NuNomad

Meet the Nomads - Family on Bikes

by Carmen

Through wanderings of Twitterland I came upon @familyonbikes and was intrigued by their bi-contintental cycling adventure with two young sons.  The Vogel family has literally been "on the road" for two years now.  Beginning in Alaska they have slowly biked their way to Costa Rica and will continue until they reach the tip of Argentina.  In doing so, their youngest son, Davy, will be the youngest person in world history to make this biking trek.  Read on to hear from Nancy Sathre-Vogel about their life on bikes.

I see on your site that the two of you were biking long before you had children.  How many bike trips had you done before this adventure and what countries did you see?

John has been cycling much longer than me, but together we cycled through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Yemen, Mali, and Israel.  He has also cycled in Australia, Zimbabwe, Norway, Taiwan, and Malaysia.  Of course, we’ve also cycled quite a bit in the USA and Mexico as well. 

Taking your children on such a long and physically demanding journey must have been a huge decision.  How did you make the choice that this would be your way to travel and how did your children’s ages factor into the decision?

John and I had always dreamed of taking off for a year-long journey with our kids, but we figured it would always remain just a dream like most people’s dreams do.  But one day John came home after a particularly rough day in the classroom and told me he wanted to take off on a bike trip.  I thought he was crazy – I mean, parents just don’t do that!! 

For the next three weeks John kept talking about the bike trip and he managed to convince me that we only live once, and we had to take advantage of this time with the kids if we were ever to do it.  Four weeks after John first raised the idea, we ordered our bicycle built for three.  Two months after that, we were on the road.

Our biggest concern at that point was that the kids wouldn’t like touring by bicycle.  We had quit our jobs, spent $6000 on a bike, and taken off.  And if the boys didn’t enjoy it?  We were terrified. 

It became evident immediately that our concerns were unfounded – the boys loved their life on the road!  They took to cycle touring like a duck to water.

And so it is that we are still on the road – this time riding from Alaska to Argentina.  The boys learn way more on the road than they ever could in a classroom, and they love what they are doing.  For me and John, this is our one and only chance to spend this time with our boys – soon they will be grown and have lives of their own.  Right now, they are enjoying being with their parents – and their parents enjoy being with them! 

Do you cycle every day or take days of rest on a regular schedule? 

We take lots of days off.  LOTS!!  In fact, we cycle less than 50% of the days. 

How do you decide how long you will stay in a location?

That depends on a lot of factors – what there is to do in that place, how tired we are, what the weather is like, etc…  Basically, when we are ready to move on, we do. 

I see you have many sponsors both corporate and individual.  Have you been able to sustain your life on the road through sponsorships and donations? If not, are you also deriving income from other means while on the road?

We do have a few corporate sponsors who are providing gear, and a few individuals who donate a small amount of cast each month.  However, the vast majority of our expenses are coming from our retirement account.

John and I decided that life is too short to not take advantage of it.  Our boys will only be boys once.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so we decided to go for it.  We will be poorer when we retire, but we’ll have loads of memories!! 

How do you fit homeschooling into your life?

For the most part, our journey is the boys’ teacher.  They learn so much simply by traveling around the world!  Mother Nature is also an awesome teacher and the boys learn tons from her. 

That being said, there are a few areas where the learning can’t come so naturally.  For those areas, we supplement their education with actual lessons.  We have math books with us, and the boys work on that in the tent or hotel rooms.  They also write journals or essays occasionally and are learning to make video documentaries.  They are both avid readers, so our biggest challenge in that area is finding English books!

 

Can you describe the Reach the World program you are participating in?  How does it work for you and the kids in NYC who watch?

Reach the World is an exciting program!  We are connected with classrooms in NYC via the internet, and we become the eyes and ears of the kids in those classes.  Each week we post online about our experiences – writing, photos, and videos.  The kids call that up and learn about the world through our experiences.  It is a neat way for disadvantaged kids to have a chance to experience the world. 

Do you have any advice for nomadic families based on your experiences so far?

The main piece of advice I have is to never, ever, not even for one nanosecond doubt your children!!  Children have an amazing ability to do way more than we give them credit for!

To learn more about the Vogel family, please visit their website Family on Bikes

Meet the Nomads - Brian - Around the World with No Debt!

 by Carmen

I recently met Brian of No Debt World Travel through Twitter (@brianepeters).  While he's not a NuNomad in the sense of maintaining his income while on the road, I was intrigued by his experience of a round the world trip without incurring any credit card debt.  In addition, as an African American traveler, he has written about some of his unique experiences while on the road.  Brian's sense of humor and positive outlook is amazing. Enjoy!

Brian, I’m intrigued by your blog, No Debt World Travel.  Obviously, you began your adventure attempting to prove that you could travel around the world without going into debt.  How long were you on the road, what did you see, and did you stay out of debt?

I stayed on the road for four months and covered 4 continents. Australia, South America and Antarctica will have to wait for the next trip. I visited

Hilo, Hawaii
Tokyo, Japan
Bangkok, Thailand
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Hong Kong, China
Cape Town, South Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
London, United Kingdom
Paris, France
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Athens, Greece
Barcelona, Spain
Marrakesh, Morocco
Rome, Italy

When I arrived back home, there were NO travel charges from the trip on any credit cards. Completely debt free! Currently planning the next trip!

I saw that you started your trip with savings.  Did you travel entirely on this savings or did you derive some income while on the road?  If so, what did you do to create income?

This was all done on savings. I realize now that if I wanted to stay longer in places there were plenty of opportunities to work locally by teaching English, working in hostels, or like many nomads do now, freelance over the Internet.

I realized that teaching English is huge overseas. So many want to learn because it provides more opportunities for better paying jobs.

What type of airline ticket did you purchase?  Round the world or did you buy as you went?  What have been the pros and cons of your ticket choice?

I bought a round the world ticket from Airtreks. I could have chosen a round the world ticket from one of the airline alliances or gone with an agent like Airtreks.

Airtreks goes for the cheapest possible price regardless of the airline and pieces them together into one round the world itinerary. The problem is potentially the airlines connecting are not in sync so tickets are not carried over as easily for the next flight.

An airline alliance (Sky Team, OneWorld or Star Alliance) are groups of airlines that have codeshare agreements, use connecting terminal space, etc. So for example, American Airlines and Japan Airlines are part of OneWorld. American would take me from New York to Los Angeles and then I could connect to Japan Airlines from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Japan. With an alliance the connections and reservation setup should be seamless and should make the trip much easier.

When I got to Europe I bought the tickets as I went, usually departing from the smaller Gatwick Airport outside London. I also used the EuroStar train from London to Paris. That was a very enjoyable ride and I highly recommend it. Just book early to get the best prices.

What did you find were the best ways to save money while traveling?  What mistakes did you see others making in terms of money spent while on the road?

I stayed in hostels which I am a big advocate of. I stayed in Hawaii for $25US a night. Tokyo was $30US. Those were the highest prices I experienced the entire trip, except when I splurged at the Venetian in Macau for my birthday. Thailand was $13US a night. In Cambodia I was in a hotel, but it was $6US a night! SIX DOLLARS!

Hostels are far beyond what the movies portray them to be. You can get clean, centrally located hostels with great roommates. In fact the only problem I had was a loud snorer in a few rooms. Otherwise, everyone is there to enjoy themselves. I also saw families and older travelers, so hostels are not just for the straight out of school 21 year old. (If You are Nervous About Staying in Hostels..)

