I saw these zebra sculpture near MBK in Bangkok. Aside from zebras, there are also colorful horse statues and there’s also a small spirit house

Flipnomad’s Photo Thursday – Zebras in Bangkok is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

I’m gonna stop blabbering for now (LOL!) and just post some pictures that I took in Amber Fort. No words could ever describe my fascination with this fort so I’ll just let you see the pictures.

Amber Fort (pic taken near the garden)

Amber Fort (pic taken near Maota Lake)

Garden

Ruins at the side of the fort

Maota Lake

Gorgeous garden on Maota Lake

Free roaming goats greeting tourists LOL!

Building Complex Ruins (can be seen from the courtyard)

Don’t know what this gorgeous building is called (can be seen from the courtyard)

The Sun Gate

The Moon Gate

Jaleb Chowk (Courtyard)

Pavillion (ongoing renovation)

Ganesh Gate

Simple yet Beautiful Wall Art

Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace)

Gorgeous mirror(or metal?) works on the wall of Sheesh Mahal

Beautiful!!!

Ceiling of Sheesh Mahal

Flower design on one of the marble pillars

Ceiling in one of the domes near the courtyard

Coffee shop near the exit

Exit (with quite a few souvenir shops)

It’s a joy to explore the fort as there are so many hallways and stairs that lead to different places. I couldn’t help but imagine what it was like to live in this place.

Ticket cost 300 Rupees per person. There’s also a tunnel that connects Amber Fort to Jaigarh Fort, it closes at 4PM.

If you have enough time, I suggest that you also visit the town of Amer. I wasn’t able to explore it when I was there because we already booked our accommodation to the next destination. The town of Amer can be seen from the town and it looks like a very laidback heritage town that is definitely worth exploring (another reason to go back to Jaipur).

Amber Fort – One of the Most Beautiful Forts in India is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Justin, the owner and author of Ikimasho writes a lot about some peculiarities that he sees in Japan and he also shares some stories about what it’s like to live in Japan.

My favorite part of this blog is of course, everything about his travels in Japan and his artworks.

Get to know more about Justin and follow his adventure at Ikimasho.

But before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Justin.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“In my late teens I toured all over the UK and Ireland in a punk band. I must have played about 200-300 gigs. Some of the itineraries our drummer ‘planned’ were completely ludicrous. I remember playing Glasgow one day and then having to drive to Plymouth for a gig the next night. That’s about 400 miles. After seven hours on the road we got to the gig late and played for ten minutes in a venue behind a bus station in front of no one. To any sane person this probably sounds like hell on earth – but it was my first introduction to hardcore travel. And you know what? A ten-hour hell ride on a bumpy Cambodian bus is nothing compared to sleeping in a car in -2 degrees with full-blown tonsillitis using a drum kit for a pillow. Trust me. I’ve done both.

Eventually though, sleeping on floors and not getting paid took its toll-and by the time I graduated at 22 I’d had enough of the band. I’d also had enough of Northern Ireland, so I moved to Japan. That’s when the travel bug really started.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“Most are band related. Seriously. But one time in Laos with my ex-girlfriend I got electrocuted in our room and then had a peeping tom perv on us through the window. Or there’s the time I had to sleep in Seoul airport with no money waiting to get money wired to me so I could buy some food and a flight home. On my birthday. That sucked. But these ‘horrible’ experiences always turn out good in the end. They provide you with a story to tell, and ultimately are what makes travelling so exciting.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“In recent years, it has to be watching the sun come down over the Temples of Bagan in Myanmar. But sleeping in primary rainforest in Borneo was pretty special.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“Planet Earth is awesome.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“The name of my blog is ‘Ikimasho!’ That literally means “let’s go!” in Japanese. Like most people who are passionate about travelling, I can’t sit still. I always have to be doing something or going somewhere. There is nothing more exciting than travelling into the unknown. Looking at a world map is like looking at a list of endless possibilities. To travel means to learn: eating new foods, meeting new people, seeing new places.”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Louis Theroux. I’d make him walk behind me, narrating my trip.”

Where’s your favorite place in this planet and why?

“In the last year I’ve really milked Tokyo for all its worth: I feel I know the city pretty well now – and my happiest moments have been when I’m simply lost with my camera in some nondescript little area. I love Asia. I really do. But being away from home has also made me appreciate it more. Sometimes, just for an afternoon, I wish I could be with my mates drinking a beer along the little coastal path that stretches between Bangor and Helen’s Bay in Northern Ireland.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveler?

