Hello friends! Today I want to introduce you to my compatriot, a positive, open and friendly girl. She travels a lot around the world and maintains her own blog about budget travel across Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Meet Mila Demenkova. We met on about. Samui and I recorded an interview with Mila so that everyone can understand what it’s like to live while traveling.

Mila, you have been traveling the world for a long time and working for yourself. Have you ever worked for hire?

Of course, I worked as an employee for a very long time, about 8 years, first just as an accountant, and then as a chief accountant in different companies.

What was your biggest impetus to start traveling and change your life?

The biggest push was that I didn't like my job. I understood that something was wrong here. A person should do what he likes, otherwise there is no point in living. This, in fact, was the first call. But then I met people who told me that you can look for opportunities and live a little differently.

When you decided to go on a long trip, how did your relatives react to your decision? Did they support you?

My relatives were shocked! At first they didn’t understand, they thought that this was some kind of whim and said that I wouldn’t go anywhere anyway. But then they realized that this was serious when I said that the ticket had been bought and I was leaving. Then they got worried and started trying to dissuade me. But not all. My mother supported me and I am very grateful to her that in any situation she supports me and is always on my side. It's great! Friends, of course, too, said that it’s great - go. And this is understandable, they are not coming with me. There were different opinions. Someone said that in a week I would return to my old job with my tail between my legs, and someone believed in me.

What was the first country you visited?

The first country for a long trip was Malaysia, then Thailand, the Philippines.

When you first started traveling did you have any difficulties? And if so, how did you overcome them?

There were difficulties, of course. There were many difficulties, first of all it was difficult to quit my job. Naturally, when you have been doing one thing for many years, you are used to a certain way of life, and I also had a serious relationship with a young man in Moscow. Therefore, the most difficult moment for me was leaving him and going on a trip. But travel at that moment was what I really needed, so I chose a dream.

And how has your life changed since you started traveling on your own?

My life has changed dramatically! I found my favorite thing thanks to traveling, I quit my unloved job, I live in a circle of like-minded people, I spend most of my time where I want, where I feel warm and comfortable. Or where I’m cold, but also good. Therefore, now I myself choose how much I work, when I work. And naturally my life became more harmonious and balanced. I like it much more than my old life.

Please tell us how you make money while traveling?

Initially, I had money saved up, which I used to go to Asia, then I started freelancing: I wrote articles to order, did copywriting, and translated some documents. But then I realized that this was a road to nowhere, because freelancing does not provide enough freedom. Because you still work for someone and earn money by spending your time, so I started developing my blog and over time it began to bring me income. I also provide travel consultations and I really like that too.

Mila, you said that you found your favorite thing. Please share how you found him.

To find it, I tried a lot of things. I was involved in affiliate marketing, sold WordPress plugins on the English-speaking Internet, taught English, wrote custom articles, did translations, and conducted on-site excursions. And then I looked at what I liked and what I didn’t. Some part of the classes dropped out. Now I can say for sure that I love to write. Everything else is coming and going. And, of course, I like to communicate with people.

How does your day usually go? What hours do you work and what hours do you rest?

My day depends on where I live, where I am, because the climate greatly influences this. For example, here in Thailand on the island. Samui, it’s very hot during the day and I don’t feel comfortable working in the heat because I like to work in the fresh air, on the street. And accordingly, during the day I see the sights, meet with friends, and in the evening I like to work. I like to write at night, work in the evenings, and in the morning I can't get up. Accordingly, I work either in the evening or at night.

Mila, what do you think is the secret of your success? After all, not every person can afford to live a free lifestyle and do what they love.

It also matters what we define as success. For me, success is when a person is happy. Therefore, the secret of success is that I do what I love, which brings me satisfaction and energy. I surrounded myself with like-minded people: people with whom I feel good and interesting. I live where I want, where I feel comfortable. That's all. That is, you build your life yourself and determine your success, you yourself can change, rebuild and add something that is necessary for you to be a happy, successful and harmonious person.

Thank you very much, Mila, for answering my questions.

Thank you for inviting me.

Good luck, friends! And see you again!

I am always glad to see your comments!

