I was talking to my mom the other day and she asked me a question that made me think for a bit. Yes I still call my mom. I actually call her once a week or every other week. Ahh if she only knew how much I love her. For me calling my mother is the least I can do for her while I’m on the road . I know she is happy for me, but still hates the thought of me being so far away from her. Anyway she asked me “Jaime why are you doing this?” I paused for a minute and told her “Mom, I am doing this because I love the way it makes me feel, the people I meet, the food I enjoy, the sights I get to see and most of all the memories I am making.” She said “oh okay…”
The truth is I don’t think she understands why I am doing this or ever will. Actually I don’t think many people understand why I am doing this or any of the many people that do it are doing it. I mean honestly it is crazy and I understand that, but it’s too fucking amazing to not do it if you have ever dreamed about exploring the world. So now that I have been doing it for 500 days I thought I would share with you why I am doing this… yes it’s the same reasons I gave my mother and even though I know their is a MILLION reasons to travel the world these are mine.
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THE FEELINGS
Ahhh THE FEELINGS I have felt during the last 500 days are like no other I have ever felt. I have cried, I have laughed, I have been scared shitless, I have thought I was gonna die, I have felt so tiny, I have felt so alive, I have wanted to go home, I have wanted to never go home, I have wanted to crawl under a rock, I have felt like doing nothing, I have felt like doing so much, I have felt lost, I have felt found, I have felt loved, I have felt hated, I have felt disgusted, I have felt ashamed, I have felt hungover, I have felt the kindness of others, I have felt inspired, I have felt uninspired, I have felt joy, I have felt speechless, I have felt frustrated, I have felt fear, I have felt just about every emotion a human can possibly feel in a life time. This is what travel does to me… it’s a roller coaster of emotions and I’m in it for this ride. The ride that is life on Earth and rolling with punches one day at a time.
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THE FOOD & BEER
Ahhh THE FOOD & BEER yeah I know I didn’t mention the beer when I talked to my mom. She hates when I drink… I don’t blame her after all I did get arrested for Drinking & Driving at home (good thing I don’t drive anymore). So any-who… ahhh THE FOOD & BEER I have had during the last 500 days are like no other I have ever had. I have had Gallo Pinto in Costa Rica, Pupusas in El Salvador, Carne Asada in Mexico, Pizza, Pasta & Gelato in Italy, Tapas galore in Spain, Chocolate in Belgium, Cous Cous in Morocco, Gyros in Greece, Kofte in Turkey, Kosheri in Egypt, Talis in India. I have had all types of foods… I have loved some, hated others and felt “eh okay that was interesting about some”. I love eating and can never pass up a good meal. Along with eating anyone that knows me knows I fucking love BEER… love love love love love it. I have no shame… I am a beer drinker and I am willing to break my budget for beer. I don’t know much about beer or try to pretend I know the difference between the good ones and the bad ones… for me a beer is a beer and sometimes it will taste good and sometimes it won’t. Of course I have my favorites, but overall beer is beer like food is food. When you travel you get the chance to understand so many cultures through their food & their beer & I love it.
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THE SIGHTS
Ahhh THE SIGHTS I have seen during the last 500 days have been some of the most amazing sights on Earth. I have seen, the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, the beautiful Cathedrals of Nicaragua, Copan Ruinas in Honduras, Tikal in Guatemala, many of the Mayan Ruins in Mexico, the Eiffel Tower & Mona Lisa in Paris, Mannequin Piss in Brussels, the canals of Amsterdam, the memorial to Homosexuals in Berlin, lots of Gaudi’s masterpieces in Barcelona, the blue town of Chefchaouen, the crazy alley ways of Marrakech, magical Venice, Michelangelo’s David in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum in Rome, the Parthenon in Athens, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the Great Pyramids of Giza, many of the temples of ancient Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India and the list goes on. Anyone who tries to tell you you shouldn’t do the “touristy stuff” when you travel is full of shit… you should because ummm they are famous for a reason and amazing to see for your self. Even though sometimes I don’t understand what makes a sight a must see, I love that I have been able to see a lot of them and can’t wait to see more.
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THE PEOPLE
Ahhh THE PEOPLE I have met in the last 500 days have been some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. Some were old friends from when I went home for a few weeks, some were other travel bloggers I have been following for like ever and others I have been able to meet by chance on the road. With some I have made friendships that I know will last a lifetime, some I know were just for that moment in time. That is one of the joys of travel; along the way you meet so many like minded people that will just blow your mind away with what it is they are doing in life. The people on the road are the ones who understand you. Like when you talk about future trips that aren’t a two week vacation, but a year or two long adventure through South America or an overland adventure from Cape Town to Cairo. It’s the people you meet on the road that become your family, your friends, your partners in crime. It’s the people you meet on the road that make a place special. In the end yes you saw the sights, but it’s the crazy & fun moments you had with the people you met that will be the memories you cherish forever.
