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Reflections

Our reflections about the world of travel as we indulge in our wanderlust; philosophizing, contemplations, and ramblings on what it means to be a budget backpacker.

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Featured
The Grass is Never Greener: The Downside of Modern Day Travel
Reflections
Digital Nomad, remote work, travel, remote worker, long-term travel, backpacking
The Grass is Never Greener: The Downside of Modern Day Travel
Reflections
Digital Nomad, remote work, travel, remote worker, long-term travel, backpacking

Some reflections on the privilege and pitfalls of modern-day traveling.

Reflections
Digital Nomad, remote work, travel, remote worker, long-term travel, backpacking
Are Safaris Ethical?
Reflections
safari, Africa, vegan, ethical travel, responsible travel
Are Safaris Ethical?
Reflections
safari, Africa, vegan, ethical travel, responsible travel

Are safaris an ethical way to interact with animals? I share my thoughts after visiting the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

Reflections
safari, Africa, vegan, ethical travel, responsible travel
First Impressions: Nairobi
Reflections
Nairobi, Kenya, Africa, Poetry
First Impressions: Nairobi
Reflections
Nairobi, Kenya, Africa, Poetry

My first impressions of Nairobi, during my very first visit to Africa.

Reflections
Nairobi, Kenya, Africa, Poetry
Why I Hate Sweden
Reflections
Culture Clash, Sweden, Rant, Culture
Why I Hate Sweden
Reflections
Culture Clash, Sweden, Rant, Culture

In this CULTURE CLASH post, I share some sassy thoughts on why Sweden needs to get its shit together.

Reflections
Culture Clash, Sweden, Rant, Culture
Fuck you, Helen Keller (Or, Why You Don't ALWAYS Need To YOLO)
Reflections
travel reflections, travel quotes, YOLO
Fuck you, Helen Keller (Or, Why You Don't ALWAYS Need To YOLO)
Reflections
travel reflections, travel quotes, YOLO

Some thoughts on the state of travel, and our obsession with YOLOing.

Reflections
travel reflections, travel quotes, YOLO
Culture Clash: Why My Country Is Better Than Yours
Reflections
Rant, China, Queue, travel rant, chaos, Culture Clash, Malta, Golden Week
Culture Clash: Why My Country Is Better Than Yours
Reflections
Rant, China, Queue, travel rant, chaos, Culture Clash, Malta, Golden Week

Some tongue-in-cheek reflections on why some countries are better than others. 

Reflections
Rant, China, Queue, travel rant, chaos, Culture Clash, Malta, Golden Week
The Emotional Cost of Travel
Travel Advice, Reflections
travel cost, post travel blues, privilege, emotional travel
The Emotional Cost of Travel
Travel Advice, Reflections
travel cost, post travel blues, privilege, emotional travel

Sometimes there are downsides to going places. 

Travel Advice, Reflections
travel cost, post travel blues, privilege, emotional travel
This Is Adventure: A Lesson In Taking Risks
Reflections, Travel Advice
Road trip, adventure, risks, USA
This Is Adventure: A Lesson In Taking Risks
Reflections, Travel Advice
Road trip, adventure, risks, USA

Routines are lovely. They can also be fatal.

Reflections, Travel Advice
Road trip, adventure, risks, USA
The American Dream: Dispatches from the USA
Reflections
USA, America, United States, Poverty, Racism, pirvilege
The American Dream: Dispatches from the USA
Reflections
USA, America, United States, Poverty, Racism, pirvilege

Some reflections on the state of America, two weeks into my road trip.

Reflections
USA, America, United States, Poverty, Racism, pirvilege
7 Signs You're A Disappointing Digital Nomad: Reflections On The State Of Travel Blogging
Reflections
Digital Nomad, Travel Blogger, Writing, Social Media, Rant, Nomad, Vagabonding
7 Signs You're A Disappointing Digital Nomad: Reflections On The State Of Travel Blogging
Reflections
Digital Nomad, Travel Blogger, Writing, Social Media, Rant, Nomad, Vagabonding

Some snarky reflections on the state of travel blogging.

Reflections
Digital Nomad, Travel Blogger, Writing, Social Media, Rant, Nomad, Vagabonding
Thoughts Of Home: Ramblings And Reflections On The Concept Of Home
Reflections
Home, Backpacking, Long-term travel
Thoughts Of Home: Ramblings And Reflections On The Concept Of Home
Reflections
Home, Backpacking, Long-term travel

Some thoughts on the ever-elusive concept of home.

