Rough Riding – Chiang Mai, Thailand

…My left knee jams under the accelerator grip, and the next thing I know, I’ve lost power, lost my balance and I’m toppling, slowly and gracelessly toward the ground. A group of monks are laughing at me uproariously.  I pick myself up with Buddhist humility, and ride slowly and carefully out the temple gate… Flashback:…

New Year Breakdown – Springbrook, Australia

“When I was eighteen, I just went off and travelled… I didn’t have anybody watching me, or criticising me. I didn’t really have any money, but it didn’t seem to matter. People were so helpful and generous. My family reported me as a missing person. The police saw my truck parked in the street. They were like: ‘why don’t you call your mum? She’s worried about you.”

You Can Fix It: DIY for Travelers

  When you’re on the road, your gear and clothing take a lot of punishment. If you’re trying to stick to a tight budget, you don’t want to be replacing stuff every time something tears or breaks, so it’s handy to have a basic fix-it kit.   My Fix-It Kit: swiss army knife needle black…

Mosquito Sack Gear Hack

…I found a lady with a sewing machine on a corner near the marketplace.  I don’t speak Thai, so I showed her, in pantomime, what I wanted her to do, and made a little drawing for her.  She nodded sagely, and told me to come back in an hour. One hour and three dollars later,…

Top 9 Low Budget Adventure Tips

  Dreaming about an overseas trip? Planning an epic journey around the world? Slaving away to finance your dream? Instead of saving up for years to go on the adventure of a lifetime, why not learn to stretch your dollars, so life is one long adventure? With a few simple skills, you can tip your…

Q: Where to Blog?

  Anna is setting off on an epic journey across Europe and Asia!  She asked me for some travel tips and some ideas on how to get started with blogging.   Anna: “Hey!  Very cool to read everything. I will start a trip in a few weeks, from Germany to Indonesia, overland, Southeast Europe, Romania,…

Q: Back / Pack Problems

  Backpacking is awesome fun, but what if you have a health issue that makes carrying a bag painful and difficult?   Stefanie wrote to me on Facebook with some health related questions, about pack weight and diet. Stefanie: “Hi mentor!  I really like your blog and after I read the ‘Go Now‘ page I…