One of the trickiest parts of becoming a travel photographer/blogger is supporting your journeys. It’s not as simple as taking great photos and watching the money roll in. In fact, many seasoned travel photographers find it difficult to make a steady living. Taking beautiful photos just isn’t enough.
Taking beautiful photos just isn’t enough. The most successful travel photographers work just as hard on marketing themselves as they do on learning to take better photos, in most cases more so.
Sponsorships are great for a short burst of revenue, but how do you build a passive income to keep you going? By thinking about how you can take a hobby like photography and turn it into a passive income stream, you may be able to fund your travel for a longer time than expected.
Below you’ll find three ways to help use photography to earn passive income and keep yourself moving.
The first thing you need is a solution to properly show off and be able to sell prints. You can either sell the original high res photo to a collector or one-off prints to consumers. Backpacker Travel has partnered with SmugMug as they provide a range of solutions for beginners to professionals.
SmugMug offers numerous website designs built specifically for photographers. All packages give you secure, unlimited photo storage, easy uploads anywhere you can connect online (this saves camera and card storage space) as well as a simple e-commerce solution where you set your own retail prices. Now your friends, fans, or the people who discover your shots can purchase them or print them on more than 1,200 products.
By having these tested websites ready to sell your work, you have a custom print shop opened 24 hours to help fund your trip. Click on the following discount link and save 15% off any SmugMug package to get your portfolio started today.
One of the hardest parts of being a travel photographer (who gets to continue to travel) is having the funds to keep going. The more real eyeballs you have on your site, the more you can make. Just make sure they are real and engaged viewers.
Buying likes/fans or counting robot and traffic exchange traffic doesn’t count. Your sponsors will catch on when they don’t get visitors or sales and you’ll find yourself with a bad reputation and a lack of funds. This is where your photography helps.
As you take amazing shots, make sure you watermark them so that people can find you and your website. You may first want to upload them to social media and sharing sites like Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, and Flickr. You can even create a slideshow with a narrative for YouTube which can drive a ton of new visitors.
Next, add your URL to the social media image descriptions so that people can go to your website and also source the image back to you if they decide to use it.
Having your photos out there and an easy way to contact you (your store or site) is a great way to attract attention and gain sponsorships and perks. If you’ve built a following and are traveling to a specific city, you can use your traffic volume to pitch a hotel or bed and breakfast for a free night.
To make a pitch stand out more, send sample hotel/food posts that have a lot of shares and activity on them. The samples show the sponsor the quality of your work and the activity shows that you can generate real engagement. You may also want to offer them the rights to a shot of their choosing in exchange for the perk. Next, you’ll need to look at your website and social media analytics.
If you have a decent amount of fans in a specific region, try writing to some restaurants in that area and agree to do reviews in exchange for a nice meal. The same goes for entertainment and tours.
National parks, airlines, and even some cities offer press junket trips so that you get to experience everything while also going behind the scenes. If you have the audience, it doesn’t hurt to write to them and see if you can gain sponsorship money as well as complimentary rooms, board, and entertainment. The sponsor will be happy if you drive the traffic to them and you’ll earn money, or at least get a free perk.
Once you have an audience on your website you can begin monetizing the traffic. Try a mix of monetization techniques including:
Plus a lot more…
By finding the right mix of monetization strategies, a way to sell your work, and building a loyal following, you can use your photography to help fund your travels. It all starts with having a website and a blog to sell and share your work. From there, if you have the talent and a bit of luck, you can build a solid stream of income to help fund your journey.
Myanmar, or Burma as it is also known, is a country in Southeast Asia that has, until recently, slipped under the radar of tourism for a long time. In 2011 the borders were reopened to tourists and people are now discovering the true beauty that lay hidden behind a military dictatorship for so many years.
In November of 2014, I was lucky enough to spend my honeymoon traveling throughout this wonderful country. It wasn’t long before we fell in love with this magical place. With the golden temples, the delicious street food, and the warm and welcoming local people, Myanmar has it all!
Since 2011, tourism has been rising exponentially. In 2016, it is expected that 5 million tourists will visit Myanmar, so, if after browsing the following photos you are considering a trip, book it quickly!
Each week we will be featuring a new destination here on Backpacker Travel, in the form of a photo journal. If you are interested in contributing or have a suggestion for a particular place, please get in touch here.
It is customary for the local tribe’s women to wear brass coils around their necks. This starts from as early as five years old, adding additional rings until around twenty years old. It is seen as a sign of beauty but can be a painful process.
