1 Month until Australia: Final Planning and Preparation

1 Month until Australia: Final Planning and Preparation

Okay so it's been a countdown for months, a long process building toward something that probably won't feel real until the day we leave, maybe not even until the day we arrive on Aussie soil. Check out our last update for more info on what we have been up to!

In the last twelve months, we have...

The first round of clothes for charity :)

• Saved up the funds to get us started!
• Checked our passports were in date.
• Secured our Working Holiday Visa's.
• Booked our flights.
• Organized our first accommodation through AirB'n'B.
• Bought bits and bobs, clothing, gadgets, and Hannah's backpack.
• Signed up to the Trusted Housesitter's site.
• Made many contacts that we hope to meet up with along the way.
• Researched info on Tax-file number, Medicare and travel insurance.
• Got our first round of vaccines not including more tropical disease ones!

TIP: Double-check if you have organized your seating/meals by looking online at your flight reservation.

The Next Steps...

• Buy travel insurance.
• Apply for a travel-friendly credit card (for emergencies! and sometimes hostels like to use a card for a booking).
• Polish off our CV's.
• Get extra passport photos taken.
• Have some more vaccines and review other medical stuff.
• Throw away more clutter and store our stuff away.
• Check out important contact numbers for things like lost cards, lost passports etc.
• Research the best bank accounts to know which one to open when we arrive.
• Pack and weigh our baggage.
• Print-out our ticket and visa details.

TIP: Go over your flight timings and arrange airport transit which allows for travel disturbance.

So despite our desire to ditch our normal lives and take off free and easily, a lot of planning has gone into Australia. We haven't done a lot of research on every possible destination we'd like to visit but we have a vague idea, many recommendations, blogger's to advise us, and a Lonely Planet guide to have a gander at.

We want to be a little more relaxed and less structured in our plans once we are there, we just needed to make sure all the boring but necessary stuff has been sorted. A great adventure begins with some great planning!

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Making the most of our time left here in England!

1 YEAR LATER, CHECK OUT OUR AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES SO FAR!

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at NomaderHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

Recommended Reads:

A Quick Guide to Clever Outfit Choices [Backpacking Tips]

*This post was created prior to our trip. Our backpacks look a little different now...but this method was a great way to be prepared*

A Quick Guide to Clever Outfit Choices [Backpacking Tips]

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STAGE 1: Clothes Overload

It's just over a month until we leave old blighty for sunnier shores. Packing is happening! 

My clothing and other stuff have been gathering dust in the spare bedroom/dumping-ground so I decided to have a dummy-run of packing my bag. I would say at this stage I am fairly organized.

It looks like a lot, right?

Yes...well I knew this stage of travel prep would create problems. I bring lots of outfit choices to Taran's house for my weekend stays, just so I have something nice to wear for all eventualities. And who knows what you be in the mood for each day!

Sad? Maybe a tad vain? I don't think so. So there :).

Clothing choices can contribute a lot to how comfortable you feel doing different activities and can improve your mood and confidence levels. Just because you will be travelling, leading a different lifestyle, it doesn't suddenly mean you lose all interest in fashion, or how you look. Fashion is fun after all, and there's no reason you can't maintain your personal sense of style whilst on the road.

Plus, it's probably a good idea to make sure you aren't packing too much of some things and too little of others!

I want to be prepared for every eventuality when we are travelling so I have carefully selected items of clothing/shoes which go together well. I must admit, I am a bit of a colour-freak, I enjoy matching my socks to my jumper...less enjoy, more obsessive compulsive!

HOW TO DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR AND WHAT NOT TO WEAR:

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STAGE 2: Just keep rollin rollin rollin'

1. Assemble a pile of clothes which relate to the climate you are travelling to

Include a hoody and waterproof jacket for cooler nights of camping or getting caught in the rain (pina-colada's optional). Ensure you have the right clothing for needing to be either covered up, among nature, or free-flowing-and-airy. Australia, for example, might be a hot country in many places but your body soon acclimatizes, and 20-degree weather starts to feel a bit cold!

2. Note the quality of the clothing

Remove well-worn or never-worn things such as those sun-tan stained white vests and too-tight shorts. If you intend to travel in rough terrain or go hiking etc and think that you might be ruining some clothing anyway, maybe consider taking an older item that you'd be okay with throwing away whilst on the road!

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STAGE 3: Packing Cubes cometh!

3. Fold different categories of clothing into small piles

E.g. t-shirts in one pile, shorts in another. Now discard one item from each pile. Yep...pick one up and toss it aside in a dramatic manner. Go with your instinct, don't make a piece of clothing more special or useful than it truly is.

This approach helps you approach a more minimal yet functional wardrobe, which you will later appreciate when you are carrying it all on your back and having a major sweat meltdown.

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STAGE 4: Oh yes, stuff to make me pretty and sweet-smelling!

4. Put together different outfit combinations

Look at what works and what doesn't and discard items accordingly. You want to be able to throw any item of clothing on and it work with another piece, being both appropriate for travel and something you feel happy in. 

5. Now it's time to focus of footwear

I am taking a pair of running/walking trainers, vans, haviana's and possibly some other gladiator-style-sandal, for when I want to be fancy. But I'm on the fence about fancy shoes, because it's worth considering your style of dressing whilst at home.

Do you go for comfort over style most of the time? I could happily spend all summer in just flip-flops and vans, so maybe that's what I will end up with.

6. Be brutal

You don't need two play-suits, or three different beach dresses. In your usual wardrobe, you usually favour one dress or one jacket over all your others, so remember that you will most likely take this habit with you. Don't take stuff you just won't use!

So the reality of successful outfit packing is that you don't need endless options, you just need to make selective and thoughtful choices based on what you are most likely to use and wear happily. And pack nothing that doesn't fit that criteria! 

STAGE 5: Packed and ready to hit the road. If in doubt just do what I do and wear pyjamas.

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

Latest Posts:

Quit The Job You Hate and Find Your Passion

Quit The Job You Hate and Find Your Passion

In March 2015 we left behind our full-time working lives and embarked on a more nomadic way of living by hitting the road with just our backpacks, each other, and an Australia Lonely Planet guide...

Work has become temporary and short-term, mainly to fund more travelling as opposed to fulfil any career-based dreams.

If this isn't quite you're reality just yet or you are in the process of planning a more nomadic or simplified lifestyle, you can take yourself nearer to it with a little bit of introspection, to help you carve out a career that you will love, and will love you back!

Keep reading for how to leave behind a career that is sucking your energy and find something better!

Make a Passion Brainstorm

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Apparently people call them spider-diagram's these days...but I'm old-fashioned!

• Write down all the things you love, which inspire you and make you feel truly happy and fulfilled... stuff which gets you up and out of bed in the morning, that makes you smile or laugh until you cry.
• Get down some keywords about why these things motivate you.

My list relates to being outside, playing with animals, being my own boss, which all translated well into my previous job as a self-employed dog-walker!

What careers do you NOT want to do?

Its wise to get to the great ideas by eliminating the bad ones first.

• Which careers make you feel depressed at the mere thought of them.
• What jobs have you done in the past that you hated. Write these down.
• Next to them write keywords as to why these jobs made you feel crappy.

The point of this is to establish if there are any common factors of past jobs or undesirable careers which make them unappealing and unsuitable for your personality.

You can then discover what motivates you within the workplace and better understand what path to go down.

What jobs have always inspired you?

As a kid I decided I wanted to be a journalist, which back then meant writing in magazines and newspapers.

I had no understanding of the true nature of journalism and nowadays its an entirely different media landscape anyway.

But still, there was something about writing which inspired me, and today, I have translated that into travel blogging.

• Think back to the jobs or careers which have taken your interest over the years.
• Look at careers that friends and family have.
• Consider whether there are opportunities for beginning your own business or entering self-employment.

Be guided by the purity of your child-like inquisitiveness, it definitely counts for something.

What do you do well in everyday life?

You might enjoy reading and long hot baths, as established by your passion brainstorm, but not all of your hobbies can be translated into a job...

• List your best attributes e.g. are you kind, generous, patient, a good listener?
• Consider any positive praise you've received in previous jobs or education.
• Take note of any skills or competencies you have obtained.
• Are you an organized, time-efficient person? Do you enjoy working at pace on repetitive tasks? Do you need social interaction every day to refresh yourself? Do you prefer freedom over structure?
• Begin to form a picture of what type of work your personality suits, what you need from a job and what will get your best efforts and energy.

