Fast forward a decade and I decided to give vegetarianism another chance. I was midway through an around the world backpacking trip, and going meat free seemed like a fairly easy choice.

Southeast Asia offered plenty of vegetarian street food options, and I wasn’t too keen to eat meat after seeing fly-covered carcasses in outdoor markets, sans refrigeration. Add a general preference for vegetarian food plus concern for the environment and the weird realization that some people in Vietnam ate dogs, but kept pigs as pets… deciding to go meat free was easy.

Here’s a few tips for surviving a long term backpacking trip as a vegetarian:

Know your local cuisine

Depending on where you go in the world, eating vegetarian could be super simple (India) or a major hassle (anywhere meat is a major part of the diet). Research your destination before you go and make sure you know what vegetarian options you’ll find in the local cuisine.

Take a daily multivitamin

Sustaining a healthy vegetarian diet while traveling requires nutritional know-how. If you simply subtract meat and make up the caloric deficiency with sugar and processed foods, your health is going to suffer. Make sure you are informed about your daily nutritional needs, and give yourself the added nutritional boost of a daily multivitamin.

Eat enough protein, healthy fats and iron

Protein and healthy fats are what keep you keep you going on long travel days. Be sure you’re getting sufficient protein, in the form of tofu, legumes or dairy, and don’t be afraid to load up on healthy fats found in avocado, butter and some oils, which will help you feel full longer. Iron is an important mineral our bodies need to function; luckily, it’s present in many foods. Educate yourself about how to eat enough iron as a vegetarian and how iron is absorbed by your body, so your long term travel doesn’t lead to a deficiency.

Go green

Pack spirulina or green veggie powders or capsules for countries where your green veggie intake is low. This includes anywhere it isn’t typically safe for travelers to eat the salads, or where salad isn’t really part of the local cuisine.

Healthy snacks

Processed food snacks are everywhere, but these toxic sugar packets won’t keep you going for long. Instead, opt for healthy snacks like fruit and nuts. I was surprised to find fruit and some type of nuts available in practically every country I traveled to on my around-the -world trip. In Myanmar, the nuts were peanuts, but these were sold in most small markets and even served as an appetizer at restaurants…a major score for a vegetarian, especially in a country where healthy snacks were difficult to find! Fruit is also readily available and sold on street corners around the world; just remember your body can’t survive on mangoes and papaya alone.

BYO

Load up your backpack with your favorite healthy vegetarian snacks from home, and consider shipping yourself a care package to pick up along the journey. Those bars, trail mix, dried fruit, roasted chickpeas etc. can really make a difference in your daily vegetarian travel diet.

Be flexible

You came to see the world, and one of the important lessons long term travel teaches is how to be flexible. You’ll know when it’s time to be flexible about your vegetarian diet; perhaps it’s a home cooked meal in a remote village, or the only option besides a processed food snack. Make the choice that’s right for your body, your health and your experience —and don’t beat yourself up for a minor slip up.

Have you traveled somewhere as a vegetarian? I’m curious what strategies other travelers use to sustain a healthy vegetarian diet while traveling. Share your tips below! 

A breakfast spread, enjoyed while on a camel safari in the desert near Jaisalmer, India.

Myanmar cuisine, featuring… peanuts!

Amazing night market with tasty vegetarian wraps in Pai, Thailand.

Lost inside a maze-like market off La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain.

Fresh salad on a tiny island near Santorini, Greece

Dal, a Nepalese staple.

Fresh-baked donuts on the beach in Sumbawa? Yes, please!

Yogurt with walnuts, honey and berries in Athens, Greece.

Colorful dragonfruit in Bali for the win.

Street food Pad Thai from a night market in Thailand.

A Balinese mountaintop roadside feast.

DIY protein + healthy fats breakfast in Bali.

Dragonfruit, mango and papaya fruit salad.

After spending nine months circumnavigating the globe, it only took a few weeks at home before the open road started whispering my name again.

When a friend hopped over from Australia for a visit, it was all the excuse I needed to throw my camping gear in the car and head out in search of adventure.

Our first stop was Outside Lands music festival in foggy Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Summer music festivals are pretty high on my list of fun things to do, and with headliners like The Who, Metallica and Alt-J, the good vibes were in full swing all three days.

Other favorite sets from the weekend included Khraungbin, Foxygen, Maggie Rogers, Sofi Tukker, Temples, Real Estate and Bleachers.

With our heads still in the clouds, we headed south for a quick dip into Big Sur. Since access via highway one was closed for the season due to winter storm damage, this magical stretch of coastline was practically empty. It felt like we had traveled back in time to a wilder California.

I’d tell you where we camped but then I’d have to kill you. Let’s just say Big Sur has no shortage of secret spots for those willing to search for them.

It wasn’t easy to tear ourselves away from the sunshine, empty waves and epic coastal vistas, but the north was beckoning. After a morning surf at Sand Dollar Beach, we hit the road and, after a loooooong drive, finally made camp late that night on a fire road outside the northern California town of Lake Shasta.

In the morning, we hiked to Faery Falls and had this enchanted grotto all to ourselves. Skinny dip, anyone?

The vibe at Lake Shasta was so chilled out, we decided to spent another night there and enjoy a full day at a nearby lake. This was summer vacation, after all.

Our next stop was Crater Lake, which welcomed us with orange, hazy skies and zero visibility over the lake. Hello, fire season in Oregon.

We made camp at another secret spot, then watched from the rim of the crater as the skies miraculously cleared and the stars came out over the lake.

In the morning, we picnicked on the crater rim and took a million panoramic photos. The views were insanely gorgeous and the ultra-blue water took our breath away –literally. It was a vertical hike down to the edge of the lake via Cleetwood Cove Trail, where we dove off the rocks into the freezing water. The lake was so clear and blue it felt like you were floating in the sky instead of swimming.

After Crater Lake, we headed to Smith Rock State Park. With a stealthy location not far outside Bend, Oregon, Smith Rock has jaw-dropping scenery and world-class rock climbing, all tucked into a small area not far off the highway.

We hiked the Misery Ridge Trail for a stunning sunset and eagle’s eye view above the valley, then took a wrong turn on the way back and ended up doing the last hour of the hike in the dark along the River Trail. It was a late night and a long drive before we finally made camp near a lake not far from the Columbia River Gorge.

The next stop was Portland, Oregon for a skate session at the legendary Burnside Skatepark. After so much time in nature, even mellow Portland felt like a chaotic metropolis. We binged on pizza and congratulated ourselves on surviving the “apocaclipse,” our made-up word for the complete mayhem surrounding the upcoming total solar eclipse.

We had planned to stay in Oregon for the eclipse, but the crazy traffic and general insanity surrounding the next day’s cosmic event made us decide to drive straight on to Canada.

Oh, Canada! The landscape grew greener and more mountainous and we rolled north. Since my friend visiting from Australia was actually Canadian, he made a great tour guide for the Canada leg of the trip.