“Put sh*t in a bag and go. That’s the only travel advice you ever need.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“In 2007 I was sand boarding in New Zealand and fell hard on my ass. I had to walk like I was constipated for about a week. As for funny stuff, well I live in Japan. I recently gave my friend battered fish but the fish was pregnant so the eggs all splurted out in his mouth. He wasn’t happy.”

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

Gut instinct. If something feels bad, it probably is.

What do you think about yourself?

A creative guy who likes to travel. Or a traveler who likes to be creative. One of the two anyway.

“Ikimasho is an outlet for my creativity: be it art, writing or photography. For me, living in Tokyo is an endless source of inspiration. I get to draw, write and be creative in the coolest city in the world. Ikimasho, shows a snapshot of daily life in Tokyo and Japan that isn’t just all about karaoke bars and anime. It’s full of the kind of inside information that only comes from living and breathing a city like Tokyo on ground level. It was nominated for Wanderlust’s Travel Blog of the Year 2012 – and the Japanese National Tourist Organisation recently added it to its list of ‘Great Japan Sources’ alongside The Japan Times and Lonely Planet.” Justin Egli of Ikemasho

Editor’s Note: All photos are provided by Justin.

Meet the Nomads – Justin Egli of Ikimasho is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

I saw this in one of the alleys near Senado Square in Macau. Thought it doesn’t look like an original part of the design of the building, interestingly it gave this wall a life.

Flipnomad’s Photo Thursday – Street Art or Vandalism? is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

I used to believe that a lot of things are not possible until I finally got the courage to try and made it possible for myself. I think that timing also played a crucial role in those circumstances especially when we talk about traveling. Traveling now is more affordable in comparison to a few years back due to the increasing number of competing budget carriers, hostels and also the new roads making remote places accessible to more people.

Travel, aside from being one of my favorite leisure activities also became the platform for me to challenge a lot of my past beliefs and to break down a lot of my mental barriers.

I used to think that Travel is For Millionaires Only

I used to stare for hours at pictures of gorgeous places locally and around the world) and I frequently go to libraries or second hand bookshops to borrow and buy old magazines and old books so I could read about the history and a bit of facts about various places. I promised myself back then that once I get a job, I will work hard, save money and go to these places.

I was already working when I first got on a long trip (Sagada in the Mountain Province). I was 22 years old when I first rode a ferry and a plane and my first trip to Boracay. And I was already 25 years old when I first traveled outside the country (Singapore and Thailand). I started traveling a bit late and waited until the time that I was earning an income already.

I am not rich (quite far from it). My family is also not rich; they didn’t pay for any of the trips that I have taken. I worked hard for every cent I spent on those trips. Looking back and even until now, I always think and believe that travel is the best thing I have ever spent money on. I can still vividly remember bits and pieces of those trips, the missed ferry, and the small arguments with friends, the drunken nights, ATMs not working, losing cash, laughing out loud with friends and so on.

Even when I chat online with my friends back home, those are some of the memories that we always laugh a lot about. Memories that I know will stay with me until the day I die. I didn’t spend a lot on those trips. I only book promo airfares, usually stay in cheap guesthouses and eat in local restaurants.

I used to think that I can only travel Two Weeks in a Year

I was employed for around 8 years before I pursued this location independence lifestyle or digital nomadism or whatever they call this thing. I got so used to believing that two weeks of vacation plus the weekends are the only time left for me to do something else aside from working. And that is something that I have to accept.

And that perception changed when I first traveled outside the country with my friends where we met so many people from around the world traveling for a long time. It was also the time we overheard an old couple who traveled overland from Beijing to Hanoi.

It was an epiphany, an eye-opener, an emotional struggle and the start of my life spiraling into something I wasn’t familiar with as of that time. A sense of adventure got awakened not only in me but with my other friends as well.

I silently told myself, “I’ve only read and watched this before and now I know that there are real people who really go out there to see the world.” Stupid as it may sound, back then, I never really thought it was possible for anyone to independently travel. I used to think that National Geographic Crew and other travel media related companies can only do this kind of vagabonding activity.

Realizing that it’s really possible to travel the world because I saw and met some people who do it, the childhood passion of mine got reignited intensely, so intense that it changed all my life plans.

