I’ve Been Touring the World for five Years: Here is What I’ve Discovered

• I left the US to journey the world. What began as an experiment grew to become a beloved way of life.
• I’ve visited 24 nations throughout 4 continents within the final 5 years.
• To assist my way of life, I began my very own enterprise, the place I can work from wherever on the earth.

In 2019, I had an ideal life on paper: a stable job, a boyfriend, and a basement residence in DC. However, I wished extra.

At age 30, I stopped, bought all the pieces, and purchased a one-way ticket to Bali.

The boyfriend and I had already damaged up. It was for the most effective: he had no desire to travel, and I could not think about my future without it.

I wished to attempt the digital nomad lifestyle for one to 2 years.

5 years later, I’ve visited 24 nations throughout 4 continents and plan to maintain touring indefinitely.

Here is how I began my enterprise, so I am free to work from wherever and my prime touring suggestions in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

I make 6 figures and am capable of working from wherever

I began my enterprise, Duraca Strategic, as a branding and advertising and marketing technique marketing consultant and enterprise coach for freelancers. It was a rocky start.

After I bought to Bali, I deliberated to work with the entrepreneurs there. They appeared so profitable on Instagram; however, the actuality was fairly completely different. I struggled to promote $300 teaching packages and was burning by my $30,000 in savings.

Finally, I found out the market to premium purchasers from everywhere in the world and have been making six figures a year for the previous 5 years.

Whereas that typically means a 5 a.m. or 10 p.m. name with a shopper in a distinct time zone, it is a worth I am completely happy to pay for the liberty and suppleness of working with who I would like, on what I would like, from the place I would like. I would not have it another way.

Associated tales

Touring by Southeast Asia

After Bali, I made my way to Java, then Singapore.

I met my mother in Malaysia and went together with her to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Then I continued solo to Thailand and Vietnam.

I visited a top-50 bar in Singapore, discovered to scuba dive in Koh Lanta, noticed the most important Buddhist temple on the earth at dawn in central Java, and did a six-day motorbike journey by Ha Giang.

Whereas it is easy sufficient to get by with English in Southeast Asia, I always be taught “hey” and “thanks” within the native language and do Duolingo. For each nation I’m going to, I attempt to learn an e-book about it, listen to their High 100, and take up a daily exercise standard with residents like soccer or volleyball.

After Vietnam, I needed to spend the subsequent couple of years backwards and forwards to the US.

I spotted that the nomadic way of life and entrepreneurship have been now not an experiment for me. I used to be dedicated for the lengthy haul.

So, I doubled down on my enterprise, investing in additional techniques and assistance. I additionally joined nomad communities like WiFi Tribe and stayed at co-livings so I could construct digital nomad friendships and relationships.

I even began a digital nomad web site, Duraca Travels, to assist folks navigate this way of life, together with dealing with working overseas, stability, fulfilling work and journey, and sensible recommendations on funds, taxes, medical insurance coverage, and extra.

Touring by Latin America

In 2022, I got here my Latin America stint: Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala.

I went paragliding in Bogota, hiked Guatemala’s Acatenango to look at the erupting Fuego volcano, and celebrated Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca.

Being a bilingual Latina, I felt at home and simply related with locals. My greatest recommendation for touring in Latin America is to venture past the highest vacationer locations. Residents might be extra excited to fulfill you and genuinely interact.

Take Peru, for instance. Most individuals will solely go to Lima, Macchu Picchu, and possibly Cusco and Arequipa. I extremely suggest trying out the Amazonian rainforest in Iquitos, the Kuelap ruins in Chachapoyas that rival Macchu Picchu, and mountain climbing in Huaraz with fewer crowds.

Touring by Europe

I used to be by no means desperate to get to Europe; I felt like it would always be there and would solely get higher as I got older and had more cash to take pleasure in it.

I wish I hadn’t waited so long.

I discovered an affordable flight from Mexico Metropolis to Rome. I lastly get why everybody loves the food, people, and lifestyle in Italy.

Along with Italy, I went to Greece, Spain, France, Albania, and Romania.

I scootered up the Amalfi Coast, spoke at a journey convention in San Sebastian, discovered by way of Ferrata in Briançon, and celebrated my thirty-first birthday with pals who flew from everywhere in the world to sail with me in Paros.

The most effective issues about touring in Europe are how close all the pieces are to one another and how simple it’s to take public transportation.

Some folks really feel it is troublesome to befriend Europeans as an outsider. However, I largely discovered individuals who have been warm, friendly, completely happy to assist, and affected people with me working towards their language.

In a manner, being a digital nomad is my excessive resolution to work-life stability. I’ve had more once-in-a-lifetime experiences within the final 5 years than I might have in a lifetime if I stayed at my 9 to 5 in DC.

Subsequent is my Africa chapter. I cannot wait to see who I am going to meet and what I am going to be taught.