People often ask me why I travel, and why it's so important to me. It's not about climbing the tallest mountain, or getting bragging rights by visiting dozens of countries. I love travel because of how it changes and enriches me. It makes me a better person.
I grew up in a little prairie town in the middle of Canada. Travel wasn't part of my childhood, and I never truly thought it would be a reality for me. I saw travel as too expensive, too exotic and just too far outside of my experience.
I dreamed of traveling, but I set my dream aside for the more practical things. Buying a house. University and graduate school. Responsibility. The status quo. Security. A stable job.
Life wasn't bad. But it just wasn't... good. I was going through the motions, living someone else's idea of what my life should be.
Something changed when I ...
In this day and age, anyone that travels seems to be defined by what they bring (or don't bring) on their travels. As a result, this digital age has brought another term to the backpack scene: flashpacker. Flashpacking is simply backpacking with more technological toys. It also usually refers to travellers with a few extra dollars to spend while on the road. The term affluent is sometimes associated with it as well however in this day and age almost everyone has a few tech toys with them. As such I suppose you can call us flashpackers but in truth, I like to refer to us simply as travellers or even nomads since we tend to follow the seasons. Our little ones tell everyone we're Barefoot Nomads and to be honest, it puts a smile on my face every time they say it.When we first started seriously travelling back in '02 one of the first places we stopped was Singapore. At the time Singapore was said to be miles ahead of the West in terms in technology. It usually took a few months for products to show up in Canada and the US that were already collecting dust on the shelves in this Asian country. As such, we had decided to pick up both a digital camera and a new laptop while we were there. Though we were far from pioneers at the time, a traveller with a decent laptop was still a rare sight.These days, finding a serious traveller without a laptop is a rarity and digital cameras are cheap and plentiful. Some of the equipment the typical backpacker takes and uses could probably...
In the heart of Malaysia lies a metropolitan city redefining traditions and expectations. With its modern façade and quick way of life, Kuala Lumpur is a jewel of a city and one of the busiest and most metropolitan in all of South East Asia. With its close proximity to Singapore and world class airport, the city is thriving and its technological infrastructure is one of Asia's most prized assets.
Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and is the most developed city in the country. With over 1.6 million residents it's also a decent size.
The city is rife with energy and richness. Both in its food, culture and in its people. It also boasts gorgeous year round temperatures due to...
I've been a vegetarian since I was about ten.
I love to get immersed in the countries I'm visiting. This means getting as far away from any English speaking folks or signs as I can.
As a vegetarian, this can be pretty tough. I break out my bad Mandarin (or Thai, or Cantonese) and ask for something with no meat. I almost always get pork or fish, because most people assume vegetarians just don’t eat red meat. Vegetarian is a concept that just doesn't translate well.
After countless meals trying to order vegetarian food, I was getting frustrated. And hungry.
And then I found the ...
Costa Rica is the land of waterfalls, volcanoes, abundant wildlife and beautiful landscapes, making it the perfect place to immerse your kids in nature and outdoor fun.Here are 8 fun ways to enjoy Costa Rica with kids.Check out La Paz Waterfall GardensThe La Paz Waterfall Gardens are a fantastic way to see Costa Rica's wildlife and lush rainforest up close. There are over ten animal exhibits, where you can see monkeys, snakes, frogs, birds of every color and size imaginable and jungle cats. Don't miss the ...
If you've considered traveling with your kids, you've probably run into the common belief that traveling with kids can be a nightmarish experience.Before we had kids, countless friends and relatives told us to enjoy travel while we could, assuming we'd stop traveling when our kids arrived. But we persevered, and as a family, we've visited Cuba, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Mexico, Canada, the Philippines and Costa Rica.We've traveled through diapers, the terrible twos, toilet training and all the way to first grade.After all that, I'm here to announce loud and clear: It is possible to ...
Sparkling, crystal clear ocean waves, long, powdery white sandy beaches and gentle tropical trade winds to cool off in the afternoon sun define Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. This Caribbean Sea community is comprised mostly of all inclusive hotels and tourists lazing the day away on their long anticipated vacations.
Who can blame them when the weather, the water and the relaxing lifestyle all converge to give them a trip they'll always remember. From it's dozens of freshly manicured world class golf courses to it's string of spas and boutique shops that Sulis Minerva herself would envy, Punta Cana has everything that a modern paradise seeking tourist could...
If you're a family like us, or you just want to travel with a little more luxury, is it still possible to afford to travel for months at a time? We show you that it is.