The biggest cost would be food. For those of us who don’t want to live on Ramen noodles and candy bars, it can be tricky. I tried to pick hostels that had kitchens with functioning stoves and refrigerators. One of first things I did after getting settled was to find the nearest grocery store and buy some pasta, meat, etc. Take it back to the hostel and cook up something there for cents on the dollars and will last for a few meals. I did a lot of that in Tokyo and Rome. Cheap food was most plentiful in Thailand. No need to do that there.

You are the first African American nomad that I have interviewed.  Knowing that race relations vary greatly from country to country would you say you had any unique travel experiences by virtue of being African American?  Were there any particular places that you have found to be especially welcoming or unwelcoming because of race?

My experience has been great. I did not have any issues. Needless to say I stand out in a crowd in certain places overseas, and my uniqueness usually makes me the center of ‘good’ attention.

When I was at the Venetian in Macau, a group of Asian tourists stopped to take pictures with me for a solid 5 minutes. Not like I’m not famous already (ok, maybe in my own mind) but I don’t think they ever met an African of ANY descent before. Too bad we could not understand each other or else I would have found out where they are from. (Instant Celebrity)

In Cambodia I was invited to a wedding reception. I was the only non-Cambodian at the event. I got a couple of looks when I walked in, but by the time the music started and the drinks started flowing, I was a member of the family. Had a blast! (Cambodian "Invited" Wedding Crasher)

Also in Cambodia, once we got away from the city and into the countryside, you could tell people had never/rarely seen a Black person. Kids would stop and wave. I swear one girl’s jaw dropped and she pointed when she saw me. I never took it personally because I never felt the comments or reactions were malicious. They were just surprised to see me.

In Ethiopia women wanted to marry me … within 10 minutes of meeting me. Ethiopia is a lovely country, nothing like the images of “We Are The World” from the 80s, but poverty is still prevalent. A little bit of crazy, funny and sad all at the same time. (Who Loves Ya Baby? Apparently...Everyone)

Anywhere on the continent of Africa I get mistaken for South African, Ghanaian, Moroccan, Senegalese, basically name any country there. While in Marrakesh, vendors called me ‘Barack Obama’ to get me to buy their goods or sit at their food stalls.

When walking through Marrakesh on foot the people would say, “Welcome Marrakesh! So nice to have you here!” And they would honestly mean it.

The point: No matter your race, gender or nationality, go into any new situation with an open heart and mind and everything will be OK. Smiles and laughter are universal and the tools of any good traveler. Use them early and often.

If you were to start your adventure over again would you do anything differently?

I would not have waited so long. Even when I booked the ticket I would say I had an even amount of excitement and nervousness. Once I touched down in Hilo, HI all the nervousness dissipated. Not for any particular reason, but I committed myself to my trip and all the anxiety was gone.

I would really use Couchsurfing next time around. I love hostels because of the low prices and the great people you meet, but Couchsurfing would have been a whole new experience. Meeting a local up close and personal would have added a whole new dimension to the trip. That is as close to living there as you can possibly be.

Lastly I would try to find a volunteer opportunity. I tried to do some work in Cambodia, but there was not enough time to get things setup. As a Westerner when you travel you realize what you have, even if you think it is a little bit, could be more than someone could ever imagine to have. If I can I’d like to give something besides money.

All the little things I’ve learned about the trip and round the world travel I am releasing in a book this summer. Once you get out there you see it is not that difficult and I want to get that message out to people. So please visit No Debt World Travel to find out about that.

Meet the Nomads - Nomadesigners Weathering the Economic Downturn

by Carmen Bolanos
We first interviewed Greg and Yoko of Nomadesign.jp in May of 2007 living in Tokyo (see Greg and Yoko Nomadesigners in Japan). Greg is French and Yoko, Japanese. Now two years and an economic crisis later these nomads are determined to maintain their international lifestyle. By pairing the maintenance of their own business with work opportunities in their new destination they are keeping afloat through hard times.

Hi Greg and Yoko, when we interviewed you a couple of years ago you were running Nomadesign.jp from Tokyo . Is this still your main professional activity or have things changed for you?

Greg: Let's say it has "evolved" enormously since 2 years ago. I personally work in the same field (identity design) playing very different roles on the top of always being a designer & always using nomadesign.jp. The time-line could be described like this: 2006 setting-up of Nomadesign.jp in Tokyo , good, fast start. 2007 incorporation of Nomadesign in Japan , excellent yearly results, we buy our Tokyo apt. & get married. 2008 things slows down dramatically, the global crisis hits us in the teeth by focusing too much on the Japanese market. I revert back to my online logo design work worldwide while Yoko looks for work as a fashion design teacher. We rent our apt. 2009 Yoko finds work in Beijing , I follow her there & partner with the largest brand design company in China , ZhengBang which is our current situation.

Yoko: Doesn't time fly...? For us, it sure has been like being on the roller coaster these years. Since we are still in the middle of the fast ride, I'm telling you that it's not all fun. Professionally, I have very little to do with Nomadesign's brand design business now, except when our business associates in Japan need me for mediation time to time. As Greg said, I am full-time at Raffles Design Institute Beijing, coaching fashion design students since January.

How did you choose Tokyo in the beginning?

Greg: Choosing Tokyo was a mix bag of choices & necessities. Yoko's business, my desire to comeback to a city I have lived for 8 years already in the 90's. The opportunity to create a business in Japan... all that made us stay a total of 3 years, with the first year still traveling between New York & Paris.

Yoko: I had my business in Tokyo since 2003, originally in apparel design, until Greg and I decided to transform it into the online brand design business. Before then, I spent 7 years in 5 different European countries, so it would've been just fine being back & based in Japan , after all it's my home country, and I thought it must be easier to start & run a business there. In reality, the past 5 years had been pretty much struggling (except 2007), trying to make a smooth ride. Last year, we were slammed not only from the global recession, but also from taxes which were calculated from the income of 2007. It's quite easy to incorporate in Japan as I suppose same in the U.S. , but the taxes are not, at least for start-up small businesses.

What caused you to decide to change locations?

Greg: Yoko's opportunity. A true opportunity has we found out later on for both of us. I personally believe it's one of the best move I have done in my life... but I did not decided this one... I just went with the flow.

Yoko: The application process with the school HQ in Singapore was carried all online for about a month in last December. I signed the contract around christmas and we flew to Beijing on the 2nd of Jan. I guess it was all possible because they do not celebrate the same holidays as we do!

So there was a job opportunity for Yoko, but were there other reasons for choosing Beijing as your next location?

Greg: I contacted someone in Beijing recommended by a good friend of mine, Roberto De Vido. She described Beijing & the opportunities there for people like us in a much better light than what we had imagined. She literally convinced us to come... & can not thank her enough to have given us an accurate description of what we could expect with a great welcome from her when we arrived.

Yoko: The school has many campuses in Pacific countries, so initially I was requesting to be located in either Shanghai , Singapore , Sydney , HongKong, Bangkok or HoChiMinh. We wanted to be in a relatively business-orientated capital with mild or hot climate. There was no position available for me at their campuses, so I said ok to Beijing , after talking with our new friend in Beijing . We had never been here and knew nothing more than what we saw on TV during the Olympics!

