on January 18, 2017
Let me start by saying how I do not feel sorry for one penny spent on travel. The thing is, with travel, the consciousness and comfort zone expand. All that means better insight and a longer, more perceptive life.
It is good to read and inform yourself before you make a move, but honestly, at some point, you just pack that bag and go. Go with the flow or plan ahead; the only thing that matters is that you go. Do not be bothered about traveling alone, nor be sorry that your friends can’t or won’t go with you. You are the one who needs to extinguish the fire of ego and go through some lessons to gain new tools to help you navigate life more consciously, grateful, and appreciative of the world around you. Never approach travel in a manner to avoid a particular place only because you heard or read a bad review. That is only somebody else’s perspective. Art, for example, abounds with perspectives. You are the one who can always contribute to every place you visit and the situations you encounter. You can make it better—especially areas that are off the beaten track, instead of the usual, overly touristy, exploited places.
The best start to such an adventure and travel is to check if you will need a visa and what the process of getting it is. This is the most important thing not to mess around with and, therefore, the most important thing to start with.
For example, once you are in Europe, you need to keep the Schengen area in mind. There is a limit on the time you can stay in the Schengen area (most EU countries) and outside it. So, if your Schengen visa expired, you can spend some time in countries outside the Schengen area, such as Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Macedonia, and then return to the Schengen area.
Working permits are, unfortunately, a bit complicated to obtain. If you have a goal of working or volunteering in exchange for free accommodation and food while traveling, the best approach is to focus on platforms like Workaway, Worldpackers, and similar sites.
As for cheap tickets for long flights, I found Skyscanner to be a good deal, with even last-minute ticket prices affordable. Inside Europe, Ryanair has good deals. As for Asia, choose AirAsia.
So, you already have a visa and a ticket. Now is the time for packing! Take as little as possible, and the smaller the bag, the better. Trust me, a person feels better in an old wardrobe than in a new one. Also, no one has the time to notice your stylish new wardrobe. All you have to do is feel comfortable in whatever you are wearing. If you would still like some help with packing, check Packing for a round-the-world trip.
A general rule is to always carry a passport when you are in a new town, but in some places, a copy is enough, especially since the travels and parties you experience can be pretty wild. In any case, do have a copy of your passport in case your passport gets stolen or you lose it. It will make your life much easier—next, electricity converters. You can buy them before your trip or on your journey. Once at the airport, get inside a mobile or kiosk shop and buy a monthly package that includes internet access and a SIM card. Have one smart device that can operate on every mobile network. Before setting off, make sure you have enough money on your primary phone card and that roaming is enabled, especially if you are a business person. Have an extra battery or two since batteries do get vacated quickly.
An essential precaution is to have two bank cards. One you always carry with you, while the other you keep in your room. So, if you lose one or it gets stolen, you have another one as a backup. Unfortunately, money is the number 1 thing to have when problems arise. The other alternative is a friend or family member you can call, who can send you money via Western Union. This data should always be carried and written down on paper.
Airplane travel can be pretty interesting and fun too. On longer flights, you will be on an Airbus, which has a TV too. If you have to change flights and have to wait a long time before the next one, you can leave the airport and explore the city before returning in time for the flight.
To be continued…