Hi there! My name’s David and I’m addicted to travel. Because when you spend your time and money single-mindedly on something that’s what it is – an addiction. In October of 2014, I quit my job in the Australian Public Service to devote myself to my passion for experiencing this great wide world. Since then I’ve spent most of my time getting my fix. With all this travel, it was only inevitable that I would want to share all the unusual places I’ve visited and so I started Travelsewhere.
How I Started Travelling
My love for travel started young. When I was a child my family moved temporarily overseas twice, once to Sweden and once to Belgium. While over there, we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel through Europe, so by the time I was 12 I had visited over 20 countries.
Now while a lot of the experience was probably lost on me as a child, elements did creep in. I found it fun to be able to count in French, or say thank you in Italian. I developed an interest in history that has stuck with me to this day. But I think what I learnt most forcefully is how lucky I was to have that experience, particularly when I would return to school in Melbourne and realise that our type of trips were a rarity.
My Travels Now
After a lull, I was able to start travelling again after working full time a number of years. the last few years I’d been able to travel again, each trip longer and a shorter gap between. Eventually, it came down to a decision of what I wanted to do with my time and money. Save towards a house deposit or jaunt around the world? Since leaving my job, I made it across 6 continents (curse you Antarctica!) and 30+ new countries.
Travelling full time for years on end, I had no trouble completing my goal of visiting 50 countries. A common theme along the way has been trying to find places that are a little less travelled; places that are often less considered as an option by tourists. Hence, the name @travelsewhere and my desire to share some of these other corners of the world.
After settling into a rhythm, I began working remotely as I travelled, diving into the digital nomad life. That lifestyle changed my travels a little, slowing me down to accommodate fitting work in around my sightseeing. It wasn’t all bad though, as this slow travel gave me much longer in destinations than I’d even hoped for.
Sadly, my non-stop travel came to a grinding halt in 2020 with the pandemic. After months stuck overseas I was able to return to Australia for the longest time in 7 years. I’m now based in Australia and travelling internationally and domestically whenever I can.
My Approach to Travel
When it comes to how I like to travel, I’m definitely not a luxury traveller nor a full-blown backpacker; I’m somewhere in the middle; I’m flexible. I favour guesthouses for their price and intimacy but am also happy to use 2*/3* hotels and hostels when the need arises. I love a good train trip when possible, but sadly often a cheap bus or flight works out easier. That being said, I am doing my best to travel in more a sustainable fashion these days.
As for once I arrive in a destination, free city walking tours are a fantastic first step in a city in my opinion, while the overpriced hop-on/hop-off buses are simply not worth it. Mostly, I like to have a few key sights in mind and then simply wander and get lost in a place. I enjoy counting countries (as previously witnessed) but I know its a poor reflection on worldly experience.
I truly believe that everyone travels differently and loath the traveller/tourist debate. Travel is like learning, we each respond to different things in different ways. If you’re interested in which country’s are currently at the top of my wishlist, check out this post on them.