Confidence will be key when you do go looking for a job. Knowing what makes you special and individual is so important, in all walks of life.

Now...Mix it all up in a melting-pot of jobby-goodness.

So you've established what you like, what you don't like, what makes you feel good within a job, and you've reminded yourself of your childhood aspirations.

You have taken the time to consider your strengths, weaknesses, as well as personal attributes which would be well-suited to certain careers.

You've learnt a lot more about yourself, which makes it all the more easier to find your dream career path.

The above steps may have either made it clear what you don't want to do, or what you do want.

In the least hopefully it has guided your interest and focus toward a job which will make your life all the more positive, fulfilling and purposeful. Or you might have learned that spending your days doing something which isn't in-line with your heart and soul, is the most time-wasting use of your awesome little life.

Now it's time to research, and learn all you can about what it takes to pursue your shiny new career dreams!

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at NomaderHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

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That Wasn't Flying, It Was Falling With Style!

That Wasn't Flying, It Was Falling With Style!

While in England me and Hannah went indoor skydiving!

It was her Xmas present from me. I thought we'd squeeze one more awesome activity in before we head to Oz! Plus it's prep for the real skydive!

I'm definitely not skydiving, but Taran is pretty adamant, so I will remain adamant until the moment we are jumping out of a plane together...

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I just wish they had let go of us more so we could fly ourselves :P

Taran booked our indoor flights through Airkix, a company with centres in Manchester, Basingstoke and Milton Keynes. The deal was called Shairkix and was based on two people/a couple doing two flights (with the instructor) and then a flight together.

We watched everyone else doing their flights first, and it was quite a sight, seeing everyone's faces being pushed back on their heads by the force of the wind tunnel haha! And it looked ridiculously fun!

Our instructor Zac then called us all through for a pre-flight safety chat, then we all got suited and booted.

We all had to file in to a seating area next to the tunnel, and just like the para-glide we did in the summer, Taran volunteered us to go first. I feel like that's gonna happen a lot in Australia...

Taran immediately got the technique down. Effortless. The lady sat next to me said ""Has he done this before? and I proudly shook my head; "No but he knew he'd be good at it!". Because Taran is always good at physical stuff, whereas me, I am on the other end of the scale in terms of co-ordination, clumsiness and strength.

At the end of the flight, he was brave enough to do the whirly-twisty thing the instructor does (technical term) where he takes you up and down the tunnel. You remain in the flight position and hold still, and then he grabs hold of you, spinning crazy fast right up to the top and down again.

Then came time for my flight. I took my position at the entry way, arms in front of me, firsts balled, and i just leapt forward and let myself fall. Except you don't fall, the whoosh of the air lifts you up, and you get into the flying position, watching out for the instructors hand signals. I was constantly told to straighten my legs, and i think i was seeing the signal, understanding it, but too flummoxed to follow it through!

The sensation of flying and not falling, achieving a feat that is impossible in any other situation, is so overwhelming you almost forget to enjoy it because your body is so focused on holding position, thinking that the slightest adjustment or movement could see you plummet down. But you don't really, its pretty idiot-proof!

I opted out of the whirly-twisty-thing, and just before the end of my flight I realized I wasn't breathing, as I had my jaw clamped shut and the air was coming up with such force I just couldn't regulate myself, so I panicked a bit and left the tunnel just before the end of my flight :(

Then came the couples flight!

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Taran kept saying to me, "breathe through your mouth!" and it helped. Once we got in there I focused on that and I was suddenly able to enjoy it! We both got into our positions quite nicely, and the instructors did some cheesy posing guiding us to kiss each other. I was laughing hysterically. Taran was loving it.

The only bad thing about it, it was all over so fast. By the time you learn how to breathe with air whooshing into your face, and manage to hold the right position, the clock runs out of time. But it was such a buzz albeit a brief one. We'd definitely do it again and more regularly, so that we could then go in without an instructor and really mess about!

Another awesome experience ticked off, and an amazing birthday gift.

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

Recommended reads:

Minimalism Will Make You A Calmer Person: Cleaning Out Your Home

Minimalism Will Make You A Calmer Person: Cleaning Out Your Home

You have lead a busy, complex and interesting life.

Along the way you have collected many a souvenir. These now gather dust on shelves, which are fit to bust, with all manner of things you've been gifted or bought. Your drawers overflow with every colour of your favourite t-shirt, numerous pairs of jeans, and scarves of various patterns.

You find you never have any space to put the new stuff you acquire.

If this does indeed sound like you, then you're most likely a human. And us humans generally collect, hoard and keep things. We end up with so many options and versions of the same object, yet usually favour only a small selection on a daily basis.

We hold onto things which remind us of a happy memory. We surround ourselves with artefacts of the past, and the future, in the form of DVD's, books, as yet unread, the promise of entertainment held within an object.

Contrasting our beloved nostalgic remnants, sit shiny smart televisions, laptops, tablets and state-of-the-art coffee-makers. In fact some of our most prized possessions our items that bring us instant gratification.

Our homes are saturated with evidence that supports the hopeful belief that yes, we are leading full lives; we are in touch with modern technology, but also cherish our past life moments.

But don't you ever feel smothered by it all?

I must confess, in my bedroom at home, only a select few sentimental objects are sat on the surface of the drawers or window-sill, as most of my things are orderly and neatly tidied away.

I feel calm and relaxed when I am not surrounded by stuff and that's how I kept my room something of a sanctuary. A place in which I can be creative, or relax, unencumbered by any random clutter, itmes representing hobbies which lasted 5 minutes or fashions that never really fit my style.

Our website says it all about our minimalist approach, as we like to keep the design simple and clean, because there are only a few important things that the reader needs to see on a page; the focus should always be the post content, not links or ad's, here there and everywhere.

I keep as much of my life as simple as possible.

I often view mess or clutter as being loud, or as disrupting my attempts to develop inner calm, with the purpose of meditation being that we find peace in the emptiness of a clear-mind. So I aim for a stress-free feeling by living in a minimalistic way.

I don't want to surround myself with literal or object noise, and so, to feel calm, I want my surroundings to reflect only calmness back at me.

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4 steps to creating a minimalistic life inside your home:

It's time for a giant clean-out.

You have to begin somewhere and the best place to start is condensing your material possessions down to the categories of Needed, Irreplaceable and Redundant.

• These things will then be sorted between rubbish/trash, charity, and keep. 
• Begin with a small room or a section of a room and start getting rid of things.
• Choose a drawer, a side or a cupboard and remove everything from it and then consider each items use.
• Ask yourself, always, does this item have any current relevance in my life and does it hold sentimentality.

More often than not you find yourself throwing away much more than you would of expected.

Say bye-bye to the three different electric whiskers but maybe not to the 35 baby photos; consider repurposing these into wall-art, or storing them for a less cluttered aesthetic.

Get Rid Of Furnishings

You may find less need for the 3 chests of chunky drawers once you've reduced your stuff down and so its time to donate these to charity, a friend, or the recycling plant, for some lucky person to make their own.

• You could sell these things on and use the money to fund your travels or an experience, but not for buying more stuff.
• Donating these things to a charity shop will allow them to take on new life, where people less fortunate than you who want to furnish their home on the cheap can re-use and re-purpose them for their own lives.
• Consider how you use your current furniture. Is it organized, well-positioned and purposeful?

Focus on creating a more tranquil space that is more conducive to chill-time, and whatever it is you do to relax or unwind.

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Organize Your Daily Life

Ted.com Writer and designer Graham Hill asks: Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness? He makes the case for taking up less space, and lays out three rules for editing your life.

Your giant clean-out doesn't mean you will suddenly have nothing to tidy, so its time to put things in the places that are at ease with your everyday routine.

• I have all the random things which I use daily, neatly arranged in my desk drawer, so that I don't need to look through every drawer I have to find them.
• My paperwork that I need to keep but never look at sits in the boring filing drawer, along with other stuff I don't need daily but still have to keep safe.
• When doing this exercise you often find even more things to discard. Prioritizing organisation in your home or bedroom allows you to consider what things you really need and want.

It's amazing how much momentum you gain each time you de-clutter, you just get more bold and more brutal!

Now Discard Even More Stuff.

I may now live a more minimalist life but I once was the person who hoarded every plastic bag I ever acquired and managed to have three moneybags of batteries, none of which I could be sure had any juice left.

