave a pretty good description of what I saw as well and I also found myself confused as to why people found this place so attractive for a holiday. I guess the cheap prices is enough to keep people flocking there, no matter how dirty it may be!
Hey Amanda – My original flight was supposed to take me through Houston but I ended up flying via San Fran in the end. But I’m a fan of Houston! My first cruise ship contract was on a ship out of Galveston and so we used to head up to Houston whenever we could 🙂
Hey James – I haven’t seen that ad but you’re right, it sure is spot on in this case. And I was definitely looking forward to being in Chiang Mai, but I have no doubt we’ll meet up again and I shall look forward to that time. In the meantime, enjoy Chiang Mai yourself!
And did you manage to get your Indian visa? I hope you don’t have any issues with that 🙂
Currently I am in South Florida unfortunately no plans to go out for travels until August. Love following your blog hopefully I will be in Brazil soon.
Hey Earl! Glad to hear you arrived in the US in one piece! I’m eagerly awaiting a ‘US border immigration fiasco’ post though…even if it wasn’t a fiasco, I’m interested as to how you got treated this time around.
I’m in Hama, Syria, at the moment. Gonna ‘get away from it all’ at the monastery of Mar Musa for a couple of days soon, and then head back up to beloved Aleppo to teach English for a few months (the Iran work visa fell through…but at least Syria is an equally alluring and friendly country in which to live!).
Then, come early July, I’m gonna head to my dream destinations of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan for 3 months…I’m already itching with excitement to explore these countries, as I don’t know much about them (apart from what I’ve read in books), so I can’t wait to learn as much as possible, witness their beautiful landscapes and attempt to communicate with the people, with me only knowing a few words each of Russian, Armenian and Azeri! (but no Georgian!)
Oh btw, Ahmed the owner recently returned to the Al-Gawaher Hotel in Aleppo, after holidaying in Malaysia and Turkey for a couple of mths…so I said ‘Hi’ to him from you! The guys at the hotel really miss you, they’re always talking about you!
Hey Sharni – It’s amazing how travelers tend to stay put in Aleppo for a while. It’s certainly a difficult city to say goodbye to! And it sounds like you’re headed for a dream summer in that part of the world. I shall look forward to hearing about the countries you visit.
And there was no fiasco at all when I returned to the US this time. The immigration officer asked me two questions and that was it. They didn’t even stop me at Customs! I was in shock for about 24 hours afterward 🙂
I am in Pune, India. Reading your blog and getting inspired to travel more! 🙂 Took your advise last time and visited Singapore –was lovely experience. Now to other not so easy destinations this year, I hope. When you visit India next, you must put Pune on your list of cities to visit. We can meet over a cup of chai 🙂
Best wishes to you in your travel and life ~~ 🙂 🙂
~Beena
Hey Beena – I shall definitely be in touch the next time I make it to India! Somehow, despite having spent over two years in India, I have never made it to Pune, so it is now on the list… Looking forward to that cup of chai 🙂
Sigh. Earl. Why didn’t you ask this last week? My answer would’ve been – I’m in Berlin, Germany, yeeee ha!
Now the answer is, I’m in my hometown, Krasnodar, Russia. It’s not too great here and the interesting thing is that 2 out of 3 times when I came back home from a trip I got very sick. It’s a sign. I know it is.
Thankfully, I won’t be staying here for a long time, in less than 3 weeks I’ll be going to Istanbul for 2 months. Looking forward to it already.
Hey Ira – Sorry 🙂 Hopefully you’ll be able to handle the next three weeks at home! But I’m sure you will since you have such a trip to Istanbul to look forward to. And that’s interesting about you getting sick when going home as I almost always start coughing and sneezing whenever I return to the US. It’s been happening for years now!
Hey Ania – Thank you so much for your comment! Seems like there are a few readers from Poland. Unfortunately, I haven’t been to your country yet, so I should probably think about traveling there at some point soon 🙂
We are in a little village near the German-Austrian border, where we’ll be housesitting for the next month, before heading south to Italy. Looking outside I see mountains covered in snow – quite a change of scenery after 9 months in Central America & Mexico 😉
Hey Fabian – Well, unfortunately my flight was re-routed through Hong Kong and San Francisco in the end so I missed out on Hawaii. Oh well. And on a side note, just read through the first half of your eBook this morning and I’m loving it so far. Congratulations!
Hi Earl, I’m in Dallas, Texas in the US where I live. I am feeling better but still not up to international travel yet. I will be attending Singularity University in Silicon Valley April 1-8 though! 🙂
Hey Jennifer – The Singularity University seems interesting. I just read some more about it on their website as I had never heard of it before. Should be quite a rewarding week up there!
Hey Connie – Hong Kong for a couple of years sounds excellent! My flight home ended up being changed at the last minute and I flew through Hong Kong actually. What a tease to only have a couple of hours at the airport and not being able to head into the city. I guess I will happily settle for reading about the city through your experiences instead 🙂
Oh, Earl, this is a great idea. Actually I think you’re the one that’s difficult to keep track of. I’m in northern Israel right now, where I’m staying with my friend for two weeks. Next, I’m heading to southern Egypt, probably Aswan, for one to three months. Then, hopefully, hopefully I’ll be coming back to live in northern Israel for approximately one year. I was just out yesterday walking from kibbutz to kibbutz looking for a little apartment, and it looks very hopeful. They’re very open to me staying there, and their rooms are only a few hundred US dollars per month. There are so many kibbutzim, I think I’ll find something. Northern Israel is so beautiful, with tons of nature – streams, waterfalls, mountains, beaches, hills, dales. It’s incredible. From my bedroom window right now I can see the country of Jordan. I’ll also be spending some long-term time in Jerusalem, but I don’t know when. It’s very expensive, but I really want to spend a minimum of a month there. It’s my favorite city on earth. Okay. That’s enough infor for now 🙂
Hey Sabina – That seems like such a good plan and just reading about it makes me miss the Middle East…and want to live in Northern Israel! A few hundred dollars seems quite reasonable for an apartment in a region that offers as much as you describe. Perhaps I need to explore that option myself one of these days 🙂
Hey Pam – Thanks so much for leaving your first comment 🙂 And I’m actually from Boston as well. I grew up about twenty miles south of the city but don’t make it back too often these days unfortunately. Still remains one of my favorite cities on the planet though!
Hi Earl, I just stumbled upon your blog, and yet, another inspiring travel blog! nice..
I’m in Jakarta, Indonesia right now and within 2 weeks I’ll be traveling to Manila, The Philippines..
Literally just got back from NY, then a trip down part of the eastern seaboard back to Montebello, VA. In April I plan on going down to Fl for a little time, then back here, then in May it’s off to basic training in SC, after that it’s to Richmond, VA for a tad bit, then on to Fl for more training. If you don’t hear from me for 9 straight weeks its cause I’m in basic training.
Hey Ozzy – So basically you’re going to be all over the place! Sounds like quite a hectic schedule you have but let me know when you’re in Florida. If I’m there at the same time perhaps we can meet up somewhere…
I’m still in Montreal, where there are many amzing places to eat indian curries (and pad thai as well!). Unfortunately the only travel I am considering in the near future is down to the US, to visit family… not quite as exotic as I would like!
Hey Rose – Hmm…Indian curries…all anyone needs to mention are those two words and I’d consider visiting any city! And at least you’re traveling, even if it is only down to the US for a visit…a change of scenery always helps.
Hey Andi – I shall be in Florida between those dates, about an hour and a half north of Miami 🙂 So let’s meet up! Let me know which day works best for you…
Hey John – Soon we’ll have just missed each other on every continent at the rate we’re going! Now that I’m back in North America I’m going to try and put together some plans so I shall let you know my whereabouts. A trip to Vancouver might be happening in which case I’d love to combine that with a visit to Calgary as well.
What a fun idea! We’re currently in Austin, TX – we attended the SXSW conference last week. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be staying (maybe a week or two?), but when we leave we’ll head to New Mexico, and then Utah and Arizona!
Hey Christy – Oh New Mexico! I love New Mexico 🙂 There’s something about a trip around the Southwest US that is always appealing. I seem to enjoy that part of the country more and more with each visit. I hope you had a great week in Austin and that the rest of your journey proves rewarding!
I know you know where we are, but we’re not there right now!! We are in Nelson Bay about 2.5 hours north of Sydney. After a relaxing evening last night we are off to a women’s surf pro contest in Newcastle today…. and then it is back home to reality.
Enjoy your long flight home!
I live in Munich Germany. Just returned from Tokyo during the earthquake. My Saturday morning flight was cancelled and then the Sunday flight delayed and I missed the connection in Beijing so spent a night there. Good luck with your trip
Hey Gary – That seems like a very hectic journey out of Tokyo but I’m glad to hear you made it home safely in the end. I ended up being re-booked on a completely different flight route at the last minute so my journey wasn’t as crazy as yours!
We are in West End, Roatan Island, Honduras. We will be in this island for maybe a week. In the near future, we will make our way through Nicaragua and Costa Rica to Panama, then sail to Mallorca, Spain.
What a great list by fellow travelers friends up there! I should come back alter again to find people that happen to be around us or where we are going to go.
Hey Dina – Sailing to Mallorca? Please elaborate! And I’m jealous that you will be in Nicaragua soon. That was my favorite stop on my Central America trip by far!
Newcastle, England…I’ve given myself until November to book a one way flight out of here. But of course you know this because you have very kindly answered my stressy advice emails in the past 😛
Hey Anthony – Well, I’m happy to know that you’re sticking with your deadline! And I can’t wait to read about the moment that you actually book that flight ticket 🙂
Hey Nicole – I love that you used the word ‘strategising’! Deciding on where to go next definitely requires more than just the flip of a coin. It’s an important decision that needs to be thought through carefully at times 🙂 And Paris always sounds like an ideal option!
Hey James – Ah, good old Medellin. With all the talk about this place over the past few months, I definitely need to schedule a visit down there at some point in the near future!
Hey Cam – Haha…naturally, when I first read your comment I read “unfortunately”, which is a word that is rarely used in the same sentence as Vancouver of course! Glad to hear life is going well and perhaps now that I’m back in North America we’ll get a chance to meet up, perhaps in Vancouver considering that I’ve never been before 🙂
Aha! I’ve never commented but my hometown is featured, guess I ought to leave my footprint behind. 😀
I’m originally from Singapore, was reading your older posts from India, currently residing in Shanghai. Come summer, I might be in Tibet reading your future posts.
Hey Usha – I appreciate you commenting! And I will say that I just spent a wonderful week in Singapore. It was my third visit but this time around I enjoyed it more than ever before 🙂 So, a trip to Tibet? That should be quite a nice way to spend your summer!
Skott and Shawna
March 18, 2011 at 2:51 pm - Reply
Hey Earl,
As we type we are currently eating breakfast in Regina, SK, Canada. This has been home base for most of our natural lives, but we are giving our notice at work(in 3 weeks – yikes), renting our house, and hopefully leaving Regina for a 15-month-ish RTW at the end of June. Initially we had always planned on stop number one being Guatemala, but we are now concerned that we might be in that part of the world during the rainy season (not sure how big of a deal that is), and may actually start in Western Europe (Spain, I think) instead…safe travels!!
Hey Skott and Shawna – Congratulations on making the decision to embark on such an adventure! I’m sure you’ll be getting increasingly excited (and probably nervous) as June approaches 🙂
As for the rainy season, it definitely depends on the traveler. I personally don’t mind rainy seasons too much because it generally only rains once per day and there are normally less travelers during those periods of time. However, if you don’t think you’d enjoy always having to deal with the possibility of rain affecting your plans, then perhaps Western Europe would be a better start.
Hey Maryanne – China to Canada to Sri Lanka…definitely an interesting itinerary for the near future. And good luck with the mental preparation before returning home! I didn’t have any time to do that before my sudden return back to North America. Hopefully I’ll survive.
You’re so cool. My favourite thing about reading travel blogs is feeling like it’s a sort of (lop-sided) dialogue between the author’s post and the readers’ comments — and you’ve taken it to the next level.
I’m based in Seoul, Korea — planning to leave for a RTW backpacking trip starting in Sept. — but may be stuck here longer if I get surgery on my broken foot. Boo for being a one-legged dancer!
Hey Odysseus – Yeah, that broken foot of yours should definitely be your top priority! Although, “Hobbling Traveler” is quite a catchy name for a new blog or even a series of posts 🙂
Hey Lothar – Thanks for commenting and I’m glad to hear you’re planning a RTW adventure! If you ever have any questions at all, please feel free to send me an email and I’d be more than happy to offer any advice I can.
Just got to Bangkok a few days ago. First time in Thailand. Staying for a month or so iin Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai. Focused on taking it all in so the blog has been quiet for a few days. Hope to share my thoughts in a few days.
Always a pleasure to read your posts! Hope the travelling goes well, wherever you end up.
A couple months ago I asked you about some good and cheap places in Yucatan to relocate for a few months. One of the places that you recommended me was Holbox. And I’ve been living here since the end of January and it’s a really awesome place. And it’s cheap, too – I only need $400 a month to live here!
So if you eventually land in Cancun, you can definitely come to Holbox for a few days!
As you know I’m still in Vallarta, right by Sayulita where you used to live. I read you’re flying to Cancun…no stopover in the Pacific coast? Surf’s up next week!
Hi Earl, we’re in California right now. But starting in April we’ll be in Colombia slowly making our way down to Argentina. And aaw, you like us more than Indian curry. I love, love, love Indian curry — so that means a lot 🙂
Hey, Earl! Wow, more than your favorite Indian curries? That’s HUGE!
I’m still in Ireland, though headed to Morocco and Spain in a few days. I’m really curious about your changes in routes and all the short stopovers, but I suppose that will have to wait for the house party. 😉 Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Maybe you’ve already seen on my blog that I am my current whereabouts is Stockholm, Sweden. In fact, thought I have not been sharing this too extensively on my blog since I don’t want to get on the wrong side of immigration, I am effectively trapped in Sweden since they didn’t approve my common law spouse visa (I stupidly mentioned that we might not stay forever and ever). I have been shuffled on to the work permit unit but I have been without visa since November.
I can’t leave Sweden! I’m trapped. This is not a good situation for the travel desperate. Luckily I am actually properly leaving for travel in the US and to move back to Australia so even if my visa doesn’t ever happen I’m outta here.
Perhaps that was more information than you needed but I couldn’t help share the visa woe. It has been bottled up for too long 🙂
I hope you manage to get to where you’re heading despite all the delays 🙂
I get everyone confused all the time!! I follow a large number of blogs and am familiar with all their voices and am interested in their stories, but I often forget where they are right now never mind where they were from originally!! I like the idea of getting to know everyone better though and so I will start off…I am currently in Victoria BC Canada but am moving to Calgary, Alberta (Canada) next week. This will be my new base until we figure out what our next Giant Step will be! Thanks for asking Earl!! Cheers!
We are in BC Canada, looking forward to the coming spring and hoping our house sells so our family (Me, hubby, and two kids) can start a new chapter in our lives, traveling slowly around Asia.
Wow that was a run on sentence! Have fun in Hawaii!
Hello Earl,
i stumbled across your blog yesterday while i was looking for a travel blog that is honest in narratives.
i mean i don’t want all the fancy stories, i want the not-so-fancy ones as well and your blog has provided that thus far.
I am in Lagos, Nigeria. i don’t know if you have been to Nigeria before, so many exciting places to go. When you come, please visit Inagbe Resort in Lagos, or you can just visit Calabar, in River state. so many beautiful sights there.
i am planning my vacation to the US later in the year. i am trying to plan a budget vacation. I have been to Orlando and dallas.
i found Dallas extremely boring and i found Orlando to be everything Dallas wasn’t. Orlando was FUN!, FUN and FUN but it was expensive.
i want to visit NYC but everything online suggests it is an expensive city…..any advice?