This week we had the pleasure of interviewing Arun Bhat, a freelance travel writer, awesome photographer, and owner of the Indian Travel Blog: PaintedStork.com
India is an increasingly popular tourist destination that is very diverse and chaotic. We ask Arun questions about traveling in India; highlights, culture, and destinations, and Arun offers us some great advice on taking great travel photos.
BT: If a travel lover wanted to spend a week in India, what places should they visit, what food should they try, and what things must they experience?
Arun: This is a difficult question to answer, knowing that India is too large to cover in one week. I would recommend different plans depending on whether it is your first visit to India or not.
If this is your first India experience, it is perhaps best to stick to the time-tested path that gives a good beginning to what India can be. Arrive in Delhi and spend a day in a good hotel to get accustomed to being in a new place. Take the well-known itinerary that they now call ‘Golden Triangle,’ which covers the Taj Mahal at Agra, forts, palaces in Jaipur, and important sights within Delhi. This will take just about a week to give you an idea of what India is.
If this is not your first visit to India, I would recommend sticking to one area and spending most of your time there. Choose the location depending on your interest. If you want to have a good time walking along the beaches and visiting spas, head to Kerala. If high mountains and some difficult treks are in your mind, go to Ladakh or Sikkim. If you want to see a glimpse of India’s history, visit Karnataka (Hampi, Badami, and Belur). Go to North-East to see some exotic wildlife. India always offers something interesting for every kind of traveler.
First-time travelers often tend to get overwhelmed by the chaos that India is. Know that you are usually safe in most places and let the chaos sink into you. It is a matter of a few days before you feel at home in the country.
BT: Your home city is Bangalore, what makes it a special city to live in and explore?
Arun: Bangalore offers the unique advantage of being situated exactly between two coastlines with both sides easily accessible for a weekend getaway. The city also has quick access to beautiful hilly regions and to some unique historical sites. This means you are never too far from all the good things in life. Even if you get out of the city every weekend (see weekend getaways from Bangalore), it would take you a few years to visit all the places worth going to. The city itself is known for its pleasant weather with nearly uniform temperatures throughout the year. For some reason, weather gods always ensure that just when it is about to get too hot, too cold, or too damp, a quick change in weather comes along and everything is back to normal.
Another good thing about Bangalore is that it has a large number of people who like to get out, explore new places, try to learn new things, and lead an active life. If you are one of those people who prefer to do things in the company of people, you will never be short of them.
BT: What is it like being a freelance travel writer? What are the best things, and what are the worst?
Arun: Let’s have the best things first. When you start writing about your journeys, you start seeing improvements in the way you travel. Because you know that you have to tell new stories to the world, you stay alert and look for interesting things. You go in search of something new that a few people would have seen. You research well before you go; you make sure that you talk to locals to gather all interesting information. Over time, you start seeing that each time you get out, you experience a lot more, see and do much more than a normal traveler would. Travel writers always ensure that they get the best out of their journeys.
The other good thing about being a travel writer is more obvious – you get many opportunities to travel. First, you create an opportunity by not being in a regular job and keeping yourself available to travel all the time. Second, you may often get invited to visit new places and to try new things.
Coming to the downside, the first thing is that there isn’t much money in it. Writing doesn’t necessarily pay well. It is a lot of hard work to ensure that you always have some stories to sell. Perhaps very few people manage to make a living by freelance writing alone; it is a different thing if you are employed by a publication. This would mean you may be doing other things besides freelance writing to make ends meet. Fortunately for me, my other source of income comes from photography, which complements my writing and lets me travel more. Another problem for travel writers is the burden of travel itself. Anything done too much really gets monotonous. But one learns quickly and creates a balance between traveling and staying home. In the first year of my plunge into travel writing, I traveled a lot and enjoyed every moment of it. Now I prefer to be out for no more than 60 to 90 days in a year. This ensures that the excitement of travel never weens off. Otherwise, it can become just like any other job.
BT: We’re a big fan of your photography, what is one tip you could give travel lovers, so they take better photos?
Arun: Thank you. I would begin by telling travelers not to worry about photography. In a rush to capture the most beautiful sunset you would ever see in life, you will realize that you missed the experience while you were busy struggling through the viewfinder. Linger in the experiences first and only then take your camera out. If you give sufficient attention to your subjects first, you will automatically end up with good images.
For those who want to take photography seriously, do remember that one needs to get a better understanding of what's involved in taking a picture to be able to control how an image comes out. There is plenty of material on the internet, including my blog. Get to know the basic theories of photography before handling the camera. Do a lot of reading first and then get out often and practice with your camera. The more you shoot and more you seriously review your image, the better photographer you are likely to become.
