Aloha!
My name is Earl.
(Actually, Earl is my middle name, but that’s what everyone calls me. Derek is my first name.)
My Life as a Permanent Nomad
On December 25th, 1999, I left the USA for a three-month, post-graduation trip to Southeast Asia. It’s now been over twelve years and that trip has yet to finish.
The adventure has involved over 70+ countries (view the list here) on 6 continents, work as a Tour Manager on board cruise ships, two years in India, experiments with meditation, muse-creation, mountain-climbing and movie acting, volunteer work, an inappropriate amount of time on tropical islands and eating inappropriate amounts of street food, a two-day kidnapping, being placed on the US ‘terror watch list’, teaching English in Asia and a fruitless search for a pair of sandals with sufficient arch-support for my flat feet, among many other things.
It was exactly three days into my first trip back in 1999, as I celebrated the Millennium at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, when I became inflicted with an untreatable addiction to world exploration. So addicted in fact, that the thought of returning home literally made me sick to my stomach. Therefore, without any other option, I made a decision to change paths in life. Instead of going home to follow my original goal of becoming a Sports Agent, I now embarked on a mission to transform myself into a permanent nomad so that I could continue my travels, and more importantly continue learning from those travels, for as long as possible.
The only problem was that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and I only had $1500 to my name.
Therefore, as any good problem-solver would have done, I ignored this one fact and worked on creating a solution anyway. Miraculously, and perhaps with the help of some determination and refusal to accept anything less than the achievement of my goals, I eventually managed to create the nomadic life I envisioned.
Ever since, I’ve spent my time constantly traveling around the world, always in search of that eye-opening first-hand education that only travel can provide. I don’t travel to simply check countries off a list. In fact, as a permanent nomad, I have little interest in the actual sights that a particular destination may offer, instead preferring to focus on the human interactions and lessons learned along the way.
And when I combine the rewards that such travel provides with the fact that I can pack all of my possessions into my one backpack and hop on a flight to anywhere in the world on any given day, perhaps you can see why I don’t plan to give up this exhilarating lifestyle any time soon.
To learn more about my travel philosophy, check out my “New Breed of Explorer” page!
Join Me On My Global Adventures!
- Stay updated by subscribing to the RSS Feed or by receiving updates via email (simply sign up using the form below).
- Follow @wanderingearl on Twitter.
- Join the Wandering Earl Fan Page on Facebook.
- Email me through my Contact Form – I would honestly love to hear from you and I respond personally to every email, every time. Connecting with readers and other bloggers is first and foremost what this website is all about.
- Comment on the posts you read – Help foster a more rewarding experience by sharing whatever is on your mind with the Wandering Earl community.
Why You Should Follow WanderingEarl.com
WanderingEarl.com came into existence in late 2009 upon realizing that I wanted to share my adventures with a much wider audience while being able to connect with other like-minded folks at the same time.
And what you’re looking at right now is the result.
I don’t claim to have any answers. To be honest, most of the time I don’t even know what the questions are, and truthfully, I don’t worry too much about that. What I am able to do is…
- tell you where to find a heavenly mango lassi (topped with cherries!) in Calcutta
- share entertaining tales of my travel adventures
- offer useful, proven advice on how to live a life of extended travel
- force you to think about how and why you want to explore this world
- and perhaps, inspire you to live a life without regrets
Towards the beginning of my journey, people were quick to tell me that I was wasting my life by refusing to ‘settle down’. Yet over the years, all of those dissenting voices have become silent. I now receive a good chunk of my motivation from the fact that many of these original naysayers have broken free from the conventional life themselves and joined me as fellow permanent nomads and global citizens.
Will you join us as well? The world would certainly be a much better place if you did.
Back in 1999, I left home for a 3 month trip to Asia that has still yet to end.
I admire your honesty and hope that this lifestyle is really what you make it look like.
You are my hero!
You’ve done an amazing job of the website and that’s great with the Wander Fund too. Very impressed!
I am completely intrigued by your lifestyle. You sound so happy and that’s all that matters.
The “settle down” advice is code for “I’m insanely jealous I’m not doing what you’re doing, so please go back to being like me so I don’t have to feel guilty everyday.”
