While you are involved with travel and exploration, there are moments when you will cross paths with like-minded global travelers. Everyone has a collection of unique stories that can enrich and expand your experience. Some of these are fellow travelers and others can be found online through their blogs. Everyone has something to contribute.
Mike:
Sharing these lessons learned is invaluable and only reaffirms why we live this nomadic life.
I remember when starting our research we found excellent blogs from travelers who have been doing this for years. Nomadic Matt stands out with lots of practical tips and a growing community of fellow nomads. TravelFish has fantastic info about SE Asia and its staff of travelers who actively send updates.
Eileen:
What I like about these resources is that they don’t paint a glorified picture of what life is like in these travels. If they make mistakes, they are the first to admit it so that you don’t have to step into the same potholes.
There are other resources, which shall remain nameless, that give idealized versions of certain cities or countries, often with a hidden agenda.
Mike:
Sometimes it’s helpful to read stories from people who are at the same stage of life. A 25-year-old backpacker you met at a hostel might recommend the bungee jump they did yesterday which is likely not high on your list. Volunteering is an important part of our experience so Over 50 and Overseas became a great source for stories from people our age who share our view of global travel.
Eileen:
I thought what we did this month in Medellin, Colombia was interesting. We let an expat group know that we were in town and expressed our desire to meet with anyone interested in swapping stories. As a result, we shared some delicious meals and interesting insights from couples that were around our age and had a similar worldview.
Mike:
Not only were we able to compare notes on countries we have visited, but also the “other stuff”–like how our children were responding to our wandering ways, elements that we found to be essential to our travels, and those experiences that either enriched us or were a “one and done.”
We’d love to hear your stories as well. Where have you been? What experiences have most impacted your life? What words of wisdom do you have to pass on to your fellow travelers?
By: Mike & Eileen Brill Wagner