Reflections
Home, Backpacking, Long-term travel
Travel, Terror, And The Necessity Of Dancing To Punk Rock
Reflections
Terrorism, Safety
Travel, Terror, And The Necessity Of Dancing To Punk Rock
Reflections
Terrorism, Safety

Some reflections on travel, fear, and terrorism. Oh, and punk fucking rock.

Reflections
Terrorism, Safety
Regurgitating Wanderlust: An Open Letter To BBC Travel
Reflections
BBC, Rant
Regurgitating Wanderlust: An Open Letter To BBC Travel
Reflections
BBC, Rant

An open letter to BBC Travel...because they need to step it up. Srsly.

Reflections
BBC, Rant
Walking The Camino: Puente La Reina to Estella
Reflections, Travel Stories, The Camino
Camino, Spain, Hiking
Walking The Camino: Puente La Reina to Estella
Reflections, Travel Stories, The Camino
Camino, Spain, Hiking

Some reflections on the Way to Santiago. Also, some cursing. 

Reflections, Travel Stories, The Camino
Camino, Spain, Hiking
Cultural Erosion: How Tourism Ruins Travel
Reflections
Rome, China, Great Wall, Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Cultural Erosion: How Tourism Ruins Travel
Reflections
Rome, China, Great Wall, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Some reflections on cultural erosion and the downside of travel and tourism.

Reflections
Rome, China, Great Wall, Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Responsible Blogging and Ethical Travel
Reflections
Rant, Sustainable Travel, Responsible Travel
Responsible Blogging and Ethical Travel
Reflections
Rant, Sustainable Travel, Responsible Travel

Some thoughts (a rant) on a recent travel blog post and the importance of being responsible and informed.

Reflections
Rant, Sustainable Travel, Responsible Travel
The Whiteness of Travel: Privilege in the World of Travel Blogging
Reflections
Privilege, White Privilege, Travel Research
The Whiteness of Travel: Privilege in the World of Travel Blogging
Reflections
Privilege, White Privilege, Travel Research

A brief look at white privilege in the world of travel blogging. Spoiler Alert: it's pretty white.

Reflections
Privilege, White Privilege, Travel Research
Mileage Runs: How To Collect Points While Destroying The Environment
Reflections
travel reflections, travel hacking, mileage runs, Points
Mileage Runs: How To Collect Points While Destroying The Environment
Reflections
travel reflections, travel hacking, mileage runs, Points

How much are points really worth to you? Some controversial thoughts on the travel hacking game. 

Reflections
travel reflections, travel hacking, mileage runs, Points
Couch Surfing: Why It's Better Than Hotels and How It Makes The World A Better Place
Reflections
couch surfing, budget travel, backpacking
Couch Surfing: Why It's Better Than Hotels and How It Makes The World A Better Place
Reflections
couch surfing, budget travel, backpacking

Couchsurfing is not just a way to travel cheaply- it's a way to radically challenge the accepted norms of modern travel, and to connect in a disconnected world.

Reflections
couch surfing, budget travel, backpacking
The Priorities of a Backpacker
Reflections
budget travel, planning, priorities, backpacking, long-term travel
The Priorities of a Backpacker
Reflections
budget travel, planning, priorities, backpacking, long-term travel

If you want to be able to travel long-term you need to understand your priorities.

Reflections
budget travel, planning, priorities, backpacking, long-term travel
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Two kids backpacking the world in search of adventure, vegan snacks, and the art of being human. No big deal.

