Traveling Has Always Been In Me

My parents were backpacking South America in the 80s when they got pregnant with me, so I grew up listening to insane backpacker stories like when they sold their passport to get money for food, got robbed at gunpoint, or when they hiked the Inka Trail completely unprepared (this was way before the trail was controlled like today.)

Living in Norway with an Italian dad made for long road trips to Italy every summer, sleeping in the car or staying in cheap motels. I guess it’s always been in me. But studying a semester in Seville really lit a spark in me and there was no way back! I believe traveling is the only thing that makes you richer. I know it sounds cliche, but that’s my (and so many others’) reality.

How Often I Travel And Activities I Enjoy

Whenever I can. I prefer nature and outdoor activities be it hiking, scuba diving, or anything in between. Other than that, it gives me a lot just chatting to the locals and to other travelers. It’s the best way to learn about the culture and discover off-the-beaten-path places.

How I Pick My Travel Destinations

I want to go everywhere. So unless I’ve been saving up for a bucket list trip, like when I went to Peru to hike the Inka Trail, which had been my dream since I was a kid, I often just look up for the cheapest flights I can find and end up in unexpected destinations - and without any expectations, it always turns out great!

When I worked full time, I usually went on 3-5 week-long trips once a year and then shorter trips around Europe on weekends and public holidays. When I travel full time, I usually stay until I feel like moving on. That could be days or weeks or months.

Before I go to a new destination I read blogs and guidebooks, especially if it’s a culture I’m not used to so that I know customs, dress code, etc. But often, I go without any idea of an itinerary and just chat to people when I arrive and go with the flow 100%. Those are the best trips.

How I Pack For My Trips

I usually pack the night before I travel, and keep in mind the dress code for the destination. I try to pack light but usually end up with some things that never get used. I never leave without my lip balm and my camera. A sarong is also usually in my hand luggage as it’s super versatile.

Blanket on cold flights, towel on the beach, cover head and shoulders when entering temples, you name it.

Favorite Memory Of Meeting New People Or Exploring With Locals

Another unforgettable travel memory is all the way back to when I backpacked Australia in 2006-2008 when my friend and I met this dodgy-looking guy from Tasmania, Doc, traveling around in his van. He was heading up to Mossman Gorge to hang out with his Aborigine friends and asked us to tag along. We were a little skeptical at first but as we had our own van, we concluded with leaving if we didn’t feel comfortable.

We ended up having the adventure of our lives! This dodgy-looking dude stopped seeming so dodgy and became a really close friend. Doc took us to visit amazing people he knew along the coast and we ended up living with the native Rainforest People for over a month and learned so much about their history, their ancestors, natural medicine, and tracking. We were smoked in a traditional ritual to make the ancestors protect us in the rainforest, and had a complete cultural immersion with new friends. This was way before this place became a tourist trap and one of the most authentic experiences with local natives I’ve had during my travels.

Read more: The Best Budget Travel Tips For Backpacking Australia

Impact Of Solo Traveling On My Life

It was freedom! The feeling of making friends wherever I went and though I traveled solo I didn’t feel alone. Of exploring new places, going beyond my comfort zone, and learning that what you see on TV and what it’s really like doesn’t align at all.

Back in the day, I never thought I would be able to travel solo in my entire life. I went to Australia the first time with a friend and on the second trip we separated and I went solo for the first time to Thailand for a visa renewal.

That’s when I realized I wouldn’t be alone even though I traveled by myself. I met so many amazing people, some of them I still keep in touch with.

When I went back to Australia it felt like going home because I had so many friends everywhere that I had met before but I still traveled by myself down the coast catching up with people here and there.

In Thailand, I ran completely out of money but my grandmother decided to give her grandchildren a good amount of cash for Christmas and that saved me (she had no idea I was broke and stranded in Asia.) I invested the money in a Working Holiday visa in New Zealand as I wasn’t ready to go back to Norway.

