Reflections — One Year Of Being A Digital Nomad
It has officially been one year since we left New Zealand to begin our journey as digital nomads. There have been a lot of highs, a couple of lows and a few teary goodbyes. So it seemed like the right time to reflect on where we are, how far we’ve come and what we’re looking forward to next.
What would you have done differently?
Kieron: I've found that staying in more walkable locations has made me happier. While I used to be obsessed with having a pool and a gym just because, I now realize that being closer to the action in a local-style accommodation is more fulfilling.
Tania: We had one big mistake — not checking how bad the rainy season was in Siargao. It wasn’t raining when we arrived but then we had twelve days of basically continuous rain. That taught me to understand exactly how much rain is 900mm over a month. Another thing we are doing differently now is not looking for accommodation with pools and gyms. That was a nice treat at the start, but I think it held us back in some locations. And the other big thing I’m working on is brining more balance to daily and weekly life. Rather than saving up our adventures to have when I’m not working at all, bringing small excursions into every day or at least on the weekend is making life way more exciting.
What was your favourite excursion or activity?
Kieron: I would say the three boat trips were the most memorable. The Slow Boat down the Mekong from Thailand to Laos was unforgettable. Secondly, the trip around Khao Sok National Park in Thailand offered beautiful watercolours and a serene environment. Lastly, I saved another passenger's drone from falling into the ocean during a sunset cruise off the Andaman Coast near Phuket, thanks to my epic semi-drunken piloting skills.
Another noteworthy activity is the Orange Robes tour in Luang Prabang, where a former monk teaches about Buddhism and guides participants through some entry-level meditation techniques.
Tania: Definitely the time we spent in Borneo. It was great to feel disconnected from the digital world, spending our days in nature and feeling like we were actually on holiday. The three-day adventure we did with Sticky Rice Travel on the Kinabanatan River was something I won’t forget any time soon.
We had seen orangutans at the sanctuary, but hiking out from camp with our guide, who was following noises oblivious to us, we were just expecting just a pleasant walk through the jungle. To actually come across an orangutan in the wild was not something I’d really expected to see. We were definitely more excited to be there than she was, shortly after we arrived she started ripping things off the tree and throwing them at us, a subtle hint for us to move along!
What have you learned?
Kieron: I have learned that I can endure a very low level of comfort and stability in my life and adapt to it. Although being consistently on the road can be uncomfortable at times, I believe that learning to enjoy the disruption and lack of routine is a valuable skill. Compared to my previous western lifestyle, which presented far less of a daily challenge, I would find it quite difficult to return to after experiencing an alternative way of living.
It takes time to let go of the traditional ways of measuring success. We are often conditioned to equate success with owning a nice car, living in a beautiful house, putting on a suit, and arriving at the office. As a digital nomad, you may not have any of these things, which can make you feel less successful. Personally, I gave up a senior role as a wealth manager with all the perks that came with it. Adjusting to a less stable lifestyle and redefining how I measure success will take time.
Tania: I’ve learnt more about what makes me happy. Walkability, beautiful yoga studios, clean drinking water, healthy food, sunshine, big trees, and animals. A lot of this I sort of knew, but I hadn’t put much thought into it. The fact that we’re redesigning our daily lives constantly means that I’ve been thinking a lot more about what I want to include and what I need to keep my sanity. For example, I like the idea of being somewhere remote, but I also love being able to head out my front door and walk to a coffee shop. So how do I build a life that balances those two things? Do I do one for a bit then the other or can I find a location that balances both?
What have you loved?
Kieron: Travelling at a slower pace allows for more meaningful experiences with local people. You can get to know the old lady who smiles and waves at you every morning, talk to the local restaurant and guest house owners, your favourite street seller, and the monk of the temple at the end of your street. The countless nights spent finding stray cats and dogs to play with.
During our time in Borneo, we had the opportunity to observe wild orangutans. While planting trees in a deforested area, we stumbled upon a lone tree with a female orangutan sitting in a nest. She observed us planting away, which really emphasized the significance of eco-tourism and the reforestation efforts undertaken by some tour operators. These initiatives establish protected replanted areas that enable these incredible animals to roam more freely and it felt like a privilege to assist.
Tania: So many things. The sense of adventure. The planning adventures to new destinations. The food! How welcoming local people are everywhere we’ve been. Being outside of my comfort zone. The warm weather everywhere. Visiting Borneo. The excitement of plotting out another year of travel. Talking to other people living similar lives and getting so inspired by them.
What do you never want to do again?
Kieron: One mistake we've made in the past is staying too far from walkable amenities. We eat out frequently and rarely have access to a kitchen, so selecting a location where we have to rely on takeout and eat on our hotel bed is unpleasant. As we've travelled mostly in South East Asia, walking for over 20 minutes to lunch in 30+ degree weather without any shaded areas is not enjoyable. It's as unpleasant as smelling a fart in a lift. Therefore, I would never want to stay too far from something we can eat again.