Hi Earl,
I found your blog by reading about N Korea. I’m from Sacramento California. I love to travel too. Last summer I did an Alaskan cruise with Norwegian and a 2015 Bahamas cruise (Norwegian also). I did a one yr stint living in Oklahoma while I was a high school senior ( now that I think about that, I should have given it a chance. I was so miserable while there). Anyway as I’m here at work in a Chinese restaurant, I’m dreaming of the next vacation, like Laos, my birth country. I am glad I found your blog. You’re an inspiration.
Hello Earl! I just started reading your blog today and I can’t stop. I’m from South India. Have you ever been to the Kerala back waters? Its an amazing place, sorry if I missed that part. If you ever plan on returning, we can surely meet up.
Hey Adarsh – Yes indeed, I have been to the backwaters a couple of times. Beautiful part of the world of course!
A few things stuck out to me in this post. You love what you do, therefore you are having the time of your life. My wife and I recently took an early retirement and moved back her hometown in a rural village in Fujian, China. It’s been 3 weeks and I am wondering why we didn’t do it earlier.
I am writing a post everyday on my blog about my experiences here. Check it out if you are on the train or bus, it’s a good read. I can be found at fatgwailo.com
Hi Earl! You’ll notice I’m just new to your blog, but I already find it very interesting and useful. I want to start a travel blog myself, just in planning phase as I’ve just visited a few countries but you never know! Writing from Costa Rica (I’m from here) so if you’re here in the future, you already know I’ll buy you a beer for sure (unless I’m already traveling)!
Dear Earl,
I’m a loyal fan of your posts and of course they enlighten me for my own travel experiences.
Right now I’m in Spain (my country) before have been visited Uzbekistan and Myanmmar. I’am dreaming into my new destine as I would probably visit Vietnam and Camboya in few months.
Kind regards and looking fordward more news about your experiences.
Hi Earl,
Merry Christmas!
I’m a wee bit late in adding a comment but I have been sitting in my office in a very wet and windy Glasgow (Scotland) reading your blog and dreaming of far flung adventures.
I have a daughter of 10 years who a spirit of adventure so we are introducing her to her own beautiful country first – we visited Orkney during the summer where we spent a week on amazing white sand beaches and visiting prehistoric villages. I think she caught the travel bug as soon as we stepped on the ferry from the mainland.
I hope to introduce her to Thailand in the next couple of years – for now Scotland and all her beauty are captivating her. Next stop skiing in the Cairngorms and maybe bagging a Munro or 2.
Travel safe.
Hi Earl! Discovered your blog not long ago and have been hooked to it ever since. Travelling is such an incredible concept to me. I have never been on a plane somewhere and the furthest I’ve traveled by car is 5 hours. Money and work have always gotten in the way.
About to start a better paying job that will allow me to save 50% of my pay – so travel here I come!!! Any suggestions on where I should go first?
I’m living on The Gold Coast in QLD Australia! If you’re ever down under, I would love to grab a bite with you and listen to your stories!
Thanks! Emily.
Hey Emily – Thanks for commenting! And to be honest, I would recommend going to the places that excite you most. If you close your eyes and think about travel, which destinations jump out at you and make you want to fly there right now? That’s where you should go 🙂
Hi Earl!
I found your blog several years back upon preparing for a three week stint in India. I randomly remembered it today, and thought I’d revisit to see what you’ve been up to. All that said, I came across this post and thought I’d offer to buy you lunch should you ever find yourself in Nashville, TN. All the best to you!
Hey Madeleine – Thank you for that offer 🙂 How was India in the end??
It was wonderful, though I don’t think three weeks was a long enough trip! I would love to go back someday, though Thailand is currently #1 on my travel destination list.
Hey Earl…Great blog have been reading it for the last couple of months. I live in Vancouver BC
hey when was that we are hitting the beach? did i miss the big date?!
love this connecting idea. i live in corvallis oregon. i love to travel. have been moslty bicycling touring but not only. enjoy it all.
San Francisco for the last year. Been working and saving money, leaving for Barcelona in April, and plan to travel to wherever things take me after that. Hope to be on the road again for at least 6 months, but, if things feel right, possibly much longer. see ya around one of these days maybe!
Hi Earl!
The next time you’re stopping by Singapore for a few days or so, beep me up!! I would love to meet you in person! So yup, I’m from this small little red dot in the world where you’ve been – Singapore (Sg). I’ll be exploring Sabah for 3weeks in end October 2014. Where will you be? =)
Cheers; Lia
Hey Lia – Sounds good, I shall let you know the next time I’m heading that way!
Hi Earl,
I am from Alaska, but am currently traveling in Ireland. I have just begun one year of travel and am excited about the possibilities for the year!
I will also be running a website while traveling: Our Planet’s Many Faces (www.ourplanetsmanyfaces.com). It will be focussed on sharing cultural and local stories as I travel. I’ve only just started the site, but all feedback is welcome.
I look forward to reading more of your stories from your travels.
-Victoria
Hey Earl,
I really love your work and your lifestyle. I am a college student in Chennai ,TN, India. I love travelling just as much as you and would start as soon as i graduate and get my parents off my back :D.
All the best 🙂 cheers.
Hi Earl,
I just discovered your blog and am enjoying it very much. Thanks for putting it out there! I love traveling & hope to do more of it soon. I live on a little farm in New Wilmington, PA. It’s about an hour drive north of Pittsburgh. If you’re ever in this corner of the world (haha!) feel free to stop by. 🙂
Also, I read your recent post about the dengue fever; I’m wishing you a quick, and complete recovery!
~ All the best to you, as you continue your work & travels!
Hey Joanna – Thank you for the message and I shall let you know if I ever end up in your area! It’s not my normal area to visit while in the US but I am always looking for new experiences!
Hi Earl! 🙂
I’m so fascinated by your stories and experiences that you’ve decided to share with the rest of us! My hometown would be a city just outside of Toronto. However, I’ve recently made the move from Canada to Florida. A year working and enjoying what the sunshine state has to offer! This is my first adventure on my own, but I’ve promised myself it won’t be my last. Nothing excites me more than the thought of travelling. Thank you for inspiring me through the tough times of wondering alone.
Happy travels!
Hi Earl!
I’m from Philippines. i can sense that your a humble person while reading your blog.
I love your blog! Hope you can visit our country too, we have 7,100 islands here to explore. May God Bless you everyday 🙂
Keep sharing!
Hi Earl,
I have always wanted to travel, and after reading through your website, and your books I have focus and confidence 🙂 I am currently in California, but in 2 weeks I am leaving for Vientiane, Laos where I have a position teaching kindergarten for the next school year (I am a new teacher here in CA). I plan to travel in South East Asia on the vacations, and hopefully to India, (I have never been!) next summer. After that I will either stay for another year before moving on to another country, or just move on. I love your video posts! and cannot wait for more! Please keep in touch I would love to travel with you some day. And my doors all always open in Lao or where ever l’ll be if you are heading that way!
~Lisa
Hey Lisa – Congratulations on the upcoming life change! I’m sure it will be a positive move for you and that you’ll have such a rewarding experience in that part of the world. It would be great to travel with you and meet up somewhere and if I do make it to Laos again at some point, I shall let you know!
Hi Earl,
My name is Mikaila, I’m from New Zealand and currently living on a small island called Tubuai in French Polynesia. I just found and read your book today and I think it’s brilliant! A lot of it actually lines up with what I decided about 2 days ago, but it has definitely given me a push in the right direction.
In 2 weeks I head back to Auckland, New Zealand to do a course in teaching English for 3 months, then to France for 2 years to learn French. Once I’m fluent enough I plan to attend university there (which is incredibly cheap and comes with an accommodation benefit even for international students) and get a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education. One or two years of my study will be spent on exchange, and twice a year during holidays I will cross a country / activity off my bucket list like seeing the Northern Lights in Norway, Listening to live Jazz music in New Orleans, volunteering at an orphanage in Vietnam and in China with Giant Pandas. After this I plan to spend 2 years teaching in Australia, followed by 2 years in India and a minimum of 5 years somewhere in Africa. I’ve always wanted to buy a house somewhere in South America, so I imagine that that will be next. Of coarse plans change, but I couldn’t imagine living a better life. It means I can accomplish everything I’ve ever dreamed of since I was about 6 years old. I keep on realizing how lucky and happy I am 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experiences and happy traveling!
Hey Mikaila – That all sounds like an incredible plan 🙂 I’m sure it will change and it will probably change significantly based upon the experiences you have and the people you meet along the way but the most important thing is understanding that whatever your goals, you can make them happen. Seems like you’ve figured that out!
Well your blog has provided me hours upon hours of entertainment the last week or so, and not only have you majorly inspired what I want to do with my life (I had already wanted to be a long-term traveler, but you have shown me the path from the dream to reality), but you have also (hopefully!) gotten me the knowledge I need to get hired on to a cruise ship! I bought your ebook, studied it intensively and applied to every single cruise line listed in the book (a fun 8 hour project!) 😀 I live in Denver, but hopefully not for long! Drop by and say hello sometime if you end up here!
Oi!! I’m Marianna, 17 years old, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I’m at that time at my life that i have to decide what i wanna do. I love travelling and learning new languages. For my age, I can say that i have already travelled a lot. I’ll probably study International Relations in college, but Tourism have always been my dream. The problem with tourism is: what i’ll work with? Do you have any sugestions of what career should i follow?
Hey Marianna – That’s not something I can tell you 🙂 You have to figure it out! You have to think about what you are interested in, what excites you, what your goals are in life and then take all of that and figure out what career fits those ideas the best. You’ll get there, just takes some time to really understand what you would love doing in life.
(sorry as usual I mispelled!!)
Hi Earl,
I live in Montréal, Canada, and I’m a French Canadian. I’ve been travelling A LOT since I’m 18 years but now I decided to move to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, with myboyfriend and our dauther (she’s 6). Why? Just can’t stand the cold anymore 🙂 and looking for a new aventure. Also, I want to learn Spanish. I like your blog.
Hey Anouk – Well, you’ve picked a great place to move to!
Hey Earl,
My name is Matthew. I’m currently (and not for too long, because I have a serious case of itchy feet disease) in a small and laid back city called Porto Novo in a small West African country called Benin. And the planet is still earth :). If I could I would travel to other planets too :).
You have a really great and very inspiring travel blog. Just keep up with being awesomely inspiring!
Thanks for that Matthew and welcome to the site from over there in Benin!
hey earl! presently I am located in long island, new york. I graduate college next month and I have a solo trip planned to south america for over an year starting this june. I would like to start my own travel blog just like yours and would love to get some tips and advices from you. Happy traveling 🙂
Hey Harshil – Sounds like a good plan….have a read of the following post as I think it will help you get started with your blog:
https://wanderingearl.com/wandering-earls-guide-to-travel-blogging-sort-of/
Hello! I was introduced to your blog by a fellow exchange student friend – today! (And you can imagine how much time I’ve spent since I’ve started *.*) I’m currently in France and I’m originally from the U.S., though I plan on studying abroad more before traveling freely without restrictions. This has to be one of the most interesting blogs I’ve ever read – kudos for your lifestyle and I hope I can join you in the future!
Hey Mel – Thanks for that and I look forward to interacting with you some more on the site and perhaps running into you out there during your own travels!
Hi Earl! I love your blog – Thanks for your amazing stories. I am just setting out on my world adventure, and reading your blog and all the crazy adventures you’ve had really pulls my ideas and travel plans into the realm of possibility, rather than existing on the shores of Neverland. Did you imagine when you posted this blog that strangers on the internet would still be sharing there location 3 years later? In my mind you are still in Hawaii, partying on the white sands. So, a little late (I’ve never been one for punctuality), I’m from Adelaide, Australia, currently in Ávila, Spain and on my way to Marrakesh, Morocco in the hopes of becoming Indiana Jones. Adios Amigo!
Hey Rachel – To be honest, I never really thought about it. I wrote the post and left it at that, but I am thrilled that comments are still being left to this day! Enjoy Morocco!
Hi Earl,
I’m Sarah from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I’ve been following your blog for a very long time and have always been wowed by your writing and travel experiences (well, you must be hearing this for thousands of time :)) and finally after so many years of denying my passion in travel, I finally have the guts to have a travel blog on my own focusing on Malaysia.
It would be great if you could share some blogging tips for a newbie like me especially in how to bring some wow factors in the blog and eventually attract like minded friends to visit and read.
Keep up the fabulous work! Thanks!
Hey Sarah – Thanks for the comment and you might want to read this post I wrote: https://wanderingearl.com/wandering-earls-guide-to-travel-blogging-sort-of/
Hope that helps but if anything else comes to mind, just send me an email and I’ll help out!
Hi Earl, I usually only follow blogs without commenting but just had to let you know I’m in Geelong Victoria my home town. As you have lived in Melbourne you will know where it is. I’m curious to know if you like sport and if so did you go to any footy games? A very typical Melbournian question I know lol.
Hey Audrey – Yes, I definitely know Geelong and have been there several times 🙂 And I’ve also seen a few footy games at the MCG over the years…always a great experience of course!
Hi Earl!
I’ve been stalking your blog for a while, I came across your site whilst trying to get a list of the best travel blogs out there so that I could have something to aspire to with my own blog. Anyway, this post seemed like a great opportunity to introduce myself, and of course state my current location which is Vancouver, BC. You’re writing is awesome, and I look forward to reading more of it!
Hey Caroline – Welcome to the site and thanks for the introduction! I look forward to interacting some more and watching your own blog grow as well!!
Saudi Arabia by way of Orlando, Thailand, a bunch of different Southeast Asian countries, and future plans to see the rest of the world.
hey Earl, stumbleupon your site! very interesting blogs. I am from the island of Yap, Micronesia. Bet you’ve never heard of it! A haven for manta diving! I wish i have the money to travel like you do.
Hey Alvin – You are right, I have not heard of Yap unfortunately 🙂
Sounds like a great plan, Alejandro – especially the trans-siberian! I’m a NYC expat living in Bangkok and love Chang Mai. Try the Khao Soi (chicken on the bone w/noodles) when you’re there.
Best,
Mikki
Hi Earl!
I’m Alejandro, in Madrid, Spain. Next year I’m going to start traveling without any kind of time restrictions. I’ll start with Ireland, get to Russia, where i’ll take the trans-siberian, down through Mongolia, China, and into the province of Chiang May, Thailand, where I’ll have to try that delicious Pad Thai, then somehow get even further down to Australia and New Zealand, then French Polynesia, America, Iceland and then for all those European countries that i might have missed in the first round. And that´s just the beginning…
I want to say I really enjoy all of your blog posts, and they’ve been really helpful. As you may know, there’s not such a strong backpacking tradition in Spain (there’s none whatsoever) as there might be in other most northern european countries, but it’s something I wanted to do, it’s the perfect time to do it, and I’m doing it no matter what!!
I’ve seen that guide you’ve written on how to work on board of a cruise ship, and I know i’ll be buying it in the near future! and for that price… what a great deal!!
I’ve also noticed that you haven’t been to Russia yet… maybe i’ll get there first! haha!!
Anyway, your blog is full of great tips from you and those who comment on each post, and full of amazing stories!! Keep up the good work!!
And as for me I’m also thinking the white sands of Hanauma Bay on Oahu would be a great place to get the party started too!!
Enjoy life!, Enjoy travel!!,
Have a nice day!
Hola Alejandro – Sounds like quite an amazing trip you have ahead of you and I’m glad that you’ve found the site useful as well!
If you ever have any questions as you continue to plan your upcoming adventure, please let me know and I’d be more than happy to assist as best I can. Perhaps I’ll see you on Oahu 🙂
Hi Earl!
I’m Kara from Astoria, Queens, New York City. I have been on the road traveling with my husband for 7 months. We are currently in Jaipur, India. I found your blog 2 days ago while researching Palolem Beach as we will be in Goa in a couple of weeks. We are so excited now after reading your posts about it!
Love the blog – very informative & helpful!
Kara
Hey Kara – All I can say is…have a wonderful time in Palolem (it’s very hard not to)!