In contact with

Greetings, dear readers! Today I have another interesting interview on my blog about holidays abroad. Independent travel, what could be more interesting? About six months ago I met a charming and, importantly, smart girl, Mila Demenkova. Despite her young years, Mila has traveled to more than 10 countries, including: Belgium, Guatemala, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, and the Baltic countries.

Guatemala, Antigua, ruins of a monastery

Of course, it’s difficult to cover everything in one interview. Mila has a very interesting life, which many people dream of.

Interview with Mila Demenkova about independent holidays abroad.

Mila, I read about your life before traveling. But it will be better if you tell us briefly about yourself. After all, you have completely changed your lifestyle.

Oh where to start))). I once worked as a chief accountant in a reputable company. First in Minsk, then in Moscow. Good salary, bonuses, corporate apartment, own office, full benefits package, flexible schedule. But there was a feeling that after 8 years of work I had reached the ceiling in my profession.

And one day I became scared that I would sit my whole life in a big leather chair, accumulating material wealth, without ever trying everything that life could give. Then I went alone to Europe for a month with a backpack on my back, after which I decided to radically change my life. I saved up some money, wrote a letter of resignation and went to Asia for several months. This may sound like an escape from problems, but at that point in my life there were no problems. I just needed a fresh look, some kind of shake-up to understand what I wanted to do next.

Well then the question immediately arises, what funds do you use to travel? As you know, traveling abroad on your own is cheaper than an organized tour, but you still need money for tickets, food and accommodation.

I earned money for my first independent trip by working in an office. Then I realized that I didn’t want to go back and do my old job; I needed alternative sources of income. I started exploring the possibilities of making money remotely via the Internet. Now I provide travel consultations, help people plan their trips, create routes, write custom articles, translate, teach English, and develop several of my own Internet projects.

You have to learn a lot from scratch, and it’s incredibly cool! I never know how much I will earn this month, but there is also something in uncertainty. It mobilizes, allows me to test my strength, to find out what I am capable of. It turned out that for a lot)))

Hello Mila! If you do translations, then you have no problems with the English language, but what about other languages? Have there been cases when ignorance of the language of a particular country led to a difficult situation?

Languages ​​are one of my main passions, I constantly learn them with great pleasure. True, I only speak English perfectly, Spanish is at a conversational level, I can string together a couple of sentences in Italian and German))).

Regarding the predicament due to lack of knowledge of the language, one point came to mind. I had just arrived in Malaysia and didn’t understand Asians at all. I was looking for a certain station in Kuala Lumpur, they sent me here and there. That day, in the pouring rain, I toured 3 bus terminals in different parts of the city. I remember how I stood all wet and cried from powerlessness. And it’s all due to lack of preparation. Now, of course, this would not happen, because the experience of independent travel is much greater.


Perhaps it was after that incident that you realized that you were strong and could continue to travel on your own. Dear, you have visited interesting places in Asia, Europe and America. Tell me please, what are the distinctive features of these continents? From a tourist's point of view?

Oh, the differences are colossal. In Europe everything is clear. The prices are high, but the quality is also high. This applies to the convenience of movement on public transport, to the organization of life, and to how everything is done for the convenience of people. Traveling around Europe on your own is very easy.

Nicaragua, Ometepe Island

Asia is cheaper and more exotic, but it has its own nuances. Helpers and harassers may follow you around, trying to scam you out of money; somewhere there will be unsightly-looking houses with dirt floors and garbage, but there people sincerely smile and enjoy life. We have a lot to learn from Asians. You should go to Asia if you are stressed or anxious. Everything there seems to be captured by hand. It’s difficult to say about Latin America, because each country is unique. Somewhere there is Asian chaos, as in Nicaragua, and somewhere European organization, as in some cities in Mexico.


If you sit in a 5* all-inclusive hotel, then the differences between the continents are not particularly visible. I travel in order to learn, see and feel the differences, so I often go to places where tourists don’t go, but that’s where you can see real life.

Nicaragua, volcanoboarding, Cerro Negro volcano

The more I look at your photos, the more questions I have. As often happens here... Someone came back from a trip and let’s show off the photos, this is me in front of the monument, this is me near the monument, and this is me and Sanya having a lot at the buffet table... And here it is completely exotic! Okay, I’ll ask about the orange suits in the comments.

Mila, you travel a lot on your own, but have you bought tours from agencies? What is better: an organized trip or an independent one?