So quite often after I have already reduced down my stuff, I still find small extraneous bits that I can dispose of. 

Maybe you weren't harsh enough to begin with and so its time to go full minimalist-mode!!

• Clean out your kitchen cupboards. Donate good crockery and accessories to charity.
• Look at your multiples. Do you have too many shoes that are all alike, too many pairs of socks, half of which have holes in. Leave yourself with less things but more quality options instead.
• Assess your paperwork. Get rid of all the things you thought you should have kept that date back 5 years. Organize what remains into a file, and consider scanning really important doc's in and backing them up.

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Its a constantly fun and never-ending release of tension downsizing my personal stuff footprint.

I have less desire for more stuff, thus less of that drive to consume, which allows me to live a financially sustainable and less wasteful life.

Maybe you too could try some of the above ideas, if you want to feel lighter in stuff and quieter on the inside, but heavier in the bank account, and more fulfilled in general. Having less can bring you so much more in quality interactions, relaxation time and unlock new interests and passions you previously hadn't considered.

You have lead a busy, complex and interesting life... https://t.co/Arx2obdZb7 #minimalism #minimalist #calm pic.twitter.com/bNlMYYcBUa

— Taran & Hannah (@Nomaderhowfar) May 19, 2016

Before you go, just to let you know, you can now buy my Minimalism book! It's a more in-depth guide to de-cluttering your home, organizing your life, refining your spending habits and simplifying your relationship with your technology.

Amazon UK Store / US Store / AU Store / CA Store

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Thanks for reading!

Want more reads like this? You can now find Hannah in her own online space, Good Intentions. Minimalism, mindfulness, conscious living and self-love; all the good stuff centred around being kinder to yourself, and kinder to the world.

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Saving On A Low Income

Saving On A Low Income

Hey Taran here, I wanted to share some info on my savings and how they have been coming along over the past half a year. Maybe this page could also help you reduce your outgoings and put a little more towards your next adventure!

So for almost exactly a year now me and Hannah have been saving all we can towards our big adventure, both of us have had a hard time,

Hannah had a debt she needed to clear before she could start saving so this a was very uninspiring way to start saving as it was almost like throwing money into a black hole..

I on the other had had no debts, but I have been on quite a low income for years now. I have been earning around £400 a month which at the start of my saving venture was very annoying; I had my car, my phone, rent and then food to cover! Which left me with very little to put into savings.. I was maybe saving £100 a month at best :(

But as time went by my savings slowly grew, and I made some pretty big changes to help them out!

Firstly my phone had just come to the end of its contract and so I ended that, saving me £40 a month! I found it quite easy to do that as I had never really been a big texter/caller I tend to use 'watsapp' to contact my friends anyway, and now I just rely on Wi-Fi to use my phone.

Then my car insurance/tax/MOT ran out about 4 months ago, I decided I didn't need my car anymore as I was able to cycle to work. So I sold my car for a small sum of £150 (not many space art fanatics out there I guess) and I have found that I feel quite free with out the car surprisingly! Avoiding traffic and getting exercise at the same time is great, and public transport really ain't that bad :P

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I ran out of canvas's to paint one day..

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A piece I did for my brother!

On the subject of Space art, selling my paintings also helped put a little extra dollar into my pocket which really helped me out, even if I was only selling the majority of my work to family/friends :P

I also tried my hardest to make presents for my family for Xmas and birthdays; I've made custom mp3 players out of old car speakers and metal boxes, a memory box for when I am away, awesome tie dye clothing And special one off paintings!

And so with only 2 months left to save, I have now managed to reduce my outgoing bills to.... ZERO! Which I am really proud of, no contract phone, no car and my dad has refused to take any rent for these last few months before we leave. Couple that with having great friends who know that we are saving every penny and are more than happy to buy us a drink down the pub, meaning very nearly every penny that comes in, goes towards our adventure!

Here's to an awesome 2015 in Oz!

Check out Hannah's '40 ways to Save Money Every Day' for more tips!

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at NomaderHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

Recommended reads:

Why Making the World a Better Place Begins With You

This thought-provoking post comes from Kate, the woman behind The Holistic Nomad, a travel and holistic lifestyle blog.

Why Making the World a Better Place Begins With You

We live in chaotic times, where corruption, war, violence, oppression, environmental destruction, widespread poverty and corporate greed are considered the norm. In fact, if you look back through history, this is a recurring theme.

Unfortunately, many people accept this as “just the way things are.” They say our world is flawed because we, as humans, are flawed. They maintain that it’s simply “human nature.” But I disagree.

I believe the declining health of our world is an indication that we have moved away from a heart-centered manner of living.

We are conditioned to believe we are separate. We are fooled into thinking resources are scarce – that there is not enough to go around – and thus, we are driven to view life as a competition. “If you’re not first, you’re last.” Society propagates this divisiveness, this self-serving mentality. We are taught to build up walls – both literally and figuratively – to hoard possessions, to place emphasis on externalities instead of what truly matters.

We are expected to follow the status quo, to accumulate material wealth and social status, rather than spiritual wealth and meaningful experiences. We seek big pay checks, fancy cars and approval from others to validate our existence because we have forgotten that we are all interconnected, that we are all a part of something greater.

But what if things could be different?

Well, guess what? They can. It all starts with us.

Is it overly idealistic to envision a world in which peace is the norm? Where love reigns supreme, environmental stewardship trumps corporate greed and humanity lives in harmony with one another and the earth? Some people may argue that this will never happen, but I think it could.

The state of our world is but a reflection of our inner landscape.

In order for change to occur, it must be preceded by a shift in mindset. Though it may sound cliché, we must embody the qualities we hope to see manifested – we must be the change we wish to see in the world. We must trade in the tired, old paradigms for a fresh perspective. We must seek first to know the truth and then to live it.

While travel tends to shed light on the cruel injustices of the world, it also provides a glimpse into the commonalities shared by humanity, regardless of cultural background.

My own experiences have restored my faith in the inherent goodness of others and underscored the blissful feeling of connectedness.

Ultimately, we are all human. We are all in this together. Let’s start acting like it.

We must remember that every thought, word and action contributes to either the destruction or the rebuilding of civilization. Let’s band together for the common good of all life on this planet. Imagine what remarkable things a society based on love, compassion, unity and growth could accomplish.

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

Recommended reads:

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4 Things Travel Movies Taught Me

4 Things Travel Movies Taught Me

You watch comedy movies to laugh, romantic films to feel less bitter about love, thrillers to forget a dull day, but you watch travel movies to go on a metaphorical journey alongside the main character; you want to escape too.

Well I do anyway...

I feel like I have actually left the sofa and ditched the dorito's when I watch the character go on an amazing and life-changing journey, albeit without getting as cold, hot, hungry or depressed as some dishevelled travellers do.

But these kind of films don't just make you think about how cool it would be to take the same adventures, they can also awaken a deep part in all of us, and inspire our true wayfaring whimsy.

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The first movie which got me in that deep place, was Into The Wild.

What a beaut of a film.

Based on the true story from a novel of the same title, it follows young American man, Christopher McCandless (played by Emile Hirsch) who having just graduated University in the early 1990's, leaves home for the open road, abandoning his parents hopes for his career, and sets off on his own quest of self-discovery. Chris assumes the name 'Alexander Supertramp', discarding his old identity, all his money,  and his faithful old car, very early on in his journey.

Chris had a natural inquisitiveness, empathy and a very intelligent mind which took him beyond wanting to follow his peers and their yuppy fortune-seeking lifestyles.

Such a life was devoid of meaning to him, and so he sought to get to grip with the raw truth and beauty of life, which for some is found only through travel and being in touch with nature.

I feel the same way much of the time. Even if you travel for a month not long-term the influence it can have on the rest of your life can be quite profound.

This movie taught me, among many other things (including that embarking alone into the Alaskan wilderness is ill-advised) that joy can be found alone but is only really fully actualized when experienced with others.

I tend to be an bit too independent, sometimes scared of other people, and kind of introverted. I find alone-time highly restorative and peaceful and I think travel can be a personal thing where you will change and develop within yourself.

But Chris's story has made me realize how important experiencing the travelling life with other people is. In fact sharing the journey is integral to truly building inner happiness and fulfilment.

There is so much wisdom and kindness out there, in people of all ages and backgrounds, who can teach you how to live and love, much better than you could of figured out on your own.

