Travel Goals and Plans for 2013

Stay physically fit while Traveling

This is really difficult for me. The good thing is that my travels generally allow me the opportunity to explore a place by foot and do a lot of walking. Some days, however, I end up spending way too much time on the laptop working. I don’t have an exact plan as to how I’m going to get more exercise while I travel, so I’m definitely interested in hearing what works for people.

Travel to Japan, Philippines, Ukraine, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal

I don’t know what order I’ll see them, but these are the countries I’d most like reach in 2013. Mostly I want to visit new countries I’ve never been, but India is a repeat. I can’t really say I’ve traveled in India, just took a two-week holiday back in 2003. Japan has been a dream of mine since I was young. And the islands of the Philippines have interested me since I have continued meeting friendly Filipinos while traveling (and I love snorkeling and great beaches too!). Sri Lanka is an adventure waiting to happen and Nepal is a well-beaten backpacker destination that I’ve somehow never visited.

Learn something new or more in-depth

Yoga lessons, Surf lessons, Meditation, Trekking, Long -distance walking. These are just of the some of the things I want to do. Traveling is great—but too often my journey is just about the place and its people, environment and food. In 2013, I want to focus on continuing to learn yoga, with a week-long course in India. If I’m in the right place for surfing (Philippines or Sri Lanka) I’d like to get better at that. There are plenty of meditation courses in India. Meditation is something I find very difficult—but know could be very beneficial to me. Trekking in Nepal is an obvious choice; I just have to be there in the correct season. In the past, I’ve enjoyed long-distance walking in Spain on the Camino de Santiago. I won’t have time for another Camino this year, but there are plenty of week-long walks in England, Wales, or Scotland that I would be interested in researching.

Finish my book

Yes, I’m working on a book. I haven’t set a publication date, but I hope to publish it early this year. When I do, you’ll be the first to know. The book is going to be about travel skills and how to break away from the typical tourist route. It will be aimed at travelers with some trip experience who are either interested in getting a deeper or longer travel experience while saving money and connecting with locals.

House-sitting

There is hardly a better way to get accommodation someplace without paying for it. Staying longer in one place is great way to know that destination better. House sitting would allow me to experience a new place, save money, and have a temporary home. This all fits in to my digital nomad lifestyle and quest to become location independent. I can work on my writing, continue the blog, or finish my book. Uninterrupted afternoons typing away in a country house with sunshine beaming through the window is how I imagine it. In actuality, I’m willing to accept a wide-range of house-sitting and pet-sitting jobs, and am probably even willing to fly to a destination to do it. If you’re leaving for a month or two and want someone to watch your property; or your friendly dogs and cats, let me know!

More Travel Hacking

For those unfamiliar with the term travel hacking, it’s basically a technique of using airline and hotel mileage and loyalty programs and incentives in a manner that gives the customer the best value for mileage/points used. This will mostly involve mileage bonuses from new credit cards, but I hope to take it further this year. I’m interested in getting free flights. What I’m not interested in doing, like many travel hackers do, is taking unnecessary flights to gain mileage or keep flier status. I’m conscious of the fact that flying is still the most carbon emitting and environmentally degrading way to travel. Maybe can I coin the term “travel hacking with a conscience”?