Never settle!
Keep it real…Derek? Earl?
“Settle down” is code for:
Go to school.
Get a job.
Get married.
Buy a house.
Wait for retirement.
Economy crashes.
There goes my 401k.
Go to work at Walmart.”
Unplug from the matrix before it’s too late.
This is awesome! And Ash is totally right… “settle down” is a load of crap. Good for you, for living life on your own terms and finding a way to make it work.
I always say we are modern day nomads because we move every 1 to 2 years (Georgia to Costa Rica to Austin to Vermont) with our homeschooled son in tow. But you are a sure ’nuff nomad, wandering around the world.
I love it, I love it, I love it! Keep it up!!
Earl, you are 110% a traveling superhero. Living life on your own terms, guided by your unique goals, is the most inspiring thing a person can do. And that’s the effin definition of superhero.
Much love to you as you continue your travels and refine yourself as a global explorer. What you’re doing is amazing. YOU’RE amazing!
Peace,
Lauren
Just came across your blog, and glad that I did!
What an inspirational journey…
Enjoyed your writing and your nomad life style. Tried it myself with another for six months in the states. Looking for ways to get back to doing it. Good luck with it all.
Hey Debra – Thank you so much for leaving a comment! And it’s always great to connect with others who are interested in the nomadic lifestyle. So please feel free to send me an email if you ever have any questions at all and I look forward to interacting with you some more (and hopefully giving you some ideas to help get you back on the road)!
I’m only 17 yet I have these massive aspirations to go out and do what you’re doing right now. I don’t know yet how I am going to start or when I’ll leave, I just know it’s soon. I hope that I get to have as many adventures as you have!
Thank you for showing me that I don’t have to think about my future as settled in one place like most other people say I should. I can go anywhere
Thank you Sharn for that wonderful comment! And believe me, if you want it to happen bad enough, you’ll achieve your goal of living your own unique life. Once you get started with your adventures, it becomes easier and easier to continue. The hardest part is literally taking the first step!
Earl your website and your story are both equally incredible. You may be my new idol!
Thanks so much Elle, you’re too kind
And I liked your post on Akureyri. It brought back some wonderful memories of my visit there. Definitely one of the more unique destinations on the planet!
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Great blog and most of all great inspiration. I’m heading on the road next year strating with two years planned, but from there I will see what will come next, hopefully the same as you. Keep going my friend, hopefully the naysayers around me will also follow.
Hey Norm – I appreciate the comment! The best part about heading off on such a journey is that you’ll be encountering endless opportunities along the way. I always find that to be exciting, having no idea where my life will be by the end of a particular adventure, but knowing that it will most likely be headed in a direction that I previously never would have imagined.
And I have no doubt that once you’ve been on the road for a while and those opportunities do start to come your way, those naysayers will suddenly be quite envious and many will definitely start asking how they too can take steps to live such a life of travel
hola
me gusta mucho su estilo de vida al igual que usted soy adicta aconocer lugares felicidades martha
Hi Earl, I have never traveled but for the past year I have been eating, sleeping and breathing travel research, daydreaming, blogging, etc. I am obsessed and sick and tired of the “routine” of my current life. I’m married and can’t really “leave” and have a 16 year old son who LOVES to travel (he spent 2 summers ago in Costa Rica and this summer in Panama both living with host families) and he will spend next summer in Thailand! Because I never traveled and want to now (before it’s too late), I provided him with the opportunities and he lives to travel. He speaks English, Spanish and some German and some Hebrew. I dream of traveling with him, especially to Argentina since he really wants to snowboard the Andes. He is a Junior in high school and on the honors track, AP classes, and is planning on going to college and becoming a Vet (he adores animals). He wants to travel so badly and talks about a gap year but we will see. Did you go to college? My son is EXTREMELY social. I have mentioned that perhaps a job on a cruise ship would be good for him. He would love to be a snowboard instructor…Yikes, so many things, so little time! Anyway, I am currently getting my certificate to teach English abroad…just in case…you never know!