I used to think that I cannot juggle my responsibility to my family and achieving my personal dream

Before I left for my first backpacking trip (a few years back), my relatives had a small gathering and I had the chance to talk to my closest uncle. He told me that he heard that I left my job to travel and asked why I did that. I told him that I already talked to my mother about it and asked them to just please give me a year. He told me that I should reconsider my plans and just stay and work so I could continue to provide. It was heartbreaking to hear but at the same time I really understood where he’s coming from. Financially I really couldn’t afford to do both things especially at that time. So I asked my mother, if it’s really ok if I they give me a year to pursue a personal dream. My mother said, “Don’t worry and do what you want.” I was very happy that she was very supportive. Before I left though, I took care of some of their other needs and got left with only a budget of P30K which I know won’t really last me that long.

My mom helped me get a cab early that morning for my first flight to Malaysia and that solo backpacking trip took me to 8 countries in six months. I didn’t last for a year as I had to come back home to bid goodbye to my grandmother for the last time.

I got back home in a confuse state. I lost my grandmother who in my whole life acted as my second mom and I also thought that I have to end a dream and just go back to my old life.

I got a job after a few months and went back to the daily grind. But before I applied for a job, I setup this blog. I’ve heard about people who are traveling and at the same time earning and I have decided to give it a try. That was in October 2009 when I registered an account in blogspot and setup my travel blog, FlipNomad.

After a few months of working, I asked my mom again if I could continue where I had left off and that is to travel again. She told me to stay instead because the last time I backpacked, I came home so skinny with multiple scars in different parts of my body which I got from some minor accidents on the road that I didn’t tell them about so they wouldn’t worry. She asked me why I have to trade my then “comfortable and stable life” with uncertainty.

I told her that if she tries to look me in the eye and not look at my scars, she will see that I am extremely happy with what I have experienced and I am very happy with what I discovered that I wanted to do for this phase of my life – to explore and travel.

As my mom is an ever understanding and ever loving individual, of course she said yes with one condition, to never skip a meal just to save money (which I broke a lot of times).

This time around, I left with more ammunition that I know will help me travel longer and at the same time potentially help me continue provide for my family as I travel – and that is this blog and the stuff that I continuously learn about the economics of internet.

I wasn’t able to send back anything on my first eight months on the road as I was struggling with generating an income online. But after the first eight months, gradually up to this day, I’m able to send something back to them on a monthly basis while I still pursue my passion. I was also able to help send my brother to school while I was traveling.

None of this will ever be possible without the help of numerous friends and bloggers who never failed to send motivational comments and encouragements especially during the low points of my time on the road. Some of them even went out of their way and generously gave me tips and suggestion on what to do with my websites. The earnings are still unstable but it’s a bit better now I think.

I used to think that passion and work are two separate things that ought to stay separate

I grew up thinking that passion is the thing you want to do that makes you feel happy and work is the thing you need to do to support your passion and provide for your basic needs. Because of the people that I have met online and offline, I learned that there’s a sweet spot between them where each of us could thrive. Yeah, maybe I will not become a millionaire pursuing it but if it can provide the basic things I need and at the same time make me feel happy, then why not give it a try.

I used to think and just think… and seldom forgets to trust my instincts and my guts that much

I grew up in the era of logical thinking. I grew up in an era where everything is all about the thought process, about the scientific explanations and about the business model. I have forgotten to trust my guts. I have forgotten to listen to that inner voice. I lost the spark in my eyes in pursuit of the logical things. Leaving my previous job to travel is, according to some of my corporate colleagues, one of the most stupid things they have ever heard.

They are completely right, it is a stupid thing.

Even I tell myself the same thing, this is the most stupid thing I have ever thought of and have ever done in my life.

But this stupid thing is also where I felt the happiest. This thing is what brought the childlike spark back to my eyes. That whenever I meet my closest friends and my siblings and every time they ask me stuff about my trips, we got enveloped in our own little world laughing about my misadventures and also getting emotional and inspired by the life stories of the people that I met.

And when my friends have some time, I bring them to those places and I introduce them to some of the people I met in this journey.

I do hope that one day; I could also bring my family with me.

In Pursuing Our Passion

It doesn’t have to be travel. It can never be travel for everyone, different people likes different things. One of my closest friends also gathered all her courage and pursued something that we have always been talking about for the longest time, and it is for her to be a designer.

