Long-term travelers

Not all of us have the luxury to take an extended leave from work. In the 20 to 30 days of leave we get allotted each year, we try to make the most out of it and use them only when necessary. This means traveling with everybody else during the long weekends, Holy Week, All Saint’s and All Soul’s day and Christmas holiday. A one-week leave from work is already long, what more of two to three weeks of travel?

There are, however, those whose wanderlust can’t just be contained to just a couple of days. They travel far and they travel for several months, putting their life and career on hold. I had a chat with four travelers who are currently on the road, traveling long term.

What made you decide to travel long term?

Flipnomad (flipnomad.com): I have always wanted to travel the world (or some parts of it). I tried having vacations every year when I was still employed and realized that it’s an expensive way to do it. Flying back and forth to your home country cost a lot compared to having a continuous journey. Another reason is I want to travel continuously just like the travelers that I’ve met on the road. I was inspired by them to live this unconventional life of being a “nomad."

Lilliane (wanderlass.com): Traveling the world is a longtime fantasy for me. And I need more than 80 days to see the world.

Lois and Chichi (wearesolesisters.com): Traveling has always been our passion. We felt the quick weekend getaways and short vacation leave adventures were inadequate to quench our thirst for travel. Meeting each other and finding someone to travel with just intensified this desire.

What's great about traveling long term?

Flipnomad: I honestly don’t consider myself yet as a long-term traveler until I hit my one-year mark. The longest trip that I took was only six months. The greatest thing about the six-month backpacking trip that I did last 2009 was the continuous euphoria that I felt. I was pushed to my limit. I was taken out of my comfort zone. I was literally thrown out of my small pond and forced to survive. My life was endangered for a couple of times. And when I was away from my home, just vagabonding and with almost nothing but my dream, I realized something so valuable, even more valuable than my life. The experiences, learning and adventures that I’ve had were priceless and incomparable to anything that I had experienced before.

Lilliane: It's great because you have the time to do things slowly, digest the experience, let it all sink in. It's less stressful than the fast track trips where you feel that you cannot waste one second of your time because you only have a week to see three countries or something crazy like that. It's tiring and then you end up just taking pictures of the monuments. With long travel, you see more of the city. You have more chance of interacting with locals and maybe even live the local life for a while.

Lois and Chichi: You have so much time to immerse yourself in the culture, get to know the locals, experience more than what the guidebook suggests.

What are the hurdles you've encountered in regards to traveling long term?

Flipnomad: The first hurdle is fear. I travelled on my own with no definite plan at all except for a few plane tickets that I bought because they were on sale. I’ve also read and heard about a lot of horror stories from other travelers. But my desire to travel is bigger and stronger than my fear. I was afraid but I still continued with my trip.

The second hurdle is money. I had a very limited financial resource during that time. My parents had a problem back then and I shouldered some of their major expenses. It was an unplanned and unexpected financial blow. I flew with whatever is left in my pocket.

The third hurdle is the huge shift in mental conditioning based on societal norms. In the eyes of the people around me, I was committing the biggest mistake of my life by letting go a career that some said “most people could only dream of.”

In my eyes, I was chasing a dream. At first I was worried losing all the comforts that I had. I was worried about what everyone around me was saying. But I just shrugged my shoulders and still continued with my plan which ended having met wonderful and supportive people in eight countries in six months. Again, I realized that my dream is bigger and stronger than my fear.

Lilliane: I've only been on the road for a month, and so far I have not had any major hurdle. Some little stuff like thinking where to get my laundry done for I have about a week's worth of clothes in my bag.

I have to hold back on shopping because I intend to keep my bag light -- admirably 12 kilos and I've not added another gram.

I don't have an itinerary so I have to make them as I go. People I meet kept asking me about my plans --how long are you staying for? Where are you going next? I feel a little stressed when having to answer this question. It's been super great so far (knock on wood). I've met amazing people in my trip that takes care of me. There is an Angel for Travelers.

Lois and Chichi: Money is always a major concern. You need to stretch your dollar for every expense, be it toilet paper or a visa run. It's also difficult to be away from our comfort zones for so long. We've been missing our friends and family.

How did you tell your parents/loved ones about your plans and how did they take it?

