When I was 18, just after leaving high-school I bought a backpack, a one-way ticket to Europe and 5 nights in a hostel. Since then, I’ve been to over 100 countries, became fluent in Spanish and can get by in French and Portuguese. 

It’s been a long journey and over the years I’ve travelled with small groups of friends, large groups of friends, with partners, with parents, with strangers, alone, in a van, by bus, train, boat, plane, motorbike….the list goes on. I try to avoid organised group tours, but I have done a few and actually got very lucky with an overland trip across Africa which you can read about soon. 

I Suffered from ROMO

After traveling so much when I was younger without researching what to do, or even owning a camera, I started suffering from what I call ROMO. It’s like FOMO but Regret Of Missing Out. It’s when you see or hear about something amazing…after you’ve already left that place. So, since those early days of mainly just partying my way around the world, I now (almost) always research where I’m going to make sure I get to the best places, but not too much that doesn’t leave the freedom to go on a random adventure with a stranger.  

Adventure, exploration, parties and (mostly) Good Memories

Travelling is about taking risks, seeking adventure and creating great memories…but of course you’re going to eventually end up somewhere you don’t want to be, I got chicken pox in India, I’ve been robbed, arrested, bashed, ended up in hospital etc. but I would go through all those bad times just for the good all over again.

 I used to like to party a lot, not the cake and candles type of party but the “we’ve-notified-the-Australian-embassy” type of party. These days I’m still up for a big night out so I try to go to the best bars in town while travelling. Loosing phones is way too expensive these days.  

A Reason To Travel

For me travelling is about adventure and seeing and doing things that you can’t at home. I think travelling brings out the best in people, travellers are more open to meet new people, try new things and are more motivated to get out to do and see more, people are different when they’re travelling compared to when they’re at home.

 I never used to know why I liked travelling and I still aren’t sure why I get a feeling of excitement when I’m in a different place but it’s something I’ve had since I first went overseas and it’s stuck with me since then. People make the journey so the best part about travelling is the people you meet along the way and getting to see their cultures.