I am Thompson Boy

Hi Jaime, You might not know me but I have been following your blog since it was featured on Mashable . My name is Daniel and today is my last day at work. I am 33 this year and will be going on my first long term trip to Europe and South America starting in July. This trip will take 6 months to a year. Two years ago when I first went to India. I was bitten by the travel bug and realised how amazing and how big the world is compared to my problems at home and I don’t think I will be happy if I die not seeing all these wonderful places that I see on TV all the time. I have been a Nat Geo freak since I was a kid, dreaming about places like the Amazons and Egypt and its beautiful pyramids (though this trip won’t take me to Egypt but I will be there, one day). I thought you should know that because of you , I took the first step nearly a year ago. I found the courage through your experiences and also after learning how much you have spent. The biggest misconception out there is ...

Backup my laptop at work with everything I worked on for the past 7 years. Another thing off the list. A few thousand more things to be completed. Credit: http://travelling-images.blogspot.com/2013/09/vintage-travel-poster.html

How you do condense a life of numerous clothes, comfort, accessories and things for your face and hair and stuff? You know the drill. The answer is of course NOT by carrying a 100 litre bag. Even a 60+10 to me now looks and sounds absolutely mad. Disclaimer: I do own a 60+10 and it's heavy to death, top loading which is a hassle to look for things and not the most comfortable when you are lost trying to look for that hostel. I was mad enough to carry one when I was visiting Vientiane on a short half day trip before going back to the airport again to fly off to Luang Prabang. So back to my new bag - everyone thought I was mad to finally settle for 40 litre even though the 55 is extremely tempting with zip off daybag which is like value for money. But after reading the reviews on this baby, I am convinced that: 1. Front loading bags are the way to go 2. The smaller the better - yes esp for long journeys. If it's short then by all means carry all your shit. You will only suff...

God, that's like really fast. Felt like I have not done alot of things and truth to be told there's a lot of things left to be done. 1. Mock packing - trying to do a few rounds of those to see what else is missing or what else is not needed. 2. Settle my bank account/finance - need to open a new account actually. Something I can do anytime. 3. Decided against an international driving license. Don't want to be bothered driving. 4. Still undecided on which pair of shoes and bag to take.....I know...I know.... 5. Settle the hostels at least for a few weeks ahead. 6. Cleaning up my space in office and home 7. Print some additional passport pictures 8. Backup my files and shit 9. Get more music And some other stuff. I am just being lazy and it's Friday and I am just too lazy.

LATEST UPDATE: 16/06/2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe - 22 Countries   Turkey (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus) 2-13 July *Greece (Athens, Santorini) 14-19 July +6 Albania (Berat, Tirana) 20-24 July Macedonia (Ohrid, Bitola, Skopje) 25-29 July Bulgaria (Sofia) 30 -2 Aug Romania (Bucharest, Transylvania/Poenari Castle/Sighisoara/Bran Castle) 3-9 Aug Serbia (Belgrade) and Montenegro (Podgorica, Kotor) 10-15 Aug Croatia (Dubrovnik) & Bosnia (Mostar) 16-23 Aug Croatia (Split, Parec) 24-30 Aug *Slovenia (pass through) 31 Aug +1 *Italy 2 Sept - 18 Sept +17 (2-Venice, 3- Venice/Milan, 4-Milan/La Spezia, 5- La Spezia, 6-La Spezia/Florence, 7-Florence, 8-Florence/Pisa, 9-Florence/Siena, 10-Florence-San Gimignano, 11-Florence/Sorrento 12-Sorrento/Pompeii, 13-Sorrento/Amalfi Coast, 14-Sorrento/Capri, 15-Sorrento/Rome, 16-Rome 17-Vatican City, 18-Rome) *Austria (Viena, Salzburg) 19-23 Sept +5 ...

Till Istanbul and then who knows. Bought a way one ticket and not looking back. This shit just got real.

What are you doing? I am trying to see as much of Europe as I can and if I can still afford it, South America as well within a year. Got my one way ticket to Istanbul and thats all. Why are you doing this? I am doing this because I want to see the world. Short and simple. No, it’s not because of midlife crisis though 30s is the new midlife, no? It’s not about finding myself –   I know who I am and what I want and hence this trip.   It’s very practical you see, I am not getting any younger and trips like these should be done while you can walk and still have the tolerance for bad dorms and all sorts of bullshit. Also, eventually my parents will be old and ill and I won’t be able to do and go as I wish. Don’t want to look back and regret not doing this. I am checking off one bucket list at a time, no more staring at yet another Top 10 places I must see before I die. How did it started? Probably 2 years ago when I first went to India. I realised how amazing and ho...

I have just signed up with BootsnAll for a 30day program exercise and day 2 is about the whys I want to see the world before I am old.  Because I would regret it on my death bed if I didn't (this was my original why - it has changed).  I just got fired/divorced/graduated/quit, and the time is now to embrace change. I'm not sure what I want to do, and I feel uninspired in my current life. Long-term travel may help open and challenge my assumptions of what is possible. I want to learn about a specific part of the world, and going there is the best way. Because I can! I want to see the 7 wonders of the world. I want to taste and visit the 7 best wine regions in the world. I want to learn via experience (see, smell, hear, touch) not just reading or watching youtube videos.  Me (and my partner) are middle-aged and lots of the encumberances and commitments of life are gone (kids, mortgages etc). Instead of buying an RV, we want to se...