Before I went on an independent trip, I traveled through travel agencies. Once I went on an excursion to Italy. I remember we were driven for 4 hours to Naples, and then we were allowed to walk around the city for only 40 minutes, because according to the program we had to return to Rome for dinner. As a result, we spent 8 hours on the road in order to walk for 40 minutes along one of the most interesting cities Italy. After that, I swore off buying tours. Now I decide for myself where and how much time I will spend.

You can buy trips to the sea if it is popular tourist destination. For example, a trip to Bulgaria and Egypt is cheaper than a plane ticket. Sometimes you don’t want to think and waste time planning a vacation, then it’s easier to buy a ready-made package. But this is boring compared to what you can organize yourself, often for less money)).

Mila, do you have a favorite country or city? If so, why are they important to you?

Favorite city is Minsk. I was born here, my family and friends live here. It’s amazing how four years ago I dreamed of leaving here, and now, having traveled halfway around the world, I understand the meaning of the word “home.” Only I’m completely different now. Now I know that it doesn’t matter where you live, the main thing is who you are, whether you do what you love, whether you experience joy and satisfaction.

Independent travel - Mexico, ruins of Tulum

My favorite country is of course Mexico. I ended up there by accident. I was going to Ecuador, but the ticket to Mexico City was cheaper. I thought I’d stay in Mexico for a couple of weeks and go to Ecuador by land. Two weeks stretched into three and a half months, then the visa simply ran out, and I had to fly to Panama, otherwise, I feel, I would have stayed to live in Mexico:D

It’s impossible not to fall in love with Mexico, because it has absolutely everything. Mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, Indian tribes and modern cities, shamans, colonial cities, rich story and culture, friendly people, fiery dances, as well as one of the best cuisines peace in my opinion. True, the women there are not as beautiful as ours, but I don’t need them))).

Holidays abroad - Mexico, Caribbean Sea

What wonderful photos! As for women, it really doesn’t matter, except perhaps if the holiday abroad is connected with a marriage agency))).

Mila, how do you feel about exotic cuisine? Do you have your favorite dishes?

Oh, I'm really having trouble with the kitchen. I choose a prettier name from the menu, then bite my elbows)). I once ordered soup at a Chinese restaurant. They brought it, and there was a chicken paw with toenails sticking out of the black slurry, and the first dish I ordered in Mexico was pork skin in mustard sauce.

I saw a photo of this dish on your blog, yes... the look is far from appetizing!)))

My favorite dish is Mexican steak Tampiqueña with guacamole sauce. Unforgettable taste. And of course mussels in Brussels. There is a street with restaurants where they sell a whole pan for 17-20 euros. The mussels have a strange taste at first, but it’s so addicting that you want more and more.

Mila, share your personal experience, or rather, the contents of your backpack. Which ones are really necessary when traveling on your own?

Tanya, this question can be discussed for a long time.Really necessary passport, money, bank card, laptop, camera, running shoes, good mood and at least one beautiful dress)). Everything else depends on the climate of the country where I’m heading.

Mila, you have met different cities and countries on your way. Were there any among them where you didn’t like the attitude towards Russian tourists?

You know, Tanya, probably not. On the other hand, it’s difficult for me to judge, because I’m Belarusian, not Russian. Few people know Belarus, so they always ask questions with interest. I often find myself the only Belarusian woman to visit such and such a hotel, or the first Belarusian woman to slide down a volcano, etc. In addition, I travel to places that are not very popular among Russian tourists, so I local residents there is no reason to be prejudiced against us.

What is the most difficult thing for you being away from your home?

There are days when everything goes wrong. I'm tired of traveling, everything doesn't go well, people come across strange people. I want to buy a return ticket and fly home today. Then the question arises: “What am I even doing here?” And the answer to it: “no, dear, you are here because you wanted to be here, so look for a way out of the situation, and don’t whine and complain about fate.” Moreover, such moments do not depend on whether I am traveling alone or with someone. Both at home and abroad, problems and difficulties arise that must be overcome.

Mila and last question. Which country is best to travel to on your own for the first time?

It’s getting colder now, so I advise everyone to go to Thailand))) The country is ideal for the first independent trip to the sea. And if you’re closer, the easiest way is to go to any European country. We got a visa, bought a plane ticket, booked hotels and were on our way.