Flipnomad: I told my parents that I would be away for some time but I didn’t know for how long. I told them the same statement last 2009 and on this trip as well. I promised them that I will take care of myself and I will communicate every now and then. I also apologized that I couldn’t give the same financial support that I used to give them but I will still provide for the tuition of my younger brother. I also had a serious conversation with my mom and told her that this is what I wanted to do in my life. And I also told her that despite the fact that my life does not seem to be as comfortable as my previous lifestyle when I was still working, I am much happier now.

Lilliane: I kept talking about traveling the world at home for two years! It's sort of like brainwashing them. Soon enough they're so used to the idea that it's so natural when I finally did it. My family is absolutely wonderful. They're super supportive and understanding. My sisters may even meet me somewhere in the world.

Lois: My father was pretty shocked because he had to hear it from someone else first. We had a very emotional talk. I even wrote about it in our blog. But in the end, he told me he loved me and supported my decision to follow my dream.

Chichi: I was apprehensive in telling my parents because they have always been proud about my career achievements. I knew what their reaction would be about the news especially the fact that I was quitting my cushy job. I put it off for as long as possible until Lois finally had to push me to tell them ASAP.

I laid everything bare: my passion for travel and the fact that three-day holidays weren't enough for me anymore, how we planned and saved up for close to a year and that this wasn't a rash decision at all. In the next breath, I assured them about the practical side of things: shared our Southeast Asia itinerary so they know exactly where I am at any given moment and that travel insurances have been bought to cover anything that might happen.

After my monologue, my parents surprised me with their reaction. They understood my decision and have been fully supportive ever since. But knowing how overly protective Filipino moms are, mine made me promise to talk to them on Skype every day, errr once every week before getting to the fully supportive part.

How did you prepare for your trip?

Flipnomad: Prior the 2009 trip, I’ve read a lot of travel books and travel blogs. I studied some maps and routes and wrote down the names of the borders that I planned to cross. On my current trip, I’m retracing some of my 2009 route so I could buy myself some time while building online ventures that will hopefully help me go to other continents.

Lilliane: I set a general direction for my journey. The idea is to circumnavigate the world. And as I'm such a sun worshipper, I planned the direction and date so that I will be warm most of the time.

Then I have to research on the visas (ugh!). I wasn't very diligent in the researching, that's why it took two years before it finally happened. I only ended up having to get visa for Europe (Schengen + UK) since I already have US visa before and there are many countries in Africa and South America that do not require visa for us Filipino to enter.

Set a budget for my trip, P1 million for 1 year. So far I'm within the daily budget considering that I've been to expensive countries like Israel, Jordan, England and I even scuba-dived in Jordan. I'm at the risk of going beyond my budget though here in London.

Lois and Chichi: We read the LP's Southeast Asia on a shoestring budget a lot. We also did a lot of research online and connected with many travelers. A lot of helpful people suggested what routes to take and how to access funds while traveling. We also did a lot of mini trips around the Philippines to get ready for the BIG adventure.

What advice can you give those who are considering traveling long term?

Flipnomad: If you have a lot of money and if your family has a lot of money too then the only advice that I could give you is enjoy and try travelling slower. Don’t exhaust yourself.

If you have limited resources and have a financial responsibility to your family like me, then you should plan well.

1. Compute how much you need to survive for three months and don’t resign until you have it. Learn and play with the economics of travelling.
2. If you’re still employed and still on the planning stage of your long trip then build sources of passive income while you’re still working. It will help you generate a few bucks once you’re on the road.
3. Research for ways to save and generate money on the road. Check the Internet for opportunities to get free meals, free accommodation and possible short-term employment.
4. Be flexible with flight schedules to save money. Airfare is probably the most expensive item on the list. I personally buy tickets to a destination that has a seat sale and adjust my schedule accordingly.
5. Stay safe and healthy, be aware of travel hazards in your destination and try travelling slower. Don’t exhaust yourself trying to see everything.

Lilliane: Do it! It's going to be life-changing I'm so sure.

Also travel slowly, live the local life, don't plan too much. Let the moment decide your destiny. Of course, always be careful and paranoid.

Lois and Chichi: Go for it! It's the best way to travel. Don't just be a tourist who visits, takes photos, then leaves. Experience a country like a good cup of tea. Smell it, savor the flavors, swirl the cup, sip the last drop. Take everything you can from the experience. Then you can truly say, you have traveled!