Why travel the world?
I have always wanted to explore the world and be a student of life. It makes sense for me to do so before starting a family and having kids running around the house – This year is a perfect opportunity to learn via experience, to connect with people, and to acquire new skills on the road; I am also exploring the possibility of potential business ventures.
How long will you be traveling?
I will be traveling for 12 months, from March 2017 through February 2018.
How many countries will you be visiting?
I will be visiting 60 countries (give or take) in the next 12 months – That’s an average of 5 countries per month.
Are you traveling too fast?
Travel speed varies from person to person, and from country to country: Some people only spend a few days in each country, while others spend months. While I don’t want to spend majority of my time on commute and end up seeing nothing, I also don’t plan on spending the next five years on the road.
No one see everything in the world. As a backpacker I need to make decisions every day, and one of those decisions is “How long do I plan on staying in this country?” – I won’t know until I get there. I try to be as spontaneous as possible and plan as little as I can. Everything is subject to change: If I have some exceptional experience in a country, I might stay there for a week or two. Otherwise a couple of days and I will be off to the next destination.
What is your route?
I will be starting in Greece and will spend the next 4 months travelling in majority of the European countries. After Europe I will be heading to Egypt and the Middle East, then proceed to Russia for the Trans-Siberian journey to other Asian countries and Oceania. Finally, I will be heading to Guatemala to travel overland through Central America, and the journey will conclude in Bolivia, South America.
Due to the proximity of the European countries, I will be travelling relatively fast during the first 3 months or so. After that I will slow down considerably.
My route is subject to change. I have not decided whether to do the 30-day overland camping trip from Kenya to Zimbabwe in Africa – I will make the decision after my Europe leg.
Will you be on the road for 12 months straight?
I would love to, but in reality I can’t. I have businesses to take care of back home, and a family to see. I will be returning home every 4 months or so for a couple of weeks each.
Do you have a HUMONGOUS luggage to fit all your belongings?
I don’t have a luggage. I pack light and all my belongings fit into a single 35L backpack – One so small that I can bring it on a flight as a carry-on. I don’t bring an item unless I absolutely need it. That means I will be doing laundry on the road, and giving up some electronics and camera gear (reluctantly). If I need anything else, I can always acquire it on the road.
When I pack, I follow this rule: “The more you own, the more it owns you.”
How do you connect to the internet while traveling?
There are many options: International data plan, local SIM card, My-Fi device, Wifi, etc.. I personally use Google Fi, which allows me to have internet access on my phone in 135+ countries in the world.
Where are you going to sleep every night?
There are many options: Hotel, hostel, Airbnb, guesthouse, camping, Couchsurfing, etc.. My personal favorite is hostel, because of its affordability and the perfect environment it creates for meeting new people.
Many people have wrong perceptions of what living in hostels is like. When I tell them I stay in hostels, the most common response is “Really? I don’t stay in hostels.” – They think of them as being filled with dirty, stinky dorm rooms with no security. Or they view them as places from movies like Hostel, where people get kidnapped and end up in some sick twisted medical experiment.
In reality, many hostels are well-run with amenities that backpackers need. The front desk is usually a great resource to help you get around the city. There are endless opportunities to meet people from all over the world; if you want to have a bit more tranquility, you can even pay a few extra bucks to get your own private room.
What will be your main form of transportation?
Depends, but will likely be a combination of flight, train, bus, taxi, Uber, bike, motorbike, rental car, boat, ferry, raft, horse, camel, elephant, and a lot of walking.
While on this topic, here is my two cents about transportation:
If you plan on renting a car internationally, especially in non-English speaking country, consider getting an International Driving Permit – It costs $20 and takes 5 minutes at AAA.
If you plan on renting a motorbike internationally, consider getting a motorcycle license. Many backpackers ride motorbike without a license in Southeast Asia. They think that they can get away with it even if they get pulled over by a cop – They may be able to, but that’s not an excuse for not getting a license. The main reason to get a motorcycle license is to get covered by your travel insurance.
Will you be monetizing your website?
I have no plan to monetize my website. Most travel bloggers spend years acquiring followers before they start making money, and I don’t plan on being on the road for that long. However, if at some point in the future you start seeing ads / affiliate links, that is probably because I am trying to become a digital nomad by monetizing the site – That being said, I really don’t see it happen if you ask me now.
Meanwhile, if you want to buy me pizza, I would love to pay you back with my personal stories.
Any movie that you recommend about backpacking?
Here are my top 3:
- A Map for Saturday (if you want to create a trip of your own).
- Hostel (if you don’t ever plan on staying in hostel).
- TransSiberian (if you plan on taking a long-distance train, particularly in Russia).