Mila and I had such an interesting interview about holidays abroad. I hope you guys liked it. As you understand, you can talk with Mila for a very long time! Each of her stories is a separate story about beautiful places on our land.

Mila talks in more detail about her travels on her blog. about budget travel in Europe, Asia and Latin America http://bptrip.ru/. I always read it with great interest and believe me, it is not limited to one article.

Mila communicates a lot with fellow lovers of independent travel. So if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask! If you like to visit interesting countries and cities, be sure to visit Mila’s blog and stroll through the pages of her magazine.

I want to thank Mila for such a wonderful interview and kindly provided materials. My dear, I wish you to achieve everything you have planned! Let only kind and positive people meet on your way. May every new corner of our planet reveal all its beauty for you. And may all the knowledge gained be for the benefit of you and everyone around you!

Dear friends, I am pleased to present to your attention an interview with Mila Demenkova, who maintains a very interesting blog about her travels http://bptrip.ru. I first came across her blog just a couple of days ago. I immediately liked it and subscribed to the RSS feed. From Mila’s articles you can immediately see that she really loves blogging and does it with all her heart. I thank Mila for the wonderful interview, beautiful photos and time devoted.

So, meet Mila Demenkova!

Hello Mila! Please tell us about yourself. Where was you born, where did you grow up, where and who did you study for, what did you work for? What city are you in now? How is the weather there?

Hello, Mikhail! First of all, thank you very much for your blog, which I have been reading with pleasure and interest for about two years now, gaining a lot of useful information for myself. Thank you also for choosing to interview me.

Hello, dear readers of the Shakin.ru blog! My name is Mila Demenkova. I was born in Minsk, after which my family moved to the military town of Znamensk in the south of Russia, so my childhood was spent in the land of summer midges, delicious crayfish, ripe watermelons and severe winter frosts. In high school, she returned to Minsk again, where she first graduated from the Minsk State Trade College, and then from the Belarusian State Economic University, receiving diplomas in accountant and economist.

In parallel with her studies, at the age of 17 she began working as an accountant, at the age of 19 she became a chief accountant and worked in this position for several years in different companies. First in Minsk, then in Moscow. After I radically changed my life, starting to spend most of my time traveling, I do copywriting, provide consulting, and earn some money on my blog.

Now I'm in Minsk. As a child, my parents brought me to my grandmother in Minsk for the holidays, and since then I have loved spending the warm months in this city. Now the weather is beautiful, +20 and raining. But it's not hot.

How did you come to start traveling? Many are afraid to quit their jobs and change their usual lifestyle. How did you decide this question for yourself?

Perhaps this was one of the most difficult decisions in life. At that time, I had been doing accounting for about 7-8 years and thought that I couldn’t do anything else, and it was too late to master new areas of activity (how stupid!). I hated my job, but I didn't know what I wanted to do instead. And then I just went on vacation to Europe, met the guys who traveled for six months, a year, and realized that this is something that will help me now! I found out how much money I needed, realized that I could afford such a “vacation” for several months, and flew alone to Asia. And then off we went. Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe. Remote earnings are enough to travel, so there is no longer a need to return to a job you don’t like and be tied to one city.

Mila, if any of the readers of my blog want to contact you about writing articles, how can they find your contacts?

All my contacts, as well as prices for services, can be found on the blog at the link http://bptrip.ru/copywriting/.

Mila, you have a very interesting blog. How did you decide to have one? After all, many people travel and either do not write about it anywhere at all, or publish their stories and photo reports in various tourist communities.

Michael, thank you for the compliment on my blog. At first it was just a diary on LiveJournal for family and friends, so they knew where I was, what I was doing, how I was doing. Then I decided to transfer the records to a separate domain. Over time, other people began to find the blog, ask questions, write messages by email, so I started publishing articles from useful information: where to live, what to buy, what to see, what are the prices in a particular country. A blog is my territory where you can express yourself, experiment, communicate, and it is also a convenient tool for finding clients, like-minded people, and new friends.

🔥 By the way! I have released a paid course on promoting English-language websites. If you are interested, you can apply for the early list through this form to be the first to know about the release of the course and receive a special discount.

