Rolf Potts's Blog, page 122

When traveling, I usually consider the actual form of transportation just a means to get where I'm going. Certainly, there have been experiences that stand out, but for airplanes, buses and cars—it's usually snooze city.

Hours spent on planes or most wheeled vehicles are like pressing the pause button on my trip. I'm not here, but not there yet. If I can gaze out the windows to watch the world zoom by, I will. Otherwise, I'm in a sort of limbo.

On my most-recent trip to Colombia, I took a long motorcycle ride with a friend to tour through a region near his home. As a passenger, I got to enjoy looking up at rich green canyons as we sped through them and had attractions pointed out to me on the way. And that experience has made me rethink my transportation boredom.

What made it stand out from my usual "ride to get there" mentality? Was it because I was with a close friend, as opposed to by myself or with strangers? Could it have been that I'd never before taken a motorcycle ride for fun? Perhaps it was a combination of being happy in the moment without thinking about where I was going and what was coming next.

Whatever the reason, that afternoon sits suspended in time in my mind. While simple, it may be one of the best travel experiences I've had in a while. And it's caused me to consider how I approach the full travel experience.

"We tend to use the word "real" to differentiate what tourists see in a modern-day city or place, versus what the locals, who have a much deeper and intimate familiarity with its nuanced culture and details, know or experience. Few New Yorkers flock to Times Square for dinner on a Saturday night, just as few native New Orleans residents spend their time hanging out on Bourbon Street. They pride themselves, in fact, on knowing the little hole-in-the-wall neighborhood eateries, bars, stores, and music venues that appeal less to the masses and retain more of a particular group's or neighborhood's personality and character. The trouble arises when we try to clarify what constitutes the "real" character of a place beyond those basic distinctions. …On some level, it's impossible to capture or define the "real" anywhere, because places are not just fixed buildings you can point to. They're a melding of culture, viewpoint, character, detail and experience. And every person's experience of a place, group, event or culture is unique."

–Lane Wallace, What Makes a Place 'Real'? The Atlantic, May 11, 2010

A man and woman using laptops on a train. Photo: Marco Raaphorst / Flickr

Working as a writer abroad is like tackling two dreams at once: writing and travel. Tough to pull off, though especially if you want to earn a living.  Graham Holliday, an experienced journalist, laid out his strategies for success in this Slideshare presentation: Frontline Club – solo foreign correspondent.

My favorite advice was in slide #26:

Go somewhere cheap – especially if money is an issue – and go somewhere odd. If you've done your research and you've made contacts and you have fairly good inkling of what you're going to be letting yourself in for – Just go.

Our very own Rolf Potts got his big break with Storming the Beach, when he was in Thailand. Matt Gross, the former Frugal Traveler columnist for The New York Times, got his start as a newspaper copy editor in Vietnam. Speaking from experience, my first opportunity in publishing was also serving as a copy editor, but in Taiwan.

It's difficult to get that first assignment, though. When I applied for that job in Taiwan, there was a lot of competition from ESL English teachers who wanted to get out of teaching and into writing.  If you're a relatively recent university graduate like I was at the time, don't expect to snag a journalism job abroad straight away. Especially in Asia, it seems like almost everyone does a bit of English teaching in the beginning before moving on to other work.

Some tips:

-Start a blog. Write a lot: the more, the better.

-Write guest posts on other blogs. The more prominent the website, the better.

-Monitor the media jobs websites regularly to see new openings.

Lastly, but most important: network, network, network. You can never know too many people. I find that my best networking is in casual settings, rather than formal events.  I was once at someone's house party in Shanghai, and nearly every person there was a foreign correspondent.  Collect business cards habitually, and always follow up with an e-mail the next day.

Another thing about networking: most of my best opportunities have come from acquaintances I didn't know that well, compared to close friends. I think it's because these people were more outside my circle and in industries I didn't get exposed to as often.  Usually, my friends have similar backgrounds and careers as I did. Malcolm Gladwell talks about "the strength of weak ties" in his book The Tipping Point.

Do you work as a writer or journalist overseas? How did you get your job? Please share your stories and advice in the comments.

"One of the most important reasons to travel is to know what it feels like to be a foreigner."

–A.A. Gill, AA Gill is Away (2003)

http://www.facebook.com/AaronsTravels

Age: 31

Hometown: Buena Vista, Colorado

Quote: " Even though I was consistently traveling to new places, it's amazing how just having a support system of friends and and a foundation of familiarity in one place can quickly engage the feelings inside of us that make us consider a place our home."



How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful before and during the trip?

I originally found out about Vagabonding via Timothy Ferris' blog, author of "The Four Hour Work Week."

How long were you on the road? On my most recent trip I was gone for 7 1/2  months.