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THE MEMORIES
Ahhh THE MEMORIES I have made in the last 500 days are honestly some of the most amazing memories I have ever made. No photos can truly capture the essence of these moments and is why I didn’t put any. The memories I have made in the last 500 days are the memories I have shared with you and that I am going to be able to tell for years to come and can keep with me until the day I die. I will never forget the day my best friends dropped me off at the airport and I boarded my plane to Costa Rica, I will never forget arriving in San Jose, Costa Rica feeling so fucking scared and wondering if I was doing the right thing, I will never forget my first night in a hostel trying to meet other backpackers, I will never forget the feelings I get when I am crossing a border overland, I will never forget the time I was held at gunpoint, I will never forget the time I rolled down a volcano almost killing myself or the time I spent the night on a volcano with friends, I will never forget the time I gave a hand job on a chicken bus, or the time I woke up naked in Caye Caulker and found my swim trunks on top of a palm tree a few days later, or going skinny dipping in Manuel Antonio, Isla de Ometepe or Playa del Carmen or having sex on a few beaches, I will never forget my attending my brothers wedding or my best friends wedding, I will never forget the feelings I felt visiting some of the most amazing sights on Earth, or the hospitality of some of my readers, or people I have met around the world, I will never forget going to my first gay sauna in Madrid or dark room in Berlin, I will never forget the time I went camping in Germany or the many times I have slept at a bus station or airport around the world, I will never forget waking up to the sunrise in the Sahara Desert, I will never forget the time I got drunk on the streets of Rome, I will never forget my gay date in Cairo or falling in love in Egypt, I will never forget the time I volunteered in India or the time I thought I was going to die on a train ride in India, I will never forgI will never forget the time a local welcomed me to his home and cooked me one of the most amazing meals I have ever had in Morocco, I will never forget the time I witnessed history in Egypt by going to vote with him & then a week later celebrate the announcement of the 1st ever freely elected leader of Egypt, I will never forget all the small moments that make travel amazing like talking to the locals and just learning first hand how amazing the world really is. I can go on & on with the memories I have made on the road and the truth is it’s the memories that make travel priceless and the best thing anyone can ever purchase. It’s not tangible that is for sure, but it’s something you can take with you when you die.
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I hate writing post that try to persuade people to leave it all behind and travel the world (I also hate reading them). I know travel is not for everyone and I understand that. I know some people are happy with the lives they are living. I respect that just as much as many people respect what I am doing. The only thing I have ever tried to help people understand with my blog (aside from sharing my thoughts and crazy adventures) is that life is short… so why not live it on your terms and be happy? Happiness comes in a million shapes and sizes and that is something that helps make the world go round. For me exploring the world is what makes me happy and the last 500 days have been some of the most amazing days of my life and wanted to share why it is I am doing what I am doing. Even though I know I don’t wanna do this for ever… I think I can do it for like 500,000,000,001 more days!!!
I hope this gives you an understanding of why I truly love my life and am happy I busted my ass to make this happen. If you have a dream go out and conquer it… make it a reality and if you need help and think I can help send me an email. I am always happy to help anyone out!!! Ahh still can’t believe it’s been 500 days (okay 498 according to the counter, but on Friday it will be 500)… EEEeeee just amazing!!!
Oh & I know on day 400 I was lost as fuck in life, but I think I have things figured out now & will be writing about it very soon. I couldn’t be happier with life & the choices I am making.
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Now I wanna know why it is you do what you do? I don’t care if it’s travel related or not. Are you happy with your life… tell me why? If you do love to travel… why do you do it? What do you think of the reasons I love what I am doing?
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PREVIOUS MILESTONE THOUGHTS:
- 100 days into my “BREAKAWAY” & I don’t understand why “WE” don’t have equal rights.
- 200 days into my “BREAKAWAY” & I still get scared.
- 300 days into my “BREAKAWAY” & I know I don’t want to do this forever.
- A YEAR into my “BREAKAWAY” & I wonder if I will ever be able to go back to a “NORMAL” life?
- 400 days into my “BREAKAWAY” & ummmm yeah I’m LOST in life.