BT: You have over 1200 travel photos on your site, most of which are available for purchase, what are your five favorite photos, and why do you consider them to be your favorite?
Arun: It would be very hard for me to point at a few images and call them my favorites. But let me try to pick a few anyway.
My attempts to capture the beautiful monuments in the small town of Orchha in Central India was a very satisfying experience. I spent nearly five days walking all around the town looking for good angles, viewpoints, and compositions. The weather gods helped me here by creating varied conditions (fog, rain, and clear blue sky!) during those five days. This meant I could capture some very different images and unique compositions that I don’t recall seeing from this much-photographed location.
Another photography session that really had me excited was shooting backstage and the performances at a cultural event. Kathakali is a traditional performing art where artists spend almost half a day getting ready for the show. I shot a series of images of various stages of putting on makeup and costumes. I think I like the backstage images much more than the ones from the performance itself.
The other area where I have felt some success is in photographing landscapes. I often work hard to make a vista prettier than how it may appear to normal eyes and have met with mixed success in it. The image of “strings of water” from a small waterfall near my city, and the photograph of winter fog near the city are something that may appear very ordinary unless you look hard to see the beauty in them. It is always satisfying when your photographs tell a story that bare eyes can easily miss.
BT: India is becoming an increasingly popular destination for foreign tourists, what advice could you give us while traveling, so that we show proper respect to the people of India and their culture?
Arun: Indians are mostly friendly and welcoming and do not have stringent cultural etiquette. You can be yourself most of the time, especially in daily interaction with people. You are usually not even required to get your “please” and “thank you” right, and it doesn’t matter what cutlery you use on the dining table. But it is easy to upset people in a religious setting if you don’t follow some set of rules. Since India is a culturally diverse country, it is impossible to formulate one set of rules that applies across the country. Talk to people and be aware of local customs before you enter a religious place. Other things that are not culturally accepted are – public display of affection and any degree of nudity.
BT: India is such a diverse country, from the mountains of Ladahk, to the beaches and forests of Goa, what advice would you give a seasoned traveler, so that they could see and experience all that India has to offer?
Arun: I would recommend not to become greedy! It is only natural that you would want to see everything you can in one visit. But you would get the best of India only if you give it plenty of time, decide to spend time in fewer locations, and explore those places well. Don’t take it for granted that you will be making that one visit in a lifetime, and you better see everything you can. India beckons many serious travelers so often and so strongly that you will never really keep away for long!
I would like to sincerely thank Arun for his time and for giving us permission to display his beautiful photos on Backpacker Travel. Check out Arun’s Indian Travel Blog – PaintedStork.com
Instagram has quickly become the favorite social network for travel lovers and very recently for us. We were late to join, focussing heavily on Facebook instead, but now see the true value it brings.
Like any large social network, you need to cut through the noise to find the best quality content – and believe me, there are a lot of terrible photos on there too. So, we scoured through thousands of profiles and searched a multitude of hashtags, to bring you the Top 50 Travel Instagrammers that you should be following.
Of course, we’d like to think our Instagram profile is up there too so be sure to follow us at @getbackpacking if you’re not already.
Without further adieu, here are our Top 50 Travel Instagrammers of 2015.
@thetravelbite
Rachelle is the founder of The Travel Bite, a food and travel blog. As you can imagine, food features heavily in her Instagram feed.
@jack_bolshaw
Jack is an English photographer who is currently traveling through Australia.
@insatiabletraveler
Susan’s photos have appeared in The Huffington Post, New York Times and many other large publications. She is also a full-time contributor to Yahoo! Travel.
@storytravelers
Caspar is the cofounder of Story Travelers, a site dedicated to creating stories through travel photography.
@pausethemoment
Ryan is a travel blogger who has been on the road since 2010. You can read more about his adventures on his blog, Pause the Moment.
@triphackr
Clint is a travel blogger and photographer from Boston. We like his ‘feet-first’ perspective.
@tourist2townie
Gareth is the blogger behind Tourist 2 Townie who left his high-paying job to travel the world.
@divergenttravelers
Dave and Lina have been traveling since 2001. Their journeys are documented through their blog Divergent Travelers.
@whereswiwi
Olivia (aka Wiwi) caught our eye with her use of vibrant colors. She’s also visited all 7 continents.
@a_girlwhotravels
Marta is the digital nomad behind A Girl Who Travels. She’s been living the life of travel since 2010.
