Everyday hundreds of bloggers on Tripoto give you a glimpse into the life on the road. Lavi is a full time solo traveller and blogger at Lavi was here, who is ready to buckle up and enjoy the ride. For us, her stories on Tripoto have so far been a breath of fresh air and this was my chance to know this amazing blogger better.
Here's my conversation with the Tripoto wanderer, Lavi.
Hey!
Hey there! I’m Lavi and I write a travel blog called Lavi was here. My blog is a mix of stories and travel tips based on my experiences backpacking around the world and living as an expat.
I worked in accounting and finance in New York City for almost four years before quitting my job to travel. Two-week vacations just weren’t enough anymore, and that was 1.5 years ago. Most recently, I lived in Madrid, Spain for 10 months and worked as an English language assistant. Now I’m gearing up for a backpacking trip through Central and South America.
What was your first breakaway trip?
My first time traveling alone was to parts of South America on a tour in 2011. I quickly realized that I would rather travel independently and set off the following year to backpack through parts of Southeast Asia. That first solo backpacking trip changed everything for me. I realized that I am much more self-sufficient than I thought I was. I knew I wanted to continue traveling and learning about the word. It was such an empowering feeling knowing that I didn’t need anyone else to have a good time traveling.
Follow her adventures on instagram here.
Do you ever come to India?
Growing up, I visited India every few years with my family because my extended family lives there. I remember tidbits about my parents’ villages, taxi rides during monsoons, and trips to the market with my grandparents. Every time I visit India, I’m flooded with memories from when I was younger. I’m so glad this is a country I’ll always be going back to.
Click here to see Lavi's Snapshots of Adventure in India
Is long term travel all that it is made out to be?
Long term travel certainly isn’t easy. Living out of a backpack is tiring, planning is stressful, and there are times where you may not know which city you’ll be at end of the week. My first long-term trip (longer than 6 weeks of backpacking) is approaching soon and I know it’s going to be taxing, but the pros outweigh the cons. If there are so many places I want to see in a country or area (like Central America), long-term travel is the best way to do it. I plan it as I go along; my best resources are the people I meet in hostels while traveling. I also read a lot of travel blogs to find out the best places to go and things to do in each area I’m planning to visit.
Tell us about some of your favourite experiences.
I have had a lot of life changing experiences while traveling. My first backpacking trip to Southeast Asia was one of them. Backpacking was so new to me; every bus ride and hostel stay was so exciting. I’ve hiked to the top of volcanoes, hitchhiked, hang glided, camped in public parks – I’ve done crazier things than I’d ever imagined. I seek to make the most out of my travels while staying safe and try to do everything that I can so that I don’t have regrets about visiting a place.
I’ve met so many special people while traveling and I’m so lucky to still be in touch with many of them. Friends met while traveling are one of a kind; we clearly have the same interests and experience beautiful places together. This makes for the best memories.
You are also a blogger on Tripoto...
Tripoto is a great resource if you don’t know where to start when planning a trip. I love sharing my stories with Tripoto readers and love how involved the community is. I’m always finding new places I want to see the next time I visit India when I’m browsing Tripoto!
Click here to follow Lavi on Tripoto.
Anything you want to say to your followers on Tripoto?
I’ve received a few questions on Tripoto about how I made the decision to quit my job and travel. I quit my job in NYC with the English teaching job in Spain secured, so I wasn’t worried about whether I would be able to fund my travels. Now that I am going to be traveling without a steady job, things will be a bit more stressful. Still, this is something I know I’ll only be able to do at this time in my life when I don’t have major commitments in my life, so I intend to make the most of my freedom. My advice, as cheesy as it is: Follow your heart. I am too curious about the world to sit in one place at this point in time, so I choose to travel.
Where do you go from here?
After my trip through Central and South America, I’m not sure where I will end up. I know that I don’t want to go back to a corporate work life, but I’m still not entirely sure what I will do for my career. No matter what, I’d like to keep writing and have travel be a big part of my life.
Advice for people who like to travel but don't?
Travelling is hectic and stressful, but the best experience ever. It is so worth it to learn about something in real life, with hands-on experience, instead of reading about it. There are lots of people who don’t like to travel and that’s completely fine, but if you are curious about the world, you should follow that instinct and see where it takes you.
Lavi is out on the road with her backpack to inspire solo travel and encourage desk job daydreamers to follow their travel passions. Let us all await Lavi's stories from her next destination and her insights from this road to discovery.
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Liked what you read? Move on to the next in the series of Tripoto's interviews.
Click here to read my conversation with Daniel Baylis, a bestselling author, blogger and conversationalist.