Travel Tips from a Flight Attendant
In this week’s Travel Tuesday Interview, I chat with Delta flight attendant Madison Chase about dealing with jet lag, his favorite places to visit and life as a flight attendant! Madison and I worked together when I lived in Santa Barbara, California and became instant friends based on our love of Asia!
Madison is also one of my favorite models. We did a portrait shoot in Carpentaria, California.
Name: Madison Chase
Hometown: Pleasant Hill, CA
Age: 30
Country count: 26
Instagram: MeowdisonChase
1. How did you start traveling?
I am very lucky to come from a family that travels often and in somewhat rather grand ways at times. For example, when I was in 6th grade, my parents rented a giant motorhome and took all six kids from Utah to NYC then to Florida and back to see all of the nation’s biggest sights and historical places. And, that was kind of a big deal especially for my older siblings since we missed a month of school. Shortly after 9/11, we used my sister’s buddy passes from her working at Delta and went to Costa Rica for a couple weeks, and after I graduated, we all went to Peru on a humanitarian trip for two weeks.
Two months after Peru, when I was 19, my oldest sister and I went to Asia for the first time and that really changed my life. I spent nearly three months in Southeast Asia scuba diving, sightseeing and grew so much as a person. I fell in love with foreign places and the magic that immersing yourself in other cultures can bring. Along the way, I managed to help do some scuba tsunami clean up (as I was there just six months after it happened).
A few years ago, while taking a break from my zoology studies in school, I was lucky enough to be sponsored for an animal communication adventure in Singapore and Indonesia. So, I quit my job at Apple in San Francisco and asked my roommate to watch my two cats, two snakes and my tarantula. [I] packed up and left for three months. I took classes in Singapore, then we moved on to work at an elephant sanctuary in Sumatra and then, went to observe orangutans in Borneo. From there, I said goodbye to the group and went back to Bali for a week then to a live aboard dive boat in the Komodo Islands, where I experienced the best diving I’ve done since I started in 2005. From Indonesia, I headed up to Laos where a friend from class in Singapore was the head vet at a struggling zoo that was being turned into a sanctuary by private group. I volunteered there for some time since I had a background [working at] other zoos back in the States.
Madison worked at an elephant sanctuary in Way Kambas park in Sumatra during a three month trip to Asia. (Photo courtesy of Madison Chase.)
2. What are the perks of being a flight attendant?
The biggest perk of being a flight attendant is the flexibility and freedom to travel. My schedule is very fluid. I can move my assigned trips around for the month, allowing more time at home or more time to travel when I want. I don’t pay anything when I fly domestically, and it’s even free every time I fly out of the country. And, I usually get business class on those. I only pay the taxes when I return. For example, when I went to Australia for my 30th birthday this year, it was just $92 USD round trip. Granted I always fly standby and it’s based on seniority, meaning I often don’t get on the flight I want. And, if you’ve flown at all the last couple years, you’ll notice that often flights are full, and they ask for volunteers to get bumped, meaning unless I want to sit on the jump seat with the crew for the duration of flight, I have to be very flexible with my plans. But overall, it’s been amazing being able to travel when/where I want for nearly nothing at all!
[If you’re interested in applying to be a flight attendant, here are the links to the job postings for the major U.S. carriers: Delta, American Airlines, United and Southwest.]
3. What advice would you have for someone wanting to be a flight attendant?
When I applied, they got over 200k applications and only hired 1500. It can be incredibly steep competition, and you really never know exactly what they are looking for. But, be persistent! I was lucky enough to be hired on the spot after my in-person interview, but others I know applied multiple times and then, were hired later or called out of the blue [and asked] if they could start training immediately. You have to be extremely flexible and able to charm your way with the interviewers, making them believe you love people and are great at handling stressful situations. The people thing I faked: I studied zoology for a reason because I really don’t like people. But, being able to handle the stress under pressure is key. Yeah, I mostly just hand out Coke and peanuts, but when the heat is on…. you have to be highly adaptable to ever changing situations, where the biggest factor is usually human threat/error and always ready to take charge of a situation because at 35,000 feet, it’s just you and the crew and 150 pairs of eyes watching the drama unfold.
4. Share some tips for dealing with jet lag.
With this job, I’m basically tired all the time so learning to nap is key. When I travel to another country for work, I am usually up all night working so my jet lag is always more extreme than a regular passenger who can attempt to sleep during the flight. When I get to my hotel, I generally sleep 2-3 hours and then, force myself up and go about my day exploring and staying up till the local bedtime. But, when I’m home I just enjoy any excuse to lay in bed with my cat relaxing/snoozing. I’ve read that eating at the normal times in the new country can help combat jet lag because your digestion plays a big part. So, instead of skipping meals or eating at random times, try and have breakfast/lunch/dinner at the same time as the locals and that can help set your body clock to your new destination.
Menorca is one of Madison’s favorite places to visit because it’s only a 45 minute flight from another city he loves — Barcelona. (Photo courtesy of Madison Chase.)
5. What are your three favorite places to visit?
I am absolutely obsessed with Barcelona. The city is gorgeous, the people are gorgeous, the food is amazing and so cheap! Also with that, I’ll just lump in Menorca/Mallorca…
Since nature and diving are very important to me, one of my favorite places that I’ve been to was the Komodo Islands in Indonesia. I was in Bali and had to take a couple flights over there, but I experienced the best diving in my life there. The islands are protected because of the Komodo dragons and the surrounding waters are
The third would have to be Sydney because it has everything one could want on an adventure: fun metropolitan city, beaches, amazing food/coffee and so many gorgeous natural places within an hour’s drive in any direction. I had originally planned for just a couple days here, but luckily my friend I’d met through Instagram was off work and showed me around for an entire week, and I just completely fell in love with the city!
6. What was your greatest struggle as a flight attendant/traveler and how did you overcome it?
So far, the biggest challenge as a flight attendant has just been learning to adapt to the new lifestyle that the job brings, especially in the first couple years. We don’t make a lot of money at first, and since you’re junior in the system, you kind of get the leftover trips that others don’t want. I had to commute from Utah to Michigan [right] out of training, and then from Utah to NYC after that. For me, it’s all about staying positive and learning how to work the system so I can have greater flexibility with my schedule. The benefits of the job outweigh the negatives in these first years, and I fully take advantage of flying for free so I’m always going someplace new for fun when I can get some time off.
Madison spent a week exploring Sydney, Australia with a friend he met on social media and fell in love with the city. (Photo courtesy of Madison Chase.)
7. What is the biggest myth about traveling solo?
I know that I have never grown so much as a person until I was off in Asia at 19 years old, bouncing around different countries and really learning who I was and how strong and confident I could be as a person. I love traveling alone because I’m not beholden to anyone else’s agenda or likes/dislikes. I can do all the things that interest me and make new friends along the way, which was challenging at first since I’m kind of shy, but when you’re alone, you tend to find others wherever you are that are likeminded and go out of your way to make new friends and because of this I’ve got people all over the world that I can always visit and stay with, which is amazing!
8. Can you share some tips for packing light?
Packing light has never been a strong suit of mine because I love clothes and having many options. But, I usually just bring a couple pairs of pants/shoes that will go with anything, and then a bunch of shirts that I roll really well so as to make as much space as possible. I have also often found myself bringing a computer/laptop thinking I’ll use it all the time but end up just reading my Kindle or using my phone exclusively and regretting the extra weight/pressure of losing/breaking/having my devices stolen. Unless you’re going to the middle of the desert, you just need to remember you can always buy something later that you might find you need!
Madison diving near Cozumel, Mexico with his GoPro camera. (Photo Courtesy of Madison Chase.)
9. Name three things you always pack for a trip.
- Soft sweater/hoodie for flights (using as a pillow, keeping warm, etc.)
- Earplugs/eyemask
- Extra batteries/portable chargers for camera/phone, etc. (There is nothing worse than running out of juice at a critical time/place and being unable to find a place to charge!)
10. What is your next adventure?
Hmmm, this one I’m not sure! I just finished ten days in Spain last month, which was incredible. I’m planning on moving to Barcelona eventually and just commuting to NYC for work because I love it so much. But, my sister and I want to go back to Australia in the next couple months to check out Byron Bay and go diving at the Great Barrier Reef so that’s probably the next big one. Also, I’m going to try and check out more places in the Caribbean now that I live in NYC, and it’s easy to get to. I want to explore Puerto Rico, go diving in Turks and Caicos and get to Cuba before it gets too popular.
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COMING UP:
Sunrise on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas
A Local’s Guide to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas has been my home base since December 2013 (minus that year I spent in South America), which basically makes me a local by Austin standards. It literally is my job as a freelance travel writer and photographer to try the best restaurants, bars and cool things to do in Austin and the great state of Texas. In my next post, I’ll cover all the best places to eat, drink and visit in my current hometown!
Where to Go in Japan
The Kanmangafuchi Abyss in Nikko, Japan is lined with statues of a Jizo, a Bodhisattva who is the guardian of travelers and children.
The more I travel, the more one place reminds me of another in small ways. Japan is one of the few exceptions. There’s no place in the world as safe, bustling or as efficient as this tiny island nation, which houses 127.3 million people on land mass smaller than California.