Hi Earl,
I find myself reading a lot in this blog, lately. I haven’t traveled much but would love to do. Currently, I’m living at Bangalore and I’m from Pondicherry, India. I’d be happy to meet you in person.
Thanks a lot.
Hi Earl. I’m Roch, and I’m from the Philippines. I found your blog by typing these simple key words on Google: “how to live life traveling.” I have read several other entries related to this topic but your blog struck me the most. I felt so inspired not to do the same – like be a nomad traveler – but to travel as much as I can as much as possible. My initial goal would be to travel all around Asia first then start to inch my way outside. Thank you for your honesty in writing your experiences. I have one question though: Don’t you have a family who you want to bring in your travels? Personally, I think traveling alone is okay. As you said, you’re never alone because you meet other people anyway. However, I bet that traveling with your family (parents, wife, kids, etc.) would be more awesome. Thanks again and kudos to this blog. I already subscribed to it! 🙂
Hey Roch – Welcome to the site! As for family, they do come and visit me a couple of times per year. So do many of my friends. And it is always excellent experiences traveling with them! But apart from that, I’m almost never alone…there are so many people, locals and fellow travelers, to meet everywhere that I am always around interesting people all the time!
I know this post is old, but I think it fits with my theme that I am writing about on my blog. We left Bali at the end of September. Flew to KL. I went to TBEX in Dublin, flew back to KL. We went to Singapore for a week to dog sit. Back to KL. Back down to Singapore for the ITB Asia travel show. Then, we flew to Dubai and Doha for a week on our way to London. I sit in London now, 5 weeks into this stretch of travel. On Saturday we go to Dublin for one night, and then to see family in Limerick before flying to Jordan. We were supposed to spend two weeks in Jordan and Israel but are absolutely exhausted and ready to head back to our new adopted home of Bali, so we are spending only 3 nights in Jordan, enough to see Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. Then back to KL to get our visa and off to Bali, exactly 8 weeks after we left. This is the life of a blogger trying to make it in the business of blogging, but I can’t wait to unpack the bag again in Bali, and stay put for at least two months maybe more. Yep, that’s where I am now…
Hey Earl!
I´ve already sent you some emails and you have been helping me out with some info! Don´t get cosy..soon enough I´ll have more questions! 😛
My name is Rafael van Oppen Ardanaz and I live, for the moment, in Santander, Spain. It´s totally up North next to the Basque Country. I plan to start moving around very soon! My father is Dutch and my mother Spanish. That explains the weird double surname.
I hope to lead a life like yours but am still in a moment where doubt assaults my mind constantly. My blog is young to say the least and is about to get a make-up session by a friend who believes more in this blog idea than I do…! I hope that the appearance helps the text!
Hey Rafa – Great to read your introduction and I shall look forward to more of your emails!
Hello Earl,
I am in Indianapolis, In. My backpacking journey has not behind just yet due to college, but my big Sis’ and I will be hiking all of Hoosier national forest to Kentucky and urban backpacking our way back home during my 2014 summer break. Can’t wait to start exploring all the different cultures, whether they be the next town or the next country. Well, good luck with your adventure and peace.
P.S. what advise could you give to a first timer about what to pack, what to expect and how many miles to expect to hike everyday?
Hey Griffin – Thanks for the introduction and your trip around the forest sounds interesting to me. But I’m not too sure how to pack or how many miles to hike for that kind of adventure as I usually don’t go off on such long hikes myself. My only advice would be to pack as light as possible…you will be very thankful you did once you start moving around.
Hello Earl,
Thanks for the reply and the advise:). I am looking forward to seeing/reading more of your adventures. Thanks again, good luck and peace,
Griffin
Hi Earl,
I looked at the date you posted this, 3/17/2011 and I looked at your last reply to a comment, it was just a few days ago. That is amazing!
Your blog is amazing, I’ll write you a loop:
while (the Sun rises in the East)
{
print(“I like your stories.”);
print(“I like your writing.”);
print(I like your blog.”);
}
🙂 Really, I like your blog that much!
Quick facts about me: I live in Belltown, Seattle. I think I love traveling. I say I think because I haven’t traveled much. I just imagine how wonderful it’ll be to explore the world, to look at the same Sun from different angles, to watch the same Moon from different angles, and to be amazed. I haven’t traveled much so I indulge in reading blogs about traveling and lately, reading your blogs and others’, I keep thinking, “One day, reading about it won’t be enough.”
One day, when you come to visit Seattle, please let me tag along on one of your trips. And if you bring lots of your stories about the different Suns and Moons you’ve seen, I’ll cheerfully exchange my sofa for them (sofa because I live in a studio) 🙂
Hey Crystal – That is a deal! See you in Seattle 🙂
Hi Earl! I am a new reader who stumbled on your blog while I was googling Eastern Europe (currently travelling the region for the last couple of weeks – in Romania now). Will be heading back to Singapore soon, which is where I am from!
Thanks for your insightful and quirky posts! Hope to see you in Singapore for your fourth visit- there’s lots of hidden finds yet to be discovered! 🙂
Hey Nor – I have no doubt and I’m sure I’ll be back to Singapore at some point!
Hi Earl,
I just found your blog and am very much enjoying your adventures. I live in Oviedo, FL just east of Orlando. I love to travel and have been to Vancouver, Canada, Cancun, Mexico, Jamaica, Abaco and Nassau, Bahamas. Hopefully this time next year I will living in Nagasaki, Japan. Be safe in your travels my friend!
Hey Jodi – Welcome to the site and seems like your travels are off to a great start! Let us know how it goes with your plans for Japan and if you ever have any questions, just send them my way!
I don’t know when you’ll see this, so I’ll post my vague travel plans for up until the new year! I arrived in London on a plane from Brazil last week, 14 more days traveling round the UK, then off to Ireland until November/December when I’ll go to Turkey for a month. Not too sure after the new year – I have a 6 month stopgap until my flight back to Brazil in June, and connecting flight to Argentina, just in time for my 19th birthday.
All I know is this time next year, after a whirlwind (and as of yet unplanned) tour of South America until October, I will hopefully be in Portugal. Maybe. Australia is also sounding nice!
Hi Earl!
I am from Duhok in Iraqi Kurdistan. I would like to invite you to visit Kurdistan again, a lot has changed since you last visited in 2011. There are better restaurants and much better hotels now. As you may know Erbil has been voted the 2014 Tourist Capital of the Middle East.
Best wishes,
Thank you Roj!
I just found tour blog checking out Condor airlines because my daughter is traveling with them and I did knot know it. We lived an exciting traveling time during our younger years, by motorhome, single engine planes, etc. Due to my husband’s health issues we are not traveling much now, but I bookmarked your blog and I will follow you with my thoughts! Enjoy the experiences and write about them.
Hi Earl!
My name is Austin, I’m from a city called Bakersfield in central California, where I have been at a crossroads since I graduated high school. One of my closest friends is from Zimbabwe, and he spent most of high school filling my head with stories of “the Bush” and visiting his family all over Africa and India, the latter of which has held an irresistible mystique for me since an early age. Unfortunately, I come from a very traditional American family, the likes of whom cannot seem to understand my inability to commit to getting my education while talking of wanting to travel and experience everything else there is to offer. Because I have been having to fund what little college I have under my belt from my own pocket with no help from anyone else other than good old Uncle Sam (who ties more strings to you than a puppeteer to a marionette), I now find myself staying my hand for fear that I will not be able to manage traveling while paying off school debt. I have been devouring your site and the information you have so graciously provided (truly, I don’t know why it has taken me so long to find you, but I am so grateful I have) and would just ask for any advice you would give to someone who longs to get out and stop living the conformist life of the same dreary day-to-day that seems so appealing to my peers.
Hope this post finds you well!
Sincerely, Scared-to-cut-ties-to-the-normal
Austin,
If I may, as a fellow Californian who was sick and unhappy of the same mundane routine, working 2 jobs to pay off my own debt, but was scared to cut off ties like you, all I can say is do it. Get out of Bakersfield and go travel. You and I both know that you won’t be missing out on anything in Bakersfield if you go travel for a bit. At the very least, set a goal with a definitive timeline to save some money for a 2 week trip to India or Africa or both. Or maybe, while you’re going to school and working, spend some time to get a TESOL/ TEFL certificate and teach english abroad to help fund your travels. If you teach in Korea or Japan, you could potentially make enough money to travel and pay off your debt. Do not let the debt hinder you from traveling. If you can’t pay it off within a year, chances are you’re not going to be paying it off for awhile. So you might as well save some money with each paycheck to a travel fund and travel sooner than later.
To give you an idea, a month ago, I was supposed to get on a plane back to California after a two week trip to Hong Kong and Bangkok. I went as far as checking my bags, going through security, and standing at the boarding gate. I decided not to get on that plane, for fear of knowing that I would return to the same mundane routine; but more so, the fear of regret that I had finally had a chance to travel and an opportunity live abroad and did not take a chance on myself to make it work. It has been the most empowering decision I’ve made in years.
Take a chance on yourself Austin, cause I know exactly what you are talking about and was in your place for the last 3 years. There is never going to be a perfect time or dollar amount of money to do it. Guys like Earl and many others started out where we did. There is a community of expats and travelers alike around the world willing to help you and provide you resources. In fact, you are more than welcome to reach out to me if you would like.
Start now, set a goal, and do it. You won’t be disappointed.
Earl – Thank you for doing what you do and keeping the dream alive. Not only is this one of the more entertaining and resourceful blogs out there, but also one of the more inspiring.
Cheers guys and happy travels,
Christian
Bangkok
Hi,
I am also nomading my way around the planet.
currently in Greece (Thessaloniki) going all the way to Romania (starting with Bulgaria)
Hiya! I found your blog today (google search for “travel blogs” -> Elliott’s list -> you) . I’m a born and raised Texan… probably will die here too. But in the meantime, I want to travel the world… specifically Europe. My recent trip to Germany has only made me want to travel more…. and I’m researching opportunities for travel.
Lovin’ your blog so far, enjoy your humor and perspective.
Hey Alana – Welcome to the site!! And travel is certainly addicting…one experience leads to a desire to have even more!
Hey Earl. Have you seen anyone use one of the Android translators such as Jibigo? Have you used one yourself? I am the dedicated geek, and want to know if one of these would be worth the money.
Hey David – I’ve never used one and I don’t know of anyone who has so I’m not too sure about it.
Just moved from Hyderabad, India to Sudbury, Ontario Canada.
Belgrade, Serbia. How did you like my country? nice site, nice mission *-* ChEerZ
Hey Mina – In my two visits, I have enjoyed my time in Serbia very much 🙂
Charlottesville, VA. I hope it will be Antayla, Turkey soon!
Charlottesville, VA. Your blog is a great inspiration to me!
Santiago de la Ribera, Murcia, Spain 🙂
Hello Earl!
I’m Mimi and I’m from a small town in the suburbs of Chicago, where I currently am and have been for virtually my whole life. Of course, considering I’m fourteen, that’s not exactly a huge shocker, but hopefully I’ll get opportunities to travel when I get a few more years under my belt. I’m quite a fan of your blog, by the way. Lots of great information and potential destinations. How is Romania?
Melbourne, Australia. So jealous of your travels!
Well, 2 years ago your travel plans were changing and you asked where your readers were. Not sure if you’re still interested, but my sweet hubby and I have just finished up 5 months of cruising Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on our sailboat. We have been traveling full-time by RV and sailboat for almost six years, and we are now at a crossroads. We may return to our RV for the summer months and visit the western US states, all of which we love. Or we may stay aboard our boat here in Puerto Vallarta for the summer and then do some inland travel in Mexico when it gets excruciatingly hot in July — to Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Puebla, San Miguel de Allende and Taxco. Not sure at this point, but wherever we go we’ll be posting pretty pics and fun stories on our blog, for sure!!
Hey Emily – I’m always interested! And congrats on your 5 months of sailing, must have been unreal 🙂 Keep us updated as to what you do decide in the end!
Hi Earl!
I’m Sebastian, from Romania;
I just found your blog and I’ve read about half of it over the week-end… I reckon I’ll read all of it this week. 🙂 Your posts are great and they have been more than helpful in answering the questions I had. I’ve always dreamed of travelling the world, hiking through nature a lot and experiencing as many things as I can, and now it seems it is easier than I thought.
I’m currently studying for a BA in Physics and then I was thinking of getting an MA in Earth Sciences and Oceanography, mostly because it seemed like an interesting field that could involve a lot of travel. Do you know if there are jobs in this field available or if those degrees would increase my chances of getting a decent job on a cruise ship? Have you had any worthwhile jobs on other ships besides cruise liners?
Thanks a lot and smooth travelling!
Hey Sebastian – Welcome to the site! What I normally say is that you should study something that you truly love because at the end of the day, you can turn almost any knowledge and skill set into a job overseas. I know of one person who studied Oceanography and Deep Sea Environments and has been offered jobs in the Caribbean… the point being that once you have your degree, you just need to network with other people until you find the perfect position somewhere out there in the world. As for cruise ships, that degree won’t help directly as cruise ships are more service oriented but there are also plenty of research ships out there in the world that I imagine need people with that kind of knowledge.
The point is…there are plenty of opportunities for those who are willing to put in a little effort to find them!
AAAHH!!!! You’re in Playa now!? I guess it’ll be quite a while until I get to meet you in person… 😛
I’m currently in Monterrey, but in July I will be headed for Tasmania! I hope to get a lot of travel done over there.
How easy is it to get around Australia? and maybe the rest of Oceania?
Hey Lalo – Australia is a bit expensive to travel around but sometimes you can find good deals on flights or you can find others who want to drive somewhere and split the costs. Buses exist as well but are not terribly cheap and the distances are very big between many places. I would look at flights and hope you can find a few great deals that will allow you to cover a bit of ground.
Hi Earl,
I’m in Neenah, Wisconsin – not far from Green Bay and Oshkosh. When reading about your flights and layovers, it had me thinking those layovers would be perfect couchsurfing opportunities! I’m excited to be hosting a retired professor from Norway this summer when he comes to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-in, and in September hosting a couple from Belgium. If you ever make it to this area of the country you are most welcome to be a guest in my home! I’m trying to make friends around the world, and travel via housesitting (I’ love Hectic Travels blog – they were just in Wisconsin housitting) or couchsurfing. Thanks again for the blog! ~ Sharon
Hey Sharon – That sounds so great that you get to meet so many different people and I will absolutely let you know if I ever make it to your area!
Hi Earl!
I’ve been reading your website for a while now, checking out travelblogs since my boyfriend and I are leaving for a trip of about 18 months going from India, South-East-Asia to Australia and New-Zealand. I love your style, the info is great…: it’s hard to stop reading 🙂 I’ve so far lived in Sevilla, Spain for 6 months studying in 2005-2006, did a 3 month internship in Lima, Peru and travelled around Peru for about 2 months in 2007-2008. My boyfriend and I travelled through South-America for 8 months in 2010-2011. In 198 days we’re leaving again and there will have been 835 days in between trips to save up! Ofcourse I’ve already made the website 😉
Currently: living in Leuven, Belgium!
Enjoy reading your stories: keep up the good work and thanks for sharing!
Diew
Thanks for the comment Diew (and for reading the site) and that’s always good to hear when someone is about to head off on a long-term adventure, especially when it includes India, my favorite country!
Hi Earl/Derek,
I’m from Singapore and I’ve been reading your blog to nurture my travel passion. Finally, things are coming to places and I will (hopefully) be in South Africa, Europe, and NYC this year.
Love your inspiring South Africa posts and kudos to your mom (helping me a lot in planning the trip!). Maybe she should start guess-writing more! I’d love to join your South Africa tour too but maybe it’s too wishful since my travel timing will be June/July.. Still be hopeful though!
Thanks a lot and keep travelling!
Hey Kami – Welcome to the site! And that’s excellent that you’ll be starting your own adventure soon…that’s a nice variety of destinations you’ll be visiting for sure. Do let us know how your trip goes!
Hi, Earl!
I’m in Afghanistan, although I’ll be in Korea in a few months. I only just discovered your blog and I love your passion for travel, I look forward to your future posts.