Tania: Spend time in a large, hectic city when I’m super busy with work. One big lesson has been timing and planning our stays based on where we’ve just been, the weather and what else we have going on in our lives. Yes, vibrant cities are great, but there’s a time and place for it. Just like quiet island life is a welcome break from busyness, chaotic cities are a nice change from chilled, island vibes.
What surprised you?
Kieron: The kindness of strangers. There is always someone willing to assist when things go wrong, and you can always guarantee they will. A tire will blow on your moped, you’ll need a taxi at 3am on an island where they don’t work nights or you’ll be hassled by local police. But there’s always someone willing to lend a hand.
Tania: How quickly we adapted to this lifestyle. I thought there would be massive hurdles to overcome, but it’s been a pretty smooth transition. I think our background, having both travelled extensively helped. Also, I was already freelancing. So aside from the timezone difference, not much changed in my working life. You’ll never know if this is the right lifestyle for you until you take the leap.
Favourite country?
Kieron: So hard to choose! But If you're going to make me, here we go. Malaysia for food, Thailand for the kindness of the local people, Philippines for the beaches. Borneo for the wildlife (Yes, I know it’s part of Malaysia, but it doesn’t feel like it, so I'm cheating). And finally Laos of the rawness of the travel experience.
Tania: I’m going to cheat a little and say two. First, Malaysia was such a surprisingly wonderful place that we spent four months there. It was great on so many fronts: big cities like Kuala Lumpur, beautiful old towns in George Town and Melaka and then the laid-back vibes and wilderness of Borneo. But in terms of long-term livability, Thailand, specifically Chiang Mai. It’s got a little bit of everything I’ve been looking for: walkability, yoga classes, vegetarian food, wonderful people, nightlife, quiet, cafe culture, nature, and well-priced. If we’d come here first, I’m not sure we would have left.
What would you have changed?
Kieron: Torn about this one, but perhaps I should have learned a second way to earn an income rather than putting all my eggs in one basket.
Tania: I think I would’ve gone to smaller locations sooner. We stayed in Phuket for four months, which was a great launching place And then we headed to Kuala Lumpur for two months. In both places, we probably stayed longer than we needed to and I’ve really enjoyed staying in smaller locations like Chiang Mai, Kota Kinabalu and Siargao. Finding a place that’s the right size, with the right vibe, at the right price point is definitely a learning curve and each new place we stay at is helping me define what’s important to me.
What’s your priority for next year?
Kieron: Consider having a home base instead of constant travel throughout the year. This could mean staying in one spot for six months and then travelling for the other half of the year.
In addition, setting new goals for 2023. Goal setting was a critical step in our journey so far, including the three years of planning that went into getting everything in order before leaving New Zealand. Getting excited about new goals this year is at the top of our list.
Tania: Diversify our income. We have some great things planned for how we’re going to achieve this which I’m really enjoying exploring. From a travel perspective, Angkor Wat has been on my bucket list for a while so I can’t wait to tick that off
Advice for anyone becoming a digital nomad?
Kieron: I would recommend the nomad lifestyle to people of all ages, but it's important to have savings to cover downtime from work and unexpected expenses. Having a decent emergency fund can alleviate some of the stresses of being a nomad. For example, during one period, we went four months without work, and our emergency fund prevented us from being overly worried.
Tania: Take the leap! We planned to do a lot of preparation work and then Covid-19 happened which meant we definitely had to stay put and do all that preparation work. It set us up financially well, meant work was in a good place before we left and we’d done quite a lot of research on locations and the lifestyle. But even if we hadn’t had all that done, it wouldn’t have mattered. No matter how much preparation you do, you’ll never be totally ready or have all the answers. You’ve just got to get started.
What items should you have brought with you?
Kieron: None, if fact I wish I’d brought less. An empty pack and let me loose on the local markets. If I had to pick though, maybe a decent headlamp would be handy. And I now travel with a travel fan, which is epic on the long, local bus rides with no aircon. Or when the power goes and you sit in the heat with no fan or aircon, which happens way more than you think it will in Asia.
Tania: Funnily enough, I carried around warm, woolly socks for nine months. I left them back in NZ while we were there, thinking that it was a little ridiculous to carry them around South East Asia. Now I’m sitting in Northern Thailand wishing I had them!
There’s nothing extra that I would have brought with us, I think we’ve got more than we need.
What did we get right before leaving?
Kieron: Perhaps I'm repeating myself, but it all comes down to CASH, CASH, CASH. In my opinion, you can never have enough savings. Before leaving, we saved a substantial amount and it has proven to be the right decision. Within three months of arriving, I had to have a tooth completely removed and replaced due to infection, which cost us $5k. Additionally, we were unemployed for three months. Thus, CASH, CASH, CASH.
Tania: I think we were well prepared on all fronts. Financially, I’d begun freelancing years before which meant that Kieron could transition his work as we left. We’d set ourselves up with a great amount of savings in case anything went wrong. We’d bought an apartment as a retirement savings plan. We’d researched travelling to multiple countries so we understood the visas, challenges and where we wanted to base ourselves. We were mentally prepared too. We’d both travelled separately and as a couple so we kinda knew what we’d be like on those really tough days. They’re always a great test of a relationship!