As you see in the film, this was the main thing Chris himself learnt too.

Another movie that is equally memorable for its stunning visuals and the lone-man traveller-trope, is of course, The Beach.

Here comes another wide-eyed twenty-something American guy, in the form of Richard (Leo Dicaprio) but this time he's in the more tropical location of Thailand.

Handed a map to a mysterious island, he sets off to find it; and yes he finds a heavenly island with an amazing beach, but he also finds trouble, in the form of a cultish female-leader, some unfortunate deaths, and ends up being banished from the secretive group who call the island home. Subsequently he goes a bit crazy whilst fending for himself in the forest.

But it ends well for Richard, even if it seems very hairy in parts.

Whilst the story represents the idea of respecting nature and trying not to take paradise and make it our own, the main lesson I take from it, is to follow your spirit of adventure and stray off the beaten-track, but do this to enjoy the moment to moment of discovery and the experience of seeking out a view, or a secret beach; feeding your curiosity and walking paths un-walked is where the adventure is.

Taran always says the joy is in the journey to somewhere not the actual destination.

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The next is a documentary, As It Happens: Pacific Crest Trail. We found this via YouTube, and it follows two young guys who met hiking the Appalachian trail, and decide to take on the 2650 mile walk from Mexico to Canada together.

This film certainly removes any notions of the romanticism of a solo trip of self-discovery in a way the other movie's couldn't; there's nothing easy or pleasant about walking hours upon hours upon days, through blistering heat, then searing cold.

But nonetheless it is inspiring to watch these two friends embark on this crazy ride together, see the people they meet along the way, all from different walks of life, taking on the trail for varied reasons.

The film confirms that yes you have to be fully prepared, mentally and physically, for anything like walking the pacific crest trail if you want to survive, but you can never be totally ready for what the experience will do to you.

The sense of accomplishment the hikers feel at the end, is abundant, but the importance wasn't on reaching the end, it was about finding the strength to survive and thrive one moment to the next.

Such a feat of achievement like this will see you lose weight, gain blisters and a deep suntan, alongside timeless memories of the stunning vista's and great characters who make the journey special and life-changing.

I might not be hiking any major trails anytime soon but I will take the friends solid attitude of perseverance and determination with me, to help through any struggles I might find on the road.

The final film which has inspired us is another documentary, 180 Degrees South. It follows wanderer, surfer and mountain-climber Jeff Johnson, as he travels to Patagonia in South America, a barren and beautiful land.

This is very much a story about being in love with nature and that need to feel close to it, the ethos which guides the old and young men we get to meet through the film.

Jeff himself was inspired to go to Patagonia by Yvon Chouinard and his climbing party who traversed many a mountain in the 1960's, and they are the figures which give this travel documentary a different edge. 

At its core it is about conservation and having an ecological conscience.

No individual is naive to the effect our rapidly progressing society has on nature, how our increasing demand for big lives in the big city leads to the destruction and contamination of all the things which make this earth worth exploring.

Its a sad indictment if not a shocking one, when you see industry encroaching on nature in such a unstoppable and determined manner, and you see remote communities who rely on the land completely, fighting to protect it.

But despite their admirable efforts it still gets destroyed, all for the survival of those who live in mainstream developed consumer society, sacrificing the land and the people on it for money.

This film spoke to me personally, from the little hut looking out to mountains on Patagonia, a beautiful place to call home, to the idea that we rely on nature to live yet seem to think we can take and take without preserving and regenerating it as we go.

The lesson I took from this film wasn't a new one. I know, and so do many, that passively consuming and ignoring the plight of nature, turning a cheek to its deafening cries for help, makes this world not worth living on. When nature is drilled, depleted and forever changed, it is forever gone.

We think that is the most important lesson of all travel movie's, and it should be the prerogative of all travellers and bloggers alike; traverse the land, love it, do what you can to support it, and help keep the world in all its diverse landscapes, alive.

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at NomaderHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

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Update: Tickets, Visas and Backpacks!

Update: Tickets, Visas and Backpacks!

Our Australia Trip is now 3 months away...

Happy New Year folks!

We hope you all had a Christmas to remember, all across the world in all sorts of exotic destinations!

We had our last English family Christmas for potentially 2-3 years, which consisted of parties and food, gifts, and relaxation; it was glorious! 

So here we are, it's January 2015, and Australia is a mere 12 weeks away. It's beginning to feel real. 

In early December I purchased my backpack, an Osprey Farpoint 70, which comes with a detachable day-pack, a must for day-trips and any hiking pursuits!

The bag feels comfortable and similar in specification to my trusty Berghaus which I took to America for a month in 2009.

It has a side-opening zip as opposed to top-loading that just makes sense for me, as I did find the top-loading a bit of a chore. Taran worried it might lessen the integrity of the bag i.e. the zip breaking, but it seems very sturdy thus far, and it will be bolstered with a bag-cover or strapping for our aeroplane travels. 

We have also both got some packing cells. I got them for Taran for Xmas then purchased my own when I realized they were pretty decent for their price!

They seem like they will easily fit all of Taran's t-shirts, some shorts, then his underwear/socks in the smaller ones. I will probably use them the same way although I will have some dresses and more clothing options.

What can I say, I take half my wardrobe to Taran's house each weekend so it is going to be quite a task to narrow down my choices to take travelling!

A few weeks ago we also applied online for our First Working Holiday Visa.  

This was quite a quick and easy process, although, the card I was using to pay the 220quid cost, was declined on first try, and blocked until the following day...

So I learnt my lesson about using a payment card which isn't my everyday debit card for making expensive purchases, but then, once the card was unblocked and I tried to buy the visa again, I couldn't get past an infuriating error page.

Hours later, the next morning in-fact, immi.gov (the Aussie visa people) confirmed on Twitter that overnight there had been a service outage... so I didn't have some black-mark against my name, it was merely the website being a dick and making me sweat! So, we both got there in the end! Relief! 

Then last week, came the biggest landmark in our travel-prep: purchasing our plane tickets!

We bought ours via Kayak, through the agent gotogate.com, having previously used Kayak to get an idea of prices.

We chose to fly with Singapore Airlines as they have come highly recommended and their price was suitably competitive.

We paid £633.00 each for a one-way ticket to Melbourne. This seemed like a decent deal, and according to someone we know who is going to Oz today actually, they paid around 600 each in April 2014. So we have probably not lost out on much by booking around 3 months before departure.

So a lot has happened in the month of December, and its probably been the most exciting and progressive month of 2014 in terms of prepping for Oz.

It felt like such a distant dream for a long time, but now all the plans are set in-place and other than saving up more money, organizing our packing, and sorting out boring home matters, we have few milestones left before the actual magic date we leave: March 24th!!

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

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Hopes For The Future: What Really Is A Nomad?

Hopes For The Future: What Really Is A Nomad?

So I googled the word 'nomad' and it said this:

"a member of a people that travels from place to place to find fresh pasture for its animals and has no permanent home."

So we use the term in a way that matches this a bit, although we don't have any animals to move around, as much as little pug companion would be a brilliant addition to our travel group.

But we do intend to be people with no permanent home. We will have a place to go when we come back to England but not our own place, just our parent's houses.

Nomad-ifying your life doesn't mean you have to become homeless...

A lot of what we chat about here on Nomad'erHowFar can be applied to many life situations. Our advice isn't specifically for those who match the nomad definition, or any other words associated with the term: gypsy, wayfarer, migrant.

You can be someone who lives in a nice house, drives a nice car and is still lacking something in their life, and is in search of inspiration.

Maybe you have found yourself dissatisfied with the western culture of materialism and consumerism.

You might have had an epiphany of late where you've realized how deeply embroiled you've become in this overwhelming culture of excess.

You want to escape from it all but don't know how...

Whenever things are going bad for me, or if I'm particularly stressed, my instinct is to run away.

I want to drive away in my car and sit on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. Not because I think I can out-run my problems or forget about them, but because I need a change of scenery, cause sometimes that helps us see things a lot differently.

You could say we want to become Nomad's because we are dissatisfied with the lifestyle on offer on our doorstep and you'd be right to a point. But then again, I'm sure we could carve out a great life here at home, as many do, yet we would be suppressing our mutual desire to run away. We'd be denying our wanderlust.

Our quest is not ignore our problems or the things we dislike about western society, but instead unlock new experiences and feelings through travel.