She was my boss in one of my previous jobs and we always talk about how good the money is in the BPO industry and sometimes we ask each other if we could ever trade it in pursuit of something that we know we love doing, even if there’s just little money on those things. And that was years ago, both of us now, together with two other friends are in the process of pursuing a variety of things that we are passionate about.

We don’t know what will happen. We might succeed or we might fail.

But one thing is for sure, in the future regardless of the outcome of these decisions, we will all look back and say, “I gave it a try!”

My biggest fear in this world is not death. It is the possibility that when the time comes and I grow very old and as I lie on my death bed waiting for my last breath to escape my body… it’ll be so devastating that all I could think of is “what if…”

How Long Term Travel Helps Break Down My Mental Barriers is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

After reading the inscriptions on the first structure that we got to know what these things are for. Each of them are very large and architecturally beautiful as well. I couldn’t help but imagine as I walk inside the park how they used to study and probe our skies using this system. It’s said that these devices are extremely accurate as well.

Here are some of the devices inside the park:

Yantra Raj: This device is used for measuring altitude, time and the position of the Sun.

Krantivrtta: This is used for measuring the celestial latitude and longitude of an object in the sky.

Narivalaya Uttar Gola: This device is use to determine if a heavenly body is in the northern or southern hemisphere.

Narivalaya Dakshin Gola: This device has the same function as Narivalaya Uttar Gola which is to determine if a heavenly body is in the northern or southern hemisphere.

Observer’s Room

Jaya Prakash Yantra: Also used for finding the position of heavenly bodies.

Zodiac Park

Sagittarius

Said to be the Zodiac sign of travellers???

Chakra Yantra: Used for measuring the global coordinates of declination and the hour angle of a celestial object.

Digamsa: Used for determining the azimuth (angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system) of a celestial object.

Karnti Writta: Used to find the declination and distance from the ecliptic and equinox of the sun and stars.

Dhruvdarshak Pattika: Compass???

Sasthamsa

Sasthamsa: Used for measuring the declination and zenith distance.

It’s amazing to know how fascinated Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh to astronomy and this is just one of the five facilities that he built in different location. Jantar Mantar is also a recognized World Heritage Site.

Entrance Fee is 100 Rupees per person. Go check it out

Jantar Mantar – Astrological Devices of the Maharaja is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

If you love reading about personal narratives of adventures and misadventure you will love this blog especially their “Flashback Friday” segment. They also share a lot of great tips about independent traveling.

Get to know more about Tammy and follow her adventure at Tammy and Chris on the Move.

But before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Tammy.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

I think my grandma passed that one on to me. She was always traveling once she was retired and I always thought to myself that I want to do the same one day. As an 18-year-old I have done my first independent trip. It was a 24h train journey from my home town in Germany to Rome, Italy and I loved the feeling of independence so much. I have never looked back since and try and travel as much as I can.

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

That was quite recently actually. My hubby and I were planning to go to India for four days before our trip to Nepal to do the Everest Base Camp trek. When we got to the check in desk at Bangkok airport the guy behind the desk asked us where our Indian visas were. We assumed that like Nepal and most other countries in Asia you could get one on arrival. Turns out you can’t. Ooops. I was really upset and frustrated that I hadn’t checked this before. We ended up having to rebook our flight, cancel our pre-paid hotels in India and spend 4 days in Bangkok instead. It was an expensive lesson to learn.

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

My best travel experience was probably snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. I was so terrified doing that snorkel trip beforehand as there were sharks in the waters around the Galapagos Islands. I blame the film Jaws, but I am really really scared of sharks. When I suddenly saw a big shadow swimming underneath me I literally saw my life pass in front of my eyes, as I thought it was a shark. When I checked again I noticed to my relief that it wasn’t a shark, but a sea lion that was so curious about me that it followed me around everywhere I went. It was so adorable and I felt really safe with him by my side.

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

Having travelled through a lot of developing countries I have realized that I am lucky to have been bought up in a country with freedom, free education, democracy and social care. A lot of people are not that lucky, so travelling made me appreciate the things I have got.

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

The fact that there is so much more to see. Every country is so different. And every country offers new adventures, misadventures and experiences. I have only seen a fraction of what is out there, so I am definitely not done travelling yet.