I spent three weeks zipping around Japan on bullet trains visiting friends, hiking ancient cedar forests and photographing mountain-side shrines. My travels always revolve around stunning landscapes or architecture. My photography (and stomach) fuel my adventures and dictate my itinerary. I’m also intrigued by Buddhist philosophy. Japan had no shortage of either and did not disappoint.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, here are nine places not to miss. Some are obvious spots but others are short day trips from large cities that are too often skipped. (All places mentioned are accessible directly by train unless otherwise noted.)
Yakushima is an island covered in ancient cedar forests, 73 miles south of the town of Kagoshima.
Yakushima
Hiking through the ancient cedar forests of the Yakushima, a subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu, was one of the highlights of my trip to Japan. The island is covered with trees that are more than 1000 years old. The only downside is that the island is the wettest place in the country so prepare to get soaked. Stock up on ponchos and rain pants at Daiso, the Japanese dollar store. Both worked well for me! Also, the island isn’t cheap, but it’s totally worth the cost to get there!
How to get to Yakushima: The cheapest way to reach the island is to take the normal slow four-hour ferry (Yakushima 2) from the town of Kagoshima, which is easily accessible by train, (ferry cost one-way: 4900 yen/$43 USD; Return: 8900 yen/ $78 USD.) There is a more expensive high-speed ferry that runs six times a day and take less than two hours if you get the direct route (one-way: 8300 yen/$73 USD). There is also an airport on the island. Buses around the island are limited so plan your schedule around the buses unless you rent a car.
Kinkaku-ji, known as the Golden Pavilion, is located in Kyoto and was rebuilt in 1955 after being set on fire by a frantic monk.
Kyoto
Kyoto is Japan’s shining gem. The former imperial capital is known for endless temples, gardens and shrines. Wander through the beautiful streets of Gion, the geisha quarter and entertainment district. Don’t miss the enormous Kiyomizu-dera temple built in 1633 and postcard-perfect Golden Pavilion, known as Kinkaku-ji, which is covered in gold leaf and perched on the edge of a reflecting pool. Both are part of the 17 monuments that comprise the UNESCO site known as The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. The best time to visit the city is in the spring for the cherry blossoms or the fall for the colorful foliage. Set aside several days or a week to explore the city and the surrounding area!
Clearly, I had to get an iconic shot of Alfred the gnome at Fushimi Inari, where a few scenes of the film Memoirs of a Giesha were shot.
Fushimi Inari
Thousands of red torii gates line the pathways of the scared Mount Inari, named after the Shinto god of rice. The main shrine lies at the base of the mountain and smaller shrines line the trails to the top of the mountain. It takes roughly two to three hours roundtrip to hike to the top. For more about my trip to Fushimi Inari and how to photograph the site without people, check out this post!
How to get to Fushimi Inari: Take a JR Nara Line train from Kyoto station two stops to the Fushimi Inari Station. The shrine is walking distance from the station.
Nara is a very walkable city filled with eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s an easy day trip from Kyoto.
Nara
In the year 710, Nara was established as Japan’s first permanent capital known for the wild deer that roam the streets. The town is home to the oldest and largest temples in the country including Todaiji, which features the largest wooden building in the world housing a 15-meter-tall Buddha statue. My favorite writer, Pico Iyer, lives in Nara. He writes about the town occasionally especially in his book, The Lady and The Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto, which is a must read for any trip to Japan.
How to get to Nara: It’s a 45-minute train ride from Kyoto Station to Kintetsu Nara Station.
The Arashiyama bamboo grove is very short but extremely photogenic. Arrive early for the best photo opportunities!
Arashiyama (Bamboo Forest)
The stunning bamboo groves of Arashiyama are famous. While the groves are gorgeous, they are very small and crowded so go early if possible. The town is also filled with a plethora of scenic temples and gorgeous gardens and make a great day trip from Kyoto.
How to get to Arashiyama: The town is a 15-20 minute train ride from the Kyoto Station. The central part of town is a short walk from the station.
Five pedestrian lanes merge to create the Shinjuku crosswalk in Tokyo, which is rumored to be the busiest in the world.
Tokyo
Tokyo was like a posh version of India – a city of beautifully organized chaos. Set aside a few days to explore the cities various neighborhoods – the madness of the famous Shinjuku crosswalk, the sleek electronics district of Akihabara and the majestic Meiji Shrine that’s only a few minutes away from the hip fashion scene in Harajuku. Don’t miss the collection of tiny, charming dive bars of Golden Gai or a baseball game. Karaoke is clearly a must! Take your stomach on a tour of all the incredible cafés of the hip Shimokitazawa neighborhood, which Tokyo Becky talks about in her Travel Tuesday Interview that’s filled with Japan travel tips!
Nikko is a postcard-worthy town filled with scenic shrines that’s an excellent day or weekend trip from Tokyo.
Nikko
Nikko is one of the many great day trips from Tokyo. It’s the gateway to the Nikko National Park, which is filled with hiking trails, waterfalls and scenic mountainous views. The town is famous for one of the most lavishly decorated shires in the country, Toshogu, and a great spot for fall foliage. Be sure to stroll down the walking trail by the scenic gorge known as the Kanmangafuchi Abyss that is lined with stone statues of a Jizo, a Bodhisattva who is the guardian of travelers and children.
How to get to Nikko: To reach Nikko using a Japan Rail Pass, take the Yambaito or Nasuno Shinkansen from Tokyo for 50 minutes to Utsunomiya. Change to the JR Nikko line to the JR Nikko station (45 minutes). Be sure to check trains schedules for the Nikko line in advance since they can be limited.
Hiroshima Prefectural Industry Promotion Building is only building left standing in the city center after the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945.
Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The only visible sign of the bombing in the lush green city center are remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industry Promotion Building, known as the A-Bomb Dome. The building is located along the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which is home to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which is a must-see. (Admission: 200 Yen/$1.76 USD) The museum depicts life in the city before and after the bomb was dropped including artifacts from the victims and personal stories from survivors. Everyone should see this museum if only to fully understand the disastrous effects of nuclear weapons.
Clockwise from top left: Istukushima Shrine, statues at the Daisho-in Buddhist Temple, lanterns in the cave temple at Daisho-in Buddhist Temple, and wild deer near the “floating” torii gate in Miyajima.
Miyajima
Miyajima is a small island near Hiroshima is famous for a large “floating” red torii gate that is surrounded by water during high tide. Wild deer also roam the island. The main highlights include the floating Istukushima Shrine, a stunning mutli-building Shinto shrine. (Admission $2.50 USD)
Aside from the floating torii gate, my favorite part of the island was photographing the Daisho-in Buddhist Temple, a massive complex with statue gardens and many prayer halls. It is located at the foot of Misen Mountain and is the main temple of the Shingon Buddhist school of Omuro. One of my favorite photographs was the latern-covered ceiling of the Henjokutsu Cave, home to 88 Buddhist icons.
How to Get to Miyajima: From Hirmoshima station, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station (covered by Japan Rail Pass) to the ferry port. There are two companies who run ferries (10 minute ride, 180 yen one way).
If you get temple fatigue, spend a day at the Tottori sand dunes and Sand Museum, which is three hours from Kyoto by train.
Tottori Sand Dunes
There are 16 kilometers of large sand dunes along the coast of the Sea of Japan near the city of Tottori located in western Japan. The dunes are the largest in the country and up to 50 meters high, which is a nice leg workout. There is one lone camel on the dunes that you can pay to ride, but the distance is extremely short for the steep $12 USD price. (I love camels so I considered it.) The Sand Museum (admission: 600 yen/$5.29) is adjacent to the dunes and features intricate large-scale sand sculptures from artists around the world. The museum itself was impressive, and I totally recommend it.
How to get to Tottori: From the Tottori train station, take the local bus at stop #0 in front of station that’s bound for Tottori Sakyu and get off at the last stop. The ride is 20 minutes and costs 370 yen/$3.26 USD.
Japan Transport & Logistics
Japan Rail Pass
The most efficient and cost effective way to travel around Japan is to purchase a Japan Rail Pass, which vary in length from seven to 21 days. They offer unlimited travel on ferries, buses and all trains except the Nozomi and Mizuho trains.
| Length | Green (First Class) | Ordinary |
| 7 days | 38,889 Yen ($345 USD) | 29,110 Yen ($258 USD) |
| 14 days | 62,950 Yen ($559 USD) | 46,390 Yen ($412 USD) |
| 21 days | 81,870 Yen ($727 USD) | 59,350 Yen ($527 USD) |
You must purchase your rail pass BEFORE you enter Japan. You will receive an exchange order which you redeem for your pass once you arrive in Japan. The pass is only intended for tourists and not residents of Japan. (I purchased the 21 day pass in Singapore before I left for Japan.)
Download the Hyperdia app for timetables for all trains. It provides up to date train times and departure platforms. For more information on the rail pass, check out http://www.jrpass.com/.
Pocket WIFI Hotspot
Another great investment for any Japan trip is a pocket WIFI hotspot. You will never get lost. You simply reserve the hotspot online, pickup at the airport then drop it in a mailbox with the prepaid envelope when you leave. I recommend renting a hotspot for the entire trip instead of getting a SIM card because most SIM cards only come with data access anyways. (Most of Japan is on a CDMA-based phone network.) For more on internet in Japan, check out this guide.