As we drove into Vancouver, the cityscape stretched across inlets and rivers with plenty of green space sprinkled around the tall buildings and historic neighborhoods.

After blissfully hot showers, we soaked up the skyline from a friend’s 25th floor penthouse in downtown Vancouver.

But the fun wasn’t over yet. We spent the next few days exploring the city –taking in the partial solar eclipse from the top of Mount Seymour, riding bicycles to a movie in Stanley Park and sampling the city’s best brunch spots (Yolks gets my vote).

After a few late nights in the city, we were ready to get back to nature. We packed up and hit the road, heading north once again towards Squamish and Pemberton.

My friend insisted it wasn’t a trip to Squamish without a quick jaunt to the top of The Chief, an enormous granite slab overlooking Howe Sound, where the mega-views aren’t for the faint of heart. I was huffing and puffing all the way up –this vertical hike isn’t joking around.

After picking up burritos from Mag’s 99, we cruised to a lake for a picnic lunch with an old friend who was climbing around Squamish and living out of her Chevy Astro van.

Next stop was a potato farm-turned brewery outside of Pemberton, where the valley views were truly gorgeous. That night, we made camp beside a river and woke up in a meadow sprinkled with crab apples, which made a tasty addition to our breakfast.

In the morning, we finally turned the car south and headed back to the ferry port outside of Vancouver, where we floated on over to Vancouver Island for a week of hiking, swimming holes, and even some wake surfing.

Our first stop on Vancouver Island was the Comox Valley, where we sampled the local swimming holes and lounged like lizards on warm rocks beside the river.

Next, we pitched our tent beside Horne Lake, where a friend’s family welcomed us for dinner and even took us for a spin on their wakesurfing boat. That night, we fell asleep under the stars as the boat drifted on the quiet lake.

In the morning, we set out on the road to the west coast of Vancouver Island, making sure to stop in at Cathedral Grove and another swimming hole along the way.

For the return trip back to California, we hit the Pacific coast for a surf, skate and cruise patrol along highway one. Check out my next post, West Coast Road Trip: Tofino, Canada to Santa Cruz, California to see what happened along the way.

Photos: @wizardslivers

When I set out on my around the world backpacking trip last October, my backpack weighed 14 kilos and my daypack (which I wore in front) weighed nearly 10 kilos –that’s over 50 pounds! When I arrived at my first hostel in Paris, I was exhausted and in actual pain from carrying the unfamiliar weight up steep flights of stairs in the city subway system, and walking what felt like miles through three airports. A week later, in Prague, I shipped about 10 pounds of miscellaneous stuff back home, having realized that I needed to lighten my load if I wanted to enjoy my trip.

Now, nearly nine months later, I’ve streamlined the contents of my backpack down to what I consider (mostly!) the essentials:

1. Capsule travel wardrobe

The capsule concept is key; everything must go with everything. If you’re traveling through different climates, pack for the first destination. If it’s within the budget to buy new clothes when you arrive somewhere warmer/colder, then do that. If your budget is tight, consider shipping yourself a box of clothes to pick up along the way, or hit up a secondhand shop or local market when you arrive in a new climate.

For my around-the world trip, I kept a swim suit, a pair of Athleta yoga tights and a lightweight down jacket throughout the entire journey. Everything else got lost, worn out, and replaced many times over along the way. 

Quick dry clothes that resist getting stinky and wick away sweat are awesome, as are loose-fitting, lightweight, breathable cottons. Choose darker, basic colors (black/grey) and stick to one or two accent colors to keep everything matchy-matchy. I prefer white to black, and can’t tell you how many white shirts I destroyed during my trip, while I kept the same practical black and grey tops throughout the entire journey.

Ultralite backpackers may only bring 2 changes of clothes (one to wash, one to wear), but I found it was easiest to have enough clothing to last about a week between washes.

2. Shoes

For an around the world trip, you really only need three pairs of shoes. Pack a pair of shower/beach flip flops, sneakers or running shoes you can walk up to 10 miles in (I love my Nike Airs), and either cute, dressy sandals or ankle boots, depending on your destination. Nope, don’t even think about bringing heels.

3. Organized storage

Keep your backpack from turning into a humongous black hole. Invest in packing cubes, zippered pouches,a compact reusable shopping bag and ziplock bags. Strangely, it’s hard to find ziplock bags anywhere outside of the USA and Australia. As quickly as possible, develop a system so you know exactly where everything in your backpack goes –especially your passport, wallet, cell phone, keys, lock and chargers –it will prevent you from losing stuff. Before leaving anywhere, do a quick check to make sure you have the big 3 –wallet, passport and cell phone.

4. Creative projects or toys  

Whatever you enjoy doing or want to learn how to do, you will have plenty of time to play and create on your journey around the world. It’s worth the weight, so go ahead and pack those tarot cards, journal, tape, pens, watercolors, scissors, a deck of cards, travel size cribbage, poi, juggling balls, a frisbee, ukelele or harmonica, a foldable hula hoop…get creative and have fun. I picked up a deck of The Wild Unknown tarot cards in Bali and have absolutely loved having them along on my journey, since they are both a fun group hostel activity and a meditation/soul-searching aid whenever I am faced with a challenging situation on the road.

5. Headlamp

Do more, better in the dark. ‘Nuff said.

6. Quick dry towel

Many hostels and hotels will provide towels, but it’s helpful to have a small travel towel for the times when they don’t.  Beware; a travel towel will still get stinky, even though it dries fast. Just don’t forget about it for days in the bottom of your backpack!

7. Multipurpose sarong or scarf

Bring a lightweight and versatile sarong/scarf you can use as a beach towel, scarf, blackout curtain, tablecloth, picnic blanket, actual blanket, seat cover etc. This is one of the most useful items you can bring, and it weighs practically nothing. Of course, if you are traveling anywhere in Southeast Asia, you can easily pick one up when you arrive, although having a sarong that matches your capsule wardrobe is ideal. I picked up many new ones along the way (and still regret losing my all-time favorite at a hostel in Sri Lanka).

8. Arsenal of electronics

My personal arsenal of travel electronics includes a Macbook Air, unlocked iPhone 5s, Kindle, Olympus OEMD 10 camera, external hard drive, a portable power bank and assorted chargers. I wished I had a GoPro for all the water activities I did. Yes it’s annoying to carry all of this, but I used everything a lot. If you aren’t blogging/working/shooting tons of photos that you need to back up, you could easily ditch the laptop. Invest in protective gear for your electronics –I dropped my iPhone in a hostel toilet within the first week of my trip and destroyed my camera in a blizzard in Nepal. Sh*t happens when you travel…which brings us to #9, travel insurance.

9. Travel insurance

I use World Nomads. It’s easy, affordable and covers electronics, baggage and medical emergencies. Seriously, don’t leave home without insurance.

10. A travel adaptor and plug bank

I used a USB plug bank and universal travel adaptor every single day to keep my devices powered up. I traveled without a surge protector, and didn’t have any issues.