Hey Cat – Welcome to the site, it’s great to have you reading all the way from Afghanistan!!
Hi Earl,
i have only just come across you blog several days ago and cant stop reading it now. im currently located in Tasmania, which is a tiny island at the bottom of
Australia. in March i begin my travels of around the world starting of with 6 months working in Apia, Samoa setting up surf life saving over there.
Dave
Hey Dave – Welcome to the site and your upcoming travels sound quite nice as not many people get to start off in Samoa! Should be an excellent experience over there. In the meantime, I hope your final month and a half in Tasmania goes well and of course, I wish you safe adventures ahead!
Hi! I came across your site back in January of this year and was planning my get away trip to San Francisco, CA in June. I had my bus ticket (it was a lot cheaper and more scenic!), $1200, and 8 days until showtime and then my plans had to be put on hold. It was very discouraging and I lost all hope that I’ll ever be able to see the world. However, the new year is fast approaching and I started thinking of trying again. I don’t know if I want to have a life of travel, but I at least want to take a year and give it a go. According to this site, it’s definitely possible. I think I’m rambling…… Anyway, I just want to say that I’ve visited this site today for the first time in a long time and that I am re-inspired to plan a new trip, whether it’s San Francisco or Dublin. So thank you!
Oh, and I’m from the wonderful city of Boston, MA.
Hi Earl!
My name is Anne, and I just discovered your blog and too say it is awesome would kind of be an understatement. Your stories are amazing!! I follow so many other travel blogs, and have been running my own fledgling travel blog in preparation for all of the traveling and exploring I hope to accomplish in my life!
Currently, I’m just a freshman in college at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, although I will be returning to my home in New Hampshire for winter break in less than a week!
Best of luck with your travels, I will most definitely continue to read all of your fascinating stories!
Anne
Hey Anne – Thanks for visiting the site and I hope you have a great break back home in NH! If you ever have any questions about anything you read or travel in general, just let me know…
Heya Earl! Glad to meet another long-term traveller…I’ve been on since 2008, and had to deal with a lot of the same issues that you did…the first thing my family said to me when I left was “what are you going to do about health insurance?!?” At the time I didn’t know, but after a lot of trips to see doctors all over the world, I think I’m in better hands overseas than anywhere I’ve been in the US, whew!
I’ve semi-settled in El Salvador after looking for home in more than 50 countries and I can’t help but notice that you visited here, but there’s no info on your site about it? I take it that you didn’t go up in the fighter jet and go through arial manouevers with him? Or see the Lucha Libre where you can get up to the ring and nearly get involved? Or rapel into the crater of an active volcano? Climb down the face of a 40 meter waterfall? Taste some of the world’s best coffee? I could go on and on, but if you missed any of this, you might want to head back this way again…let me know and I’ll show you around 🙂
Hey Kelli – Nice to meet you too and while I did do some of the things you mentioned in El Salvador, I did not do all of them. And I just didn’t have time to write about that country yet…I’ll get to it eventually! And if I do make it back there, I shall look forward to you showing me some more of what that country has to offer 🙂
Hi Earl –
Your probably newest reader is currently stuck, sick, in the tiny central western Australian nowhere town of Portland. Reading for inspiration of more exotic destinations to come.
Hey Cam – Hopefully you’ll be in those exotic locations soon enough! And thank you for being a new reader of the site 🙂
I just found your blog searching for places to visit when in Cozumel, I’m heading there to do my first Ironman but I have some extra days just after to relax! I found your trip from Izamal to Tixkokob really interesting, hope I can make it! Ah, I’m from Monterrey and you are more than welcome up here at northern México, places I recommend: Cuatro Ciénegas, Parras Coahuila, and Real de Catorce. Have you read ‘Travels with Herodotus’ by Ryszard Kapuściński?!
Hi Earl,
I’ve been reading extensively through your site the past couple days and absolutely love all the valuable insights, and enthralling stories, you’ve shared with your readers. I’m currently located in Izmir, Turkey, right on the Aegean Sea, teaching English at a private school. I noticed you’ve been to Istanbul quite a few times – I highly recommend checking out the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey sometime. Breathtaking scenery with the blue seas and tall, green mountains. Quick question: I was reading through a few of your old blog posts and read the one in which you mention teaching conversational English in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I’ve been thinking of doing a similar thing in Izmir since there’s a large University within close range to my apartment. I’ll be doing it on my own and was curious how small you kept your class sizes? I’d like to make them big enough to make it worth my time, but small enough to make the experience valuable for each student. Thanks for your help and enjoy India!
Hey Paul – I limited my class size to 8 students but always preferred to have around 5 if possible. This seemed like the ideal amount to actually hold a class that everyone benefited from while still providing enough income for me to survive.
hey Earl!
i’m brazilian and live in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but spent some time living abroad already – 1 year in Barcelona, 3 months in Florida, 3 months in Buenos Aires…. but I’m currently getting the travelling bug and wishing to live a nomadic life for a while! I work in online advertising, in strategic planning, and although I quite like what I do, I always feel like I’m missing out on something… and I know it is travelling.
Your blog is really inspiring and I’m thinking about planning it for real, this time!
found your blog thru NYT and am loving it!
xx
Hey Diana – Welcome to the site and you should think about traveling for real this time! Perhaps there is a way to take your work on the road with you and do it as you travel? Just start thinking creatively and you’ll find a solution I’m sure.
Hey Earl!
Currently writing from Dekalb, IL, haven’t been able to travel yet unfortunately /: but soon I hope! Quick question, with all the traveling you do, is a language barrier ever an issue? and if so, how do you resolve it?
Thanks for making such a wonderful site!
-Lexis
Hey Lexis – I’ve never really encountered any major problems with language. These days, in just about every corner of the world, there are people who speak English to some degree and in many cases, to a much better degree that you probably imagine! So between that and learning some of the local language, as well as the use of body language, you won’t have a problem while traveling.
Came across your blog and really enjoy reading all your stories! I live in West Michigan and really enjoy traveling. Growing up, my parents weren’t able to take us places that we couldn’t drive to so our summer vacations were always road trips. When I was younger I was mad that we weren’t headed to Florida like I thought every other family was. Now, I realize all the amazing things I was able to see that were right outside my back door.
I really enjoy traveling within the US and getting to discover the cultural differences within my own country. Sometimes I am so shocked with how different things can be without even leaving the country (or the state line sometimes!). I don’t think it matters if you travel near or far, but just keeping an open mind and really taking the time to see and take in everything that is around you.
-Cindy
Hey Cindy – I couldn’t agree more! Having that open mind makes all the difference and even if one’s idea of travel is taking the bus to next town, there is still plenty to be experienced and learned!
Hey Earl–
I am in St. Louis, Missouri right now. Go Cardinals!
Hey Natasha – Welcome to the site!
Hey Earl!
After months and months of contemplation, I must admit, your blog is exactly what I’ve been longing to come across for that extra push to go see the world. Within the last four months I have been seriously considering moving to Australia but have been held back by (God forbid I say it) fear. As a 22 year old girl who has never left Los Angeles, never been on an airplane, does not own a passport let alone a visa, and has never even lived outside of mom & dads house (geez typing all of this really makes me seem pretty square now doesn’t it haha) I have finally decided, come Monday (two days from now), I WILL purchase that one way ticket to Australia. Seeing as I intend to live on my own, the financial aspect has really been my biggest concern. It was the article in regards to being able to afford travel which brought me to this site to begin with, and with that, I must thank you so much for the comfort you have brought to me. I am about to embrace a journey that is completely unknown and foreign to me. I intend on purchasing your book for even further inspiration (and to hopefully refrain me from outbursts on a plane when I experience turbulence for the first time 😉 ) ANYWAY, just wanted to drop by and say thank you. I really admire you in following your dreams and I wish you an absolutely amazing journey with whatever you decide next. Maybe I’ll catch ya teaching in India or indulging in all the beauty Bali has to offer (those are my next two aspirations after this first step 🙂 )
Best of luck!
xo
Paige
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page – Saint Augustine
Hey Paige – Thank you for the comment and welcome to the site! Seems like you’re quite set on making your journey to Australia and I’m sure that will be quite a rewarding experience for you. Australia was the first place I ever went on my own (when I studied there for a semester) and it absolutely changed my life.
See you in India one day 🙂
Hey Earl!
Well I backpacked for 6 months or so across India on my motorbike that I christened “Beauty in Red’ and now am home for a while in Mumbai. Its monsoons here in India and I like sitting home with a nice book and cup of coffee when its pouring outside. As compared to getting drenched riding the highways. Trying to get some speaking engagements regarding travelling, following your dreams and being your boss and the likes. And also thinking of getting a ESL cert. Before I hit the road again in few months
Been through your site and its awesome. Its been a pleasure to come across your site. Bookmarked!
Nice meeting you 🙂
Cheers
Venky
Thanks Venky!
I live in city in outskirt of Jakarta called Tangerang in the province of Banten, Indonesia. The city’s name is not pronounced like the fruit Tangerine, though :p
Felt so lucky I stumbled upon your blog and have been reading it ever since. I love it! It’s such an inspiration. Last month, I had a quick solo trip in Hungary-Germany-Czech Republic and it was awesome! I hope in the near future I’ll be able to do another trip.
Thank you!
Terimeh kasih Tantiana and it’s great to have you as a reader of the site!
I’m in New Orleans, Louisiana. Thanks to your advice, I’ve recently visited 8 countries and am planning on taking a trip to SE Asia in a few months. I want to thank you and let you know you have totally inspired me. I’ve started my own blog at femmebionic.com. It’s mostly women-centered, but men are definitely welcome to swing by.
Happy Travels!
Clare
Hey Clare – That’s so great to hear and even better that you’re planning a trip to SE Asia soon! Another example of how addicting travel can be 🙂
And good idea with starting a blog…I’m sure you’ll have some interesting content to share!
North Carolina. wishing I was in Norway.
Hi Earl,
I just reached your site last week and I’m amazed, it’s so cool that there are people like you who lives life in such an extraordinary way, sometimes I want to leave everything behind and start a nomad life like you.
Oh by the way I’m Komazo from Aguascalientes, Mexico, you should come to Aguascalientes in April-May to the “Feria de San Marcos” it’s not like any “Feria or Fair” you have seen.
I travel as much as I can but almost all has been short trips, I’m tied by the job :/ but I’ve been in almost all mexican states, my country as you may know has almost everything 🙂 and as international traveller I’ve been in Cuba and the last year I took the backpack and started a trip that crossed Costa Rica from shore to shore then went to Panama (you gotta go to Bocas del Toro) and finally the Colombian carribean including the Tayrona Park, I think that has been the travel I’ve most enjoyed because it was all backpack style, no reservations, no itinerary, we just wandered it was great. I will be backpacking in Europe in one month but I will be more tied due to my short time of vacations :/
I hope you are doing good and keep sharing such great posts about travelling.
Best regards!
Hi Earl!
Absolutely massive fan of your website and makes for great procrastination in the office!
I currently live in Luxembourg and have done for the past 13 years but also study in Aberdeen, Scotland. As I write this, I am stuck at a desk in a bank as part of a summer internship…nauseating is the only word I can find to describe it. I graduate next June and thereafter, I’m doing exactly what you’re doing and seeing the world, every last inch. There’s no set plan…just pitch up somewhere and hope for the best. Once this desk job is done, I will have saved enough money to live comfortably for a good long while.
Reading your updates have motivated me even more to graduate and travel. Proverbial hat goes off to you sir.
Safe travels!
Hey Callum – Thanks for that comment and even if your current job is nauseating, at least you know that the end is near! And that makes it all worth it in the end as the moment your adventure begins is going to be one of the most memorable moments of your life! No set plan is the way to go…just take the first step and let the story unfold!
HI earl!
You should visit Tibet and take bunch of pictures of the people and culture there. I am a Tibetan born and raised in Nepal and later moved to the US. I have always wanted to see Tibet but have never been able to do so because of work and college… :'(
I would love it if you could visit Tibet. Pretty Please…
Good luck and Have fun in all your future trips 🙂
Tashi Delek Angu! I would be very interested in going to Tibet and I’ve tried but the two times I was about to go, China changed the rules and stopped letting foreigners visit. So I will have to try again the next time I have a chance and hopefully I will make it there soon! I have no doubt that it will be one of the most fascinating places I’ll have visited. Thank you for visiting the site!!
Hey earl love your website. Im from santa cruz california but curently in budepest. Still in school so i only really travel when i have time off, been in europe for two months so far this summer, but plan on an extended trip once i graduate.
Hey Joel – Great to hear from you and I hope you’re enjoying yourself in Budapest! I’m not too far away, living in Bucharest at the moment, so if you ever make it this way, just let me know!
Hello from Santa Barbara, California! I just found your site a few days ago and can’t stop thinking about it; very inspiring! I’ve never travelled outside of the US and Europe, and your Welcome to India tour looks like an ideal place to start! So tempted to take a semester off of school and join in. If not this one I hope you continue in the future. 🙂
Hey Mallory – Stay tuned as I’ll be announcing more tours in the near future, so hopefully you’ll be able to join one of those!
I turned 22 that day 🙂
I’m in the Loire Valley, France and just blew an hour on your blog. New reader, couldn’t help myself. Time well spent but now I should actually do some work!
Hi like your blog a lot! I contacted you, I need a dentist and wonder what country would be the best to go to to combine it with a vacation? I see you liked Romania a lot. The East European countries have very good dentists. So, I thought I might go there.
Hey David – There are dozens of places that would be good for dental work. So far I’ve had work done in Mexico and India and have found the quality in both to be excellent.
Hi again Earl!
I discovered your blog about a year ago upon my return to my home in NYC from India. Now, I’m in Singapore for work. I’ll likely be in Hungary and the Czech Republic in the fall. Perhaps a visit to Romania is in order? 🙂
Also, if any S’pore fans of Earl are reading this, email me! I’d love to grab a bowl of laksa.
I’m in Tübingen, Germany for most of the summer but normaly my time is split between the Chicago area and in northern Missouri the rest of the time.
Hey Rachel – Welcome and hopefully you’re enjoying your time in Germany?? Never been to Tubingen myself…how did you end up there?
I’m really enjoying my time in Germany. I’ve spent enough time here for Germany to become my second home. For how I ended up in Tübingen, I applied for an internship program that had internships in other countries and since I could speak German, I ended up in Germany. I just happened to be placed in Tübingen to work at the town hall’s IT department but it’s a really nice town and I love it here. If you ever make it here you should try to see the Stocherkahnrennen (Punt Race) it’s really fun and interesting to watch.
Hi Earl – if you are ever passing by Stuttgart in Germany, do let us know 🙂 We have a comfortable couch and a lot of excellent German beer, which we are happy to share!
Very much enjoying reading your blog and hope to get a chance to meet you one day!
Hey Masha – Much appreciated! It would be great to make it to Germany again as it’s been a while since my last visit. German beer works for me!
Hi Earl,
Love reading about your travels, the missus and I packed our bags about 6 months ago to travel the world with no end date. Your website and lifestyle were a big inspiration, so thank you.
We have traveled through Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and now in China for a couple months. Probably off to Chile after that and then the rest of South America. Leaving all our woes, debts and responsibilities behind to travel was the best thing we ever did. It seemed almost impossible at the time, but now seems impossible not to!
Not sure the etiquette, but I have a blog I hope you might check out. http://www.tellthemisaidsomething.com
The name comes from Sancho Panza, his final words being, “Don’t let it end like this, tell them I said something”, a fitting quote to suggest doing something great with your life methinks.
Keep up the great writing.
Tyrhone
Hey Tyrhone – Thanks for commenting and that’s wonderful that you’re out there in the world, joining the nomadic travels 🙂 And that’s no problem about the link, I’ll be sure to check out your site.
If you ever make it to Eastern Europe, do let me know as I’ll be based out of Romania for a while it seems. Safe travels!
I’m in Canberra, Australia. Just returned home from traveling to Las Vegas, Universal Studios Orlando, Paris, Barcelona, Vienna, Prague back to Disney World, Las Vegas and back home.