What were the challenges of moving your business to Beijing , if any?

Greg: Money of course... despite the fact that Beijing is 3 time cheaper than Tokyo , we still have to pay for things in Japan . After freezing the company we have been helped by Yoko's parents, set up a budget & started renting our apt. The move happened January 2nd 2009 & by January 9th we were in our current Beijing apt... a very new & comfortable 100m2 in the middle of Beijing . We were set in just 1 week. We bought an electric bike for Yoko, which is the preferred instrument of locomotion here & adjusted with the neighborhood... which is a bit of a challenge when you come from Tokyo... these 2 cities are almost complete reverse of each other. I personally have not completely overcome the spitting on the street every 5 minutes by almost everyone... but the humor of Beijingers, the great food & the energy of the city help me overlook negative aspects. After 2 months in Beijing , Yoko found a chihuahua we named Sammie. After 3 months we both had to come back to Tokyo to settle our working visas. We came back at different times & I had to wait almost 1 month in Japan . In the meantime our tenant had to leave because the Japanese division of his company was cut for global crisis. It is now 1 month we have not yet found a new tenant & this is the only thing dragging us down financially right now.

Yoko: Not many locals speak English, so it seems better to know some Mandarin. But if you have a good translator, they are very inexpensive to hire (full-time around $500/month) and you will be fine most of the time. You might have to give up on having total control in communication though. We didn't find it's amusing to have communication problems each time we took a cab, so we bought ourselves electric scooters to travel. I never ride a scooter in other countries including my own, but the electric ones need no fuel, no license and run as fast as the ones with gas, fantastic!

Had you had many Japanese clients and if so, how did they react to your move? How did you handle their reactions?

Greg: We have made more than 150 clients in the past 2 years. The logo design business is often a 1 time business... especially during time of economical struggle. When we started Nomadesign, it was during a boom of individual entrepreneurship in Japan ... something new in this country. But when the economy started to tighten up, small businesses started to fall very fast & entrepreneurial ambitions faded away even faster. But we managed to keep attracting some clients, especially about naming. Knowing I was now working in Beijing , several clients asked me if I could mediate works to create Chinese names for their businesses. It is one of the best opportunities & a major advantage I have found in doing this move.

How has it been so far trying to conduct business in Beijing ?

Greg: The word "great" does not begin to describe it. People I am working with at ZhengBang are absolutely fantastic. We have been lucky to meet a lot of very good people in a very short period of time. Because of my situation as a foreigner in Beijing doing a job very few people do in this country, I have been working on major projects from day one being placed in front of leaders of major/historical Chinese corporations & institutions... something that would have taken me 20-30 years to achieve in Japan or in Europe. Beijing represent a real lucky break in my career at this time. 70% of the top 500 companies in China have made significant moves this year to expand their presence abroad, seeing the global squeeze as a major opening to introduce their brand. I currently play a major role in avoiding cultural gaps & pitfall, making their offering & image relevant to a brand savvy audiences in foreign countries. I also give seminars at ZhengBang to explain certain ways of working & some strategies they have often heard about but never really applied or deeply understood because it does not make sense with a Chinese audience. Chinese people have been cut out from the "global brand story" for the last 30 years. I sometime feel spending my time connecting cross-cultural nodes to give them an accurate picture of the western & Japanese market place... while learning everyday about China & Chinese society which sometimes looks like a parallel world.

Yoko: The oppotunities are certainly here, but unlike in other western orientated cities, they might not be well-packaged and so obvious. You may initially feel less comfort and convenience, because Beijingers are still in the process of discovering many things that we are familiar with, including good service and work ethic. That means the opportunities are still raw, but I heard it is not so anymore in Shanghai , for example.

In the west we hear a lot about the many restrictions and censorship of the internet in China . Are you affected by this? Have you had to change anything about the way you do business? For instance, I notice you now have a blog. Are there any issues for you in posting from China ?

Greg: Apparently my blog has not been censured yet...which is not the case with most of my friends. I do not post much since I arrived in China ... just not enough time. Coming to China I made the decision that I would not debate politics with anyone... & apparently the general Chinese population made the same decision with me, because no-one has asked me what I think about the latest ruling coming from the party. You see plenty of ridiculous stuff... one of the most funny situations was to have a meeting with a dozen brave "comrades" in charge to judge my logos for a major national company they were carefully "minding". I found myself drinking tea in a massive communist style amphitheater too big for the 20 of us, speaking through a table microphone to the other side of the room with valiant farmers, villagers & school teachers looking at my PPT presentation with a bit of amusement due to my "foreignness". But the really annoying part is the "great firewall". I use hotspot shield to go behind it but it slows down my browsing greatly. Since June 4th I feel I am back in 1999... no 1989.

Yoko: It can take longer to upload/ download and we gave up to see YouTube (not only because of the speed problem but the government banned it). It is really annoying that the government controls information here but I felt the same kind of "propaganda" when I visited book shops in France and saw what they wrote about the U.S. few years ago.

Do you have any thoughts about how long you will remain in Beijing ? Do you have a next location in mind?

Greg & Yoko: Yoko's contract is for 2 years. I think we will stay as long as we have comfortable living & fun doing what we do. I also believe, both of us are in position to be traveling a lot for our business, so the base could be China or Japan ... but our general life may bring us in various part of the world. Right now, there is no better location for business than being in Beijing .

Meet the Nomads - Milosh Zorica Graphic Designer on the Move

A couple of years ago I met up with Milosh Zorica somewhere in cyberworld while discussing nomadic topics.  I've been after him for an interview ever since but like many nomads he's a bit hard to get ahold of.  Last week, by surprise, he sent me the interview I had sent him long ago.  Here's a look at some of his thoughts on nomadic living. 

What is your business/profession?

I’m a graphic designer, specialized in online branding.

What training/experience did you receive in order to be able to have this business/profession?

I’ve studied fine arts, graphic design, art history & a bit of international business.

How long have you been doing this?

More than ten years. Honestly, been drawing & creating almost all my life.

How long were you in your business/profession before you began traveling?

A few years, I think. I mean, before I became a full time neo-bedouin.

What interested you in becoming mobile?

I’ve been moving all my life, first with my parents than on my own. Both, within ex-Yugoslavia & internationally. I simply love the feeling of new sceneries, people, customs, breathing new air, tasting new food. I’m an addict, actually.

Where do you like to travel?

My favorite places are anywhere in Asia, Americas & former Soviet Union.

How much of the year do you travel?

Quite a bit but I’d love even more. Seriously considering buying an RV. ;)

Do you travel alone/with a partner/with children?

I’m single without kids (or at least I don’t know if I’ve got any ;) ).

Is there any special equipment or infrastructure you must travel with in order to run your business?  (ie laptop, telephony, fax)

Laptop, net connection, cell phone, pretty much standard mobile workers equipment.

If so – what brand/models do you choose and why?