@jasoncharleshill
Jason is an Aussie traveler and photographer with a primary focus on the great outdoors.
@adamsenatori
Adam is a pilot who also happens to be an amazing photographer. If you like planes, you’ll like Adam’s page.
@infarawayland
Marta is the face of the blog In a Far Away Land. We’ve featured her photos previously so she’s obviously awesome.
@chaiwalla
Allan is another guy who quit his job to travel the world… there’s a theme here. He also takes great pics.
@jaypeeswing
JP’s photo’s make you want to pack your bags and book a flight to the Philippines right away.
@tiffpenguin
Take one look at Tiffany’s photography and you’ll get lost for hours. Landscapes, waterfalls, and nature abound.
@budgettraveller
Kash is the man behind Budget Traveller, a blog for discovering luxury hostels, some of which feature on his Instagram.
@uncornered_market
Daniel and his wife Audrey are well-known among travel bloggers. Daniel’s photos invite you into their life on the road.
@mikeseehagel
Mike’s photography captures the essence of outdoor life. We love his use of light.
@gmateus
A mix of travel and art. Gabriela takes you on a journey with her wonderful photos.
@lebackpacker
Johan set off from Belgium in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. After making his way to New Zealand, he landed a gig with Lake Wanaka Tourism.
@shanemichaelblack
Shane caught our eye with some of his night photography. If you like the Milky Way, check him out.
@treyratcliff
We met Trey a couple of years ago while he was shooting at Burning Man. A nice guy and truly amazing photographer.
@expertvagabond
Matthew (aka the Expert Vagabond) lives an action-packed life even James Bond would envy. Definitely worth following along.
@paulodelvalle
Paulo calls himself a professional Instagrammer, and we can see why. With over 200k followers, doors are certainly opening for his career.
@olegmks
Oleg is not your typical Instagrammer. He is a Russian cosmonaut so his photos are unlike any other – taken from space.
@goldie_berlin
Hailing from Berlin, Sylvia has been tearing up Instagram for the last 4 years, growing her following to over 200k.
@photojbartlett
Jeff is a Canadian adventure photographer who shares his passion for adventure and the outdoors through his images.
@zakshelhamer
Zak has been ranked among the top Instagrammers by the likes of Forbes, Huffington Post and Lifestyle Mirror.
@thefella
Conor is a travel and destination photographer from Belfast who has traveled to over 50 countries amassing a stellar portfolio.
@theplanetd
These guys need no introduction. Dave & Deb are constantly topping lists for travel blogging and photography.
@machbel
Víctor is a relatively undiscovered travel photographer based in Gijon, Spain. While not as famous, his photos are up there with the best.
@theblondeabroad
Not just a pretty face, Kierstan from the Blonde Abroad, has made a name for herself by capturing the fun of her travel lifestyle.
@sean_ensch_images
Sean is a travel photographer with a focus on landscapes and underwater photography. An avid freediver, he feels at home beneath the surface.
@everythingeverywhere
Since setting off in 2007, Gary has visited over 170 countries and territories and been named Travel Photographer of the year!
@jordanherschel
Jordan is somewhat of an Instagram celebrity, royalty you might even say. No wonder though when you see his photos.
@thomaspeschak
Another National Geographic Photographer, they really pump them out don’t they? Thomas’ photos will transport you to a life in the sea.
@michaelchristopherbrown
While not strictly a travel photographer, Michael’s photojournalism provides a glimpse into the people of the world.
@roundtheworldgirl
Take a look through Elise’s Instagram feed and you’ll think you’ve landed in a North Face ad.
@stefanounterthiner
Stefano is a National Geographic wildlife photographer with a keen interest in wildlife conservation. No zoo required!
Brooke Saward is an Australian travel blogger who has risen to stardom in the last 3 years. Her blog ,World of Wanderlust, now has over 4 million visits and 500k + social fans. It’s clear that exceptional photography has played a large role in the growth.
We came across Ken almost a year ago and have been mesmerized by his photos ever since. This year, Ken co-founded Dream Photo Tours offering photograph-centric tours in Cambodia, Jordan, Myanmar, Iceland, Japan, Namibia, Vietnam, and Italy.
Cory Richards is a National Geographic Photographer, filmmaker, and experienced climber. He was named the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2012. Get ready to be blown away by his captivating feed.
Brendan’s reputation has been on the rise of late. His work has allowed him to travel extensively through Southern and Central America capturing the beauty of the locations and people he meets.
With nearly 1 million followers, Cole must be doing something right! You better believe it. Not only are his photography skills rock-solid but he has a way of storytelling through his images. A worthy addition to the top of this list.