I travel to the US a couple of times a year and have also been to Yiwu in China, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Fiji, New Zealand ( that’s cheating – I was born there) and a few other places that have slipped my mind at the moment.
Loving your blog by the way, interesting stuff.
Hi Earl, I’m Noel. I’ve spent 7 years travelling/working/living around Europe, the Middle East and South America. Recently got back to my hometown. So, welcome to Miri, a small coastal city on the Borneo island.
Hey Noel – Borneo is on the radar for my next trip to Asia. I’m not sure when it will be exactly, but it will happen within the next year I’m sure. Glad to hear from another long term traveler!
Hey Earl, I may be heading off again next year. But do let me know if you are heading this way and hopefully I will still be here to show you around. Btw, your site has been an inspiration. Thanks.
Greeting from Yosemite Earl! Your site has been invaluable for me planning my first trip to Europe in the fall…
Hey Michael – Make sure you let me know how your trip goes in the end and as always, let me know if any other questions arise! In the meantime, enjoy being in Yosemite, a place I have yet to visit myself.
greetings from Oceanside, Oregon!
Welcome to the site Michelle & hope your spring is going well over there in Oceanside!
Hi Earl,
Glad that i found your site, i found it on my friend’s wall on FB, and i like to read your stories :), anyway,,i’m Uwan from Batam, Indonesia, its small island nearby Singapore. I yet travel to many countries but i do love to read travel stories.it’s bring my imagination to somewhere i don’t know about.
always take good care and stay safe 🙂
Cheers,
Hey Uwan! It’s great to have you here and I hope all is well out there in Batam! I’ve never been to that island but now you have me curious…I just might have to visit the next time I’m in that area 🙂
You are always welcome here Earl:)
Batam is in Kepulauan Riau, Batam itself is not really great place to visit as it’s industrial Area, but Batam surrounding with beautiful islands, like Bintan, Natuna, Lingga, Anambas, and other small islands..
let me know if you wanna visit Batam 🙂
Greetings Earl! I am in a small town in southern Ontario Canada, about 1hr from the Michigan border! Have you travelled Canada much? I havent really been anywhere in the world….yet. Other than living in Alberta Canada for 3yrs, I havent ventured out of Ontario much. Furthest I’ve been is a trip to FL with my family when I was young. so needless to say I am ITCHING to travel. Just graduated college for travel & tourism infact. 🙂
Welcome Junelle! I’ve been to Canada many times but only to the eastern part of the country – Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. I know I need to see more and I would love to get out west at some point. So I guess now that you’ve graduated you have some travel ahead of you??
Greeting from Malaysia! 🙂
I am Serene, currently living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But my mind always has a way of bringing me far far away. I daydream a lot – of crafting a beach-doll house, of building a wall tall book shelf, of writing a story, of happy memories I had with friends, of movie I watched last night, of opening up a small cafe that is decorated with postcards from all around the world, of traveling round-the-world, of working abroad, and the list goes on 🙂
I enjoy reading your blog. I think it is very genuine and uplifting! Wherever you’re now, have a blast!
Hey Serene – Welcome and I appreciate you reading the blog! Seems like you have a few dreams of your own for this life and I hope that you are taking steps towards some of them…that’s the only way to accomplish those goals. I would be first in line if you had a cafe with postcards from around the world 🙂
Hello! This is my first time to your site and I am definitely getting sucked in. I am home sick from work today and foresee spending many hours on here. 🙂 My husband and I quit our jobs, ditched our apartment, and left our cat with his parents back in 2010 to travel around the world. Hands down one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. We spent about 11 months and traveled through 18 countries. We are back in the States now but that itch to travel certainly doesn’t go away. Coming across stories and websites like these only ignites the feeling that we need to go away again and see even more! While many people have lots of fears about travel, I found that I was way more comfortable than I anticipated and the experience really reconnected me with the kindness of the human spirit. Some of my best memories came from trusting complete strangers as they befriended us and opened their lives and homes to us. We live in Chicago, so if you are ever passing through let us know and we’ll show you some traveler’s hospitality! Continued good luck with your travels.
Christine
Hey Christine – Thanks for the invitation! I’ve actually never been to Chicago so I should visit that city at some point 🙂
And I know the feeling of wanting to get back on the road again. That’s what happens once you have a taste, or in your case a bit taste, of the traveling lifestyle. And I’m glad that you found the human interactions you had to be so rewarding as well. That has always been the best part of my travels, no matter what country I’m visiting.
and just as i was about to close my laptop and go back to the real world where my near 2 week pile of washing awaits me, i stumbled across your blog! I have now spent most of my day, absolutely absorbed by your experiences and needless to say, i still have no clean socks. When youre in high school i think one of the most common questions your faced with is what do you want to do with your life? Everyone would respond with their desired career path or some with their dreams of having a family etc etc but me? all i could ever come up with was that i just wanted to travel. im 21 now and the idea of buying a house and settling down in one place forever still seems freakin absurd to me so i packed up and randomly moved halfway across my country to a state i had never visited. I guess it was just to get the ball rolling. My next move is ideally going to be overseas.. the problem with this plan up until now has been that im yet to find a travel partner who has the same free spirit as me. Everyone i meet is so bogged down in whats happening here, on this tiny little patch of the planet that we live on and they either cant or simply just dont want to see the world the way i do. Anyway i have no idea where i will go first when i do head off overseas and even less of an idea about where i will end but i do know that its gonna be the best thing i ever do with my life. And thanks to you i think i finally have the courage to say screw finding a travel buddy, IM the one that wants to do this, so im just gonna go and do it! There is literally nothing holding me back except for that little ‘but what if’ voice in the back of my head and ive decided that from now im just gonna tell him to shut the hell up. Its so refreshing to see somebody living my dream and i cant wait to read more about what youre getting upto!
Anyway considering i am commenting on this particular post i suppose i had better tell you where i am. Im sitting in my house about half an hour east of Perths city. I moved here 3 months ago from Adelaide and i just love it! Despite my strong ambition to get out of Australia, i will say that i find myself regularly reflecting on what an incredibly beautiful country i live in here. Youve obviously been to Australia quite a few times so im interested to know what is your favourite part to visit?
Hey Taysia – Thanks for the comment and I think you’re on the right track for sure! There is nothing stopping you from achieving your travel goals and if finding a travel partner is all that’s left, well, it seems that you’ve realized it’s not so important after all. Just as you made the move to Western Australia on your own (I assume), so too can you make the move to some overseas traveling!
As for Australia, I love it all and would have to agree that you do live in one amazing country! Melbourne has always been my favorite city (I’m biased because I studied there for a semester back during my uni days) but I also love Byron Bay, the Daintree Rainforest and especially Broome. But I’m also an Adelaide fan and was there on my last trip to Australia…had a great time of course. Adelaide is the perfect size city for me.
I really enjoyed Perth as well and found myself wondering what it would be like to live in Fremantle for a while. Too many wonderful places in your country.
Hope you got your washing done in the end 🙂
Hello, Earl! I am a humble Kentuckian in school in downtown Chicago for a few years. Like Catherine, I plan to set sail to anywhere and everywhere once I finally graduate. I doubt I could travel as extensively as you do, but I know I need to at least try it and see where it takes me. I could not being happy wandering the Earth forever, but I am sure that if I don’t give it a try, I will always regret it. There just isn’t enough excitement and adventure in my average American lifestyle. I am so appreciative of your blog, it has really opened my eyes and made my nomadic dreams seem more tangible. I just found it tonight, but I’ll definitely be catching up on old posts and following new ones. Thanks for sharing your life with the world and good luck to all of your future travels!!
-Sean
Hey Sean – Welcome to the site and I really think you have the best attitude towards travel! Even if you think you might enjoy exploring this world a little, you owe it to yourself to get out there and try. There’s no reason at all to have travel on your list of regrets later on in life.
And if you have any questions as you read through the posts, just send me an email through the Contact link above!
Hi, Earl! A friend of mine told me about your blog a few days ago, so I’ve just read some of your entries and I have to tell you that I think its amazing what you’re doing and your lifestyle is starting to inspire me.
My name is Italia, I’m from Irapuato, México, I go to university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, but right now I’m doing my semester abroad in Florence, Italy. I’m studying third year of Digital Art and Animation, but I’ve been having a lot of doubts about it, I’m not sure if that’s what I want to do anymore.
Last summer I had the opportunity to spend 3 months in Orlando where I worked at Walt Disney World. While I was there, I realized that I love meeting people from all around the world because when I talk to them it’s like I’m visiting that country, I found fascinating that, while I was there, thanks to the international environment, I was able to speak spanish, english and french in just one day, so I realized that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in front of a computer (Even though I find 3D animation really fun). So, when I went back to Mexico, I started to plan my semester abroad in Italy, this is my first time in Europe so it’s a whole new experience for me. I am now learning italian, and on June I’m heading to France to practice my french 🙂 I’m going back to Mexico on August, and I want to start learning portuguese because next summer I want to go to Brazil to teach english or spanish. My parents are supporting me with all of this, but they keep telling me that I should concentrate more on my career, not only them, also my friends. Sometimes I think they’re right, sometimes I think that I should do what makes me happy, that is, traveling, and learning languages, but whenever I think about doing it, I feel really scare and think “No, that’s crazy, I should stick to the ‘plan'” (graduate, work on what I study, stay in Mexico…) but that sounds boring haha, I’m going to graduate but I don’t think I’m going to end up doing what I’ve been studying for. I bet that you had that same fear when you started traveling, how did you overcome that fear?
I’m going to continue reading your blog, so I can get more inspiration and to get rid of my fear 🙂 Have a nice day! and Thank you!
Hey Earl, I am a sophmore college student hoping to be able to live the life youre living one day. I attend The Ohio State University and after I graduate I plan on puting the diploma in the back seat and traveling all over. My friends and family think Im nuts but I think its just fear.. fear of something more out there that most don’t want to dive into. As for me, I like reading blogs like this so I can be better prepared when I do start my never ending journey. Have a great day!
Hey Catherine – It’s great to hear from you and I would tend to agree about your family and friends’ reactions. It’s difficult for people to envision a lifestyle that doesn’t fit the normal pattern and as we all know, we tend to fear what we aren’t familiar with. But my guess is that once you get out there and start traveling, once they see how happy you are achieving your goals and that you are able to survive out there in the world, they will come around and begin to offer their support…that’s what happened with me 🙂
Hey! I found your website linked to some other travel blogs I read. It’s been interesting to read about your cruise ship experiences… I’m heading out to work on private Yachts this spring!
Ps. I’m in Calgary, Alberta, Canada!
Hey Dana – Welcome! And I think the private yacht idea is a great one…I’ve met many people who have done the same thing and they have all loved the experience. It’s not a bad way to travel/work/network/enjoy life!
Hi Earl!
I found your blog on stumbleupon this evening and can’t help but keep reading. I’m 25 and have been to 30 countries. About two years ago I decided I was “stuck” at home (Michigan, USA). After a bit of research and a visa application, I bought a one way ticket to Australia. Only then did I tell all my loved ones I was leaving. I’ve been living in Sydney for a year and a half now and truly believe this is where my home was always meant to be. It just takes that one big scary step. Thank you for sharing your stories and encouraging your readers to share their stories in the comments. If you ever need a place to stay in Sydney, you’re welcome here.
Hey Melanie – Thank you for the invitation 🙂 I love how people mention that first, scary step being the most difficult part of achieving one’s travel goals. I will forever believe that as well because, if we really want to travel, things always seem to fall into place once that first step is taken. Sure, it might take some hard work and a few moments of uncertainty, but it doesn’t take long to realize that our crazy travel goals really aren’t so crazy after all!
And 4 hours after discovery(stumbleupon of course)…i’m still on your site!
I’m writing this from Taunusstein Germany where i will be living and going to school for the next 6 months. Your site is; i’m sure you hear this all the time, inspiring!! All my life I have loved to travel and experience new places and cultures. After the school year I plan to go to Italy and Croatia and then head back to Idaho for Junior year of high school! Then off on my next adventure: teaching soccer in Ghana for 6 weeks! My goal in life is to not only visit, but spend quality time in every country in the world. Everyone says I am crazy but your blog and all the fantastic tips in it along with my determination, it will happen 🙂 so thank you for your knowledge and for fueling my desire(even more)!
Welcome to the site Kathryn! That’s quite a lot of traveling and overseas experiences you have lined up and yes, it will happen if you’re determined to achieve your goals…and don’t worry about being labeled ‘crazy’. Every long term traveler has been labeled that (or worse) at some point, but we keep on going anyway 🙂
Hi! I just came across your blog through stumbleupon and I must say I find it very entertaining and most of all, inspiring! I have been all over America (almost all 50 states, with the exception of Alaska, where I will be visiting this summer, and Oregon and Washington) and I hope to travel more of the world. I have also been to London, Paris, and Aruba- pretty touristy destinations- and your blog has reinforced my desire to go into the back-country and experience more authentic culture. This coming winter break (I’m a college student) I hope to be in Thailand teaching English. Anyways, I am writing this from Milwaukee, Wisconsin 🙂
Hey Rebecca – Thanks for visiting and it seems like you have more of the US covered than most people! I certainly haven’t been to that many states myself. And that’s great that you’re thinking of a trip to Thailand over the winter break…that country is never a bad option at all 🙂
Hey Earl!
I’m in Canton, Georgia it’s in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, it’s a pretty small town. I stumbled upon your webpage a few days ago while looking for ways to afford traveling. I’ve always been interested in traveling, but the other day I had somewhat of an epiphany and decided before I settle down I want to be a nomad for quite some time. I’m about to get a standard two-year associates degree, and can’t decide if I would like to go to a university first, or begin my travels first. I don’t really have any money saved up but I’m also not in debt, So I can’t determine if traveling is a good idea. I’m not certified in teaching either,but I did read about your English classes you created at that university. I’m looking into things such as couchsurfing and tripping.com, and figured I could just fly to a country and walk from place to place, and take cheap forms of transportation. I mean we are human beings were meant to walk right? Plus it leaves extra time to think and take it all in. What do you think? I just want to experience the world for what it really is, not just what I see on t.v. or read about. Gain knowledge, maybe spread some of mine, along with some happiness and of course lend a helping hand to those in need along the way! Hope your having a great time in Romania, try and stay warm!
Hey Brian – Welcome and thank you for sharing your story! And I see nothing wrong at all with your plan. Traveling without a set itinerary is a great way to travel and if you’re in no rush, why not walk around and just see where the road leads. If you really want to experience the world first-hand, then there’s nothing stopping you from achieving that goal.
And the thing is, once you start, you never know where you’ll end up, so as long as you keep an open-mind and are flexible, your travels will almost certainly lead you to new opportunities that will take your life in a new, and rewarding, direction!
Hi Earl!
My friend showed me your website two days ago and I have been on it all day every since! My friend Bridget and I want to travel just like you when we are done with college. Before I go to college I want to hike to Machu Picchu with National geogrpahic and once I’m in college my sister and I want to hike the appalachient trail. I have a lot of other plans like living in New Zeland for awhile but anyways, reading your blog has really made me want to go through with all of those plans. I live in Rochester New York and I really like reading about every where you have been!
Have fun!
Welcome to the site Ellie!! And I think it’s excellent that you’ve already come up with some travel ideas that you wish to accomplish. Just stay focused and you’ll get there. One look at a photo of Macchu Picchu or of a glacier in New Zealand every now and then should be enough to keep you motivated to achieve such goals! There’s nothing stopping you 🙂
Hi Earl!
It sure is amazing to read about your travel experiences. Through you I get to travel a bit 😀
Oh I am currently in New Delhi, India!
It i really is interesting to read about India on your blog. Brings in a fresh perspective to things that are usually considered routine by us, such as the driving and the trains.
Hope you have a safe trip.
Hey Nishtha – Welcome to the site! And just so you know, I love Delhi 🙂 On every visit to India I enjoy spending at least 1-2 weeks in that city!