Laoptop – Apple Macbook Pro, Macbook & Sony VAIO
Wireless router – NetGear
Headset – Sennheiser & KOSS
Cell phone – 3 Skypephone, Apple iPhone 3G & Nokia N73
External Hard Drive – WD Passport + an old 2.5” HD in a USB rack

Are there any services you use while you travel in order to run your business? (ie Skype, supportsoft, online appointment services)

Skype is a must! Moneybookers & Paypal for online payments. ActiveCollab, developed by a dear friend of mine Ilija Studen (who I will invoice the advertising services next time I’m in Novi Sad, Serbia ;) ), for project management/collaboration.  Google Calendar for schedule. Google Picasa for photo sharing. Facebook for staying in touch with family, friends & business associates (FB is an excellent business networking platform if you know how to use it properly). Gmail is my main email client! Go2Meeting for online meetings. There are plenty more. Standard stuff like ebanking, MS Office, etc.

Are your clients/customers located at your home base or scattered?

Presently a big portion of my clients are local clients in London & around the UK (Oxford, Leicester, Durham, etc.). But I work and used to work for clients from just everywhere. Mostly US (NYC & California) & Russia.

What kind of reaction have you had from your clients/customers about your traveling lifestyle?

From curios to envious (positively). I’ve never pretended I’m a proper brick & mortar company with employees. I’m going as a specialized one-man show band consultancy. My nomadic lifestyle as well as a bit of international business education helped me a lot in the global market.

What would you say are the pros/cons of the nunomadic business and lifestyle?

This lifestyle is not for everyone, especially not for conformists neither those attached to their hometown, house, schoolmates, etc. If you wish 9-5 working hours with life quality of being a nomad, it is simply not working. With freedom comes responsibility, while discipline is a must! Also, you must create your own safe net such as insurance, pension funds, back up savings (in case you loose your major client, got sick or something else happens as surely it will at one point), emergency money, etc. Missing friend’s or cousin’s wedding or a birth of your niece is what comes in package too. Your social life is whole a lot different than of those not nomading. It’s not richer or poorer, it’s simply all different. So is the emotional life, unless you’re as lucky as my friend Gregory Moulinet (with whom you’ve done an interview as well).

Do you have any advice for those people wanting to set up their own mobile business?

Preparations & prerequisites are almost the same as when you’re going to be a freelancer/consultant/contractor locally, with a few extra things to consider. Save money for 6 months living expenses or have lined up work.

Here comes the extra bit. You must get used to working in different environment & conditions. Odd hours included too! Take a short exercise trips before sailing off to the open seas.

Working somewhere where likeminded individuals work is a huge benefit if you can afford. Mostly it’s shared office facilities, cafes & libraries.

About a year ago I’ve written an article on nomading for the UK’s leading design blog. Hope you don’t mind me posting it http://www.graphicdesignblog.co.uk/hit-the-road-the-nomadic-designer/ .

If you are a nomad or know someone who is and would like to be featured in an interview please contact me!

Meet the Nomads - Eugene Doberer Technical Writer in Thailand

Meet Eugene Doberer whose trans-pacific life takes him between his seaside home on Koh Lana, Thailand, and Vancouver, where he’s employed as a business analyst for a Mac software development company. He’s yet another nu nomad who has found the balance between living, working, and traveling after years of experimenting with telecommuting. Seven years ago, Eugene was a well-established contract technical writer living on Gabriola Island, and telecommuting to work on various high-tech projects in Vancouver. After 9/11 hit, R&D projects came to a standstill, so he decided to move to Thailand to teach English. He enjoyed a nice break from high-tech while he was teaching. He used his savings to supplement his low-paying teaching job. But he eventually depleted his savings so he was forced to return to Vancouver to resume his writing career. I caught up with Eugene on the island of Koh Lanta, and over lunch at a roadside seafood restaurant I asked him a few questions about his new way of working.

Ricardo: How did you manage to find a job that allows you to telecommute from Thailand?

Eugene: Well I kind of lucked out. When I returned to Vancouver, I fell into a contract right away, but soon found myself back in the same old grind that I found myself in before I left Vancouver over 10 years ago. I completed the contract, and my bags were packed and I couldn’t wait to return to Thailand. Then I got a call from an old colleague and he “cherry-picked” me to take on a full-time job working on software specifications at Atimi Software. I told him I was on my way back. He said, “No problem. You can still live in Thailand, we just need you here some of the time.” So I grabbed the opportunity, not only because they allowed me to live in Thailand, but because it’s a great development shop—we work on Mac apps and iPhone apps. We’re under NDAs, so I can’t tell you exactly for who, but let’s just say they’re industry leaders.

Ricardo: What are some of the benefits of telecommuting between here and Vancouver?

Eugene: In Vancouver, life is basically over at 40. People put limits on where they can go, what they can do, and who they can see. Here, it’s not like that. This is an ageist culture. Instead of being labeled as “old”, you are actually respected by younger people and invited to participate in everything that’s going on in this country. That’s the major social benefit, but there are also economic benefits. It’s comfortable living here on a Canadian salary. And of course, the food, the beer and the smokes are considerably cheaper here than Canada. Then there’s the weather. And, not to forget, the dozens of reasons why I don’t want to work in any over-populated metropolitan area such as Vancouver.

Ricardo: How does it benefit your employer?

Eugene: At first I wasn’t sure they received any benefits. But now, after doing this job for a year, I can see how they clearly benefit. For one, living here makes me happy. A happy employee makes a loyal employee. Secondly, the difference between time zones can really expedite production. We have staff in Vancouver, Las Vegas, and India. At 5pm Vancouver time, my project manager hands off the software specifications document to me. I work on it all day here, and correspond with the development team in India. At the end of my day, I upload my document to our server in Vancouver. When the Vancouver project manager comes into work in the morning, the work is already done and ready to go to the client (who is in New York). It provides for an amazing turnaround time.

Ricardo: What are some of the challenges you face in your day-to-day life working here in Thailand?

Eugene: Well it’s never easy. I see life as a struggle no matter where you live. But it’s no more difficult here than it is anywhere. But here, I do think you have to communicate more clearly when you send out emails. You don’t want to keep messaging back in forth as the time zone difference means the discussion could go on for days. The benefits of Skype, on the other hand, are enormous. There are also challenges related to the infrastructure in Thailand. On Lanta, the power goes out regularly, so you really need a backup power supply. The Internet can be flakey at times, so you need a backup connection such as GPRS. It also doesn’t hurt to have a backup computer, as it may take weeks for any repairs to be done to your equipment. I have a PC that I use for backup.

Ricardo: In closing, do you have any advice for nu nomads in training?

Eugene: Yes. Make sure you have reliable equipment, and make sure you have sufficient funds to look after yourself. You can’t rely on Thai people or other foreigners. You must be self-sufficient in every way.

If you are a nomad or know a nomad who would like to be interviewed, please contact us!

Three Nu Nomads Make Businessweek.com! Vote for them

Businessweek.com has just published a new slide show of interesting home offices and I'm proud to say that 3 Nu Nomads made the cut! Go to Readers Show Off Their Home Offices and take a look at our own Ricardo (Richard Hamel), Henry, and Manu Kumar.

Be sure to go to the end of the slide show and vote for your favorite! If you'd like to know more about them read about Richard on our Partners page. Read about Manu Kumar and his office space for nomads on our blog about The BusinessClass.net and read about Henry/ Mike (which one are you Henry/Mike?) on our blog as well at Meet the Nomads - Mike - Web Publisher Loving Thailand.

Congratulations to all!