11. Travel size toiletries

You can buy basic toiletries just about everywhere, including tampons and makeup, so there’s no need to bring a year’s supply. The more multipurpose items you bring, the better. Coconut oil, Doctor Bronner’s soap, wet wipes, hand sanitizer and dry shampoo are among my essentials.

Confession –I never managed to get my many toiletries down to what I considered an appropriate backpacker-sized collection. Any tips on doing this would be much appreciated.

12. A backpack and a daypack

Obviously, you will need a durable backpack to carry your stuff in. My around-the-world backpack was this women’s specific pack from Sierra Designs (mine is 65 liters) and my daypack was this awesome, water-resistant, ultralight pack from Marmot.

This Osprey pack was also super popular among travelers, and includes a zip off daypack.

If you are spending more time in cities, you may want to opt for a trendier daypack that will look cute in photos. Just remember –it’s helpful to have a few zip pockets for organization, and a backpack that actually closes, so you aren’t as worried about pickpockets.

13. Rain gear

Unless you are traveling to the Sahara desert, find a way to waterproof yourself and your stuff… at various times, I carried an umbrella, raincoat, poncho and waterproof backpack cover. I also bought a waterproof bag in Thailand for boat trips so I could bring my camera, cash and phone.

14. Money/travel document storage

I travel with a small wallet or coin purse, an actual purse and a money belt. I only use the money belt in places where pick pockets are a huge problem, or when arriving in a new country if I am still feeling out the risk of getting robbed. After that, I either throw my wallet in my backpack or my cross body purse. Pay attention to what the locals do… for example, on most crowded European subways, you’ll notice the locals keep a hand firmly on the opening of their purse or wear their backpacks in front. Do as they do.

15. First aid kit

Seriously, don’t think I ever used anything inside my waterproof first aid kit, but I felt better having it, and it weighed practically nothing. Oh wait, there was that time my friend got 10 stitches in a remote village in Sumbawa. Yep, used it then. Also, you or a friend will probably get blisters at some point so pack some band aids and antiseptic cream. Other good things to have include anti-malarials (if traveling somewhere with malaria), a round of antibiotics for food borne illness, and some basic painkillers like ibuprofin.

16. Lock and cable

You will need a lock to use the lockers at most hostels, and a retractable cable lock comes in handy if you are doing overnight travel and need to leave your bag in an overhead storage or a bit out of reach. Of course, a cable isn’t going to stop someone from unzipping your pack, but it will stop them from walking by and grabbing it when you aren’t looking. Keep your pack within view whenever possible, and keep your valuables with you at all times in your daypack.

I traveled with a PacSafe wire mesh bag locking system, which did set my mind at ease in situations where there were no lockers or I wasn’t able to keep an eye on my bag. It was heavy and I didn’t use it as much as I expected to, but peace of mind is worth plenty.

17. Your sense of adventure

Write out a bucket list of experiences or the reason why you are traveling. For example… ‘go to a yoga retreat, scuba dive with whale sharks, see the northern lights, write the first draft of a book, connect with people from all over the world.’ Refer to these things often and you will find your around the trip is as fulfilling and life-changing as you have dreamed it will be.

What are your around-the-world backpacking trip essentials? Please post in the comments section below.

Psst! This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click one of these links and actually buy something from Amazon, I get paid cash money, which helps keep this travel blog afloat by paying for things like web hosting. Everything listed in this post is honestly stuff I have used (and abused) during around the world travel. 

When I travel, I sometimes have one of those disorienting moments where I find myself wondering, ‘what am I doing here?’ Then I remember; the meaning of life is love. There’s no better way to experience love than by opening your heart to the whole world. When you give your heart away to everyone and everything, you will find love wherever you go. —Sri Lanka

It doesn’t matter where you go, only that you leave behind every part of yourself you think you know. —Bangkok, Thailand

The incredible lesson travel taught me was not to cling too tightly to my expectations. Instead, like a rope swing over a river, I let go and took the plunge into happiness. I emptied my backpack of frustration, anxiety, and fear, and learned to travel with an open mind. —Bali

Sometimes the whole point of travel is to end up back in the place where to you started, only to find it has become a whole new world while you were away. —Malaysia

The only way to go is forwards, and the only lesson is to appreciate the magic as it happens. Love ecstatically with every fiber of your being and then let it all go. Don’t try to hold on to anything, because the entire universe is flowing with impermanence, and you are a vital part of it. —Byron Bay, Australia

You are a human being, not a human doing. Find some space to be yourself in this world and don’t get caught up in the doing. —Kathmandu, Nepal

Living life to the fullest is a series of actions. Be decisive. Don’t swerve. — Inle Lake, Myanmar

Start with how you feel. You’ll avoid a lot of misunderstandings that way. —Byron Bay, Australia

It was one of those miraculous, luminous moments in an otherwise unremarkable day of travel, which shines in your memory like a bookmark.  —Sumbawa, Indonesia

I wanted a life that made sense, I thought, conveniently forgetting that life so rarely did.—Kathmandu, Nepal

Perhaps it was the smoking hole in my heart. — Florence, Italy

It felt as if my life was a novel of magical realism. —Indonesia

I wanted a life so filled with love and adventures that I would never want to live it any other way. —Nagarkot, Nepal

Stop waiting for permission

Stop waiting for permission to live the life of your dreams. Let go of the idea that you have nothing to contribute to the conversation, or the collective consciousness. Step forward, speak out, leap outside your comfort zone and into the magic. Release your belief that you are less worthy, talented, intelligent, beautiful and interesting than anyone else. Comparison is meaningless and the death of joy. Say yes to the things that challenge you. Say no to things that do not move you forwards. Cultivate a habit of going deeper…in conversation, in writing, in creativity and in your relationships. Embrace the things that make you feel vulnerable. —Shan, Myanmar

Subtraction

Travel is a process of subtraction. Like peeling back the layers of an onion, you reveal yourself by stripping away the bullshit, exchanging fantasy for raw experience, giving up the person you thought you were for a bold stranger who looks the world in the eye without flinching. It is not what you will gain from travel but what you will loose as you shed layer upon layer of the person you once were. You will leave behind possessions you thought you needed, scattering seemingly important things like ashes of a past life in hostels and train stations across the globe, gradually whittling yourself down to one small backpack and the simple courage it takes to pick up and go somewhere you have never been before, over and over and over again. What you have left behind will cease to matter. It is enough to be here now, and experience moment by moment the slow unfurling of the reality you are journeying towards. —Varanasi, India

Flying foxes

At dusk, thousands of bats called flying foxes spread over the entire sky, soft dark wings rustling against the first stars. Wanting to join them in their freedom, the girls stripped naked and jumped from the roof of the boat into the salty black sea, while down below the men smoked hand rolled cigarettes, oblivious. That night we slept on thin, dirty mattresses spread across the deck. I lay awake listening to the scuttle of cockroaches, staring up at the milky way and a million brilliant stars that twinkled overhead while the boat rocked gently against its anchor, lulled by a deep, strong current, while the boat (my soul) whispered, let me go, let me go, let me go. —Komodo National Park, Indonesia

She had adventures to go on instead

You would think that travel inspired her to put a pen to paper. Instead, it filled her mind with the emptiness of repeat experiences slightly altered, like flipping through 300 channels of satellite tv and finding nothing to hold her interest. Another hostel, another temple, another market, another bus station. The exact location varied but the formula remained the same.