Vending machines are everywhere in Japan. If you’re lucky, you might find one selling beer!
Budget Tips for Traveling in Japan
The most expensive part of Japan is transport (rail pass) and accommodation. Hostels range from $40 in big cities to $15 in places like Kagoshima. Eating cheap is easy if you stick to local spots to keep meals between $3-10 USD. Remote places like Yakushima are expensive but are totally worth it.
- Onigiri. These triangle shaped rice snacks are my favorite and good for the budget. They come with various fillings and are available at every train station or convenience store. They are a great meal substitute or snack!
- Diaso, the Japanese dollar store, is the most amazing place in the world. They have EVERYTHING you could ever need – rain gear, hair clips, ceramic gnomes (You know how much I love gnomes!) and great snack options! This is where I bought my rain poncho and rain pants for my Yakushima hikes!
- Currency Converter. To keep yourself on budget, download the XE currency converter app. It works offline and is great for checking the cost of purchases so you don’t accidently overspend.
- Take a reusable water bottle. The water in Japan is total safe to drink. Save the environment and your wallet by simply refilling a stainless steel or BPA free plastic water bottle. (I’m a big fan of Klean Kateen’s insulated stainless steel bottles.)
- Skip the rail pass. If you don’t want to splurge on the rail pass (which is totally worth it), buses are a cheaper option, but you’ll need Japanese travel agents to help book. Japan is extremely safe so hitchhiking is fairly common. Slow ferries are also good budget options.
- All-You-Can-Drink Karaoke. Many karaoke places offer all-you-can-drink rates, which are a good deal if you want to party and sing your heart out especially in Tokyo!
- $3 Meals. For cheap beers, Torikizoku is a yakatori chain in Japan, and everything on the menu is under $3. For cheap meals, try Yoshinoya, a restaurant chain that sells beef bowls for $3-5 USD, which are actually pretty good.
- Avoid ATM fees. Japanese ATMs will charge you a fee for taking out cash. Considering opening a free Charles Schwab Investor Checking account that waives ATM fees and currency conversion rates. For more details, check out my Travel Banking 101 post. FYI: Not all ATMs are open 24-hours.
- Pick and Choose Temples. Most of the famous temples charge a small admission fee, which can add up quickly. Research the main temples or places you want to visit in advance. (For me, this means to Google everything to find best places for photography.) Make a list of your top must-see places. Then, focus on visiting lesser known sites off the beaten path that do not charge an admission fee that are often less crowded, which is another perk especially if you’re into photography!
For more about Japan travel, check out the Travel Tuesday Interview with Tokyo Becky, an Ohio native that’s been living in Tokyo for 12 years, and my post about photographing Fushimi Inari at sunrise.
Travel Tuesday Interview: Tokyo Becky’s Guide to Living in Japan
For this week’s Travel Tuesday Interview, I chat with one of my best friends, Becky Gillespie, a Cincinnati, Ohio native who has been living in Japan for 12 years. I met Becky in Laos a month before my Japan trip, and she invited me to stay with her in Tokyo. She dishes all the details about Japan including budget travel in Japan, how to find a job and the best off-the-beaten path destinations. No one knows Japan better than Tokyo Becky!
Ohio native Becky Gillespe lives in the Shimokitazawa neighborhood of Tokyo that’s filled with cozy cafes like Bear Pond Expresso.
Name: Becky Gillespie
Age: 34
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan (originally from Cincinnati, Ohio)
Country count: 45 Countries (46 by next month)
Website: www.TokyoBecky.com
Instagram: @TokyoBecky
1. How did you start traveling?
I took out college loans in order to take a two-month study abroad program to Western Europe just before my last year of university. The trip was a special independent style trip where we took classes in hotel conference rooms as a group of 120 students from Monday–Wednesday. We could travel anywhere on our own from Wednesday afternoon to Sunday night, when we had to be in the next European city for class. I’ll never forget when we all traveled together as a big group from London to Paris on the Eurostar, and the minute we arrived in Paris, our professors said, “See you in four days!” and walked away. With two months of this kind of travel, I was able to see 12 countries, and I’ve never regretted taking out the loans to do this trip because it changed my mindset about travel forever.
2. How did you end up in Japan?
In the last three months before college graduation, I was doing interviews for jobs as a Finance major. I hadn’t been able to find anything solid, and I think in the back of my mind I wasn’t enthused about settling down to work and not be able to travel. When I noticed a sign at a career fair on my college campus advertising “A Year of Adventure Abroad” about teaching English in Japan, I decided to get some more information. I had really enjoyed the film “Lost in Translation” and had also heard that Japan was very safe for female solo travelers. I decided to give it a try, thinking that I could go back [to the U.S.] anytime if it didn’t work out and stay with my family. So, I went not speaking a word of Japanese, not knowing anyone, knowing only that they would be picking me up at the airport and that I would be living in company housing with other fellow teachers. I landed in Tokyo four months after that career fair, and it’s been my home ever since [12 years later].
One thing about Tokyo is that if you are a native English speaker (and I hate to say this, but even more so if you look like Japanese people “expect” a native English speaker to look), there are never ending opportunities for you to make money speaking English. I have worked at conversation schools, taught in elementary, junior high, and high schools, and taught business professionals (what I currently do). I also did Japanese and U.S. taxes for a global accounting firm, voice over recording work, editing, translation, you name it. There is even a company here where you can sing over the phone to children in English and get paid.
Another amazing thing about Japan is that there is a huge private under-the-table market for teaching English privately. Many people meet in cafes and teach students for one hour, and the going rate is about $30 USD per hour. If you want to find students and set up your own lessons, the sky is the limit. I once had an opportunity to go to a private home and teach three children for one hour. The mother then invited the children’s friends and for a while, I was teaching seven children in her home and was making $140 USD an hour. There is really no limit if you do the work and make the connections here to put it all together.
Naoshima is an island known for sculptures and art museums located an hour away from Okayama.
3. What advice would you have for someone wanting to teach English in Japan?
I would actually recommend coming over with one of the big conversation schools at the very beginning because it is a great way to get paid while deciding if teaching is what you’d like to do over here. While you’re working at the big company, I’d recommend looking around and making connections, going to meetup.com groups and start asking around to learn about other opportunities. There are essentially Japanese lessons that are given at every local community center by Japanese volunteers to help people get adjusted to life in Japan. These can be a good place to make Japanese friends and be introduced to the culture first hand at the very beginning. Getting involved in a regular activity here can also be very good whether it’s the judo that you’ve always been interested in or taking Japanese calligraphy, flower arranging, etc. This will also help you make more connections. In the last five years, it’s gotten significantly easier to live here with all the apps and websites that have been started to get more involved in Tokyo.
[For more about ways to work in Japan, check out Becky’s posts on how to move to Japan which include informations on visa types and 10 things you must know before moving to Japan on her blog, TokyoBecky.com.]
Becky stands outside the famous Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. She recently received permanent residency status in Japan.
4. Share some tips for traveling on a budget in Japan.
My first huge tip is to buy a Japan Rail Pass BEFORE you come to Japan (you activate it once you come to Japan). This will save you an unbelievable amount of money traveling around on the bullet trains here. As a resident here, I am not allowed to buy it, but one return trip Kyoto from Tokyo for me as a resident is more expensive than seven days of unlimited travel on this pass, just to give you an idea. I would also advise bringing a water bottle because water is about $1.40-1.60 from the vending machines here, and the [tap] water is totally safe to drink. There are drinking fountains at pubic restrooms, parks, and at most train stations. Save when you can. Take the trains instead of the taxis. That’s a huge tip because Tokyo seems to have the most expensive taxis in the world. Make sure that you don’t miss the last train home every night (around 11:30pm-midnight) because then you must pay for taxis, and it gets expensive. To keep things cheap for the food budget, check out ramen shops and noodle shop chains to not only try Japanese food but also keep your meal at under $10. Many of these shops also sell a good-sized meal for around $6. I also recommend the 100 yen or $1 stores here which sell absolutely everything except anything you’d want to wear in public. There is also no tipping in Japan for anything so you will definitely save there. I also strongly encourage looking for reasonable Airbnb places in Tokyo. Hotels are generally very expensive, but Airbnb can be much more reasonable.
Becky recommends the remote Kumano Kodo pilgrimage hike in Wakayama, Japan as a good way to escape the crowds.
5. What are your three favorite off-the-beaten path places to visit in Japan?
I love this question because Japan is a treasure trove of off-the-beaten path places. Unfortunately, the three places that I’m going to tell you about are not easy to get to and will take a bit of time out of your travel budget to get to, but they are worth it! I love the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage path hike in Wakayama, Japan. I just did this over Thanksgiving and saw a total of seven people on the four-day trek while on the hiking trail itself. It is full of history, beautiful shrines, amazing hot springs, and friendly people. I would love to visit again. Another wonderful little trip that should be done together is Okayama with a side visit to the town of Kurashiki (a little Kyoto like town). Okayama has a castle and one of Japan’s top three gardens and one hour away is an island full of art sculptures and art museums called Naoshima. It is such an interesting place to visit if you love art. Finally, I have to mention the island of Yakushima, which is a ferry ride from the city of Kagoshima in Kyushu, Japan. This is an island covered in ancient cedar trees and is a wonderful place to hike. There are also some areas with beaches in the summer. I loved hiking there.
