Bahrain, Tonga, Azerbaijan, Armenia. Just some of the places that Jake Schumacher has visited during his year of solo travel. 

He sold most of his belongings last year to travel full time. With a one way ticket out of Atlanta, he headed to Sydney, Australia without a plan for more than a couple days--and has mostly gone without much of one during most of his travels. He believes there's magic in that approach. He's been on the road for a year now, acquiring numerous tales that restore our faith in humanity — His journey has been one of “smiles, humanity, and just meeting good people.”

 

Jake reflects on his journey, sharing the value of going with the flow, trusting locals, and finding locales on the road less traveled to truly find the beauty in this world. It's an uplifting story and Jake is quite the storyteller. Two specific ones — one of his oh shit moments that made my jaw drop and one that just warmed my soul about a special host named Zaki.

Some highlights & insights: 

• How having no plan can be a very good plan to gain some amazing stories 
• If you make clear what you want, the universe has a funny way of fulfilling those dreams
• Why he chooses somewhat obscure locations to visit, and the beauty & hospitality he's found in those spots
• On fear of the unknown: It's unavoidable but “Sometimes, you just have to jump in the fire.”
• 3 Things to Always learn in a new language: hello, thank you, cheers
• His #1 tip if you don't have plans or connections at a destination (hint: where to stay) 
• His best tips on how to talk to locals (with the goal to have them provide their best tips about their city)
• Jake’s biggest “Oh Shit” moment while in Malaysia (what a story!!) 
• His serendipitous moments throughout his travels and how things tend to work out for good
• Time in Bahrain and the wonderful hospitality of Zaki, pictured above