We want to embrace our identity as citizens of the world and take ourselves all across it, touching new ground each day, logging new sights into our little memory banks.

We also want to live a life less dependant on money, less focused on having lots of it. Having lots of money usually means lotsss of work, and we would rather have a modest income and forego the whole career obsession.

Plenty of people believe a job gives them purpose and a reason to get up each day. But if getting up each day becomes a repetitive set of ultimately pointless tasks that fill you with dread and boredom, it can be incredibly dull.

Sometimes we lose a sense of perspective, joy and zest for living when we aren't being challenged or excited by our daily routine.

We think being a nomad doesn't have to mean living a life of permanent travel, as the official definition states.

Being a nomad in this modern age can mean so much more.

It can mean venturing outside of your home-town every weekend to explore.

It can mean changing jobs regularly to experience a bit of everything.

It can mean creating a simpler financial life, downsizing your home, buying a cheap car, cutting back expenses.

It's about stepping outside of the capitalist rigmarole we get thrust into the day we become adults, and being the masters of our own lives.

Big business wants us to climb the career and property ladder, with consumerism pushing us to want bigger and better, making us feel the need to do whatever it takes to get 'things'.

But whatever it takes can turn into 'I will give whatever I have in energy until I drop', to reach a goal I don't even know will make me happy.

So we are maybe running away from this way of living as opposed to our home or our country by going travelling.

We are making our own life path and disregarding the one which has been put to us. And you can too.

You can be your own definition of 'nomad'.

You don't have to never stay in one place for long, living a constant life of moving but you can dream of something outside of the norm.

You can let your mind wander to all the different possibilities out there and then pursue those with all your efforts. Give all your energy to something which does make you happy instead of chasing things you think you should be chasing.

Re-defining the word Nomad for the modern age...

When you google images for 'nomad', a lot of them are like this: One man and his camel.

Whilst not a true representation of us as nomads, I do quite like this photo. It's simple but beautiful. This person undoubtedly lives not only outside of mainstream society but also outside of its complications and societal pressures.

He is somewhat freer than many of us could ever dream of being.

And I think that is the best way we can define our lifestyle dream and the word 'nomad'; we seek some simplicity, a lot of which has been lost in the modern age, as well as seeking a feeling of freedom and adventure through travel.

Inspiration from Christopher McCandless, the guy in the photo at the top. Google him if you don't know who he is..

He was awesome.

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

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New Years Resolutions: Spend Less, Travel More

New Years Resolutions: Spend Less, Travel More

Last Christmas..

Christmas is nearly here. We haven't yet overindulged on chocolates and nuts and bucks fizz. We can't wait to! And presents. Less than usual but still, presentssss!

The other day I was driving around between picking up dogs and amidst the traffic I looked at the expensive car in front of me, and it got me thinking...

2015 is going to be a huge year for us, maybe the biggest most crazy year yet, we already know this. But what do you think is ahead for you?

In 2014 we have gone through a tough time of sorts.

Choosing to go to Australia meant big cutbacks and sacrifices had to be made. Social outings missed, nights spent indoors trying not to kill each other, weekends of avoiding spending temptations. Generally becoming a bit boring. But it's all been for a good cause!

(not my actual car...)

So back to the other day, when I was driving around in my yellow 2001 Suzuki wagon.

My car has cost me a lot of money lately, fixing it to keep it roadworthy for another couple of months. Its such a pain in the arse. We cannot wait to be relieved of this financial burden! I was looking at the cars around me, thinking, yes your car looks a whole lot cooler than my yellow thing, and likely has some fancy little features. But when it comes to repairing it, it's gonna come with a nasty price tag, especially if you spent a lot for the car to begin with. A cars repair cost doesn't lessen even as the car depreciates in value year after year.

I've decided never again, when purchasing a car, will I get something which is brand new. Nor will I buy an old car about to drop dead. I'll find a nice middle-ground.

Because I've realized, as nice as a car can look from the outside, to your neighbours, friends and anybody driving past you on the motorway, it's still just a great hunk of overpriced metal parts, ready to fail at any point. No matter how pretty a car can look or how expensive it is still a minefield of complications under the hood. And when it does fail, mechanics are waiting to rip you off. Not all of them but many.

So basically spending lots of money of your car doesn't mean it won't end up costing you an arm and leg down the road. Not literally I hope.

Now I'm not being disrespectful to people who simply love cars, who visit classic car shows or restore them at the weekend, it's a great hobby and I totally get it. I just don't get the whole disposable culture of having the latest model of the latest high-end make.

I don't think your a dick if you drive a fancy car. But then again this isn't a car website this is about travel and living a nomadic and less materialistic lifestyle, so I doubt I will offend many readers here!

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is, in 2015, maybe it's time to reassess the way you spend your money, looking at why you feel the need to have the bigger house or the latest model of a car.

I'm not trying to insult anyone's intelligence by saying this; there are obvious reasons for wanting such things. But then again, questioning the thoughts which come to us as common-sense or normal, is what becoming a nomad is all about. It's what WE are all about!

Do you drive a nice car because you like the way it makes you look? Do you feel it adds to your image? Nice handbag, nice clothes, nice car. Is it all part of the capitalist package? Do you feel entitled to something which is plush and nice, inside and out.

It's certainly become a marker of wealth and financial success in recent times.

The car's we drive can come across as the clearest identifier of someone's social class/place on the income scale, right out there on the streets, where you see someone like me, cash-poor, in my less-than-stellar machine opposite someone like the man in a Mercedes in front of me, most likely earning the big bucks to afford such a luxury car, one might assume.

I did once own a fancy car. I made the mistake of thinking I needed to have a 'nice' vehicle (the car I already had worked perfectly fine and is probably still running happily today). So I bought a car on finance two years ago and god, did I live to regret it! I sold it a year later when I needed something more functional for dog-walking, and it was just a costly headache.

Why? Because I tied myself into a financial contract where the exchange was my money, thus my freedom, for the ability to drive a nice toy from A to B. And then I realized the pointlessness of such spending, when it is literally just a means of getting you places.

And when your car breaks down, like mine has, you realize the value of simply having a safe vehicle that moves off the driveway each morning, never mind it's colour or specification.

Now I'm 24, I'm a little bit wiser, and having had a car which I at first hated, for its look, colour, almost everything about it, has actually made me a happier person. Because it has only reinforced my values about money and how I intend to spend it on experiences and travelling as opposed to tangible things.

Things can be costly but can also be lost easily; a car can be written-off or burnt to a crisp. A handbag can be stolen. An expensive pair of shoes can sit in the box for months on end for fear of ruining them.

Things can give us an illusion of happiness or satisfaction, but the appeal of having them is often tied-up in us caring about what others think of us. Life is not about impressing others by flashing the cash. Nobody really gives a shit what car you drive. Envy is not something you want to inspire. I'm not shaming anyone, I'm just trying to empower you a bit!

If more people cared less about how they look to others they would be relieved of ever feeling inferior, jealous or less-than.

I know that when I first drove my little Suzuki wagon, I felt like it was ugly, to the outside world. I actually cared what people would think of my silly tall but tiny car. Why did I care? Aside from disliking the look of the car, I didn't want people to think that I THOUGHT it was a nice car to have.

God, what a waste of thinking energy!

As people, we like to control others perceptions of us and we do this is by portraying an all-round look and image. We are self-aware, we know that we too make snap judgements on others based on appearance, before we truly know a person.

But we are failing ourselves miserably because those who count don't care (and those who care, don't count, to finish the inspirational quote...).

Those who love us aren't doing so because of the car we drive

I really believe that enjoying a peaceful and happy life can't co-exist alongside the constant need to impress others or feel as if you need the visual markers of success to be successful. The way others see you does not determine your worth nor can anyone guess how happy you are based on your banana yellow car with blue swirly interior and a rattling engine.

So maybe 2015 will be your year. Maybe you will release yourself from some financial weight and pressure, and feel a new confidence in yourself. Maybe you will get closer to a more nomadic existence, one where you exchange money for unforgettable experiences and beautiful memories.

Even if your goal is to be richer financially, why not enjoy the hard earned fruits of your labours with travel as opposed to a new car or the latest ipad. Just a thought!

Not a care in the world!

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

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I think I've Fallen out of love with Winter...

Take me back to the summer days!

Christmas, hot chocolate, blankets, warm baths, watching movies every night guilt-free; these are some good things that winter brings. But generally, I really do not enjoy this season!!