6. What was your greatest struggle living abroad and how did you overcome it?
My greatest struggle was the language barrier when it came to dealing with more difficult things like renting an apartment or explaining medical issues. I have continued to learn the language step by step and have also leaned on my friends for support to overcome this. Be open with your problems that you’re having and you’d be surprised who is willing to help.
7. What advice would you have for aspiring travelers?
I have found that the friends that you make here are great resources and support when you need to get over things like this. Find someone who has done it before you through your network, and they will point you in the right direction. Curiosity is going to be your greatest friend here because it will keep you exploring new places and meeting new people who will be able to help you get where you need to go. When I’m on the fence about going to a new place, I always book the plane ticket and then do what I need to prepare for the commitment that I’ve made from there. In my head, it’s always expensive or frustrating to change my flight plans from there, so I stay committed to those dates and make it happen if I can. If you’re afraid, just have the contact details of the hotel where you’re staying with you, and someone will be able to help. The first step is always the hardest, but then, you will learn as you go.
Becky heads to Nagano to go snowboarding once or twice a year. The city was home to the 1998 Winter Olympics.
8. What is the biggest myth about traveling solo or living in Japan?
That it is dangerous (the solo female travel part), crazy expensive and you will just have to work all the time. None of this is true (although the work part can sometimes feel true). I have found a way to make plenty of time for taking the trips that I need to and you can make it happen as well. I have found living in Tokyo to be cheaper than living in Cincinnati because I never need a car here, and I have been able to keep rent at less than $800 and teach private students for extra cash when I want to save up for something.
9. Name three things you always pack for a trip.
- My running shoes because they double as walking/hiking shoes
- a small purse that I can put over my shoulder and hold close to me for going out at night (this helps me carry things during the day but is also nice enough for going in to nicer restaurants at night instead of bringing in my backpack)
- my Kindle – I have to read on trips and it can be very hard to find specialized books while traveling
10. What is your next adventure?
After a short weekend snowboarding trip to see the “Snow Monsters” in Zao, Yamagata, Japan, I’ll be heading on a solo trip to Myanmar for the first time. I’m hoping to finally check riding in a hot-air balloon off of my bucket list!
For more information about traveling or living in Japan, check out my Where to Go in Japan post and visit Becky’s blog, TokyoBecky.com.
Sunrise in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Shrine near Kyoto, Japan
Japan was not the nonchalant laid-back Asia I’d grown to love while living in Thailand. There was efficiency, guardrails and drinkable tap water. And, tour guides with megaphones.
The swarms of tourists were tainting my experience and photographs. I prayed Kyoto would redeem my image of Japan.
I had two goals on my trip—to visit my friend, Nick, and photograph the iconic red archways, known as torii gates, of the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Nick frowned. “Good luck getting photos without any people,” he said. “That place is always crowded.”
I took his warning as a challenge.
My alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. Determination masked my sleepiness. At 5:30 a.m., I was on the first train out of Kyoto Station bound for the Inari Station. The early bird gets the photo.
People write their wishes on the back of votive tablets called ema and leave them at the main temple at the base of Mount Inari. Foxes are considered the messenger for Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
The shrine was almost deserted when I arrived thirty minutes later. I walked past the main buildings toward two parallel rows of torii gates, which line the walkways of sacred Mount Inari, named after the Shinto god of rice. The two rows merged into a single row of larger gates. Each was inscribed in Japanese with names of wealthy donors. Along the path were small shrines filled with tiny gates donated by others with shallower pockets.
I wandered up the trails in search of the perfect mixture of light and composition. I did not see another foreigner for hours. A few locals emerged from the red maze on their morning walk. A woman smiled at me with curiosity under her white visor and said hello. Her outfit was as immaculate as the window mannequin of an outdoor store – a spotless jacket and ankle-length hiking pants. Later, a man wearing traditional clothing rushed past in wooden sandals. His robes swayed side to side with his stride.
There are more locals than tourists at Fushimi Inari Shrine at sunrise.
Despite the summer humidity, the locals wore long jackets and pants. Thirty mosquito bites later, I envied their clothing choices. My t-shirt and shorts offered no protection. I pulled a plastic poncho out of my bag and wrapped it around my waist like a skirt, which attracted more curious glances.
I took hundreds of photos over the next two hours. When the first tourist emerged onto the trail at 8:30 a.m., I promptly walked toward the train station. My time slot was over.
A herd of foreigners rushed off the train from Kyoto as I was boarding. I smiled, content with my new discovery. The secret to travel is getting up painfully early while the tourists and shopkeepers are still asleep. The reward is silence, photos with clean backgrounds and a glimpse of the real culture.
How to get to Fushimi Inari: Take a JR Nara Line train from Kyoto station two stops to the Fushimi Inari Station. The shrine is walking distance from the station.
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COMING UP:
Lanterns cover the ceiling of the Henjokutsu Cave at the Daisho-in Buddhist Temple in Miyajima, Japan.
The Ultimate Guide to Japan
Next week, I’ll post an in-depth photo guide to the best places to visit in Japan complete with logistics and cost. In the next Travel Tuesday Interview, I chat with Tokyo Becky, an American expat who has lived in Japan for 10 years, about budget travel tips and off-the-beaten path destinations!
Lessons from a Year Abroad
When I lived in Sydney, I took a month off work to road/train trip through Australia and stopped at Uluru for a photo!
Let’s start the New Year off with a little travel inspiration:
In 2008, I quit everything and moved across the world. That decision changed my entire life. I recently discovered an unpublished essay I wrote for a magazine shortly after moving back to the U.S. from 13 months abroad. I was inspired reading my own essay, which made me instantly want to share it with you! Consider yourself warned: This will make you want pack your bags and buy a one way ticket!
Surviving 27: Lessons from a Year Abroad
Twenty-seven is a dangerous age. It approaches silently—cleverly hidden between the exuberant celebrations of 21 and fear of 30. The element of surprise makes it a clear turning point—the best or worst year of your life.
For famous musicians, it’s not a good year. The infamous “27 Club”—Kurt Cobain, Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones and Jim Morrison—never saw 28. But for me, a non-musician, it was a relentless struggle that I managed to survive.
Twenty-six ended when the economy started to tumble in 2008. It became clear that recessions weren’t good for freelance photographers. I took the unconventional approach and spent a year globetrotting to ride out the economic storm.
This is where 27 stepped in like a brutally honest friend. She used her ninja skills to corner me at 4 a.m. and demanded I stop ignoring my daydreams. My old excuses were no longer valid. I already had a good education, savings and a sudden abundance of time. She tapped her foot and sternly said, “Dust off your passport. No one ever regrets spending a year traveling around the world.” She had a point. Sitting still is boring.
I spent a few weeks on South Island of New Zealand and went hiking on Fox Glacier, which was my first glacier hike!
I spent the next 13 months in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Southeast Asia. It was an amazing experience, despite the rough times and the nights spent crying on random bathroom floors. It became obvious that 27 was trying to teach me a lesson. The bad moments were all part of her plan. That year was my ultimate solo adventure—a test of courage and determination.
The first few weeks of traveling were bliss, but rocky months followed. Apartment hunting in a foreign country is a nightmare. Seriously. I admit I was tempted to call the “free internet and rice” ad out of curiosity. It was difficult to make friends in a city of four million. My initial job hunt turned me into nothing more than a professional networker. Was I crazy for moving across the world on a whim?
But, 27 had faith in me. I ended up on an airport shuttle in Fiji with four British guys who quit their jobs to travel. I wasn’t the only one. I kept meeting other people traveling for extended periods of time. Some were just out of school, and others simply quit jobs they loved to see the world. It’s a cultural phenomenon and a coming of age ritual for Europeans, Canadians and Australians to travel long term. Why is this missing from the average American mindset? I am not fearless, but I realized the things that scare me are the things I need to do the most. Maybe the people who are too scared to live their dreams are the crazy ones.
During road trip along the Great Ocean Road in Australia, we discovered some koala bears sleeping in trees along the side of the road!
Twenty-seven also gave me the chance to be 21 again. I drank cheap beer, ate peanut butter sandwiches and stayed in hostels. I spent a month road tripping around Australia with two guys from Buffalo, NY. We slept in our rental car by the beach for three days and snuck into RV parks to shower. There is nothing more exciting than living on the fringes of life. Experiences are always better investments than fancy hotel rooms and material possessions.
I scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef, hiked glaciers in New Zealand and watched the sunrise over Angkor Wat. It is quite possible I fell in love on a Thailand beach. (I blame the rum.) I quickly found myself living in a Western Union commercial after my wallet was stolen on that same beach. (Again, I blame the rum.) There I was calling my parents at 5 a.m. to transfer me money because you can’t transfer yourself money. (Trust me, I tried EVERYTHING before calling the parents.) My adventures made me wish I spent a year after college traveling, but I don’t regret waiting a few years. I began to appreciate the freedom of 27 over the simplistic naiveté of 21.
One of my favorite places in Australia was the limestone rock formations known as the Pinnacles at Nambung National Park in Western Australia. It’s totally worth the drive from Perth!