For one of the most visited cities in the world, #NYC has a really terrible hostel scene. I stayed at half a dozen places around the city, and only found one that I really liked. Most were dirty, poorly designed, and insaneeeeely over priced. In fact, you can easily find cheaper rooms on Airbnb these days. It’s whack. I’ll rant about it soon in a post, but for now just let me shake my head and tell the city just how disappointed I am🤦‍♂️🏙.
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 #usa #newyork #bigapple #budgettravel #backpacking #hostellife #hobolyfe #remoteworker #digitalnomad #nomad #vegan #backpacker #centralpark #gopro #travel #exploremore #visitnewyork #urbanexplorer #traveller #instapic #travelmore #wander #travelgram #america
2:30am on a Saturday night in #Brooklyn. A glowing cross and bright pink chaos. A sign that says “God is the mother of God.” We’re a few blocks away from a strip club and a gas station. The other side of the road smells like piss. Love it or hate it, this is New York City
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 #nyc #newyorkcity #usa #america #nycity #exploremore #travel #backpacking #wander #remoteworker #travelpic #art #urbanphotography #traveller #traveldeeper #backpacker #nomad #digitalnomad #weirdart #visitnyc #visitnewyork #thebigaple #urban_shots
“In every walk in nature one receives far more than he seeks.” - John Muir
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It was uncharacteristically warm and sunny today here in #gothenburg so we hit the trail for a wee stroll. I showed this little guy the importance of having a walking stick...though I don’t think he fully understood since he eventually tried to pick up an 8ft log. But we’ll get there✌️🇸🇪. .
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 #sweden #hiking #goteborg #sverige #hiking_daily #gothenburg_sweden #adventure #johnmuir #remotework #backpacker #traveldeeper #ecotravel #nomad #wander #explore #europe #visitsweden #getoutside #explorer #lpfanphoto #backpacking #budgettravel #travel #traveller #instatravel #instapassport
It was almost a year ago that I was in the #Azores, exploring the island with a group of cool #backpackers I had just met. We grabbed a car and hit the road on an impromptu road trip — which is one of my Favourite things to do when traveling. You learn a lot about yourself when you spend time with new people from new cultures. And having to do it all on a whim forces you to embrace chaos, to think on your feet, and to go with the flow.
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If you ask me, I think the Azores are going to become one of the next go-to travel spots (much like Iceland and, to a lesser extent, Malta have become). Let’s just hope we all don’t ruin the place 🙄😅✌️
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.#nature #hiking #roadtrip #portugal #backpacking #remotework #digitalnomad #traveler #azoresislands  #traveldeeper #vegantravel #portugal_places #portugalphotos #travelpics #adventuretime #budgettravel #setecidades #visitazores #instatravel #explore #getoutside #nature #instapassport #lpfanphoto #vegan #traveler #wander
Spent the past week in #Paris eating baguettes, listening to terrible music, and exploring with @poorandindanger. Sure, it was cold af, and yeah, we did more sitting around working than exploring...but it was still a darn good time. 🇫🇷🥖👨‍🎨 Here’s to more adventures down the roadddddd. ✌️
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.#france #parisjetaime #monmartreparis #monmartre #sacrecoeur #travel #exploreparis #backpacking #digitalnomad #remotework #coworking #visitparis #travelphotograpy #canonphotography #vagabond #budgettravel #travelgram #paristravel #backpacker #instapassport #explorefrance #nomad #parisfrance #travelpicture #lpfanphoto #backpacker_pics 📸 - @poorandindanger
Chilly days in #Paris with @poorandindanger as we shiver our way around the city. But let’s be honest: the views are worth the frostbite.🇫🇷✌️
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.#france #parisjetaime #monmatre #sacrecoeur #visitparis #budgettravel #remotework #digitalnomad #backpacker #eurotrip #travelphotograpy #nikon #nikond3200 #exploreeurope #parisphoto #travelgram #backpacking #vagabond #nomad #explorefrance #travel #traveldeeper #lpfanphoto #travelfrance
One of the many classic #Paris shots. It’s my third visit here and I finally took the time to capture it. Any guesses where this was shot in Paris?? 📸🤔
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.#france #sinkinghouse #explorefrance #backpacker #travelgram #traveldeeper #explorenore #sacrecoeur #monmatreparis #travelphotograpy #explore #backpacking #nikon #nikond3200 #travelpicture #digitalnomad #remotework #visitparis #parisjetaime #parisphoto #beautifuldestinations #nomad #vagabond #architecturephotography
Any guesses where I’m going next? Here’s a hint: it rhymes with.....uh...Blaris? 🧐🙄🤷‍♂️ 🥖🥖🥖🥖🥖🥖🥖🥖🥖
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.#travel #blaris #visitblaris #backpacker #exploreeurope #digitalnomads #remoteworker #eiffeltower #france #nikon #nikond3200 #travelpix #backpacking #vagabondlife #traveller #travelgram #paris #parisjetaime #nomad #visitparis #baguettelyfe #francephoto #lpfanphoto #instapassport #budgettravel #gosomewhere
#FlashbackFriday to one year ago today when I was in #Malta! It’s an underrated destination in #Europe, though it’s definitely on the radar of more travelers these days! Unfortunately, the Azure Window has since collapsed into the sea...but there is still a ton to do here! Have you been? 🧐✌️
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.#nature #azurewindow #gozo #visitmalta #exploreeurope #nikon #nikond3200 #lpfanphoto #getoutside #travel #nomad #vagabond #digitalnomad #maltacharm #backpacker #naturepics #travelgram #backpacking #budgettravel #traveller #wander #exploremalta #naturepic #hiking
See that mountain? That’s #Kilimanjaro. My sister and I climbed it last year...and boy howdy was it a doozy!! Want to read the whole story, to get a sense of what it’s like to claw your way to the summit of the tallest mountain in #Africa? Check out my new book — The Dogs of Nam — which is now available for preorder! 🙌🙌 Have you climbed any mountains during your travels? Let me know how it went in the comments!.✌️
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. .#tanzania #mountkilimanjaro #adventurelife #travel #visitafrica #visittanzania #kilimanjarotz #hiking #nature #backpacking #offthegrid #exploremore #nikon #nikond3200 #africapics #traveller #vagabond #nomad #remoteworker #digitalnomad #backpacker #hikinglife #tanzania🇹🇿 #traveldeeper