Liz makes us want to get out there and start exploring. She is a master of composition and knows exactly how to draw your eye into the scene. Couple that with her thirst for adventure and you’ve got a winning combination.
Another guy on the verge of breaking into the million follower club is Alex Strohl. This French photographer has been featured in Forbes and counts Apple, Google, Facebook, and Canon among his clients. Needless to say, his photos are unreal!
Oliver is a talented photographer from Barcelona, Spain. At the age of 17, he began traveling and carved a nice niche with his unique view of the world. We just can’t get enough of his stunning photography.
Lauren went from being a chef to Instagram fame. With nearly half a million followers she has turned her social fame into a flourishing photography career and Australia’s first professional Instagrammer.
Welcome to the millionaire club. Chris Burkard is a renowned surf photographer who is constantly seeking remote (mostly frozen) destinations to shoot. Chris has spoken for TED and worked with the world’s top brands, yet it is his passion for adventure and the unknown, coupled with his incredible photography skills that puts him on the top of our list.
A BIG congratulations go out to everyone who made this list. You not only caught our eye but our imagination too. You inspire us to keep seeking the path less traveled!
It took many hours of research to compile this list and our opinions are purely that. Of course, we’d love to discover more people like those featured above so if we’ve missed one of your favorites, post it in the comment section below.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram too as we post the best images from our backpacking community. If you’d like to be featured, you can upload your best photos in our fan photo section. We post a new pic every day!
FOLLOW BACKPACKER TRAVEL ON INSTAGRAM
Selected photos are posted on this site backpackertravel.org, our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Full accreditation is provided.
After the success of our interview with Scott MacKinnon we have decided to have a good old chat with our new backpacking friends Jason and Aracely from 2Backpackers.com. Jason and Aracely have been traveling through central and southern America for the last eleven months and today we get a small insight into their experiences.
These guys have managed to successfully travel through some very interesting situations and somehow, (with a little luck on their side) come out the other end as an incredibly fun, strong couple.
BT: So how did you guys meet?
2 Backpackers: Aracely and I met in 2006 while working together for Mercedes-Benz USA in northern New Jersey, however, we didn’t actually meet at work. A mutual friend/colleague held his Birthday party at a bar in Hoboken, NJ and we were both invited. I thought I was too drunk to make a good impression, but apparently, things went okay.
We both continued to ask our friends to bring the other along and eventually we began dating. We didn’t work in the same department, unfortunately, it wasn’t that racy.
BT: Tell us a little about your former lives before traveling.
2 Backpackers: We both worked for fortune 500 companies in New York City. Aracely had landed an excellent job with American Express 2 years prior to our departure. I had worked for 6 years at Mercedes-Benz until I departed in 2008 for a career leap with Mercer. We lived together in the socially active town of Hoboken, NJ for 4 great years.
My job was a 15-minute walk from our apartment and Aracely’s was a subway ride across the Hudson River to the World Financial Center in lower Manhattan. We would both agree that life was pretty darn good.
BT: Where does the expedition take you from here and how much longer do you intend on traveling?
2 Backpackers: We are coming to the end of our year-long journey through Central and South America. Currently, I am studying Spanish before returning to the States. I figure after a year of traveling in Latin America it would be good to know the language before I return home. Obviously, Aracely has handled all the communications during our travels.
Aracely is originally from Ecuador. This trip began as a one-time adventure, escaping our known lives and the everyday cubicle life. It’s now turned into something different; to figure out how to continue traveling the world.
BT: Surely you have had to face some adversities while traveling. Has there been a time when you thought you would pack it in?
2 Backpackers: Luck. We always tell people we have been lucky to have had nothing terrible happen to us during 11 months of traveling. This luck has meant we never had the feeling of packing it in. I am sure that emotion would have risen if we got robbed or mugged.
Often, traveling becomes tiring. The worst part of traveling is traveling. We want to see the world, but it’s sometimes annoying moving from hostel to hostel, riding on buses all day or night and never settling down. This was apparent to us early in our trip and we then decided to slow down and remove Sout East Asia from the list.
Slowing down and staying longer in places helped us relax and enjoy our surroundings and the culture more. If we hadn’t made this change, I think we would have been ready to go home by now.
BT: To most of us a relationship is hard enough with the space we have. Do you have any suggestions for couples looking to jet off on an expedition of a lifetime?