Meet the Nomads - Mark and Judith of Foundation Communicaid

by Ricardo
Meet Judith Madigan and Mark van Luyk, founders of Foundation Communicaid. Judith is the General Director/ Chairperson and Mark the Creative Director/ Photographer of this unconventional nonprofit organization that supports aid organizations—two nu nomads who have blended their passion for charitable endeavors with that of traipsing around the world. I caught up with them in Bangkok, and over a bottle of Italian Chianti and plates of Mexican food we talked about their way of living.

Foundation Communicaid (FCA) was formally established about a year ago to assist local community based aid organizations with their marketing and communications, by using photography, graphic design and copywriting to maximize the organizations' marketing potential. It grew after Mark and Judith, both world travelers, saw the need for such a service as they volunteered for a few aid groups during their travels. They noticed that too often organizations on the front lines of helping communities and people were unable to effectively communicate to potential supporters and donors what it was the organization was doing, how well they were doing it, and what they needed in order to keep helping people in need.

In The Netherlands Mark was an established photographer, communications and marketing professional serving as creative director for a marketing company. Judith was a licensed MSc Optometrist. Both have a great passion for charitable work. “Our intention was and still is to contribute to a better world- helping others with our skills,” said Judith. This passion, coupled with her university (masters degree) structuring skills and Mark’s creative disciplines, formed the beginning for a new vocation that would take them out of The Netherlands and on the road. It was an opportunity to do what they wanted. “While in The Netherlands,” stated Judith, “you can’t plan for a life like this. You just have to go and see what happens.”

What interested them in becoming mobile was: freedom, more opportunities, and the chance to experience diverse cultures—to see the world. Although Judith admitted to being an at-home person and found the whole mobile lifestyle idea a little frightening at first, she soon learned that it is she who makes her “home” and not the other way around. “I can adjust very easily now. And,” she added, “Mark and I finally have plenty of time for each other—which was not the case when we were living the work-a-day world back in The Netherlands.” Mark shared the sentiments of his co-worker (and personal partner) and offered an example where mobility really shined.

Up until recently the two had based themselves in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After nearly a year in that city they felt it was simply time for a change of scenery. They were also offered other opportunities elsewhere. Being mobile allowed them to pick up their gear and mobile office equipment, get on an airplane and set up shop in Bangkok. In two more months, they’ll be in various locations within Indonesia. “Also”, Mark added, “being able to move about grants me moments of greater creativity and clarity. It is while traveling that I get these, lack of a better word ‘epiphanies’ where I get the nature of the meaning of something that I can reflect in my work.”

Both Judith and Mark are full time nomads. Though Southeast Asia is where their work is taking them these days, they are completely open to working and traveling to just about any location on earth. They have their main office in The Netherlands, so they do like visiting neighboring European countries as often as they can when they are up that way—and can afford it. Even with an ever-growing travel case of mobile equipment, they don’t find themselves anchored in any particular place yet.

These mobile professionals are, however, traveling heavier than they had anticipated at first—with Mark being burdened a bit more than his partner since he’s the photographer which requires camera equipment in addition to his notebook computer and related accessories. Mark has two cameras, both Canons. His primary one is the 1DSMarkII and he has a 10D as backup. He totes along 3 lenses (all Canons): EF 24-70mm 2.8, EF 70-200mm 2.8 IS, and EF 16-35mm 2.8, as well as a couple of remote flash units. Both prefer Macintosh computers. Their newest acquisition is a MacBook Pro 15.4” screen, 2.2GHz with Leopard OSX. The other notebook is a PowerBook G4 with a 12” screen. They chose Mac over PC because they’re partial to the graphic quality that Macs are known for, and because the operating system is not (yet) greatly vulnerable to malicious viruses. Plus they simply like the stylized design that Mac offers. (All of this stuff is packed in 2 Pelican cases, customized to fit all the stuff for FCA.) This equipment is in addition to a Wacom tablet (for graphics), Yamaha classical guitar, small iPod, and Motorola mobile phone.

When asked if there are any web-based services they rely upon to run their business, they said that here they keep it simple. Skype is their main tool for verbal communications and their on-line banking keeps their finances flowing. Other than that, they use what’s in their computers. They have little problems communicating with their clients globally or supporters back in The Netherlands.

The Netherlands is where FCA gets its financial support through donations and support grants. Their work, however, is performed overseas and changes as the opportunities and need arise. It’s a real hands-on approach. They work closely with the client at their site, but their follow-up work is done through electronic communication as “Team Worldwide” will travel from project to project as nomads. It is a vocation that has amazed and is envied by both supporters and clients, especially the latter. “Community based aid organizations are usually pretty location bound,” noted Judith. “They see our ability to up-and-go and view that as a great way of living.” Mark added that one of their clients refers to them as “The New Gypsy Organization.”

This statement brought the interview to the next logical question, regarding the pros and cons of the nu nomadic business and lifestyle. They both said that the benefits were sort of obvious: the opportunity to travel—which is in addition to what was mentioned earlier in this article about freedom and opportunities, working and meeting with various people and communities. The down side was that they sometimes felt scattered and less organized then they wished to be. They had to maintain discipline and working hours, which can be a challenge when you’re in an environment where people are often having vacation time—such as on a tropical island. Also, the time difference between Asia and The Netherlands, where they often have to do net meetings, can be difficult. When the Dutch office is open or their supporters most available, it is already late at night where the FCA team is. “But,” Judith assured “that’s not a big problem; just a little inconvenient at times.”

In closing, Mark and Judith’s advice to those people wanting to set up their own mobile business is to: “Follow your heart. Why keep yourself in this lifestyle that doesn’t make you happy? Take the step! By traveling opportunities will arise. Ultimately, the good stuff, like success and happiness, is sure to follow.”

Meet the Nomads - Again! - Catching up with the Atkins Family as they Circle the Globe

By Carmen

We last interviewed the Atkins family in May of 2007 as they were in the preparation stages of an around the world trip by bus while homeschooling their 4 children. At that time, the Atkins were overhauling their vehicle to accomodate their trip. Now they have been on the road for 6 months so we thought we'd get in touch and see how they're doing.

Manny, when we last interviewed you and your family, you were in the process of building out your bus and planning your trip. Now you have been on the road for several months. What countries have you visited so far?

We traveled through France, into Spain back into France, across to Northern Italy. Joe then had work in Monte Carlo, so we stayed in Antibes, and went in to work with him pretty much every day, which was wonderful! Back in to Italy, to Rome and beyond. We took a ferry to Greece, drove up through Bulgaria, into Romania to play a couple of concerts for the charity Growing Care. Back through Bulgaria and into Turkey, we spent Christmas in Istanbul, and New Year in Athens. Crossed back into Italy and came back up to France where we are taking a pause after traveling 15,000Km and being on the road for six months.

If you were advising a NuNomad as to what locations in Europe are most Nomad friendly (ie, low cost of living, widely available internet, quality of life) what would be your top picks?