This was the problem with backpacking the world. She skimmed the surface, a water bug unable to penetrate the murky depths of culture, language and whatever was really going on. Cocooned in a safe network of backpacker havens, she flitted from place to place, searching for meaning and finding none.

Long term travel was a continuous process of defining her purpose. Sometimes the reason why receded very far away indeed, like a tide rushing out to sea. Unlike her Instagram feed, every moment was not wonderful or triumphant or profound.

This was the elusive nature of travel writing. You had to have something to say that mattered to other people, that resonated with their fantasy of what travel was.

In certain moments –usually on a fast-moving bus –somewhere in between a place that had lost its magic and a destination half-dreamed, her purpose became clear in brief flashes of lucid transience.

She was riding the edge of possibility, holding life in a sweat-slicked grip. Travel turned her into the caboose in a wild game of crack-the-whip.

Danger and beauty were more present, out here at the edge. With life happening in technicolor and every moment raw and unfamiliar as a new lover’s touch, it was easy to exist in a state of flow, to keep busy with survival, to constantly stem the seep of blood from old wounds with shiny new friendships that lasted a few days at most, emotions packed safely away, a crumpled yellow tag attached reading ‘Fragile, Handle With Care.”

Sometimes she took out these carefully folded emotions and examined them, holding them up to the light and searching for stains, scrubbing out the flaws, then stretching them across rooftops in unfamiliar cities, hanging them out to dry like laundry in the wind.

Love was something that happened to other people who had nothing better to do. She had adventures to go on instead. —India

Traveling circus

Failing in love had hurt more than a thousand goodbyes. Out here in the wide world, life was actually happening around her, second by brilliant second. The carnival of travel was distraction from failed love on an epic scale. She was terrified of what would happen when she stepped off the merry-go-round. 

She preferred to keep her arms and legs safely inside, but solo travel was more like riding the trapeze. It put her squarely in the spotlight, whipped her around at high velocity and demanded a performance. Even when she was feeling low, black-hearted and afraid of falling.

When she wanted to crawl back to her old life, pick up the phone and say, ‘I’m terrified of doing this alone, forever,’ something inside whispered, the show must go on. —Sri Lanka

Become what you are

who needs therapy?

when the further you go,

the better it feels.

just let it all go

like a handful of

sand in the wind.

confess your sins

to strangers after midnight

in the anonymous darkness

of hostels and bus stations

find imperfect absolution

in the unending curve

of the open road

possibility in the lift

of an airplane’s wings

take a chance or ten

when every day

is a new beginning

you have all the time

in this forsaken world

to feel lonely, be alone

learn to love the difference

ride the high of solitude

stand outside, looking in

always the watcher watching

or are you the monkey in the zoo?

become what you are

what you have always been

—Sri Lanka

All writing is mine, please do not steal it  

Were those dimples on my thighs? Yikes.

Thanks to a budget backpacker diet that consisted mostly of rice, noodles and fried street food, I had lost lean muscle definition and gained flab. With kale salads, green juices and Whole Foods a far off dream, I knew I had to find a travel lifestyle that was both healthy and sustainable. After all, when you’re on a long term backpacking trip around the world, indulging like you’re on a short-term vacation isn’t doing your body any favors.

Over the next few months, I tested out different strategies with the goal of feeling great while traveling. The changes weren’t instant, but I gradually found myself feeling stronger, leaner and more energized. The following eight ideas are my tried-and-true methods for staying fit and healthy while backpacking around the world:

1. Eat fist-sized portions

I’m the last person to ever support depriving yourself of food when you’re hungry. Nope, a girl’s gotta eat. But try this rule of thumb to keep from overeating (it’s much easier than calorie counting); eat portions the size of your fist. Especially when your food options aren’t exactly healthy, it’s a good idea to avoid overeating. And slow down, for pete’s sake…your food isn’t going anywhere. If you’re in a country where the cuisine is mostly fried or carb-heavy, try picking up something from the local market (yogurt and fruit, for example) for one meal, instead of eating out.

2. Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated is key to avoiding those binge-eating, ‘I’m-starving’ moments that strike, only to later realize you actually were just kind of thirsty. Oops. Cue feeling uncomfortably full. So be sure to drink a full glass of water before eating a meal. And skip the soda, fruit juice and sports drinks. Craving something refreshing, sweet and salty? Drink a coconut, it’s loaded with potassium and other minerals your body craves.

3. Avoid processed foods

Snacks, I’m looking at you. Skip the chips, cookies, biscuits, candy and white bread whenever possible. Yes, processed food is everywhere you will travel, and it’s cheap. But it won’t leave you feeling full or satisfied, and that daily pack of cookies isn’t doing your body any favors. Instead, keep a supply of nuts and dried fruit to stave off hunger when you’re sightseeing, and reach for a banana, apple or avocado when you’ve got access to fresh fruit. Surprisingly, these foods are also just about everywhere you will travel.

4. Have a do-anywhere workout

Come up with a workout routine that can be done anywhere —such as a hostel dorm room, a bus station or at the beach. If you feel awkward doing lunges in public, just remember, you’ll probably never see any of these people ever again. My routine takes about 15 minutes (30 minutes including stretches), gets my heart rate up and works my whole body. In addition, look for little opportunities throughout the day to incorporate exercise. For example; I do squats while I brush my teeth. Or, grab a buddy and head to a local park and get creative with what you find there.

5. Walk, hike, run, bike and swim this way

In three words; Don’t. Be. Lazy. Walk to your destination instead of catching a tuktuk or taxi. Take a hike to a local point of interest, or rent a bicycle instead of a motorbike and go for a sightseeing adventure. If it’s insanely hot and running or hiking sounds like your version of hell, go for a swim in the ocean or book the hostel with a swimming pool. If you’re on the coast, rent a surfboard or kayak, go for a paddle and give your arms a workout.

I use the ‘Health’ app on my iPhone to keep track of the miles I cover, aiming for at least 10,000 steps per day. Of course, this alone isn’t enough to turn me into a lean, mean fitness machine. But staying active while you’re traveling the world really does make a difference over time.

There’s a million ways to stay active while you travel, which leads me to the next tip….it’s much easier to be active when you aren’t hungover.

