10 Travel Lessons from Traveling the World

Hello World!

This is what I want to have in mind when I wake up every morning.  Well, let’s say that it should be my second thought of the day – right after the: “I need a coffee” one. This is the life I have chosen.  So, I’d be ashamed not to make the most of it.

In a week or so, I’m about to hit a new milestone; 2 years, 24 months or 730 days, 24 flights, 6 countries…

Hold on; 2 years and I only visited 6 countries?  Yes; at a slow pace, on a tight budget and in the living abroad mode.

As far as I know, this is not a competition.  There is no right way to travel; there is only the right way to live your life.  Bonus; you can even decide how you want to live this pretty life of yours.  Or at least, some of us can.

I recently turned 27 years old.  I had a mini-crisis for a few days (okay, let’s admit it; it lasted a week…ahem.  Or two.).  I questioned my lifestyle, my blog and my priorities.  Now, that I’m done with this little crisis, I’m ready for the next adventure.  I’ll announce it soon enough (don’t you worry!).

 

Shout your happiness.

 

They said; “Catch flights, not feelings!”

What if you catch happiness?  You know that kind of feeling when you can’t believe you are somewhere?  That moment when you have the World to yourself (or at least, you think you have).  That moment when you feel so grateful…  These are feelings, are they?  They are also the best feelings on Earth. It’s like falling in love.

Picture yourself during the best date ever (with a man/a girl/whatever you’re dating).  Everything is great.  Everything feels great.  Then, the date’s over, that thing (or that human) is kissing you passionately.  As you walk on your way home, you have one wish; dance like an idiot/jump around/shout your happiness to your damn lovely neighbors.

If you’re happy, please do me a favor, and spread it.  Spread it loud.  Spread it everywhere.  Smile to strangers, dance under the stars and shout it on the top of this amazing mountain if you’d like to (who cares if it’s just a hill?).  There’s nothing wrong with being happy.

 

 

When life isn’t going right, turn left.

 

You had a plan.  Good news; life has bigger plans for you!

Every single time you try to make plans, life is tricking you and drags you somewhere else.  Don’t you worry and just trust it.  Who knows what will happen?  Trust me here; everything will work out for the best.  You just need to go with the flow.

At the beginning of this trip, I was in Western Canada (the Rockies are gorgeous!) and I was supposed to be gone for two months.  Ahem.  What happened there?  Was I too busy shouting my happiness? Life wanted me to turn left.   My plans fell apart and I had nowhere to get back to.

They said; “no reason to stay is a great reason to go.”  The opposite is also true; no reason to go is a great reason to stay”.

Two years later, I know this was for the best.

 

Do it.  Even if it scares the hell out of you.

 

They said; “What would you do if you weren’t scared?”

This is my favorite question.  I asked myself this over and over again so I can take better decisions.

Some of us also say; “Do one thing that scares you every day!”

Challenge yourself… all the way.  Would you rather be the one missing out or be the one who is ready to shout: “all in!”?

A few years ago, I realized I had to make decisions regarding my biggest fears.  I also decided that I didn’t want to make decisions based on these fears either.  This was the moment when I sold my stuff to travel to Europe.

This is also the attitude I had when I tried to surf in Hawaii, when I took a swing in New Zealand or when I booked a solo trip to Japan.

 

 

Do what feels right… for you.

There will be the jealous ones.  There will be the worried ones (Hi Dad, Hi Mum!).  There will be people judging.  They might even try to convince you or play with your head.  Whatever you decide to do, do what feels right.  Trust your feelings, trust your guts.

In 2016, there are different ways to live your life.  And you are the only one who can truly know what’s right or what isn’t.  If you’re not ready for a settled-down life yet, don’t settle.  Don’t rush anything.  Don’t postpone anything.  You’ll do it when the time is right.

About your worried ones, you should never forget to keep them updated! My family is my best supporter (after such a long time, they accepted my lifestyle).  Even if that means I have to repeat my plans (they need a plan more than I do!) many times, I’ll do it!

 

What if it is that one-time deal?

 

They said; “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take!”

Travelling is also about taking risks, about seizing opportunities.  While you’re on the road, you’ll have to make the most of every second.  Time flies by my friend, and so does money.

Every time I visit a new destination, I’m trying to keep in mind that it could be a one-time thing.  I might not have the chance to come back here again.  In fact; I’d rather book a flight to visit a new place instead.  So, I try to make the most of it.

I was sitting in the van facing Uluru National Park entry.  That massive red rock was still far from us.  I was short on the budget and the park entry fees were a bit too expensive for me.  “Fuck it. I’ll go anyway”, I thought.  Thank God; Uluru is one of my favorite places on Earth now.  The place is magically peaceful.  This was a one-time thing and I’m glad I did it.

 

 

You can always make things happen.

 

You don’t need to be rich.  You just have to learn how to compromise.  In case you haven’t noticed, the World is huge my friend.  You won’t be able to see every corner.  In fact; you might even have to choose which corner you’d like to discover!

I’d rather eat noodles than expensive fancy meals if that means I can get to see the Grand Canyon.  I’d rather sleep at the cheapest hostel and travel for months than going to a resort for a single week.

There are so many different ways to travel; if you want it to happen, you’ll make it happen.

They said; “Things do not happen.  Things are made to happen.”

I say: “Pick a moment. Make it happen.”

 

One day, you’ll laugh about it.

 

Travelling is an adventure filled with great stories, gorgeous memories and a bunch of misadventures.

I said it many times; traveling isn’t sparkling-diamonding-perfect (Yep. I’m still creating new words every day – please read it with a posh accent).  It comes with downsides too.  Because, life is still there waiting for you, ready to slap you gently (or not) in the face at some point.  When it does happen, it’s not the best feeling ever anymore.

But, good news; like everything in life passes, it will pass too.  You’ll cry, you’ll shout your madness and one day, you’ll laugh about it.  (Or, one day, you’ll have a worse day and you’ll wish you were back then… Ahem.)

 

 One day, you’ll dream about it.

 

They said; “The tans will fade but the memories will last forever”.

Travelling is an adventure fulfilled with great stories, gorgeous memories and a bunch of misadventures.  – and a bunch of happy smiles.

In the end, you won’t regret the chances you took.

 

 

It’s not just about ticking off your bucket list, it’s also about people.

 

Obviously, the World is magnificent.  The feelings you’ll catch on the road are going to make this adventure even greater.

And then, you’ll meet people.  They will leave their footprints somewhere somehow.  You’ll remember the place and you won’t forget the encounters.  The fast-growing friendships on the road are indescribable.  (Alright; you might not even know their name, but you’ll know where they are from. Does that count?)

 

Stop thinking. The world is waiting for you.

 

Don’t waste your time playing with the hamsters in your head.  When was the last time you looked at the sky? It’s beautiful out there.

Adventure awaits.

 

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BEFORE YOU GO

 

☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.

☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.

☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.

☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!

☑  Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.

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