Sometimes we’ve found the best internet access in the most surprisingly remote places (virtually the whole of Bulgaria seemed to have free wifi! just no shops!) and our favourite Italian campsite, in the forested mountains just outside Deiva Marina, had free and excellent wifi. And yet we struggled to find wifi in some capital cities - which surprised me! We have stayed mainly in campsites; which often offered wifi and always had useful info on public transport into the city etc. The free hot water, ability to plug in to electricity, and use of washing machines made sense for us as a big family. We often stayed overnight in truckstops on the autoroutes, when travelling from place to place, but then we’d seek the security and facilities of a campsite to base ourselves. The city sites tended to cost double the rural sites. Spain was cheaper than Italy and France, and the Spanish really know how to run a city! Greece was cheaper still, but we were there very much out of season. Turkey would probably be my top location - not too expensive, good internet, and the warmest and most generous strangers we ever came across. Istanbul was vibrant, and exciting. You cross from Europe to Asia and back, all within one city! Here’s a link to the blogs while we were in Turkey:http://web.mac.com/harryatkins/WTTW_Blogs/The_Family_Blog/Entries/2007/12/22_-_Turkey.html

Was this your original itinerary or have you changed? If you have changed itinerary what factors caused you to do so?

It was always our intention to have a fluid itinerary and while we were in Spain, we decided we weren’t ready to go into Africa. We thought maybe we’d head for North America, but in our (long) search for crossings for us and the bus, we discovered Grimaldi Freighter Cruises. Their office in Naples have been really helpful, and we were thrilled to find we could cross to Argentina. We were booked to travel in April. In fact this crossing has been cancelled, and we are now booked onto the November crossing.
This delay has coincided with a bit of a financial crisis for us: some money we were relying on has fallen through, and so we need to re-fuel our funds. We’ll sit tight for a few months here in France, live as cheaply as we can; earn as much as we can, and learn French! And hopefully be ready to get on the boat in November.

What caused the decision not to go to Africa?

We found it almost impossible to find a realistic crossing from Egypt to Kenya, which was our original plan; also the political situation in Africa seemed to be more and more unsettled. We decided we weren’t comfortable taking the children into a situation where we would be so vulnerable. It was a big disappointment, but Joe and I felt strongly that it was too early in our trip to be facing those kinds of challenges. Life on the road was going so well, and to be honest was exciting, interesting and challenging enough. I have to say though, that now we’re six months in, and have crossed borders in the dark and snow, I’m really excited about changing continents!

How has it been to be in the bus on the road with a large family? How have you all adapted to the close quarters?

The joy of a big family is that no-one ever gets left out; there’s a constant variety of different combinations. We run a very harmonious team to keep everything ticking over, and the children take as much responsibility for the tidiness and running of the bus as Joe and I. It works really well, and it all runs very smoothly. Being so close has become a way of life now, even sharing our huge top bunk with Arthur, our seven year old, feels completely natural. Going to bed is reminiscent of the end of “The Waltons”!

Looks like you’ve been playing music as a family band along the way. How do you set up your concerts and get an audience?

The music has been a great family focus. it tends to come in bursts. We played some summer concerts, at campsites and for friends; and a big Birthday Party last September. Then we played the two concerts in Romania. They were a real adventure. One was for the children the charity helps; they have so little, and live a hard hard life. It was a real pleasure to bring a live gig to them, we felt so appreciated, and it was very humbling! The other was in a big theatre as more of an awareness-raiser with local dignitaries etc. Here’s the blog link to the Romanian concerts - http://web.mac.com/harryatkins/WTTW_Blogs/The_Family_Blog/Entries/2007/12/7_Politics%2C_Philosophy%2C_Harmonics_-_Romania_2.html
We’re playing a gig in a couple of weeks here in France, a musical evening already organised, so audience gathering is not down to us! but we hope it will lead to a few more. So we’re practising hard at the moment. We’ve made no more than a free supper so far, and it would be great to earn a bit; but playing for pleasure carries less pressure!

What are you learning along the way that you didn’t expect?

Just how rewarding home-schooling is
I don’t miss England at all!
I never crave time to myself, away from the family.
The Turkish generosity is boundless.
There are more good people in the world than the media would have you believe! (Actually, I did expect that to be the case!)

How is the bus holding up?

She’s in fine form. She’s running better now than she was when we left the UK. We’ve ironed out oil-leaks and air system problems; fixed the radiator and had the heating re-instated. She’s happiest doing the kind of long, steady, regular drives we do, so really she’s in her element! There is a harmony and trust when we’re driving that’s hard to describe. The bumpy roads of Romania took their toll, and we had some quite big structural repairs to take care of in Turkey. But all in all she’s looked after us, and we’ve looked after her and the respect is mutual!

What has been the greatest highlight/positive experience of the trip so far?

There’ve been a few!
Parking on the waters edge at Camping Fusina, and watching the sun go down over Venice took some beating!
Driving through Greece in the crisp winter sun; snow capped mountains to our left, and crystal blue sea on our right...music playing, family singing... deep inner peace!
Christmas day in Istanbul! waking up to stockings in the morning, and a boat trip across the Bosphorus sea in the evening, the city illuminated magnificently in the moonlight.
I can’t even begin to put into words the way this trip and the preparations for it, have bonded us as a family. It has enriched our marriage and deepened all our relationships.

Welcome to the World.

Meet the Nomads - Nora Dunn-from the Canadian Rat Race to a Simple Hawaiian Life

by Carmen Bolanos
December 13, 2007

Meet Nora Dunn. A former financial planner, Nora and her partner Kelly gave up the 9-5 white collar life for that of laptop hobos. Nora and Kelly are currently house-sitting for an environmentally sustainable home in Hawaii after having crossed Canada by train. Nora maintains income by writing professionally about frugal living for WiseBread. She also maintains her personal blog, Life Happens, where you can read more about their travels.

Nora, I was reading on your blog that you and your traveling partner, Kelly, made a decision in 2006 to quit your jobs, sell your belongings and become nomadic. What brought you to this decision?

Previously as a career financial planner, I derived great joy from helping people to redefine their relationships with money and learn to plan for tomorrow but not at the expense of living for today. However it was when I was neck-deep in my practice (and quite successful) that I realized there was more to life than what I was doing. Both Kelly & I felt trapped in the rat race and couldn’t imagine spending the next 30 years of our lives maintaining status quo and keeping up with the Joneses waiting to fulfill our dreams of travel in far off retirement.

We both have also had this lifelong nagging voice in our heads telling us we aren’t on the right track which typically led us to drastic career changes more than once.

It was when I burnt out totally and became quite ill that I really started to listen to the voice, and realized that there was more to life than met the eye. One day when I was in tears about my predicament I was asked point blank what I want to do. In frustration, I replied “I just want to retire”! But then I thought about what retirement really meant to me (because knitting and gardening were certainly not high on my list), and I realized that my dream of a life of travel, adventure, and searching for inspirational stories to tell wasn’t out of the realm of reason to do right now!

Too many people detest their current daily grind yet don’t do anything but complain about it. I refused to become one of those people.

Hence: the decision to become a Professional Hobo!

What preparations did you have to do to actually be able to hit the road?

Selling my financial planning business was one of the trickiest obstacles, as it meant letting go of the dear relationships I had with my clients. However I took care to make sure everybody was in good hands, and surprisingly I received lots of support and encouragement from my clients and colleagues.

Then, it became a matter of selling off our belongings. I detail this process in a few articles here and here, but basically it was a matter of keeping (by storing with friends) only those things that we deemed irreplaceable (which amounted to about eight boxes) and selling or giving away everything else.