6. Think before you drink

Sometimes it can feel like hostel culture is all about drinking alcohol. But you came here to see the world, right? (And not through the bottom of a glass). Think of it this way; If you do decide to skip the booze, you’ll wake up earlier, eat healthier and feel more energized tomorrow. So grab a non-alcoholic drink and join the fun, without the impending hangover.

If you do decide to indulge, remember; choose light beer over dark, hard alcohol is better than beer, and skip the sugary mixers. Instead of Red Bull or cranberry juice, opt for soda water with lemon/lime. When every day feels like the weekend, it’s easy to get carried away. Try limiting your drinking days/nights to a reasonable number, such as one or two per week. And don’t forget to combat tomorrow’s hangover by drinking a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage you consume.

7. Change it up, slow it down

If the status-quo isn’t working for you, it may be time to dramatically change up your day-to-day travel lifestyle. Maybe you developed a severe gelatto addiction in Italy (guilty!), or made awesome binge-drinking friends in Bangkok… whatever unhealthy groove you’re stuck in, find a way to break the cycle.

“I was traveling with a really great group of people in Cambodia, but we were drinking every single day and partying all night. I got sick and realized I had to get away,” confessed Jessica, a solo backpacker I met in Bali. “I booked my ticket alone to Bali, where I spent a week doing yoga, going to bed early and eating healthy food. I just really needed to get away from that lifestyle.”

During my trip in Southeast Asia, I realized that changing locations ever other day was making me feel unhealthy and stressed. Since I was constantly in a rush in an unfamiliar location, I was eating poorly and didn’t feel like I had time to work out. Slowing down and staying put for longer allowed me to develop a good routine, exercise daily and suss out the healthiest food options in town.

8. Keep it all in perspective

When all else fails and you simply can’t find a healthy meal or you have a big night out, be kind to yourself. You’re here to see the world and live life to the fullest. If you gain a few pounds along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to loose them again in the future. Life is best experienced in moderation, which means there’s no need to take your fitness, diet or —conversely —drinking to extremes while you’re traveling. Do the best you can and remember to be thankful for your health and the awesome body that makes your around-the-world adventure possible.

 

‘Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.’ -Rumi

When I arrived in Bali in early January 2017, I had no idea that my experiences on the island of the gods would change the course of the next year of my life, inspiring a last-minute decision to cancel my return ticket back to California.

My decision-making process went something like this; I knew I wouldn’t regret staying abroad, but I was certain I would be haunted by what might have been if I returned home before I was ready.  I could clearly visualize where I would go and what I would do if I continued to travel, but my once crystal-clear imaginary future life back in California now seemed a little hazy (and also like it would still be there whenever I decided to return).  I worried that if I flew home and started a life in San Francisco, it would be years or even decades before I had another chance to wander the world freely. The top of my pros list pretty much trumped every con I could think of…”because you only live once.”

I asked the people I loved and trusted for advice, and it was pretty much summed up into one sentiment, ‘Be bold with your life.’

Instead of returning to San Francisco, I choose to travel onwards through Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Australia.

Deciding to extend my travels felt a little bit like jumping out of a plane without a parachute.  If you’ve ever experienced the feeling that everything up until now was actually just preparing you for this moment and what comes after, then you’ll know how I felt when I canceled my ticket and decided to adventure on.

Be bold with your life.

Arriving in Bali in early January, I was ready for some rest and relaxation. I hadn’t spent more than four nights in the same bed since September. More typically, I was switching locations every other day. The non-glamorous side of backpacking in Southeast Asia (the kind you don’t see on Instagram) included a lot of cramped, dirty hostels, transportation delays, and way more white bread, white rice and fried food than I ever wanted to eat again, ever. Oh, and did I mention the squat toilets?

Was I getting jaded? Not really. But I was seeing the flaws in my see-all-the-sights and hit-every-highlight travel strategy, especially with an itinerary that covered entire countries in seven to 21 days. At some point, traveling the world had stopped feeling like a vacation and was starting to feel like my life, which meant I needed to adjust my approach a little bit.

Luckily, Bali was the perfect place to slow down and indulge in some restorative yoga and healthy food. I immediately headed to Ubud, Bali’s acknowledged yoga capital made famous by Elizabeth Gilbert’s novel, Eat Pray Love. Ubud was exactly what I needed… I ate salads, drank smoothies, chilled by the pool and got my stretch on at The Yoga Barn for seven days straight.

Bali Buddha

After a week in Ubud, I traveled to coastal Canggu for some surf and sun. Canggu was hectic, but it was a fun kind of hectic… scooters whizzed by with kids and dogs clinging to the back, surfboards loaded on the side rack and bohemian Cangguians in stylish beachwear at the helm, while the beaches were crowded with sun worshippers sipping fresh coconuts and the waves were jammed with beginner surfers. Each night a different bar hosted a social crowd of travelers and locals. The streets were lined with hip eateries, trendy coffee shops, stylish boutiques and surf shops.

Canggu beach vibes

During the two weeks I spent in Canggu, I stayed at Matra Bali Surf Camp. Matra Bali was my first Workaway, a work-trade program that enables travelers to volunteer their time with businesses and families in exchange for room and board. I also helped a friend build a website for her business, which made me realize that I had a skill set I could use anywhere in the world to generate income…it was a lightbulb moment. I realized that if I truly wanted to, I could travel the world indefinitely.

Want to learn more about how I lived for free in Bali? Check out this post about money-saving travel hacks.

Welcome to my office at Matra Bali Surf Camp

After Canggu, I headed to the Bukit Peninsula to soak up the surf vibes at Uluwatu and Padang Padang and chill out in sunny Bingin. I met up with two of my best friends from California and we made plans to explore Sumbawa and Flores, two lesser-known Indonesian islands. When they invited me to join them on an epic trek in Nepal, I couldn’t say no!

So grateful for these two beautiful humans for including me in their adventures and endless laughter in Indonesia and Nepal!

At this point, everything kind of just fell into place. I found a friend to sublet my apartment in San Francisco and I extended my World Nomads travel insurance. I cancelled my return flight and told my parents not to pick me up at the airport (sorry, mom and dad). I started researching India and Sri Lanka, two countries I had dreamed of traveling to someday but hadn’t expected to fit in this time around.

Most importantly, I committed to traveling indefinitely. In addition to a growing list of countries I wanted to visit, I also set personal, creative and career goals for my time abroad. I did a lot of thinking about why I was traveling. I knew that if I couldn’t answer this question clearly in the present, I wouldn’t have a meaningful answer when it was all over.

After three weeks of chillaxing, surfing and eating super healthy in Bali, I was recharged and ready to get back out there and explore. I didn’t know exactly what the future held anymore, but I was sure it was going to be a really wild adventure.

‘We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.’ -Anonymous

Have you ever decided to extend a trip? How do you know when it’s time to stop traveling and go home? If you are traveling indefinitely, do you set goals or simply experience the world moment by moment? I would love to hear from you! 

Possibly to make up for a childhood of picky eating, Ian is now a total foodie and couldn’t wait to try the insects and blood soup Vietnam is famous for, while I, on the other hand, had no intention of eating anything more adventurous than pate in a banh mi sandwich. Unfortunately, my worst fears were realized when…but wait, I’m getting ahead of myself.

After traveling solo for almost two months, I was looking forward to having a travel buddy, especially one I had known since age two. On the perks-of-having-a-travel-buddy list; being able to leave your backpack and go pee, staying at basic guest houses instead of in a hostel bunk, and having someone to laugh with when sh*t hits the fan.

“You don’t want to eat rat?” Meet Ian, my Vietnam adventure buddy, life long best friend, standup comedian, devout foodie and befriender of small children and animals.

After meeting up in the airport in Hanoi, Ian and I grabbed a few hours of sleep in a hostel bunk room and then headed for world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay.

Since we’d booked a budget tour, Ian and I weren’t expecting anything fancy. Our rickety boat had barely left the dock when the server accidentally poured fish sauce all over one of our shipmates, who absolutely hated fish…we couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It was a rollicking two days of leaky kayaks, questionable sanitation and hilarious British stereotypes come to life. Despite the tour ending with an ugly standoff as the crew held a passport hostage (two of the passengers refused to pay for a tour they hadn’t booked), Ian and I thoroughly enjoyed our time on Ha Long Bay.

Ha Long Bay, popular for a reason.

Walking the plank, Ha Long Bay style.

Ha Long Bay will Make all your pirate dreams come true.

After our transportation from Ha Long Bay to Hanoi broke down, we barely had time to eat a quick banh mi dinner from a street vendor before hopping on an all-night bus to Sapa, a mountain town near the Chinese border famed for trekking, artisan crafts and scenic terraced rice fields.

Our first Vietnam night bus experience was a memorable one…we were seated next to a very chatty Buddhist monk, who introduced himself by apologizing that he hadn’t showered in awhile. When the 6’6″ guy crammed into the upper seat ahead of us got virulent food poisoning, we knew if was going to be a long night.

Despite the rough start, our trekking experience in Sapa was wonderful. We had the perfect guide and met a fun group of fellow travelers at our homestay. I loved that the trekking guides were mostly female…these strong mountain women were doing one of the most respected, highly paid jobs in their community and they were proud of their skills.

I had high hopes of getting stunning photos of the rice terraces, but I soon realized my mistake. It was dry season in Vietnam, meaning the rice terraces were brown instead of green, and the air was hazy with smoke from the burning fields. I put my camera away and enjoyed learning about traditional village life and seeing all of the beautiful indigo dyed handicrafts made by the local women. Thanks to a bit of rain, day two of the trek was an absolute mudbath. We slipped and slid our way along the trail, providing comic relief for the villagers who ran by us in rainboots and flip flops.

Trekking in dry season. Sapa, Vietnam.

Crushed indigo leaves turn your hands blue.

Beautiful indigo dye crafts, Sapa.

Mountain ladies, Sapa.

Over the next few days, we explored the caves and temples of Tam Coc, Ninh Binh and Phong Nha. Tucked into the mountains, Ninh Binh is an incredibly scenic region in Vietnam’s Red River Delta that offers natural beauty and stunning historic architecture, including the wonderfully named Bich Dong Pagoda.

Tam Coc boat adventure.

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh skyline.

Reflections, Ninh Binh.

Old city gate at sunset, Ninh Binh.

From the misty mountains of Phong Nha National Park, we made our way (by night bus, of course) to Hoi An, an ancient merchant city renown for tailoring and handmade silk lanterns. The pedestrian-friendly and atmospheric city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The food in Hoi An was also outstanding, making this city a must-do on any Vietnam itinerary.

Hoi An was photogenic in the daytime, but it was enchanting by night. With colorful lanterns illuminating the streets and floating lanterns set adrift on the river, it felt like we’d fallen into a southeast asian fairy wonderland. We could have stayed beyond the three days we had planned here, but the mountains were calling.

Ancient bridge, Hoi An.

What’s not to love about Hoi An?

Hoi An street corner.

Bicycles in Hoi An.

Despite the many bicycles, exploring Hoi An by day is best done by foot unless you want to get run over by a scooter or a rickshaw.

Hoi An market scene.

Handmade silk lanterns in Hoi An.

Riverfront dining in Hoi An.

Hoi An streets by night.

Cao Lao, a comfort-food specialty in Hoi An.

After Hoi An, we hopped a 17-hour night bus to Dalat. Set on a lake high in the mountains, Dalat had French-influenced charm and a laid-back atmosphere. We were welcomed into the funky, communesque Dalat Family Hostel with open arms.

The next two days were spent sight-seeing around Dalat, including waterfalls, a silk worm factory, a cricket farm, local markets, a night out at bizarre Maze Bar, a coffee plantation and nearby villages.

Waterfall near Dalat

Sunset on the lake with Dalat Family Hostel crew.

Sampling expensive coffee made from weasel sh*t…an experience to miss in Dalat.

It was here, in a remote village outside of Dalat, that we were welcomed into a humble home where one of the local women offered to let us try her traditional food and homemade liquor. A bucket of rice porridge was mixed with a pinch of mysterious dry seasoning. It tasted salty and a bit like garlic, but not unpleasant.

I swallowed just enough to be polite, while Ian put it away with a bit more gusto, followed by a deep swig from the rice wine jug.

“What’s in the seasoning?” someone asked.

The woman pulled a dried, flattened rodent from a shelf and waved it at us.

“It’s rat,” our guide translated. “Would you like some more?”

The woman smiled and broke off several bite sized pieces of dried rat, munching on them like Chex Mix.

I choked. I had already eaten seasoned crickets that morning, and figured my adventurous eating was done for the day. So much for that idea!

Ian just grinned and took another bite.

Epilogue and other notes: After accidentally eating rat in Dalat, we took another night bus to Ho Chi Minh City, where we spent Christmas Day before boarding a flight to Myanmar. You can read about our adventures in Myanmar here. If you’re planning a trip to Dalat, send me a message and I will provide more information about how to book this secret tour, rat not guaranteed. 

I know I’ll want to remember a few of the lessons I’ve learned along the way, so here’s eight of the important ones…

1. The world is at your fingertips

The amazing part of travel is how varied and incredible the world we live in actually is. The place someone else loves may turn out to be your own personal hell, while another destination you’ve been lead to believe the worst about turns out to be the one place you swear you’ll never leave. So take the well-meaning words you hear in hostel common areas or read on travel blogs with a grain of salt; go find out for yourself what it’s really like out there. Keep an open mind and get ready to for your expectations to be smashed into a million pieces (trust me, this is a good thing). Whatever your travel style, regardless of your preferred level of luxury or willingness to get down and dirty, the world is waiting for you and the time to start exploring is now.

2. Anyone can travel

Old, young, single parent with kids in tow, broke, overweight, frail, workaholic, sober, afraid, reckless, clingy, heartbroken, introverted, depressed…whatever your personality and personal demons, world travel is for you. I mean it. Don’t trap yourself with the story that world travel is just not for you…because anyone can and should get out there and explore the great big beautiful world we live in. I was amazed by how many travelers I met who didn’t fit the backpacker stereotype. Travel will teach you to embrace your flaws, discover your unknown strengths. You will find humans everywhere who are thriving despite facing similar or far more real challenges than you are.

3. Age really is just a number

At 28, I expected to be literally wading through swarms of 18-22-year old, this-is-my-first-backpacking-trip-and-I-haven’t-been-sober-in-two-months, obnoxious partying backpackers in muscle tank tops and ass-baring cut off jean shorts, but for the most part I found this hostel-staying backpacker stereotype to be overplayed. Some of the youngest travelers I met were also the most worldly and mature. And surprisingly, there are a lot of people in their late twenties and thirties doing the hostel thing, along with parents traveling with kids, and people in their forties and fifties and beyond. Granted, the older crowd tends to gravitate towards places that are described as peaceful (not the party hostels), but thanks to the internet and sites like Hostelworld, it’s pretty easy to pick the right place to stay. Just read a few reviews and watch out for words like ‘bed bugs’ ‘stinky shower’ and ‘all night party in the common area.’

4. Wear sunscreen and mosquito repellent

Yes, your mom was right. Isn’t she always? Regardless of your skin color, sunscreen is always a good idea. I recently spent a few days on an island off Lombok with a very brown-skinned Vietnamese guy who was losing skin in strips, like a snake. It was not a good look. And bug spray does no good sitting at the bottom of your backpack, so spray away —and yes, the natural kind actually works pretty well if you remember to reapply. Since the hot weather means you will undoubtedly be showing a fair amount of skin, avoid covering your entire body in itchy red bites (which turn into scabs when you have zero self control, like I do). It’s also wise to cover up around sunset with loose fitting long pants and shirt, since this is when the mozzies are out in full force. Don’t forget about your feet —with the sunscreen and the bug spray. Your healthy, non-malarial, non-skin cancer suffering future self will thank you. You’re welcome.

5. We’re all citizens of the world

One of the great lessons of my trip was just how important the US political arena is to the rest of the world. Watching the US election results unfold from the airport in Athens, surrounded by a group of fellow backpackers from Brazil, Mexico, Korea, India and Germany, I was amazed at how informed and passionate everyone was about United States politics. Everywhere I traveled, I met global citizens who wanted to talk about the recent election in the United States, and engage in serious dialogue about parallel challenges their own country faced, like populism, immigration and opposing ISIS. Whereas many of my US friends were content to engage in Trump-bashing or point fingers at our political parties, the non-US travelers were more interested in understanding the nuances of American voters and discussing how the events of the recent election would play out over the next four years. After making so many friends from other countries, I now find myself caring much more about US foreign policy, and spending more time reading news about other countries in order to be an informed citizen of the world. Get ready to come out from under that rock, because traveling the world will teach you to embrace your global citizenship and stop living in a bubble.

6. Solo travel and solitude are two very different things

If you expect to be lonely or alone on your “solo trip” around the world, think again. Check into your first hostel, sit down in the common area and strike up a conversation. Try the standard backpacker questions (‘Where are you from? Where are you going? Where have you been?’ and you’ll undoubtedly find endless conversational fodder). Before long, you’ll have streams of Facebook and What’s App chats with friends from all over the world, and you’ll find people to explore your current location, travel onwards, and meet up at your next destination with. Need some solitude after all that socializing? It’s equally easy to melt into anonymity and simply strike out on your own for points unknown, spend a day (or a week) wandering the city solo or lingering in a local coffee shop over a good book. You’ll discover there’s a balance between the two extremes, and everyone’s balance point is a little different. When it comes to the myth of solo travel, the reality is you choose your own adventure.

7. You are smarter, braver and stronger than you think

Regardless of how confident you are in your ability to navigate foreign countries, languages, restaurant menus, subway systems, city streets, driving on the opposite side of the road, telecom systems and a million other unexpected challenges between points A and B on a map, your experiences while traveling will build you up into a badass travel warrior. Every challenge you overcome is another notch in your belt of travel experiences, and you’ll soon find that things that used to terrify you (driving a scooter in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, for example) are now commonplace and barely worth batting an eyelash over. That backpack you could barely lift at the start of your trip is now a comfortable weight on your shoulders, and you laugh when more inexperienced travelers ask, “Isn’t that thing heavy?” And street smarts is something you’ve developed in spades, easily picking up phrases in the local language and navigating complex local transportation systems with ease. Say hello to your new super-savvy, courageous and powerful world-traveling self.

8. Good people exist everywhere

It’s true, bad things happen to good travelers…no matter how cautious or experienced you believe you are, you might get robbed, sick or cheated, or even robbed and cheated while you’re sick. But rather than the rule, these scenarios are the exception. Instead, most of your interactions with locals and fellow travelers alike will be colored by kindness, honesty and altruism… the guy that chases you down the street when you forget your ATM card in the machine, the grandmother who safeguards your purse when you leave it behind at a coffee shop, the teenage boys who pull your scooter out of the mud and drive you to safety when you get in over your head while offroading with your rented motorbike, the kind stranger who offers honest and helpful advice when you dodge a horde of hustling taxi drivers and stumble into a tea shop, or get lost in a rough neighborhood, people who wake up at 3 AM when you arrive unexpectedly in the middle of the night, strangers who loan you cash when your debit card doesn’t work… spend some time traveling the world, and your faith in humanity will be restored a thousand times over.

What important lessons have you learned from world travel? I’d love to hear from you. Share in the comments below!  

As I write this, I’m cozied up at a hip cafe in Canggu, Bali eating divine vegan food. I drove here on a motorbike I got for free, five minutes from the surf/yoga camp I’m staying at (also for free). This afternoon, I’ll drop in at a discounted yoga class before meeting friends for sunset at the beach. All together, my awesome day will cost less than $15…and it could even be free, if I chose to take advantage of the restaurant back at the camp (but I have a weakness for trendy eateries, which Canggu is overflowing with).

So, without further ado, here are seven resources to help you stretch even a small amount of cash into months or even years abroad:

Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOFing)

Browse hundreds of listings from organic farms around the world. From olive farms to vineyards, permaculture and Old MacDonald-style animal farms, there’s an awesome part-time work trade opportunity waiting for you to dig in (literally). WWOOFing is one of the most popular long term travel solutions for budget travelers.

Accommodations vary widely (from a tent or hammock to guesthouse with a pool), as does the length of time commitment required. You’ll need to narrow your search to a particular global region, and sign up as a paying member before applying to any opportunities. Annual regional membership costs vary but are typically around US $25. Start your WWOOF search at wwoofinginternational.org.

Workaway

Workaway is a broad list of work-trade opportunities ranging from hospitality to teaching to farm work and skilled labor, but the concept is similar to WWOOFing.  Work is limited to 5hrs/5 days per week, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore your surroundings. Plus, the $29 membership fee covers worldwide listings, so there’s no need to limit your search to just one region. Get started at Workaway.info, where you’re sure to find an opportunity that fits your unique interests and skills.

Psst! This is how I’m currently staying at an awesome surf/yoga camp in Bali in exchange for helping with digital marketing and social media.

Couchsurfing

Feel like spending a week at a hip apartment in a beautiful foreign land while a local shows you around the city’s best kept secrets? Try Couchsurfing, a global network of hosts who welcome travelers into their homes. Many hosts are passionate travelers themselves, or just want to learn a new language.

Couchsurfing sleeping arrangements definitely vary, but range from basic to downright luxurious. Always check out the reviews and arrange to chat with a potential host (or better yet, meet in person) before accepting.

The many couchsurfers I have met while traveling always rave about the perks of having a local tour guide and receiving invitations to weddings and other cultural events that a tourist would miss out on. Browse accommodations and meet hosts at Couchsurfing.com.

But wait, there’s more…

I am consistently amazed by how many travelers I meet who have never heard of WOOFing, Workaway or Couchsurfing. And in addition to the big three listed above, there’s a zillion other websites and apps for niche interests that can take you around the world:

Love animals? Sign up for Trustedhousesitters.com and house and pet-sit your way around the world while staying in amazing private homes.

Always wanted to travel by boat? Try Crewbay.com. Browse hundreds of listings from boat owners around the world. With needs as diverse as skipper, cook, nanny, masseuse, deckhand and companion, chances are there’s something you could lend a hand with (as long as you don’t get seasick). Options range from commercial yachts to small private sailboats and everything in between. The best part? No experience necessary.

Nannying? There’s, like, ten websites and five apps for that. Try greataupair.com to start your search.

Own a house? Swap homes with homeowners around the world using Homeexchange.com.

Have another random talent, skill or passion you could trade for room and board? Just try googling “work trade [your thing] world travel” and see what comes up.

Safety

Is it safe? Most work/trade opportunities are completely safe, but just like anything, do your homework beforehand. Read reviews of your prospective employer or trade partner, or ask to be put in touch with a former volunteer. Set up a Skype interview or phone call. And remember, if it doesn’t work out, you’re free to travel onwards to your next opportunity.

Why work trade?

Sure, you could book an expensive, all-inclusive vacation to Sandals Resort and spend years of savings in a week, totally checked out by the pool. And for some people, this type of vacation is just right. But before you book that next vacation to Hawaii and submit your time off request, remember, you could choose to travel for months or years at a time, living in awesome places and getting to experience other cultures from a locals’ perspective.

Most of these opportunities come with responsibilities —caring for someone else’s home, pets, children, or helping to staff their business or even just being a respectful houseguest. But in return, you’ll gain a much deeper understanding of the places that you travel to and make lasting connections with people all over the world.

Trust me, lounging by the pool or partying at the hostel bar gets old after awhile. After several months of hedonism on the road, you’ll be craving a way to contribute meaningfully.

Do you have a work/travel resource or experience with one of the services listed above? Please share in the comments below!

With cheerful shouts of “Min-ga-la-ba!” (hello) echoing down every street, the friendly and optimistic Burmese people are the true gem of this beautiful country, which sits between Thailand, Laos, China, India and Bangladesh.

Myanmar is a diverse place. The country is home to more than 100 ethnic groups, although almost 98 percent of the population identifies as Buddhist. Indeed, there are nearly 500,000 buddhist monks in Myanmar. Whether you are shopping in a bustling market or visiting a temple, the sight of the monks’ saffron robes is a common one.

Here’s a few of my favorite photographs (and memories) from the twelve days I spent in beautiful Myanamar.

I expected that watching the sunrise over the thousands of ancient temples in Bagan would be good —I just didn’t think it would be this good. Between the hot air balloons, the morning mist, the golden light and the thrill of scouting the perfect temple to post up on before dawn, Bagan exceeds all of the hype and superlatives travelers like myself throw at it. Put this incredible experience on your bucket list; you won’t regret it.

Guess what this novice monk is doing in this temple? Taking a selfie! I love the silhouette of his robes, the sun flare, and the mixing of ancient and modern that this photo captures. It’s very symbolic of where Myanmar is today as a country —cell phones are already ubiquitous, but they were only introduced here in 2013.

High in the mountains near Kalaw, this Burmese family was all smiles as they passed our even slower ox cart (our trekking guide was feeling lazy, so we hopped in a passing wooden ox cart for a very bumpy ride). Apparently, road rage isn’t a thing when you travel by ox power.

Same trekking guide, different nap. Besides chilling hard, he was pretty good at guitar. This was towards the end of our two-day trek to Inle Lake.

The people of Inle Lake not only live in houses on stilts over the water, they also farm on the water and get around by using canoes instead of walking. It’s sort of like the Venice of Myanmar, only without the annoying gondoliers and stinky canals.

Hanging out with the novice monks was our favorite down-time activity during our trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake. These baby monks couldn’t keep their too-big robes wrapped right, tried to hotwire a motorbike, whipped each other with towels, had a kung fu fight and turned out to be pretty good at frisbee when we challenged them to a game.

Time for chores…or pretending to be a witch stealing a motorbike, if you are a baby monk.

Watching this young monk feed the kittens from his bowl completely melted my heart. Normally I am not a cat person, but one of those cats slept on top of me and kept me warm despite me having a full on freak out (I was sleeping on the floor and thought it was a rat crawling over me) and trying to kick it across the monastery in the middle of the night.

We hiked for two days through the mountains of Myanmar and ended up…at a giant hostel shaped like a boombox next to a power station? Yep, the irony of travel never stops. On the bright side, they had free bicycles and kept the tunes bumping. Thanks, Song of Travel hostel —it was real.

Apparently, being a monk and hanging out in a thousand-year-old teak monastery doesn’t save you from needing to charge your iPad…or watching bad videos on YouTube. Despite getting vibed by that old man in the blue turban, who was annoyed that we interrupted the novice monks’ study session going on inside, I really liked how the round windows framed this shot. Snapped on a hungover bike ride around Inle Lake on New Year’s Day.

Watching Burmese fishermen on Inle Lake at sundown was one of the highlights of my time in Myanmar. I almost didn’t share this photo, since the guy with the basket in the foreground was just posing for tourists (like me) and trying to get money. Luckily, the guys behind him were the real deal and didn’t care if we took a million photos of their awesome leg rowing, paddle whacking fish-catching technique (I could write a whole post about this, but I’ll spare you the details…let’s just say this is the original SUPing and way more badass).

The view behind the sunset —our taciturn boatman, busy fixing stuff and doing boat things.

Have I mentioned I love boats? In my happy place for sunset on January 1, 2017.

Got a question or a story to share about Myanmar? Post it in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!