I love this post, and can so relate to it, even though my trip only lasted 178 days! 500, that is quite the milestone. And you’re right. Travel brings the strongest emotions and feelings to the forefront. No one can ever take those memories away from you!
Andrea recently posted..Henry on a chair.
Thanks Andrea, 178 is still a long adventure. I hope it’s not your last one. Travel really does make you feel every emotion you can imagine, but the memories you make are priceless.
Aww, it’s so sweet to read your answers to your Mom’s question. Excited to hear you’ve figured out what to do with your life. Could you figure out mine for me now, too?
Adam recently posted..The sound of Italy: overheard in Italy
Thanks Adam, yeah even though I answered her I don’t think she understand why I am doing it. Yes I finally… haven’t made it official so when I do I will write about it. Once I figure out mine for sure I think I can help you too.
So you have an idea what’s next?
Love the format and approach of this post.
Kent @ No Vacation Required recently posted..Don’t Be Trashy
Yup I sure do Kent, it was hard to decide this and am still scared to make it official so when I do I will share it.
Love this post, Jaime! You have done soooo many amazing things in the last 500 days, and you’ve seen so many stunning sights – incredible! That Cairo – Capetown overland adventure sounds great … can we join you? 😉
Thanks Dani & ummmm yeah you can join me. I don’t plan on doing it for a few years so I am sure we will be ready then.
Another great post, Jamie! I was actually visiting your site today to ask you a question and then read this article where you say if anyone needs help to email you, lol. So, I’m leaving in September for my African adventure and I still haven’t decided what to do about a phone. Not sure if I should take one and get sim cards or pick up a local phone when I go to new countries or just wing it without a phone. What do you do? If you’d rather email me back than answer here, feel free. I value your opinion and I’m curious what you’ve done. Thanks so much!!
Thanks so much Kelley, makes me happy you value my opinion. I will answer your question here because it’s actually quite simple. You DON”T need a cell phone on the road. Seriously I had been on the road for over 450 days and never had one or needed it. I only have one right now because I am LIVING in Cairo. I have a boyfriend and friends from here that I use the phone occasionally for. Other than that though I have never needed it. I travel with my laptop and use Skype as my phone for when I do wanna call someone at home. So I never bother with finding a local SIM card or getting a plan in a new country. Hope this helps… if you need anything else let me know. So where all is this African adventure taking you??? I wanna explore more of Africa one day.
Thank you Jamie! This is why I love following you – you really do value your readers 🙂 I have been struggling with this phone thing for a while and hear all kinds of things from other people and blogs. But I wasn’t sure if it was even worth all of the trouble. I mean who am I gonna call locally when I’m in Africa anyway, right? I will be using Skype also and traveling with my Mac. I’ve got my one-way ticket to Nairobi on 9/18 and I don’t know from there. I plan to do slow travel from there to S. Africa in whatever time it takes me. I don’t have a strict time frame to follow. I would so love to meet you sometime if we are ever in the same general area. When I (finally) get my blog up and running I’ll let you know. Thanks again for always replying to my comments/question!!
Your welcome Kelley, I really do value my readers and will always be willing to help them out travel related or not. Yeah I mean you just honestly don’t need it. YOu will be find with it & now that I know you have your Mac & Skype… you are golden. That is all you really need. Sounds like you are gonna have quite the ADVENTURE with a one ticket and not sure where you are going. I would be so scared jajaja… good luck. It’s nice to travel slow & yes it would be nice to finally meet. Let me know when you get your blog up would love to read it and also add it to my blog roll. Your Welcome again and any time… don’t hesitate, I have the contact form up at the top. ;)~
I don’t know what else to say apart from that I LOVE this post! This is exactly what we all go through on the road; the rollercoaster of life. I LOVE your photo collages too. Just a gorgeous post; well done hun!
Toni recently posted..Why do we call ourselves solo female backpackers?
Thanks so much Toni, that is what travel is the roller-coaster of life, but on the road where everything is amplified a million times more…lol!!!
I think this post is proof that you shouldn’t ever give up. I was reading when you were down-and-out and wanted to go home, and I was reading when you were over the moon! Keep up the good work mate. Oh, and damn you take a lot of photos. Shared.
Ian [EagerExistence] recently posted..Chupinazo de San Fermin
That is right Ian you should never give up. Many times on the road I have wanted to go home cus it got hard or I just missed it, but the truth is in the end it’s all worth it. The memories and the adrenaline make it worth it. Oh & yes I take WAYYYY TOOOO many photos.