This is so unfair! I have been beating down the travel bug since I returned from a year of travelling and another year spent in Australia in 2008 to maybe start a life that is NOT determined by saving religiously for the next get-away.
Now I have a corporate job (that I do actually like) and a partner (who also has a corp job) and we’re planning a trip to Thailand in Decemeber since we’re lucky enough to get 3 consecutive weeks off work.
Needless to say, I’ve been browsing all kinds of travel-related sites since we decided to do the trip.
Needless to say, I got stuck on yours.
Needless to say, the old addiction is back. Full on.
So are the doubts whether a life of travelling really is something for me.
But: Me. Want. Leave. Now.
Thank you for your inspiration, Earl!
Hey Alice – Ha! Well, the good news is that we can always change the direction we’re headed if our goals in life change. So, travel will always remain a possibility for you if it comes to that. But I do know that once the thought of long-term travel creeps into one’s head, it’s not easy to get rid of those thoughts at all
Earl,
Just came accross your site and I’ve gotta say that as a world traveller myself, your site and adventures are STUPENDOUS man! Keep rocking and keep living a life of no regrets! The more time I spend on the road, specially in Asia and South America, the less and less I want to remain in Canada. Only thing in mind, how soon can I make the permanent move to Asia and start explore the world from there. Keep rocking man. You’re an inspiration to all of us, who want a life of adventure and travel as opposed to settling down in the burb and get the wife and 2.5 kids, SUV and house. I’ll gladly and whole heartedly pass on that and take the life filled with adventures, fun, world travel and amazing experiences on the road.
Cheers,
Keep rocking man (have I mentioned that before?LOL).
Payman.
Thanks so much Payman! And I of course know very well myself how tempting it can be to continue traveling once you get started. Moving to Asia is always an ideal option as well! There’s definitely a reason why foreigners are flocking there and deciding to call that part of the world ‘home’. Keep up the travels yourself and perhaps I’ll see you in Asia one of these days!
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Hi Earl,
Since couple of years I have been thinking strongly about this “Never settle” idea. I have been dreaming since I was a teen to live such a life.
I feel like I’m at the right place. I want to tell you about so many things which I dont wanna put it here. Soon i will contact you via e-mail.
And btw when are you comming to India?
Cheers,
Hey Nin – I look forward to receiving your email! And I’ve actually been to India many times, I think 8 or 9 times so far. I’m sure I’ll be back again soon as well!
Thanks Earl, Good to see you response, I see you are very generous and kind
that I will surely e-mail you very soon.
I just finished reading blogs about your India tour, and I’m happy to know that you have actually tried to understand the real India.
I was just thinking that I may be able to help you get the insight of the culture and mentality of the people of my vibrant county. I being born and bought up in a small town and now working in a metro city have experienced almost all aspects of both rural & modern India. As an add-on I have also been to US and a few East Asian countries so I know exactly what the cultural differences are and what challenges & difficulties tourist face here.
As I have observed, you not only love India but also understand & love Indians. Unlike you many people they just like India but sadly hate Indians. I can complete relate to this case and many educated Indian would. Only difference is they don’t care but I do. And that’s why I want to change this perspective.
(I know it’s that same feeling of “change the world” you get in your young age but at least I will be happy that thru your blog I may make a little difference and change the prejudice about Indians.)
Though aforementioned “change the world” is not what my main motto which inspired me to write to you, it’s something else something just for my own self
Hey Earl!
You have done really great job. Its not that much easy what people think. I’m greatly impressed by your courage. I hope I could do this but…..
Nin’s comment regarding people liking India but not the people reminds me of a bumper sticker in Mexico. It was printed by a local Mexican who just got SO exasperated by ex-pats who would move to Mexico and subsequently enjoy the low cost of living, the beautiful setting, the fresh fruit and fish, yet in the next breath complain about “the Mexicans”…their roads, their lawless ways, their slow pace, their loud music, their endless holidays. I lived in Mexico for 2 years, and it would rub me the wrong way when ex-pats had this seemingly double standard, so I can only imagine the frustration it would cause to a local. This local came up with what I always thought was a brilliant sticker (albeit a tad harsh!). “If you don’t like Mexicans, then why the F*** did you move to Mexico.”