Guard: Correct selection of keywords in wordstat yandex for website promotion.

Dessert for today is Mila’s video, in which she talks about how Armenians live:

Dedicate more than five years to studying economic disciplines, work as an accountant for a long time, dream of long trips, but do not believe in your strength and ability to fulfill cherished desire. And then one fine day, give up on everything, quit, take off, leave what is familiar and familiar and turn your life 180 degrees. Who would dare to do something like this? For inspiration, we all need an example of a crazy, but such a living and fearless act. Mila Demenkova can be called a real hero. Today she will tell her story herself.

At the top of the Tonina pyramid, built by the most bloodthirsty tribe of Indians in Mexico

Name: Mila Demenkova

Current place of residence: Saint Petersburg

Blog: Bptrip.ru

Blogging experience: 3 years

Main travel interests:, Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America

Travel frequency: 7-8 months a year


Chocolate Hills - Miracle of the Philippines

About Me

About 8 years of my life were spent mastering the intricacies of accounting, auditing and other economic disciplines. I studied at college for three years, then at university. I worked as a chief accountant for a long time, but now I am a blogger, traveler, amateur photographer, consultant, as well as a video editor and part-time SEO optimizer.


View of Tallinn from the observation deck

I have always loved to travel, but even five years ago I thought that traveling was the lot of select rich people. Upon closer examination of the issue, it turned out that it is not at all necessary to be a millionaire. When I realized that seeing the world was a reality, the dream of travel completely took over my mind.

I quit my job and went to Asia for a few months on a one-way ticket. Money was more difficult. The savings I made while working in the office were enough for my first trip, but I couldn’t stop traveling. I had to establish remote sources of income and master professions that allow me to earn money via the Internet. So gradually I came to my current lifestyle: I work remotely and spend most of the time abroad.


Waterfall in Vietnam

About the blog

The Bptrip.ru blog is two and a half years old. When I went on my first long trip, friends and family asked where I was and what I was doing. In order not to write the same thing to everyone, I started a blog on LiveJournal, where I described events in the present tense. Then the blog moved to a separate domain, and the nature of the publications changed from a personal diary to articles with useful information that can help other people plan their trip.


Vulcanoboarding - riding a board from the top active volcano in Nicaragua (Central America)

How bloggers differ from travel journalists

Blogger differs from blogger, just as journalist differs from journalist. If by travel journalist we mean a person who is given the task by the portal or editorial office for which he works to go to a certain country and describe it in the right way, then bloggers have different tasks.

As a blogger, I can only write what I think, not what I'm told to write. And why should bloggers compete with travel journalists if each of them has their own tasks that don’t overlap much?


Antigua city in Guatemala. Even today, local residents - Mayan Indians - wear national costumes

Previously, I wrote custom materials for other resources, but in two and a half years I posted only two custom articles on my blog. At the same time, if someone does a good deed for me, or if I myself find a convenient service for traveling, I am always happy to talk about it on the blog.
Custom articles are no different from my entries; I express only my personal opinion. If I don’t have an opinion about something, then I won’t write about it, even for money. I don’t like custom articles and only publish them if I’m really confident in the site or product that they’re asking to advertise. Reputation is more valuable.


Winter in Portugal on the island of Madeira

About travel

Traveling stopped being a vacation for me a long time ago. It is rather a job that brings great pleasure. At one time, trips helped me understand myself, find something I love, understand what I want in life, set goals and priorities correctly, but trips are not an end in themselves, but rather a catalyst for life changes and internal transformations of my personality. Of course, there is also an element of relaxation, adventure and new acquaintances.


Marble Canyon Ruskeala, Karelia

Most of all I remember the trip to Georgia and Armenia. Amazing countries! Another interesting experience was when my friend and I hitchhiked to Kazakhstan as part of the “Practice of Poverty” project. Then we had only 4 days to hitchhike 5000 km from St. Petersburg to the border of Kazakhstan and China without spending any money. For both of us, it was the first experience of hitchhiking in our lives, but we managed it and got to the right place on time.


One of my favorite countries. Khor Virap Monastery and Mount Ararat in Armenia

With love and tenderness I remember my trip to Mexico and Central America. Five months in countries where they speak your favorite language is a fairy tale! From recent travels I can’t help but mention Norway. Not a country, but a “bomb” that gives a fountain of emotions and new impressions every day.

