Kobus mans's Blog – April 2011 Archive (12)

Saving Money so you can Afford to Travel

Saving money sucks. But there is a way to sock away some cash without selling your kidneys. Before you have a therapy inducing flash back of your parents trying to instill archaic financial management into you at age 12 (ok, maybe that was just my family) stop for a moment and figure out what you are saving for. Saving for savings sake doesn’t work.

Step 1: Set a goal

Make it good. Really good. Half-ass goals result in half-ass saving. Write it down. Dates,…

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Added by kobus mans on April 27, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Vehicle Modifications for Long-Distance Travel

Long distance international road travel requires a lot more from of your vehicle than normal driving. Some vehicle modifications are necessary to make your life on the road safe, convenient and more comfortable.

Vehicle Security System

As much as we’d like to believe in the goodness of people, it just isn’t always so. Spend the time and the money to ensure your vehicle and its contents stay secure. At minimum install a kill switch. When activated a kill switch shuts off the…

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Added by kobus mans on April 25, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments

To Camp or Not to Camp

Decide whether to camp based on where you’re going and how you’ll get there. If you’re planning a trip to out of the way places, camping may be the best (or only) way to spend the night. On the other hand, if you’re staying close to civilization, odds are you won’t need to camp and may have trouble finding camping facilities.

Camping gear is the biggest problem. It’s…

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Added by kobus mans on April 23, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Visa Basics

If you’re new to international travel, acquiring a visa can be very confusing. Rules and regulations differ depending on your citizenship, country of residence and where you’re headed. Here are a few tips to help you understand the basics and avoid making mistakes.

What is a Visa?

No, it’s not the credit card that’s accepted everywhere Master Card isn’t. It’s a document; a…

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Added by kobus mans on April 21, 2011 at 1:35pm — No Comments

First Aid Kits: What you need and why

The great Center for Disease Control (CDC), has much more knowledge than I could amass in a lifetime on the topic of international first aid. Here’s why they say you need a first aid kit:

“The purpose of packing a travel health kit is to ensure travelers have supplies they need to—

- manage pre-existing medical conditions and treat any exacerbations of these conditions,

- prevent illness related to traveling, and…

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Added by kobus mans on April 19, 2011 at 10:30am — No Comments

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Becoming Location Independent

It is important to a bit of soul searching before you start planning your location independent lifestyle. Figure out what you want to do and define short and long term goals to achieve it. For us this process was a long time in the making.

We’ve always preferred to work remotely and keep our own schedule. We made the most of this and traveled as much as possible. Unfortunately it took us several years to realize that we needed a new lifestyle instead of different ways to live the…

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Added by kobus mans on April 17, 2011 at 10:30am — No Comments

Managing Time Zone Differences with Clients

One or two hours difference? Not a problem. Other side of the world? Problem. Most people say the best resolution is to adjust your working day to match theirs. Get up earlier or work later. I say phooey. Work when you want, just follow a few simple tips to keep your clients at ease.

Set check in day or times

For ongoing projects, set check-in dates or times. Clients… Continue

Added by kobus mans on April 15, 2011 at 12:00pm — No Comments

The Hazards of Driving Unknown Roads

Road conditions and obstacles in underdeveloped countries are frustrating, to say the least. Drivers accustomed to U.S. or European roads can find many situations terrifyingly dangerous.

Many destinations have roads that are seldom marked or in a state of complete disrepair. Traffic is a maze of sketchy public transportation, motorcycles, donkey carts, pedestrians and animals of… Continue

Added by kobus mans on April 13, 2011 at 12:00pm — No Comments

The Basics of Setting up your Mobile Office

A mobile office is a essential to being able to work on the road. A laptop computer, accessories, phone and Internet connection are the core components of a mobile office. Although your choice of gear maybe be deeply personal, you should build your mobile office based on reliability, redundancy and restraint.

Software is another important part of… Continue

Added by kobus mans on April 11, 2011 at 12:05pm — No Comments

Transition Your 9 to 5 Job to a Work Anytime & Anywhere Job

The hardest part of becoming a location independent professional is finding or establishing a source of income that can be earned remotely. For those with day jobs, the best path may be to transition your existing job to a telecommuting position.

Transitioning to a remote workplace can be done with varying degrees of success, depending on the specifics of your… Continue

Added by kobus mans on April 8, 2011 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Five Necessities to Survive Camping

We went camping everywhere when I was a kid. Every family vacation I can remember involved a Volvo station wagon and a big patch of dirt to pitch a tent on. Optimists would say my parents did this to build character, in reality, they did it because it was cheap. Ten years later, I’m happy to say I’m gleefully following in their footsteps.

The good times I’ve had under…

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Added by kobus mans on April 7, 2011 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Packing List: 4x4 Overlanding in Africa

In 2008 we set off on an overland adventure across South and East Africa. This article is for those who might be interested in doing something similar but have no idea where to start.

There are several key things we learned from packing for this trip: