Vagabonding Life https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ Living a life of budget travel around the world after escaping corporate America Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:45:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Vagabonding Life https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ 32 32 Night Train Carnage in Thailand https://www.vagabondinglife.com/night-train-carnage-in-thailand/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/night-train-carnage-in-thailand/#respond Mon, 01 Jul 2024 16:21:59 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=10122 I sat alone. Feet stretched into the bench seat opposite of me, eyes drooping. Kilometer after kilometer of rice paddies flashed by outside. The antique train taking me to Laos was a vintage classic and well past its prime. Rudyard Kipling once said, “The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” […]

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/night-train-carnage-in-thailand/feed/ 0 Review of the Ekster GRID Backpack for Digital Nomads https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ekster-grid-backpack-for-digital-nomads/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ekster-grid-backpack-for-digital-nomads/#respond Sat, 18 Nov 2023 22:24:37 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=10049 This is a review of the Ekster GRID backpack, a tech-oriented pack with plenty of features for people who earn a living on the road. It also works well as a TSA-approved, carry-on suitcase you (hopefully) won’t have to pink tag after running to your gate. After carrying the GRID for two weeks (and walking […]

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ekster-grid-backpack-for-digital-nomads/feed/ 0 Kingston XS1000: The Best Portable SSD for Travel https://www.vagabondinglife.com/best-portable-ssd-for-travel/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/best-portable-ssd-for-travel/#respond Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:15:29 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=10026 The Kingston XS1000 is the best portable SSD for travel.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/best-portable-ssd-for-travel/feed/ 0 Remote Offices of a Digital Nomad https://www.vagabondinglife.com/remote-offices-digital-nomad/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/remote-offices-digital-nomad/#respond Thu, 25 May 2023 15:34:19 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=9971 Back in the throes of wintry January, I combed through thousands of travel photos to create a collection of my remote “offices” as a digital nomad from the past 16 years. My plan was to make a short blog post. But looking through so many photos of warm, happy places proved too much at the […]

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/remote-offices-digital-nomad/feed/ 0 Astra Lumina at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg https://www.vagabondinglife.com/astra-lumina-anakeesta/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/astra-lumina-anakeesta/#respond Wed, 26 Oct 2022 19:40:28 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=9814 I truly had no idea what to expect from Astra Lumina at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Few people did. After all, the enchanted night walk is the first of its kind in the United States. At one bend in the trail, I could look down at the busy lights of downtown Gatlinburg. The view was […]

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/astra-lumina-anakeesta/feed/ 0 How Vagabonding (a Book by Rolf Potts) Changed My Life https://www.vagabondinglife.com/vagabonding-book-rolf-potts/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/vagabonding-book-rolf-potts/#respond Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:08:33 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=9791 This is a post about how the book Vagabonding by Rolf Potts affected the trajectory of my life. Rolf recently released an updated version of Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (along with another brand-new book) that has just hit shelves. Like so many other location-independent people, the Vagabonding book […]

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/vagabonding-book-rolf-potts/feed/ 0 What It’s Like to Study Kung Fu in China https://www.vagabondinglife.com/study-kung-fu-china/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/study-kung-fu-china/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2022 13:30:05 +0000 http://blogs.bootsnall.com/bucho_ky/feed-me.html A pen-and-paper update from inside my kung fu school at the Shaolin Temple as I train.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/study-kung-fu-china/feed/ 1 Gearing Up in Kathmandu for Trekking https://www.vagabondinglife.com/gearing-up-kathmandu-trekking/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/gearing-up-kathmandu-trekking/#respond Wed, 04 May 2022 19:21:43 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=9130 Gearing up in Kathmandu for trekking in Nepal wasn’t nearly as enjoyable as I had fantasized. But having just left Thailand during one of the hottest months (April), I was dreadfully unprepared for mountain weather. Looking down at my shorts and flip-flops, I knew some serious gear shopping in Kathmandu was necessary. This is part […]

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/gearing-up-kathmandu-trekking/feed/ 0 Getting Ready to Trek Alone in Nepal https://www.vagabondinglife.com/getting-ready-trek-alone-nepal/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/getting-ready-trek-alone-nepal/#respond Thu, 21 Apr 2022 16:14:49 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=9056 My three days of getting ready to trek alone in Nepal went something like this: Blunder around Kathmandu to get a feel for the city Talk to experienced people, buy an Everest map, and plan a trekking route Book a flight to Lukla (the airport nearest Everest National Park) Get trekking permits Gear up Store […]

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/getting-ready-trek-alone-nepal/feed/ 0 Solo Trekking in Everest National Park https://www.vagabondinglife.com/solo-trekking-in-everest-national-park/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/solo-trekking-in-everest-national-park/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2022 14:24:51 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=8897 The start of a series about solo trekking in Everest National Park, Nepal.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/solo-trekking-in-everest-national-park/feed/ 2 The Koh Phi Phi Tsunami Scare https://www.vagabondinglife.com/koh-phi-phi-tsunami-scare-2006/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/koh-phi-phi-tsunami-scare-2006/#respond Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:00:46 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=8783 The story of running for my life during the 2006 tsunami scare on Koh Phi Phi in Thailand.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/koh-phi-phi-tsunami-scare-2006/feed/ 0 Visiting the Noodle Factory in Hsipaw, Burma https://www.vagabondinglife.com/visiting-noodle-factory-hsipaw-burma/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/visiting-noodle-factory-hsipaw-burma/#respond Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:26:07 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=8736 A photo essay from visiting the steamy Shan noodle factory in Hsipaw, Burma

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/visiting-noodle-factory-hsipaw-burma/feed/ 0 Horseback Riding on the Beach in Koh Lanta, Thailand https://www.vagabondinglife.com/horseback-riding-on-the-beach-in-koh-lanta-thailand/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/horseback-riding-on-the-beach-in-koh-lanta-thailand/#comments Thu, 09 Dec 2021 02:47:37 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=8154 Greg learns to ride a horse on the beach in Koh Lanta, Thailand.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/horseback-riding-on-the-beach-in-koh-lanta-thailand/feed/ 1 My Thoughts on Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain https://www.vagabondinglife.com/roadrunner-a-film-about-anthony-bourdain/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/roadrunner-a-film-about-anthony-bourdain/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2021 19:06:53 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=7758 My personal thoughts on Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain. Don't worry: No spoilers here.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/roadrunner-a-film-about-anthony-bourdain/feed/ 3 Three Days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee https://www.vagabondinglife.com/three-days-in-gatlinburg-tennessee/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/three-days-in-gatlinburg-tennessee/#comments Wed, 19 May 2021 19:01:42 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=7599 My three days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee -- first trip since the pandemic began

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/three-days-in-gatlinburg-tennessee/feed/ 2 Shark Bay on Koh Tao, Thailand https://www.vagabondinglife.com/blacktip-shark-bay-koh-tao-thailand/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/blacktip-shark-bay-koh-tao-thailand/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:40:57 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=7576 A story of being surrounded by sharks at Shark Bay in Thailand circa 2006 before it became developed as a tourist destination.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/blacktip-shark-bay-koh-tao-thailand/feed/ 2 Celebrating 15 Years of Vagabonding https://www.vagabondinglife.com/15-years-of-vagabonding/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/15-years-of-vagabonding/#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2021 01:59:29 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=7523 Thoughts after 15 years of vagabonding out of the cubicle

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/15-years-of-vagabonding/feed/ 6 Ubud or Canggu in Bali: Which Is Better? https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ubud-or-canggu-in-bali/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ubud-or-canggu-in-bali/#comments Wed, 16 Oct 2019 07:34:14 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=7225 A twisted, side-by-side comparison of the two most popular places in Bali to live and work.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/ubud-or-canggu-in-bali/feed/ 12 Bangkok’s Khao San Road Welcome https://www.vagabondinglife.com/first-arrival-khao-san-road-bangkok/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/first-arrival-khao-san-road-bangkok/#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2019 17:45:05 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=7174 This is the story of my arrival on Khao San Road for the first time in 2006. The first steps taken of a travel lifestyle.

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]]> https://www.vagabondinglife.com/first-arrival-khao-san-road-bangkok/feed/ 3 Celebrating 13 Years Out of the Cubicle https://www.vagabondinglife.com/13-year-vagabonding-anniversary/ https://www.vagabondinglife.com/13-year-vagabonding-anniversary/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2019 21:37:17 +0000 https://www.vagabondinglife.com/?p=7071 I celebrate 13 years of a vagabonding life today! Here's a high-speed story from my first trip to Bangkok.

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