Facts About Me
What I Do When I Don’t Travel
Hey there! Ever wondered who I am beyond just a travel - crazy guy? What do I get up to when I'm not jet - setting around the world? Well, you're in for a treat! Since I'm not just a writer and travel fanatic, I thought I'd share some fun facts about myself. So, indulge me in this one article, okay?
I do post a lot of my daily life on Instagram, but here are some extra bits you might not know!
Flying Fears: I love airports, those swanky lounges, and having elite status. But flying? Ugh, it makes me queasy. Heights? Not my thing. And any little turbulence? I'm convinced the plane's about to nosedive. I'm such a bad flier that I usually pop a Xanax to calm my nerves. (Pretty ironic considering how often I'm in the air, right?)
Travel Virgin No More: I didn't start traveling solo until I was 23 and went to Costa Rica. Before that, my travel adventures were mostly road trips with my parents and a wild, drunken weekend in Montréal when I was 19. (Oh, and I didn't cross the Mississippi to the west until I was 25!)
Life - Changing Encounter: I met five backpackers in a shared taxi during a vacation in Thailand. I was so blown away by what they were doing that the very next day, I decided to quit my job and make long - term travel my new goal. There were two Aussies, a Canadian, and a Belgian couple. Little did they know, they totally changed my life's course!
Career Dreams: When I was a kid, thanks to the Indiana Jones movies, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I ended up going to school to be a high - school history teacher and taught for a year. But then the economy tanked, and no one was hiring history teachers. So, I got an administrative job at a hospital in Boston before I took off on my travels.
Road Mishaps: I've had my fair share of bad luck on the road. On my first solo trip, I got hit with some seriously bad food poisoning. I was in the hospital for three days, hooked up to a morphine drip. Then, in Thailand, I popped an eardrum. And the worst? I got stabbed in Colombia. Yikes!
Kitchen King: I'm a pretty good cook. On the road, I don't cook much because hostel kitchens are always under - stocked and crowded. But every now and then, I love whipping up a huge meal for my fellow travelers. When I'm home, though, I'm in the kitchen all the time, even hosting dinner parties for my friends. Some of my signature dishes? Shrimp scampi, a delicious tomato - basil - olive salad, stir - fry, and baked salmon. Yum!
Vegetarian to Omnivore: I used to be a vegetarian for four years after reading Fast Food Nation. It wasn't the meat itself I disliked, but the industrial farming and all those chemicals and antibiotics in it. I ditched vegetarianism when I started traveling.
Food Etiquette Rant: I think it's super rude to turn down food in other cultures. If you're in a Mongolian village and they offer you food, saying "Sorry, your traditional, heartfelt cooking doesn't fit my diet" is just culturally insensitive. But that's a topic for another post!
Music Lover: I'm a huge fan of soul, Motown, blues, and jazz. The music just gets me moving!
Time - Travel Dream: If I could pick a time period to live in, it'd be 1920s Prohibition America. I think it would've been such an exciting time. Maybe I've read The Great Gatsby one too many times, though.
Gatsby - Themed Fun: Speaking of Gatsby, I learned to swing dance so I could throw myself epic Gatsby - themed birthday parties. I did it for three years in a row. They were so much fun!
Politics Passion: After travel, politics is my second love. I'm all about it. It's the only news I keep up with when I'm traveling. I'm always ready to discuss and debate with anyone, anytime. But in the last few years, I've cut back on listening to political news daily because it was giving me too much anxiety.
Nomadic Future: People always ask if I'll be a nomad forever. The truth is, I don't know. Forever's a long time! I travel less than I used to, but I still travel a lot compared to the average person. For now, I'm just enjoying the journey and not ready to hang up my backpack yet.
Japan Obsession: I'm a total Japanophile. I love everything about Japanese culture - the food, history, etiquette, landscape, architecture. I could eat sushi every day if I could!
Swiftie Alert: I'm an unapologetic Taylor Swift fan. Her songs capture every emotion. When you dig into her non - pop hits, you realize just how talented a songwriter she is. Listen to The Last Great American Dynasty - she crafted an entire story arc in three minutes. That's some seriously good writing. I even went to the Eras Tour multiple times. I'm obsessed!