2 Backpackers: This is a tough one for us to answer because honestly, we have always enjoyed each other’s company. We never had challenges at home and thankfully we have never had relationship challenges on the road. I could advise couples to give each other space on the road, maybe explore a city alone one day, or take a 1-week excursion separately during your long-term travels. This is what most would suggest, but we haven’t done that once. Believe it or not, we spend every day together.
I think it's most important that couples communicate their interests, desires, and budgets if they are going to travel together long-term. If one person likes to spend their money on expensive dinners and the other prefers cheap street food it will be a problem. If you don’t figure this out before you launch into a foreign country it could get nasty. Money can affect your relationship the most, just as it does at home. Make sure you both are okay with your accommodation styles, eating habits, and adventure desires.
BT: Your journey has seen you traverse through Central and South America so far, what has been the highlight of the trip to date?
2 Backpackers: The highlight was trekking for 9 days through Torres del Paine in Patagonia Chile. The natural landscapes of glaciers, mountain peaks, and lakes appeal most to us. We also loved the challenge of the trek and admit it was not comfortable nor easy.
BT: Your travel blog looks fantastic and it seems you have quite the following now. What brought you to start the blog?
2 Backpackers: The blog idea started during our research of the trip. Impressed with so many backpacker blogs, we were inspired to try to do the same, but with a focus on HD Travel Videos. From the beginning, we believed we could create a travel story that reached beyond our family and friends. Through networking with other travel bloggers, learning what followers desire and communicating heavily on Facebook our blog has grown to become an integral part of our travel.
BT: How much time do you have to spend on it to keep it ticking over and does it pay the bills?
2 Backpackers: A successful blog takes a lot of time to manage, something that can be very challenging on the road. On average, we probably spend 2 hours a day keeping up with Twitter, Facebook, and our Website. Our website traffic dies down when we are on multi-day hikes unable to communicate with our followers. And high traffic is what leads to money.
Balancing travel and the blog is challenging. We have given this trip a higher priority than our blog, but that’s because we budgeted for the trip. In the future, we need to make money with the Two Backpackers brand in order to continue traveling. That means the blog becomes just as important; it becomes our job. It’s not a bad job either as long as it pays the bills. Currently, we make enough money for a few nice dinners in South America, and that’s it.
Blogging is a long-term investment with distant rewards. Aracely and I both know that it will take us several years to make this blog pay for our travels.
BT: Like we say “A picture tells a thousand words!”. Your photography is very professional. Firstly how important do you think your photos have been to the blog’s success and secondly what sort of camera do you use?
2 Backpackers: We are flattered! We are far from professionals, which should inspire many of you out there that enjoy taking pictures. Our camera is an entry-level SLR, Canon Rebel XSI and we also carry a small point-and-shoot camera. The SLR is now broken, along with my MacBook Pro laptop. Our Canon HD camcorder is also on the verge of dying. Sand, water, and just some banging around have destroyed these fragile electronics. I mention this because it’s something to consider when spending a lot of money on gadgets.
Our daily Travel Photos of the Day have become an integral part of our website’s success. People are visual and what better way to show the world than through photos and videos. We weren’t able to deliver on the video like we originally intended, due to the lack of strong bandwidth in Latin America. There are 100 hours of video we need to edit and upload after we return home. It should keep us busy for a while.
BT: Can you leave us with one travel tip that has helped you along the way?
2 Backpackers: Be flexible. Travel, especially budget travel like backpacking can have its challenges. We booked hostels that were full when we showed up after midnight. Our Machu Picchu trek was canceled after devastating floods destroyed the area. Our time on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica and Panama was plagued with rain. We have stayed in areas well beyond our scheduled plans because we met great people. Give yourself time to explore places you didn’t have on your itinerary, enjoy new friends and wait for the clouds clear. Be flexible!
You can read all about Jason and Aracely’s adventure through their website 2Backpackers.
Last month we celebrated our four-year anniversary living in San Francisco and in that time, I have managed to explore every neighborhood in this fascinating city. It’s no secret that I have fallen in love with the art, music, food, and people, which lead me to create Boutique Traveler tours in San Francisco as a way to show travelers my adopted home.
Lately, I have been working on a new tour itinerary that will take visitors on an art discovery through the streets of the famous Mission District. The following photos were taken along Clarion Alley, one of the best places to find local street art in San Francisco.
Clarion Alley is a small street between Mission and Valencia Streets and 17th and 18th Streets, notable for the murals painted by the Clarion Alley Mural Project.
This is just a tiny sample of the multitude of street art to be found in San Francisco. While the Mission neighborhood is renowned for these murals, there are pieces to be found in every corner of the city.