And even more egregious, these slights aimed at Mexicans were spoken in English, so the bumper sticker had to be in English, ’cause these same ex-pats weren’t even TRYING to learn Spanish.
There are endless reasons to travel…I hope that sticker made a couple of those people stop and APPRECIATE how lucky they were to be guests in another’s country and put into practice the fine art of gratitude at our oneness, as I have seen extended to me over and over in my travels.
Hey Chewy – That kind of stuff gets me as well. I hear it all the time from people living overseas and I think the message of that bumper sticker is a valid one. When I was living in Mexico recently I met an incredible number of foreigners who couldn’t speak a word of Spanish as well. It’s quite shocking really.
These sorts of people do this inside of the U.S. also! A good friend of mine bought a beautiful house in rural Pennsylvania and over the years more and more houses were built by people from the NYC suburbs who wanted 2nd houses. Little by little they started bulldozing/levelling their property, cut down all the trees and putting in manicured lawns and big circular driveways and last year out-voted the locals to drastically cull the deer population! They’re turning it into the exact place that they claim they want to get away from in the first place… Most people are way more resistant to change than they think and don’t really want a little place in the woods thats off the radar – but like to think they do!
Hey Degsy,
Tell us about the Costa Rican chocolate covered coffee beans!
Ian
Earl,
I took a 5 month backpacking trip in 2005 throughout Europe and I must have contracted the bug because since then, my days at the office have been increasingly unbearable. I feel like what the aboriginal of Australia must feel when they are forced to keep a job with a regular schedule. (they don’t last long!) Fortunately, my new life will begin in April of next year when I will begin a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Afterwards…Asia is on the short list. With both you and Matt Karsten and others keeping me focused on my goal, I just may make it through the next 4 months! What you write here really does make a difference so please keep it up!
Russ
Hey Russ – Well done! Many people have that bug but never follow up in the end so I’m happy to hear that you’re on your way soon again…seems like quite a trip you have planned and the hiking sound amazing! You’ll survive the next four months for sure and suddenly, you’ll be on your way…
I appreciate you following along with the site!
Hey Earl!
I’m 17, im currently saving some money and im leaving for travelling next year with my best friend! Were not setting a date to come back because we don’t intend to. Alike you i don’t want to normal average life that a lot of my friends want.
I want to learn different things, experience different cultures and meet different amazing people! I am so bored at the moment i cannot wait to leave.
The most amazing thing about travelling is that everywhere is different, and i cannot wait to explore!
I seriously admire you, and one day maybe we will cross paths!
Do you have any tips?
Thank you Rosie! x
Welcome to the site Rosie! I’m not sure how to answer that question as there are so many different factors involved depending on each person’s own travel goals, but if you have any specific questions, please feel free to shoot me an email and I’d be more than happy to respond
Hi Earl
you are a free bird, even i like travelling, but i hardly get to travel. I just want to travel on my own, enjoy the nature, learn about the people, culture and do all the crazy stuff..Always i save money, but it is spent on something other than travel. Great life you are living..Best of luck for your ahead journey…
Thanks for the message Jayanti!
i am a lucky person coz i found ur website…u inspired me a lot…thanx:)
Planning on doing this my self after i graduate, although i dont know if i will end up doing it your as long as you have!!
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Hi Earl,
Just came across your website for the first time searching for instructions on how to eat a tostada- I’ll have to check out your other posts (I’m intrigued by the kidnapping!). I wanted to tell you if you’re still looking for sandals for flat feet, FootSmart has products designed for specific foot conditions including flat feet: http://www.footsmart.com/flat-feet-s.aspx?searchterm=***flat+feet&navcmd=Ntk%3aAll%7c***flat+feet%7c3%7c
Try the Orthaheel Men’s Ryder Thong Sandals.
Thanks for the advice Becky! I actually ended up getting custom insoles that I can put in all kinds of shoes, including in sandals, and they have worked perfectly so far. But I’ll definitely look at FootSmart if I decide to change.
