There's actually a really good book about long term independent travel. It outlines the philosophy of it that you guys have been talking about really well, it's:

Vagabonding by Rolf Potts

I've only done one 3 month backpacking trip through SE Asia last summer...lately I've been really missing travel though....

One thing you might want to think about is traveling by working abroad. I've been teaching ESL in South Korea for two years. Actually living somewhere for awhile is a great way to interact with the locals and seep in the culture. I'll probably yup around to some other countries too. Teaching English is also probably one of the easiest ways to get work abroad.

There is a decent video of Rolf talking about his book on youtube. I particularly liked the questions from the first guy.

What's the most negative experience you've had abroad?

Awesome thread man. Dont forgot to come and visit New Zealand when you come down under its completely different to Australia landscape wise and you will probably have a better experience as a tourist there then australia I would think (but I am biased).

I did 4 and a half months solo travel by myself last year. Went through mostly continental europe, the furthest east I went was Austria. Also did New York and Boston and the west of Canada. I loved it. Started off doing a tour for a couple of weeks and it was great to meet people from all around the world. However it was expensive, and I met just as good if not better people when I was staying in hostels at various places. It was easy to find someone to do stuff with during the day and plenty of people to party with at night. The great thing was getting the inside information from travelers who have already been to places you are headed for.

I think its prob harder for guys to organize overseas travel with existing friends then chicks as we are just more casual and laid-back, and less organized in general. Im glad I went on my own as it forced me to meet people and interact. I would encourage anyone to make a real effort with people not just fellow travelers but the locals. its so much easier to pull overseas as well.

Im looking forward to doing Asia and South America sometime in the future.

Anyone going to hotspots in Europe be aware that the hostels get full very quick so you may need to book in advance. Otherwise tho what Justice said is right.

Check PM..

I'm in Mostar right now, part of 19 days in Croatia and Bosnia. Flying to Belgium soon for 7 weeks in northern Europe then going from Stockholm to Georgia. From there, will be doing Armenia, Azerbajian, Turkey and as many of the Balkan countries I can fit within 3.5 months before going up to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and then Finland before going home.

ach ja - Mostar's kinda neat, but I liked Croatia more than Bosnia. I seen some of Lithuania and Latvia, but missed out on Estonia, which all the other Baltic travelers claimed was the best of the three. Made it out to Klapeida in Lithuania and the Curonian Spit which was kinda cool. Sand dunes and beach and a border with Kaliningrad . Was actually my first time in the ocean. Not sure if the spit is worth the trip from Vilnius though.

YESSS!!!

haha, I never would've thought I could get so excited about a 2p2 thread

I am craving for something liek this for a couple of months now but I want to make it not only into travel but my lifestyle for a couple years.

I was always a bit afraid and stuff because I really wanna just leave everything behind, sell all my stuff, move out of my appartment etc. And recently this craving was building up more and more and now I find thid thread.

Thank you Justice for starting this conversation and everyone else for contributing.

You guys just gave me all such a big kick in the butt for the first and hardest step: buying the first ticket


edit:
@ach ja: I'm interested in ur blog as well, shoot me a pn

How much clothing for a typical 3 month long trip?

Good to hear Polarop, that is definitely what people should take from this thread, JUST DO IT! The rest isn't that important, you'll figure it out

Anyusername, clothes for a week is good. Do laundry as you go. Everything is up to the individual and the climate where you are going. For SE Asia for example there is no reason to have a heavy jacket or anything more than the equivalent ofo a hoodie/light rain jacket. Remember you can always buy things later. For example, on my last trip I added a fake northface fleece in Nepal for like $6 to go with my jacket

Believe I posted earlier that I use eagle creek packing cubes and swear by them. They keep everything well organized. I pack will will fit in one 2 sided cube (shirts/shorts/pants) and 1/2 cube (socks/underwear). Then a loose hoodie/jacket. That is just how I do it.

I have 2 cargo pants that convert to shorts and board shorts. I wear the converted shorts about everyday. cargo shorts are handy and mine have zipper pockets so are good to prevent pickpockets.

thought I'd pm you but keeping this conversation public might help a lotta others that are itnerested.

So Justice I've been searching the web like crazy about traveling/vagabonding the world recently and right now I feel a bit paralyzed by all the information I got from the sites blogs and whatnot. Im probably doing too much of deal of it atm because Im still pumped and excited as hell about this but maybe you can help me out on a good start about stuff that I might forget and is important or maybe you got some interesting websites/blogs that are worth reading.

Here is my basic plan so far:
deadline: first week of march 2013(will start no matter what, but gives me some time to prepare and earn money, and my 27th bday is there, no better timing than becoming a traveller on your 27th bday imo)

plans until:
1. sell nearly everything now (to get used of having only what I really need)
2. grinding out good money
3. buy van to start out travelling europe via van (im from germany)


I am also selling my SCOOP 2011 CHAMPIONSHIP WATCH if anyone is itnerested, but I prob psot this somewhere else too.

cool, be sure to update us on your progress

a quick update, as I have now a big picture about this.... I've already started selling and donating some furniture and stuff so I can live as minimalistic as possible and will soon start blogging about this whole process and the new lifestyle change

my deadline is march 2013 (my 27th birthday) and ill be grinding a lot to save up some money, if i should hit a huge upswing it might start sooner, but there are still a lotta things i need to buy and plan

most important the van a tent and some outdoor gear and tools


edit:
haha i see i already mentioned it .. well so basically current process is to sell stuff or donate, grind a ****load and read the books i wanted to read and have in my shelf before i sell or donate them

I don't mean to drive traffic away from 2+2, but are there any forums focused more specifically on long term independent budget travel or backpacking (not like camping but more like traveling)?

I primarily use Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forums but there must be some other ones as well...

I used to frequent travelpunk.com/boards alot, but its gone way down hill the last few years. Even stayed with a fellow tpunk down in NZ.

I've been thinking about blogging too but I have too many damn photos... it would take forever. I wouldn't call mine long term budget travel though. I'm more like the "long weekend on the other side of the world but still keep my job at home" type traveler haha. I'd love to drop everything and leave for a long term thing someday but I get to see many different places and do the things I want so I can't complain.

I would just like to pop back into this thread and say it inspired me to get into Couchsurfing and I have to say it's been a great experience. Made many new friends from all over the world and I feel much more of a "real" traveller than I ever did staying in hostels. Thanks

There is a good documentary on backpacking on tubemotion.com

Are we allowed to link to it here on 2+2?

Great to hear!