Now it’s your turn – Which city have you visited that had amazing street art like this?
Today we chat with Scott MacKinnon about his incredible journey and that list that has now become famous. Backpacker Travel discovered Scott through his Facebook group Myxtraordinary and has been following his plight now for some months.
We would like to thank Scott for his contributions to our website and wish him all the best in the remainder of his travels.
BT: Ok so the obvious question we want to know is what made you come up with “The List”?
Scott: The list. Well, while I was bartending in Maui, I had the good fortune of meeting people from all over the world. It seemed that every few weeks I would meet someone new and they would paint the most beautiful picture of their country. I would spend the next few days telling anyone who would listen that I was packing up and moving to wherever they had mentioned. Eventually, I would forget about my plans and go back to my everyday life. Finally, after looking back on all my missed travel plans, I decided to take one year and devote it to traveling to all the places I’ve always wanted to go.
While I was making my list of places it dawned on me that not only were there many destinations I had neglected to follow through on but there were also numerous goals of mine that had fallen through the cracks. At that point, I knew the trip had to take on a more meaningful journey, and thus the list was created.
BT: What went into the selection process for the list? Did you struggle to find enough things to do or was it a matter of having to cull?
Scott: The selection process took a long time. Almost two years actually. After posting about 35/40 goals it was a real struggle to think back over all the years and recollect all of the things I wanted to do. At that point, I began actively searching out new ideas on the internet and through conversations with others. Basically, only the first three-quarters of the list is made up of things that I had always dreamed of accomplishing or attempting. I’m fully aware that some of the items on the list would take years to see through to completion, but just dedicating a small amount of time to them has been very rewarding. The second part of the list is comprised of newly discovered things that seem like amazing experiences/opportunities to me.
BT: Had you done much traveling prior to this epic trip? If so where to?
Scott: I hadn’t done much at all actually. Prior to moving to Hawaii, I had only flown on one plane, from Ottawa to Toronto. I had done some traveling within Ontario/Quebec and along the East Coast of the USA, but mostly for family vacations during my childhood. My first real trip came directly after Maui when I went to Panama for a five-week beach and surfing getaway.
BT: In your everyday life what do you do for a living? Did you have to leave your job or are you on extended leave?
Scott: I was a bartending beforehand, but quit my job to travel. When I finish things up, the sky is the limit.
BT: How long did you have to save up for the trip and have you had to set a tight budget?
Scott: I saved for about three years to do this. I did have a fixed budget going in, but have relaxed it a bit as time went on. I found it very difficult to concentrate purely on the love of travel and just being in the moment when I was concerned about my wallet. I was fortunate enough to have saved enough to just let things slide a bit.
BT: One of the items that always gives us a chuckle is you posing nude for an art class. Were you embarrassed and the obvious question – was it cold?
Scott: Haha. Nah, it was actually an honor to be in that situation. I know that sounds corny, but it was empowering to “de-robe” and “let it all hang out”. The owner couldn’t have been more helpful and THANKFULLY there was a heater on me the whole time
BT: Now you have recently completed the task to run with the bulls in Spain. Did it live up to your expectations? Were you shitting your pants?
Scott: I don’t know that it lived up to my expectations exactly. It was all over so quickly. The run lasted just two minutes 14 secs, although it seemed more like ten. You really had no time to let it sink it. You just ran like your life depended on it and it actually kind of did. The feeling that came over you when you entered the stadium afterward was the best part, but it also had its drawbacks. They let three smaller bulls out that run around charging and bashing into everyone and that was a little sad. You’re not supposed to touch the bulls, but people were grabbing them by the horns and smacking them as they ran by. It’s a shame that a few bad apples can give tourists such a bad name. All in all, though, it was pretty crazy.
BT: So is there anything that really stands out as most memorable so far?
Scott: There have been a few things. My Thai Boxing training in Thailand and my time with Pawan Kumar in India have been so special to me. They are two periods of time where I felt I really got a glimpse into someone else’s life.
BT: Do you have any suggestions for anyone reading this who might be considering a similar expedition?
Scott: Take it all in and don’t be put off by “failed attempts”. The goals are far more important than checks on a list, they provide you with so much more. The people, the places, and the memories will last forever. Always remember that.
BT: Finally, do you think that by completing this so-called “bucket list” so early in your life you might feel a little unmotivated when you return to normality?
