I am a full-time traveler who has been backpacking around the world for almost two years. I created a travel blog before I began traveling and now earn more than a regular salary back in Australia. It hasn't always been like this so here is the story of how I got started!
Timeline of my journey to becoming a successful digital nomad
I'm a 26-year old Australian who went to U.S.A on a soccer scholarship. In 2016 I graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a degree in Journalism
In 2016 I started my travel blog journeyera.com and my Instagram @jackson.groves. They both began small and slowly grew as I posted photos and articles about all the cool places in Hawaii.
Mid 2016 I left hawaii and starting backpacking in southeast Asia. I took photos and posted them to Instagram and wrote articles on my travel blog. I did some deals on instagram with a few brands and took photos of jewelery for a brand. In my first month abroad I made $500 USD. I didn't know if I would be able to make it work financially as I needed about $600-$1000 USD to fund my travels
I did my first sponsored trip a month later with the Indonesia Tourism Board who reached out to me after seeing my Instagram and Blog. They paid me $1000 and covered all costs for 2 weeks of adventures throughout Indonesia.
Since then I have been working my ass off to grow all of my channels and it has been working. I have been on mutiple press trips around the world including a trip with Royal Caribbean where I was paid $700 per day to Instagram while on their cruise!
My blog now has 200,000 page views per month and my Instagram now has 170,000 people following along.
FUN FACT: the most expensive accommodation I have paid for in almost two years of backpacking is a $12 hostel in Singapore!
How I got started
I began taking photos in Hawaii and only got my first camera 3 years ago! I started shooting photos of the surfers on Oahu but soon started recording my adventures on hikes and to beaches with my friends. I was studying Journalism at the time and did an internship with a magazine in the summer. It was interesting but my first published article was a review of an ice-cream store. I didn't pursue a job with that magazine after the internship finished. I knew I wanted to go on adventures and document those. I didn't think Nat Geo and such were anywhere within reach so I started a blog and shared my adventures with a small audience (mostly family and friends). Slowly more people showed interest in my way of life, sense of adventure and zest for life! Before I knew it thousands of people were reading my articles and checking out my photos on Instagram.
My passion is Photography
I love taking photos and adventuring, which go hand in hand for me now. My photos have been featured on board the planes for Philippines Airlines and in tourism campaigns around the world. These are my two favorite images from last year. One was at the top of a mountain in Guatemala for sunrise. The second one was at my favorite waterfall in the world. It's called Tiu Kelep and is in Lombok, Indonesia.
** I live a simple life! **
I currently have no home and everything I own is in my backpack. I've visited over 30 countries and continue to live on less than ** $800 USD per month ** because life is simple, I don't need to complicate it with fancy things.
Hello Steemit
Why am I sharing my life story? I want you all to know that a life of travel is possible. I only started my journey a couple of years ago and am now financially free and able to visit different places around the world.
I will be creating posts and videos on Steemit sharing with you not only my adventures but how you can get started and be successful as a digital nomad.
** To get us started, please let me know below if there's anything you'd like to know :) **
Follow Me! @jacksongroves
