Viajero Club Travel Show

Joining me today are two people who took a life changing leap of faith to pursue their dreams. Claire and James Young are UK-expats who sold their physical possessions at home in Kelowna, Canada in order to drive around the world in a truck and camper.

They are the crew behind This Big Road Trip, a website and social media account created to document this epic endeavour. Claire and James share insights on acquiring and preparing a vehicle up to the task for this ambitious undertaking, memorable experiences along the way and what their future holds as the journey continues.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• Their backstory of developing a lifelong love affair with travel
• How they initially discovered overlanding through a truck and trailer
• Why overlanding is like “backpacking on wheels”
• Why a Dodge Ram 3500 was their only vehicle of choice for the job
• How they found and modified their truck for a road trip around the world
• How they customized the camper for both comfort and durability
• The reactions of locals when they encounter each other for the first time
• How telemedicine allows Claire the flexibility to work remotely as a doctor
• Volunteering with an NGO clinic on the Colombia – Venezuela border
• Can’t-miss destinations and favourite experiences so far
• The country that pleasantly surprised them the most
• Their general travel plans for the future
• And much more!

Where to find Claire and James:

Website: https://thisbigroadtrip.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisbigroadtrip/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisbigroadtrip/

Follow Gary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community :

https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

Show notes can also be found here:

https://viajeroclub.com/pages/e14

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a rating and review here!

Episode Notes:

Joining me today are two people whose accomplishments I admire and respect. Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung are ex-software engineers from Toronto who achieved financial freedom and retired early in their 30’s to travel the world.

They are the writers behind Millennial Revolution, an educational blog on investing strategies and world travels. They are also authors of a newly released personal finance book “Quit like a Millionaire.” Kristy and Bryce share lessons learned from their FIRE journey, their travel experiences in the Galapagos Islands and what it means to leave a legacy.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• Their backstory of discovering FIRE while working full time in Toronto
• How home country or home city bias prevent people from pursuing a better life
• The underrated and best value-for-money travel spots around the world
• The awesome country that’s cheekily named the “G-spot of Europe.”
• The importance of travel for motivation and rejuvenation
• The three biggest costs people need to optimize
• How to save money while travelling abroad
• How to use a VPN to save money on airline tickets
• Travelling around the Galapagos Islands
• Why the Galapagos Islands is such a special place
• The mindset to overcome financial obstacles and setbacks
• The importance of meeting mentors and like-minded partners to reach FI
• The Chautauqua FIRE Retreat and what a day looks like
• And much more!

Resources Mentioned:

Chautauqua Financial Retreat - https://www.fichautauqua.com

“Quit Like a Millionaire” by Kristy Shen & Bryce Leung (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Where to find Kristy and Bryce:

Website: https://www.millennial-revolution.com

Email: [email protected]

Follow Gary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

Show notes can also be found here:

https://viajeroclub.com/pages/e13 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a rating and review here!

Joining me today is someone who I consider to be a modern-day renaissance man. Calvin Sun is an Asian-American ER doctor, entrepreneur and world traveller living in New York City. Calvin is also the founder of the Monsoon Diaries, a travel blog and “tour company for people who hate group tours.” He shares his thoughts and experiences on travelling to countries typically thought to be “dangerous,”  how his blog post on a famous North Korean hotel caused controversy and went viral, as well as the one country you must visit in your lifetime.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• Why travelling to “dangerous” countries is actually safer than living in a city like NYC
• Why you should visit “unstable” countries first
• Why he’s the “worst tour guide in the world”
• The value of an authentic travel adventure
• What it was like to visit North Korea
• What it was like to stay at the famous Yanggakdo Hotel in Pyongyang
• How he discovered the “secret” 5th floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel
• How his blog article went viral and attracted controversy
• How he dealt with a medical crisis 50,000 at feet in the air
• The one country in the world everyone must visit in their lifetime
• Why three weeks is the minimum amount of time to explore this country
• And much more!

Articles Mentioned:

“Creepy North Korea: The Hidden 5th Floor” (Monsoon Diaries)

“The Untold Story of Otto Warmbier, American Hostage” (GQ)

Where to find Calvin:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monsoondiaries/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monsoondiaries/

Website: https://monsoondiaries.com

Email: [email protected] // [email protected]

Follow Gary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a rating and review here!