Why do people like India so much? I have seen the videos of extreme poverty, and pollution there. It seems like it would be depressing.
Hey David – You need to go there and find out 🙂 Despite the poverty (which doesn’t automatically mean that people are unhappy – that’s just a western idea) and the pollution and chaos, there is no other country on the planet that gives you an opportunity to see, taste, smell, hear things every single day that you have never before experienced.
There are places in Mexico I would like to go to..but I hesitate because of danger. Not only crime, but disease that we don’t have here. I saw your outbreak of “Seafood Fever”, then the part where you were stricken with worms. I do hope you have recovered Earl. My interest is hot springs. Mexico has lots of them. I went to Mexico and had my teeth done. Los Algodones, and it was very good. Very reasonable price also. I could NEVER have afforded what I had done in the ‘States.The aggresive vendors there made me uneasy. I remember when I was in the USN and went to Olongapo City, Phillippines. Also- supporting myself while gone on my $1000 a month SS check. These are my fears. Thank you for your reply.
Hey David – Well, I’m in Mexico right now and loving it, along with the other several thousand people in Playa del Carmen 🙂 As for my seafood poisoning, that actually happens just about as often in Europe and the US as in India…it was a random thing that had nothing to do with the restaurant or how the fish was cooked. It’s actually quite common all over the world. And I think the more you get out there and travel, the more you’ll see that most of what we worry about proves to be nothing worth worrying about in the end!
Greetings from Tampa, Florida where it’s a balmy 80 degrees today.. Stumbled upon your site today and all I can say is WOW.. good for you.. i’m hitting the road but a but closer than Romania..I’m taking on New Orleans, baby.. have done alot of traveling outside the USA and yes, it’s quite the thrill..
glad to have found the site and will look into ways of getting the word out and hopefully find you some more $$ supporters!!!
Peace!!
Hey Lynne – Fine, rub it in…you just enjoy your 80 degree temperature over there while I waddle through snow and can’t feel my face here in Romania 🙂
New Orleans should be quite a trip! Sometimes we don’t have to go too far from home to enjoy rewarding travel experiences…I’ve never made it there myself but have always wanted to go.
And I appreciate you helping spread the word about the site. That does mean a lot to me. Safe travels to New Orleans!
Hi, thanks so much for spending the time and putting all your wealth of experience and insight online!
I am in frozen (yet beautiful) upstate NY and your enthusiasm is a ray of sunshine reminding me to get in touch with adventure and discovery wherever it can be found. I am very fortunate to have a great job and the ability to save up, so thanks for giving me an inspiring goal to travel, the realization that anything is possible, and gratitude for the fantastic world and day we’ve been given. Amazing stuff.
Hey Rosemary – Welcome to the site & if it makes you feel better, I’m currently in Bucharest, Romania where it is -1 F 🙂
But I really appreciate your nice words and I certainly look forward to hopefully interacting with you some more on this site. Good luck with surviving your winter over there!
hey buddy, love your website…stumbled across from disrupting the rabblement…and i’m on a bit of a trip meself…not sure for how long…currently in lima, peru…and addicted to the freedom, all the best 🙂
Hey Brian – Great to hear from you and I hope all is going well down there in Lima! That freedom sure can be addicting…luckily, with some creativity and determination, you can find ways to continue traveling as long you want!
I’m currently at school in Asheville, North Carolina. A cute little artsy town in the mountains. (:
Hi Earl –
I just came across your website, and I love it! I’m currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda. I’ll be there until May, then traveling in southeast Asia next summer!
Hey Jen – Thank you for visiting the site and I hope all is going well out there in Rwanda! I’ve heard some great things about that country as of late so it is definitely on my list of places to visit in the near future. And a visit to SE Asia is not a bad idea either, I’m sure you’ll enjoy that experience very much as it’s hard not to love that part of the world.
Hi Earl I love reading your blog, you have so many cool adventures. I have
just booked my next trip. Off to Japan, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore in August. Awhile to wait before I go but really looking forward to it.
Hey Shaun – That sounds like one hell of a trip and you’ll be on that plane heading over there before you know it. I was just in Singapore again earlier this year and I loved it more than I ever imagined. Nice choice of destinations you have made!
Hey all!
I’m in a city called Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia for 2 days after more than 3 weeks lived working in a small village called Poli-polia. I bet you never been here Earl, rite? 😀
And can’t wait to be in India and Nepal on Januari! YAY!
Enjoy your travels! 😉
Hey Eka – You are correct, I have never been to Kendari. In fact, I’ve never been to Sulawesi 🙂 But I’m just jealous that you’re heading off to India, my favorite country on the planet. Let me know if you have any questions at all before your trip and thank you for leaving a comment on the site!
In Istanbul, Turkey (on the Anatolian side ;)) mentally in a good place with the students of my first year teaching TEFL
Hey Angelo – That sounds like quite a setup! Living on the Asian side must be quite a unique experience from others who tend to stick to the European side.
You’re in an amazing spot Angelo! Ciya Sofrasi is one of my top five restaurants in the world. I’m still trying to figure out how to live in Istanbul. 🙂
Mikki,
I hope you’ll consider English teaching as an option. While a difficult adjustment at times, it has certainly taught me heaps about myself so far. Otherwise, have you looked into tourism? Beyond these two, there are plenty of international companies here in Istanbul. I wish you the best of luck in your search and if you have any questions about what it’s like to live here, I’ll provide the most helpful and accurate perspective I can.
Cheers,
Angelo
I’m an American currently living in Jordan.
I was just wondering, what did you do before you started travelling? I’ve applied for cruise ship jobs but never got any response 🙁
I am currently working in tourism.
Hey Paula – Thanks for the comment and I hope life is going well over there in Jordan! To answer your question, I actually started traveling just a few months after graduating from university so the only thing I did before traveling was studying. As for working on board cruise ships, it is quite difficult to get a response without knowing exactly what to do. I’m not sure if you had a look at my Cruise Job eBook yet, but it has helped a great deal of people get hired on board ships. But in the end, there are over 20 major cruise lines out there, so if you know how to format your resume properly, there’s always a good chance that one of those cruise lines will get in touch!
Hi Earl
I live in North Van.
Thanks for all the interesting articles.
Happy travels,
Darcy
Thanks for the comment Darcy and I hope all is well up in Vancouver!
Hi All-
I’m back home in NYC after four months meandering about India – from Kanykumari to Agra and all sorts of places in between.
This site inspires me to leave my admittedly cool comfort zone of the East Village for sights unseen. Next stop: Back to Bangkok.
Thanks Earl!
Hey Mikki! That’s definitely what happens upon returning home after a long trip…especially one to a place such as India 🙂
Glad to know that you’re heading off again, and of course, Bangkok is always a good place to start a new journey!
Hey Earl, hey everybody!
I’m currently at home in Armagh in Ireland finalising my plans for my first RTW trip.
My younger brother and I are setting off in 5 weeks, initially through south east Asia before hitting Oz. After that, who knows?!
Have only about 2grand to last 7 weeks in Asia, so may have to resort to your idea for teaching english if the proverbial hits the fan!
Perhaps I’ll meet some of you on the road, hope you all are enjoying your travels!
Hey Chris – Welcome to the site and that’s great news that you’re soon to head off on your first RTW adventure! And SE Asia should be a perfect region to get started. At least you know that if the money runs low you still have options and don’t have to jump on the next flight home. And do keep us posted with your travels and if we’re ever in the same region, I shall look forward to meeting up!
I’m currently living in downtown Montreal, QC!
Next summer I’ll be travelling to Chile for a couple months to teach English :).
Welcome Syd! Not a bad plan you have to teach English in Chile, just be aware that South America can be an addicting place 🙂
Hey Earl,
I have to say that you stole my idea. Right now I am in Portland, Oregon finishing my high school experience (with at least four more years to go before this whole “education” thing is done with for a long, long time) but I travel in my dreams, both by day and night. Through my constant “wanderings” in history class over the past few years I’ve amassed a list of things I am resolved to do some time between finishing up college and “growing up” – settling down, getting a job, and other such constraints of adulthood.
I will hike the Triple Crown (Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Appalachian Trails). I will canoe from the headwaters of the Mississippi in Minnesota to its mouth in Louisiana. I will bike from Tarifa, Spain to Tanger Morocco without entertaining the thought of crossing the Mediterranean Sea. I will ride a motorbike from the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa to the North Cape, Norway. All these and more have been carefully traced on a map hanging above my bed; they are the first things I see in the morning and the last at night.
I had even planned on creating a website to document my adventures and allow the world to experience my travels; using a play on words I thought of the URL http://www.wanderingwarren.com
I chanced upon your website by accident when I typed the link of my site-to-be and was redirected to wanderingearl.com. (This similarity might pose a problem later on in life, maybe http://www.whereswarren.com might be a better idea).
How great to be able to read the voyages and ideas of the sojourner I one day might hope to be! I hope that you realize your travels are truly inspiring, I can only hope to one day be able to be as seasoned.
Enjoy your travels, live each day to the fullest, and may one day our paths cross.
Hey Warren – Thanks so much for the comment and welcome to the site! I think that’s a wonderful idea to have those travel ideas posted on your ceiling above your bed. Seems like you’re fully dedicated to making those goals and dreams a reality and so I’m sure that you will do just that. Lots of excellent adventures await you it seems!!
And WheresWarren.com sounds quite good to me 🙂
Thanks again for sharing your story and I certainly do hope that we may meet up somewhere on the road one day…
Hey Earl, I’m relatively new to reading your blog, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it and learning as I go. My hubby and I are planning a trip ourselves and every little bit we learn from experienced travelers is good stuff 🙂
We are in a very small part of Virginia that most people have never heard of; Wise, Virginia. We’re in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains where we have the most incredible season changes I’ve ever witnessed. We’ve lived in Alaska and traveled the U.S. on multiple occasions, and autumn here in the mountains of SWVA is absolutely amazing. I’ll send pictures if you want!
Thank you for such an awesome blog, we have you bookmarked and check in every single day 🙂
Hey Michele – That sure sounds like a beautiful region of the US that you live in! I have not heard of that town but your description sure makes me want to visit at some point 🙂
And thank you so much for following along with the blog and leaving some comments. I always enjoy hearing from readers and learning a little about them as I feel so much more connected to the community when that happens!
Earl, big fan of your site and also your e-book refuse the rat race.. I’m in Sacramento, CA.. I have traveled before to different parts of the world on family vacations or study abroad, but now I want to do what your doing – finding a steady stream of income and travel consistently.. what I get from your travels as this is not a set of rules but rather a mindset.. if you have a mindset of abundance and live life with zest – the money will come and the travel will continue
Hey Ryan – Your comment is spot on. While one does have to work hard to earn money while traveling or to earn money that allows them to travel, the opportunities to do so will generally appear to those who are determined to make it a reality. Keeping an open-mind, interacting with as many people as possible and a willingness to be creative are all factors that can help you reach your goal.
There are a million ways to work and travel at the same and having the right mindset will help you discover them!
And thank you so much for being a fan of the site 🙂
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada 🙂
Planning on traveling to India next year for the first time. And then maybe Nepal! I have always dreamed of traveling the world and your adventures are a huge inspiration to me! I have never been any farther than Boston in my life, so this will be a big step.
Safe travels!
Hey Randi – Thanks for the comment! And that’s awesome that you’re planning to head to India/Nepal….my favorite region of the world 🙂 If you ever have any questions about those countries, just let me know. I could talk/write about India for a year straight without stopping.
And congratulations on your decision to take the step and do some traveling!
Hey Earl! In three weeks I’m heading to Amsterdam, Austria, Prague and Ireland! I love your blog!
Thank you so much Maggie 🙂 And congratulations on your upcoming trip!! I’m glad to see Prague on your itinerary as it’s one of my favorite European cities!!
Hey Earl!
Wow the people who commented live in some amazing places! I am from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and absolutely love it here. I have lived here my whole life, but can’t wait to start traveling more! Next June/July I’ll be roaming around Europe- that would have been a much more interesting post!
Allison
Hey Allison – Well, then you’ll have to comment again once your trip begins next year! I haven’t been to the Twin Cities but can imagine that it’s quite a nice place to live. Of course, even the best places can’t stop us from wanting to travel 🙂
Hi Earl!
I just found your blog by chance this evening, and what a great find it was! You’re basically living my life’s dream and after reading many of your posts I’m even more inspired to get started.
Much admiration for you, from Montreal Canada 🙂
Hey Emily – Thank you so much for commenting and I’m honestly happy to know that you feel inspired after reading through some of my posts! Please do let me know if you ever have any questions about anything. I’m always more than happy to answer anything. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the summer up there in beautiful Montreal!
Hi Earl,
I am at Otago University (in Dunedin, New Zealand), sitting in the library surrounded by books daydreaming about the travels I am yet to have. If you are ever down in NZ I will be happy to show you the sites! Later this year I am off to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam for a month – I can’t wait!
Renata
Hey Renata – Welcome to the site and I am happy to hear you’re currently thinking about travel! And I actually have a good friend from Dunedin so whenever I do make it to NZ again, I shall be sure to get in touch with you 🙂
Hi Earl,
I’m in Nausori, Fiji where I’ve been a Peace Corps Volunteer for the last two years working at the town council office. I’m heading back to Northern California at the beginning of August… but not without a two month detour through Brisbane, Bali, Java & Vietnam. I’m a newbie to travel but I’m doing it anyway. Read the post on Kuta, Bali. Thanks.. the plan is to go straight to Ubud and avoid the whole southern part of the island. So much to see, so little time. Cheers!
Hey Khrissy – Thanks for commenting and I hope things have been going well for you out there in Fiji! Either way, you’re upcoming ‘detour’ should prove to be quite a good one. Seems like you’ll be covering some excellent destinations. I was actually just talking with my friend earlier today about Java and also Sumatra (another great island in Indonesia) and how we’d love to go back there soon.
And it seems like you have the right attitude to be a traveler – just doing it anyway. All you need to do is get out there and start…from there the rest will fall into place 🙂
Safe travels!
Hello Earl! I JUST stumbled across your blog today, as I am feeling the lure of ‘ship life’ grow stronger each day my undergraduate graduation draws closer! I am pleased you have so much information on the topic you’re willing to share 🙂
The closest cruise lines to Oregon (current home-state) seem to only be Alaskan ones, but I’m sure I could use that as a way to start inching around the world, eh? 😉
Keep up the good work
Hey Neelie – Thank you for the comment! And the best thing about ship life is that you can apply to any cruise line that is located anywhere in the world. They will pay for your flight from your home city to wherever the ship is and just like that you’ll be visiting new lands and getting paid 🙂 You definitely don’t need to limit yourself to cruise lines based near your home town.
If you ever have any questions about ship life at all, feel free to send me an email and I’ll help you out as best I can!
Hey Earl, I just stumbled across your site a few days ago and have been straight up devouring your content since! My wife and I are planning to move to the Riviera Maya (probably either Playa or Akumal) soon so your site has been a great resource and a huge inspiration to us. It’s nice to hear some encouraging words rather than of all the naysayers out there. Since I’m currently stuck in a cubicle in the Midwest your blog is not only a font of information for me but a nice break from the grind. Thanks a ton and please keep up the good work!
PS. We’ll be in Akumal in October so if you’re around maybe we could buy you a beer or a meal
Hey Jason – Welcome to the blog and I appreciate your comment! And of course, that’s great news that you’re considering a move down to this region of Mexico. Akumal is also a great place to consider living, especially if you prefer the fully laid-back, slow pace of life that it offers (not to mention it’s stunning white sand beaches). Hopefully those visions of life in paradise help keep your mind occupied while you remain in a cubicle for now 🙂
And I shall look forward to meeting with you when you arrive to Akumal later in the year. Definitely let me know when you’re headed down here and if you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to ask away!
You are correct sir, visions of paradise are what get me by! I look forward to meeting you and thanks for the reply. I’ll send you an email here soon with some questions, thoughts etc. (as soon as I get them all in coherent form). Thanks again.