Awesome Jaime! Congrats on 500 days! I still can’t believe we’ve known each other, at least through twitter, since before you even had set plans for this trip. I’m so proud of you for making it happen and following through and sticking with it when things got tough. I’m glad we were finally able to meet in Valencia (and that you used a picture of me, you and Val in your collage). I’m so happy for you for all the memories and great experiences you’ve had, and I know there are lots more to come. HUGS!! (And yes I still owe you an email…)
Ali recently posted..The Time I Thought Our Plane Might Crash
Thanks Ali, so much. I know it’s crazy to think how long we have known each other… we have known each other for years. We had been following each other way before at the planning stations of our crazy adventures. I am glad we did meet and spent a week in Valencia and am glad we have been able to keep our friendship. Oh & no rush on the email, but yes cheers to the many more memories to come and hope our paths cross again. I did love Germany after all… so maybe I will be back one day.
Well, if you do make it back to Germany, come visit our end of it! We have a guest room 🙂
Ali recently posted..The Time I Thought Our Plane Might Crash
Don’t tell me that cus you know I will use it. I hope I make it back & if I do I will be visiting yall for sure.
Loving this post, Jaime! I think (hope) my family get why I’m in Korea and why I’ll go round the world next year – at least, they’ve never questioned me about it (yet). The feelings, the memories, the people, the FOOD – you experience so much. I’ve experienced so much in Korea alone, I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for me in other countries, too.
Oh, and I’m with you on the beer thing. Korean beer is meant to be terrible, but I love the stuff. I drank some supposedly world-class beer at a pub in Seoul once that had been imported from Europe. My friends loved it, but I spat it out as I thought it tasted like cat piss (it was called Alley Cat after all – coincidence?) Although I’ve gotta say, I’m more of a spirits drinker than a beer man myself.
Waegook Tom recently posted..Jeju Black Pork
Thanks WT, it’s like I think they understand but then at the same time I think they don’t understand. The truth is you really do experience so much that it changes you. It changes the way you see things, the way you think of things, the way you feel about things, it changes everything.
Glad I am not alone on the beer thing… I hate when people start asking me about like the fancy beers I’ve had, ummm I don’t care. I just love beer… oh & I love VODKA so much more, but it really makes me a HOTTER mess when I drink and well it’s normally not as cheap as BEER so I stick to that…lol!!!
Wow the photo collages gave me chills, what an incredible adventure you have had. I’m so happy I was there for just a small part of it.
Ayngelina recently posted..Food Friday: Jugo Verde
Glad you liked the collages Ayngelina & yes I am so happy you were a part of it even if it was a few days. It was a fun few days in Italy… & you will forever be able to blame me about your visit to McDonalds…lol!!!
500 days already… oh wow… 500 days of seeing a variety of sights, eating great food and meeting amazing people!!! cheers to more happy days Jaime!!! hope all is well in egypt 🙂
Thanks very much Flip… yeah I can’t believe how fast time flies. Things are great in Egypt & I am still hoping our paths cross one day.
Congratulations on reaching 500 DAYS!! What an extraordinary adventure you’ve been on. You’ve grown so much with every new experience on the road. Your blog is always a pleasure to read because you share so much of yourself. You asked, “why is it you do what you do?” I just have to point back at this post. THIS is why I’m gearing up for travel, YOUR STORY is a parallel of the story I want to create from my own life. CHEERS!!
Patricia GW recently posted..The Phoenix Rises from the Ashes
Thanks so much Pat… it really has been a crazy adventure, but so amazing. It really has helped me grow up and see things in my life and our world so differently. I’m so happy you enjoy reading my blog and that is has helped and motivated you to gear up for your travels. You know I am here if you need anything so don’t hesitate to ask me. CHEERS to many more days… and hoping our paths cross one day.
I recently came across your website… somehow, and ive never felt more inspired! I currently am living in London after moving from Australia and now I know the next stage I want to take my journey is around the world travel. The only problem I have is how expensive it can be, well expensive to me anyway.
What would you reccomend the bare minimum amount of money to begin with being?
In awe of your trip to Egypt… one of the places ive always wanted to go!
Oh wow thank you so much Ellen. I am glad you found my site & am glad I can inspire you. If you take a journey like this it is something you will never forget or ever regret… it’s a life changing experience. As for what amount you can start with it all depends on where you are going or for how long you are going… if you are gonna work or not. You must visit Egypt though… and when you do I can give you many tips. I know I didn’t answer your question really cus I need to know a bit more info so please use the contact me form at top and msg me. I will reply and answer any questions you may have.