Where all did you go?

Europe was the very first international destination I traveled to. I found myself returning 14 years later to the countries of England, France, Italy, and Spain. I also ventured to Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Morocco, Portugal and Switzerland, all for the first time.

What was your job or source of travel funding for this journey?

Over the past 10 years I've created a lifestyle that is to work for several months (in the advertising industry as a independent contractor) followed by traveling for several months. This cycle has enabled me to visit over 65 countries!

Did you work or volunteer on the road? I did not.

Of all the places you visited, which was your favorite? Morocco has a frenzied vibe to it that took some time getting used to. Once I did those little bursts of chaos are what attracted me so much to the energy and pace I found in Morocco.

Was there a place that was your least favorite, or most disappointing, or most challenging?

The countries of Sweden and Switzerland were my most challenging due to the expense of traveling there. I've become very successful at budgeting on my trips and being able to make my currency carry out as far as possible. The tried and true formulas for budget traveling such as buying food to prepare as meals from local grocery stores and using public transportation, would quickly eat up ones budget in countries with these prices!

Did any of your pre-trip worries or concerns come true?  Did you run into any problems or obstacles that you hadn't anticipated?

This European trip was one that I worried about least. I felt somewhat at home, especially in English speaking countries like England and Scotland.

I used Edinburgh, Scotland as my hub due to having several friends in this location which quickly became my "home" base in Europe. I thought the fact that I would frequently leave Edinburgh to venture off for a week or two in other countries would show custom agents that I had no intention of gaining employment as a tourist while in the UK. Instead, I was always red flagged upon re-entering the UK. Technically I was doing nothing wrong but customs agents would drill me much more than the other tourists due to my untraditional form of long-term traveling. Towards the last two months of my trip they started to recognize me personally which seemed to lighten the process greatly.

Which travel gear proved most useful?  Least useful?

My iPod touch has quickly become the one non-vital travel item I carry. This little beauty can do everything from let me video chat with my family stateside to manage my bank accounts to book hotel/hostel rooms. The possibilities are vast and invaluable at times! Its all made better by the fact that it takes up an incredibly small amount of packing space.

I always seem to pack an extra pair of shoes that are never used.

What are the rewards of the vagabonding lifestyle?

The vagabonding lifestyle enables a person to take breaks from the beaten tourist path and really dig deep into the culture. You have time to form friendships with locals and get a good feel for what it is like to live within their communities. The freedom of having more time enables your experiences to be richer and more closely aligned with the type of person you are.

What are the challenges and sacrifices of the vagabonding lifestyle?

The constraints of a budget can get tiresome after several months. Knowing you do not have any fresh money coming into your back account makes sure you do not get carried away. More importantly, vagabonders seem to know they will one day return to many of the places they visit. Instead of using that old "Once-in-a-lifetime" line, we know the £$ you save today by not getting that latte, means you can probably enjoy that latte next year in Buenos Aires instead.

What lessons did you learn on the road?

On this trip I learned many things like usual -  of them the precision of perfectly packing carry on-only baggage, that some of the slowest and fastest internet connections can be found throughout Europe, and I am always going to hold up the line because the cashier does not have a pen for me to sign my credit card receipt.

How did your personal definition of "vagabonding" develop over the course of the trip?

Even though I was consistently traveling to new places, it's amazing how just having a support system of friends and and a foundation of familiarity in one place can quickly engage the feelings inside of us that make us consider a place our home. It took me by surprise when I realized how fond I had become of my "home" base of Edinburgh.  I found myself happy to return "home" to Edinburgh after each wonderful journey. A "home" which was 100% foreign to this vagabonder only a few months earlier.

If there was one thing you could have told yourself before the trip, what would it be? You totally did the right thing by purchasing just a one-way ticket this time around.

Any advice or tips for someone hoping to embark on a similar adventure?

Thoroughly study up on Europe's budget airlines, RyanAir in particular. While the experience of flying with them isn't great, no other airline gives you the chance at exploring most of Europe for rock-bottom prices! Find out all you can about their pricing policies, routings, practices, and rules. This will pay itself back in no time for those looking to travel around the continent.

When and where do you think you'll take your next long-term journey?

Even all the way over here in Colorado, I can hear the voices of Asia calling me back. This very well might be on the horizon for me but the country of Iran seems to be calling a little louder.

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us a little about yourself.

Perhaps you meant to spend a little more time studying Spanish before your trip, or if you did, your mind just happened to draw a blank the second you got yourself and your bags into the taxi.

¿A dónde quieres ir?

Uh… where's that phrasebook?

Nothing's better than speaking the language—even if you can't do it perfectly. But for those who need a little prompt, taxis in Bogotá, Colombia, are ready for you.