Hey Earl, how’s it going? The Ultimate Train Challenge sounds exciting, good luck! Do you think you’ll be back in Playa by the 2nd week of October? Cheers, Jason
Hey Jason – I’m working on my schedule over the next couple of weeks but I think I’ll probably stick around Asia for a while after the trip is over. It would be a shame to travel across the planet by train only to turn around and head back right after 🙂
But I’ll post my plans as soon as I have them. If it does work out that I’m back, I assume you’re heading this way to Playa in October?
Hey Earl!
I’m loving your blog so so much, huge fan! I’m currently, to my dismay, living in California. I spent last fall in Cairo, Egypt studying abroad and next semester I will be interning in Washington DC. I hope to head back to the Middle East and Africa as soon as I finish my undergrad!
(I know I’m responding to this post a month late but I felt compelled to put a word in)
I hope you’re enjoying Mexico!! You are a huge inspiration man, keep up the good work!!
Thank you so much for the kind comment Kjrstin! It’s always wonderful to know that others find this site inspiring, especially those who are interested in exploring more of this world. Seems like the taste of travel that you enjoyed from your study abroad experience is only the beginning of your adventures 🙂
[…] in March, when I had to suddenly change my plans and return to North America from Singapore, I went ahead and booked a flight with Continental Airlines. Then, due to the earthquake and […]
[…] in March, when I had to suddenly change my plans and return to North America from Singapore, I went ahead and booked a flight with Continental Airlines. Then, due to the earthquake and […]
Hey Earl
I live in Perth, Western Australia. Only six weeks till I start my around the world trip. First stop Auckland then it’s of to Hawaii.
Hey Shaun – Six weeks! Awesome stuff. And what a way to start off…Auckland & Hawaii. Although, just be careful…you may never make it out of Hawaii. Those islands tend to have that effect on people.
Visiting London at the moment. On break from my cruise ship 😉
Hackney, London, England 🙂
… for now.
@freyshine: For now? Any big travel plans in the future? At least London is an exciting to be for the time being!
Hi Earl,
I live in Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos got its name from Lagos…Portugal. There are a few similarities between the two places (mostly the abundance of beaches) but there are loads of un-similaries too (Is there even a word like that? :-)) Anyway, have you ever been to Lagos (either one) before?
Hey Lape – I have not been to either Lagos yet 🙂 But Nigeria is definitely on the radar for the near future!
Hiya Earl, I was in Cambodia during Nov and Dec 2010 then London for a quickie last month and currently trying to find ways to beat the heat in Austin, TX.
Looking forward to your next update!
Hey Maria – Thank you for commenting! I hope your trip to Cambodia was a rewarding one. Looks like I was right next door in Thailand while you were over there in December.
Good luck with the Austin heat. I’m currently battling the heat down here in Mexico although I’m quite sure it’s a losing battle 🙂
Hola Earl,
Just arrived back in Atlanta after being in Guatemala last week. Next week it’s El Salvador and the following week is for a quick visit to the Dominican Republic.
I was just thinking about you today Earl because a friend of mind moved to Sayulita. The first time I heard of that town was from reading your blog!
Saludos!
Hola Carlos – Good to hear from you!! I hope you’ve been well. At least your travel itinerary is keeping you busy!
And that’s funny about Sayulita. That was quite a while ago when I mentioned that town so thank you for still following my blog. I’m sure your friend will love it down there as I’ve still yet to hear a negative word about that place. And no matter where I go in the world, Sayulita still remains my favorite place that I’ve ever lived in.
If you ever head back to Mexico in the near future be sure to let me know!
Hey Earl! I’m in London, UK and planning the start of a never ending voyage with my partner. Though I’m sure we’ll end up spending ages in many places.
Hey Zab – Thanks for the comment! Seems like you’re about to begin an exciting new stage in life. I love the term ‘never ending voyage’ as it implies that you’re plan is open and you’re willing to see what new opportunities come your way. And that’s definitely the way to go!
I think it would be nice if all of us who follow Earl in the online world can catch up with him in some place for a — ‘Let’s meet Wandering Earl’ Event 🙂 I don’t know if this is feasible or how to make it happen, but I surely would love to meet Earl and so many of the awesome travel lovers who also are friends of Earl or Follow his travel adventures around the world! Would be good to meet the ‘master’ face to face and get some first hand tips on travel. 🙂 🙂
Hey Beena – That sounds like a good idea to me! I would love to meet everyone as well so perhaps I should start planning an event 🙂 And I’m hardly a master, just a person who has spent a long time traveling. I’m always learning as well so if everyone was to meet up, I’m sure we’d all be able to learn a great deal from each other!
Thank you for your kind comment Beena!
In tantalizing Dorset, England but leaving for south east Asia in 3 days. First Malaysia, then all the way up through Thailand to Chiang Mai. We’re hoping to cross the border by ferry at Satun and get in a spot of island life with dashings of Songkran.
On another note… you can’t leave for America Earl… we promised you drinks…
Hey Andrew – Haha…that you did, and don’t you worry, I won’t forget! Unfortunately, I’m already back in N. America. But seriously, I’m excited for you guys, especially since you’ll be in Thailand for Songkran which is one of my favorite festivals on the planet.
Safe travels to Malaysia and I look forward to those drinks at a later, but hopefully not too much later, date!
Hi Earl,
I have been reading your blog for a while now… I’m mostly in Copenhagen, Denmark but at the moment I’m travelling in Brazil 🙂 Keep up the great work 🙂
– Line
Hey Line – Well, I haven’t been to either Denmark or Brazil so I now know who to talk to when the time comes for me to visit those countries! I really appreciate you commenting and I hope that you’re having a wonderful time traveling through Brazil right now, which I’m sure you are!
Hey Earl!
To answer your question I have to ask one myself – where I am physically or mentally? Physically I’m in Romania (Transylvania to be more exact) – it’s where I live, but mentally I’m all over the place. Most of the times I’m in the US (spent 4 glorious summers working and visiting places), but as of yesterday I’m heading in the direction of New Zealand (and if plane tickets weren’t so darn expensive my body would have been able to keep up). I try to squeeze as much traveling I can in my life (studying to be a specialist doctor – final exam this October), but next week I’m heading to the amazing city of Budapest! So all is not lost, although sometimes I feel I’m going insane for not being able to travel as much as I want to (this is not an excuse, unfortunately it’s my reality), but one day I’ll snap, pack a backpack and head out into the world! You and the entire travel blog community make it seem worthwhile! Keep up the amazing work and I’m waiting for that invitation (as well as some tips for cheaper flights) 🙂
Hey Joseph – Haha…I like that a lot and can relate to the difference between physical and mental presence. Hopefully you’re mentally enjoying New Zealand at the moment 🙂 And I assume you’re physically heading to Budapest?! At least you get to do a significant amount of travel it seems, which is quite impressive considering your studies.
Let me know when you fully snap and we’ll meet up somewhere out there!
Hi Earl,
I am in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy (halfway between Venice and Verona) as a Rotary Youth Exchange student for one year. I am from Frisco, Colorado which is nested in the highest of the Rocky Mountains. I ski a lot there. I was actually born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and I go back there for a month at least a month out of every year to be with my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. I am now fluently trilingual with English, Spanish, and Italian and am trying to learn French. After college, I hope to do something more or less along the lines of what you do – travel and write. I actually have my own blog which is a precursor to another, larger blog that I will be launching this summer hopefully.
I like the new look by the way.
– Alex
Muchas gracias Alex! I’ve actually spent a good amount of time in Jalisco, but along the coast, not in Guadalajara. Such a wonderful part of Mexico. And well done with the languages. I’m still working on my espanol! I hope you’re enjoying life in Italy (which I’m sure you are) and I shall look forward to seeing your new blog.
Whenever I go to the beach when I’m in Mexico I either go to Punta Mita (which is halfway between Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita) or Manzanillo (which is actually Colima not Jalisco). Where on the Jalisco coast have you been? I love certain parts of it because its not as Americanized as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, etc. and because I think the food is a lot better on the Pacific coast. I’d just love some grilled marinated fish skewers right now …
@TravelingAlex: I’m definitely familiar with Punta Mita. I took a couple of snorkeling trips out to the protected islands just off the coast from Punta Mita. And sorry, when I said I lived on the Jalisco coast, I actually meant Nayarit. I get those two mixed up every now and then. I spent 3 months in Sayulita and the a month and a half in Chacala, about an hour or so north of Sayulita. Now that is one beautiful, yet quiet place!
Alright, I’ll have to make it up that way next time I’m down there! Do you happen to be planning on visiting Europe at all this spring? If so, will you be in Northern Italy by chance?
Hey Alex – I haven’t made it that far in terms of planning 🙂 I generally plan about a week in advance, although I don’t think I’ll be in Europe at this point as I have some things to take care of here in North America first. However, if I am ever in the general region of Northern Italy, you can bet I will be letting you know!
Hey Earl,
I’m in New York City- been here all my life- hope to be heading out for a few months soon- hopefully to Mexico, Italy and Poland.
Hey Jen – At least you’re in a place that is so jam-packed with different cultures. Being in NYC is sometimes like being all over the world at the same time! And I’m happy to hear that Mexico is on your list as that’s where I am right now 🙂
Hi Earl,
I was in China, then I met my fiance and we moved to his homestate, Florida, to get married. We’re plotting our escape, likely back to China, but if we had our way and unlimited funds we’d be everywhere. I don’t really like it here, so I can’t wait to be abroad again.
Good luck with your trip! Well I guess by now you’re home, but hope you’re rested.
Hey Ellis – Quite a difference between China and Florida! Hopefully you’ll be escaping back to the other side of the world soon. I know what it feels like to have that strong urge to be somewhere else!
Hi Earl!
I’m a long time reader of your blog but this is my first comment- how rude of me! Well, by way of an introduction I’m Lily and I’m in Birmingham, England- I’m here at university so right now I’m spending money on paying the bills and wishing I could be spending it on flinging myself across the globe.
Bali… now there’s a new place to dream about!
All the best
Hey Lily – Thank you for commenting! And if you’re already dreaming about travel now, there’s no reason why that can’t become a reality in the future 🙂 You’ll get to Bali!
I live at the beach in southeast NC, but will be selling most of my things to become nomadic at the end of May! I’ll be working as a travel trip leader guiding teenagers for the summer and then I’ll be working on a cruise ship for a few months (I can vouch for the effectiveness of your “How To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship” Guide).
Hey Katie – What an incredible summer and end of the year you have lined up! And thank you for vouching for the Guide. I can’t wait to hear about your experiences on board. Let’s see if you become as addicted to ship life as I was 🙂
Wow Earl, exciting stuff!!! I love the way life unfolds!
Well, I was in Egypt and then the revolution came along. We left a few months ago more due to fear of stuff running out than fear of our safety.
We have been in New York, Vermont and Montreal for the 2 months seeing friends and whats not. In around 2 weeks we will go back to Egypt via Berlin as we are thinking of moving there later this year…. See what happens.
Hey Forest – What a shame, as it looks like we’ll just miss each other. I’ll probably head up to New York at some point but probably a month from now or so.
I am happy to hear that you’re headed back to Egypt though, however, I’m not sure you’ll make it out of Berlin. That city has quite a magnetic quality to it that causes many visitors to instantly want to live there!
Earl, I got my visa. As you said, getting a visa in Chiang Mai was a breeze. A little office with no queue’s, one of the better visa application experiences I’ve had (apart of the cost). I’ll be there in April :).
I just found that ad. The Mexico Tourism board should use it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVMcFZ3NWX8
Looks like it was an Australian ad campaign:
(https://www.youtube.com/user/coronafwyrb)
Now I’m thinking that you are now from where we’d rather be. In the meantime, I’m at Black Canyon Chiang Mai, tipping a coffee in your general direction.
Well, I’m on the other coast of Mexico but I will say, it’s a mighty fine place to spend some time, especially if you’re into perfect white sand beaches 🙂
Glad to hear you now have an India visa in your possession. I shall raise my orange/beetroot juice to that!
Hi Earl,
Cool idea. I wish I’d thought to ask our reader where he is (hi Bob). We’re in Beirut and loving the place.
Hey Shane – Beirut! Quite a fascinating city, perhaps the most fascinating and complex city I’ve ever visited. I hope you are enjoying yourself over there. If you need a good place to get some blogging/work done, the Saifi Urban Gardens cafe in Gemnayze was my savior!
Hi Earl
Finally someone who feels the same about this bizzarre place. I was there last month and whilst I havent travelled extensively I couldn’t believe there was anywhere as foul as Kuta. Not just the tourist attitude and the ridiculous stalls and shop,s but the filth and dirt around the town as well. The beach was awash with rubbish and you couldn’t wade in the sea without plastic bags wrapping round your legs instantly. I simply don’t understand how this place appeals even to the drunk and lewd brigade. I feel deeply sorry for the locals but am simply amazed that tourism has not completely collapsed already.
James
Hey James – You gave a pretty good description of what I saw as well and I also found myself confused as to why people found this place so attractive for a holiday. I guess the cheap prices is enough to keep people flocking there, no matter how dirty it may be!
Hello Earl! I am in Houston, TX.
Hey Amanda – My original flight was supposed to take me through Houston but I ended up flying via San Fran in the end. But I’m a fan of Houston! My first cruise ship contract was on a ship out of Galveston and so we used to head up to Houston whenever we could 🙂
There is a Corona ad in Australia that says “From where you’d rather be” (I don’t know if they use the same ad in the USA).
While Mexico is pretty good, right now I’m guessing I’m at where you’d rather be. I’m bummed out you had to leave Chiang Mai so soon.
Hey James – I haven’t seen that ad but you’re right, it sure is spot on in this case. And I was definitely looking forward to being in Chiang Mai, but I have no doubt we’ll meet up again and I shall look forward to that time. In the meantime, enjoy Chiang Mai yourself!
And did you manage to get your Indian visa? I hope you don’t have any issues with that 🙂
Currently I am in South Florida unfortunately no plans to go out for travels until August. Love following your blog hopefully I will be in Brazil soon.
Hey Earl! Glad to hear you arrived in the US in one piece! I’m eagerly awaiting a ‘US border immigration fiasco’ post though…even if it wasn’t a fiasco, I’m interested as to how you got treated this time around.
I’m in Hama, Syria, at the moment. Gonna ‘get away from it all’ at the monastery of Mar Musa for a couple of days soon, and then head back up to beloved Aleppo to teach English for a few months (the Iran work visa fell through…but at least Syria is an equally alluring and friendly country in which to live!).
Then, come early July, I’m gonna head to my dream destinations of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan for 3 months…I’m already itching with excitement to explore these countries, as I don’t know much about them (apart from what I’ve read in books), so I can’t wait to learn as much as possible, witness their beautiful landscapes and attempt to communicate with the people, with me only knowing a few words each of Russian, Armenian and Azeri! (but no Georgian!)
Oh btw, Ahmed the owner recently returned to the Al-Gawaher Hotel in Aleppo, after holidaying in Malaysia and Turkey for a couple of mths…so I said ‘Hi’ to him from you! The guys at the hotel really miss you, they’re always talking about you!
Hey Sharni – It’s amazing how travelers tend to stay put in Aleppo for a while. It’s certainly a difficult city to say goodbye to! And it sounds like you’re headed for a dream summer in that part of the world. I shall look forward to hearing about the countries you visit.
And there was no fiasco at all when I returned to the US this time. The immigration officer asked me two questions and that was it. They didn’t even stop me at Customs! I was in shock for about 24 hours afterward 🙂
Hey Earl, I am in downtown Seattle and always have a place for you to crash!
@joshywashington: Thanks man, I really appreciate that! Seattle is always a city I enjoy visiting so I’m bound to show up one of these days!