It became quite clear that moving across the world wasn’t going to erase my problems or magically improve the economy. My car was still dying. I can’t live anywhere longer than six months without getting bored. I have a panic attack every time I sign a lease. But, 27 made it clear that there is no timeline to life. I could grow up when I was ready as long as I paid my rent on time.
Traveling makes me feel completely alive. Every aspect of life overseas is exciting, even just walking down the street. The mundane becomes thrilling. Why is it that life is always clearer 5,000 miles away from home? The pressure, influences and stress of my old life were no longer in control of my actions. That is the ultimate freedom.
I counted down the days until 28. A girl can only take so many battles in a year. I said farewell to 27 with beer on a Thailand beach with some British friends. But, the lessons of 27 lingered long into 28 and made me appreciate my struggles and adventures.
I got a job running photo trips in Southeast Asia for the summer and ended up working in Asia for the next five summers. (Photo: Rice fields in Northern Thailand)
That year stripped me down to the core and taught me about humility and patience. It was an in-depth course in world history—World War II in Australia, Cambodia’s dark past, Gandhi’s mission for peace and the plight of Burmese refugees. Four months in Asia made it clear that running water and 24-hour electricity were luxuries, not necessities.
Twenty-seven failed to warn me about coming home. Maybe she thought her job was done or that 28 would be a better teacher. Home felt foreign. I forgot about sales tax and didn’t know which way to look to cross the street. Even the accents sounded strange. After living out of a suitcase for a year, I started to de-clutter my life and shun materialism.
I began to miss Sydney Harbor, Thai pancakes and passing monks in saffron robes on the street. But, a traveler never sits still for long. The nagging sensation to spend an entire year traveling was suddenly replaced by the hunt for my next adventure. Living my daydreams began to feel normal. After surviving 27 and traveling around the world solo, anything is possible.
[I lived in Australia for a year on a Working Holiday Visa. For more about Working Holiday Visas, check out my Guide to Working Abroad.]
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COMING UP:
Fushimi Inari Shrine near Kyoto, Japan
The Ultimate Guide to Japan
My next post will be a photo guide to the must-see places in Japan. In the next Travel Tuesday Interview, I chat with Tokyo Becky, an American expat who has lived in Japan for 10 years, about budget travel tips and off-the-beaten path destinations!
What are your biggest Japan questions? Let me know and I’ll answer them in the next two posts!
Best of 2016
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
2016 was a never ending road trip! I started the year off exploring Nicaragua. I did a crazy 4,100-mile cross country road-trip from Texas to North Carolina via Arizona/New Mexico. During the summer, I drove the ring road around Iceland and stopped in NYC and Boston to visit friends on my way home. I finally got to see a concert at Red Rocks in Denver. I loved New Mexico so much I drove the 11-hours to Albuquerque in October for the hot air balloon festival. 2016 was not as quite crazy as last year in South America but still a good travel year. And, it’s nothing compared to what’s in store for 2017.
I wanted to wrap up the year with a recap of the five most popular posts from 2016!
1.The REAL Cost of Travel
The greatest paradox in life is the relationship with time and money. An abundance of one leads to a shortage of the other. To prove that travel is NOT outrageously expensive, I tracked every single dollar and peso I spent on my seven-month Latin America trip. I spent hours making graphs and breaking down every single detail from postage to laundry. Check out the detailed breakdown here!
Antelope Canyon was one of the highlights of my summer road trip! For more on how to photograph the canyon, check out this post.
2. Finding the Time to Travel
Time is the second biggest obstacle keeping people from traveling. Based on my own experience and other travelers I have interviewed, I identify four main ways to work more travel into your schedule. Whether you want to carve out two weeks to road trip to Yellowstone or a year to explore Asia, here are a few ways to find the time to travel!
Americans under 30 can easily get one-year Working Holiday visas in Australia and New Zealand!
3. A Guide to Working Abroad
I’ve spend years researching all the ways and opportunities to work abroad. I’ve taken advantage of many – I taught English in Thailand and lived in Australia for a year on a work visa. I also managed summer photo trips for high school students in Asia. I’ve met tons of people working abroad and picked their brains about the best ways to do it.
I’ve complied my research into a simple guide about a variety of options for working abroad including links and resources. Check out the guide here: A Guide to Working Abroad
Skógafoss waterfall in Iceland is known for the rainbows created by the mist!
4. Iceland
Iceland is probably already on your bucket list. If not, then my Iceland series will move it to the top of the list! It’s by far the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. In my three-part series, I provide:
- Where to go in Iceland: A Photo Guide to Must-see Locations
- Real Cost of Iceland: A detailed breakdown of the cost of my trip and budget tips to help you plan your trip!
- Interview with an Iceland Expert: I interview an Alabama native who has lived in Iceland for the last three years about travel tips and advice.
Kerala, India
5. The Myth about Travel & Luck
“You’re so lucky you get to travel.”
“I live vicariously through you!”
Last January, I wrote a short personal essay about HOW I travel as much as I do. The goal of this blog is to be completely transparent about all aspects of my travels. This is one of my most personal posts. Let me let you in on a little secret – it has nothing to do with luck. Check out The Myth about Travel & Luck!
Clockwise from top left: Merrilee Davis, the traveling granny; Couchsurfing expert Nishant Prasad and his fiancé Isabelle St-Germain; McGuinness family of four who sold their house to travel for a year; and Kaleena Quarles taught English in Korea for two years to fund her RTW trip.
6. Travel Tuesday Interview Series
The best part of traveling will always be the people. I started a Travel Tuesday Interview series on TravelLikeAnna to share the inspiring stories of all the amazing people I’ve met on the road including the Traveling Granny in Colombia—a 68-year-old woman from Vancouver who has been traveling solo for years. At a hostel in Surce, Bolivia, I met a British family of four who sold their house to travel for a year. From Peace Corps volunteers to English teachers in Korea to a couple who quit their jobs to travel for a year to expert couchsurfers, I’ve met people who made travel and adventure their top priority. They have both challenged and inspired me. I hope they inspire you as well!
After all, courage is contagious.
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COMING UP:
Fushimi Inari Shrine near Kyoto, Japan
Japan & More
I’ll be kicking 2017 off with a travel guide for Japan along with sharing a few personal stories from my own adventures! Next week, I head to the Florida Keys for a road trip so feel free to follow along on Instagram!
10 Great Travel Gifts
Like it or not, the holidays are creeping up on us! To help you prepare for the holiday season and your future travels, I’ve teamed up with Alfred, the globetrotting gnome, and his flamingo friend, Santiago, to share 10 useful travel gift ideas! All of these items are perfect gifts for friends/family or for you to add to your Christmas list before you send it to Santa!
My pink Marmot rain jacket has been everywhere from Iceland to the Patagonia (above) with me. It’s a great jacket for any traveler in any type of weather!
1. Marmot Rain Jacket
The monsoon season in Asia taught me the importance of quality rain gear. There is a big difference between WATERPROOF and WATER RESISTANT. The later takes days to dry, which I learned the hard way. Luckily, I found this Marmot jacket on a clearance rack at REI. The zippered underarm vents are a life saver in the heat. It also serves as a top layer for insulation in cold weather and helps with wind.
I randomly bought an Osprey backpack from an outdoor store before my first long-term trip and still use it daily!
2. Osprey Backpack
Since I am a photographer, I pack about 30 pounds of camera gear including my laptop for every trip. After a relentless search for the perfect backpack for my gear, I stumbled on this Osprey daypack that fit my shoulder camera bag and also had a laptop sleeve. It’s perfect for flying as a carryon and a great daypack for anyone!
The best thing about Osprey gear is the quality and lifetime warranty. After four trips around the world, the straps started to rip. (I’m rough on bags.) Osprey repaired it for free several times and eventually replaced it with a new one! I will never buy another brand of backpack. Don’t forget this rain cover – I often use it also cover my camera in light rain!
3. Classic Travel Books
The most important part of any trip is what you are reading. I always search for a book that both inspires to travel MORE and reminds me WHY I travel despite the delays and rough days. Beryl Markham’s West with the Night is one of my favorite books. Don’t miss these classics for any Asia trip: Paul Theroux’s The Great Railway Bazaar, The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama, Pico Iyer’s The Lady & The Monk, and Amitav Ghosh’s The Glass Palace. For Latin America, grab Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana and Paul Theroux’s The Old Patagonian Express.
Santiago, the traveling lawn flamingo, is modeling my favorite neck pillow by Sea to Summit.
6. Sea to Summit Neck Pillow
It is entirely possible to fall in love with a pillow. I have been on the quest to find a good travel pillow for years. Foam neck pillows were too bulky, and cheap inflatable pillows don’t last. When an employee at an outdoor store recommended the Sea to Summit pillow to me, I was hesitant. Then, I took it on my trip to Iceland and was AMAZED. It was super easy to inflate with minimal effort, holds air extraordinarily well AND it packs super light.
4. Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Invest in an insulated stainless steel water bottle like Klean Kateen or YETI before your next trip. (Plastic bottles are bad for both the environment and your health.) Avoid aluminum and anything that’s not BPA free. Stainless is easy to clean (hot water) and most importantly—keeps beverages colder longer. I use this 16 oz Klean Kateen bottle every day even when I’m not traveling!
