If 2015 was the year of the nomad, then 2016 was definitely the year of the digital nomad.
Rather than aimlessly wandering around Australia for a second year, I decided to travel more slowly so that I actually had time to work and thoroughly enjoy my surroundings.
It’s been awhile since I did one of these travel planning posts, namely because I’ve taken an anti-planning approach to my recent travels. But with so many events coming up and opportunities arising, I suddenly find myself with a very structured 3 months of travel adventures coming up.
2015 was such an incredible year. I spent the entirety of it in Australia, save for a 3-week jaunt to Indonesia. It was a beautiful blend of routine and adventure that saw me settling down anywhere from a few days to a few months at a time, exploring my surroundings and then going on roadtrips and excursions in-between.
While rummaging through my image archives recently, I rediscovered some real selfie gems taken on my travels over the past 8 years. I’ve never shared most of these, because let’s be real: we live in an insta-world where there’s only room for the highlight reel.
Welp, the moment I’ve been dreading is finally upon me: my year on the Australian Work & Holiday Visa is almost over.
I knew before I even stepped foot on the Canberra Airport tarmac on Day 1 that I wouldn’t want to leave this country.
When I look back at 2014, I think: Man, I worked hard and accomplished a lot.
I’ve long been a preacher in support of living a balanced life. It’s why you’ll never find me staying late at the office or bragging about how I went to the gym 6 out of 7 days last week.
I remember how I used to spend my childhood summer vacations moping around the house. “I’m booooooored!” I’d moan daily.
“Go outside. Find a new hobby!” my mom would urge. To which I’d roll my eyes and find some way to kill time before we were allowed to turn on the TV in the evening.
I’ve learned a lot in my 10+ years of travel: about myself, about the world, about how to travel.
Lord knows I’ve made all sorts of travel mistakes – and as long as I keep traveling, I’ll keep making mistakes.
2013 was a banner year for me in terms of travel. I spent just under half of the year traveling abroad, what with my 5 months in Asia (aka the impetus behind this here blog), brief stint in London, and quick jaunt to Montreal.
Someone recently asked me what I typically do when I get to a new place. I gave them a vague, partial answer and immediately hated myself for it: “Oh, I just walk around a lot!