Hi Earl,
I am in Pune, India. Reading your blog and getting inspired to travel more! 🙂 Took your advise last time and visited Singapore –was lovely experience. Now to other not so easy destinations this year, I hope. When you visit India next, you must put Pune on your list of cities to visit. We can meet over a cup of chai 🙂
Best wishes to you in your travel and life ~~ 🙂 🙂
~Beena
Hey Beena – I shall definitely be in touch the next time I make it to India! Somehow, despite having spent over two years in India, I have never made it to Pune, so it is now on the list… Looking forward to that cup of chai 🙂
Lisbon, Portugal!
Hey Luis in Lisbon! You live in another one of my favorite cities 🙂
Originally from small town Texas; currently living in Seongnam, South Korea…love your blog!
Hey Rachel – Thanks so much! A year teaching in Korea must be quite the experience and about as different from small town Texas as could possibly be 🙂
Sigh. Earl. Why didn’t you ask this last week? My answer would’ve been – I’m in Berlin, Germany, yeeee ha!
Now the answer is, I’m in my hometown, Krasnodar, Russia. It’s not too great here and the interesting thing is that 2 out of 3 times when I came back home from a trip I got very sick. It’s a sign. I know it is.
Thankfully, I won’t be staying here for a long time, in less than 3 weeks I’ll be going to Istanbul for 2 months. Looking forward to it already.
Hey Ira – Sorry 🙂 Hopefully you’ll be able to handle the next three weeks at home! But I’m sure you will since you have such a trip to Istanbul to look forward to. And that’s interesting about you getting sick when going home as I almost always start coughing and sneezing whenever I return to the US. It’s been happening for years now!
Hi:) I live in Poznań, Poland. 🙂 It’s my first comment here so I’ll just add that I like your blog very much 🙂 Wish you all the best!:)
Hey Ania – Thank you so much for your comment! Seems like there are a few readers from Poland. Unfortunately, I haven’t been to your country yet, so I should probably think about traveling there at some point soon 🙂
We are in a little village near the German-Austrian border, where we’ll be housesitting for the next month, before heading south to Italy. Looking outside I see mountains covered in snow – quite a change of scenery after 9 months in Central America & Mexico 😉
Hey Dani – Well, that doesn’t sound like such a bad alternative to Central America 🙂 Hopefully you enjoy the mountains as much as the beach!
I’m currently in Cologne, Germany. Would be a damn far trip to Hawaii, but I’d love to go anyway! 😉
Hey Fabian – Well, unfortunately my flight was re-routed through Hong Kong and San Francisco in the end so I missed out on Hawaii. Oh well. And on a side note, just read through the first half of your eBook this morning and I’m loving it so far. Congratulations!
Hi Earl, I’m in Dallas, Texas in the US where I live. I am feeling better but still not up to international travel yet. I will be attending Singularity University in Silicon Valley April 1-8 though! 🙂
Hey Jennifer – The Singularity University seems interesting. I just read some more about it on their website as I had never heard of it before. Should be quite a rewarding week up there!
Settling into my new apartment in Hong Kong at the moment and expect to be here for at least a couple of years!
Hey Connie – Hong Kong for a couple of years sounds excellent! My flight home ended up being changed at the last minute and I flew through Hong Kong actually. What a tease to only have a couple of hours at the airport and not being able to head into the city. I guess I will happily settle for reading about the city through your experiences instead 🙂
Oh, Earl, this is a great idea. Actually I think you’re the one that’s difficult to keep track of. I’m in northern Israel right now, where I’m staying with my friend for two weeks. Next, I’m heading to southern Egypt, probably Aswan, for one to three months. Then, hopefully, hopefully I’ll be coming back to live in northern Israel for approximately one year. I was just out yesterday walking from kibbutz to kibbutz looking for a little apartment, and it looks very hopeful. They’re very open to me staying there, and their rooms are only a few hundred US dollars per month. There are so many kibbutzim, I think I’ll find something. Northern Israel is so beautiful, with tons of nature – streams, waterfalls, mountains, beaches, hills, dales. It’s incredible. From my bedroom window right now I can see the country of Jordan. I’ll also be spending some long-term time in Jerusalem, but I don’t know when. It’s very expensive, but I really want to spend a minimum of a month there. It’s my favorite city on earth. Okay. That’s enough infor for now 🙂
Hey Sabina – That seems like such a good plan and just reading about it makes me miss the Middle East…and want to live in Northern Israel! A few hundred dollars seems quite reasonable for an apartment in a region that offers as much as you describe. Perhaps I need to explore that option myself one of these days 🙂
Safe travels to Egypt in the meantime!
Hi Earl!
I never comment but love reading your post on my google reader. I am from Boston!
Hey Pam – Thanks so much for leaving your first comment 🙂 And I’m actually from Boston as well. I grew up about twenty miles south of the city but don’t make it back too often these days unfortunately. Still remains one of my favorite cities on the planet though!
Hi Earl, I just stumbled upon your blog, and yet, another inspiring travel blog! nice..
I’m in Jakarta, Indonesia right now and within 2 weeks I’ll be traveling to Manila, The Philippines..
Hey Bama – Terimah kasih for your comment! And safe travels to the Philippines…a country I’ve wanted to visit for a long time but have yet to reach!
Hey Earl! You do know some Bahasa, very nice!
In Florida, waiting for my wandering son to visit !!
Awwww 🙂
Thank you mom. I shall be there soon!
Literally just got back from NY, then a trip down part of the eastern seaboard back to Montebello, VA. In April I plan on going down to Fl for a little time, then back here, then in May it’s off to basic training in SC, after that it’s to Richmond, VA for a tad bit, then on to Fl for more training. If you don’t hear from me for 9 straight weeks its cause I’m in basic training.
Hey Ozzy – So basically you’re going to be all over the place! Sounds like quite a hectic schedule you have but let me know when you’re in Florida. If I’m there at the same time perhaps we can meet up somewhere…
I will. I should be there for awhile when I get there. And I will be there for a week in April I hope.
I’m still in Montreal, where there are many amzing places to eat indian curries (and pad thai as well!). Unfortunately the only travel I am considering in the near future is down to the US, to visit family… not quite as exotic as I would like!
Hey Rose – Hmm…Indian curries…all anyone needs to mention are those two words and I’d consider visiting any city! And at least you’re traveling, even if it is only down to the US for a visit…a change of scenery always helps.
Safe journey home my friend! BTW, where in FL will you be? I’ll be in Miami and Key Largo April 6-10. I’ll have a car, would LOVE to meet up!!!
Hey Andi – I shall be in Florida between those dates, about an hour and a half north of Miami 🙂 So let’s meet up! Let me know which day works best for you…
Hi Earl,
I was just in Tokyo. We missed each other again. I am in Calgary, Canada now for a while. You should try and visit if you have a chance this summer.
Hey John – Soon we’ll have just missed each other on every continent at the rate we’re going! Now that I’m back in North America I’m going to try and put together some plans so I shall let you know my whereabouts. A trip to Vancouver might be happening in which case I’d love to combine that with a visit to Calgary as well.
What a fun idea! We’re currently in Austin, TX – we attended the SXSW conference last week. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be staying (maybe a week or two?), but when we leave we’ll head to New Mexico, and then Utah and Arizona!
I love Texas. I went to A&M and just last year moved from Houston.
Hey Christy – Oh New Mexico! I love New Mexico 🙂 There’s something about a trip around the Southwest US that is always appealing. I seem to enjoy that part of the country more and more with each visit. I hope you had a great week in Austin and that the rest of your journey proves rewarding!
I know you know where we are, but we’re not there right now!! We are in Nelson Bay about 2.5 hours north of Sydney. After a relaxing evening last night we are off to a women’s surf pro contest in Newcastle today…. and then it is back home to reality.
Enjoy your long flight home!
Hey Caz – Haha…sounds like a mighty fine getaway! The surf contest must have been quite an event…you weren’t participating were you?? 🙂
Hey Earl. You always know where to find me. Never moving from the great country of Turkey!
Hey Natalie – So you’re there for life? In that case I have some time to make it back there to visit!
I live in Munich Germany. Just returned from Tokyo during the earthquake. My Saturday morning flight was cancelled and then the Sunday flight delayed and I missed the connection in Beijing so spent a night there. Good luck with your trip
Hey Gary – That seems like a very hectic journey out of Tokyo but I’m glad to hear you made it home safely in the end. I ended up being re-booked on a completely different flight route at the last minute so my journey wasn’t as crazy as yours!
Enjoy being back in Munich!
We are in West End, Roatan Island, Honduras. We will be in this island for maybe a week. In the near future, we will make our way through Nicaragua and Costa Rica to Panama, then sail to Mallorca, Spain.
What a great list by fellow travelers friends up there! I should come back alter again to find people that happen to be around us or where we are going to go.
Hey Dina – Sailing to Mallorca? Please elaborate! And I’m jealous that you will be in Nicaragua soon. That was my favorite stop on my Central America trip by far!
Newcastle, England…I’ve given myself until November to book a one way flight out of here. But of course you know this because you have very kindly answered my stressy advice emails in the past 😛
Hey Anthony – Well, I’m happy to know that you’re sticking with your deadline! And I can’t wait to read about the moment that you actually book that flight ticket 🙂
Wow, I’m excited to hear where you’ll end up! I’m currently in London, but strategising my next move – hopefully Paris for a few months!
Hey Nicole – I love that you used the word ‘strategising’! Deciding on where to go next definitely requires more than just the flip of a coin. It’s an important decision that needs to be thought through carefully at times 🙂 And Paris always sounds like an ideal option!
Medellin, Colombia 🙂
Hey James – Ah, good old Medellin. With all the talk about this place over the past few months, I definitely need to schedule a visit down there at some point in the near future!
We’re fortunately stuck in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. Living the dream!
Hey Cam – Haha…naturally, when I first read your comment I read “unfortunately”, which is a word that is rarely used in the same sentence as Vancouver of course! Glad to hear life is going well and perhaps now that I’m back in North America we’ll get a chance to meet up, perhaps in Vancouver considering that I’ve never been before 🙂
I’m the only reader from Poland?
Płock, 100km west from Warsaw, our Capital city 😉
Best wishes. 😉
Hey Slawek – Well, it seems that there are at least 3 readers from Poland, although you’re probably the only one from Plock 🙂
Thank you so much for commenting!
Aha! I’ve never commented but my hometown is featured, guess I ought to leave my footprint behind. 😀
I’m originally from Singapore, was reading your older posts from India, currently residing in Shanghai. Come summer, I might be in Tibet reading your future posts.
Cheers
Hey Usha – I appreciate you commenting! And I will say that I just spent a wonderful week in Singapore. It was my third visit but this time around I enjoyed it more than ever before 🙂 So, a trip to Tibet? That should be quite a nice way to spend your summer!
Hey Earl,
As we type we are currently eating breakfast in Regina, SK, Canada. This has been home base for most of our natural lives, but we are giving our notice at work(in 3 weeks – yikes), renting our house, and hopefully leaving Regina for a 15-month-ish RTW at the end of June. Initially we had always planned on stop number one being Guatemala, but we are now concerned that we might be in that part of the world during the rainy season (not sure how big of a deal that is), and may actually start in Western Europe (Spain, I think) instead…safe travels!!
Hey Skott and Shawna – Congratulations on making the decision to embark on such an adventure! I’m sure you’ll be getting increasingly excited (and probably nervous) as June approaches 🙂
As for the rainy season, it definitely depends on the traveler. I personally don’t mind rainy seasons too much because it generally only rains once per day and there are normally less travelers during those periods of time. However, if you don’t think you’d enjoy always having to deal with the possibility of rain affecting your plans, then perhaps Western Europe would be a better start.
Have a good final few months at home!
In Shanghai, China, as usual, and mentally preparing for several summer months spent first back home in Canada (Vancouver Island) then in Sri Lanka.
Hey Maryanne – China to Canada to Sri Lanka…definitely an interesting itinerary for the near future. And good luck with the mental preparation before returning home! I didn’t have any time to do that before my sudden return back to North America. Hopefully I’ll survive.
suburb of Portland, Oregon …today 🙂
Hey Lorie – Today? Seems like you’re ready for another trip!
Hi Earl,
You’re so cool. My favourite thing about reading travel blogs is feeling like it’s a sort of (lop-sided) dialogue between the author’s post and the readers’ comments — and you’ve taken it to the next level.
I’m based in Seoul, Korea — planning to leave for a RTW backpacking trip starting in Sept. — but may be stuck here longer if I get surgery on my broken foot. Boo for being a one-legged dancer!
Hey Odysseus – Yeah, that broken foot of yours should definitely be your top priority! Although, “Hobbling Traveler” is quite a catchy name for a new blog or even a series of posts 🙂
I’m a reader from Germany. Thanks for your informative blog. It’s help planning my own RTW very soon.
Hey Lothar – Thanks for commenting and I’m glad to hear you’re planning a RTW adventure! If you ever have any questions at all, please feel free to send me an email and I’d be more than happy to offer any advice I can.
I’m in Portland, OR but will be traveling the world in less than a year. Inspired by your travels!
Hey Kim – Thanks so much! Hearing those words is exactly why I want to have this blog in the first place 🙂
Luckily, Portland is quite a good place to be in the meantime!
Just got to Bangkok a few days ago. First time in Thailand. Staying for a month or so iin Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai. Focused on taking it all in so the blog has been quiet for a few days. Hope to share my thoughts in a few days.
Always a pleasure to read your posts! Hope the travelling goes well, wherever you end up.
hey Earl, in Puerto Galera Philippines now heading over to Bali in a few weeks…
We are in Puerto Viejo, a chilled beach town in Costa Rica.
Hope you manage to get home OK!
Hi Earl, right now I am in Minneapolis, MN.
A couple months ago I asked you about some good and cheap places in Yucatan to relocate for a few months. One of the places that you recommended me was Holbox. And I’ve been living here since the end of January and it’s a really awesome place. And it’s cheap, too – I only need $400 a month to live here!
So if you eventually land in Cancun, you can definitely come to Holbox for a few days!
As you know I’m still in Vallarta, right by Sayulita where you used to live. I read you’re flying to Cancun…no stopover in the Pacific coast? Surf’s up next week!
Hi Earl, we’re in California right now. But starting in April we’ll be in Colombia slowly making our way down to Argentina. And aaw, you like us more than Indian curry. I love, love, love Indian curry — so that means a lot 🙂
kandyce in denver, CO, hoping for coimbatore, india in a few months.
wanderlust is a bummer when you have a desk job and some school debt to tie you down.
(Where is the like button? 🙂
Hey, Earl! Wow, more than your favorite Indian curries? That’s HUGE!
I’m still in Ireland, though headed to Morocco and Spain in a few days. I’m really curious about your changes in routes and all the short stopovers, but I suppose that will have to wait for the house party. 😉 Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Columbus, Ohio
Otherwise maybe I’ll join you at the party!
Maybe you’ve already seen on my blog that I am my current whereabouts is Stockholm, Sweden. In fact, thought I have not been sharing this too extensively on my blog since I don’t want to get on the wrong side of immigration, I am effectively trapped in Sweden since they didn’t approve my common law spouse visa (I stupidly mentioned that we might not stay forever and ever). I have been shuffled on to the work permit unit but I have been without visa since November.
I can’t leave Sweden! I’m trapped. This is not a good situation for the travel desperate. Luckily I am actually properly leaving for travel in the US and to move back to Australia so even if my visa doesn’t ever happen I’m outta here.
Perhaps that was more information than you needed but I couldn’t help share the visa woe. It has been bottled up for too long 🙂
I hope you manage to get to where you’re heading despite all the delays 🙂
I get everyone confused all the time!! I follow a large number of blogs and am familiar with all their voices and am interested in their stories, but I often forget where they are right now never mind where they were from originally!! I like the idea of getting to know everyone better though and so I will start off…I am currently in Victoria BC Canada but am moving to Calgary, Alberta (Canada) next week. This will be my new base until we figure out what our next Giant Step will be! Thanks for asking Earl!! Cheers!
We are in BC Canada, looking forward to the coming spring and hoping our house sells so our family (Me, hubby, and two kids) can start a new chapter in our lives, traveling slowly around Asia.
Wow that was a run on sentence! Have fun in Hawaii!