This was an extremely difficult process since society conditions us to accumulate stuff, but was quite freeing once we accepted the idea of letting go. I still miss the loft I had in the Beaches area of Toronto (Canada), but I don’t harbour an ounce of regret for anything that I’ve done.

Next was the matter of figuring out what to take with us. We have read over and over again that the less you take, the happier the travels go. So with that in mind, we kept a few outfits that are multi-functional, three pairs of shoes (hiking boots, runners, and sandals), minimal toiletries (Dr Bronner’s rocks as a multi-functional soap), and the ever-present laptop and camera combo.

Did you plan where you would travel beforehand or are you making it up as you go?

Life Happens while you’re busy making plans. And wouldn’t you know it – while we were planning our trip, life kept happening! Our original first destination was Costa Rica, where we would be taking an Outward Bound course to become adventure guides. But just before it came time to sign on the dotted line, we received a call from Kelly’s brother who was getting married in the summer and wanted us to be a part of his special day. So in a matter of three hours the plans changed drastically from summering Costa Rica to traveling across Canada by train (highly recommended by the way) and spending the summer in Alberta with family and friends, and enjoying the Rocky Mountains.

Costa Rica was still on the agenda for the fall, by which time life continued to throw us curve balls and we stumbled upon our current opportunity which is in Hawaii.

Having the freedom to roll with the punches and identify (and capitalize on) opportunities as they come is very special. We enjoy not following the plan, and continuing to make it up as we go!

It looks like you started out by using savings from your former careers but are now generating income on the road. Can you tell us what you’re doing and how it’s working out? Is it enough to sustain your travel?

Although we both have money saved from former careers, we are trying not to touch it as we travel. Through caretaking (more on this later) and volunteer work, we can minimize our expenses and live and travel for a long time on very little money. I also am a writer (on the subjects of travel and personal finance), and although it wouldn’t currently pay the bills in an expensive North American or European city, it helps out when living minimally on the road. It is an ideal career to work on as a Professional Hobo, since all I need is an internet connection to make a living.

Sustainability also becomes a matter of defining what the trip (and “travel”) and looks like for us. We could return to Canada, spend a summer bar tending or guiding in the mountains and enjoying what a new part of the country has to offer to us, and save up enough money to travel for another year. If we are back in our own country and working, does that mean the trip is on hold or over? Or is it all part of the adventure? We prefer the latter mindset, and even if we have to work to save enough to travel more, we are up for the challenge. We choose to call our travels a lifestyle and not just a trip.

I’m intrigued that you are currently house-sitting in Hawaii. How did you get this gig? Will you do this again as you travel?

Initially our online research took us to “WOOFing”, which is a way of trading work for accommodations around the world. The type of work varies, but is usually centered around working on organic farms.

Through this, we discovered the Caretaker’s Gazette, which connects people looking for rent-free living with those who need caretaking help or house-sitting. The opportunities are widely varied in nature and globally located. It was through this avenue that we found our current living arrangements. Hawaii was never on the radar for us, but the opportunity to learn sustainable living techniques (and to hopefully implement them in places of need on future travels) in a little piece of paradise was too much to pass on.

We are also members of Rotary International, a world-wide organization of people dedicated to “Service Above Self”, and helping others through fundraising and volunteering on meaningful projects. Rotary is almost single-handedly responsible for eradicating Polio, among other amazing accomplishments. As Rotarians, we have the ability to show up at a Rotary meeting around the world and offer our services. In return, we receive a warm welcome, the insider’s perspective of the place we are visiting, and sometimes an opportunity to volunteer on a meaningful project.

So through Woofing, Caretaker’s Gazette, and Rotary, as well as networking with other travelers, we expect to continue to find perfect opportunities as they arise.

How long do you plan to keep traveling?

Until we get tired of it! This is a question we often ponder, and we simply don’t have an answer yet. Since we are making travel a lifestyle and not just a trip, it is a potentially life-long adventure. However we acknowledge that the desire to “settle down” and create a more permanent home might eventually become prevalent and we are willing to cross that bridge when we come to it. As an entrepreneur and public speaker/performer, I am always looking for the next business opportunity, and the right one might be what halts our nomadic lifestyle.

What are some of your favorite places so far? Would you recommend any as more/less nomad friendly?

Although I have seen a lot of the world before (as a tourist), we are still quite new to the world of traveling as Professional Hobos. We started out by traveling across our own country (Canada) to rediscover our heritage and fortify our love for our own backyard. So it is with some bias that we say Canada is an incredible place to see (especially if you travel by train), and Vancouver Island is one of the most nomad friendly places in Canada.

Hawaii is also a very nomad friendly location, especially the region we are in, which is Puna on the Big Island. There are tons of work/trade opportunities, and a very transient population. Everybody here appears to be from somewhere else.

I also found South Africa to be an incredible place to see (and it can be done on a budget), and high on our list of places to go is Central & South America, Southeast Asia, and New Zealand.

Although I know people who have done it, I would cite China as one of the lesser nomad-friendly places, unless you speak the language and understand the culture. I have traveled through China before, with varying degrees of success (and pleasure).

What kind of reaction have you had from your family/friends about your traveling lifestyle?

I was quite surprised to receive nothing but support and admiration for our decision. Most people have told us that they wish they could do this themselves (but for a myriad of reasons they don’t feel they can), and ask to live vicariously through our stories (which gives me all the more inspiration to write).

The worst response we have encountered so far is a simple lack of understanding as to why we would sacrifice everything we have for the unknown, but it came with no judgment or harsh words.

What would you say are the pros/cons of the nunomadic business and lifestyle?

Pros: To see the world while we are (somewhat) young, and to inspire others to take charge of their lives and make similar decisions is an incredible treat.

We have met some amazing people from around the world, and as our network continues to expand, so does our sense of self and each other. There is nothing more poignant to help you learn more about yourself (and your significant other) than to go through the stresses of travel and discovering new places and come out the other side in one piece!

Cons: As North Americans, the desire to “nest” and accumulate stuff is strong in us, and requires some vigilance to counter. (This is ultimately a “pro”, but is still a challenge)!

Life goes on with family and friends back home, and being away can create a sense of missing out if you’re not careful about what you want.

Travel can also be stressful, looking for a place to hang your hat (even if for a night or two), constantly forging through the unknown, trying not to get ripped off, and guarding your few belongings against theft or damage.

Do you have any advice for those people wanting to set up their own mobile business?

In order to have a mobile business, an internet connection is imperative these days.

I started out with an older laptop, which almost immediately gave me grief with the wireless card. Although I would say I know a bit about computers, I am helpless to fix some problems and they can be crippling abroad. Don’t skimp on trying to make due with a compromise (like a palm pilot) if what you need is a good laptop. You don’t have to spend a fortune to be set up with the right stuff, and it pays off in spades in the long run. I also sold my good camera because it was too big and skimped out on my current one, and am regretting it since the quality of pictures and video (and consequent marketability of the shots) is compromised.

Also, when traveling it is easy to meet people and forget them almost as quickly as the friendship is kindled. Good entrepreneurs and networkers keep good records of those they meet. It’s not because they have super-human memories; they take notes. Make sure if you meet somebody you like, even if you don’t know how exactly they’ll be of assistance to you (or vice versa) in the long run, you keep their information handy (along with some notes to refresh your memory about them), and who knows – you may be able to connect them with somebody else you meet later down the road. Good karma can go a long way for a nunomadic traveler.