Wow, you’ve had some amazing adventures! I’m back home in the US now, but I took a 100 day backpacking trip last summer and I think I have more stories from those three months than from the last several years of my life. Reading your stories makes me want to plan another much longer trip
Hey Jeff – That’s how it goes…we tend to experience and learn more about life in such a short period of time while traveling, so much more so than double or triple that amount of time back at home. And there’s nothing wrong with planning another trip
how come you’ve never been to the Philippines! hehe.
Hey Joemill – Not sure why I haven’t made it to the Philippines yet…but I’ll get there eventually of course
Can we get married? seriously though… awesome story. I feel kind of the same, though I’m only a year or so in. Going home for a few weeks next month and while I’m excited about it – I’m just as excited to be leaving again.
Hey Izy – Why not? I’m always open to anything
I think it’s always great when we go home but already know we’ll be leaving again soon. It somehow makes the time at home so much more enjoyable and relaxed. Where are you headed after your visit home?
Hi Earl,
I love your blog, it’s so inspiring. It is my dream to live a life of long term travel, although I have not yet figured out how I could make that work with respect to a career and a relationship. I have to say that reading about your life makes me believe that if I want it bad enough, I can make it happen!
So thankyou for the inspiration!
Cheers!
Hey Natasha – Well, that’s the perfect attitude to have and I think all long-term travelers would agree! If you can stay focused on your goals and keep your eyes open to every opportunity that may appear, you’ll find a way to make it all happen. And of course, if you ever have any questions, just send me an email through the Contact link at the top of the page
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Your blog is incredibly inspiring! It would be great to be able to live the way you do. I am glad I stumbled upon this.
Thank you Tessa! I look forward to hearing more from you and hopefully having you join us travelers out here in the world!
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Hi Earl,
Your blog is amazing. I just discovered it today and I’ve been reading all night. I think what you are doing is incredible, and you are leading a lifestyle that so many people dream about having, yet never quite get around to doing.
I thought I had been to a few places (about 35 countries) but you’ve got me seriously beaten! I had hundreds of gigabytes of pictures so I recently started my own hobby travel photography blog http://www.frescoglobe.com and I’m just amazed how many people are out there posting amazing pictures and sharing travel stories too.
Your site is definitely one of the better ones, so please keep it up! You’re a great writer, and the “about” page made such a clear argument for why you do what you do and I forwarded it to a ton of my friends who said that wanting to travel is “lazy” and “not a real job”. I told them that you travel and life of very little but you are happy. No panicking about your boss, making car payments or buying tons of stuff you don’t need to feel better about yourself.
I am seriously jealous, and I’ll be checking back regularly.
David
Thanks for that David and welcome to the site! We all start off having visited 0 countries so it’s just a matter of time….seems like you’re motivated enough to find a way to visit every country that you want to visit during your lifetime!
Hey Earl!
I stumbled upon your blog when I was searching for travel blogs for one of my assignments and I think that your blog is really impressive. The fact that you’ve been traveling for so many years and have been to so many countries amazes me. Traveling has always been one of my dreams and I hope that one day, I’ll be able to travel like you. One thing I got to say is that you travel so often yet you still find the time to blog about it in detail. You’re truly an inspiring traveler and blogger. All the best in your upcoming journeys!
Earl, this is something I have always dreamt of doing.. I come from a very conservative culture.. Please tell me how can I make a career out of travelling.. So that I can live and earn a living at the same time.
Hey Ravi – This is exactly why I just created my new eBook “How to Live a Life of Travel“….you may want to check it out as I think it will help you in your situation.
Hi, Earl ..
I fould your web while I’m messing around internet and really hope to find more interesting websites, might push me to reach my travelling lists again. not like many sites that full of drama issues ..
and WOW I finally found.. hat’s how I want my to be!
I am 24 years from Bangkok, Thailand.
Travelling, Photography,and learning are things I wrote in my soul about who I really am and what the exactly could compete life’s destination.
I started follow the lists by my own(I worked hard and saved a lots) since 2007, only places in my country fist. as my limit budgets.
and 2009 was the first year outside but still based on my area, I’ve been just a few countries like South-Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, China, Indonesia, and few Islands which is worth to visit; culture, arts and local people life.. etc..
and after graduated my another degree in Accounting(2010)
I was packed and experienced in Bali Island 1 month instead searching a job and become office human like other. LOL..