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

That would be Che Guevara during his motorcycle diaries period. He had such an adventure, but since he was also a medical student at the time he also managed to help a lot of poorly people voluntarily. He was also so damn good looking.

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?

I really loved Ecuador when I went a few years ago. It had everything: mountains to climb, jungles to explore, wildlife to see and great history to learn about. I went for 2 weeks, which was only enough to scratch the surface, so that gives me a good excuse to go back one day.

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

Don’t stick to your guidebook all the time. Venture out, speak to locals and hang out in local restaurants and bars.
You will experience much more of a country if you do so.

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

Where do I start. I always do silly things when I travel and even have a series on my blog about those misadventures. The funniest story is probably when I thought I had to take some cocaine whilst in a druglords house in a favela in Rio. Yes, you read this correctly. A few years ago I was on favela tour in Rio and our guide also offered to take us to a place with the best view over Rio. He did ask us not to take any photos though and the fact that it was a guarded house with security guards holding AK47s didn’t really make me think that this was strange. When we reached the roof terrace, which really had an awesome view, a man loaded with golden jewlery appeared and asked me if I wanted some coke. He was a scary looking man and I didn’t want to mess with him. I was too scared to tell him that I don’t do drugs though, so I nervously nodded. He came back a few minutes later with a beautifully chilled glass of coca cola. Phew!

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

If you have read the answer to the previous question you might think that I don’t. I do really though, I promise. I make sure that I do my research about safe and unsafe areas in a city, I don’t wear expensive looking jewelry or watches and watch my belongings when travelling on a bus. So far I have been lucky with those precautions.

What do you think about yourself?

I am an adventurous spirit that really wants to let loose, but sometimes gets stuck in German, efficient and organized body.

Tammy from Tammy and Chris on the Move blogs about her voluntary work, travels and misadventures across the globe. Follow her journey on her blog, Tammy and Chris on the Move, on Twitter or on Facebook.

Editor’s Note: All photos are provided by Tammy.

Meet the Nomads – Tammy Lowe of Tammy and Chris on the Move is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Patuxai War Monument in Vientiane was built to commemorate those who fought in the struggle for Independence of Laos from France. It’s one of the most recognizable landmark in Vientiane.

Flipnomad’s Photo Thursday – Patuxai War Monument is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

It’s always a fascinating experience for me to visit palaces or abodes of the monarchs. The first time that I was able to visit a palace was in Yogyakarta where me and my friends went to Kraton.

Visiting the abodes of the monarchs gives me a chance to take a peek into their lives. It’s such a novelty for me especially since I grew up in Manila, Philippines where monarchy is just a thing that you read in books. We don’t have grand palaces with beautiful courtyards and majestic building complexes adorned with intricate designs.

The City Palace of Jaipur is said to have been built in 1729 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, ruler of Amber. The additional structures were then later on added by the succeeding rulers of Jaipur.

Here are some pictures that I took in the City Palace of Jaipur:

Entrance Gate

Mubarak Mahal: A museum of variety of textiles including the royal formal costumes.

Mubarak Mahal

Chandra Mahal: Only the ground floor is accessible since most parts of the building is still used by the descendants of the former ruler of Jaipur.

Gorgeous details!!!

These four gates symbolizes the four seasons: the Peacock Gate is autumn, the Lotus Gate is summer, the green gate is spring and the rose gate is winter.

Diwan I Khas: This was the private hall of the Maharajas and you can see here two huge sterling silver vases/vessels that weighs 340Kg.

See how big this thing is!

Sabha Niwas: this would probably the most interesting place in the complex. It used to be a hall used by the Maharaja but now serves as an art museum. Photography is not allowed inside though. You’ll find a lot of interesting stuff inside including the photos of the previous Maharaja and very beautiful paintings.

Another interesting stuff to see are the carriages that were once used by the Maharaja.

Local Students on an Education Field Trip in the City Palace

Go check this out! ticket cost 300 Rupees per person and still cameras are free of charge. You can also use the same ticket when you go to Jaigarh Fort so make sure that you don’t throw it away after you visit the City Palace.

City Palace of Jaipur – Grand Abode of the Maharajas is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

What I love about his blog are the articles about off the beaten path destinations. I love knowing about new places to go to and learning how to travel independently on those places.

Learn more about Charles and follow his adventure at Don’t Worry Just Travel.