5. Sawyer Water Filter
The easiest way to save money on a trip is to pack a water filter! I recommend Sawyer’s Mini Filter. It’s tiny, inexpensive ($20) and easy to use. I used it for seven months in Central and South America. Both the filter and stainless steel bottle mentioned above will save you a fortune in airports. Simply filter the bathroom sink water. (Yes, I was THAT girl in the bathroom at the Cancun airport filtering the sink water!)
Learn from my mistakes: If you plan on taking a longboat anywhere, put everything of value in a dry bag!
8. Dry Sack
Once upon a time, I took a wooden longboat (above) to Railay Beach in Thailand. It seemed like a good idea for a 15-minute ride from Ao Naug until the boat got hit by a wave. The boat guys were using a bucket to get the water out. Luckily, my camera gear survived. The minute we hit shore I instantly invested in a dry sack like this one. Lesson learned. (Tip: Avoid these super lightweight ones for storing anything with sharp edges because they rip too easy.)
7. Swiftwick Socks
Heading to Patagonia or Nepal? Swiftwick socks are the best $12 you’ll ever spend. Since I’m a big runner, my cousin suggested I try these compression socks. Instantly, I could tell a huge difference! They are lightweight, great at controlling moisture and preventing blisters. I pack two pairs and usually hand wash them with Dr. Bronner’s soap when I travel to keep them fresh!
My small quick dry towel also doubles as a gnome blanket for Alfred.
9. Quick Dry Towel
Quick dry towels are the single greatest invention in life after the burrito. When I was a travel novice, I packed regular towels, which NEVER seem to dry completely. Then, one day I found a small quick dry towel on clearance at an outdoor store. It’s been the best thing ever. No more packing wet towels! This year, I plan to invest in an extra-large one during the online Black Friday sales.
10. Biodegradable Soap
Be sure to ask Santa to fill your stocking with travel sized bottles of Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap! It’s chemical free, biodegradable and smells great. Use it as body wash, dish soap and laundry detergent. Plus, a small drop goes really far. Trust me, no other soap will make you or your clothes smell so fresh!
(Disclaimer: The product links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make any type of Amazon purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned and only recommend them based on my personal experience. To support the blog, please use this link before making your next Amazon purchase to help TravelLikeAnna.com to continue to grow and provide meaningful content!)
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COMING UP:
Where to Go in Southeast Asia
Bon Mai village, Thailand
I’ll start wrapping up 2016 with a series on Southeast Asia, where I lived and worked for three summers. First, I’ll cover where to go in Southeast Asia followed by a detailed guide for Thailand! What do you want to know about Southeast Asia?
Meet a Couple Who Quit Their Jobs to Travel for a Year
To recover from trekking in Patagonia, I spent a week in El Bolson, a small village south of Bariloche, Argentina where I met Marita Jansons and Matt Butt. The Australia couple was just starting a year-long round-the-world trip! We became instant friends and ended up traveling in Bolivia together for a few weeks. In this Travel Tuesday Interview, Marita shares all the details about their trip including quitting their jobs as a teacher and a lawyer, their budget and her favorite recipes to cook on the road!
Marita Jansons, a teacher, and Matt Butt, a lawyer, both quit their jobs to travel for a year in 2015 and don’t regret anything.
Name & Age: Marita Jansons (age 29) & Matthew Butt (age 31)
Hometown: Sunny Sydney, Australia
Country Count: Between us we’ve been to 40 countries. In 2015, we hit-up 19!
1. What made you quit your jobs to travel for a year?
Ultimately, our trip was our delayed ‘gap year.’ Matt has always wanted to tick extended travel off his bucket list. I took some convincing. When it got to the point of Matt purchasing non-refundable, one-way tickets to Argentina, I knew he was serious!
We were also planning a wedding and discovered that weddings are EXPENSIVE! We figured we could get three to six months of travel out of the cost of one day. The wedding could wait!
For Matt, it was never a question. He wanted to go — job or no job. I was really nervous about the prospect of traveling for a year. I was in stable employment [as a teacher] and was convinced that I would need to quit to be able to travel. I had strong roots with my employer and enjoyed my job. When experiencing a particularly significant moment of inner turmoil, I realized that I couldn’t see myself as someone in my final stretch in the race of life saying, ‘One of the best choices I made was staying in my stable job and not seeing the world!’ From that moment onwards, it wasn’t a question, and I threw myself into planning alongside Matt. With all of that said, my employer kindly offered me a year’s sabbatical leave. Would I still have gone had they not? Absolutely!
Matt was offered his same job [at a corporate law firm] when he returned to Sydney but chose to explore other opportunities away from corporate law. He is now working as in-house council for a large Australian company and thoroughly enjoying a better work-life balance.
Since returning (and through our journey) many people have said “I wish I could do what you have done,” usually accompanied by a look of gloom and longing.
We met long-term travelers with mortgages, toddlers, and teenagers; people who had just lost their job/started a new job; those who had sold all they owned, and not one of them had any regrets! Yes, some sacrifices are made. For us, with a little prior planning, the experience far outweighed the forgoes. You only live once, why not dive in head first?!
The couple snapped this photo en route to Tikal in Guatemala on Matt’s birthday.
2. Tell us about your year of traveling in 2015.
Our initial grand-plan was to tackle the world. Starting in Latin America, moving onto Europe, before finally finishing in Southeast Asia. In the end, we hit South America and knew we would end up settling in the area for some time. We were hooked by the flavors, sights, scents, sounds and overall passion of the Latino wonderland.
Europe was scrapped. We discovered that slow travel was our groove – the thought of covering the vast amount of land, sea and air we initially planned was not our travel style, at least for this trip. We finished in Southeast Asia exploring Sri Lanka and spending much time underwater diving in Thailand and the Philippines.
Matt and Marita ended their trip snorkeling and diving in the Philippines before heading home to Sydney, Australia.
3. How far in advance did you start planning/saving for your trip?
We saved for about two years, take-it-or-leave-it. We selected a starting point, booked tickets and mapped out our first two weeks of travel, nothing more. With that said, there were a couple of points where we booked an ‘unmissable experience’ a few weeks in advance as we approached our destination. The reason being, that a few of these trips often book out in advance for example, a sailing trip in the Galapagos or the Inca Trail in Peru (which books out some months ahead). Traveling with a ‘flexible style’ takes some getting used to and planning on the go can be grueling, but for long term travel the pros far outweigh the cons.
Matt helped release a baby turtle in the ocean in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. He and his fiancé’s budget philosophy was simple – never miss out on something you want to do just to stay on the road longer.
4. What was your daily budget?
Backpacker, flashpacker or cashpacker? We definitely fell into more of a flashpacker category, splitting our time between hostels, hotels and B&Bs. After some time of budget travel, we would give ourselves the opportunity to splash out for a week and enjoy our own space.
When averaged out over the whole trip, our daily spend was about $230 AUS ($174 USD) for the two of us, including all travel and pre-travel expenses (flights, travel gear, insurance, etc.). This was perhaps higher than most travelers we met, due to the fact that we were keen on some more expensive experiences, for example sailing in the Galapagos for 10 days, which was quite pricey. Our main rule was to never miss a desired experience in the aim of simply extending our length of travel – we felt that it would be awful for us to have returned home only wishing we ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda,’ and even if this meant an early return, we were willing to make that sacrifice.
The couple splurged on a 10-day trip to the Galapagos, which was one of the highlights of their trip.
5. Share one of your travel highlights.
Our list of highlights is extensive. We found the more we traveled, the more our bucket list grew. Being difficult to cut highlights down to only one, here is a quick list of some of our top picks:
- Learning a new language was challenging and enriching, and absolutely enhanced our travel experiences
- Getting up close and personal with the friendly fauna of the Galapagos. In fact, just meeting and swimming with loads to exciting animals including whale sharks, manatees, thresher sharks, turtles, penguins, fur seals, sea lions, marine iguanas… the list goes on!
- Hiking in Patagonia in El Caltén, Argentina
- The three-day overland border crossing from Chile to Bolivia – with the one and only ‘Travel Like Anna’!
- The rich culture of Colombia, dancing salsa in Havana, Cuba and absolutely everything about Mexico!
- Getting out of our comfort zone and facing fears. We learnt to scuba dive, went canyoning and even tried something called hydro-speed (look it up)!
6. What was your greatest struggle during the trip and how did you overcome it?
Giving ourselves permission to stop. Travel can become tiring and around the six month mark we experienced a little ‘planning burnout’ (i.e. drifting without plans, and not making the most of where we were). We gave ourselves time to stop for a week here-or-there; but, in hindsight, stopping for a few weeks with prior planning and purpose could have been more useful. Though, our need to rest did lead us to some extraordinary locations including a hut in the Panamanian Jungle. Throughout the year, we discovered we were never in one place of accommodation for longer than one week!
Marita and Matt stop to rest while hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.
7. What advice would you have for couples aspiring to travel together?
Patience, compromise and understanding is an absolute must. We hit our 10-year anniversary in 2015 and even after all those years we still found being together 24/7 challenging at times. With that said, travelling together has made us a stronger couple. Our respect for each other has grown – respect for our strengths and our weaknesses. We shared the dizzying highs and supported each other through the lows. You learn how to balance each other; when one of us needed to take a backseat, the other took charge for the day. Our year changed us as individuals and allowed us to grow as a couple with such a strong desire to continue sharing new experiences together.