I learn so many things and lots of amazing memories.
by the way, I stopped at all since last year by something .. but now I am trying to get motivate like I was again .. just so much happy to found your page. so many thing I always curious I could not find the exact answer but now ^^
Well I created few albums and share it only my FB ..
I may get a proper blog when my English language get better than now ..
Since nobody would interest if it in my language..
Again ..Appreciate your motivate/the way you encouraged yourself..
^__^
Hello Earl,
I came across your website when I read an article this afternoon on CNN about a cancer survival who has lived 10 years beyond his ‘terminal’ diagnosis of cancer. The survivor wrote that he spent some time at Kalighat Home for the Destitute Dying in India. I did a search and found your website then read about your story.
I commend you for your attitude on life and living it unconventionally while look for solving problems and traveling at the same time.
I endeavored to travel and live in poor countries when I was almost through with college. I joined the peace corps, traveled, lived and worked in Liberia West Africa sometime in early-mid eighties. I was in my 20s. Life was a spiral of adventure and risk taking events.
I saw a lot of things that have changed me to the person I am today.
My interest and yearning for traveling to see the world and learn never ceased even after I returned to the States.
But I ‘settled.’ Yes, I compromised my will and settled because I had many dependencies both emotional and financial. Most importantly, I had a sick parent.
What happened to me was this in a nutshell: “I formed a different view of life while I was outside the first world. I developed a sense of caring and empathy that is beyond the acceptable norm in our American society. And by becoming empathic and caring I became different than the rest of my lot.”
I suffer from this sense of difference. It is almost comparable to what a war veteran feels when s/he returns home. It is a sense of not-belonging.
I hope at some point you feel belonged regardless of how far you travel and when you eventually find a place to rest, albeit for a short period of time.
Be well.
Peace
Maryam
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Hi Earl
I just stumbled over your blog. You live the life Im dreaming of, lucky lucky man! Keep the posts coming, its so inspiring to read:-) Thank you for making my day!
Kristina, 24
Norway
Thanks Kristina! And yes, the posts will keep coming, for a long time I hope
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Hi Earl I’m absolutely loving your site/blog. Stumbled across it by googling ‘live a life of travel’ and very glad I did! It’s certainly given me the inspiration to go out and do it as like yourself I graduated from uni last year, applied for some jobs that interested me but unfortunately had no luck! Having extensively looked at your site I’m pleased at the moment that the luck never came in landing a ‘graduate’ job and have no interest to settle into a 9-5 routine in a job I don’t particularly want to!
Anyway, fascinated and inspired by your story but taking that first step certainly seems like the biggest step to be making.. I recently undertook a TEFL course (teaching English as a foreign language) and considering Asia for 6months or a year in Australia but unsure into how it develops from there on in. Intrigued by the ‘how to live a life of travel’ guide that you have published and think I’ll sign up for that great deal. I suppose what it comes down to is having that initial bravery to just go for it and literally ‘see what happens’ whilst ignoring the fear of returning home with no money and no job!
Congratulations on a great site, a fantastic journey and something which inspires many other people who dream for something similar. Advice is greatly appreciated
!
Hey Joe – Thanks for that comment and welcome to the site! And I think you are right, you just need to do whatever it takes to summon enough courage to take that first step and just go for it. There is an endless number of people out there who will tell you that the first step is the most difficult. And almost never do you hear of someone who took that step and regretted it later on. That alone should tell you it’s well worth it!
Hi Eral, Your blog is really wonderful! And I would like to know where to find a heavenly mango lassi (topped with cherries!) in Calcutta!!!
Hey AJ – Here’s the link to a map I created that shows approximately where the lassi stand is: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216183083195638672722.000499a3437065caad77e&msa=0
It’s down a small lane off the main road and there is one lassi stand right on the corner and then one lassi stand next to it, further into the lane. Go to the second one (the one further into the lane) as that is definitely the best! Enjoy!
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