But before you click away, check out my short interview with Charles.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

It was always inside me, that I want to see as much of the world as possible. And somehow I realized more and more, that I couldn’t achieve it by having a job with four to six weeks of holidays per year. So I started to travel more and more until in 2010 with a one year Asia trip it became my life. The passion grew along this process.

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

I once had a severe food poisoning, that I caught somewhere in Cambodia. The following month I spent in Vietnam and five days of that month I had to stay in the hotel room unable to do much. The rest of the time I sometimes felt exhausted, but pushed myself along, because I wanted to see something nevertheless. It took me five months to fully recover from it.

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

In Kompong Cham in Cambodia I made some pictures of the sunset over the Mekong river. Then some curious kids came along and I showed them my camera, made some pictures and showed it to them. They enjoyed it and laughed. That was really nice. For me glimpses into daily activities of the locals are the more precious travel moments than – for example – climbing the top of mount Everest.

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

As a long term traveler you start realizing, how much people stop themselves from doing things, because they’re scared and afraid to do new things. If you travel, you dive into other societies and realize that they have different approaches to many things. That leads you to realize that nothing is certain. Everything can be handled in many ways. And once you realize, that the things you learned at your home are not necessarily the truth but just a point of view, you then start to question many things. That is the moment, when you – in my opinion – truly become a real traveler and a free and open minded person.

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

All my life I loved to discover new things and to learn. If you travel, you learn and discover every day. That keeps me going. I’m easily bored, so I have to always go out and see new things. Sometimes I don’t like to write new articles for my blog, so then I have to push myself every now and then. But if I have a look at it and see how much information is already on there, that always gives me a big “motivation kick”!

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

I’m not into celebrities so much anymore, because to me they are all just normal people with some more money and fame. But somehow I always think of actors, when someone says celebrity. It could be enlightening to travel with an excellent actor. I especially like the ones, that have been heavily criticized as being “sunny boys” and bad actors, but that actually proved their critics wrong – at least in my opinion. If I pick a Hollywood star – so that all readers here know the names – I would either pick Leonardo di Caprio or Brad Pitt as a travel companion, as I’m sure I could learn from them and could offer them some of my experiences in exchange as well.

Where’s your favorite place in this planet and why?

I loved Halong Bay in North Vietnam. Being on the top of the boat during the night and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere was really great. I somehow felt so alive in these moments.

What’s your best tip for newbie traveler?

Don’t organize too much. Just start. If everything is organised you will be too long at places you don’t like and miss things at places you like. The only things, that you really need is a valid passport, paper and plastic money and tourist visas for the countries you want to visit. Everything else you could buy on the way. Plus it is normal to be a little anxious on your first longer trip or when you travel alone. Just check in to the busiest traveler hostels and you will find new friends immediately.

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

Funniest: I recently participated in the Thai Songkran “water splashing” festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There you encounter funny situations every 30 minutes. According to my girlfriend the boys were really fond of making sure, that I got splashed well. I looked like a gangster with my scarf and the sunglasses. I guess they liked it.
Silliest: Drinking snake blood in Taipei, Taiwan. It tasted disgusting. And I needed a lot of encouragement from my friends, that were with me, until I really did it.

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

I take no special precautions, just my common sense. I realized, that talking about safety is quite an American thing and I’m from Europe. So I don’t bother too much about it. Until I met some US travelers some years ago I did not even know, that you can take antibacterial gel with you on your travels to make sure those evil germs don’t make you sick. I still don’t use it and am still not sick very often.

What do you think about yourself?

I think of myself as an open minded, thoughtful and friendly person. Of course I can also have my moods sometimes. I’m neither a party guy nor an entertainer. I’m the right guy for long and thoughtful discussions.

My favorite travel style is social travel: Sometimes in a new city I just start walking to see what happens or I walk in between the attractions even if they are five of more kilometers apart. It’s the “in between things” that can sometimes be the best.

“DontWorryJustTravel.com is a blog about travel worldwide. The information is kept as short as possible and includes precise descriptions of how to find the attractions as well. With the simplicity it also tries to encourage new travellers to just start their adventures by proofing that not too much preparation is needed to start a trip. It delivers a lot of informations on South East Asia, South America and about, how to get tourist visas for the top travel destinations.” – Charles Rahm of Don’t Worry Just Travel

Editor’s Note: All photos are provided by Charles.

Meet the Nomads – Charles Rahm of Don’t Worry Just Travel is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!