Meet Karo. She has been a friend of ours for close to a decade. Over the years we have watched and admired her as she travelled all over the world. As with any nomadic friendship, face to face visits are seldom. But it is just a matter of time until we find ourselves in the same country again, sharing some laughs over a nice cold beer. Read on to get some of Karo’s insight on travelling.

Where are you from?
Canada

How long have you been travelling?
This trip has been for 2 months.

Tell us about your current/most recent trip?
Jamaica. It was great. Very chilled out. The people are super friendly and talk to all people. The water is crystal clear and blue. The people can get annoying though. It wasn’t as adventurous as I like but I was just with friends and family, at a wedding.

What inspired you to start travelling?
I believe the world is meant to be travelled. It’s important for others to see how and where other humankind live. Travelling opens your mind and creates so much education that you cannot acquire with your everyday life.

What does a typical day of travel look like for you?
Everyday usually varies. It is usually breakfast, and a plan for what we or I want to check out for the day. Then something active of course!

What is your favourite and least favourite part of travelling?
My favourite part is the never knowing what the day will bring, every day you learn so many new things, meet new people and get to experience different lifestyles, events and activities. My least favourite part would have to be spending money and not having a kitchen (for very long) and gym (I love to weight train and cook meals).

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
The language barrier between English and Spanish and trying to get your point across when you cant understand each other!

What is your favourite place you have travelled to and why?
I would say Peru. The outdoor adventures were amazing and seeing Machu Picchu was stunning! I met so many amazing people there and everyone was always up for an adventure. The price was very fitting and the culture doesn’t rip you off like a lot of other countries. I also loved Japan. It was very different and interesting. And the culture is very polite and respectful.

How do you make it work financially? (ie. did you save for the trip? are you working? living on a budget,etc?)
Budget and savings – I don’t own many materialistic things at all and never have – which allows me to save – I also don’t spend my money on foolish things or on much self-maintenance. I always save my money and create a budget of what I am allowed to spend when travelling

Aside from the basics (money, passport, backpack), what are 3 items you can’t live without?
My phone (for investigation of adventures maps and translating), my knife, and baby wipes (shower on the go).

What is your least favourite place you have travelled to and why?
I like everything in its own way but I would probably have to say Playa del Carmen and Cancun (in Mexico) – the culture was too pushy with sales and they rip you off. I also found Fiji very boring. Beautiful but boring as heck to me.

What makes a trip successful to you?
Being able to stay healthy while buildings memories and learning anything new. Going home and having a whole new way of thinking and more stories to tell.

Have you been anywhere which turned out to be totally different to how you imagined? If so, how?
Guatape – Columbia I didn’t think it would be such a rad town with quite a few activities and culture. You need more than a day trip there. They only suggest one day but that’s not enough. We stayed three.

What do you think the biggest misconception is about travelling?
I think a lot of people think it’s “luck” or easy… which isn’t the case at all – you have to be prepared in so many ways and create a lifestyle that allows you the freedom to travel. Therefore, it’s not lucky – you don’t win the lottery or dodge getting hit by a car, it’s hard work and preparation to travel. It isn’t always easy either (especially when on a budget) sometimes you end up in really uneasy accommodation or situations, or even lost – so you have to have some wits about safety and navigation.

What do people never ask you about your life of travel that you wished they did?
How do you decide where you want to go? Or, how do you save and create a life that allows for so much travel?

If you could recommend one book to a friend, what would it be?
Oh .. you got me… I never read books – maybe “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to travel, what would it be?
Please go do it – it opens your eyes so much to how you think and how you deal with situations in eveyday life – it builds an awesome personality and helps you learn and educate yourself in ways you would never think if you just stayed in one place. You also appreciate so much more when you see the different lifestyles of 3rd world countries. Nature has such a powerful positive impact on us.

If you want to follow along on Karo’s travels, you can find her on instagram here:
@krazykaro4