we'll find ourselves, in time. in the silence of a journey home; in the things we try, and are


POPULAR POSTS

Featured
I wrote a book!
Feb 19, 2018
I wrote a book!
Feb 19, 2018

The Dogs of Nam is a collection of my best stories from the past +10 years of backpacking. Pre-orders are now available!

Feb 19, 2018
7 Signs You're A Disappointing Digital Nomad: Reflections On The State Of Travel Blogging
Jun 16, 2016
7 Signs You're A Disappointing Digital Nomad: Reflections On The State Of Travel Blogging
Jun 16, 2016

Some snarky reflections on the state of travel blogging.

Jun 16, 2016
Making Money While Travelling: A Review Of "Cambly" For The Digital Nomad
Mar 16, 2016
Making Money While Travelling: A Review Of "Cambly" For The Digital Nomad
Mar 16, 2016

Interested in making some extra money while you travel? If so, then maybe "Cambly" is for you...

Mar 16, 2016
How To Buy A Travel Backpack: 5 Steps To Buying The Perfect Bag
Nov 16, 2015
How To Buy A Travel Backpack: 5 Steps To Buying The Perfect Bag
Nov 16, 2015

A backpacker lives out of their bag. Make sure you buy the right one with these 5 simple steps.

Nov 16, 2015
Darn Tough: The World's Toughest Socks?
Nov 2, 2015
Darn Tough: The World's Toughest Socks?
Nov 2, 2015

Every backpacker needs socks, so you might as well get some that go the extra mile.

Nov 2, 2015
The Camino In Photos
Oct 12, 2015
The Camino In Photos
Oct 12, 2015

Thinking of walking The Camino? Take a photo odyssey across Spain from the comfort of your laptop – blister free!

Oct 12, 2015
Five Star Disappointment: A Review of the Parador de San Marcos
Sep 16, 2015
Five Star Disappointment: A Review of the Parador de San Marcos
Sep 16, 2015

The most disappointing part of our Camino? Our stay at the Parador de San Marcos.

Sep 16, 2015
The Whiteness of Travel: Privilege in the World of Travel Blogging
Aug 3, 2015
The Whiteness of Travel: Privilege in the World of Travel Blogging
Aug 3, 2015

A brief look at white privilege in the world of travel blogging. Spoiler Alert: it's pretty white.

Aug 3, 2015
Bears Upon The Mountain: The Hiking of Mount Fuji
Jun 23, 2015
Bears Upon The Mountain: The Hiking of Mount Fuji
Jun 23, 2015

The trials and tribulations of our ill-considered Mount Fuji climb, in 2014. Lessons learned.

Jun 23, 2015
A Vegan In Mongolia: The Cost of Being Polite
Aug 24, 2014
A Vegan In Mongolia: The Cost of Being Polite
Aug 24, 2014

Being a polite vegan while backpacking in Mongolia took its toll on my bowels. Lesson learned.

Aug 24, 2014

LEARN SOME SHIT

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we're just two kids wandering the world in search of adventure, vegan snacks, and the art of being human. no big deal. 

musings, ramblings, advice, and some stories from the road. read what you want, share what you like; we're all in this together.




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