About Travels of Adam

Curious what this blog is about, who I am and why I’m writing? Read below. And if that’s not enough, just ask me a question through my Tumblr account…

Songkran day 1: Silom

Celebrating Songkran (New Year’s) in Bangkok, 2011

Who is Adam?

In a few words, I’m a hipster travel blogger & graphic designer. In 2010 I quit my job as a book designer in Boston, MA and set off on a round-the-world trip. Over the course of 15 months I visited more than a handful of countries from Morocco to Israel, India to Vietnam. (Read my reasons for wanting to travel around the world)

Why did I set off on my trip around the world? Well, it all started with a short weekend trip to Reykjavik, Iceland in 2009…

How Iceland changed my life

In September 2009, I visited Reykjavik, Iceland with a good friend. We were only there for a 3-day weekend, but during that time, we met so many interesting people and fellow travellers that it inspired me to make up my own life plan. I’ve been lucky enough to travel and study abroad throughout my life, and I see no reason why that should end with a full-time 9-5 job.

I started working two weeks before I had even graduated from university. Without any transition period between school and “real-life,” I spent most of my early 20s busy making a career and being responsible.

It wasn’t until I met people my same age from all over the world (doing very different things than what I was doing) that I was inspired to take some action. It just seemed unfair to think they had all these amazing stories to tell, and here I was, beginning to feel more and more complacent in my generally comfortable life.

It was on my IcelandAir flight back from Reykjavik to Boston that I realized there’s no reason to stop traveling. I could make something work somehow whether through my job or on my own. In seat 19F, I wrote up a list of questions:

  • Could I travel & not work?
  • Where would I go?
  • How much would it cost?
  • Would I be able to live like that?
  • What would I learn/do?
  • When would I go?

I didn’t have all the answers (actually, I had none at that moment), but I knew they were questions I would be able to answer. Honestly, I’m surprised at how easy it was to make the decision to pick up and leave Boston without answering a single one of those questions.

Where is Adam today?

As my round-the world travels wound down (read how I spent $20,000 in 15.5 months), I made a difficult decision: do I return to America and look for a job there? Or do I try my luck one more time and pursue my dream of living in Europe. I took a chance in the summer of 2011 and moved to Berlin, Germany. (read about my summer as a hipster Berliner)

As of January 2012, I’m living in Berlin and continually traveling around Europe and the rest of the world.

Rosh HaNikra: White cliffs in northern Israel

Testimonials

I often receive comments and feedback about Travels of Adam. Here are some of the things people are saying about the site:

“I wanted to say thanks for highlighting Breaking the Silence. The very first time I ever considered visiting this area was when I met a Belgian diplomat in Peru who had been through the area a few times and said it was as simple as renting a car, which blew my mind. The second time I considered it, and decided to actually visit, was reading about your experience.  So thanks for sharing!” —Nicole T., USA

“I think it’s so amazing that you actually did what you wanted to do and went to travel the world. I read your info and found that I share many of the same desires to travel, learn and find inspiration, as you do. Therefore you’ve actually really inspired me to go for it.” —Sofia R., Spain

“When I met you, you said your blog was embarrassing. I find it quite interesting!” —Henriette D., France

“Let me congratulate you on your website, found it through a random Google search for moving abroad alone and there’s some great stuff on there.  What really interests me is how much your story parallels mine” —Quincy S., Atlanta, USA

“Love the travel mascot and Wombat Wednesdays” —Heather R., USA

“Just read a bit of your blog. I quit a good job and did a RTW last year. Good luck! You’re doing the right thing.” —Tom G., USA

View my content geographically!

Thanks to my friend Ben, at BigBlogMap.com, I’ve got a map of all my content. You can find my select hipster city guides, or view content by country here: travelsofadam.com/map

Click to view all my travel blogs by geographic location

19 total comments on this postSubmit yours
  1. Having had the pleasure of meeting Adam in Berlin, I can say that he’s a ‘blast’ in real life too. I love the blog. I love his enthusiasm. Traveling the world to seek out cool stuff is THE STORY. It takes guts. It takes courage. And Adam is living the life.
    Go Adam !

  2. HELOOO MELLLLOOOO Mr. Hipster!

    You shoud REALLY and ALMOST DEFINETELY VISIT PORTUGAL.
    It is TRAVEL-BABYLON in Europe. Especially Lisboa.
    If you ever plan to visit Vienna/Austria and I m here ( since I m a travel-o-holic myself)
    EMAIL ME.