Freezing our bottoms off last winter!

The hours pass by in a cold and windy flurry, its dark before you've even properly woken up. Your energy is sapped by the lack of Vitamin D, your hands get dry from the cold, you are drawn to all those unhealthy foods that warm you up, and you can end up a tad down when the days all merge into one dark and dull blur.

A snow-covered house with Christmas lights blinking can look magical, but Winter is harsh on you, in many ways.

Maybe I sound like a huge Debbie-Downer, but it's just how Winter makes me feel. I do enjoy some aspects, but given a choice, I'd choose Summer to be the year-round season.

Not only does the sun have major health benefits, encouraging a happier mood, more energy and staving off depression for those who suffer it, but it encourages you to get out and about. It's hard to ignore the pull of the warm weather, and so you forego the telly/laptop routine and make the most of what the world has to offer.

Loving life in the summer of 2013 in Cornwall!

When its sunny, the days are long and warm, the sea shines, the world looks cleaner somehow.

A breeze is welcome, and cooler evenings in the garden revelled in. When it does get dark, you enjoy your well-earned sleep, having not spent the day languishing in gloomy weather.

BBQ's with friends, hanging at the beach, going for walks at 8'o'clock at night. Sun-kissed and warm, summer days are the most freeing and fun.

It was a long, hot one in England this year and I mistakenly believed that I was looking forward to curling up in my bed hiding from the cold, and wearing my warmest pyjama's, yet here is the Winter, and it's not as romantic as I envisioned it.

Australia here we come!

I guess it's a good thing that in under 4 months, we will be leaving for a warmer climate, where I can return to that summer feeling!

But it's wrong to wish time away isn't it? Every season has its beauty, every weather can be enjoyable, if you make it so.

Bring on christmas!!

There's no denying how fun this time of year can be too. Parties leading up to Christmas, cosy cuddles, sampling goodies at the local Christmas market, making presents for your beloved. I suppose it's all about balance, you need these colder, darker months to truly appreciate the brighter ones.

Meanwhile, we will keep plugging on, trying to save as much money as possible, making the most of time with family and friends. I can't wait for Christmas, but once that's done, the countdown to Oz really begins!

It won't be easy to fend off the gloomy mood this season tends to bring at first, but wrapping up in your softest scarf and comfy wellie's, heading for a relaxed walk through an orange and red leafy forest, sounds like a pretty good way to enjoy the beauty that can still be found outside.

Tis the season to TRY-REALLY-HARD to be jolly, after all! :)

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Yo!

We are Taran & Hannah from the South of England. After meeting online, we realized our mutual passion for travelling. Follow us, as we prepare to travel the world and set off on little more than our wits and a few £s, and maybe get inspired to see a little more of the world as well.

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Are you going to be home for Xmas? 

Dreaming of An Eco-Commune: Creating A Better Life Together

Dreaming of An Eco-Commune: Creating A Better Life Together

Travelling for some, isn't always about endless weeks of life on the road, leaving behind a sense of family and familiarity, actually making many feel more grounded and fulfilled than ever, especially when you find yourself putting down roots on alien soil; sometimes when we explore the world, we seek a community-centred life that we couldn't find back home.

Taran was telling me the other day, about a graphic he once saw, which compared neighbourhood's in America with ones in Iceland. It highlighted that many Icelandic communities grow their own produce, whereas hardly any do in the USA.

The difference across the world between those living sustainably, community-driven lives and those living wastefully and selfishly, is woefully exemplified in this comparison.

How cool if we all had our homes like this!

It got me to thinking, how great it would be if more people in my own country were more focused on creating a self-sufficient community lifestyle.

And also, how lovely and sensible a community more like the Icelandic one would be, a place with values focused around helping each other; goods and services would be plentiful for everyone.

I do kind of envision it in a certain dreamy way:

Every person within such a community, would have a sense of purpose and a position; something to give and something to strive for.

General everyday wastage would be reduced. Recycling would be a lovely side-effect of a culture of sharing and giving. Healthy foods would be grown and tended to with care.

People would share their talents, and learn new ones from each other. Communal meals would be made up from each and everyone's contribution.

Life in such a place would be fulfilling, comforting and peaceful. And fun. And friendly, for the world and for the people.

Places like this do exist but I am yet to really experience one

I remember when I was young, playing with all the kids from the road I lived on, but rarely did these connections go beyond our childish ability to make easy friendships and have an afternoons fun. We would all still return to our homes as darkness came, sit inside our isolated little boxes with our dispersed, distracted families and ignore the world (and people) outside of it. Which makes me kind of sad.

So, serving as some of my inspiration for this community project daydream, is this place: Töfrastaðir, Iceland.

"Töfrastaðir (Icelandic for a magical place) is a permaculture project, about making a better life, advancing agriculture, creating abundance and building a community that cares" -  Mörður G.Ott.

Established by Ott, he describes the idea behind the community:

"Most important to us is to be a home for those who need a place to belong and feel loved. The best compliment we've had so far, is: "Being at Töfrastadir feels like being with the family I didn‘t know I had".

The foundation of perma-culture is caring for the people, for the world, and recycling everything back into the system for re-use. So it's encouraging to read about this Icelandic project, as this really lends itself to developing permanent eco-communities.

Led by Ott, this group of people, disenchanted by fast-paced city life have built some amazing, something to aspire to and build on.

A community which is more close to my vision, a small and happy one, is situated right in the U.K,  Brithdir Mawr, in Wales.

Founder Julian Orbach, an architectural historian. Shunning the trappings of modern society and fighting those who want to force him back into it has paid off.

Established in 1993 by a young family, this eco-commune was dogged with legal issues which fought to destroy it and yet today, it thrives. This place also embodies the values of sustainability, the sharing of skills and knowledge, and people, all fostered within this small humble farm.

Much of the time, in the western world, we are almost encouraged to live somewhat insular lives, ignorant and intolerant to our direct neighbours, let alone our distant ones across the world. Materialistic consumption and preoccupation with our career ladders, and financial aspirations, means a sense of community is not likely to find its way into such a busy and self-absorbed lifestyle.

Don't get me wrong, I don't always want to live in the pockets of other people. I, like many, value the alone-time and space to be creative and recharge. But I have mornings where I'd like to pop next door to share a cup of tea with my neighbour. I'd like to have the option to open up my home to people who want company. I wish we weren't all such strangers.

Sometimes however, on the days where I sit huddled in my warm room on my laptop, it's easy to forget about how wonderful a more giving and open community would be to live in. But there are so many benefits to it, with the concept of outsiders or difference of religion/sexuality/skin colour, irrelevant.

I suppose I want to live somewhere that strikes a balance; a sustainable community, welcoming anyone/everyone to live within it, bringing an end to isolation and loneliness, creating a new outlet for self-expression and fulfilment. Every person is useful and wanted. Judgement and bigotry are simply absent. 

You might say, the place I imagine is somewhat radical, because it's not a community about 'I' or 'me', it's all about what 'we' can all do for each other on a daily basis. Simple things like swapping vegetables with your neighbour to cook your Sunday roast, or baking cookies for a child's birthday party. I guess a lot of this fantasy relates to food...

A community that is less reliant on big business and government, supermarkets and shopping centres, and able to depend on itself to not simply exist within the bounds of what is financial and material, but what is real.

Yes it's about the 'eco', treating the world more kindly with the elements of recycling and less wastage, harvesting your own communities food. But it also goes back to the core of humanity and, love.

Elderly people with an audience always ready to hear their stories, children with an abundance of lessons to learn from every adults wisdom and experience, natural beauty cultivated by the hands of many, and a sense of safety, with everyone looking out for one other. Suddenly friends and neighbours are family. That's something amazing. Families are what makes this life worth it.

I guess this post is quite relevant in the lead up to Christmas, where I hope everyone can find their own peace and happiness amongst loved ones for the big day. I might as well have titled this post, 'I wish it could be Christmas, every dayyyy' cause what time of the year better evokes a sense of community, family and love.

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

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Sundays In Autumn: Walking In The New Forest

Sundays In Autumn: Walking In The New Forest

Darkness falls at 4pm these days.

And then he morning sees the grass covered in dew. You can see your breath on the cooler afternoons.

Hot chocolate, oversized scarves and wellington boots.