Marita’s packing tip: Don’t forget to pack your Vegemite! (Or any other food from home the you love!)
8. Name three things to pack for a long-term trip
This is a hard question! There are the obvious answers such as a decent backpack, inner sheets, good waterproof shoes, a small wind/waterproof shell, multi-purpose layers etc. However, these tend to be mentioned regularly on travel blogs. So we’ve tried to narrow it down to items we found EXTREMELY useful but which are not always first thought of:
- Packing cubes!!! These babies are a genius way of organizing and maximizing space in your bag. These packing cubes found on Amazon are similar to the ones we used. I used three slim and one small cube while Matt preferred larger cubes.
- Extra/back-up banking cards. We had a few occasions/countries where the ATM cards from our international bank wouldn’t work – thanks Peru! We were lucky to have back-up cards from our Australian banks to save the day (go figure), even if we did encounter delays as a result.
- Vegemite! (Or any nostalgic food item not available outside of your home country). Being Australian, we grew up on Vegemite. Thinking it a little excessive, we actually didn’t pack any at the start of the trip. BIG MISTAKE! I got to the point of considering having it shipped to a location in Chile. We ended up meeting some lovely Australians heading home, who donated their stock of Veg. Not only was this a nice reminder of home, it was also a great conversation starter!
Matt and Marita packed a versatile amount of jackets and layers for all their hiking plans and used packing cubes to make sure everything fit in their backpacks. (Dead Women’s Pass, Inca Trail, Peru)
9. Marita, you are the quite the chef. Can you share some tips for cooking while traveling?
Keep it simple. You don’t have the luxury of stocking a fridge or having complicated cooking equipment on hand, so start with a few key ingredients and build from there. Some things that helped us along the way:
- A small air-tight container is a great way to store a few key ingredients to jazz up a meal. Generally, we carried some garlic (an easy way to add depth to your curry or pasta sauce), stock cubes (adds quick flavor to numerous dishes and stores easily), a small jar of cinnamon, dried chili flakes, red curry paste (when we could get our hands on some), honey and peanut butter.
- Become familiar with items stocked in hostel kitchens. Some kitchens are fantastic with herbs and spices; others, you’ll be lucky if someone has left a can of pickled eels from 1978. Usually, you’ll be able to get your hands on communal cooking oil, salt and pepper. There will also often be some rice and pasta on hand.
- Hit up the local farmers’ markets – not only are they an amazing cultural experience you can also get your hands on beautiful fresh produce.
- Eating with new acquaintances is a great way to share cost and make new friends!
Two of our favorite recipes we used are outlined below:
These three-ingredient banana pancakes were AMAZING. This is a picturesque batch Marita made when we were in Bolivia!
Easy-Peasy Gluten-Free Banana Pancakes (Serves 2)
| Hostel Kitchen | From our Container | From the Market |
| 1 tbsp. Cooking Oil | Cinnamon Honey to serve |
2 medium ripe bananas 4 large eggs |
Mash the bananas. Mix in the eggs and cinnamon. Cook these lovelies on a low heat for a little longer than you would flour-based pancakes. There is a great overview of the recipe here. I made my pancakes a little larger than recommended in the link, cooking them slower on a lower heat, this way issues with flipping were reduced.
Pumpkin and Chickpea Curry (Serves 2)
| Hostel Kitchen | From our Container | From the Market |
| 1 tbsp. Cooking Oil Steamed rice to serve |
2 cloves of garlic, finely sliced 2 tbsp. red curry paste 1 cup (250ml) vegetable or chicken stock |
400g can of chickpeas 400ml coconut milk 600g pumpkin, pealed and chopped* 1 eggplant (aubergine), pealed and chopped* lime wedges to serve (if available) |
*Dish can be made with other similar vegetables (carrots, potato etc.) depending on availability.
Heat oil in saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add garlic and curry paste and cook until fragrant. Add chickpeas, pumpkin, eggplant, coconut milk and stock to pot. Simmer until pumpkin is soft. Serve with steamed rice and lime wedge.
10. What is your next adventure?
We really enjoyed our time in the Philippines and are thinking of returning and traveling through some areas we didn’t have the chance to explore. We’re also finally planning our wedding!. [They are getting married in January with a honeymoon in Fiji to do some diving!]
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COMING UP:
Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Great Travel Gifts
Like it or not, the holidays are creeping up on us! To help you prepare for the season and your future travels, I will share 10 great gift ideas for friends and for you to pass on to Santa for your Christmas list!
How to Find the Time to Travel
The view of the towers at Torres del Paine in Chile was one of my favorite moments from my travels last year.
The great paradox of life is the relationship between time and money. An abundance of one usually leads to a shortage of the other.
I’ve talked about money in previous posts – saving for travel, eliminating your bills and Travel Banking 101. I’ve also written about the REAL cost of travel, where I broke down the entire cost of my seven-month Latin America adventure.
Now, let’s chat about TIME. Whether you want to carve out two weeks to road trip to Yellowstone or a year to explore Asia, here are a few ways to find the time:
Make the Time
My non-stop traveling has nothing to do with luck. I travel constantly because I MAKE the time. If I want to do something, I do it. It might take months or years. Regardless, I make it happen. The idea to travel long-term in South America crept into my brain in India. After a year and a half of relentless planning and saving, my bags were packed. During my trip, I met other travelers who carved time for travel into their lives like the 68-year-old solo Traveling Granny and Rob and Cath McGuinness, who traveled around the world with their teenage daughters for almost a year!
Michelle Sinclair organizes her work schedule around her travels to take advantage of low season prices in places like Iceland.
After graduate school, I quickly realized my $10/hour internship was not enough to live on. I promptly found a bar job—a job I truly loved that also helped fund my travels for a good five years. The best part of working in the bar world was the amazing people I met like my friend Michelle. She’s a bartender in Birmingham, Alabama who arranges her entire life around her travels. After a cost-value analysis, she realized that she made 80% of her income on Thursday through Saturday nights. She only works those nights to allow her to spend the rest of the week in Iceland, Europe or hiking Zion. While she is limited to shorter trips, it allows her to both keep her job, which provides a really good income, and still travel.
Negotiate the Time/Work Remotely
Never underestimate the power of strong negotiating skills. The biggest secret to budget travel is to take advantage of business trips. Tack on a few days to the beginning or end of every trip to explore nearby places. Since your initial transport is covered, your expenses drop tremendously.
My friend Steve negotiated an extra long vacation for 2014 World Cup. Left: Buenos Aires, Argentina. Right: Rio, Brazil.
Sometimes, a few days isn’t enough time. My British friend, Steve, was determined to go to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and travel in South America. Since he was living in Australia on a work visa sponsored by his commercial real estate job, quitting wasn’t an option. Instead, he went to his boss a year in advance and asked for two months off work, which is double his normal vacation time. In exchange, he offered to take on extra work projects beforehand. Guess what? His boss said yes!
Let’s be honest – the world is transitioning to a remote workforce. Many jobs already allow employees to work from home one day a week or even more. Why can’t you transition one day a week to weeks or months? Here’s a few great resources: Remote Year, a program that allows professionals to live in a different city each month and still KEEP their jobs. AFAR also has a great article on ways to find great co-working spaces.
Whether you want four weeks to go on tour with your band, three weeks to go to Italy for your anniversary or to work remotely from Australia for a year, there is a way to make it happen. The trick to negotiating is timing, tack and planning. The odds are that if you go to your boss in advance with your plan and have solutions for all possible objections, then you can find a way to make it happen.
Take Advantage of Time Gaps
In between travels, I teach part-time at Texas State University and spend one class period each semester stressing the importance of travel to my students and how to travel on a budget. After all, there’s no better time to travel than summer breaks and after graduation!
The Lacksen sister’s are a year apart in age but still managed to coordinate their long-term graduation trip together.
On a bus in Patagonia last February, I met two sisters from Georgia – Katherine and Elizabeth Lacksen. They planned an epic joint-graduation trip after college: six months in Latin America. The idea started brewing long before they booked their flights. When Elizabeth graduated six months early, they jumped at the chance to travel together and packed their bags. (Read my Travel Tuesday Interview with the Lacksen sisters!)
Aside from graduation, I’ve met people who took advantage of other gaps of time (ranging from weeks to months) to travel when they changed jobs. I met other folks who got laid-off from their jobs and decided to use the abundance of time they were given to travel. It’s the best way to turn a negative situation into a positive one!
When I lived in Australia, I spent a month traveling around the country and spent a few days on Kangaroo Island southwest of Adelaide.
Quit Your Job
I remember sitting in a conference room with my sweaty palms. It was 2008. My resignation letter was neatly folded in my purse. I was quitting my first “real” job to travel.
After I told my editor about my plans to move to Australia, he instantly said he was jealous. That’s right – my boss was JEALOUS!
I had daydreamed about Australia for almost a year. But, my career took off and paused my dream. As the economy started sink, Australia creeped back in to my head. Recessions aren’t good for freelance photographers. I knew had to go. That 13-month trip changed everything. In hindsight, the recession was a cleverly disguised opportunity to start living my daydreams and travel for a living.
My seven-month Latin America trip last year was equally life altering. That trip put me on the radar of some big magazines that I spent years trying to get my foot in the door. The more you do the things you love, the more the world starts to notice.