Last week, on my ride from the bus terminal to the airport, I spied a green card hanging from the passenger seat in my cab. On it were English-to-Spanish translations of phrases that might be needed by a passenger.

I don't frequently get around by taxi when I'm traveling, so this may be more common that I think. But if not, it's a pretty cool idea.

Have you seen something similar elsewhere? Let us know in the comments section.

"In the long history of modern tourism one element is striking. The main tourist attraction tends to be those other tourists. We devote a lot of time and energy to observing and commenting on fellow travelers. At the beach or the café on the piazza we turn into amateur vacation sociologists. In the evening we will share our observations with our companion(s): "Did you see that German couple? Those Canadians were really…" This habit seems especially strong among the middle classes, which in the history of tourism form a vague and changing social category."

–Orvar Lofgren, On Holiday: A History of Vacationing (1999)

One of the major questions many travelers ask as they're dreaming and planning for a RTW trip or any kind of long-term travel is, "How much money will I need?" For many, that is answered in terms of how much money the traveler needs to save before setting off on a trip, during which they won't be making any income. That's not the only option, however.

Most of us can point to examples of people whose businesses are mobile, allowing them to make money on the road even as they travel, but you don't have to be a web designer or day trader to generate income while you continue on your long-term trip. There are a number of travel jobs you can get that will help you extend your trip and won't require you to save up as much money before you leave home.

To be sure, having a "real job" – even a travel job – while you're on a long-term trip does mean you'll be making some sacrifices. Working on a cruise ship or as an au pair means someone else is setting the itinerary. Working as a tour guide or an ESL teacher means you're staying put for awhile. If ultimate flexibility in where you go and how long you stay is of the utmost importance to you, then you're back to needing to save up enough money so you won't have to worry about finances while you're traveling. If you're more keen on the experience of being out of your element for as long as possible and you're not so focused on the "where" aspect, then incorporating a bit of time spent working while you're traveling may be the ideal situation for you.

Some travel jobs require specific training – pilots and medical professionals, for instance – but others are more about being adaptable and willing to learn. Think about what you love to do, get creative, and ask around to find out what your options might be in any given location. You never know what you could be adding to your resume.

>> Have you picked up work while you've traveled? What are the oddest jobs you've had? Did any of those short-term jobs turn into a long-term career later on?

This topic came up in our weekly Round the World Wednesday series – catch up on the articles you've missed and stay tuned for the next one on BootsnAll. And don't forget to sign up for BootsnAll's monthely RTW Travel Newsletter, too.

Students giving a presentation. Photo: Tobias Toft / Flickr

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a slideshow is worth a novel. Nomadz.nu, a partnership of two Belgian women, created this excellent presentation: Don't be rich, live rich – one year on the road – the good and the bad.  This would work well as an "orientation" film for new vagabonders ready to head out into the wider world.

The whole thing is well-structured, a sign of that these women, Ine and Catherine, are marketing pros.  The first section has stunning photographs and tidbits about the grand adventures they had.  Then it goes into the step-by-step planning process they took.  You get to see decisions they made, and why the made them.

Starting at slide #39, Ine and Catherine talk about "The Hard Stuff."  Their frank honesty is greatly appreciated, because a lot of people don't realize the challenges of long-term travel.  For trips of that duration, you often have to be more independent and do more things yourself, rather than relying on a tour company to take care of everything.

Although the fantasy of remote working is typing on your laptop at the beach, the reality doesn't always turn out that way.  The two of them realized they actually were more productive in an office setting.  As a result, they once rented space in Buenos Aires so they could get more done.  The irony is that a cubicle can be a "productivity retreat" from your journey.  Still, that's more preferable to have short bouts of work while traveling, rather than short vacations from work in the 9-to-5 world.

For the digital nomads, you might want to jump ahead to slide #53.  In the following slides, Ine and Catherine reveal the gear and apps they used to take care of business while on the road.  For more cool stuff, visit their website at Nomadz.nu.

What lessons have you learned while working during your travels? Please share your experiences in the comments.

The lure of the exotic is strong for travelers, but we may often forget that the exotic is here at home as well. I recently returned from a 42-mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park—one of countless National Parks that I had not yet visited—and now I have a new appreciation for trails.

It can be hard to turn off the endless chattering in your brain when you're headed out on the trail. It took me two days to stop trying to work out all my various day-to-day problems, and just breathe and enjoy. And whether your favorite kind of trail involves hiking, bicycling, paddling, drinking, or something else, there are plenty out there to take you away—even if it's not too far from home.

The July issue of Outside magazine lists 32 of "America's Best Trails," from the best Pacific Coast trail to the best trail for getting high to the best trail for beer. Check and see if there's one with your name on it.

Is your fave not on the list? Let us know what it is.