About curiosities

One day, in one day, I lost all my things and was reported to the police somewhere on the border with Laos. True, the things were returned at the end of the day, and the police turned out to be darlings, but I was seriously nervous.


Autumn in Amsterdam

Another situation happened in Belgrade. I left the store and discovered that the car had disappeared from the lot. This huge minibus seemed to have evaporated. It was a lot of fun running around the Serbian capital trying to figure out where the vehicle might have gone.

About difficulties

One of the main difficulties, or rather inconveniences, is the need for visas to most countries in the world. A lot of time and money are spent on obtaining, renewing, collecting documents... Everything else is trifles.

Conquering the Nigardsbreen glacier in Norway

I try to get visas in advance. Now you can travel to many countries using Schengen. This makes preparing for travel much easier. I receive most visas in Moscow or along the way in neighboring countries, if possible. It is often much easier to obtain visas abroad than at home.

In all my years of travel, real difficulties arose only once, when I urgently needed to extend my six-month Mexican visa while in Panama. As it turned out, according to the law, Belarusians can only obtain a Mexican visa in Moscow. I bombarded all the Mexican consulates of Central American countries with letters, received several refusals, until one fine day the Mexican embassy in Costa Rica sent a couple of lines in Spanish, in which they promised to help. This was the most extreme way to obtain a visa, because according to all laws I should not have been given one.


Taking a yacht captain course in Croatia

Travel tips

In my opinion, the main thing is a positive attitude. You know, this inner unshakable confidence that everything will be fine. A sense of humor also helps when traveling. Often trips may not turn out as originally planned. The weather, people, and some other circumstances interfere... You need to learn to enjoy the fact that everything is not going according to plan and see the positive side of it.


From: Minsk (Belarus).

I’ve been meaning to make a section “12 questions for a traveler” for a long time, but things haven’t progressed beyond “thoughts.” After reading Mila’s note asking for an interview, I compiled a list of questions in literally an hour or two. And here is the first interview.

Mila is the author of a blog about budget travel, a brave and determined girl who is conquering the world! The list of countries she visited can be continued for a long time! Let there be more such people - those who go beyond limits, those who overcome themselves and experience the world in all its diversity!

How long have you been traveling? Where was your first trip?

I started traveling to other countries at the age of 18, mainly on tourist packages, but I didn’t like walking single file behind a guide so much that four years ago I finally became bolder and went alone to Europe with a backpack without a return ticket. I spent a month traveling around cities and towns and saw that traveling, it turns out, is simple and accessible. This is how my journey began independent traveler, which then continued in South-East Asia, Central America, Europe, CIS countries.

Do you travel alone or in a team? What qualities of a partner are most important when traveling?

Previously, I traveled alone, but there were fellow travelers along the way. If not for the entire period of the trip, then for a couple of weeks for sure. Nowadays, even with a great desire, it is impossible to explore the world alone. When friends and acquaintances find out that I’m going somewhere, someone will definitely join.

For me, the most important things in a travel companion are similarity of views, spontaneity, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept the unexpected. Anything can happen when traveling, it’s impossible to plan everything, so it’s nice to have a person next to you who can adequately respond to changes in plans and hiccups along the way. Sometimes it’s better to travel alone and meet like-minded people along the way than to suffer because of a poor choice of travel companion.

2.
Landscapes of Kazakhstan

How do you choose a country (city, place) for your next trip?

You know, before I would have answered that I read forums, blogs, guidebooks, look at the map, but now this is no longer relevant. Lately, countries and cities have been choosing me more often. Every journey has a specific purpose. This could be meeting an interesting person or friend, or attending a live event, or simply selling out.

For example, I recently returned from Kazakhstan. Do you think I ever planned to hitchhike 5,000 km overland from St. Petersburg to the border with China in 6 days? I doubt that a sane person, much less a girl, would come up with such an idea, but this trip had a goal, and my wonderful companion and I successfully achieved it.

3.
Nicaragua

Which of your trips was most memorable and why?

Each trip is memorable in its own way. For example, a few months in Central America are unlikely to ever be forgotten. Also, one of the most striking events I can highlight is the recent trip from St. Petersburg to Kazakhstan. It was memorable because everything we did went against my usual way of traveling.