After a year and a half, I went through some personal challenges and decided I needed to get back to having my own living room and TV. That was what I missed the most. I’d been living out of my backpack for years and was tired.

I tried the A4 life in Norway, which, because of the fabulous wages, gave me the opportunity to travel quite a lot even though I worked full time. But I didn’t feel at home there anymore. It was as if I’d outgrown the life in Norway, so I tried Spain again, which is much more relaxed - and then there’s the temperature! Even living in Spain I’ve traveled all around the world and throughout Spain! I think traveling has just become a part of me, like an arm or a leg, and now I’m off to a nomadic lifestyle again and never felt better about it. I really missed the freedom of being where I want when I want the last few years in Spain. And where the journey continues, no one knows.

How I Managed Funds To Work And Travel Abroad

In my first years of full-time travel, I worked in hospitality where I traveled, simply walked into bars and restaurants asking for work and it mostly worked out fine. That way I funded my travels easily. Now, on the other hand, I want to work from my laptop so that I can be completely location-independent.

Luckily, my blog is making some money and I also started a destination hiking blog for Andalucia that’s bringing in some money. On top of that, I work as a VA and will work as an independent contractor. There’s no denying it’s been tough as I started treating my travel blog as a business just as the pandemic hit. And as with all travel blogs or travel-related businesses pageviews and income tanked overnight. I tried and failed a few different projects last year, mostly because I wasn’t passionate about them. But I’ve grown a lot and learned so much through that and through courses that I’ve taken. While my direction might be another in a year or two, I’m always gonna be true to my passion for slow travel, the outdoors, and helping people to travel in a responsible way.

How I Evaluate GAFFL’s Role In Finding Suitable Travel Companions

I think GAFFL plays a huge role to solo travelers, especially those who are new to it and might find it scary at first. But I also believe that seasoned solo travelers find value in sharing costs and meeting other travelers when they want to. As a solo traveler, I sometimes feel like being by myself while other times I really just want to hang out and share the experiences with like-minded people. And in the times you want to hang out, it’s awesome to have a platform that can connect you with other solo travelers.

What Inspired Me To Start My Own Blog

After traveling and living abroad for so many years, I’ve seen both the positives and the negatives of tourism. Unfortunately, the negatives play a bigger and bigger role and affect local people at the destinations, animals, and nature itself. I really wanted to make a difference and help people to make better choices when traveling. I believe that if I can help people explore this planet in a responsible way, they will spread it on to their circle of people too, and together we can make a difference.

Traveling On A Budget And Managing Costs

Usually, I’m on a tight budget when I travel. I’m a pretty messy traveler, so I don’t do well with budgeting, etc, but I stay in hostel dorms when I can, spend little money on food (cook in the hostel when possible,) and often travel by public transport.

For me it’s not important where I sleep, I’m more about experiences and connecting with the locals and with other travelers. That’s when I learn about the destination and get ideas about where to go next. It’s also a source of hilarious travel stories and lots of laughter! And guess what? It’s for free!

My Bucket List And Number Of Countries I Have Traveled

I haven’t counted, but I believe it’s well past 50 by now. I definitely have a bucket list, and it’s growing quicker than what I manage to tick off places. But that happens when you like to slow travel and when you return to the same places again and again. I think the top of my bucket list right now, is Galapagos and the Easter Island (both childhood dreams) and all the Stan countries have made a huge jump the last few years because of the insane hiking opportunities!

What It Takes For A Full-Time Traveler To Sustain Travels

Flexibility and an open mind to go with the flow. Depending on what they do for a living, have multiple sources of income so that if one fails, the others will keep you afloat. We all saw when the pandemic came how fragile your income can be if the industry of your niche collapses overnight.

It’s also important to manage work-time and fun-time. A lot of people I meet think that digital nomads don’t work and that’s so wrong. Most of us work a lot more than 9-5. It’s just that we do it in exciting places where we can explore in our time off. To be able to do that without getting burnt out, I think it’s important to make a clear schedule for yourself so that you work what you need to and at the same time enjoy your time off properly.