Sia Fan: I'm also a huge fan of Sia. She's an incredible songstress and writer. Her music is just amazing.
Coffee Hater: Coffee tastes like yuck to me. And I don't want to add sugar, milk, or soy milk to it. A drink should stand on its own! I've tried for years to like it, but it's just not happening.
Tea Addict: I drink tons of tea, especially green tea. It's my go - to drink. I'm a big fan of the Rishi brand.
Old - Fashioned Lover: My favorite alcoholic drink is an old - fashioned. A few friends introduced me to whiskey a few years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. I even judge a bar by how good their old - fashioneds are.
Gardening Goals: One day, I'd love to learn how to garden and grow my own food. Since I love cooking, it seems like a logical next step.
Poker Prodigy: I used to be a semi - professional poker player. I funded a lot of my first trip with poker winnings and even lived in Amsterdam for a few months, playing "professionally" at the casino there.
Sierra Club Days: When I was younger, I worked for the Sierra Club in Massachusetts. I made a PowerPoint to show different community organizations how they could save money and the environment by being energy - efficient.
Magic: The Gathering Champ: In high school, I was really into Magic: The Gathering. I won my state's championship (my friend came in second). We won a trip to NYC to play in the national tournament, but I lost in the first round.
Sweet - Free Zone: I don't eat sweets. Maybe once a year I'll have a cookie or brownie, but for the most part, I skip desserts because I don't like all that sugar.
Music for Focus: When I'm working, I often play one song on repeat. It becomes like white noise and helps me focus. Right now, as I write this, I've been listening to Sweet Annie by Zac Brown Band on repeat for the last two hours.
Dual Favorite Colors: I don't have one favorite color. I have two - blue and green.
Asiana Airlines Spokesman: I was one of the spokesmen for Asiana Airlines. I did a commercial for them that was on TV for two years. But they dubbed out my voice. It's so weird to watch!
Movie Buff: I love movies. I probably watch two or three a week, either in the theater or at home on Netflix. My friends and I even have group chats just for talking about movies.
Scotch Savorer: My favorite liquor? Scotch, especially peaty Scotch from Islay. My favorite brand is Ardbeg.
Gun and Bow Dreams: I want to learn how to shoot a gun. Now, I'm not a gun nut. I actually strongly dislike guns and support strict gun control. I'm a regular donor to Everytown for Gun Safety. But I'm kind of a "prepper." I think the world's a bit of a mess, and I want to know how to shoot a gun to protect myself if civilization collapses, hunt for food, or if zombies ever show up. And I also want to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow. It seems like it'd be really fun and useful!
Book Worm: I spend an hour a day reading. I'm a big fan of biographies, travel, history, and business books. I think reading and educating yourself is super important. I can't understand people who don't read. I usually read around 50 - 70 books a year. You can find my favorite books list here.
Morning Person: I'm a morning person. I usually wake up around 7 am and do my best work before lunch. On a good day, I'm up at 6 am.
Gym Enthusiast: In the last year, I've really gotten into the gym. I go six days a week and do pilates one day a week. It has a great knock - on effect - I end up eating better and drinking less because I don't want to mess up my workouts. I've been in much better shape in the last few months and plan to keep it up this year.
So, there you have it! Some fun facts about me. Well, at least I think they're fun.
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day
My New York Times best - selling travel book will teach you how to be a travel pro! You'll learn to save money, find great deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It's your all - in - one planning guide that the BBC called the "bible for budget travelers."
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. It's my favorite search engine because it searches all over the web and every airline, so you know you're getting the best deal.
Book Your Accommodation
Book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want something other than a hostel, use Booking.com. It always gives the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don't Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a must! It protects you from illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never travel without it. Here are my favorite companies:
SafetyWing (great for budget travelers)
World Nomads (for mid - range travelers)
InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over)
Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards let you earn points for free flights and accommodation, all without extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to start getting the best deals.
Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget - friendly international car rental website. Wherever you're going, they'll find you the best and cheapest rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace. You can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip - the - line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use, and they're the best of the best. You can't go wrong with them!