I love comfort, I always preferred the plane and public transport, never considered hitchhiking as a suitable method of transportation. Previously, it took at least 2 days to prepare for departure, but this time the idea to go came literally within an hour, and the next morning, for the first time in our lives, we stood on the road with backpacks and an outstretched arm. There was money on the card to get to Almaty, but the point was to try to get by without it. But now I know that everyone can travel, and lack of money is just another excuse.

4.
In Mexico

Have you ever found yourself in extreme situations? If yes, tell us about the most exciting one.

I must disappoint you, but extreme and exciting situations have not happened to me. Despite the fact that I have been to rather unsafe countries, such as Honduras, my guardian angel does his job perfectly and protects me from problems.

There was one frightening situation in Armenia, when 2 horsemen put my friend and I in a car and drove us through mountain gorges and border areas, without explaining where we were going. It was scary, but everything ended well. Armenians are very good people, there was simply a misunderstanding that was resolved during the conversation.

How do you navigate new places (GPS, surveying local residents...)?

Great question! Most of my friends are surprised how I travel at all, if even in my own city I can get lost in two houses. I don’t understand maps, the navigator doesn’t help either, so I navigate the terrain by intuition. I try not to go into the mountains and forests alone, but in cities I remember how buildings look and relate to each other in order to later find my home, I also ask local residents, which is often much easier and faster.

In some countries, for example in Georgia, it is generally a separate culture to ask every passerby how to get to the city N. We were driving like this once. The guy has 2 navigators in his car, a paper atlas, the road goes straight, but he still constantly stopped and asked people, managing to discuss the weather and political news with them.

5.
Mexico

Can you break any known stereotype about the places you visited?

Perhaps the most common stereotype I have encountered concerns Mexico. It turns out that it is very dangerous there: complete poverty, robbery on the streets, drugs are sold on every corner. And so, after reading and listening to a lot of gossip, you come to Mexico and see expensive cars, well-kept private houses, clean streets, modern infrastructure, bus terminals, similar to airports.

Do you think anyone offered me drugs at least once in three and a half months? Yeah, of course. Yes, in the northern states of Mexico, especially on the border with the United States, it is sometimes turbulent due to the fact that drug traffickers wage internecine wars, but this does not affect tourists in any way, because the main attractions of the country are concentrated 1000 km from unsafe places.

Which country (or culture) is closest to you in terms of its mentality? Are there places that are completely foreign?

In terms of mentality, Germany and Austria are close to me. There seem to be no completely alien places. It’s interesting to travel everywhere, especially when you know that you are passing through this country. As for life, I don’t think I could live long in Southeast Asia. Europe and Latin America are closer and clearer to me.

What is the main purpose of travel for you? What has changed in your life thanks to travel?

The main goal is, first of all, communication, immersion in a new culture. To grow and develop, we need to interact with other people and know that there is a different way of looking at the world. Regarding changes, I can say that literally everything has changed in my life thanks to travel. I found my favorite thing, now I write about my travels and advise people. I became more independent and adapted to life, got rid of many fears, and learned to make new acquaintances easily and naturally.

7.
In the mountains of Armenia

What places would you definitely like to return to and why?

I would like to return to Georgia. This is a country where you can return again, again and again, each time finding something new for yourself. Why? They make delicious shoti bread and suluguni cheese, the people are open and hospitable, the nature is amazing, and the most amazing thing is that all these wonders are very close by, and not somewhere on the other side of the earth.

Where are you planning to go next?

Plans change literally every day, so I don’t want to make any guesses. I know for sure that this will be a place where it’s warm in winter.

All places are good, especially if you go there for the first time and are in a good mood. If we take Europe, I really like the Netherlands and Belgium; from Southeast Asian countries, I recommend visiting the Philippines. If your budget allows, then you should definitely go to Mexico. Not a single person has ever returned from there dissatisfied. If you want something unusual and certainly memorable for many years, then in Central America there is the country of Nicaragua. There's skiing from volcanoes, and freshwater sharks attacking people in the lake at a depth of half a meter, and surfing, and Indian tribes. In general, you won't be bored.

8.
Coast Pacific Ocean in Mexico