Scott: If anything it's just the opposite. I feel that if I can get through this and accomplish what I started, it will go a long way in proving to myself that I can be a man of my convictions. Whether running around the globe, teaching in a classroom, or starting your own business; it’s all part of a bigger process in shaping who we are. I consider what I’m doing to be completely normal, I just might have a different set of priorities than others right now. When those priorities change, so will I, but as long as I’m doing what makes ME happy, I don’t think it's possible to be unmotivated.
If you would like to follow Scott's adventures you can check out his blog 1 Year 1 Life 1 List.
After returning, Scott has since written a book about his adventure called Flip Flop. You can pick up a copy on Amazon.com.
You don’t need to be religious to appreciate the history and beautiful architecture of a well-designed church. Today, we want to test your knowledge and see how much you know about the following 12 churches from around the world. Good luck!
Today we take you back to your childhood, back to the good old fairground. Who can forget their first ride on the Ferris wheel? The thrill as you climb higher and higher above the crowds, the birds-eye view for miles around. Give it your best shot and see if you know where to find these worldly Ferris wheels. Good luck!
I know a few foodies who like to plan their holidays around what they’ll eat, and where. Whilst I personally tend to stick to a strict diet of cooking wine and expired food stolen from the hostel when on the road, I can imagine that Europe, in general, is a great region for an authentic, hearty foodie holiday. But Spain distinguishes itself by being the only country in the world where you could plan an entire foodie fight itinerary.
What is it with Spaniards and playing with their food? Seems everywhere I go here, locals are throwing editable/potable projectiles in my direction as a sign of affection. Where I come from, a woman throwing wine in your face would be considered a bad date, whereas it’s par for the course at many fiestas throughout rural Spain. Whether it’s wine, grapes, bulls, or tomatoes coming your way at high velocity, you’d do well to leave your three-piece at home if you’re attending a traditional festival.
The next one on my agenda involves the latter: literal truckloads of squishy tomatoes painting the small town of Buñol red as the streets become the world’s biggest human Bolognese.
La Tomatina: slim, cobbled alleyways awash with red wine and red pulp, locals and visitors all dressed in white (but not for long). This is not so much a food fight as all-out food combat. Make no mistake: it’s a war out there; when you get to La Tomatina, be prepared. Be prepared not to eat tomatoes again for the next two years. Be prepared to smell like a waterlogged pizzeria. Be prepared to laugh at old ladies being hit in the face with older fruit. Be prepared, soldier; arm yourself with the following intel from a few veterans for the most awesome time:
Buñol is not exactly a metropolis. The central plaza is ground zero for the tomato fight, which officially begins when a man climbs a greasy pole to collect a leg of ham (don’t ask). The crowd is dense. If you don’t make it into the plaza, don’t worry; the fight takes place all over town – but if you want the full cultural experience, head in as early as you can manage to secure a spot.
The town will arm you: trucks will squeeze down the narrow streets, casually volleying wrinkled ketchup fodder out the back for all and sundry to hurl at their frenemies. You will not be short on ammunition.
You’ll see a lot of people wearing goggles. Join their rank if you’re prone to pinkeye – there’ll be a lot of that going around next morning. Big ones are best if you can wrangle them. Swimming goggles are less effective than you might imagine once you’re slick with juice. Sunglasses are not going to save you.
You’ll be pressed against warm bodies covered in warm wine and tomato sauce, all simmering in the hot sun: things get a little cozy in the saucepan that is Buñol. Clothes do get accidentally torn, removed, or borrowed. Probably best not to freeball either, gentlemen.
This one time, I went to a foam party with a friend. We had just come from the beach and had flip-flops on. Neither my flip-flops nor the friend was ever seen nor heard of again.
You’ll be wading through a literal foot of the red stuff. If you drop your camera, you’ll be joining the mile-long line at the cop shop afterward and most likely never seeing it again. Tie it to you, and double-check it’s not only water-proof but wine-proof (I put my iPhone in a condom – not only did it keep the phone safe, if gave all my pictures an adorable golden-age-of-cinema soft-lens effect). Leave any other valuables at home.
After the fight, locals will begin to hose down the streets and the combatants. There is also a river nearby, so you should have ample opportunity to get clean(ish) and dry off in the hot sun in time for your bus/taxi. But if you don’t want to reek on the commute home, bring something along to change into.
Now get out there to the Spanish countryside, make some friends with salad, and become a true food fight connoisseur.
We’ve hooked up with the folks at Stoke Travel to bring you a very special offer. Book their La Tomatina package as a Backpacker Travel community member and they will supply you with Free Unlimited Beer and Sangria at their campsite.
Book with the promo code BACKPACKER and boom, the drinks (and tomatoes) are on us!