Autumn has arrived :)

Taran and I are very fortunate in that we live a stones throw from the New Forest National Park, a vast area of natural beauty. Whilst the quaint villages, pubs and small towns nestled inside of it are appealing enough, we quite like to just meander around the woods.

Puddles and sticks, fallen trees, coming across the odd pony, its all in the fun of this relaxing and pretty setting.

The part of the forest we parked at is called Hawkshill. We happened across foundations for lots of small buildings on our walk. I love that kinda stuff!

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

Recommended reads:

Is it getting cold where you are?

Australia Is Getting Closer..

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

So... We started this website just after deciding that we wanted to go travelling to Australia, that was way back in February!!

We didn't want to get too excited for it but at the same time we had to do some research and make sure we knew what life would be like on the road.

We have focused lots of energy on saving money by doing things like downgrading from contract phones to payg SIM cards, which has saved me about £40 a month!!

I also gave up driving my car after its MOT, tax and insurance ran out, which has really helped me put more into my Aus fund.

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My little cosmic car waiting for a new owner to come collect it :'(

Hannah needs her car as she runs her own dog walking business, but that will be going when the time comes :)

Which brings me back to the main topic.. the time is fast approaching and we have both started to feel the excitement start to build.

We have about 3/4 months until we jump on that plane and say goodbye to our family and friends for at least 2 years...

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Carrying my soon to be home on my back :P

Our savings are on track for where we want them to be in March, but we haven't yet got round to sorting our visa's or flights! That is something we will most probably be addressing during December. Then it will really start to feel real!

We have however made other big changes, like selling stuff, like my car and off-loading our general clutter to the charity shop! We will most likely do a car boot sale nearer the time we go, just to get rid of the final bits and bobs we don't need. And make a little extra pocket-money!

I'll soon be saying goodbye to Hythe, Southampton, which has become my second home since meeting Taran last year :)

I've been cleaning and organizing my bedroom endlessly, i don't know how i still have more stuff to get rid of!

I am not a huge fan of these darker nights leading up to the excitement of Christmas, I find myself lacking energy and motivation most evenings. But I have been using my time to think even more about Australia, and frankly, it has made me nervous!

Nervous in a good way. It feels right and i feel ready to leave behind my home but I fight back tears at the thought of leaving family. But I just tell myself, i will keep in regular contact over Skype etc, to make the distance feel a little less wrenching!

So, there's a little update for you! Keeping you informed on where we are along this journey. Feels like the time before you actually travel is the one in which you can change the most; become less materialistic, more focused and more positive, as the dream of seeing the world is slowly turning into a reality.

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Yo!

We are Taran & Hannah from the South of England. After meeting online, we realized our mutual passion for travelling. Follow us, as we prepare to travel the world and set off on little more than our wits and a few £s, and maybe get inspired to see a little more of the world as well.

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Heading off travelling soon? Where too?!

Hannah's America Travel Diary, Part 2: NEW YORK BABY

Hannah's America Travel Diary, Part 2: NEW YORK BABY

My 6-year old blog entries from my first big backpacking trip, to the US!

Read part one!

8th February, 2009, Arriving in NYC

"First off, i'm gunna get the moans out of the way! My feet have never hurt so much and ive never felt so exhausted. My little legs may soon fall off as they haven't been made to walk so much in 3 months let alone 3 days!However, i have 3 of the best days ever!"

Got my moans out the way!

"...The hostel is called 'Central Park Hostel' and it literally is on central park. So we dropped off our heavy bags and walked the whole of central park, taking in the amazing views over the Jackie o'nassis reservoir, a castle which i have forgotten the name of, the great lawn, Bethesda terrace where the lake and famous posh boathouse restaurant are situated. 

We basically walked 50+ blocks by walking the whole park from 103rd avenue to 59th and 5th avenue but it was well worth it, it was surprisingly warm and the skys were blue but everything was still snow covered.

It was about 10 degrees, so much warmer than expected. It made it such a nice stop; far more autumnal and pretty than the harshness of the deep winter!

"We then got a train to 72nd and realised we'd have to walk 30-0dd blocks to our hostel, i had my miserable face on for this as the foot rot was setting in! "

Foot rot, the technical medical term for 'holy shit my feet hurt'. And it showed in my photos, in a few of me I was not even bothering to smile...

"After a much needed nights sleep we woke up early and headed to a cafe in time square for breaky which is situated next to the hotel I stayed at with college in 2007, a lot of pancakes were eaten! We then got the subway way Downtown and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge... The view of nyc from the bridge is breathtaking and you can pretty much see the whole of the city from lower to upper just sitting in the middle of the bridge..."

Loved the bridge!!

"We then got a subway back uptown and ate lunch outside the Rockefeller Centre on 5th avenue. We then went to the top of the rockefeller center and took pics of what i think is the best view of nyc, better than that from the empire state building.

We headed down the 5th avenue again, stopping at St. someones cathedral (patrick or paul, cant remember,i'm tired)...We were knackered by this point so decided to back to the hostel and prepare for the next day in Philadelphia!"

So, I was seemingly tired a lot, struggling with the amount of walking. Here's hoping a year of dog-walking 5 hours a day has better prepared me for Australia!

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Thanks for reading!

Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!

Recommended reads:

Instafinds - October 2014

Our favourite Instagram snaps of the week!

Send us a link to your best insta-snaps, lets share what people are seeing, eating and enjoying, all around the world! Each week we will feature our top 4 favourites, allowing them to reach a much broader audience!

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#Naxos is a fantastic destination for bike enthusiasts! Diverse landscape w/ beaches, rural farms, hills, & ancient ruins! #travel #Greece

A photo posted by Roamingaroundtheworld (@roamingaroundtheworld) on Oct 10, 2014 at 1:07am PDT

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Roof caps tell a story on historic japanese buildings about the family that founded it. This new addition at Sanjusangendo takes a modern twist.

A photo posted by Toni (@2aussietravellers) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:34pm PDT

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This beautiful creature can be found at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary just outside of Chiang Mai in nothern Thailand. This sanctuary takes in working elephants when they can no longer work and treats them with the respect that they deserve. At the moment they have 3 elephants, which includes a cute baby elephant. We had an amazing time feeding and bathing them and also had a chance to play in the mud with them. We highly recommend the "Elephant Jungle Sanctuary". You can book your trip through "Baan Khun Hostel" in Chiang Mai" ask for Momma Noi, she will take care of you like family. #Elephant #sanctuary #amazing #daytrip #hostel #chiangmai #thailand #onemoderncouple #travel #beautiful

A photo posted by OneModernCouple.com (@onemoderncouple) on Oct 10, 2014 at 7:23am PDT

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"Membentang kau jelas di sana, namun tak teraih. Kau tak datang pun tak pergi...." - Float #tiapsenja #throwback to a year ago, #sunset o'clock #Kanawa Island #Komodo National Park #Indonesia

A photo posted by Sheila Kartika (@backpackeramatir) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:55am PDT

Want to be featured here next week? Email us a link or just send it to us via our social media sites!

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Yo!

We are Taran & Hannah from the South of England. After meeting online, we realized our mutual passion for travelling. Follow us, as we prepare to travel the world and set off on little more than our wits and a few £s, and maybe get inspired to see a little more of the world as well.

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Recommended reads:

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Which is your favourite?

4 Ways To Let Go Of Travel Fears

4 Ways To Let Go of Travel Fears

This post is inspired by Alan Watts, a British philosopher who wrote about all the stuff that I and many others are interested in, whether we vocalize that or not; identity, the pursuit of happiness, emotions and personal growth. 

Many of his talks, most available to listen to on YouTube, also reflect on Buddhism, so that's interesting too! 

The road to our travels is one which has been about more than simply saving up the money to go; its been a process of preparing mentally for what will be a life-changing experience for both of us.

The quote below (taken from the YouTube video) gets across the best bit of advice in regards to living a life less guided by fear and worry:

... "I am worried, and I ought not to worry, but because I can't stop worrying, I'm worried that I worry.

...you discover that no amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that's going to happen. In other words, from the first standpoint, the worst is going to happen: we're all going to die.

And don't just put it off in the back of your mind and say 'I'll consider that later.' It's the most important thing to consider NOW, because it is the mercy of nature, because it's going to enable you to let go and not defend yourself all the time, waste all energies in self-defense".

Powerful stuff no?

Using that fear that resides in all of us, ultimately the fear of death, to empower us to do the things we want to do; to get excited, be adventurous, not using the fear as an excuse to never live.