    ALL THE BEST
    naTaLIa

  3. Just happened across your blog and I must say I love it. I’m currently trying to figure out some of my own RTW travel plans so I love the experiences and tips you have shared. Looking forward to everything that you write.

  4. Thanks for dropping by my blog. Great story, and amazing photos. Looking forward to the updates mate!

  5. hey Adam, thanks for stopping by! I love your blog and will visit more often. I’m also impressed by your story. You’re living your dream – that’s the way to go!

  6. Hi Adam,

    Nice travel blog. hugs from Indonesia.

    cheers!

  7. Hello Adam

    thanks sharing your stories. i see you travel a lot of places and i like how you manage things in traveling alone.

  8. Hi Adam,

    I love that you made an effort to define hipster. That’s no easy task and Berlin definitely seems like a hipster city!

    My husband and I are friends with Lillie Marshall in Boston and mentioned you as a fun travel blogger who lives in Berlin! We’re actually in Berlin for the next two months and would love to meet up some time over drinks or dinner to meet you and hang out! We figure that a friend of Lillie’s is almost certainly someone we’d like!

    It looks like you MIGHT be visiting the US right now, but otherwise let me know if you’re free sometime!

    Cheers,
    Holly

  9. Hey Adam, what´s up?
    My name is Edward. I´m from Brazil and I´m currently living here in
    southern Brazil. I´ve lived in Utah and a short while in Boston area too.
    I also like to travel, but I haven´t done much traveling later.
    Well, I like to support travelers, specially if they´re coming here to my area.
    If visiting Brazil or south america interest ya, feel free to contact me.
    I´ll do what I can to help.
    Good luck bye.

  10. I love it how a trip to Iceland changed your life. It sure did change my life of travels. Went there last Nov with a friend for a 9 day adventure. We didnt know nothing about Iceland. Everyone asked why we were going. Only reason was because it was only 543USD roundtrip to go!!

    However, I would always go to Thailand and SE for the last 7 years for a 5-8 month holiday – especially I’am from Thailand (born there and raised in the States – went back for the first time in 2006 to volunteer in Khao Lak) but going to Iceland has open my eyes to travel to a place of “unknown” for me.

    I’am wanting to know how are you living the life in Berlin? I would love to find some kind of work there and live aboard. Can you help me out? Suggest where I should start…

    Thanks again!! I hope to hear from you soon ^^*

  11. Hello Adam,
    I love your travel site–it is inspiring. Someday, Lien and I will travel a bit of the world: 1) Vietnam; 2) Ireland; 3) Heidelberg, Germany. Would you like to meet up with us in Heidelberg when we go? I know a great place for dinner near the old part of town in the shadow of the beautifully crumbling medieval castle above the Neckar River. Your site brings back good memories. Thanks
    Tommy

  12. I want to do the same , but the point here how could you earn enough money for your travels?

  13. I can chime in here as well that I think your story is really inspirational and kudos to you for chasing after your dream, plus having the fortitude to stick it out and make it a success.

    Makes me want to read more of what you have to say, as you are a very admirable person. Cheers :)

  14. Hi Adam!

    I was just browsing the web one day and I went on to your webiste. It’s so awesome! It has accelerated my want to travel around the world. Although I am still 16, your website is very informative and it’s really good! Also, it has also inspired me in many ways.

    Cheers!!

  15. Travelling with an open-mind and open-heart can never be overestimated. You’re doing it all right. <3 and cheers, Greta

  16. There’s always something happened that will changed one’s life. That’s why I always tell people go out and explore cus you never know what you will get in return. Good job and happy travel:)

    Cheers

  17. Adam:

    I’ve only just stumbled upon your site, but am already impressed! I do relate to your sudden (seamless) transition to work life from college. I graduated college in three years (at age 20, actually) and immediately jumped into “real life.” I’ve always wished I’d taken time to enjoy life a bit more, but then again, as you show, there’s no time like today!

    Take care,
    Tony

    P.S. You’re handsome, smart, and seemingly nice… So, if you’re ever in Orlando, let me know! :)

  18. Cool!

  19. I come from a very strange place where maybe you can’t even think of putting your one foot outside your own house without telling your Parents & I am so amazed and so shocked to see that Life becomes so Beautiful after what you really wanna do , you just do it just simply by doing it Its Just like Fire in the Rain, very Romantic and very Courageous, I wish I could do it too,Dear Adam,I just wish you that you have all the happiness and all the Love in this World AMEEN
    Just Love,Peace & Respect
    Senorita Sonia

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