Meet the Nomads - Daniel Lloyd a Phunky Norwegian in Mexico

by Carmen Bolanos
November 30, 2007

Let me introduce you to Daniel Lloyd, a Norwegian who sold his belongings, paid off his debt and took off for the sunny shores and mountains of Mexico. Daniel is a bit different from past interviewees in that he is currently living off his savings and trying to get his income source going from his blogs. I chose to interview Daniel because I believe he reflects that adventurous travel spirit that just had to get on the road whether or not every detail was in place. A lot of nomads start out like Daniel and make it happen by sheer determination not to go home. I think Daniel is going to make it happen too!

Daniel, tell us a little bit about your background, who you are and what you were doing in Norway before you left?

Well, where do I start? I had worked the last 5 years as a front desk receptionist, checking people in and out of hotels, making bookings, answering questions and being service-minded.

I had been working around in different hotels in Kristiansand, Norway. The last couple of years I was working in the Rica Dyeparken Hotel, a big hotel located just next to the Zoo in Kristiansand. And even though the hotel was a huge family hotel, and the kids loud and whiny, I liked it there.
Working with people always puts me in a good mood, and there are always weird things happening in hotels.

Other than working as a receptionist, I worked as a decorator for EA games, working with advertisement for new games. Great job, but a lot of driving.

From reading your blog it looks like you were really ready to get out of your home country. What was going on that made you so itchy to travel?

There were a lot of things going on, but the feeling of restlessness was always over me, I think it must have been all my travels to different parts of the world that has made me have the feeling there is always something new to discover out there, and I want to see as much as possible!
I have been on Interrail trips throughout Europe three times and each time was incredible!
For now, my vacations have taken me to Morocco, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, France, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, Thailand, Switzerland, Austria, and now Mexico.

But also the conditions in Norway at the moment were bothering me.
Norway is a great place to live, but very expensive! The salary I earned would just about get me through the month, with paying my apartment, insurances, and the amounts you have to pay every year just to be able to use your car are extreme. When I traveled, I saw how much further that money took me than at home.
So, after a while I kept thinking about spending more time in a country than just a few weeks or a month. I wanted to experience how it really was to live in a different country with a different culture.
I asked my boss if it was possible to get a year off, but sadly got a no. So I quit! It's a great feeling not knowing what waits for me if I go back to Norway. All options are open!

How long did you spend in preparation to leave and how did you choose where you wanted to go?

As I was on a sick leave from work pending my operation I had a lot of time to think about what I really wanted to do, what I wanted to experience and how much it would cost. I primarily wanted to go to Spain, as I had been there several times before, even lived there for half a year when I was a kid. But the prices there were very similar to Norwegian, especially after the Euro arrived all prices have gone up terribly!
Then a friend of mine recommended Mexico, as she had studied there for a while, and really loved the place.
I checked out a lot online about Mexico, especially how things were politically there after the dispute with the USA and the strict borders they had. But it checked out fine, and just to experience something so different from Norway, and Europe was a thing that really made me choose.

How did you fund your trip?

The trip is funded by selling my apartment in Norway, as I grew more and more aware of the unstable market that's on it's way to Europe it was a better idea than to rent it out, as that would not cover all costs of owning. My apartment was bought for a much lower price than what it was sold for, so I settled all outstanding debt, left no strings left that would give me grief if I left the country.

Freedom!

What has it been like for you so far to have sold your things and be living abroad?

The feeling of starting new in another country is great!
There are many differences, so just not to be able to drink the tap water as we can in Norway was a huge deal. Having to buy new water every week and small things like that are the little things that make it special.
The Mexican people are generally very friendly, and it does not take much for them to let you into their families.
And it's incredibly easy to make new friends, both at the university where I am studying and being out socially and meeting new people there, bonds are tied, emails and phone numbers are shared and friends from all around the world are being made.
It's nice only to have to pay for the apartment and food, and not having to worry of bills arriving in the mail that you have to pay every month!

Why study Spanish?

Spanish has always been a language I have loved! Just the flow of the language is beautiful!
It is also a great thing to be able to actually understand what everybody is saying when you are in a new country, it makes me feel more included, and I don't have to rely on them understanding English.
There are also a heap of countries that are Spanish speaking, so I can use it when I travel around.

And as I am going to travel around in Mexico, not just stay in Guanajuato it will be very important to know some to get around and ask people questions.

Viva Español!

Where would you like to go next?

The 11. December I am leaving for Cancun and Isla Mujeres where I will stay a couple of months and celebrate x-mas with some friends that are coming to visit from Norway. I have booked a room at Pocna Hostel for the first part, and I will see if it is possible to find some place to rent for a few months there. I will probably travel around in the area around Cancun to catch some sights and dive in some caves, as many have told me how wonderful it is in this part of Mexico.

After that the plan is to go to Cuba for a little while, and then travel on to Jamaica.. But this is still in the planning, and I will have to see if the money stretches enough.

Any advice about Mexico?

Mexico is a country of huge differences! As I only have been to 3-4 towns I have not seen the extremes yet, but you can really tell when people are struggling to get enough food for their families. But going to local restaurants and shops opposed to the "brand name" stores and shopping centers help the local economy a lot.
My advice would be to come prepared as some people experience problems with the heat, their stomachs (different bacteria culture) and to take care of your valuables.
Even though I have been told horror stories about buses being robbed, people kidnapped and stuff like that I have never seen it myself, and I hope I am not going to! Also, there are a lot of places with "tourist" prices so you should always take a little tour of different places to find out the value of things. I have met people that have gotten ripped off when buying local "art" for much more than their neighbors were charging.

You say you’d like to continue funding your trip by working over the web. Have you started this process? How is it going?

My travel blog, Phunky Phreak, where I post info about my trips was my first step towards earning some money, but as this is only the beginning, I still need to get more people interested, and I am moving on to try to make the content more "user friendly" as it is a little personal right now, but that's what blogs are for, right?
I have 3 more blogs that I am working on, Phunky Vids where I post my findings of humorous video clips discovered by me, Wonderfully Boring where I have some great stories that will get you through a boring workday in a jiffy, and Pimp My Corsa where I have my car project. This blog is on a break as the car is in Norway, and I am in Mexico!

I have advertisements on my blogs to try to build up some clicks, but I wish there was an easier way to make money, as this is for the moment not giving me much to work with. If anyone have any good advice I am all ears!

What will you do if you run out money?

As the salaries in Mexico are not good enough to support my expenses I would have trouble working too much. I am skilled with computers, and have patience with people, so I may charge for helping people with computer problems. Other than that, I have some backup money saved up in Norway, and if that runs out too, I will have to go back to Norway, find a cheap apartment, and just work hard for 5-6 months so I can go out and travel another year.

Do you have any advice for others who might like to travel and work as a nomad? What have you learned?

My best advice would be to always get to know the locals, get to know the city you are in, and what it has to offer.
Don't be too picky, if you really want to experience different things, then be prepared, because it's not like home. It's not supposed to be! That's why you left, right?
To work in a different country never seems to be a big problem, even though if you want a work permit, things may get harder. But I've met people working in gyms, bars, shops, and as teachers for money "under the table" so they don't have to worry about getting work permits. So if you really want to make it, you can!