Joining me today is someone who I consider to be a modern-day renaissance man. Calvin Sun is an Asian-American ER doctor, entrepreneur and world traveller living in New York City. Calvin is also the founder of the Monsoon Diaries, a travel blog and “tour company for people who hate group tours.”

He shares his advice on how to maximize your time and money for travel, why you should travel as widely as possible while you’re young and how group travel can transform even for the most die-hard solo travellers.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• His experiences of growing up in New York City
• His literal and metaphorical travels in the journey to become a doctor
• How his travels began with a photo of Halong Bay
• How a girl and a bet lead him to his first backpacking trip
• How he had to sink or swim as a traveller in Egypt
• Why solo travel is a form of controlled trauma
• The travel moment that changed his life forever
• Mindset shifts and personal transformation
• How he financed his world travels as a med school student
• How he overcame the “I don’t have time” barrier to travel
• The buffet analogy to life and travel
• The monsooning philosophy behind his travel style
• How his travel company grew organically through authenticity
• How to do group travel the right way to make lifelong friends
• And much more!

Where to find Calvin:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monsoondiaries/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monsoondiaries/

Website: https://monsoondiaries.com

Email: [email protected] // [email protected]

Follow Gary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a rating and review here!

Joining me today is an adrenaline junkie and fellow podcaster. Danny Carlson is a former competitive long boarder and construction worker turned online entrepreneur. He is also the host of the Danny Carlson Podcast, a show that dives into lifestyle design and location freedom. He is now based out of Bali, where he enjoys the vibrant acro-yoga scene while riding motorcycles. We had a wide-ranging conversation from everything you’d want to know about living in Bali to why acro-yoga is a great practice for travelers. 

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• How competitive downhill longboarding took him all around the world
• The biggest hotspots and the craziest roads for extreme longboarding
• How a near death experience in the Philippines prompted him to re-examine his lifestyle
• What it’s like to live in Cebu City
• Travel tips for getting around the Philippines
• What prompted him to move to Bali
• Bali neighbourhood recommendations
• How to save money on accommodations in Bali
• How over tourism has negatively affected foreigner reputation
• The most common travel scams to beware of
• The “rules of the road” or lack thereof
• The best roads for a scenic scooter ride
• The benefits of acro-yoga for improved fitness and social life
• The strong acro-yoga communities in Bali and other cities around the globe
• And much more!

Where to find Danny

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danny.k.carlson/

Website: https://www.kenjiroi.com

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danny-carlson-podcast/id1481422376

Follow Gary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a rating and review here!

Joining me today is someone who’s career in the clouds has taken her all around the globe. Clover Lam is a veteran flight attendant and blogger based out of Toronto, Canada. Clover is also the founder of Simply Clover Living, an online resource that shows the intimidated how to turn adventures into reality by exploring the world. She is also deeply passionate about all things related to personal development; from travel to mindset and personal finances.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

Show notes can also be found here: https://viajeroclub.com/pages/e09

On this episode we covered:

• How she got started in the airline industry
• The application and hiring process to become a flight attendant
• The benefits and challenges of the career and lifestyle
• How to endear yourself to flight attendants and get pampered
• How she deals with jet lag and constantly changing time zones
• Her favourite country for solo female travel
• The idea of a swimming holiday and her favourite destinations
• How to take the best tripod photos while travelling
• What is the FIRE Movement (Financially Independent, Retire Early)
• The basics steps to achieve FIRE
• The 4% Rule and the Trinity Study
• How your savings rate affects your target retirement number
• Why she sold her condo and chose to rent with roommates
• How FIRE has shifted her mindset on material possessions
• How minimalism helps to spark joy
• And much more!

Resources and Books Mentioned:

SwimTrek – Company for Swimming Holidays

“Quit Like a Millionaire” by Kristy Shen & Bryce Leung (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Where to find Clover:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplycloverliving/

Website: https://simplycloverliving.com

Follow Gary on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a rating and review here!

Joining me today is a fellow entrepreneur, podcaster and world traveller. Andrew Erickson is a former engineer turned entrepreneur. Andrew is also the host of the Zon Con Podcast, a show that helps Amazon sellers succeed with their business. He recently travelled around the world for eleven months with his wife and shares things he learned as well as entertaining anecdotes from the journey!

