I Quit My Job, Sold My Things And Backpacked Around The World For 3 Years To 60 Countries

I had just graduated when the global recession hit in 2008

Suddenly all the loans I took out to pay for my diploma seemed like a cruel joke

So instead of pursuing work in the film industry,the profession I’d studied for, I decided to work as an audio visual technician

It was nothing but a short detour I told myself

But, three years later, I was still there and tired from being overworked

Sometime during 2010, I began dreaming of quitting my job and traveling through Southeast Asia for three months

For nearly a year, I saved up money by sleeping at friends’ places

I worked additional hours and sold much of what I owned

On Sept 13th 2011, I boarded on a plane for what would eventually become a 3-year-trip around the world to 60 countries

A long vacation may sound glamorous, but budget backpacking across the world can be incredibly frustrating

I hitchhiked, took 30 hour train rides, stayed overnight in many airports, slept outside in parks, camped, and couchsurfed

I caught food poisoning several times, was robbed of everything in Chile and had my camera gear ruined by water in Uganda

I nearly died when my car flipped over in the deserts of Namibia

Nevertheless, strangers were willing to befriend me by taking me around their city, buying me meals, or providing me a place to sleep

It bothered me that I was receiving so much yet giving back very little

So through images I’m hoping to reach an audience outside of my immediate network to inspire others to travel

Because travelling keeps us alert about our differences and prevents us from taking the easy close minded way out

This has been my way of giving back