Because no matter what, you will pass away one day.

 And you wasted all those good years afraid of the inevitable instead of embracing what time you had.

So, when you choose a life that is less about sitting still and staying in your safe bubble, and more about leaving your town, country, continent, you are going to either confront many fears head-on or be more burdened by them than ever before.

Alan is saying, to worry about potential future events is to not only waste the present, and lose enjoyment in life, but is also a futile exercise.

What is yet to happen is partially under our control but it also, isn't. You have to accept that fact and realize no amount of worrying is going to change any outcome, except to ensure you are pretty damn miserable!

But it is understandable, that a person can be excited and enthusiastic about travelling, and shit-scared at the same time.

Fear of death of course, but also a fear of general things like discomfort and strangers (and strange beds). 

Maybe you're scared sleeping in a dirty hostel in a country well-known for creepy-crawlies or travelling on a bus for hours on end; almost every aspect of travel can create a current of trepidation, with the eventual result being scared into in-action, not living out your wanderlust because the myriad of anxieties you have, have overpowered you. 

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Steps to take to ease your fears before embarking on your travels:

1. Researching before you go will protect you in the long-run:

• You can eliminate many possible bad situations by simply being informed and prepared for each destination you travel to.
• Make sure you know of any major issues regarding safety, or scams etc in that particular country or region by simply looking up the place on google. But don't let that information make you even more scared, feel empowered by having that knowledge.
• A basic thing to know would be related to health, making sure you understand what vaccinations to have prior to visiting somewhere. 
• Look into what insurance you might need, and be well-versed in what the health-care system is and what it can offer you in each place you visit. 
• Have a list of emergency contact details for all manner of things; a lost passport or stolen credit-card.

2. Focus on the things you can't wait to see and do:

• Dwelling on each and every thing that could go wrong is a sure way to lessen your enthusiasm.
• If you keep that mindset throughout your travels think of all the amazing experiences you will deny yourself because of 'what-if' thinking.
• Spending your time looking at all the wondrous and beautiful things you are going to be able to see and do, will create such a great surge of excitement, the kind which puts fear in its place: to the back of your mind.

3. Take comfort in the experiences and knowledge of your fellow travellers:

• You have a wealth of great info at your finger-tips and can learn all about the do's and don't of travelling to certain places, amongst different cultures, meaning you can truly go into nomadic life with your eyes wide open.
• Read travellers blog posts, use Pinterest and Twitter to locate tips and ideas on staying safe.
• Establish a few key things in your mind which you will actively do to feel safer and happier; mine include locking my bags up every time they are unattended when in hostels, being very observant of my situation on public transport in busy places, and just generally exuding an air of confidence and conviction, the kind that means you look less terrified and meek, and so you feel less terrified and meek.

4. Accept some bad stuff might just happen:

• You can't prevent everything bad ever happening, you haven't got ultimate control over all eventualities. You never have and you never will.
• You might lose a hoody, your passport, a sock or your kidney, who knows (last part less likely).
• You might face hardship on the road in other ways too such as with your money, with work, or with your partner.
• Life on the road is just like normal life back home, in that it too has the potential to go awry at a moments notice.

BUT you can take an organized approach to your travels and arm yourself with knowledge that will help you out, when you need to be safe or avoid bad situations.

Knowing what to do and how to do it will surely mean you have confidence in yourself no matter the scenario's you could find yourself in. 

Go with instinct; don't hold back from trying new amazing things, embrace adventure and spontaneity; if something doesn't seem right, and you get a bad feeling, use your best logic and assess the situation calmly.

There are plenty of fears which might follow you on your journey,but as long as you use them to be safe and mindful, they won't hinder your adventures.

More Travel Preparedness Reading:

1. 7 Things We Wish We Had Done Before Travelling

2. Building Your Savings For Travel

3. Getting A Job In Australia

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Thanks for reading!

Taran here, owner of Nomad'er How Far. I'm fond of psychedelic rock, photography & videography, anything to do with space and I'm also partial to the odd gaming session. Oh and I love to travel :P Get to know me here!

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Instagram Sunday - Our Picks

Our favourite Instagram snaps of the week!

Send us a link to your best insta-snaps, lets share what people are seeing, eating and enjoying, all around the world! Each week we will feature our top 4 favourites, allowing them to reach a much broader audience!

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@marga_martini exploring the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, Australia. This volcanic crater is at the end of a beautiful walk through the rainforest! #ocean_adventure_travel #exploretnq #seeaustralia #travel #wanderlust #queensland

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The rice terraces of Ubud

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We still haven't got sick of this place! #Vietnam #HoiAn #view #beauty #UNESCO #travel #ttot #traveling #travelgram #travelpics #travelphotography #sunset #photo #photooftheday #photography #seabackpacker #Asia #appreciation

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I especially love life today ♥ #kohphangan #morning #hereandnow

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Want to be featured here next week? Email us a link or just send it to us via our social media sites!

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Yo!

We are Taran & Hannah from the South of England. After meeting online, we realized our mutual passion for travelling. Follow us, as we prepare to travel the world and set off on little more than our wits and a few £s, and maybe get inspired to see a little more of the world as well.

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Recommended Reads:

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Which is your favourite?

Interview With Crazzzy Travel from Ukraine!

Hello Crazzzy Travel!

This week we have an interview with our pals Illia & Nastia over at Crazzzy Travel, they are a lovely couple from Ukraine who run a great budget travel blog. They have been all around the world and have managed to live on an amazingly small budget, currently living in America as Nastia got a scholarship to study at New York Uni!

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First off, when did you decide you wanted to travel and blog about it? And why?

The idea of a blog didn’t come up until January 2014, and this is when we bought CrazzzyTravel.com and wrote our first articles. Regarding a will to travel – hard to tell, probably it was conceived back when we were kids, in our first trips anywhere. It’s always exciting and keeps the child in you alive, what else can we say! 

Why the name Crazzzy Travel?

"Why not? :) Our travels are always pretty crazy, but since crazytravel.com was occupied the imagination flew us to the triple ‘z’ fella :)"

Travelling as a couple can sometimes be stressful, how do you deal with it?

"This question is best answered in Nastia’s story “How to live a life of travel and not kill your partner” (http://crazzzytravel.com/live-travel-kill-partner/). In short – listen and trust each other, don’t put any problems above your love, have fun!"

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What has been your worst and best experience during your travels?

"Our worst experience was in winter 2014 in India, when, first Nastia, then Illia got sick. This country has plenty of weird illnesses floating around so we were not sure what was happening, but luckily we had an insurance and, remember this!, Indian hospitals for foreigners in big cities are pretty good!

It’s hard to point out any particular ‘best experience’ from our travels, probably every trip has something very very special, something we can recollect in moments of sadness or nostalgia. In general, the feeling of being free – from everything and everyone – is the best experience ever, the main active substance in a drug called 'wanderlust'."

What have been the most useful things you have learnt from travel, for example is there any items you would tell people to take with them!

"As we mentioned above, the main thing is, when you’re traveling together, to listen, trust and value each other. Oh, and one universal law for any type of traveler – don’t let the fear overcome. Fear is normal, but it also sucks, so try to stay calm and cool, think things over or have some booze."

How has the conflict in Ukraine affected your lives and those of the people you know there?

"Russia intruding in Ukraine has and still does severely affect our lives and lives of our everyone we know who lives there. Some people we knew were killed, many injured, some went to fight and after many months are still there. Many people including us and our families try help how we can - mostly with money and psychologically (my Dad helps soldiers in hospitals). Many cities and villages were and are being destroyed."

Finally, what are you hopes for the future of Crazzzy Travel? And what are your future hopes for travel?

"No hopes, not expectations for Crazzzy Travel. It is our hobby and we don’t want to put much pressure on it. Regarding hopes for travel – we hope our legs and souls will still carry us to new countries, seas and forests when we are 70, 80, or even 93.5!"

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Thanks guys! Make sure you head over to their site and check out some great travel story's!

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Rad Sounds:

This track is from a band that Illia shared with me, great trippy creepy french music!

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Yo!

We are Taran & Hannah from the South of England. After meeting online, we realized our mutual passion for travelling. Follow us, as we prepare to travel the world and set off on little more than our wits and a few £s, and maybe get inspired to see a little more of the world as well.

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Recommended Reads:

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Have any questions for Illia & Nastia? leave them in the comments below!