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• How his wife made the leap to take a year off for travel in the middle of a career
• How the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) can potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars in US taxes through travelling abroad
• The “Four C’s” that prevent people from extended travel abroad
• How they prepared their affairs for a long trip abroad
• Their travel budget for one year and how they made money
• Why Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan were their favourite countries
• Getting into a bus accident in Armenia
• A hilariously strange bath story in Georgia
• The most rewarding and challenging things with couple travel
• How to set boundaries and create personal space as a couple on the road
• The best travel destinations for couples
• His best tips for couples planning to travel abroad
• How I had my whole backpack stolen in Israel
• And much more!

Where to find Andrew:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theandrewerickson/

Website: http://andrewknowsamazon.com

Email: [email protected]

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zon-con-podcast/id1459073059

Follow Gary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a rating and review here!

Joining me today is a personal friend and an introspective, fellow travel lover. Anita Hisir is a women’s coach, writer and speaker based out of Vancouver, Canada. Anita is also the founder of InHerVision, a women empowerment coaching company that helps women build the life of their dreams. She has shattered her own limiting beliefs through travel, journaling and reflection. She is also a DJ and astrology enthusiast!

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• How a deep realization prompted her to quit a job to travel
• How a moment in Bali and public speaking made her decide to become a life coach
• Her latest project, “Fierce and Feminine,” to help women build self-esteem
• Why solo travel is the key to self-discovery
• How she overcame the initial fear of travelling alone
• A powerful exercise for developing intuition and embracing serendipity
• Her tips for women on how to stay safe on the road
• Her experiences travelling solo as a woman in a Muslim country
• Dealing with romantic advances and manipulation
• Her favourite food recommendations in Turkey
• How to take the best photos in Cappadocia
• The lesser known, must visit destinations in the Netherlands
• The surprising value of spirituality and astrology
• Her top advice for young women
• And much more!

Where to find Anita:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inhervision/

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://inhervision.com

Follow Gary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review! Give a rating and review here!

Joining me today is someone well versed in the art of charm. Tony D is a professional dating coach who travels all around the world helping men to improve their confidence with women. Tony is also an author and blogger at Absolute Ability, a platform where he produces content on dating, travel and self-improvement. He recently returned to Canada from an extended trip abroad and talks about his motorcycle adventures.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• How he overcame a difficult childhood without a masculine role model
• How he became a dating coach and freelance writer
• Cultural differences in dating outside of Western society
• The biggest obstacles men face when dating abroad
• Why you’re never too old to start travelling
• The one portable skill anyone can learn to start earning a remote income
• Exploring off-the-beaten-path places in the Philippines
• Why he thinks Filipinos love basketball so much
• What surprised him the most about the Philippines
• How learning about history helps you connect with the locals
• The best place to find knowledgeable expats anywhere in the world
• The best travel book and travel movies which inspired him
• The best advice he would give a 20-year old to travel more
• And much more!

Places and Resources Mentioned:

“On the Road” by Jack Kerouac (Amazon Affiliate Link)

“Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Where to find Tony D:

Blog: https://www.absoluteability.com/

Email: [email protected]  

Follow Gary on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community :

https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a Rating and Review here!

Joining me today is one of the most focused and hardworking tech entrepreneurs I know. Galya Westler has a dual citizenship from Israel and Canada, and travels all around the world as a digital nomad and paid speaker. Galya is the CEO of Plazus, a blockchain company helping businesses protect their data. She is also a travel lover, TEDx speaker and professional speaker at various tech conferences.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

On this episode we covered:

• What it was like to grow up in Israel
• Her experiences of serving in the Israeli army
• Why Israel is such a hub for start-up tech companies
• Why Israelis must have a competitive and tough mentality
• How moving to Canada allowed her the opportunities to connect with people from different ethnicities and religions
• The best way to assimilate yourself to a new country
• How she transitioned from a corporate job to an entrepreneur
• The travel opportunities in tech and blockchain
• How to find and book apartments without using Airbnb to save on fees
• What she loves about working remotely
• Why you should visit Valencia, Spain
• How Spanish culture fosters more quality family time
• How she balances fun and productivity as a digital nomad
• And much more!

Where to find Galya:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galya-westler-b0b63b42

Email: [email protected]

TEDx Talk – “Social Media Obesity and Loneliness:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rbKskuyCE0

Follow Gary on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/garyli.io/

Join the Facebook Community :

https://www.facebook.com/groups/407928276427355

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to hit Subscribe and leave us a review!

Give a Rating and Review here!