Was it scary to quit? Yes. Do I regret a single minute? Nope. I have been hired back (in some capacity) by every single job I have ever quit to travel!
The best part is that I am NOT the only one who’s ever quit their job to travel. Everywhere I go, I cross paths with other travelers of all nationalities that did exactly the same.
Martia and Matt quit their jobs to travel for an entire year and stopped in Puerto Varas, Chile to go canyoning.
At a hostel in Argentina, I bumped into an Australia couple (a lawyer and teacher) who quit their jobs to do a year-long around-the-world trip. (We ended up traveling together for almost a month in Bolivia!) When Marita quit her teaching job that she loved, her boss instantly offered to give her a one-year sabbatical so she didn’t have to quit! (Check out my Travel Tuesday Interview with Marita and Matt!)
On a local bus in Peru, I met a 27-year-old guy from Denver who quit his high-paying sales job at a start-up to travel for several months. He did the same thing a few years before to travel in Europe. The best part is that it didn’t hurt his career. He’s now working in the same field for his dream company!
Let’s be clear. Finding the time to travel might not be easy. Nothing worthwhile will ever be easy. There will be sacrifice, but it is always worth it. When you’re 80, you’ll NEVER say, “Man, I totally regret that year I spent traveling around Australia.”
You no longer have any excuses. Make the time, book a flight and go make me proud! 🙂
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COMING UP:
TRAVEL TUESDAY INTERVIEW: Globetrotting Lacksen Sisters
In the next Travel Tuesday Interview, I talk with Elizabeth and Katherine Lacksen. The two sisters coordinated their college graduation trips together and spent six months traveling in Latin America!
The Real Cost of Iceland: Budget & Packing Tips
The rainbow view from the top of Skógafoss waterfall is worth the climb up the steep staircase.
How do I afford to travel so much? I’ve written about how I save money and eliminate my bills. I started tracking my spending on my 7-month Latin America trip and wrote a long post about the trip. I believe in full transparency. Travel is cheaper than you think.
I avoided Iceland for a long time do to the cost. I was convinced that it would be the most expensive trip of my life, but I spent surprisingly less than I thought. I did stay with friends a majority of the time, camped and slept in my rental car. I realize this skews my budget a bit. I’ve included the normal cost of accommodation below to help you budget for your own trip. Here is a breakdown of the cost of my trip to Iceland:
Total Cost for 10-Day Iceland Trip (excluding airfare): $978.38 USD
Detailed Breakdown of Expenses
Transport
My 2WD rental car was $347.28 for three days. I spent $192.61 on gas. (Gas is crazy expensive – $6/gallon!) Now, this also includes the amount of gas I split with my friend when we drove his car. I also paid for a bus to the airport and a ferry to an island in the harbor. I spent $1,050 USD roundtrip on my flight from my home base in Austin, Texas to Iceland. I flew out of Boston to Reykjavk on Iceland Air ($750). I traveled in Boston and NYC after my trip.
Food & Accommodation
I spent $175.29 eating out. I only ate in a few restaurants and hostels in Reykjavik and Akureyri. Most of my meals were premade sandwich’s from cafés and gas stations. Clearly, that’s not ideal, but I wanted to maximize my photography time and didn’t want to waste an hour or more to eat in a proper restaurant. I spent $43 at the grocery store when I could find one. I spent $25 on six beers in 10 days. Five of those beers came from a bottle shop for $4/each. One was $9 in a bar.
Again, since I stayed with my friend, I didn’t spend much on accommodation. Hostels cost on average $40-50 USD, which does NOT include bed linen or towels. Camping is roughly $10-15 a night. Kex Hostel in Reykjavik is really nice, and their breakfast buffet is fantastic. (It’s $4 cheaper if you pre-pay the night before.)
Fjaðrárgljúfur was my favorite spot in Southern Iceland.
When to Go to Iceland
First, decide what you want to see in Iceland, then plan your trip accordingly. The summer is filled with endless sunlight. Sunrise is roughly 4:30 a.m., and sunset is around 11:30 p.m.. The sun never quite sets so the nights look like dusk. In winter, there’s only five hours of sunlight.
Northern lights: September to mid-April
Puffins: April through September
Ice Caves: November to March
Budget Tips
- Reykjavik City Card. This card offers free entry to the majority of the museums and discounts on other attractions. Frees range from $30-47 and have a time limit of 24-72 hours.
- Camp. Hostels cost roughly $40-50/night, and campsites range from $10-15/night. Be warned – some charge outrageous amounts for showers. (Skaftafelt charges roughly $5 USD for five minutes of water!) Unless you have the proper gear, avoid camping in the winter!
- Shower at the public pools. Every city in Iceland has a geothermal public pool, which are awesome to visit. Entry is roughly $6-8, which is cheaper than the showers mentioned above. All pools have gyms and saunas, too! Some even have water slides!
- Sleep in Your Car. I slept in my rental car twice. (I slept in my rental car for four days in Australia driving the Great Ocean Road with friends. Some of the best stories from the trip came from sleeping in the car.) There are gravel lots on all the main roads for scenic viewpoints with plenty of people either camping or sleeping in their cars. Be aware that many main attractions don’t allow this, but smaller lots are no big deal. Again, this is not a good idea in winter.
- Buy Groceries. Cooking at campsites or hostels will save you a good amount. I bought premade sandwiches and yogurt a lot. Skyr yogurt is AMAZING!
- Splurge on breakfast buffets. Many hostels have breakfast buffets with cold cuts and cheese. I made sandwiches to eat later for lunch. Two meals for the price of one!
- Don’t buy food at gas stations. It’s overpriced. Every town will have a grocery store with cheaper prices.
- Pay in the local currency. Many shops will give you the option to pay in your home currency (or USD), but the rate is 5% higher! (Trust me, I did the math!) Always pay in local currency. I had no choice but to pay in Euro for my rental car, which worked out in my favor since I booked far in advance. The rate dropped so I saved about $25!
- Buy alcohol in duty free when you arrive. Beer is $9 in restaurants and $4 for a bottle in a bottle shop. Cut down on your partying or stock up when you arrive! Hostels do have Happy Hour deals where you can buy $4 beers.
- Don’t pay for Wifi. Free wifi is everywhere. Harpa, Reykjavik’s main concert hall, has free Wi-Fi. All the buses for the main tour companies have it. If they are nearby, you can just hop on their network. The entire city of Stykkishólmur has free Wi-Fi by the harbor.
Pack your rain gear if you want to get this view from behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall!
What to Pack
- Snacks. I lined my suitcase with granola bars and packs of nuts. In hindsight, I wish I’d packed some dried fruit!
- Sleeping bag. Bring a warm yet high compact sleeping bag. (I borrowed a friend’s sleeping bag because it was really warm, but it did not pack well.) Hostels charge extra for sheets. Seriously. It’s ridiculous.
- Rain jacket, pants & bag covers. Pack a quality WATERPROOF rain coat and backpack covers. Go buy the $20 rain pants at Academy Sports. (That’s exactly what I did, and they worked well!) Keep a cheap plastic pouch in your bag just in case. I used mine several times to cover me and my backpack, which made it easier to take photos and keep my camera safe. I also use these plastic camera covers for my gear as well.
- Hiking boots. This is the first trip I’ve ever packed hiking boots, and it really helped in the rain and near the waterfalls. (I’m a runner so I always pack my running shoes over hiking boots.)
- Towel. Unless you stay in a hotel, you’ll have to pay to rent one. I’m a big fan of the quick dry towels.
- Camping gear. It’s worth paying to check any extra bag to bring your own gear. It will be cheaper than renting or buying it in Iceland.
- Tripod. If you are going to visit in winter to photograph the northern lights, pack a compact tripod. I didn’t pack one because it was summer. I honestly didn’t really need it.
Meet Sophia, my Iceland rental car!
Where to Splurge
Rent a Car
The best way to see Iceland is the drive. There are buses but they they only run once or twice a day. Iceland is probably safest place in the world to hitchhike, but if you’re on a time crunch, don’t risk it.
Since I visited in the summer, I rented a 2WD Suzuki swift, the cheapest option available. I used Route 1 Car Rental. They were great and by far the cheapest in Iceland. Trust me, I agonized over this for ages. They picked me up and dropped me off for free. My biggest tip for Iceland: Get the full insurance coverage for your rental car! It covers gravel, which is crucial since so many cool places are accessible by rough gravel roads. (FYI Americans: Your car insurance will not cover your rental in Iceland!)
Wow Air vs. Iceland Air
Wow Air is a new airline that’s shaking up the budget airline scene with insanely cheap flights to Iceland. There’s a catch – they charge a fortune for all bags based on weight and size. Plus, you only get ONE carryon bag that’s limited by size and weight, which they charge accordingly for. They do NOT allow a second personal item as a carry on. That was the deal breaker for me. I don’t check my camera gear or the gnome. My camera gear would not fit securely in a bag that met their size requirements. Be sure to look up their baggage costs if you are taking your own camping gear. (It was $88 each way to check a bag and have a carry-on bag.) I ended up paying $150 more for the Iceland Air flight, which includes two carry-ons and two free checked bags for free. Iceland Air also offers free stopovers en route to Europe and other destinations, which is a great deal.